Two releases in a matter of weeks?! Someone pinch me because I’m sure I’m dreaming. It wasn’t enough that we got our first Mickey drop all year with Big Ghost nonetheless, and now we not only have a new album but teasing of a new series from the pair? Nah, this is Christmas come early! If this doesn’t get you excited, then you don’t support the culture; it’s as easy as that! Let’s fucking go!
This is the brand-new album by MC legend and Umbrella member Mickey Diamond and regular beat-making collaborator Big Ghost Ltd, and together they drop this new album with no features, just these two!
Now, in my previous review (regarding his physical-only drop ‘Dollar $ign Diaries’), I spoke on the fact that I could feel his maturity and growth in his lyricism, accepting life as it passes him by and evolving as a self-aware MC who uses his experiences and knowledge to elevate himself.
While all that is true on that record, I feel on this one he’s just having fun going back to what made him famous and brought him to the dance to begin with!
While that album was a special peek into his vulnerability, this one feels like his iron wall pulled back down and him back on his ‘fuck the world, I’m the GOAT’ level shit, and honestly, it’s infectious!
He sounds like his early 2020 self. Back on his selfish, bragging, and powerful vocal performances that are cutthroat, verbally massacring the competition and leaving such heavy imprints on the culture that it leaves a craving that no other artist can seem to scratch or remove! Long story short, when he drops it’s like a sonic tattoo on the underground. His impact is fucking permanent!
What I love as well is the lack of features. Even on the original ‘Gucci Ghost’ series, it had its fair share of names and affiliations, but the fact he’s deciding to come back AND do it solo? That’s a statement and a half!
That’s Mickey confirming he never needed anyone to begin with outside of his umbrella soldiers, and it’s a move I respect more than anything (especially considering this project is 12 tracks long).
I feel at the heart of this album (as it has been for all of his drops) is his strong cadence and charisma. His baritone octaves and deep voice have a level of aura attached to it that makes every single word feel tough and precious. Honesty, he could probably just make a whole album reading children’s books and would still shatter records with the level of confidence and precision he possesses!
But the fact he also has one of the most incredible rapping styles we’ve seen in the last decade is further evidence of his mastery of flow, his unrivalled pen game, and his ability to rock a record solo if need be! He’s literally the whole package!
What’s there to say about Big Ghost that hasn’t been said yet? Anything he touches turns to diamonds. Even outside of Mickey, he’s run himself a ridiculous production discography working alone, side names such as
– Conway The Machine
– CRIMEAPPLE
– UFO FEV
– EDDIE KAINE and so much more.
His reputation precedes him and comes with a level of expectation that is fulfilled each and every time. Now, times that 20fold, and that’s the quality you get when these two meet up. One of the most iconic players in the game as far as pairing goes!
Across this album, we get that same heavy-handed, skeletal, and old-school boom-bap classics that had us all rocking from the 2020s Gucci volumes!
We get the same combination of soulful sample snippets combined with those heavy bass, sickening drum patterns, plucked guitar strings, and an overall atmospheric harmony and brilliant score that makes you want to come back again, again, and again!
I legit had to pause and check my phone at the intro of track 2 ‘High Steaks’ thinking I had accidentally left the shuffle button on and played the original Gucci Ghost record! They played the intro to track ‘Stone Island Shooters’ which had me going nuts! Love the throwback!
We have tracks like ‘I Dare You’ which has that iconic snippet of a Ric Flair promo which evolves into an 90’s RnB/Hip Hop inspired instrumental with those plucked strings, heavy synth chord running through and groovy drum pattern that runs through!
This is one of those tracks you’d play in the car, windows down bumping your head!
There’s the song ‘Blood Moon’ which has a creepy scream at the start which sets the tone of the track. On this song we have these methodically paced guitar strings alongside some echoing chords and light bass strings which makes for one of the more minimal tracks on the record!
I love the horror reference raps by Mickey and the various adlibs on the song! Truly exceptional!
Once again, (as if it’s a surprise to anyone) that this makes for another modern day classic. The simple truth is this. When it comes to Mickey and Big Ghost, you can’t loss. They don’t understand the concept of taking an L and they never will!
Mickey is Bangkok Dangerous, he’s a Gucci Ghost. Whether he’s watching ‘Ric Vs Flair’ with his Bulletproof Bathrobes. He understands there’s No Liquor Before 12 but as he’s Imported Goods he knows It’s 5 O Clock somewhere.
Understanding that Nobody Bleeds Like Flair and that Flair 4 The Gold that’s what gives him his natural ‘Smoke Face’
He’s Mr Oroku Saki himself And His name is death.
Oozing characteristics of NOIR, sending out death threats and capital gains he’s not only the Super Shredder but Mr Motherfucking Gucci Gambino AKA
-Diamond Cutter or THE WOLF TICKET.
shoutout to -D-Styles for the cuts on the album!
https://bigghostlimited.bandcamp.com/album/wolf-tickets
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