(Slugfest)

The kind of run this man is on is the stuff of history. After a minute of radio silence, he’s back even stronger than ever and dropping gems wherever he turns. Once again, let’s get into it!

This is the latest single by Snotty X Jhiakhana, which is produced by ‘Sneak Beatz.’ This trio has been hyping up this single for days, and now that it’s finally here, and with absolutely no shock, it delivers on all the hype and more!

Firstly, let’s talk about the beat, which has this melodic, somber quality to it mixed in with this hard-hitting boom bap beat. When you combine the two, you get one of the crispiest beats you’ll find in 2025. Sneak Beatz does a fantastic job at creating this intense, serious vibe that also has a hint of tragedy mixed inside of it. I absolutely love it!

Now, if you had told me that outside the umbrella Snotty could have incredible chemistry on a track bar for bar, I’d say you’re joking, but here we are with Jhiakhana keeping his own against the veteran with consistent wordplay, dope lyricism, and exquisite flow!

Of course, Snotty delivers his usual trademark grime and excellence on the track that not many (if any) could compete with! He hasn’t taken an L yet, and we probably won’t in our lifetime!

As a single goes, this is one of the dopest I’ve heard all year! Check this shit out! 

https://youtu.be/nrYFQ2Sx8Vo?si=9agK9U-NID5rD_xO

(INFINITE WAVE)

One of the most anticipated projects of the year is finally here for me, and I couldn’t be happier. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, this one project, unlike any other, has been gaining fast notoriety, and its legend has been growing by the day. So, let’s talk about it!

This is the collaboration project by FEED THE FAMILY’s ‘BorisRock’ and BoneWeso from 23 Incredible Industries. They come together for this huge 12-track album presented by Estee Nack! This one features the likes of: 

-ESTEE NACK

-SHAYKH HANIF

-al. divino

-???

-DUN DEALY

And across this one, you have some of the crispest and freshest production you’ll hear all year! Just like the artwork suggests, this thing is flowing just like water. It’s got the hard wave moments, the smooth still flows, and at times, even motherfucking tsunamis flooding the listener with too much grime you can handle before you drown!

BoneWeso has done an excellent job at creating the vibe of ‘high-end ghetto shit.’ If the streets and the fame could ever find a sweet middle spot, then this is it! It’s raw and cutthroat and also masterful and intricate when it needs to be, which is the perfect production for someone as skilled as Borirock to go off on!

Speaking of the man, this has already been one hell of a year for the man, and with this, it only pushes that progress 10x fold!

As well, we all know, Bori has that golden smooth money flow. He’s built with confidence and passion to match 3 of your favourite rappers. 

With every bar he spits, he comes correct, with lethal wordplay, velvet flow, and king’s penmanship. 

He’s spent the past few years building up his legacy as one of the most ruthless lyricists in the game, and this one just reinforces that narrative in spades. 

This album was everything I could have expected it to be and more. The production is high-end, the features are raw, and Bori destroys every song he’s on! If you ain’t checking this one out, then you ain’t a real hip-hop fan! 

https://borirock.bandcamp.com/album/infinite-wave

(Headshot)

I’ll be honest, when I think of Canada, the only band that comes to mind is ‘GodSpeed You Black Emperor’, and no band has really impressed me from there since. But that all changes NOW. Let’s get about it! 

So, this is the latest full-length album by ‘SELIAS’, featuring 9 tracks with a 30-minute run time. From the opening track, I knew this would be an album I’d fuck with heavily! Why? Because it has some of my favourite qualities:

-It’s fast-paced

-Aggressive

-Technical

Combine those three, and you can’t go wrong! And this band understands the assignment well! This is like a sonic adrenaline pill; one shot of this per day, and you’ll be moving faster than you can say ‘Energy Drink crash’. 

This album features some of the most powerful guitar work I’ve heard in a while! The drums are fantastically in rhythm and sound infectious as fuck! The vocals: 90% death growls/screams and 10% clean is something not many bands do, but I fuck with it heavily.

It’s also the fact that the clean vocals are used so subtly in the background that it gives it this special flair that I can’t quite put my finger on why, but it gives it a ‘mystic’ to it like there’s a fantastical whisper to the songs, which is sick! 

I love how from track to track it can go from ‘Bludgeoning heavy’ to ‘Thrash Pace Fast’ and everything in between. They are skilled enough to change the various tempos (sometimes in the middle of the songs), and that gives this album that much more replay value to hear a band go back and forth between the different styles and execute both to a fucking tee!

Overall, although this is my first time hearing this band, you can guarantee it won’t be my last! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4Vj4cqYKprkKRgxMO2XoaZ?si=ngSr3tCFQge2BXw3zuEstg

(Winter In Warsaw)

After his past few projects and how impressed I was with them, you know I had to check out his past work, and that’s when I found this gem. Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the 2023 project by producer/rapper Circa97. He produced all the tracks and features the likes of: 

-Snotty

-Mo Rukuz

-Tesla’s Ghost

-Johnny Storm

-Maze Overlay

-New Villain

And cuts from: 

-Jabba The Kut

-EVIL ED

And immediately from the first track, I fell in love with the production. This is the kind of shit that’s right up my alley. We are talking about the dirtiest, grimiest, and rawest sounds in the underground going on. Unforgiving and ruthless in presentation and bloodthirsty in execution. 

On this one, Circa ain’t playing around. It makes sense now why he’s as revered as he is now because he took the underground by the throat, walking over skulls to get to the top with deadly instrumentals such as these, absolutely ridiculous beats. 

I mentioned above the features, and if that guest list doesn’t leave your jaw hanging, then you’re a fake-ass hip-hop head. These names are some nah, fuck that; these names ARE the dopest in the game right now, and this lineup would annihilate any other match-up you can think of. 

Whether you’re talking about the slick and crisp ghetto stomp of the Umbrellas’ own Snotty or the Overlord himself with his deep-toned, murderous raps with Mo Rukuz

Or even the technically gifted and savage bars by New Villain, or who can forget about the Arizona Legend himself, Maze Overlay

Regardless, any man on this team could take out 100 vs 1, so together they are absolutely unstoppable. 

I’m so happy I decided to check this one out; it’s everything I look for in a rap record. It’s my kind of sound, verses, and features. No wonder why Circa is notorious; he deserves the acclaim! 

Shoutout the extra production by MOLOTOV and Artwork by FICLOPSIS & HAN

https://open.spotify.com/album/5gjCK8eq1gvxwDmnXn8OeZ?si=AiU9ICSgQOaCieGPII1c_w

(Black Falcon)

*NEW ALBUM ALERT*

Not only is it a new album but a new artist discovery for me as I get to experience the wonder of ‘Azariah’, and with all the hype I see of him on social media, it got me hella excited, so let’s talk about it!

So, this latest record has 15 tracks and runs 35 minutes! The album is produced by Slidebeatz and features the likes of: 

-Jae Hussle

-Euphony Bars

-Cuts by DJ INF

-G Fam Black

-Serious Times

-M Doc Diego

Now, right off the bat, let’s talk about the production because it has this level of adventurous atmosphere and elements of: 

-Soul

-Soft Rock

-Traditional Hip Hop

-Experimental 

-Classical 

And unlike other albums where these inspirations are clear to point out and acknowledge in each track on this record, it just sounds all compiled into one big exploding soundscape that makes me feel like I’m walking through a beat forest, and the different combinations and daring fusions are like the wild animals in the forest coming at your ears, and you’re just left in awe and left deciding what to do next with the different creatures you’ve just run into!

It’s definitely a unique listening experience for sure, and I can’t say I can compare it to any other production I’ve heard this year, so shoutout to Slide!

Now, onto Azariah. The newcomer in my ever-growing collection of artists to discover. He has a very relaxed yet confident flow, and he finds a way to balance both very well!

He’s passionate, raw, and intelligent on the mic. His penmanship is definitely above average, and his flows are accurate, on point, and his bars are heavy home runs.

When paired with the various features, he stands his own and is equal with all of them! It’s good to hear that he doesn’t get washed on his album. Nothing worse than seeing shit like that.

Overall, a fantastic project, great pairing, and dope features! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6AIiZoYH8MLV2A3PaOxEKQ?si=8BJk3YyiSAiTrxPPDPZM2A

(Lab Leak)

Man, as someone who I only discovered recently and considered it was a tape about koalas, it’s pleasing to me to know that he’s back with something even more creative! So let’s talk about it!

So this is the collaboration album between MC ‘Veteran Eye’ and Composer ‘Snoff The Maker’ AKA ‘MC-10

The latter is who I was talking about above, but regardless, this follows the journey of a cyborg MC as he discovers what’s left of a world in a post-apocalyptic age.

Not gonna lie, right off the bat, this gave me a real strong original X-Men original cartoon series season 2 plot of Bishop and his journey to save the world before the X-Men die. So already I love this thing. I’m sure it can give 100 listeners 100 different conceptual experiences and thoughts in their heads.

The production on this thing is very atmospheric, raw, deep, and heavy. Sounds like an 80’s Terminator soundtrack with its eerier, thriller-like sounds and samples used. It definitely suits the story being told. 

Throughout the play-through of the album, there’s never an awkward moment of stopping or an obvious cut-off part where you can hear one song changing to the next. It just all sounds like one big episode, and I absolutely love that about the album!

Onto the MC, he definitely does justice to the part played as the Cyborg. Honestly, if Bishop could rap, he would probably sound like this, no lie! Very detailed bars, articulate, crisp, raw, and smooth. No word is ever off-beat, and his flow and penmanship are skilled enough to maintain the imagination of this story being portrayed!

A lot of people don’t understand that when doing a conceptual album, the vocal performances and conviction of them are 70% of it. 

Because if the performance isn’t convincing, then neither will the story. So I’m happy to say he definitely hits the mark on his part and makes this one of the most intriguing and interesting listens of 2025!

Overall, a fantastic, creative, and unique album that I feel any and all hip-hop fans can get into! 

Shoutout to King Loepawl and Drew Shamir for their dope verses included! 

And Zipper & Teeth for the art! 

https://veteraneye.bandcamp.com/album/lab-leak

(ZING LANGUAGE)

You know, diving deep into the underground the last few years, it’s made me think of the era from 10-15 years ago. With your Illogics, Eyedeas, Slug, Ant, Aesop Rock, etc., and just how much you had to dig deep to find these artists to listen to and discover a whole different world of Hip-Hop than what the mainstream has shown.

But now, it feels like there’s been a paradigm shift because the level of attention and culture that you see with the underground today is staggering in the best way possible. With quality acts around every corner, you find from 

-Gold Chain Music

-Pen Lordz

-Umbrella Collective 

And now to add to an ever-growing list of artists who seem to be dropping nothing but hit after hit, we have ‘FEED THE FAMILY’ consisting of 

-Borirock

-Top Hooter

-Dun Dealy 

-Shaykh Hanif

And with Tremendiss on the production, this thing has ‘phenomenal’ writing all over it, and boy, what an experience it is.

Firstly, I want to appreciate the fact that they chose such a gorgeous opening track to start the record off with ‘UNTOUCHED BRICKS.’ They utilised this melodic Jazz loop that reminds me similarly to the opening track of Mach Hommy’s ‘Pray 4 Haiti’ album, ‘The 26th Letter.’ It’s smooth, infectious, and downright soothing to listen to, and the boys make a solid presentation on their verses as you can hear each man’s personality, character, and skillset on display.

From this, the album only gets more in-depth and passion-driven as Tremendiss offers these cinematic, soulful, and larger-than-life sample beats with vocal loops that bring a strong atmospheric vibe to the project, which amplifies the collective to go off and leave nothing on the table!

The main thing I love about the verses is the versatility and intensity on display. Each man sounds original and to their own. You can tell who’s rapping when, and it doesn’t sound like the same person 4x over, which I appreciate. Nothing worse than listening to a group and they may as well be the same guy repeated because they all average, unoriginal, and ass.

I don’t think this would be a stretch to say this could be some of the hardest 46 minutes you’ll hear in the game. From this, the members are going on to do great things! Whether you’re talking about Borisrocks’ recent album with Boneweso or Top Hooters’ latest joint with the legendary ‘MichaelAngelo’ on the beats.

FEED THE FAMILY are the present and the future, and I can’t wait to see them reach the top both collectively and individually! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6qpzYvx6gZD0HkyroXkRga?si=uCRmOrI5SoGaCLo9J87Xlw

(Where Killers Go To Die)

New EP alert! And this time it’s by industrial horror metal band ‘Suicide Puppets’, so let’s get to it!

Features 5 new murderous tracks the band has been set on a mission to restructure the field of metal, and I’ll be damned if this album doesn’t do it!

From the opening title track, we have this infectiously brutal track featuring shredding melodic guitars and banging drums alongside those killer (pun intended) vocals that come together for one of the best intro tracks I’ve heard in a while! 

Then we have ‘Piggy’, which takes on a more haunting and dark twist with those gothic keyboard notes at the start, then we hear that chorus ‘Run little piggy run’, which sets the tone for the rest of the song. This song has thundering drums and heavier guitar than the first as it feels more of an ‘anthem’ vibe than the first with thrilling, sadistic in nature!

The third track ‘Nightmares’ feels like a turning point on the album with the first time the elements of ‘industrial’ come into play. With those opening electronic sequences that lead into a more breezy and almost ‘Devin Townsend’ Empath era vibes! Prog metal aura, infectious guitar with fast-paced drums with a subtle vocal harmony played in the background! Not to mention that tasty solo halfway through the song!

The semi-final song ‘Monsters’ features again creepy, dramatic horror keys to start the song off this time with some evil laughing and choir singing elements in the first phase of the track! Then we get some more smooth and technical guitar displays with rhythmic drum patterns that sync together so well and, of course (as is for every track), kick-ass vocal performances by the lead singer!

The final track ‘Devil You Don’t Know’ ends things on an in-your-face, no-nonsense thriller vibe that gives me light ‘Cradle of Filth’ vibes from the Thornography’ record. With larger-than-life production, heavy riffs, and drum patterns with a more Gothic Rock feel, the technique of the instrumentation and atmosphere of the song! Although maybe a tad bit softer than the other 4, the quality and presentation of the song is one that I feel perfectly fits the outro position!

I definitely recommend this EP to each and every metal fan, and I’ll be excited to see what comes next for these boys! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/30ZyonRKksthUpUcxHCvCg?si=o7VBANXVTwuTW7Ef85X89A

(The Michelin Man)

Another album that social media helped me bring attention to, and I’m so happy I decided to listen and investigate because this shit is DOPE! Let’s talk about it!

This is the new album by producer Cookin Soul and rapper ANKHLEJOHN. The features include: 

-Premo Rice

-Tony Shhnow

-Mike Shabb

On this album, the producer in question, ‘Cookin Soul’, has some of the most soulful and well-executed beats I’ve heard in a minute! From that choir-worthy intro track ‘Landlord Member’ that could easily be the opening song to some 90’s drama movie! Absolutely killer way to start the record off!

As the album continues, it only gets more larger-than-life and exquisite! With grand instrumentation, smooth melodies, and masterful technique and creativity in making such beautiful music for the culture. This is the kind of shit you could play before Sunday service, and based on the production alone, it would make Grandma happy before you all leave the house! 

ANKHLEJOHN, someone else I never heard of till now, but what an extraordinary rapper he is! He has such a unique voice on him, amazing passion, and energy that kind of gives me ‘Danny Brown’ vibes, which I love: high vibrations with dope lyricism, flow, and penmanship!

On every track he’s on, he sounds like an exciting fan who is living his dream, being able to rap on a high-profile album! I’m so used to hearing monotone and serious voices in the hip-hop scene, so to hear someone as full of life as he is, it just makes me so happy to hear!

This record is a treat and a half! The synchronicity of both people on here is perfect, and I hope we can hear more from both in the future! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/48y642MLccmLlQg6LD8AIE?si=9S55Ah4RRlisB8IMaHvMdw

(M33 B9)

Well, it looks like I get the opportunity to review an artist from Argentina! If I’m not mistaken, this is the first for me, so when I was sent the album, you know I was excited, so let’s get to it!

This is the 2025 EP by ‘Mr Johnson Beats’, featuring 10 tracks with a 12-minute length. 

Across this EP, you have some very interesting sonic pairings and sounds fused together to make for a record with lots of flavour and color!

I hear influences such as: 

-Soul

-Jazz

-Lo-Fi

-Ambient

-Hip Hop

And each track has its own unique blend of all these things to stand out from the rest! For example, the opening track ‘A1 Intro’ with those grand notes played that sound loud and ‘theatrical’ in nature on top of a rather skeletal beat. Granted, there’s a long pause towards the end I don’t understand, but besides that, dope beat!

Then you have cuts like ‘B2 Sin Plus’, which has a very melodic intro that sounds like a classical 1930s sound style that then evolved into a dope classic hip-hop instrumental! 

Or you can even look at the song ‘A3 Feedback’ with that distorted voice at the start, banging beat that sounds like someone is knocking at the door (actually, a few times I had to check my door to make sure it was the song) very realistic sound used. Regardless, this 1-minute song has a strong distorted Lo-Fi mixed with Boom Bap sound which I really dug!

My point being, every song has its own unique personality and characteristics that make each one stand out from the rest. The man himself also has great rapping on the tracks! Although I couldn’t understand 95% of the words, I liked his delivery, energy, passion, and flow on the songs. From what I understand, this EP was made to bring back memories of where he grew up, and in that respect, it does sound very ‘homelike’ in production and atmosphere.

All in all, for a 12-minute EP, I love this. It’s short, sweet, and impactful. It has culture attached to it, and the fact it was all done by one man is even more dope! Respect to the brother for this one!