(Living Room)

This by far has to be the most interesting project I’ve covered this year, if for nothing else than the format of the album with two sides:

Side A (29 minutes and 56 seconds)

Side B (30 minutes and 4 seconds)

With no actual individual songs to dissect, this is just two incredibly packed parts of music that we will be here to talk about from ‘Q No Rap Name’.

So, let’s talk about production. As this is the main aspect of the album and there are many different layers, I’m going to try to describe them as best I can. What we have going here are elements such as:

-Lo-Fi

-Ambient

-Hip Hop

-Jazz

-Soul

-Electronic 

-Boom Bap

This kind of production style and design reminds me a lot of artists such as:

-Flying Lotus

-Milo

-Kenny Segal

-J Dilla 

So much personality and character in each beat, this is the kind of shit I personally love to hear. I can’t speak for all of the Hip-Hop community, but for me, my teenage years were spent on instrumentals similar to this, and so to hear an artist using this level of creativity and skill brings back nostalgia of the early to mid-2000s, and I couldn’t be happier that it’s returned better, more chaotic, and more evolved than ever!

Across these two sides, we have a set of rappers helping guide this instrumental tsunami with layers of sick verses ranging in style, flow, and penmanship. The names include: 

-Freddy Stone

-Vic Spencer

-Sweetdogg

-Nán Fiero

-Wülf

-Benji Socrates

-Lungs

-Teller Bank$

-Knowitall 

-Golden Joe

-Q3

-Fatboi Sharif

– Sequence

All these names provide their own levels to the production and band together to give variety and depth that you don’t normally get on a record due to just how different each personality and cadence is on this one! There’s definitely more than something for everyone on here!

The Verdict? A fantastically unique and interesting listen that I don’t think will be forgotten or replicated anytime soon. If you’re looking for something different, then this is definitely the project for you!

Shoutout to the extra production credits on this thing as well!

-Sadhugold

-Benji Socrates

-Chop The Head

-Sixteen

Mixed and Mastered by -Lungs

https://qnorapname.bandcamp.com/album/living-room

(Beautiful Soul)

Nothing quite as remarkable to see a duo who just have that ‘IT’ factor. We’ve seen many come and go, leaving their marks in Hip-Hop history, such as: 

-Gang Starr

-Mobb Deep

– Outkast

But the present is now, and today we have the likes of ‘Spectac and Amiri’ who are carrying the torch forward! 

This is the latest 12-track (1 remix) album by the fantastic duo. There’s a lot to love about this album, with, of course, the main talking points being Amiri’s colourful and larger-than-life production paired with the wonderfully introspective lyricism of Spectac.

Starting with the production, this album features so many lively and vibrant sounds circulating the sonic landscape, such as:

-Jazz

-Soul

-Hip Hop

– R&B

-Classical

And all these elements are done with such beautiful precision and passion that it literally feels like the instrumentals and samples are jumping out of 4D style to the real life in my mind and dancing around my head, truly spectacular. 

I can list albums on my one hand that I feel rival this level of vibrance, an absolutely incredible effort!

Now onto the wordsmith ‘Spectac’, this man couldn’t mix better with Amiri if they made someone in a lab. It’s as if they share the same mind; every clever bar spit, every interesting and introspective verse spun fuses with the production seamlessly and creates the perfect song-to-word ratio that very few albums share.

The Verdict? A sonic treat for the ears. Even for the synchronicity alone, but adding to it the mastery of lyricism and production, and you get an experience you won’t soon forget!

https://illadrenalinerecords.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-soul

(God Forgives More Than I Do)

Only the 7th of February, and I’ve already discovered a new artist in ‘PEP57’ who has released this new 7-song project, so let’s get into it!

So, from the very first track ‘Careless ‘Bout A Lot’, we hear that chaos energy trademarked by Kheyzine, and it’s the perfect opener for this. It helps us introduce PEP and what he’s all about. I love the horrific and distorted screams at the start with those haunting notes that sound like chords or chords that sound like vocal notes— either way, it’s chilling. 

Past that track and working with many other producers such as

-JUSTON?

-DJOBIE

-SHOWALTER

-DRAY YARD 

All each provide their own unique sound and flavour to the tracks. For example, ‘JUSTON?’ provides a more glossy, high-spirited-sounding instrumental that sounds like a 70’s movie montage theme! While ‘DJOBIE’ provides a more somber feeling and sonic environment with this long loop over light drums and sounds in the background.

Point being, each artist has their own signature they are trying to charter for this record, and although I seem to lean towards albums produced by one producer, I can appreciate a record that decides to go this far out of the ordinary and allow a variety of styles and cadences! 

PEP himself has a very unique studio personality and sound that I can’t quite put my finger on. He has this low-tone, rugged voice that sounds both raw and sensual whenever he talks. If he were to make a romance album, he’d surely sell peak numbers!

His flow and lyricism are tight, and he definitely has a way with his references and puns on the tracks, which I can also appreciate! On this short album running only 13 minutes, he’s decided to run it alone, no mic features, which is also something I can respect and dig!

Overall, a creatively done short project that hits on many different cylinders that I guarantee there will be a sound for every kind of Hip-Hop head out there!

https://pep57.bandcamp.com/album/god-forgives-more-than-i-do

(Dead Prime Ministers)

I can safely say this is one of the most grime-heavy ghetto shit released this year. This is the kind of shit that makes Pusha T sound pedestrian in comparison.

With the latest drop by Borden & 80rock. They aren’t here just to make music but to carve a new lane for the hustlers and real street shit, and they do that in spades.

This is a 12-track project that runs just under 30 minutes, and from the very first minute, you can already hear the direction and influence of the album and what it will be focused on. There’s a strong, somber feel to the whole thing. When talking about the production, it’s no-nonsense, skeletal, raw street raps that don’t bother with any of that fancy bullshit but instead focus on cerebral aesthetics and brutally honest street raps.

This legitimately feels like you’re listening to a hustler on the street speaking his mind and expressing his real-time thoughts and emotions as he’s walking those deadly pavements. There’s not that usual ‘entertainment’ quality to this record that most albums have. This just feels as bare-bones as possible for a rap album, and it’s a refreshing sensation to be witness to a record this relentless and straightforward.

As I just spoke about above, the verses feel real, not rehearsed in a studio. If I didn’t know better, this is just a man who’s working in the streets who just happens to have thoughts that rhyme. The verses are solid, cold, calculating, and savage. They fit extremely well against the pairing of ruthless production provided, and together they make the perfect recipe for one of the most powerful and chilling rap albums released in the last few years.

 Sure, there are some features on here such as:

-MORI$$ REGAL 

-JUST MCFLY

-JRED THE DOCTOR

-PRO-V

-RVLR MAGZ

-FREIGHTRUNNER V

-KRIS THE $PIRIT

But all these names share the same cold demeanour, so they fuse with the instrumentals just as well, and it’s amazing how well they blend in and murder the songs they are on!

All in all, this is definitely one hell of an album that contains a level of aura that we won’t be getting again anytime soon!

Executive Producer: CUP

Mixed And Mastered By: MERKER MUSIC

Sound Engineer: TREH LAMONTE

Art Direction: LEMME KNO

https://open.spotify.com/album/5kAfoEbXwU7vMoxCfId3kL?si=kTYxBiAVQ62zx4QyClix2A

(Teflonious Monk)

Question: Is there a doper duo in the underground than ‘Teflonius Monk?’ That’s obviously a trick question because the answer is obvious: no. John Jigg$ X Butterknife Haircuts are a collaboration that no one can touch. With their level of unique chemistry and charisma, they are paving a new lane and standard that will revolutionise the industry!

With a project of 10 tracks, there’s so much variety and funky music to keep you entertained long after the record is over. From the production to the lyricism, each aspect makes you hungry for more. I guarantee this is the kind of record you can’t just play once.

Let’s talk production first because Butterknife brings this original style of funk/hip-hop/soul elements together for this one-of-a-kind project. It kind of reminds me of how ‘lively’ and ‘alive’ the instrumentals felt on ODB’s (Return to the 36 Chambers: Dirty Version). 

Each beat on here feels like it has its own personality and cadence. It absorbed every part of me listening to this, took over my mind and body, and had me grooving until the very end. Once the album ended, I actually felt a sense of sadness that the ‘funk’ inside my body had died, and I had to replay it immediately. It’s fucking infectious, and I can’t remember the last time an album did that to me!

Now to the rapping, John Jigg$ brings his usual, trademark, colourful, and crisp penmanship and flow on this one! He’s always had this unique energy to him that I loved to hear on a beat. Similar to a personality like ‘Mr. Muthafuckin’ Exquire’ in that he’s a one-of-a-kind aura that no one can attempt to imitate, and the same goes for John! 

Across this project, he brings with him names such as

-Illa Ghee

-Jay Royale

-Rim

– Desert Eagle

All who do their part and use their own individual skills and weapons to keep the vibe of the record alive! Especially Desert, his verse towards the end of the album was absolutely killer!

Even legend -Tone Spliff makes an appearance on the track ‘Vladimir’, and his skill is unmatched as everyone in the underground knows already. He’s a legend in this game, and I always love seeing his name on projects!

Overall, a one-of-a-kind fantastic groovy album that I guarantee if you give it a chance will take control of your body in the best way possible!

Mixed and Mastered by -Raheem Soto

https://johnjiggs.bandcamp.com/album/teflonious-monk

(Dominate)

When it comes to artists I’ll always be excited to listen to and cover two of these are on the same track together! That being Brutal Caesar and Tone Spliff! Two of my favourite artists in the underground and the fact they are united makes me unquestionably hyped for this track!

As the beat starts of you can hear that low vibe vocal tone in the background over a very traditional underground boom bap instrumental that would force any listener to bop their necks in addiction to this infectious beat!

Reks makes another masterful appearance on this single, last time I heard him was on the amazing ‘Great Minds’ record with Napoleon Da Legend and JR Swiftz but he’s back to drop more fire across two solid verses his flow, penmanship and lyricism are all as expected top tier and on point with this beat! 

Of course, Tone on the cuts is flawless, he’s never missed a step and he ain’t starting now. At this point his work is trademark, without even knowing once you hear it you can identity his work on each track.

The Verdict? Brutal Caesar, Tone Spliff and Reks are a powerhouse trio no one wants to fuck with. If these 3 did a collaboration album it would easily be considered ‘Album Of The Year’ but for now we will settle for ‘Single Of The Year’ fantastic work!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1BfKcX0X0qQIJtkw1VLc59?si=wym77p4aSA-c7shiA-Ff9w

(The Last Shadow In The Shade)

‘Don’t jump on Everybody’s idea of who you should be’

It’s only early February and I can say without much debate that this is by far the best produced album of the year. 

What we have here is the latest album by the legendary ‘Sy Ari The Kid’ a man who has let his skill, experience and quality speak for itself over the years, he’s earned the respect of his peers and of the culture. This time around, he’s here to drop an introspective masterpiece that lyrically delivers on sides that most just couldn’t think to touch.

Running 51 minutes with a 16 song album, one of the longest I’ve covered this year but the album feels more like a theatrical experience than a normal project. What’s more is the fact there’s 12 producers on this one including

-Gr4ff

-Jamar Johnson

-Vntg Jag

-Stoic

-Susano

-Vega7 The Ronin

-Homage Beats

-Pis.j

-Cedes 

-Sypooda

-Grimey Chops

-Sy Ari Da Kid

and yet the cohesive sound they all come together with sounds just like it was made by one guy.

When I listen to this album, it reminds me of Soul Era Kayne mixed with prime Common. Imagine ‘Be’ meets ‘The College Dropout’ absolutely beautiful soul cuts mixed in with some Jazz and Rnb samples. 

When the whole world went crazy to glorify last years ‘Common/Pete Rock’ project. Well this year this is the new standard to meet and I can’t wait for the world to soak and absorb this level of mastery on the production, incredible in every aspect! 

Now, on to the rapping aspect. Not only does Sy give us a Masterclass in the art of rapping with his flawless flow and lyricism and story telling abilities but he has the spirit to invite some of the best rappers in the world right now to test his style against! Such as

-Benny The Butcher

-CyHi

-Freeway

-Nick Grant

-Fuego Base

-Vega7 The Ronin

-Nu Jerzey Twork

-On The Radar

Each man on this list bring their absolute best game to the albums. Fantastic energy, passion and pure pen aggression! They don’t come to play, they come to kill and they all leave the track decapitated!

Overall, this kind of albums comes once in a blue moon. Even with the crazy consistency in the rap game right now this one stands out from most. Whether you’re talking about the production or the features or Sy himself everything is S Tier in quality and surely will be on everyone’s ’Album Of The Year’ list for 2025!

https://open.spotify.com/album/4eTOf8ASPKNkG2VhDNG4KN?si=qfL7N45bRbu44L_6N66T2w

(Balloonerism)

Man, where do I even start with Mac Miller? He was a rapper, an artist, and a man who was filled with enough love and passion for music to fill 10x people’s ambitions 10 times over.

Throughout his career, regardless of his spotty discography, the one thing he always had in spades was passion and true love for the ‘music.’ And just when I thought you couldn’t possibly top his first posthumous release, ‘Circles,’ we get this masterpiece showcasing just how amazing and diverse of a spirit Miller was.

Right off the bat, we get this tambourine intro that is just so different that it’s brilliant. If you ever saw him on things such as ‘Rhythm Roulette’ or ‘Tiny Desk Shows,’ you’ll understand he always had a deep appreciation for all kinds of music styles and instruments, not just Hip Hop. And this intro and, in fact, this album prove that in spades, using completely fresh and unconventional instruments that he hasn’t dabbled with in his career as much as he is on this.

While listening through this, I couldn’t help but shed a tear over some of the lyrics, such as his death or his drug abuse, potentially cutting his life short. Of course, there’s his usual braggadocio lyrics, which he’s most known for, but despite that, his energy, passion, and aura are all on a different level that I don’t feel anyone could ever match.

I’ll be honest, I was worried when I first saw the tracklists and saw SZA on the track, afraid they were going to try to force a posthumous collab that never would have happened in his life, but it was done subtly and tastefully, and I’m very happy they did that, not that I have anything against her; she’s incredibly talented, but I just was afraid it wasn’t his initial intention.

This album is just shy of an hour, and throughout the whole 58 minutes, you hear different sides of Mac (similar to his experimentation on Circles) but more so. Whether it’s vocal mixing, instrumental choices, or deep personal cuts, we see all corners of his being. The only downfall is that it was forced to be shown after death.

Mac, there will never be another like you. You were truly one of a kind. Your albums such as: 

-The Divine Feminine 

-Swimming

-GO:OD Am

-Circles

And now this will be considered in my eyes as some of the best hip-hop albums out there regardless of who says what about them. Two of the best posthumous records rap has to offer, and although this album provides a wonderful and beautiful look into your soul, it’s also a tragic reminder that it’s beyond the grave.

R.I.P., Mac Miller, one of the best. 

(The Fix)

It’s only early February, and we already have one of the most savage EP’s that’s been out in a minute. Although only 8 minutes, these 4 tracks go harder than most albums!

I’d say the name of this record is accurate. This is ‘The Fix’ of some of the hardest shit I’ve heard by rapper ‘Flames Dot Malik.’ An artist I wasn’t familiar with until today, but when I saw my favourite underground rappers give him a shoutout, I knew I had to check out why. And with one listen, I understood clearly why.

Starting with the production by ‘Moose Tarantino,’ who produced 3 of the 4 tracks besides (So Much H), which was done by ‘DVNTBEATS,’ this shit sounds like prime 2000’s OG Trap era beats. The old school Jeezy, Gucci, T.I. sounds. You can hear those hood-heavy melodies and larger-than-life beats that just automatically scrunch your face up for 8 minutes straight. From the very beginning track, it goes instantly into the cut-throat crisp instrumentals, and it doesn’t hold up until the EP ends. Absolutely nuts!

Flames himself absolutely goes SAVAGE on these beats. Again, from the second the EP starts, you can hear his grimy voice, sounding like a mix of Sticky Fingaz, DMX, and Bub Styles. He sounds like he’s ready to jump out of the tracks and strangle you on sight. Such an intense yet powerful aura to his vocals that goes perfectly with those beats! 

On the track ‘The Fix,’ we hear him go toe to toe with the likes of ‘Daniel Son’ and ‘Mooch,’ and the trio are one of the best collabs I’ve heard in a minute! They match each other’s aura to the tee! And ‘Rick Hyde’ in ‘So Much H’ plays his part in keeping the momentum going on the EP!

Overall, this is definitely a project I won’t forget. I’m sure it will make it to my EP of 2025 list, and I hope there’s more coming from him this year! 

(Crown Me Kaine)

I’ll tell you something, last year my two artists who won most consistent rappers of the year were ‘CRIMEAPPLE’ and ‘Maze Overlay’, but the way things are looking, this year will read ‘Eddie Kaine’.

This is yet ANOTHER full-length project by Eddie, barely a few weeks after his other anticipated full-length drop of 2025, ‘Welcome To Stuyville’, featuring Rim, and now he’s back again, this time with Machacha on the beats, a producer I’ve respected for a few years now, and seeing him collaborating with Kaine, I knew it would be dope, and of course, I was right.

Compared to his album with Rim, I feel this production is more methodical and diabolical in sound, less flashy, more raw, skeletal, and deviant in nature. This is the kind of production that definitely suits Eddie to let him show off his pure lyricism in spades and provide him with some of the most interesting instrumentals I’ve heard in a minute! Absolutely loved the beats and sounds on this one, shout out to Machacha! 

On this project, Eddie sounds at his most clear, most level-headed, and dangerous. He’s got storytelling moments such as ‘Maurice And Shanice’ or personally inspired tracks like ‘Live and Learn’ and even tracks inspired by competition such as ‘Fire’ featuring the likes of ‘Josiah The Gift and Andre Desaint’. 

There’s even a track ‘What You On’ featuring Rim, which of course has a perfect back and forth as well, literally saw a few weeks back with the full album between them.

The other features such as

-Shottie

-RBM Bizzel

Who absolutely murder their tracks also and provide Eddie that level of competition to keep him on his toes and continue to evolve.

At this rate, Eddie is untouchable. Even if he ended his 2025 with these two projects, it would be considered a major upset to the underground, but I doubt this is the last we’ll see or hear from him as he’s sweeping up the game in a way most could only wish!

Another banger by Eddie! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2Wd6PB4uKdcpfUYvai03qZ?si=-dJFcdGmSRKE4aFBwPxz-A