(1000BUCK$ presents: Non-Euclidean Dust Bunnies)

I really gotta stop using the ‘2025 bingo card’ reference in my reviews. The more I use it, the more ridiculous match-ups the world throws at me to almost prove a point of irony. This time around had to be the biggest surprise of the year! With two men who (as far as I was concerned) were from two different universes in the culture, have come together to release a record that is every part as ‘SPLASHY’ as I’d expect from this duo, with a chemistry that was better than I anticipated! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new record by MC/Producer .Tetsuo and 23 Incredible Soldier ‘THEHIDDENCHARACTER’, and together they drop a collection of tracks that are definitely refreshingly original from everyone else in the game right now!

When we discuss the production, I’m reminded of .Tetsuo’s trademark classic sample usage, and the way he does it is unlike anything else, period. He adds such a skeletal yet cinematic spin on these loops that take your breath away and give the listener goosebumps!

I’m talking 1950’s Classical/Swing samples, and he treats these instrumentals like a ‘Studio Ghibli’ movie soundtrack. 

Dramatic, theatrical, and gorgeous in execution. Little did I know that THEHIDDENCHARACTER would be the perfect partner for tracks like these, and now that I’ve experienced him on them, I don’t want to hear him on much else!

This whole album reads like a continuation of sounds. Like the hip-hop equivalent of a vinyl platter playing on Christmas Eve in front of a fire with hot chocolate and snow outside. This production makes me legitimately feel warm inside! The placebo effect of hearing such classic music unlocks a feeling in me that is deeply rooted!

These loops go beyond ‘Boom Bap’; they are more polished and traditionally kept, which gives them their original textures!

Honestly, when I was listening to this record, I was drifting away, just relaxing and enjoying the internal warmth it gave me as my mind was put to ease! I knew I had to pay attention for review’s sake, but I couldn’t help it! .Tetsuo is so fucking angelic with his production that it takes over the brain and puts you into a state of tranquillity whether you want it or not!

Speaking of the man, as I mentioned above, he’s also an MC as he’s on every track on here. As he’s trademarked to do, he brings back his intense, never-stopping style of rapping. I’m talking the kind of shit you’d need to listen to on 0.5 speed to pick up all the bars and flows!

I do remember on one of my earlier reviews of his that he would slow the fuck down. I guess he ignored me completely because on this record, he’s only one speed, GO! He’s got that tiger’s blood, he’s Bi Winning!

Not only is he fast-paced, but he’s free-form in his flow. Very similar to his fellow brother on this album, he doesn’t have a specific formula to follow for his rhythm or lack thereof. He just raps and says whatever he wants like a verbal machine gun with vocabulary bullets that will land on anything and everything!

It’s quite the interesting contrast to have such meaningful and methodical instrumental samples only to be followed by almost unfathomable lyrics that you have to slow down to understand! But hey, that’s .Tetsuo’s style, and he’s sticking to who he is, and I can respect that!

Now, the exciting addition to this record is THEHIDDENCHARACTER! Someone who, as I mentioned, does have a similar free-lance, all-power-on-no-breaks technique (except a tad bit more paced to understand better), but regardless, I now understand why these two would make a good duo.

Across this record and the songs he’s on, he showcases his trademark swagger-filled flow, rhythm, and lyricism. As usual, it sounds like all his thoughts come pre-rhymed. As if he’s just talking on the mic and never writing anything down!

He fits these beats like a tee! These match his energy and charisma and he goes off on them just as well as .Tetsuo! I would have loved to hear him on all the tracks but it’s a treat to hear him on any regardless!

He kind of reminds me of the modern day Slick Rick. He has that same swagger and aura to him, the same ability to make his own slang terms and phrases that he was the father of! 

He has the same skill of impeccable flow and packed with a bar game so strong he’s often (and deservingly so) compared to the greats for his talents.

Look, I’m still blown away by this pairing. You remember your friends the Chinese guy and the French guy? Yeah me neither. It never happens and yet today it did! I would really love to see more of them in the future! 

(Hustle, Weed & Music)

How many people can say they’ve had a career more fruitful than this man? Each time he’s dropped, it’s changed the game completely with critical acclaim and the culture itself spreading love.

Now he’s back with another edition to his ever-growing discography that I’m sure by the end of it will be considered one of the best!

This is the brand-new record by MC Powerhouse UFO Fev! On this record, he’s coming with producers

– Berto Isaiah

– Melks

– Short Fyuz

– DJ Spinatik

– Turbz 

– Rob Tewlow

And man, to say this is a worthy successor to his previous work would be a huge understatement. Across this 12-track score, we hear these producers reinforcing the underground with heavy, crisp, and lavish boom-bap tracks that are equal parts raw and clean in execution.

This whole album reads like a soundtrack to the streets. Each track has those beautifully crafted piano keys, elegant strings, hard-hitting drum patterns, glorified synths, along with smooth breaks and transitions that you only hear from the best of the best.

There’s no awkward or obvious change from one track to the next, just one smooth continuous flow of music that you can close your eyes and experience as a whole!

What’s dope is, if you did want to pick and choose certain tracks, they will still be more than worthy of being club bangers! That’s what’s special about this record. It plays gorgeous as a full length and makes for the best pump music when needed!

With the addition of those various skits, this record plays out like a prime early 2000s record with those grand beats, baller atmosphere, and catchy instrumentals that you would burn onto your CD or iPod and vibe with for the rest of the year! 

As far as UFO’s performances go, I mean he’s on top of his game and in a zone that no one can touch! He utilises these incredible beats like a true veteran of the game with incredible charisma, sharpened technique, and enough experience to knock away any fake-ass haters trying to shit on his name!

I love how he lays out his bars across this project. He kind of reminds me of 2000’s Hov in his confidence and street poetry. A man who knows he’s the best going right now and flexes accordingly!

I think the intro spoken words describes exactly the mindset UFO is in right now. ‘You love this game? Do you love it with your whole heart? Because if you don’t, why bother? I love that. Because his conviction is heard throughout the tracks on every album he makes and every breath he takes on the records!

He’s got that sharp flow, that complex vocabulary, that verbal massacre, and a pen game so savage he leaves an impression on everything he touches! 2025 is his boss era, and he ain’t taking any more shit. He’s the one running shit now!

Every time a new UFO record drops, I get excited and goosebumps in my bones because I know we are about to hear an instant classic. A record with no skips, just straight fire. Not to mention, across this project, he goes solo, no features, just him, and that’s more than enough to carry any album!

If you ain’t pumping this one, then you ain’t for the culture! It’s as simple as that! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7mYqf6BggF8bj73ZMwI3rc?si=zaNeJtVTS_Gsvn4X88KIMQ

(Soul Vs Math)

Man, I really hope the culture is as geeked as I am over such a high-profile release. I swear the only people who aren’t have no idea who these two men are because if they did, they would be screaming right now as I am.

Two men who have not only gathered a cult following but have crafted the underground culture we know today, both men who have been killing it in 2025, and so to see them come together on an album is the definition of ‘Dream come true’. Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new collaboration album between MC Legend Napoleon Da Legend and Producer Legend Dub Sonata, and together they drop a fresh 12 with the likes of 

-Maître D

-Tone Spliff

-Nejma Nefertiti

-Innocent? 

-Tracy 168

-DJ Rhettmatic

-Evening Elevator 

I feel like with every new Dub album that comes out, I get re-surprised in just how authentic and elegant his art is. This man has stayed true to himself from day one, and it shows. Across this record (just like every other), he showcases his mastery of the Hip Hop techniques that have a balance of the old school and modern influences to create his one-of-a-kind sound that is instantly recognisable!

With each track produced, you hear the passion, life, and soul he puts into his music. Whether that be tracks like ‘Sports Vet’ with those lively classical-inspired keys going off in that freelance motion across the thudding drums and violin strings! 

Not to mention the legendary influence and desire of the one and only Tone Spliff, who provides those ridiculous cuts and scratches that never get boring! My main man for sure!

Or if you want to look at tracks like the opener ‘Forever’ with that cinematic take on the 90’s East Coast vibe with those theatrical violin strings that go off in that chaotic, thrilling motion alongside those skeletal drum patterns! Feeling like something straight out of a Godzilla film! A miniature score of pure adrenaline and unrivalled energy that sets the tone for the rest of the album!

Even if we take a look at the melodically enhanced track ‘Everywhere Is Foul’, where we have those delicate piano keys leading the way for that old-school boom-bap 90s homage track that feels both rough and rugged and beautifully composed all at the same time.

It’s no easy feat to accomplish having two opposite ends come together in harmony, but that’s just the skill of Dub at work.

Once again, just like his work on ‘Much Given, Much Tested’, we see Dub bring his production to life unlike anyone else in the business. The instrumentals are groovy, raw, full, and exciting, where it will take you away and snap you out of reality for just a brief moment. 

Onto the work of Napoleon, the man who is on his 5th project to date, and he hasn’t missed yet. Whether that be conceptually driven cuts such as ‘Dessalines’ or more bar-driven performances such as ‘Great Minds’, he’s the type of man who can flourish under any circumstances, and if anything, this production has enhanced his performances to that next level!

We hear Napoleon sync one with the music, performing like a bee flying through the flower-filled grass in the wild, completely at peace and in his element. We hear him flex his god-level pen game that outshines everyone in the best of times, his charismatic and intelligent personality that has you feel like you’re listening to a linguistic professor or preacher trying to spread knowledge and life experiences to the masses!

His precision and timing are immaculate as he always is, never one to skip a beat or get lost in any transitions or sequences. Every breath this man takes is right where it needs to be as he takes the lead in this album!

Some people when they are charged with leading a record don’t have enough energy or conviction or personality to hold the listeners’ attention for a full LP’s amount of time, but thankfully, Napoleon has eccentric taste in spades, and so that’s never a problem for him!

Across the handful of features hired for this album, the one that stands out most is ‘Money’ as he goes toe-to-toe with the legendary Nejma. Hearing these two icons on the same track made me very happy as they showcased the power of artistry and originality while flexing their dominating MC skills! 

I know I’ve used the word ‘legendary’ a lot in this review, but that’s because it’s deserving of the praise. From the producers to the MC’s to the features, they all hold a certain notoriety that deserves to be acknowledged! This album is a MUST LISTEN! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1CLsHJ8clGw1MrwOAAkqaD?si=D5jMKHZhRWyMeslD_kMDcw

(20 Man)

This new album warms my heart. It feels like a true return to the style and spirit I fell in love with! Not to say this man’s releases have been bad by any stretch of the imagination, but this just feels like a proper return home to what made him a household name (in my eyes) and the magic that follows him! 

This is the brand-new record by MC AKA King of Sunshine Rap Sabio Dub. Who returns with producer Darius Lazar, and together they drop a fresh seven tracks that feature the likes of 

-Dephchyld

-BECK

-Teek Hall (the last one surprised me), and all three features have a special spot across this record as they bring their own unique styles and energies to the album.

When we talk production, you can’t get any more trademark Sunshine Rap than this. The whole 18 minutes runs like a jazz-filled fever dream with those magnificent horns, grand strings, and intricate keys found in every song as you’re taken into a soundtrack of dreams that you don’t want to wake up from!

This felt less like ‘songs’ to me and more like a score. I wasn’t even able to pay attention to the individual songs as I was taken away by the awe of the harmonies, the angelic vibes, and the heartfelt soundscapes that make up this incredible album.

This is the kind of album you play when you want to leave your troubles at the door, the way the heavenly sequences flush through your brain and enter your soul for an ultimate spiritual climax that you hope will never end. I actually had to stop myself from drifting away into my own realm and actually pay attention to the music itself because of how encapsulating this is! 

I don’t remember covering beats by this man before, but after this, he’s definitely staying on my radar for good. The way the matches, blends, and synchronise with my main man Sabio is out of this world!

Speaking of the man, we have Sabio back on his prime shit. Back on his stoner, sitting on a long-ass surfboard, riding a long-ass wave, just embracing life shit. 

He’s on his spiritual guru shit, and it’s honestly addictive!

When he’s on this wavelength, there’s no one else more interesting or intoxicating to listen to them

Him. He has the energy of Bob Marley but the bar capacity of 90s Snoop. Every word and breath has its own particular rhythm, as if all his thoughts rhyme.

He legitimately sounds like peace and harmony came to life as a person and started spreading that flower power movement in human form! I can’t tell you enough how freeing and peaceful this man’s bars are without you actually experiencing it for yourself; it’s truly out of this world!

He’s like a hip-hop stoner preacher, the kind of man you’ll hear stories about chilling on some remote island in a hut somewhere, spreading the ancient gospel and knowledge of the world and the beauty within!

As the shaman raps his ass off (as previously mentioned), you have three other features who do an incredible job to match his rare energy and atmosphere on the song!

I was honestly a tad bit worried that maybe Teek’s highly energetic and powerful flow might be an awkward contrast to the otherwise smooth sounds, but that wasn’t the case at all! He slid into the instrumental and verse as if he was built for this and showcased at the same time his own level of versatility and depth across this song!

All in all, probably my favourite solo release of Sabio’s in a minute. He’s going back to that laid-back, relaxing vibe, and as a result, me and the rest of the audience can relax right alongside him! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/36ETMzT70a1W7yHmi6UNsf?si=pRGQ622YRb2A2aPS0SopFQ

(CHAMPAINFUL: TOAST TO BAD TIMES)

Through all the crazy drops of this year and singles alike, I completely forgot about the possibility of this man doing a solo album! Because this man has been on so many projects elevating the shit out of all of them with his magnetic presence and unmatched charisma that it completely slipped my mind of this monster dropping, and now that he has, the world better take notice! Let’s talk about it!

This is the BRAND NEW ALBUM by MC Kil The Artist. A name you have seen everywhere in 2025 if you’re a real underground head. He’s featured by a host of producer credits (the biggest being DeevoTheGenius) among many others.

He’s featured by the likes of 

– BlueHillBill

– Dub Aura

And let me tell you something. This record, in its 23-minute run time, is something to behold! 

What this album provides stylistically is a Soul/Funk fusion the likes that only Kil could bring out. From the opening track, we hear these beautifully mixed and chopped samples that are done with care and elegance! 

We have tracks like ‘CHAMPAINFUL II’ which utilises that sample Common is most commonly known for using on his classic ‘Be’ record. But on this record, using the more complete sample usage, as well as these low strings and subtle high hats that give these tracks a more thoughtful and delicate nature to them!

Or even tracks like ‘BUBBLE COAT’ that bring the album back to a more ‘Boom Bap’ theme with those delicate keys in the background, heavy drums, and ongoing chords that have a gritty texture to them that is trademark for a Kil/BlueHill flavour to them!

I love the simplistic and minimal yet cinematic feel to a track like this. It’s one you could listen to for hours and never get sick of!

There’s even tracks like ‘East 99’ which samples a track from the legendary Bone Thugs and Harmony. If you don’t recognise that intro, then fuck you, it’s as simple as that!

From there, we have these delicate keys, funky Jazz horns, and a mesmerising drum pattern that is candy to the ears! 

All these beats are nothing but sonic magic. Whenever Kil is behind the bars, he brings with him some of the most beautiful, elegant, and magnificent instrumentals the game has ever heard, and this is no exception! 

Now, before I do a deep dive into his lyricism, I want to continue talking about ‘East 99’ because lyrically, this track feels like a love letter to the old school!

Not only in the obvious bone but also in Biggie lines from his ‘Ready To Die’ record. This track gave me goosebumps more than any other song on the record! 

So, from there, we have a record that’s dosed in, as I said before, endless charisma, passion, conviction, and a swagger that can only be rivalled by the likes of Bluehill or Borirock! I ain’t joking; he’s truly remarkable!

What he’s able to do across his tracks and blend his swag with dope lyricism that makes sound impeccable and dope with his street poetry and flow that is literally unmatched.

He sounds as smooth as 80s Rakim/Slick Rick or 90s Snoop. It’s as if each one of his thoughts rhymes in sequence rather than written-down bars, and that’s what makes him a one-of-a-kind talent. Across this beautiful production, his wordplay and flow flourish as he moves like butter through a field of flowers, graceful and immersive with each breath taken on the tracks!

His chemistry with Bluehill was something I first discovered on his record with Deevo ‘BLEU MAGIC’, and I saw further evidence of evolving across this one as well. Two men with some of the most perfect adaptations of flow and rhythm you’ll find anywhere in the game right now going bar for bar/verse for verse is absolutely phenomenal!

I can’t stress this enough; this is a MUST-LISTEN ALBUM! From the angelic production to the incredible verses and features, this is another one for the record books! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4F1L3EQFMNdnxqkdDqtc2u?si=eVU9N22fQc-Hi7bhOAXbMA

(CAVE)

Well, at the risk of sounding like I’m repeating myself, this is another example of something that I didn’t expect to hear this year and a collaboration I now cannot unsee and don’t ever want to see without! Two of the most interesting and unique underground players right now coming together for an elaborate project that is sure to bring a wave of originality back into the scene!

This is the latest album by MC/Producer AU, who this time around has sought out the help of fellow dynamic producer DJ Krooked to the scene on a few tracks, and with nine new tracks across fifteen minutes of content, this thing is fresh and ready to be consumed!

Starting with the production first! This thing starts off HOT. With the intro track produced by Krooked, who provides this noise-inspired/experimental vibe with uncomfortably loud and abrasive sounds and noises that challenge the listener and provide a punch into the face and hearts of the audience!

From there, we get tracks like ‘Tricknology’, which is just as ambitious and risk-taking as the first! With synth chords that sound like an alien invasion and cut scratches and an underline base formation that legitimately sounds like a sub-human creature crawling its way through the headphones into your brain to eat you from the inside out!

A truly creepy song with a sinister vibe behind it, showcasing AU’s most diabolical and yet creative prowess! 

From there, we have ‘Golden Eye’, which provides our most ‘Hip Hop’ themed track to date, and even that still has layers of experimental features and structures attached to it! Whether we are talking about those high-pitch spiralling chords in the background or that distorted vocal range that sounds like an alien has abducted AU and taken over the track itself! 

But there are actual rap elements such as those booming cuts and scratches as well as delicate keys in the background that remind me of classic ‘boom bap’ influence!

The other DJ Krooked song, ‘Paranoia’s a bitch’, is another dive into the dark realm of Krooked and AU’s collaborative mind. 

You’ve got those heavy organ chords, those thudding drum patterns, and those light, what sound like sticks hitting a bass drum (like the clown from Slipknot) in this overall haunting/Dracula vibe track that gives the most eerie atmosphere imaginable!

I think this goes without saying that instrumentally this is definitely AU’s darkest project yet. This is what I love about this man (and Krooked), both men aren’t afraid to get experimental and try different things! AU himself has done like five different sounds and themes across five different things I’ve reviewed on him, and it’s those ‘boundary-pushing’ artists I respect the most!

As far as the MC work goes here, I think the same critics apply here too! Because across these nine tracks, we are hearing a more distorted, fluctuating, and out-there version of his bars than ever before. It’s as if he’s presenting himself as this robot that has been plugged into the studio and programmed to rap! 

His verses barely feel human, and yet there’s such energy, static, and dynamic presentation across them that I can’t help but become entranced in the offerings!

Maybe he got inspired directly by Krooked and thought ‘fuck it, I’m gonna go all the way to the extreme of the spectrum’, but regardless, it’s definitely a side of AU no one has heard before!

He still lays down his classic wordplay, excellent deliveries, fantastic cryptic vocabulary, and pen game; it’s just now it sounds like it’s coming from a satanic Daft Punk then AU himself, which is very unique and addictive if I’m being honest!

With all those distortions active, we see a more chilling and complex side of him we’ve never seen before. It’s as if he’s hiding his true self and the emotions behind it for a more sinister purpose. Maybe he’s secretly ashamed of this darker path, and masking it with synthesiser filters is easier for him to expose this ‘alter ego’ side of himself.

Maybe he’s come to the concept and conclusion that his normal voice and personality can’t co exist with this more devilish and anarchy driven persona on this album.

Whatever is the case here, I love every second of it. I love the creativity behind it, I LOVE that he paired with DJ Krooked and I love that he’s taking a leap into territory that the majority wouldn’t even be brave enough to set foot into!

This project ain’t for the weak, but it is for the curious and adventurous! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/3fVSN0dcMuDn50SyzaKzXa?si=Qu2NCnpjQM-5njI-gSoi0Q

(B.I.T.C.H)

I’ll be honest with you all, I had higher expectations for this record than most. Maybe I’ve been pushing too high of hopes onto her, but that’s only because of the amazing progression I’ve seen from her this year.

From the first project I heard of her, that Vol 1 of ‘HDXMM LUXE’, which I did enjoy but knew she could do even better. Which led to her verse on Van Gunz’s record, which blew me away, which further led to the Vol II of ‘HDXMM LUXE’, which is the lead-up to my super high level of hope for her and her performances, and with this new record, how does he hold up? That’s what we’re here to talk about!

So, this is the brand-new full-length record by 6th Man Queen HONEY DINERO! This album is being produced by Team Demo and featuring the likes of 

– Tone Spliff

– The Bad Seed

– Spoda & Innocent?

– Hitman Yogi

– Frankky Smaccz

– Terror Van Poo

And I gotta tell you. This is a listening experience and a half! If we start with the production first, whenever the legendary ‘Team Demo’ are on the case, you can expect greatness, and that’s exactly what we got here!

With a mesh of different inspirations and influences, you really get a what’s what of variety for the listener!

If we start even from the intro track, we have something that sounds like a homage to the 90s with Tone on the case! Who provides those epic scratches and cuts as well as Team formulating that dramatic, theatrical organ chords over those methodical-style drums! It reminds me of something 90s Nas or Guru would be on! Absolutely badass way to start the track off!

We even have tracks like ‘Uh Ohhhh’, which has a light Punk/Metal influence to it with those slow-paced long guitar strings and rock and roll drums that make this feel like an 80s skeletal OG punk song with that hip-hop influence! 

With Honey’s chorus of her just saying ‘Uh Ohhhh’ in repeat, definitely reminds me of something ‘Misfits’ would have done in the late 80s.

Also, sprinkled throughout are a bunch of horror-laced tracks, such as ‘Bronx SVU’, where it has that dark and eerie 80s side-B horror movie soundtrack vibe with those swaying chords and deep, destructive instrumentation that makes you feel like you’re watching a ‘Friday the 13th’ or ‘Halloween’ film.

Also scattered throughout this record is a continuing theme (that ties into the name of the record) of various clips showcasing the feminine movement, whether that be to be seen as more than just a sex object or the hypocrisy of being called a bitch for qualities men would have that they would be praised for!

How to be respected by a man, you have to work twice as hard in all these different areas.

I found these outros and interludes rather interesting and eye-opening listens. I can see how that would be a struggle. I personally grew up with aunties and mothers who had the mentality of ‘I’m going to get that spot or I’m throwing you down for it’. Coming from broken backgrounds, they were forced to be tough and menacing, and that’s the feminism I grew up with, but I suppose they wouldn’t have to be that way if shit was equal, so I admired those passages across this project!

As I’ve come to appreciate from her music to date. This album’s sounds are original, fresh, creative, and always provide that unique spark that separates it from the rest! Rooted in the gritty East Coast scene but always coming with something different and engaging! Nothing but love for the Team Demo crew!

Now, onto Honey. The main reason why I was so excited to begin with is that she has the ability to rap and match the best of them in the industry! I’d pair her in the same conversation as Che Noir, Rapsody, Jean Grae; she deserves to be in the best conversation! 

Across these 14 tracks, we hear a sweet combination of her artistic side and her MC side all rolled into one (similar to how many Missy used to be in the 2000s).

From the first track she comes in hot and heavy. Using her natural charisma and complex lyricism to showcase her raw and rugged bars and eccentric mannerisms that make her a force to be reckoned with!

Across this album you’ll find tough street bars, empowering self reflective bars, pun based bars and even bars of dominance and of her telling the world ‘Honey Denro ain’t going nowhere’

This is done no more sharply then on the outro for the song ‘Come Back Lovely’ where she expresses herself in a extremely passionate way talking about how she beat cancer and how the haters thought she was done, but how she ain’t going anywhere! Accompanied by a terrifyingly done laugh that I think would scare any hater away! 

Of course I love her chemistry with all the features involved. My favourite songs are the ones with her and Seed because they naturally have incredible energy and synchronicity together as 6th man artists that it just fits. On that punk song and the secret track outro they both click and tear the house down together!

This is every bit as glorious, magnificent and worth while as I hoped it would be! She came in guns blazing and rocking a self confidence and cadence that most would die for. Love Live the 6th man and all hail Queen Dinero! 

(POD OF B.A.D)

I can tell you right now, out of all the things I expected to see this year, this man forming his own clique was definitely not one of them. Already being one of the best underground rappers and lyricists, it almost feels like ‘overkill’ that he’s formed similarly minded people like him, but nonetheless, here we are with the very first album by the group known as 

SOCIETY.

This is the debut album by the collective Society, which features 

-Dot.Com Intelligence

-Lord Who

-LUNAR

-Fashion Never Dies

-Charad3

-Charad3

-Foule Monk

-Wesley Rocco

-No Face Rapper

And together, these songs are produced by 

-Foule Monk

-LUNAR

-Dot.Com Intelligence 

-Charad3

-August Fanon

Now, that is an impressive list of names, and boy do they deliver with the roster! All these names come together like Vultron and create a hip-hop monster that has no weakness, a supercharged brain, the pen of a poet, and flow like a river! There’s no break or vulnerable point, just a well-oiled, sophisticated machine that is here to not only enlighten the masses but flex the superior production and rapping abilities as well!

Every track sounds like a cinematic documentary on the state of society, social commentary, politics, and the way of life. Each bar works like a puzzle to decipher, giving the audience a dose of intricate and well-thought-out bars that you’ll need at least three listens to unravel! 

This album ain’t about studio hits or club bangers; this record is bigger than that. It’s more grand and focused than anything these new-generation brain-rot kids could possibly hope to understand! This is a story of hope, spirit, and pride, and done in such powerful ways that each verse feels like a spoken passage straight out of an ancient scroll!

I found myself absolutely mesmerised by this listening experience. I was already familiar with a few names (Dot com and August) as their projects together left an imprint on me very early on in the year but when you add in these new names and artists that somehow are able to not only mesh well with those two but match the energy, create their own atmospheres and deliver on the beats and verses it’s an unreal vibe that I really haven’t found else where!

Man, this is literally a ‘One Of A Kind’ record that I don’t think you’ll find repeated this year or any other. Go check it out now and feel the power! 

https://dotcomintell.bandcamp.com/album/society-pod-of-b-a-d

(AL DENTE)

Welcome back everyone, I’m back and with a special occasion for me because I’m here at the brand-new restaurant AL DENTE run by yours truly, Chef and Maître D Maze Overlay and Al Smith, and with this gracious offer to sample their brand-new nine-course menu, I’m here to give my feedback and review on the quality and overall performance of each dish individually. 

With that being said, my table is ready and they just served me my freshly made Long Island Iced Tea, and I can see the first item on the way, so let’s get into it!

So, to kick the menu off, we have ‘Mise En Place’. This dish is incredible! It has a strong, groovy flare with that hint of jazz influence. It comes cut with those delicate horns, based in thick bass strings, and seasoned off with those deliciously subtle drum patterns that give it that extra hint of ‘oomph’ you look for in an entrée dish!

Onto entrée dish number two, we have ‘On The Money’. Now, right from the first bite, you can taste that hint of subtle jazz and dance fusion. Two cuisines you don’t normally see together, but a dish that surprisingly works! 

You’ve got that initial hit of keyboard chords that give off that initial dance vibe that almost feels like overkill hold music but with a sense of rhythmic harmony!

On top of that, you have those bass lines and very light jazz-inspired drums that act as the garnish, if you will, for this already flavourful dish that is a fusion unlike any I’ve ever tried before!

I can’t help but sense a Spanish influence on this dish. The way the instruments come together, I can picture a Hispanic dance hall with this kind of beat playing, the time to make your body move involuntarily! Absolutely delightful.

Now onto the third and final entrée of the night, we have ‘Gourmet Poison’, which has decided to experiment with more bold and distinctive flavours than the previous two! 

On this dish, we have those grimy and heavy-handed chord strings that move on an eerie and bitter loop that tastes like salt mixed with balsamic vinegar! A flavour I’m actually enjoying the mix of!

On top of that, we have these groovy and spicy bass lines that feel even more thick than the other executions of it. It also has this funky twang to the structure of it, like a pinch of lemon or orange zest to give your taste buds that little bit of kick!

This is definitely a statement of what’s to come next. The easy and ‘safe’ dishes are done, and we are heading into more creative and avant-garde territory, and I’m all here for it! Let’s talk about the main courses!

Dish 4 and the first main course we have is ‘Melenated Brain’, and as I expected, this course is the most evolved and important yet! 

This has to be the most funkiest track yet with groovy strings, free base guitar, and delicate keys that come together like mushrooms in a beef Wellington!

The instruments marinate like well-cared-for jerk chicken, and this dish is even more flavourful! Feeling like a forkful of Smokey Robinson meets George Benson. A bite of angelic and beautifully crafted melodies that melt through your ears like a stick of garlic butter. This is the type of meal I would want seconds of if I could!

Also, come to find out, this is a co-recipe with help from the Michelin-starred sonic chef Swab! The flavours make all the more sense now!

Onto the second main course and track 5, we have ‘Hush Puppies’, which sees the chefs returning to the more intense and raw flavour profiles that they did a bit earlier! This time around, we have these thrilling, almost free-form screeching that sounds all over the place like the waiter grating three different kinds of cheeses that you wouldn’t think would mix together but somehow mesh perfectly!

On top of that, we have these echoing, wavy lines, light use of what sounds like a xylophone in the background, which adds an extra layer of depth to the meal like a handful of grated truffles to the dish!

Also to my surprise, I had 2 surprise legends of the trade come in for this meal and display their expertise which made the meal that much more enjoyable to get a front row seat for!

For the final main course of the night we had dish 6 ‘Street Boutique’ which provides the most light hearted and refreshing main course to cleans the pallete and get us ready for desserts!

For this meal we have some Soul mixed in with some Jazz. Some would say this is the perfect combination like French Onion Soup and Grilled Cheese or a classic Fish and Chips.

On this dish we have these delightful and powerful jazzy piano chords that have a mind and soul of their own like a perfectly cooked risotto and the flavour it brings to the palette! 

Accompanying those delicate chords we have some more busting bass and some 70’s vibes across the point.

They’ve decided to take it back old school and tell the customer that ‘vintage isn’t dead’ and I can taste the love and history in each bite! Absolutely divine! 

Now, let’s get onto desserts! (As a sweet tooth I must say this has got me the most excited) so let’s get into the final 3 dishes!

Starting things off we have ‘Common Ancestors’ which starts us off bright and positive! This dish surprised me at how refreshing and fresh bursting the flavours were like a classic lemon gelato with a sprinkle of lime zest! 

In this track we have some booming piano keys and infectious synth chords that come and go in a repetitive motion that leaves me in a trance like watching a table side pasta preparation! This dish feels like a soul artist is right next to me playing music live as I eat. It’s absolutely enjoyable and enlightening to the customer!

Next up for desserts we have ‘Al Dante’ going for more of a subtle and minimal taste to help relax the tastebuds like a no nonsense banana split that’s simple yet tasty in every sense of the word.

This track has these gorgeous piano keys that come and go in such a harmonious loop that it leaves the customer speechless and its beauty.

Not only that but we have these methodically paced Jazz style drums that take your heart to a new level of relaxation and comfort like having your first cigarette after a good meal! This dish is skeletal yet the basics are done so phenomenally that it’s impossible to care or notice its lack of ingredients made such a refined dish!

Now onto the final dish and dessert we have ‘Cries From Zion’ as the chefs decide to take the customer out on a more emotionally fuelled overture like a classic apple pie that tastes just like how grandma made it, gets the nostalgia and memories working overtime.

This dish is heavy and heartfelt. You’ve got those heavy strings that feel like a stomp on the heart with every pluck. Alongside that we have these intricate keys that help provide an extra sense of warmth to the track like a light scoop of toasted pecans ontop of the pie.

This might be the most somber and delicate meal of the night and to have it on the final dessert is an incredible treat in and of it self.

Now THAT is what I call the perfect meal. But I must add that none of this would be possible without the skills and vision of Chef Maze Overlay. Yes Al providing that gorgeous ambiance and intricacies to each dish making every bite feel like a song in my head it’s Maze’s performances throughout the courses that really put the ‘cherry on top’

This man, with his knife like tongue and cutting board flow precision is something that somehow keeps getting better with age! With every new serving he is able to further develop, refine and elevate his verbal taste to new heights that no other culinary innovator has seen before.

From his smooth textures on the microphone to his insatiable appetite for perfection with his immaculate pen game and execution on the plate it’s all done with such finesse that he’s delivering bare minimum Michelin star meals and nothing less! 

Now tell me, what other MC do you know of that could open up their own sonic kitchen and still drop a modern day classic? I can’t think of one either! This man is a revolutionary not just in his the way he raps but his mind and the passion and soul he puts into everything he does that has earned him one of the strongest discography’s of the last 2 years! 

So, come. Book a reservation and experience the fine dining that is ‘AL DENTE’

https://open.spotify.com/album/0uw9saPCg2oH0Fr1MWVeEu?si=gZFd6atiQ8-1rr6GrLwy0A

(Sunday Driver)

What a visual, can you imagine doing a casual drive with Wolverine? That would be nuts. Probably a risk though, knowing his temper! You’d be arrested and thrown in jail before you could say ‘Professor X’, but that’s besides the point.

This is the brand-new album by the pairing of MC Fastlife and producer Wulverine. The latter I’ve had lots of experience with! Covering many of his singles, EP’s and projects. Now working alongside someone I’m not too familiar with alongside the likes of 

-WULF

-Ricky Mapes

-Action Figure 973

 With these seven tracks, it spoke to me like a sonic adventure waiting to be explored, and boy, what a journey it was!

Speaking of the MC work. This man is the definition of ‘Fastlife’. His style reminds me of Dominic Torreto, over the top in the best and most badass way possible while driving at 100mph! 

The way he raps, there are no breaks or red lights, only clear roads with the sky being the limit! He raps like he has nothing to lose, just a man possessed looking to out-rap, out-write, and out-perform the other MC’s out there, and he does that with flying colours!

I love his adrenaline-fuelled bars, the way he’s able to flex his complex techniques, his vivid visuals, and his mastery of the basics all wrapped up into one dominating sequence of verses and wordplay! 

He has enough charisma to coat the whole underground and then some! Although there are a few features on this album, he more than handles himself and draws the attention to the record, which is just his presence! It sucks to admit, but there are certain MC’s where the thought of a whole record with just them is painful to think of.

Not him though! He’s strong enough, original, and creative enough to hold his own while killing it bar for bar!

Not once did I find myself bored or losing focus because of his lock with his characteristics and unique spin on the mic! Can’t praise this guy enough!

Now onto Wulverine. Man, what a career this year alone he’s had. I still remember the first time I discovered him, and to see where he’s come since has been absolutely phenomenal, and I know this is only the beginning for him!

Across this project, he has shown to perfect the art of minimalistic loops and give it a fresh new perspective in the culture! 

I’m talking about those WSG/Griselda-style beats where they focus on one specific repetitive loop and work around it or just use that for a beat. 

Across this project, we see Wulverine utilise both. On some songs, it’s as gritty and down-to-earth as you can imagine. A few key elements tied in with some well-crafted production to create a skeletal track.

Other times, we see him build a bit more with more colourful sounds and influences to give off a more theatrical and cinematic vibe to the tracks, and both adaptations to the style are done brilliantly! 

He has a way of breathing life into any and all music he makes, as if his instrumentals are sentient beings whose sole purpose is to shine and bring awe and brilliance to the listeners, and it’s a sight to see and hear. 

There’s never a boring second or sound in this project, just pure unadulterated art and vibes that you literally can’t hear anyone else do except him! 

Trust me, this is a project you’ll want to hear! It’s booming with life, flavour, quality, and most of all, originality.

Shoutout to all the features who did their thing on the record! 

https://fastlifenyc.bandcamp.com/album/sunday-driver