(It Ain’t A Game)

I already love this album. Who else calls their album ‘It Ain’t A Game’ and has the first track be called ‘Nintendo Flow?’ That’s wild! That kind of wit ain’t easy to find in the industry, and I know it may seem a small detail to you, but to me, it speaks volumes about the mindset of this duo! So let’s talk about it!

This is the 2025 drop by the combination of MC Tetri$ (another game reference) and Producer TONEBOLO, and together they drop a solid eight tracks with the likes of 

– The Sgt

– Kyle Bethel

– Bald Head

– Crack MeaNa

And it’s been a minute since I last covered a project where everyone is new to me! (How exciting is that!) Anyway, the album

So, I gotta talk about the MC work first. You know who this reminds me of? It might be an obscure reference to most, but does anyone remember DRAM? And how he had two years of absolute PEAK and vibe in the industry? This is exactly the same aura I’m feeling! A man with a rare charisma and energy to him that coats every breath, word, and bar he spits!

That kind of restless, feel-good energy that you can’t fake. 

Sure, he has a handful of brash and thug bars, but even so, the amount of chill, atmospheric, and warm intention lyricism outweighs the gritty ones!

I love his honest, expressive, and emotional nature! He sounds like someone who is excited to get into the studio, and all his recordings are one-take shots! The way he captures his adventurous spirit and his passionate thoughts is just so infectious to listen to!

On top of his actual performance, he has a smooth flow, an excellent vocabulary, a way with words that is equal parts vivid and explosive with colour and verbal fireworks! 

He’s the kind of MC/Guy you’d want to be friends with, the kind of guy who would have such a powerful and influential cadence to watch live! Like prime Chance The Rapper, a man who draws everyone to him just by being his organic/natural self! I can’t stress this enough, his personality is so fucking cool, and the way he’s able to mesh it into the verses is absolutely incredible!

No ordinary producer can be cast to put emphasis on that kind of energy, and that’s where TONEBOLO comes into the picture! Someone new to me, but after this, I swear he’ll be on my watchlist! His production is ridiculous!

What struck me first and foremost about the production was the amount of fresh, untainted sonic bursts coming out of the songs!

Like, you ever listen to an album (whether you enjoy said project or not) and you can’t help but hear the cliché manufactured sounds or keys that every other person uses and makes you in the back of your mind remember you’re listening to a ‘construction’ rather than an expression! Well, this feels like the free spirit of music! It’s so vibrant and fun and catchy and unpredictable that you can’t help but love it!

So many songs have this wavy, light, ambient quality to it that before you know it, you catch your head bobbing left and right to the melodies!

From the more soulful cuts to the more experimental cuts, every song triggers my imagination to the fullest extent! It’s the kind of score that makes you feel like you’ve smoked the strongest blunt you’ve ever had and you’re just sitting back, vibing to the effects! 

This man understood the assignment PERFECTLY as to what Tetri$ would need to accelerate his own performances! This duo is like the underground Justin Timberlake/Timberland or Eminem/Dr. Dre or RZA/Wu-Tang; whatever example you want to use, these two shine together stronger than I’ve heard most!

The features on this album also contribute fire verses that help make the selected tracks become memorable stand-outs and help with the overall atmosphere of the album! Shoutout to all the MC’s!

Although this came out last year, I fucking wish I had discovered it earlier because I would have definitely added it to my monthly list! This is one of the most underrated and unique records I’ve heard, period. The link is below, so go check it out!

https://open.spotify.com/album/4CmMMBNTL3x2s8QeZN9ufy?si=GlOTXY38S3qNIGICTun2Zw

(BASQUIAT’S BURNER)

I’m beyond excited that I get to cover this man again. I can legitimately say he’s one of the few I enjoyed talking shit with outside of the music, a real, genuine dude, and his songs hit even harder. From EP’s to singles, he always had an interesting sound that was unlike any other, and now he’s back to flaunt that originality in the face of the culture once again! Let’s go!

This is the brand-new EP by MC/Producer Bugsy Mogues, who is accompanied by producer Chandler Ward (on tracks 2 & 5) as these two help bring to life one of the most soulful and funky EP’s you’ll hear all year.

Right off the bat from the first track in -GIMME THREE, we get this minimalistic fever dream that just melts in your headphones.

You’ve got those heavenly chord progressions combined with a second layer of sharp violin-sounding chords, some vocal snippets that sound angelic as all hell, and some subtle bass lines and a faint trace of piano keys that go off ever so lightly! 

On the second track -SUPA, we get a heavy dose of the 70s with this funk meets soul experience that relives all your stress in seconds! You’ve got that combination pairing of that funky chord progression and what sounds like jazz-inspired piano keys and methodically paced drum patterns! 

What’s beautiful about this track is that the beat just plays uninterrupted for the last 20 seconds or so and just rides off gracefully, truly reminiscent of that era when artists and producers didn’t know how to close a track, so they just let it play and just slowly fade it out! Legendary shit.

Track 3 -IN THE RAIN (FREESTYLE) we have another blast to the past with those absolutely gorgeous jazz horns combined with those key notes and some real slow-paced, heavy drums that almost sound like a bass drum! Either way, this feels like some shit Phil Collins would have made in his hayday! 

From the glistening keys to those hard drums and horns? Nah, this is pure bliss in a bottle!

Track 4-VAFFANCULO, we have what sounds like an Asian influence with what sounds like a type of flute loop sample running through the track. There’s also thick Thundercat-reminiscent bass, plucked strings, and some light keys! What a combination of sounds. I don’t even know how to explain how this comes together, but it’s truly WAVEY in every single way!

The final track -WISH YOU WOULD ends the album with a bang of more soul and funk! You’ve got some delicious bass strings that can’t help but make you groove! Some light vocal harmony loop and some heavy-pressed piano keys! This is one of those instrumentals that I could imagine Gorillaz making! It’s infectiously hypnotic! I was walking around my room listening to this shit with a pimp walk I didn’t know I had!

Not to fucking mention those free-style piano keys to end the track off? Nah, these two were TRIPPIN’! On this one!

Across all these tracks, Bugsy showcases his expert performance and charisma. It’s the one thing I’ve appreciated most about him as an artist: his natural talent to engage the audience with his voice, bars, and general aesthetic! He’s just a groovy cat, period. 

What he can do with words and delivery can’t be bought or taught. It’s just something you have! Like a specific tang to the tongue, a certain type of pronunciation, or draw in the way you spit your verses! 

It’s like when you listen to Slick Rick or Jay-Z or, fuck it, Sticky Fingaz. No one can sound like them, even if you tried, you can’t replicate that type of natural cadence they bring to the table, as you can’t hope to replicate his! Each of the five tracks he’s booming with colour, sharp wit, and lyricism that feels exciting and entertaining to listen to! He always throws a variety of topics out there to leave the audience guessing what he’s going to be on next!

Sometimes it’s personal, sometimes it’s conceptual, sometimes it’s just brag bars for the sake of bragging! It’s the same controlled chaos vibe he’s always spreading, and it just feels more fun and perfected this time around!

So yeah, I guarantee you won’t find an EP like this, period! It’s got memorable instrumentals and bars that will make you come back for more! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1oGhpma2j9Alv1E39x6h3t?si=DEX9UISERlGHSktZp8_Kuw

(2nd Coat)

You’d have to be living under the biggest rock in history to have missed this man’s dominance of 2025. Literally releasing a new album every month for a total of 12. An extraordinary effort to say the least, and it seems he’s back to kick it right back where he left off! So, let’s get into it!

This is the brand new (and if I’m not mistaken) his second drop of the year by MC P-Ro, who this time around is back with one of the dopest beat makers in the underground, Chuck Chan! Together they drop a solid 13 tracks with the likes of 

-GeneralBackpain

-G-Fam Black

-New Villain

-Sankofa

-Chuck Chan

-Tali Rodriguez 

-OGBenGrimm

The usual cast of hip-hop bandits I’d expect to hear on a P-Ro record, and they all come just as strong as they always have, never letting a brother down! 

I want to discuss Chuck Chan first. He’s a name I haven’t covered in ages. I actually forgot what the last album of his I reviewed was! Regardless, he’s always hitting home runs on the production, and this time is definitely no exception as he finds a way to match the energy and atmosphere that suits P to a tee! 

Across these 13, we hear a spacey and gritty execution of Boom Bap with a lot of different twists and turns to help make every song feel unique! 

For example, the track -Heavy Shading that feels like a haunted house turned rap battle! You’ve got those long chord progressions that have a creepy vibe to them that start off high pitch and progress lower register in a true horror fashion. You’ve got those second-layer chords in that shrieking sound as well as those methodically paced drums to wrap the whole song up! 

Or we have the track -Fingerprints, which despite the heavy-handed features, has what feels like an acoustic vibe to it! You’ve got the combination of those plucked strings with what sounds like an orchestral Jazz Horn pattern in the back of the acoustic parts!

There’s also some light bass that comes in and places itself across this track. A truly grand execution on this one!

The song -Metallic Markers has one of the more soulful interpretations of the whole album! It’s a combination of this angelic vocal snippet, light jazz horns, some wavy chord progressions that sound like they have an echoing effect to them, and some groovy drum patterns that make this feel like a 90’s homage beat! It’s truly magnificent!

Chuck Chan nailed the kind of aesthetic you’d want from a P-Ro album, and he’s a welcoming addition to what I assume is going to be an ever-growing catalog of P’s in the coming months!

Speaking of the main man himself, we have P-Ro, who is determined to continue his dominant streak alive in the new year and doing so with the same trademark qualities that got him where he is today!

I’m talking about that raspy, intense voice he utilises to make every word feel like an explosion on the beat. His no-nonsense vibe adds emphasis to everything he does, helping to add that extra spark to his bars.

When it comes to his lyricism, I love the fact he’s authentic. Some bars are personal and vulnerable, some are in your face and brash, and others are straight thinkers or just hip-hop bragging bars to keep you on your toes!

He’s nothing but being himself, and that includes spitting what’s on his mind at any given moment. You can feel his honesty, feel his emotions, and thought processes as they come! That’s the kind of MC I fuck with heavily because for better or for worse, you know he’s the real deal (very similar to The Bad Seed) and how organic he is.

Across these tracks, I haven’t heard P sound more confident than he is now! He has a certain level of aura to his cadence, a type of accomplished energy that I don’t think I’ve heard before!

It would make sense considering the year he had! But he just sounds vibrant and verbally more destructive all in one (which is super dope to hear).

I love the chemistry he has with all his brothers in sonic arms; they all once again come through for him as he does them! And it makes for yet another entertaining batch of feature verses that provide tons of replay value!

Another SOLID performance by P-Ro and Chuck! I’m sure they’ve worked in the past, but this is my first time hearing the magic, and I hope it’s not the last! 

https://p-ro.bandcamp.com/album/2nd-coat

(WARRIOR COCOON)

This marks the SECOND time I’ve reviewed this man. I still remember the day as well! I had just finished work, the bus was ages away, so I figured ‘fucked it, why not, let’s get a review done’ and that’s how I discovered this man!

A unique artist to say the least and one that is known to leave a lasting impression on the listener, and that is an understatement this time around! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new album by MC th3prism and contributions on the production from

-ADVANTZ’D

-COASTLINE

-BENJI SOCRATE$

-FOULE MONK

-TH3PRISM

And across these 11 tracks, we have a showcase of experimental grandeur and smooth soundscapes that come together to create an experience you’re not soon to forget!

First of all, I love the ambient nature of each song. Regardless of whether they are experimental, jazz, or boom-bap in influence, they all feel spacey, overwhelming, and powerful. Similar to how an ASMR track would make you feel, how it takes over all of your senses and engulfs the listener into this fantasy atmosphere that is so hypnotic and mesmerising that you don’t ever want to leave!

It’s the same feel here! Whether you’re talking about the tracks with that gorgeous jazz inspiration with those grand horn progressions or whether we are talking about those more distorted, noise cuts with the deranged samples that are pulled and pushed every which way in that classic experimental style!

I love the obvious chemistry between each producer. You don’t know how many albums I’ve heard where they hire a handful of beat makers but didn’t bother to make sure the chemistry was on point. Just a mess of sounds that don’t complement each other.

Thankfully, we don’t have that problem here, just a synchronic effort by all involved. Each track flows like a sonic river, from the first to the last, and everything in the middle is all cohesive, strongly shaped, and most importantly, makes sense.

Although each producer brings their own flavour and style to the table, it’s all under the same vision of what the album wants to be. There’s never a moment I listen to this and it breaks me out of my hypnotic music trance. No song that makes me think ‘why is this in here?’ It’s all properly executed and produced, and I mean I gotta shoutout everyone involved for making that happen! Definitely not easy!

As we discuss the MC performance, we have the enigma himself, th3prism. A man who brings his own personal style, lyricism, and flow to the show, and boy is it an experience!

What makes him stand out is a few key things. Firstly, his pen game is interesting to me because he finds ways to talk about anything and everything that’s on his mind, from brash, brag lyrics to introspective thinker bars and even self-doubt bars. For example, on the track -OWN2, how he goes 

‘Sick of feeling like I’m less than’ that small bar alone is more vulnerability than most rappers share in the underground period. But see from that bar, he’ll say bars such as

-That’s why I move around with stealth, avoiding every bad decision

He’s a lyricist in the purest definition of the word, and he also has a charisma that’s a combination of calm tones, a unbothered approach to his energy that gives off a strong ‘cerebral’ vibe to his performances.

Similar to an Earl Sweatshirt, KA, or Billy Woods. Someone who’s matriculated with his verses and yet a master of that cold delivery that adds layers to his aura and overall cadence!

He’s verbally sharp, calculated in his approach, and ever so versatile in his topics. He truly is a hip-hop enigma! (One that can always produce his own beats)

Also gotta give a shoutout to -King Gus who helps provide the feature on the track! He shows great chemistry with th3prism, and they both help tear the house down with their top-quality verses, making for a refreshing listen! 

I recommend everyone give this record a chance! 

He’s improved so much since last time, and he’s helped set himself apart from the rest! Go check it out now below!

https://open.spotify.com/album/2MDakEiBVkEcJq20PnDK26?si=eNoV633jTYSRoxLymRymCw

(Pee Chee Folder)

It’s been a hot minute since I last reviewed this man. If my memory serves me well, the last time I did was his record completely produced by Swab! One of the dopest albums of 2025, and now he’s back better than ever with one of the best producers we have right now. With that being said, let’s talk about it!

This brand-new album release is by MC Generalbackpain & Producer Onaje Jordan, and together they rock a solid eight tracks with almost half an hour of content and the likes of 

-New Villain 

-Deuce Henessy as the feature, and this one surprised me with its smoothness and overall elegant feel, which complements General a lot more than I thought it would!

Not to knock the brother, but I’m used to hearing him on those unforgiving boom-bap wave instrumentals, those ruthless cuts that feel like sonic shreds to the body! But on this one, we hear a more light sound that helps show just how diverse he can be with his performances and how he handles the beats!

Across these eight tracks, we have General coming it with his trademark gargantuan voice and flow that feel like mini uppercuts to the jaw with his verbal exclamations! I’m talking about those savage flows, vivid imagery, his unique way with words that take the beats hostage as he places his lyricism across the production in such a way that you feel every single word that he puts down!

He’s always had a powerful way with his wordplay, such an intense performance that you’re forced to pay attention to whenever he speaks!

That’s not even including his talents as a lyricist! He has a hypnotic way of spitting, as if he’s spitting hip-hop voodoo the way he’s slick with his words and the way he can manipulate his voice to bend to his will across the instrumentals combined with his shotgun shell delivery, and you have a recipe that is literally KILLER!

Stronger than ever, he’s showcasing why he should be on everyone’s list in 2026 (as if he wasn’t in 2025), but especially now as he’s turned even more compelling and mesmerising in that time frame and has helped create a set of verses that are sure to live rent-free in your head for the remainder of the year (if not further).

Of course, there are two people to this equation, and the other (as I mentioned above) is the renowned producer Onaje, who has spent the last few years creating a signature sound that has captivated new and old-school fans alike with his creative take on beats as well as his regular homage paying to the classics, and this time is no exception as we get a combination of both! 

On this album, ‘as it literally starts off’ on the track -Laugh Now, we get a sample of Biggie Smalls that’s blended into that heavy, gritty, and trademark General type atmosphere with those violin strings, heavy drums, and ridiculously layered bass that makes you scrunch up your face and mean-mug everyone!

But as the track ends, we have more lighter experiences such as tracks like -Polo Flow, which shows us a more classical mix and methodical vibe to the man! 

You’ve got those glistening piano keys in that gorgeous motion, that’s combined with that traditional hip-hop beat and funky drums, of that is all together minimal yet so hypnotic that I found it one of the strongest songs in the record! 

Or we can even look at the track -React, which had a phenomenal mix of 90’s and present-day as we hear that ‘Ol Dirty Bastard’ snippet in the sample that is combined with those clicking keys, light synth chords in the background, and those minimalistic drums that make this feel like one of the more atmospheric cuts we heard, period!

What an insane return for GeneralBackPain! And such ridiculous production from Onaje, this thing had no way to fail! Make sure you check it out below now.

Shoutout to the features who contributed to this record! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4YjJCmJXtowLccnvwFbZos?si=TgJ3rjKEQWC-Fw8jHQm6WQ

(DON CORLEONE & TOM HAGEN)

Well, I’d say there’s one word to describe this record. ‘Interesting’ it’s unlike many other albums in the underground and leads itself in its own lane of originality and creativity which separates it from 99% of the music out there! With that in mind, let’s get into it!

This is the brand-new album by MC’s Emerson Corelone -Naiyõ and produced by Naiyõ himself! Across these 12 tracks, we have 

-Scully

-Matt Mars

-Tetsuo (as producer)

And I have to say that last feature feels the most appropriate to have on here (especially after you hear the music!) I meant it when I say this is unlike 99% of the stuff you’ll hear on the market, but .Tetsuo is that 1% they could have been inspired by! Another genius in the industry that is often underrated!

These 27 minutes run like a psychedelic fever dream with mafia references running through it. So I suppose it would be like watching The Godfather on acid? But with music in the background.

This record is the definition of experimental and noise-based with a brash and messy atmosphere to the rough and rugged terrain of the various influences that are purposefully drowned out and distorted to create the utmost sense of chaos and uncertainty to the listener.

If you’ve ever heard an Al Divino tape or Soul La Flare, then you’ll understand the vibe I’m talking about. Literally controlled chaos reigning down on the beat, the perfect blend of noise, ambient, hip hop, soul, jazz, and funk to create this monstrous feeling of release within you! 

This music ain’t for the faint of heart (and it’s not meant to be) with albums like these, they have one purpose ‘expand’ meaning to expand the mind and taste of the listener, to expand the boundaries of what can be considered hip hop and to expand the realm of possibility of what you thought ‘music’ can stand for. 

In this goal, Naiyõ doesn’t go out like a misogynist bitch to a powerless woman, he goes out sonically swinging pushing the very limits of what hip hop can and does STAND FOR!

Speaking of swinging, we have the MC side of things (run by both men), and to rap over this kind of production ain’t easy, and it takes a special kind of flow and artist to pull it off, and that’s why these two are perfect for the job!

These two men absolutely match the vibe of the tracks bar for bar in the same chaotic, fluent, and unpredictable manner as you hear the music. They are fast-paced, freelance, and inherit that trademark ‘splash’ vibe created by Divino and Estee.

This is where the shoutout to.Tetsuo comes into place! Because he’s also known for doing the overly fast rapping over the experimental beats! So to have him on this track (as a producer) fits with the general aesthetic as he is known for doing this kind of execution (verbally and socially) in his own art!

I love the manic and wild energy both these men possess! (Although as I have been critical in the past of .Tetsuo’s fast pace, no structure style isn’t always my favourite to listen to, but I understand the aesthetic and vibe they were going for and how those verses can create a certain element of anticipation, curiosity, and excitement for the audience who do fuck with that bag!

Both men show fantastic charisma and chemistry. Both men seem to understand each other’s mindset and move accordingly, and both have their own unique personalities that do shine through on the beats! 

The various features also do well in capturing the same out-there and wild energy needed to maintain such a dynamic album, and all their parts were fire!

I feel this kind of album caters to a specific audience, but even so, if you’re wanting to challenge yourself and test the boundaries of your own music taste, then please give this one a listen and see how you go! For the fanbase who love this kind of shit, this is going to be a banger from the top! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5IWMRwpxgSTtfFzJjR4iS3?si=-5rlMbAEQb6hbF58Pbxcsg

(SIXX O’CLOCK)

It’s time for me to discover a new artist (for what feels like the hundredth time in my review journey. There’s always someone new to rock to, and today it’s this man! Someone who I have seen making news around the culture but one I didn’t have time to check out until now! So with that in mind, let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new album by MC Lou Sixx with co-featuring from both -Rigo & -Kut as well as co-production by -After Dash. 

And this album has features from

-Dizzy Dizasta

-GoD iLLa

-MJ

-Nocturnal Creatures

-Mayhem Of Ems 

-Rage Roxwell

And this is a huge 52-minute offering! You don’t see too many long albums these days, so naturally, it stands out! After my first listen, what came to mind was how this has the aura of a ‘mainstream’ record but with the quality and depth of an ‘undergoing’ record. 

For example, the production and the way it’s handled, it feels like a million dollars! I couldn’t help but think of acts like -Timberland or -Swizz Beatz in execution. That groovy, spacy, and overwhelming instrumentation that’s as sharp as those million-dollar studios you hear in the big leagues! It’s quite the interesting combination to have both vibes going at once!

Despite the album being almost an hour long, I have to commend its fluency and ability to maintain the audience’s attention throughout the entire 15 tracks.

Each song has proper synchronicity with the songs that come before and after. There’s a certain level of clarity and depth between the songs and the various instrumentals. With the mindset of the two producers coming to share one mind, it’s clear they had the same vision in mind, and it shows in the songs.

No awkward beat shifts that don’t match, no standout instrumental that doesn’t fit the other 14, just pure chemistry that helps craft a theatrical score that has plenty of replay value!

Speaking of plenty of value, we have Lou, a man who on this 52-minute album sold me on the hype and why the culture is talking about him in spades! 

So, actually, using that same comparison to the mainstream. His performances feel a lot more harmonic than is the norm. He’s comfortable with utilising speaking choruses and lines in a more hypnotic manner, which could make for a club track feel!

Even cats like DMX had it in their choruses: ‘Ruff Riders Anthem’, ‘Ohhh, Noo, that’s how Ruff Ryders Roll’. There was always a hint of melody to the mainstream acts like we don’t really get down here in the underground, and he’s bringing it from up top!

On top of that unique feature, we have his interesting, personalised, and introspective lyricism! Each track contains a different topic and theme for him to explore. A new side of him for the audience to break down and embrace. He ain’t wasting the 52 minutes talking about the same old shit; he wants to flex his wordplay and pen game, and he does exactly that!

He has a type of fluid/rock/rap charisma about him that I loved! (And I ain’t talking Limp Bizkit.) I mean, like Cypress Hill on Rock/Rap Superstar! I love how he blends between different styles and influences to place further emphasis on his bars and his performances! 

The features he chose also were smart; they helped elevate the record and prove some very entertaining moments on the record!

After this experience, I can safely say I’ll be ready to see what he can do in the future! TRUST ME, this is an album you don’t want to sleep on! Link below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6IVLMBL2oTFlSKCGTS2RpR?si=kR9KYD9xT-WNK9ibmzNcqA

(Tommy Desimone)

The world has been waiting for these two to come back and collab again. After I discovered them on their sequel of ‘No Respect’ and I saw just how well their chemistry hit and now they are back bigger and badder then ever! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand new somewhat concept album by MC Big Dese and Producer Mike Martinez! I saw somewhat because as the title suggests it’s referencing ‘Tommy Desimone’ who was represented by Joe Pesci in Goodfellas! And there’s various clips regarding him (which I find a super dope idea) and this album only has one feature in 

-The Bad Seed 

If we start with the production, we see Mike at his most diabolical. I assume trying to match the vibe of someone’s life like Tommy and in turn created beats that are heavy, minimalistic layers with sharp, killer intent hidden within each individual instrumental! 

Despite their rawness there is a certain funkiness attached to them such as tracks like -Aaron Hernandez which has such a groovy bass line, solid drums and what sounds like Christmas bells in the background? It’s the underground’s definition of a merry good time! 

Hell, what about the track right after! -Appreciate Me Now with those plucked chord progressions, what sounds like a didgeridoo almost in the background! I don’t think that’s what it is but it sounds bouncy and rhythmic in the background which I liked with of course more heavy handed drums! One of the more interesting tracks on the record! 

Of course the lead single off the album (which I already covered) -Flea Collars which established the vibe of the whole record and what’s to be expected! This is also the track that has The Bad Seed! A classic, grimy boom Bap flavoured track that scratches every itch as an underground hip hop fan!

Of course this is a collaboration effort, so it wouldn’t be this entertaining without the mic piece himself Big Dese. The ultimate roaster himself! Every verse feels like a personal attack on you the likes only seen from prime slim shady! 

This guy doesn’t play, every bar he spits feels sarcastic and witty at the same time, like he’s having fun talking shit about the people around him! 

He has such a unique flow that makes him stand out instantly due to this style I talk about. He has the classic, in your face raw presentation but instead of going down the cliche bully rap path he paved his own that’s a hella more entertaining and memorable!

Whether he’s talking about how less of a man you are or how woman act around him rather then you or any of the number of roasts he can apply to you at any given moment, it’s all vivid, vicious and yet infectious to listen to!

It’s like listening to the high school comedian who just happens to also be the biggest bully around. Combine that energy with a dope MC and that’s exactly what you get in Big Dese’s style! That’s why his chemistry with the likes of Bad Seed is so special because it’s two men cut from the same cloth but went different lanes!

Same quality control and savage bars just different application of both! Absolutely unreal how they work so well!

So, unless you retarded. Make sure you click the link below and listen to the new offering by two of the dopest in the business! Let’s fucking go! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6bwtks5gGiJp1Vus9wztMq?si=3cSzSjqIQNKIkgxeacYm9w

(Sandroze Side A)

What a fucking run. That feels like the only appropriate way to start this review off. From last year to now, this man hasn’t fallen off even once; he’s only gotten stronger, and this new one feels like a manifestation of all his hard work over the last few years! If you ain’t hyped over this new project, then you ain’t for the culture because he’s one of the best going!

This is the brand-new album by powerhouse MC & Producer DOZA THE DRUM DEALER! With these solid 11 tracks, he brings with him:

– Liym Capital

– Mar

– 17th Cipher

– Spit Gemz

– 12XTONIO

– AG Da Coroner

– Ark Medina 

– Kaeson Skrilla

– Dax Empire

And with this band of bandits, we see Doza pull out his ultimate bag of tricks for his first real full-length drop of the year, and it’s every bit as impressive as I thought it was going to be!

First of all, what the fuck is this production?! How does he keep getting more impressive with each new song? That’s insane. 

It feels like a fever dream listening to his music! The way he can bring music to life, the way he inserts soul, adrenaline, and heart into his instrumentals is ridiculous. 

We are talking music that will make you feel every emotion on the spectrum. Serious tunes to lock in to, dancehall music to groove to! Fucking soulful tunes to make you feel some kind of way! He’s got a mood and more specifically a beat for everyone! I’ve never felt this kind of way listening to a hip-hop album before!

One minute I’m mean-mugging my room, the next I’m jumping up sweating doing a dance groove, the next I’m pondering on my feelings in a sombre mood. 

He’s the fucking Willy Wonka of hip-hop beats, a man who can turn the impossible possible, and I LOVE HIM FOR IT! 

No two DOZA projects are the same, and each drop is refreshing; it’s always different and in its own lane. Every Doza album is a must-listen because of the variety and originality he brings to each song, EP, and album. A true one-of-a-kind artist that is bringing true artistry BACK to the culture and making it great again!

It’s rare to find someone whose skills as a MC and producer are equally the same. That is the gift of DOZA; it doesn’t matter if he’s in charge of just the MC work or if he’s in charge of the beats or BOTH; he’s killing it, and on this occasion, he’s flexing on everyone with a masterclass in BOTH AT THE SAME TIME!

Across this tape, we see his personality come out in spades as he floods each track with its own layers of rhythm, smooth delivery, witty wordplay, and certain verbal mannerisms that I can’t help but point out.

Like on the intro song, he shows us his more melodic side as he sings most notes, or on the song -Jake Paul, towards the end of the song, he uses his words scratched up and cut to create the sound of a drum beat! Or even the song -LA BANDERA, he has this hypnotic chorus that is ever so groovy!

Each song has its own quirky moments that help elevate the song that extra level! One of the advantages of being both an MC and producer is the fact that you are completely comfortable in your element as they are your beats, and that’s extra why I feel he’s so fucking fluent on this tape! He’s literally in his element, and he’s using that advantage to spit absolute bangers left, right, and centre!! 

He’s not alone on this album; with that crew I mentioned above, he helps create some fantastic chemistry with those MC’s who bring their unique styles, performances, and cadences to push the songs further and help keep the energy up! If I had to play devils advocate, I’d say my favourite feature verse was -Spit Gemz on track 4! But each person contributes wonderfully to the overall atmosphere of the album!

I can’t even front. I’m speechless. With each new drop, he continues to impress me further and further, and this is the apex. How can someone be so fucking talented and not take an L? I ask all of you to click this link and buy/support this man! He deserves your support! 

https://dozathedrumdealer.bandcamp.com/album/sandroze-side-a

(Slash Coast 2)

The day has finally arrived! Of one of the most anticipated records of the year that also serves as an anticipated sequel, one that had everyone on the edge of their seats waiting to see if it can match the original, and after going back to listen to the first, I can tell you with no hesitation that this one is every bit as solid (even better) as the original! Let’s get into it!

This is the massive release by MC Coast LoCastro and producer Johnny Slash as they return for a huge, critical drop that has everyone on notice! Accompanied by the likes of 

-Apathy 

-Lil Dee

-Little Vic

-Mister Misk

-Chubs

-Marley B

And I can’t say this enough, this thing is EXPLOSIVE! I loved every second of this. From the first track – Mean While In Gotham, we are introduced to the heavy production by Johnny and the trademark brash performances, and they mesh with better chemistry than 95% of the game out there; it’s absolutely unreal! Across these 11 tracks, we have a definition of the most no-nonsense, intense, in-your-face, grimy, and disrespectful rendition of underground boom-bap I’ve heard in a minute!

Each track feels more surreal than the rest. It’s raw in a genuine sense that most fail to capture. Johnny has such a unique way with beats where he turns any instrumental into a sharp and rugged experience that forces the listener to scrunch their face up and mean-mug the word for exactly 38 minutes.

You lose track of time listening to this because it feels like a whirlwind of grotesque production, filthy instrumentation, and defiling soundscapes that cut you on the way out track to track!

Johnny Slash is rocking in his prime right now. Since the start of this year, he has showcased some of the most impressive and mind-blowing production we’ve heard in 2026. Utilising the combination of authentic, gritty boom-bap and explosive, raw energy that comes together in a way no other producer is rocking! I reviewed the first two tracks off this album, and I wondered just how dominant he’d be on the full length, and as to no surprise to me or anyone, he outdid himself somehow yet again! 

Man, Castro. There aren’t many who rap like him! He’s truly an unrighteous enigma all to himself! Since I first discovered him last year, he has continued to surprise me with each drop. I think it’s his special brand of rude, brash bully rap. This man is a literal menace on the beats! He doesn’t give about my feelings, your feelings, or anyone else’s; he’s just out for himself, and to hear that level of intensity on a beat is honestly refreshing!

He’s coming into this with a new batch of killer mindset, ridiculous and over-the-top rhyme schemes, memorable wordplay, and a verbal assault so deadly it’s even beyond R+18! Each verse he spits is disgustingly efficient! It’s as if he’s letting all his primal thoughts and intentions spill onto the mic (and I’ll tell you now, it’s not for the faint of heart).

He’s the supervillain of the underground. A truly gifted rapper whose aim is to destroy his competitors and leave himself on top!

With the handful of names that can actually match his style and energy, they all come together to further emphasise the dark and gritty atmosphere this record provides! Each man has their own unique and colourful verse who create fantastic chemistry with both Castro and Johnny that leaves a memorable impression on the listener! 

Definitely one of the strongest drops of 2026 so far. It’s dirty, killer, and powerful in every single way. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a duo as dominant as them! Check it out below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7vBpxXC5ZRlIEVhfeRNuoB?si=udsmdq3OQBGlSof03l4c7g