(Pretty Penny)

This year is the year of EP’s so many different short projects with something to prove, and this one is no different! So let’s talk about it!

This is the latest EP by Budda Child, with the production handled by Merker Miyagi, and together they provide us with some of the most compelling 10 minutes of the year! 

The tracks included are: 

-Gone To Glory

-Pretty Penny

-Coming Home

-Give You The World 

Across these tracks, Merker provides us with some introspective, creative, and interesting content of sound that makes the listener think and ponder the atmosphere created.

This isn’t your standard ‘Boom Bap/Grime’ trademark sounds we are all used to hearing in the underground but a more thoughtful and reflective approach to the beats that kind of remind me of the early to mid-2000s (backpack era) that the likes of Kanye and Lupe started. 

The anti-gangsta instrumental themes that give rise to lyricists of a more complex and thought-provoking style, and that’s exactly what we received in the way of Budda.

Budda has the kind of mellow and smooth rapping temperament when he’s dropping bars. He’s calm and collected, focused, confident, and spitting intelligent bars that you can just tell are well thought out and not just dropped on a whim! 

He’s the kind of rapper that isn’t focused on being the most colorful character or dramatic personality but instead focuses on the penmanship and verses to be fluent, crisp, and well-spoken, and someone who has that level of depth and respect for themselves is something you can’t help but fuck with!

Overall, a dope and against-the-grain project that will definitely gravitate towards the more ‘indie’ and ‘art rap’ audience! 

Shoutout to Ari for the vocal contributions on the EP! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7aSI8NyXG95iDzNBrT2Qts?si=Sgx0j5HvQ42nPssHtUYnfw

(ALMIGHTY II)

It’s been a minute since my main man Brutus and I had a video interview with Waterr himself, and since then I’ve been excited to see his progress and paired with one of the best producers out there, I have no doubt this one will be a banger!

So, this is the latest collaboration album between Waterr and producer Machacha, who in his own right has released two of the best albums of the year, and he’s back for the 3 peat! 

12 tracks with 34 minutes. With only Reefa Rei as a feature, this is a project where Waterr is the front and centre focus, and with his ability, that is nothing to worry about for him!

The production on this one sounds theatrical and in a lot of moments cultural/foreign with various world’s instruments (or at least that’s how they sound to me), such as Spanish guitar and intro speech in the foreign language. 

The theatrical moments come from tracks like ‘Compass’ with that 1940’s Jazz sound loop which reminds me of Black and White movies of the golden era of cinema.

As per usual, Machacha comes with masterful production, crisp beats, and the focus of a true professional. I could never get sick of listening to a project by him; he hasn’t missed yet and probably won’t! 

What can I say about Waterr? The man who has spent the last half decade and more building his reputation, skill, and talent into a formidable player in the underground, and with this new record, he’s showcasing just how much he has grown and improved, and he’s a man who lived the phrase (in the words of the genius Illogic) ‘A picture worth a thousand words, so I’ll paint the perfect picture.’

His verses aren’t just merely bars but stories and fables that can make your imagination go wild with his vivid imagery and detailed poetry.

Overall, this is a fantastic album to say the least. Not a skippable track to be found, and the chemistry between the two is as brilliant as ever! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2JNoI24vo5XYRrw9bDi802?si=aidgp2orTcmTXandIRHY6g

(Never Stop)

Bro, someone needs to tell Flame Dot to take a breather and enjoy life a bit! Not that I can talk; I’m obsessed with my work with reviews, but still, this man is on 5x ROLLS! Absolutely nuts.

So, for what is it? 3rd? 4th? Time this year? Here we go talking about a NEW EP by BSF member Flame Dot Malik, the man who makes moves quicker than you can even say the sentence out loud and also refuses to take any L’s. And with this EP produced by Southlake, they make another edition of ‘the hardest 8 minutes of your life.’ 

I mean, listen to the first words Flame says on this EP, and I quote, ‘Ayo, they found a body in the freezer.’ Who the fuck starts a project like that? I’ll tell you who a REAL G and back with his trademark grovel voice, raw raspy murderous tone with his no-nonsense killer bars, flow, and top-tier lyricism that makes any release from his, whether it’s 8 minutes or 80, to be seen as a modern-day hood classic!

He comes in like a house of fire, no bullshit, just burning everything and everyone in sight, leaving no survivors! With the exception of feature ‘El Camino,’ who takes the flames and turns them into flame-infused words that no one else could possibly match up to! Two legends in this shit.

The production is off its face for this one! It’s a combination of different classical, soul, and grime elements put together to make both a soothing and ruthless experience that provides a unique, dangerous atmosphere that gets taken over by Dot and his lethal wordplay!

Another W in the pocket of Dot. At this point, he could work with a school janitor and still create a modern-day banger! He doesn’t know how to take a L if he tried, and he hasn’t started yet! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/3RJDR9r64dYlJt0FfJAtOy?si=cV_97teWT423sCPsFN0liw

(VIBEZ)

I’ll tell you what, if you’re a hip-hop artist and you use my favourite rap group ‘A Tribe Called Quest’ as inspiration, then you’ve already got my heart and ear. So with that in mind, let’s talk this banger!

This is the latest single by rapper ‘O The Great’, who has been seen on many of my favourite projects the past few years (most recently the Substance810 project Wise Words).

But regardless, he’s back with a single 2:50 in length, and from the artwork to the instrumental to the lyricism, everything slaps on this one!

The beat sounds like a distorted soul/jazz sample, like if Tribe had an evil twin in hiding, then this is what it would sound like. The beat is raw and unique in the best way possible, infectious as hell, the kind of beat I could listen to for hours and never get sick of!

The verses themselves are floated with quotes, one-liners, and memorable bars from Tribe over the years. This is truly a modern-day love letter to the legends, and to put it bluntly, if you’re a real Tribe fan and familiar with their discography, then the quotes should be obvious; if they aren’t, you ain’t a real Tribe fan; it’s that simple.

Regardless, just like the spirit of Fife and Q, his flow is smooth, crisp, and fun. His words have colour and charm attached to them in his word quirky and grimy manner.

His bars go toe to toe with the beat so smoothly, and it all just ties in to probably a top 3 single I’ve heard this year so far.

The great is definitely accurate in this situation. This single should be a hit for any and all hip-hop fans out there! If you ain’t digging it, then you ain’t a real one of the culture. If you don’t fuck with this, then we don’t fuck with you, simple. Go peep this ASAP! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0ViDCOcRoRha8MDXQN2IqK?si=GOdItYz0RaWc7kejOI1Fcw

(Miracle Whip)

2 minutes and 25 seconds of pure fire. Whenever Daniel Son is on a track, you can guarantee it’s gonna be a banger, and this is no exception!

Across this latest single, we have Daniel Son and Ty Da Dale on a song produced by NES HEIST, and this trio releases a raw track that would put anyone to shame.

The instrumental has this old-school soul/classical sound to it with this 60’s loop of instrumental that reminds me of the kind of music your grandparents would fuck with. Very mellow, soothing, and when added in this grimey artist context, makes for ironically a hard as fuck beat for these two to go off on! Unique and love it!

The chemistry between both men involved is solid and fluent! Not many people can say they can match the energy and lyricism of the likes of Daniel Son, but Ty’s fantastic penmanship, flow, and bars prove he’s his equal on this one! 

Even though there’s obviously different styles and vibes between the two, it’s so great to hear two men who are on the same page and aura to create something special on this single.

Long story short, this is one badass track. The production is dope, the verses are dope, and the overall chemistry of the trio makes for a future full-length release by all three! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2V6iYntu8Vvw5F1PU2E5EN?si=rf-HkMUDSRSOGP6L2v4Ssw

(Cracked Paint)

Talk about a run he’s been on lately. After his previous album ‘Death By Design’ with G Fam Black, you know I had to join that hype bandwagon. And with the legendary ‘Crack Sizzlack’ on the production, this one can’t miss. Let’s talk!

So, as stated above, this is the new collaboration project between rapper ‘P-Ro’ and producer ‘Crack Sizzlack’ with a 26-minute runtime. Not many features on this one: only ‘James Mitchell’ on the intro and ‘OGBenGrimm’. Otherwise, it’s just these two wrecking house themselves!

Starting with the production, it’s one of my favourite scores so far because it has this beautifully crafted ‘old school’ vibe to it, almost a southern, country style but filtered through a hip-hop filter.

It’s not like that fake country shit like Lil Nas X or Jelly Roll trying too hard to be in both lanes. This just feels like a western movie come to life in the art of rap, and it’s absolutely unique and one of a kind this year or any other I’ve heard (in the recent years at very least).

The atmosphere is surreal, immersive, and straight up cinematic, and that’s not something you get every day in this rap, so an extra shoutout to the legend Crack for this one!

Matching up with this incredible production is P-Ro, the man who has already proved himself this year and many others as a titan to be reckoned with. And on this one, he’s back with a vengeance to show everyone how it’s done!

As per usual, his style is elite, his lyricism and wordplay are smart, effective, and lethal, and his penmanship is top tier.

Across all the projects I’ve heard him on, he always sounds confident, passionate, smooth, and ready to go. And on this one, it’s all this and more so! He’s never one to miss a step, each bar landing exactly where it’s supposed to, and each verse delivering that wow factor that can perfectly synchronise with this level of instrumentals.

All in all, a beyond fantastic showing by both these men! It’s definitely one of the better projects of the year and will most definitely remain a contender for album of March!

https://open.spotify.com/album/5PnUCaGYRMzPiVmYhVvkXc?si=8e9ow-n8TciIvCh_CXgkEQ

(12 Monkeys)

Today, we are taking a trip to 2024. Where we discover a duo that provides an album worth talking about, so let’s go!

This is the collaboration project by MC ‘Sam R I’ and producer ‘William Bostick’, the latter someone I’ve already had a handful of dealings with over the present year, so it’s exciting to hear his work in the years prior! This project has 12 tracks with a total length of 33 minutes, featuring 

-Doza The Drum Dealer

-Chester

-7even Thirty

-Evil Dj Get Rite

-Kahlee

Now, when we talk about the production, this one feels a lot more traditional boom Bap than any I’ve heard previously. This shit feels raw, crisp, and fresh in execution. This feels like the late 2000’s era Hip Hop that you’d hear from the likes of ‘50 Cent, Jay-Z, The Game’, etc. 

These beats feel larger than life and, with exquisite taste and rich atmosphere, this feels like the kind of shit you’d hear played at a rich party for high-level guests.

As this is the first time I’ve heard Sam R I, I was curious to hear how he would turn out, and as expected, he was dope!

He has a very unique personality and character on the mic. Very smooth and intelligent in his use of flow, bars, and rhythm. Across each different beat, he never misses a step. Whether it’s the clever use of puns or no-nonsense lyricism, Sam hits home runs every time he’s on the mic! 

The features he’s run with also bring flames to the table that would force him to evolve and step up to meet the high expectations, but he does so not only confidently but passionately too! He’s an all-rounder in this rap game!

All in all, a catchy, infectious, and quality album that anyone could put on and have a field day with! Definitely recommend! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0ocRzaxBVBwkVNFeQqHyf8?si=BbcrM30TRYW-26W13ZGt7Q

(Jacked For The City)

And they say art is dead. It’s projects like these that make me feel secure in the artwork we call ‘Hip Hop’ because this thing right here is a modern-day masterpiece.

The latest project by rap veteran Jay Royale featuring 9 tracks and various producers such as 

-Ray Sosa

-Anibal Beats

-Pete Twist

And features on mic the likes of 

-Big Noyd

-Tek 

-Havoc

And cuts from DJ Grazzhopa.

This record is a concept album inspired by the movie ‘New Jack City’ and as stated it’s ‘The G Money Wells Perspective’.

This whole project is like cinema come to life. The kind of album you listen to with your mind and imagination first, ears second. Because Jay doesn’t simply make a rap record but a theatrical experience of a re imagining of a classic film. The way he arranges the production to the film samples to the rhymes and features is absolutely genius.

Similar in context to ‘Liquid Swords’ by GZA, how all us fans were listening and hanging on every film sample dialogue and forgetting this was even a hip hop to begin with.

This is exactly the same situation; upon my many listens of this project, back it wasn’t until the beats started playing again that I remembered this was a rap record because I was so infused and invested in the samples played.

The way Jay was able to make everything work in perfect harmony is the definition of a ‘work of art’. 

When he is rapping, as usual, Jay is untouchable. His flow is impeccable, his lyricism is second to none, and his penmanship is legendary. Considering he’s on this record with a few legendary heavy hitters such as Havoc of Mobb Deep and Tek of Smif N Wessun, he holds his own with no trouble at all. When you’ve earned the respect of the peers and legends like you become one with the greats, and this is the perfect example of that right here!

I couldn’t be more impressed with this record than I already am. The storytelling was flawless, and I’m not even sure we will get another album like this anytime soon or ever!

https://jayroyale.bandcamp.com/album/jacked-for-the-city-2

(SOLEDAD)

We are back again with another album by beat maker ‘Mr Johnson Beats’, who had an interesting release last time, so I was curious to see where he’d go this time around!

So this one has 7 tracks with a 16-minute runtime, and I feel compared to the last one, one has a more ‘traditional hip-hop’ soundscape and atmosphere attached.

Across the tracks, you hear elements of

-Lo-Fi

-Ambient

-Traditional Hip Hop

-Vocal Samples

And he seems to tie all these parts in rather well and makes for a catchy and entertaining listen for the short project that it is. 

Unlike the other project, there’s no rapping, just a beat tape with various inspirations and samples that I feel any fan of instrumental tapes should like this one!

We have something darker, like the 5th track, which has what sounds like a distorted moaning person used as the base line for the beat. 

Or even the track right after, which has a more ‘classical’ and ‘soul’ feel to the production with those specific uses of vocal samples and the beat itself!

Overall, for 16 minutes, I don’t think you can go wrong with this one; it’s fun, short, and sweet and packed with enough variety to keep you coming back for more! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4p1CFgG5b9Zctp8ncFdpK6?si=c4Zi0ndzTzSX4B1Q4IRlPw

(Sorrow)

This is the latest single by band ‘Nocturnal Tears’ with a 3:30 run time, and right off the bat, this is the kind of vibe I gravitate to in metal! The Gothic Rock/Metal vibes such as ‘H.I.M.’ and this band give a lot of the same vibes as them stylistically and instrumentally! 

This song has such great use of those haunting keys in the background combined with melodic guitar rhythms and thrashing drum patterns! Combine all this with the captivating soft vocals of the lead singer, and you’ve got a perfect gothic atmosphere for a single!

You can hear the pain and anguish in the voice and the lyrics involved in the song that add that extra level of depth to this track! I also love how halfway through the track, they add in some more keyboard notes and ramp up the drums mixed in with some timely wolf howls in the background, and you’ve truly created the kind of track you can imagine playing in the forest at 3am stewing in your loneliness and suffering!

I feel this is a terrific single and can’t wait for the upcoming album! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0eTw8sAlVggGJE9dGgD1Tf?si=ox9uAA_ZR0-AP160HlIPqA