(Thomas & Dumars 2)

If proficiency had an identity, it would be this man, Jazzy Lion Man. This man’s consistency has been rampage-level insane. I couldn’t even attempt to keep up with his number of drops, so I had to pick and choose over the year what to cover and what to leave on the bench. But as the year starts to wrap up, I take more time diving into his records, and this sequel is one that most should look out for! Let’s talk about why!

Brand-new collaboration sequel between producers Jazzy Lion Man and Skip The Kid. Together, they drop a fresh 15 tracks over 25 minutes of content, and they make a sequel look like children’s play!

When we discuss the production side of things, it’s clear Jazzy has no intention of stopping or slowing down his pace, executions, or technique, as this album proves to be an extension of everything he’s been working on for the duration of 2025!

Although this might sound weird to envision, this album sounds like prime Chicago Bulls with Michael Jordan in his heyday! It has this stadium, larger-than-life feel to the instrumentation as if we are listening to the celebrations of all the victories and achievements that came as a result of it! I’m talking about the fact this album sounds like the sonic journey into all the different phases!

From the intro to the middle to the end, we have the sounds of immediate victory as the buzzer scores for another dominating victory by the Bulls! 

To the next track, which has the actual celebration itself, screaming, crying, laughing, just an absolute cluster of emotions showing its face in the midst of another final win! Champagne going everywhere, cigars being lit, women crowding the victors as the team lets all morale and discipline take a night off for once!

Coming to the week after, when the feeling of satisfaction and content seeps in (even if just for a moment) with Michael and the other key players accepting interview requests to discuss the in-game situation, the team strategy, and the overall feel of the finale.

Going home and relaxing with family and loved ones, knowing you are ‘the greatest in the world’ at that very moment, possibly of all time.

These are the things I feel within the instrumentals! I feel that level of depth and emotion, the level of concentration and intensity within each element of the production (and maybe it’s just me), but I feel these two producers attempted to tell a non-vocal story and pulled off a vivid journey for the imagination to uncover and discover! 

I wouldn’t say I have a favourite track amongst the album, as this feels too much of an immersive and important, fluent/engaging story to break off pieces and hog them for my own advocacy! This is a record that, even though it is voiceless, runs smoother as a complete project, not just a handful of singles!

If you are ready for a sonic experience unlike anything else you’ve ever heard this year? For an unspoken score that will take you on a mental adventure, then this is the one for you! Come feel the synchronicity between two of the most underrated producers in the underground!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1ujesgudgJQH9VTKr3ujXO?si=2FQDpN5wQBWEq8mLsOHDBg

(3 Deep)

One of the things I love most about my business, besides contributing to the culture and the discovery of new talent, is watching artists grow! Some stay in their lane and remain comfortable in their tried and tested ways (and that’s absolutely fine), but others evolve and push themselves with each new release, and I feel that’s the case with the man in question today! With already a handful of dope singles under his belt, this one is sure to fit right into that list! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new single by MC Nero featuring T.G., and production by Coas, a man I became familiar with early in the year! This trio drops a longer three-minute track that is sure to get the audience buzzing! 

Now, if we start with the production, as he has on previous singles, this thing has the vibe of the early to mid-2000s in presence! You’ve got those sharp and melodic violin strings accompanied by those heavy-handed drums to give off a vibe of a track Jay-Z would rap on in his heyday! It’s simplistic but beautifully executed with no unnecessary excess!

I also love that intro with that car revving up! It hyped you up from the first seconds of the track!

Now onto the MC work! I have to say right off the bat I love this duo and their fusion! From my very limited experience with T.G., he gives off the vibe of a ‘Mystikal’ or a ‘C-Murder’. I loved his energy and reckless aura across the track, dope to the last second!

As far as Nero goes. He provides a fantastic contrast to that frantic energy with his own confident yet more mellow and assertive balance that makes him such a formidable player in the underground! 

They play off each other nicely, each bringing their own unique flow to the forefront, providing great chemistry and both matching the beat (in their own ways) to make it an excellent club banger!

Don’t wait anymore, click the link below and experience the magic! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4pjeJQN0VhCsNpjSDlmnnk?si=X6jp9GwoS6GWx2WEt9KoQg

(Redacted Reflections Vol. 1)

It’s definitely been a minute since I last covered this man (in fact, I think it was back when I was still writing for Rawside Hip Hop), but regardless, I remember fucking with him heavily back then, and of course, I’d be excited to see what his new offerings would provide! So let’s talk about it!

This is a brand-new EP by MC and producer all-rounder AV-8, and he brings forth ten tracks (five normal, five instrumentals of the first five), and across this project, we hear his use of live instrumentation (which is quite rare these days), and we get to hear his organic and fresh sounds! 

If we start with the production, this project has a level of depth and clarity that you don’t get a lot these days. Of course, that’s probably the effect of the live instrumentation, but still, I can’t help but glorify the smooth and infectious aspects of each of the instrumentals! 

Because what I find interesting is the fact that he’s not using a lot of layers across the songs, but it’s the way he’s mastered his techniques that makes the ‘less is more’ principle shine 10x fold across this specific drop!

From that opening track ‘Push My Limits’ and those layered guitar strings, bass guitar, and drums. Such simplistic elements, yet in this track, it feels like a majestic score of a track. It had me hypnotised and mesmerised, completely consumed by the instrumental! I loved its skeletal magic and its undeniable charm and rhythm!

All the way to the final track with those wavy guitar rips that almost give a ‘surf rock’ or ‘synth pop’ quality to them. It’s refreshingly divine and feels like the warmth of a sunny day lying near the ocean! It’s beautiful! 

Again, not many layers attributed to the creation of the track, but it hits just as superbly as any other song you’ll hear, and again, I attribute that to the skill and techniques of AV-8 himself!

Although I’m not normally the biggest fan of instrumental tracks added at the end, it was worth it for this record because of how well they were executed! Incredible work!

As far as the MC work goes, you can’t really go wrong when you’re out there rapping over your own beats! And in traditional fashion, as the creator of both verses and production, he goes hard!

I love how he seems to switch up his flow depending on the track! For example, on the opening track, he was a lot more fast-paced and sharp, piercing with his ridiculous flow and bars! Something in between Nas and a Big L! Non-stop line after line, clever wordplay, one-liners, you name it! (Especially since the track was only less than two minutes long.)

But on tracks like the finale, we have him slowing down and taking his time to enunciate his words and showcase a more methodical type of performance that sinks into your heart as you hear him pronounce his lines! 

There are a few features on this in the form of -DrtyAnimal and -Madi Jane, and I feel they added a nice, comfortable, and extensive touch to the overall EP! Not just having features for feature’s sake but truly making them work in the grand scheme of things!

Overall, this is a fun EP! Filled with tons of colour and rhyming that can match anyone in the game right now! 

https://av-8.bandcamp.com/album/redacted-reflections-vol-1

(The Night The Heroes Died)

Just like clockwork. We are back with the 11th offer by a man who, alongside G Fam Black, has made a continuous effort to have the illest and most consistent discography of 2025, and I don’t see any reason why he can’t say he accomplished just that!

On this record, he brings with him an ally of the greatest order and puts his hands in producing this mammoth-sized record, and in doing so, creates what might be his best album yet! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new record by MCs P-Ro and New Villain! For what this record discusses and brings to life, you couldn’t ask for a better collaborator than this man! 

This album always features the MCs:

-KNG Bondalero

-G-Fam Black

As mentioned above, we have P-Ro on production! If this is his first time on producing, I’m not sure, but regardless, he does a fantastic job, and that’s what I want to discuss first!

Before I even listened to the album, I was intrigued by the artwork and title. I’m a comic book geek, so to see that being themed (and more importantly, the villain side of things) it peeked my interest even further, and the sounds complement the topic at hand absolutely perfectly. 

What we have here is one of the most cinematic, dramatic, and theatrical scores we’ve heard in the underground in 2025. It’s as if P-Ro was trying to create the latest score for the superhero universe and, in doing so, created a record that’s filled with larger-than-life effects, numerous comic snippets, and gargantuan moments of grandeur that have no comparison!

The few tracks I loved most were as follows: The ‘New Babylon’ intro was absolutely ridiculous. It felt like I was listening to a trailer for the latest superhero movie or the next ‘Infinite War’ variant in the coldest variety!

With those vocal snippets, those orchestral parts, and tense, thrilling build-up to kickstart this record in the best way possible!

Another track I loved was ‘Anti-Villains’. Why? Because it low-key reminded me of an old school Cartoon Network attempt at a criminal story told! It’s got those sharp looped piano keys, those huge horns that blast in your face, as well as heavy bass lines and a methodically paced drum that you can feel ever so slightly! 

If anything, this sounds like the soundtrack to a ‘Space Ghost, Coast to Coast’ episode! That’s the vibe I’m getting!

When I found out it was P-Ro on the production, I was curious, and after exploring the record, that curiosity turned into the utmost respect for the effect and the sonic world he was able to build across this record! Absolutely phenomenal!

We take a 360 spin and turn back to P-Ro! He’s an all-rounder on this record as he and New Villain take the mantle of the ‘New’ Villains and rap accordingly! Across this project, they are on the hunt to take away the souls and lives of every single character in the underground, and they are going door to door to collect because ain’t nobody gonna stand up to them!

First, we have P-Ro AKA Gor The God Butcher. He uses his Necrosword gripped tight; he committed verbal slaughter the likes no one has seen before! Slicing and decapitating all the wannabe ‘tough guys’ in the industry with a swing of his poisonous tongue and pen game!

Once a youngling who saw the adults in the industry as ‘Gods’, as he grew older, he saw the lies and the wickedness in the game, so he took matters into his own hands and now travels across the culture, being the ground to stand on for any MC old or new!

Accompanied by New Villain AKA ‘Mysterio’, and with New, nothing is what it seems. He gives the culture the ‘illusion’ of superiority and success only for him to be the one in reality, the one watching what goes on with a clear conscience and vengeance on his mind!

When he raps, his flow and his pen game cause hysteria, and hallucinations appear due to dopeness overload! He doesn’t just rap verses; he manifests them to life!

When these two come together to join forces, truly no one else can compare. From the lyricism to the insane production, these are two villains who are guaranteed to get the storybook ending they want! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0i21q2hVu74FFglLadeLz4?si=0fVRtNi6Q8CBH7ub3eQ9Zg

(Elegant Doom)

Talk about a duo I haven’t seen in a minute! Both men have their own strengths and paved their own lanes across this year while also working together in the past (at least in one single) that I’m aware of.

But now we have them together on a brand-new album that highlights the best parts about both men and provides one of the strongest records in 2025! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new album by MC LeZippo and Producer $aveMe! Together they drop a strong eight-song setlist with the likes of 

-Roshin

-JD Era

-B1 The Architect 

-9th Uno

-Dealwon

-Saint Francis MH

-Indigo Phoenyx

-Gideon Knight

With a strong list of MC’s to maintain this record, we have a recipe for success that most would dream to have. 

As I mentioned above, these two have worked together before, and on this album, we see their evolution and chemistry grow tenfold as we see their development across these songs as we start with $aveMe, who has quietly been working and gaining a production discography that is the definition of underrated!

All these songs have a level of minimal yet deep soulful cuts mixed with boom-bap influences that make the perfect balance of raw, in-your-face and yet beautifully crafted songs that interact with your brain and send your imagination soaring into new heights over the fantastical production.

For example, we have tracks like ‘Hawk & Spencer’, which has this gorgeous female vocal harmony that loops across the track that’s accompanied by these subtle plucked strings and rhythmic drum patterns that give this track a sort of ‘skeleton’ for the other elements to attach to and give body! 

I love the smooth and elegant feel of this track, I love how with only a handful of layers we get such a theatrical cut that features Dealwon on the cut! 

Another track I love was ‘Mr Nobody’, this song takes a lot more of a darker and eerie tone compared to that other one, but it’s magical nonetheless.

This track features hauntingly delicate piano keys with some very light male vocal harmony that is so sparingly used that it provides an extra touch of sombre to the track!

I love this track for its immense power and atmosphere that it provides! Not to mention the amazing feature verse by 9th Uno towards the end! 

Across this record, we hear $ave utilise some of the most cinematic qualities and elements to create an impressive and compelling score that is guaranteed to wow the audience! 

To say I was impressed with Le Zippo would be an understatement, although I had only heard a limited amount of him until now. He was still someone I had a keen interest in to see how their careers would go, and now that I get to see a full-length execution by him, I now understand he’s the real deal and then some!

Across this record, he showcases a range of skills to make him a top-tier MC. For example, his smoothness and fluency in his flow; he glides across these instrumentals like a bird through the trees in nature, absolutely incredible!

He has a specific type of pen game that makes him sound like a true author. Every verse of his captures you in with his vivid vocabulary, the way he can paint pictures with his words, and the way he can use complex concepts, fun wordplay with one-liners and puns, as well as thought-provoking set-ups that take you a few listens to fully understand!

He sounds completely calm, and his enunciations are perfect, Clipse-level of clear and concise pronunciations and delivery (which I find very important and an underrated skill in the game today).

When it comes to his features, he has no problem going toe-to-toe with some of the best we have in the underground today! I love that each feature has a purpose and reason to be there and not just brought in for feature’s sake! 

He not only maintains his presence but builds on the chemistry of having someone else with you and makes the tracks go from great to excellent!

This is a record I feel everyone should listen to at least once! It’s masterfully crafted sonically and verbally! If you don’t believe me, check it out now! 

(GUSTAVO WONDER: HOTTER THAN THE SUPPLY)

Maybe it’s just because this is the year I started my website, and so I’ve been paying attention more, but I swear everyone in the underground this year is sworn on being more prolific and up their releases more compared to other years, and none envision that spirit more than this man, GUSTAVO! With countless records under his belt in 2025 already, he’s showing no signs of stopping! So let’s talk about it.

Brand new album by MC Gustavo Louis and producer Jaybe Ill, and together they drop eight tracks with the likes of 

– Flypaper Blake

– Earn Dinero

– Jules Clay

And when I first saw this tape (based on the album cover and name of the record), I fully expected the production to be from the legendary Stevie Wonder album ‘Hotter Than July’, and that had me honestly curious to see how the hell he was supposed to convert his rap form into these reggae/soul-fuelled beats, but it seems instead we have Jaybe bring forth his own instrumentals that are merely inspired by that record and provide his own flavour and atmosphere to complement and pay homage to the record! 

All of these beats (in the fashion of that Stevie record) have a more soulful, mellow, and softer approach than most Gustavo records in the past! Utilising elements of those subtly plucked strings or organic piano, light drum patterns, it’s got every element of a paying homage to the 80’s era with these angelic melodies and hypnotic atmosphere, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

This album runs rather smoothly and fluently! Nothing can be worse when you think a record is going to follow a specific structure or direction only for it to change course a few songs in and ruin the vibe, but thankfully it doesn’t happen on here; it’s just eight songs of classic-sounding music that is soothing to the ear!

Also, eight songs for half an hour? That has to be one of the longer projects considering the tracks that Gustavo has done in a minute, proving the attention to detail he’s trying to emulate, and Jaybe does those beats justice!

As far as Gustavo goes, just like the producer, he also does his best to live up to the name and legend of Stevie Wonder by focusing his lyricism on various puns, one-liners, and different phrases relating to his classic album, which was a nice switch-up in his pen game.

Besides that, he does his best to insert his own natural charisma and street talk and verbal assaults across the album to maintain his eccentric bars and wordplay that leaves him a powerhouse in the underground! 

He seems to be coming in with a stronger cadence than normal, higher energy, more character, and a more unpredictable flow per song! Maybe he’s trying to push the boundaries more to represent what this album did for Stevie’s career! 

As mentioned above, he ain’t alone as he’s brought some of his closest associates to help bring further fire to the record, and they do exactly that, spread across the album, and dropping some of the dopest verses I’ve heard them on all year! 

I do appreciate the fact that his creativity won’t let him get stuck into one specific lane, and I’m very happy he had the chance to rap over original beats! As much as I appreciate his NARCO MIX’s, I’m craving more original music, and that’s exactly what I got from him, and I loved it!

So, make sure you give this new record a chance and see how he pays homage to one of the greatest in the music industry! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1X9UkqZqRJbKIvMJPnhE0m?si=r0c7J3WBQnmyZ6heQeOjbQ

(Expensive Taste)

It’s time for a brand-new artist! It seems with every week past I’m introduced to names and faces which I feel excited and blessed to be in such a position! I had a good feeling for this EP and I’m pleased to announce, I was correct! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new EP by MC Big V and produced by Avo! Together they drop five tracks: 

– Old Hova

– Flu Games

– Expensive Taste (Featuring Avokid)

– Physical Science (Featuring Concept)

– Stoned By My Lonely 

And man, I can’t lie to you all. This thing had me feeling a certain way! Right off the bat with that opening track (with that sick name) it had me feeling like I was listening to the early 2000s level of quality again. 

Hearing V rap as if his contemporaries were the likes of 

– Jay-Z

– Styles-P

– Havoc 

– Pusha T

He has such an intense, raw, and street-affiliated cadence about him that has every word he spits sound captivating as he unleashes his superior flow that is in your face but also syncs well with those lavish instrumentals!

He’s an MC that can paint vivid imagery that absorbs the listener into his world and the various situations he’s describing! He’s bringing forth that 90’s/2000’s energy with his ruthless pen game, cold charisma, and being able to bring such levels of energy and emotion to a mere five-track record speaks volumes to his skill as a rapper!

Across this project, we have my main man Concept and MC Avokid providing company to this record and helping V elevate the tracks from great to phenomenal! My favourite feature track was the one with Concept as he’s one of the most underrated MC’s out there today, period. 

As far as the production goes, the same compliments I have for V deserve to be given to Avo just the same.

I feel like he’s paying homage to the old school era in the way he’s orchestrated his beats and the techniques he’s used! Knowing there’s only five tracks, he didn’t waste any time in making sure every single second of the songs were elite bangers that you could hear in clubs or radios across the world! 

The few tracks that stood out to me most were firstly ‘Old Hova’. I love those intricate piano keys that later transition into that minimal hip-hop beat with those explicit drum patterns to give this track a level of rawness and rhythm using the least of sound ingredients, and it’s in that skeletal structure that makes me love this track!

There’s also the track ‘Expensive Taste’, which, in contrast to the previous track, is not exactly simple but more of a grand nature with those cinematic and orchestrated keys and drum patterns, which makes it feel like you’re in the middle of a dance hall with a live band, livening the room! 

Although Avo provided a variety of mixtures to the EP, it never sounded messy or overkill or awkward in any way, shape, or form. As a true mastermind, he kept everything fluent from one track to the next, and I had a blast listening to this!

For a five-track EP. This is truly phenomenal! It’s powerfully written and instrumentally sound! A homage paid to the classic era done in the present time! 

 

(Cross Strainz)

Man, covering two projects in a row by Ant! I’m sure he feels on top of the world for this, but hey, when he drops two projects as quality as these, I don’t really have a choice, so let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new collaboration project between MC’s Ant Kelly and AU! Two of the dopest rappers in the game right now, and seeing this pairing for the second time this year makes me more than happy! Accompanying these men on the production is the list of 

-sp1tone

-DJ Krooked

-DJ Mello Rasheed

-Sketchturner

And MC features such as

-Ghowste

-DB Consigliere 

And man, to say this project is unique is an extreme understatement for, if nothing else, the chemistry between AU and Ant, who we saw a glimpse of earlier in the year, but they have evolved their synchronicity and now act as one with two very similar concepts and rhythms across the beat!

Although they aren’t identical, I love the fact they both have a fast-paced, sharp, and slick rapping style that is explosive, colourful, and verbally engaging, that has each verse between them feel like a treat for the ears!

Because both these men possess such incredible flair, passion, and charisma with love for the game that I’ve heard in not many others! It’s in their drive that makes their words so interesting and riveting to hear! I love how they pass the mic to the next and how there’s never any awkward or uncomfortable lack of quality between them; it’s just as I mentioned, two men on the same wavelength who work together to create this amazing project, pop!

I also love how whenever there is a feature, they seem to include them like a fellow brother! It doesn’t feel like an extra feature but instead a fellow trio member to the duo who’s coming to do a verse they have time to do in the studio, and I love that level of brotherly love! Same with the intro track!

Now, as far as the production is concerned (and sorry, Lord, for the blasphemy), but GOD DAMN IS IT LIT! See, I’m always the type to be a tad bit sceptical of multiple producers instead of just one, as I’m an open source fan of one producer, one album, but these four men go OFF!

To me, these beats sound like refreshing, artistic takes on boom-bap culture! So many fresh, colourful, and interesting uses of elements that draw the listeners in! Let me talk about my favourite cuts on the project

Firs one we have is the opening track ‘VAGABONDZ’. I love this intro because of its eerie, dramatic qualities. It’s got these long, sharp synth-sounding chords that also feature what sound like wailing keys and an almost jazz-style drum! 

It all comes together in a beautifully minimal design that takes advantage of the ‘less is more’ approach!

The second track I really loved was ‘True Religion’. I love this track because it has an old-school late 80s Wu-Tang Clan or Griselda vibe to it! It’s raw, in your face, and brutal! With those sharp synth chords, heavy drum patterns, and a subtle vocal loop that gives the track that extra touch of grit! A throwback track to the golden era!

The final track that really got me going was ‘Blame The Drugz’, and this is an obvious winner for me because it features my favourite hip-hop fusion, which is JAZZ! The way it’s incorporated into this track is so subtle yet so angelic that I can’t help but appreciate it! 

It’s beautifully crafted; you’ve got those light jazz horns with those delicate piano keys and heavy-handed drum patterns that give the track an extra layer of depth!

Overall, from the production to the verses, this is an obvious W by the duo of Ant and Au! Just like the battery AA has enough energy to last days without stopping! Shoutout to them and all producers involved! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4OnYkmdXMEoYLTZSGN5e2x?si=zM4-A5J9RUSJGyTfACS-Nw

(A Righteous Tale)

Man, what a fun collaboration that I wasn’t expecting. Two MC’s I’ve had more than enough experience with over the years, and to see them both collide is an underground dream come true! So without further ado, let’s get into what is sure to be an absolutely incredible EP!

This is the brand-new EP by MC’s Ant Kelly and FlyG, produced by Ant Kelly himself!

With the feature of King Adroit, and this thing has so much flavour that it’s ridiculous! Let’s break it down!

On the opening track ‘Louie Dumps’, you have this beautifully arranged classical vocal track that loops around these low-key strings for a minimal yet effective intro that, if I’m not mistaken, samples ‘A Bronx Tale’ (I hope I’m thinking of the right film here), but regardless, a very classy introduction to an EP all produced again by Ant!

Now onto track two ‘Mind Of Jaws’, which, in my opinion, has my favourite instrumental of the whole EP! It has this old-school, a cappella group singing that just gives me goosebumps. It’s so smooth and free that I can’t help but groove to the sound of it!

On top of this track, we finally hear verses starting with Ant, who comes in with his swift and fast-paced motions with his incredible flow and sharp movements across the beat!

Never a break in his style, incredible breathing control, and organic rhythm! All this can be said the same for FLYG! Except for the fact that he provides a more methodical contrast to the fast Ant, and that’s the chemistry and contradictions I love most across this record!

As usual, we hear FLYG focusing on his one-liners and puns, as he’s been making that his mission across 2025, improving more with every project and single!

Onto track 3, we have ‘Sacred Wisdom’, which is fucking incredible once again. I mean, man, this swing-inspired loop tugs at my heartstrings as nostalgia takes over because this is the kind of music that you’d hear on those classic mafia flicks like Goodfellas or Mean Streets! Music I still listen to to this day! So hearing that loop brought a smile to my face!

Now, let’s talk about the MC work. As was the last track, we have Ant starting the track with an almost bouncy flow where he meshes with the instrumental in the most organic way possible! His words somehow land on the beat patterns perfectly; it’s incredible how he’s about to line up his bars with the production, truly magic! 

FLYG! This time around, he actually sounds more fluent and fast-paced than he usually does. Maybe it’s this upbeat instrumental causing both men to step their games up and try to match rhythm for rhythm. Either way, it was impressive and surprising to see him step out of his usual and speed up, which reveals the scary (scary for the rest of the culture) fact that he’s really good at this lane and can do both proficiently if he wanted to. He’s just being generous, only sticking to one lane! 

Either way, incredible verse! I loved his line ‘Open your mind, there’s a lot of space to be filled in there/only thing I really see taking up your living room is a fancy chandelier’ dope line!

Now onto the final track ‘Divine Poetry’, which has yet another classical taste on the instrumental, with a more subtle vocal loop than the other tracks so far. This one has more emphasis on the instrumentation with these jazz-style horns and light bass lines! A perfect fit for an outro track!

As usual, Ant started off gliding through the incredibly subtle track with sharp and smooth vocals and performances! He actually sounds more relaxed in this one, as if he recorded this one knowing it was the final track. He sounds satisfied and complete while he remains relaxed and ‘divine’ across this verse!

Second verse FLYG and this is the one track where we hear his usual trademark ‘I said Umm’ just a random thing I noticed. Anyway on this track he’s back to his methodically paced verse that consists of his usual aura and charisma where he prove evidence why he doesn’t have to move fast for anyone! 

He’s on his own time and with his complex vocabulary and verbal assaults he doesn’t need to move fast to decapitate the haters! Short but devastating verse!

Here comes the feature verse by main man King Adroit! Who spices things up with his fast paced, in your face and verbally savvy bars that light up the track! He’s a lot more charismatic then expected and he drops different styles, fast paced, methodical, quirky one liners and puns and everything in between!

He can truly rap his ass off and I love that he was put at the end of the outro track like a verbal bomb waiting to go OFF! 

This I have no doubt will be mentioned in my

Top EP’s of November list. The instrumentation is minimal yet beautifully done and the verses even more so! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7fXlKEa87uXCqfn6bkRblM?si=RoVdnyKJTmerKVsd3pRoIg

(GOD FORGIVES OUTCASTS DON’T)

Man, talk about a turn I wasn’t expecting! I remember covering one of this group in a solo project and being incredibly impressed and excited to see where he’d go next, but I didn’t think it would be in a collective effort! But I can’t lie, that’s got me even more hyped! So let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new project by collective ‘MINDLESS OUTCAST’, which consists of members: 

– Mac Yames

– Mellow Flannel

– The Real Mad Mane 

And coming along with producer Garth Cooks, they come equipped with enough fierce energy and sharp vocabulary to make a strong statement as they kick in the door!

I gotta start with the trio because they really surprised me. Of course, I’m familiar with Mac, but the rest, this is my first time (and on top of that) to see how they vibe as a unit, and the answer is STRONGLY!

If I’m being honest, their synchronicity between the three reminds me of Griselda! Strong words, I know, but you can hear how they go back and forth and throw the next verse to the next person with ease.

There’s no awkward pauses or obvious quality differences! Nothing to break the smoothness of the record, just three dope MC’s who work as if they know each other like the back of their hands!

I love the ruthless and cutthroat energy this trio brings to the table! They all have raw, in-your-face flows with a pen game that doesn’t quit! Bar after bar, vivid imagery, clever one-liners, and puns, they’ve got everything on lock! 

This feels like child’s play to the likes of them! They utilise that production beautifully and breathe alongside it in perfect harmony, not a word out of place!

Of course, you do have two people helping to push the record with -suckersenvylegends and -Jamar Equality taking turns in their respective tracks to rise the flame level of the songs and do so, we’ll be proving even more intensity and strength to the already brimmed atmosphere of the core three! 

As far as the production goes, I guess we can say that no one really wants the ‘smoke’ because ‘speed kills’. No one has that ‘invincible armour’, whether you have a ‘The Sword’, you ‘Don’t Lie’ because they don’t have the ‘Touch Down’.

But in all seriousness, this man goes HARD! He brings a special flair to the record that I hear, combining the various worlds of: 

-Modern Day Boom Bap

-Early 2010’s Mainstream Hip Hop

-Mid 2000’s West Coast Hip Hop

And even influences from 90’s rap! I hear so many different inspirations from the instrumentals provided, and each track is done and executed in a grand way!

Like, for example, I’d say the song ‘Invincible Armour’ has more of a 2010’s feel to it, while the intro itself reminds me more of the current landscape of Boom Bap! While ‘The Sword’ reminds me of the early 2000’s!

That’s the fantastic effort of this record, with so many different elements and homages paid, we have a sound for absolutely anyone and everyone! The audience is spoiled for choice and still maintaining the fluent energy to have this project feel like an LP rather than a collection of songs that don’t mean anything to each other! 

If I had to choose my favourite beat, it would probably be ‘#’s Don’t Lie’. I love this track because of its heavy jazz influence with those progressing horns and hypnotic drum patterns and subtle bass lines! It’s absolutely cinema!

Once again, Mac (and new company) don’t miss! They come swinging so hard that the industry won’t have a choice but to pay attention

https://open.spotify.com/album/2bIWM0bxPTjftNmydBlwj2?si=-HTSlzK3Rrqnn033oRrA2g