The official definition of ‘Iconic’ is as follows.
: Very famous or popular, especially being considered to represent particular opinions or a particular time.
In my opinion, this describes ‘The Umbrella Collective’ to a tee. This group of men (and Mallori) have rebuilt what the underground hip-hop scene stood for and constructed a new era that has snowballed into the culture we have today.
Fast forward to 2025, and we have seen arguably the most fruitful and successful year for the collective with releases from
-Snotty
-Pro Dillinger
-Daniel Son
-Mickey Diamond
-Big Trip
-Mvck Nyce
-Substance810
-Josiah The Gift
And now we are getting what I would consider to be a DREAM COLLABORATION in every sense of the word as we are about to bear witness to a once-in-a-lifetime event as we prepare to hear the duo of SUBSTANCE810 & Josiah go toe-to-toe in a way only they can.
LET’S GO!
So, a brand-new collaboration album by both powerhouse MC’s Substance810 and Josiah featuring on the beats the likes of
-Trevor Lang
-True Cipher
-DJ GRAZZHOPPA (on the scratches/Cuts)
-Hanzo Bladez
-Jamil Honesty for TDS
-Stay Alert
-88Blessed for TDS
-JR Swiftz
-Cease Flemmi
-Farma G
A legendary roster if I’ve ever seen one! Only recruiting the best to help bring this project to life, and on that note, it feels only appropriate to start with the production!
Right off the bat, I felt like the instrumentals had a reminiscent vibe to the early 2000s mixtape era!
There was something about the way those beats were constructed with those infectious, down-to-earth, and melodic executions that made me think of prime-era Weezy beats or those early 50 Cent mixtapes before Get Rich.
I’m talking in your face, gritty offerings of street boom-bap that feel like punches to your soul!
If we start with that opening track, we hear that classical opera-style vocal harmonies that evolve into this gritty minimal loop with enough crushing drum patterns to leave your neck in need of a chiropractor!
It’s got those repetitive and strong chords alongside those intricate keys in the background that remain constant throughout the entire song, giving a kind of shimmy effect!
If we look at a joint like track 3 ‘Lottery Picks’, we hear a beat that feels embedded into that hardcore East Coast homage. It’s got that trademark classical instrument combined with those ruthless drum patterns to provide the listener with a murderous beat that will leave you mean-mugging the world for almost three minutes!
The type of track that will make the local liquor store look more like an opportunity for paper than a place of business!
Another track I fucked with heavily instrumentally was track ‘Collect Call’. This had me grooving heavily because of how it incorporates those cinematic yet subtle vocal harmonies that sound like a woman is just a tad too far from the booth but loud enough to be heard, and that level of subtlety makes the track feel that little bit more intimate!
Alongside that, we have these methodically paced chords in the background and this drum pattern that won’t quit! Definitely the MVP of the track, but it all comes together to create a rather elegant offering to the record!
All this to say that although there are many ‘chefs in the kitchen’, so to speak, the beats all sound in sync with one another and flow like a cohesive project! That was what I was most worried about, but of course, with those professionals on board, it would turn out nothing less than classic!
As far as the MC work goes, I mean. Of all elements that could possibly go wrong, did anyone expect the duo of two of the strongest lyricists in the game right now (let alone Umbrealla brothers) to be the weak link here? Nah, fuck that noise.
Josiah this time around has gifted US the audience and Substance provided more then 810 methods to his greatness across this record as they go back and fourth on each song trying to out do one another in brotherly competition and with that level of intensity and energy and skill in one song it’s honestly art being verbally painted right in front of our eyes!
I’m talking perfect bars, complex wordplay, endless supply of fun and mind blowing one liners and puns. Vivid imagery beyond the mind’s comprehension and street poetry so rough you won’t be the same after the album turns off!
These two are on a different fucking universe of wave length, they’ve spent the last decade climbing to the top of the world and now tag teaming against the rest? That’s like brothers of destruction level shit. It ain’t even a fair game anymore and the only winners are the fans who get a front row seat to this shit!
Besides the one exclusive verse by Jamil on the song ‘One’ the rest of the record is just Sub and Josiah playing to their strengths and re enforcing the statement of ‘we don’t need a roster of MC’s to make this album pop, we got it on lock ourselves’ and I love that mentality!
Look, this is a present we don’t deserve but won’t be forgetting anytime soon. As if they weren’t conquering the world already, now this? It’s just flexing at this point and they have every right to do so! This album is a celebration of success, grind and dedication to the craft. If you ain’t feeling this one, then we ain’t feeling you it’s as simple as that!
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 