(The Artfather)

It’s that time again to discover a new artist. This time, it’s a man who rocks a pretty dope MC name, a dope album cover, and title! He seems to be knocking all the necessary elements out of the park, and with that in mind, let’s get into this highly anticipated drop! 

This is the latest December release by MC Lil Divinci! This album consists of ten tracks, 16 minutes’ worth of content, and I gotta say, despite being excited about the various elements I mentioned above, I wasn’t sure what to expect sonically. After I finished, I can say this was better than I could have thought!

Starting with the production. This reminds me of classic Italian/Mafia ambiance infused with underground Hip Hop! It’s a beautiful combination that sounds equal parts cinematic and the other half soulful and atmospheric! To find a balance using those two elements can’t be easy, but yet Lil Divinci nails it!

This whole album consists of short bursts of masterfully executed instrumentals that each consist of glistening instrumentation and groovy production!

You’ve got tracks like -King Talk, which has these beautiful Jazz Horns that softly go off in the background on an infectious loop! You’ve got these funky Jazz-inspired drum patterns as well as some plucked bass strings to wrap the whole track together!

We have tracks such as -Street Codes, which provides a more infectious track! You’ve got some chord progression that has a synth effect to it as well as some more looped Jazz horns and light/subtle drums that help make a track to groove to! Another example of masterful production!

Or we can even look at the track -A Player’s Game, which might be my favourite track on the whole album! Due to its predominantly Jazz influence, with those horns in two different layers as well as those scattered piano keys and a very interesting vocal snippet thrown throughout!

Accompanying this phenomenal production is Lil Divinci himself, who utilised every second to create engaging and interesting verses that feel theatrical in nature. It feels less like he’s spitting bars and more like he’s telling us mini stories about his life and situations as a whole! 

As I mentioned above, each track is rather short in composition, but that just leaves more room for Divinci to create his art and make sure he explodes on the short time he has between track to track!

He has a beautifully subtle vocal performance; the way his sharpness and top-tier vocabulary run through the beat like a piece of grass flying through the wind never disrupting the instrumental he’s rapping on but rather lifting and holding the music to a higher standard with his incredible cadence and calming eccentricity!

You know, when you compare most mafia films and tv we were all presented with the ‘Tony Montana/Soprano’ types— the yelling, angry, and intense types.

But on this record, infusing the mafia image, he’s showcasing a more light and calm presentation similar to the Godfather himself, Vito Corleone, as he lets his power known but in a patient and confident manner rather than aggressively, and I appreciate that!

I also love how he rocks the record solo; he doesn’t need any feature to make the album entertaining and enjoyable as he knows he has enough conviction and charisma to hold the boat all on his own, and this album proves that!

If you haven’t heard this one yet, then I highly recommend it! It’s elegant, infectious, and impressive in the execution of both the instrumentals and vocals! Go check it out below now! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4vwpmh8JiQMwpMtlLKAeDA?si=lGxTuhC_TSyQNCRmvJWfrA

(ALL THAT GLITTERS)

Man, I can’t lie. My first thoughts on this track were how this reminded me of some ‘Gang Starr’ type shit. That beat reminded me of a prime Preemo instrumental, and the lyricism made me think of Guru and how he’d structure verses. I gotta say that’s one solid first impression! With that in mind, let’s get into it!

This is the brand new single by MC MAURICE and Producer Koba Dera, and together they are responsible for this one-of-a-kind track that I feel is exactly the lane the underground should be taking to close off the year and begin fresh the new one!

Across this tape, we have an instrumental that is as smooth as it is atmospheric! It has this beautifully methodical pacing to it that feels reminiscent of two different eras: ‘the early 2010s poetry rap era’ -Illogic/Milo etc. and the golden 90’s -Gang Starr/Nas etc. 

It’s in between these two genres of rap that I place this instrumental that has so many great qualities that will undoubtedly make this a memorable track for months to come! 

Firstly, we have those delicate piano keys that loop around the track in a gorgeous layout! Those keys kind of remind me of late-career Herbie Hancock style execution, soothing and refreshing! On top of all that, we have some subtle yet hard-hitting bass as well as light some strings in the background that help bring this song all together!

Koba is someone I’ve had my eye on for a while, and with every new offering we get of him, he’s somehow stronger and better, on one of the most impressive improvement rates I’ve seen in the underground!

Accompanying him, we have MAURICE (formerly known as Moe Hendrix) who utilises this fantastic beat to his advantage to create verses that not only sound and feel sharp and incredible but actually touch your heart with his level of vivid detail and in-depth storytelling.

He has such a relaxed, introspective performance that I fell in love with immediately. The moment he starts spitting, he’s already letting out personal facts such as the line – ‘since the pissy mattresses and high school foolery/got a taste for alcohol, white lines soothing me/used all my life lines/pride is a stupid thing to have.’

This is the first few fucking bars he put on the beat! That should tell you everything about the lyricist in front of you. He’s a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and lets all his thoughts and feelings on the mic, utilising his vulnerability to his advantage to create polarising moments with his words!

His smooth and gentle manner combined with his impressive vocabulary makes for an unmatched skillset that only he possesses. He doesn’t waste a single second across that beat, putting everything on paper and revelling himself for the audience’s satisfaction!

You can tell he’s the kind of MC that utilises the art of ‘patience’, letting his words and bars breathe. Smartly crafted verses rather than throwing words together for ‘song sake’ but actually invoke meaning and spirit within his rhythm and lyrical structure, and that’s exactly why I compare him to Guru! 

He has the same knowledge meets hip hop appeal to him that I can’t get enough of! Pair that with an instrumental of this caliber, and you have a recipe for success!

One of the strongest singles I’ve heard all year! If this is a sign of things to come, I can’t imagine how good the album will be! 

(God Bless Gordon Ave)

As the end of the year is creeping in closer, I love seeing how different artists are preparing their finale offering. Some are putting their best foot forward, others (such as JazzyLionMan) are turning their efforts into one of the biggest collaborative efforts of the whole year! And for these two? A pair of artists who have used their own lanes to cultivate and build the culture stronger and better than it was before, and I guarantee you with this record, they are attempting to strengthen the game once more! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new collaboration project between MC Young Reese Dude & Producer SPGBamm, and together they drop a solid 8-track and 22 minutes of hip-hop that’s bound to stick in your mind long after it’s finished! An album with immense replay value!

If we decide to dissect the production first, it seems SPGB is deciding to take a turn into a more ‘hypnotic’ and ‘mesmerising’ section of the boom

Bap production. He’s utilising those minimal layers and adding his own spin and twist on them to make them stand out and leave the audience craving more! 

For example, we have tracks like -LOSE MY SOUL, which has this looped chord progression that repeats in a pattern that forces you to bump your head and neck while listening!

You’ve got some incredible plucked strings as well as some light, methodical drums that all come together for a thrilling performance that’s equal parts skeletal and dramatic!

The same can be said for the track -IS WHAT IT IS. This reminds me of a modern-day Preemo track. One of the beats I’d expect to be on the Ransom album! 

It’s got these super soft guitar strings on a sensitive loop that also contains these synth-style fast-paced piano keys on the chords, and of course, more subtle drums that lurk and creep all over the track! 

Hell, we can even talk about -MACHINE GUN FUNK, which may be a nod to Biggie but has its own personality and flavour of its own nature! Across this track, we have some nice, thick bass strings in a pattern!

You’ve got some very light vocal harmonies as well as some more apparent and heavy drum rhythms that take a more forefront approach on this one instrumental!

SPGM is a man who has impressed me time and time again, and across this tape he blows me away with his ‘less is more’ style, which absolutely works for the MC in question here!

Of course, speaking of the MC, we have Young Reese.

This is another man that has continued to impress me over the years I’ve known him! Always one to try different avenues and concepts to his albums to always keep his performances fresh and exciting, as well as avoiding the pressure of going ‘stale’ or subpar by frequently staying ahead of the ‘stylistic curb’ so to speak and understanding what the culture wants/would benefit from at any given moment in time!

Across this album (similar to the production), he takes a more serious and patient approach with his bars. He’s not out here trying to play a young man’s game; he’s matured. He understands the importance (and value) of utilising your experience and growth to your advantage in the way you craft bars, the way you incorporate complex structures with your words, your increased storytelling abilities, and how in-depth and vivid you can make them!

All this comes with time and patience, and he’s mastered both! I love his more concentrated pacing across this tape. His lyricism is just as strong as it always is, but now every word can be felt like a brick of gold! He’s no longer wasting a breath on anything that isn’t important or relevant to the album or song he’s on!

He’s got a new vicar, he’s sharpened his vocabulary, increased his verbal assaults, and is now confident in making each verse of his have the emotional, mental, and spiritual depth that maybe even at the start of this year he wouldn’t have been able to!

Man, what a fucking impressive finale for both men. They’ve done more than enough of their fair share to the culture, and this last work is going to be one that in 10-20 years’ time will be remembered as pure art! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/64bjXb8qsS4BFXihQPTbQJ?si=SmdXAcS3Q-OWcwvn6Pa3tQ

(3GGNOG)

While some artists are choosing to compact their final efforts for the year, we have this producer who has decided to go for broke and release his BIGGEST and most BLOATED release to date to close 2025 off. With a who’s who of underground names to accompany him, this has the potential to be the most impressive collection record of the year! Let’s talk about it!

This is the new & final record by Producer Jazzy Lion Man, a man I first discovered over his ‘Jazzy Fatu’ tape, and he’s been on my radar since. On this album, we have a monstrous roster such as: 

– Heartbreak Julio

– JOHNNYTRA$H

– Charley Roy

– twogeebs 

– Jonny Empire

– GOMMi J

– King Androit

– war will kill

– AU

– Here$ Johnny

– DB Consigliere 

– Ant Kelly

– Lo Katana

– FLYG

– Faces

– Gustavo Louis

– CJ The Profit Granada

– Jules Clay

– THE REBEL SKY

– Sleep Sinatra

– SOO DO KOO

– It’sJustdra 

– Skip The Kid

– YFI

– Dominican Kev

With such a ridiculous amount of talent on a single project, it is almost unfathomable to explain. I normally hate tapes like this (albums that are overly saturated with names and too many artists), BUT the exception always comes when an artist has the power and skill to take the various names and personalities and move them in such a way that each song feels crisp and structured rather than messy and awkward.

This reminds me of a WSG tape! When he incorporates a whole army of names per tape to promote or utilise their specific skills, that’s exactly what happened here!

Shoutout to Jazzy, for his ridiculous proficiency. He’s still able to use his genius to know which artist suits which beat, which verses should be paired with who, and that’s a gift in and of itself! That’s some RZA/Dr. Dre level mentality. 

I have to shoutout Heartbreak Julio on this tape. From his dope intro verse to his various across-the-board, he’s really surprised me in his progress and evolution in his skills! He’s always a dope spitter!

Shoutout to twogeebs! On that track alongside Heartbreak on track 5, he brought a dope charisma and deadliness to the track! There’s that MONSTER cypher-style track ‘Eggnog Heist’ which literally has 10 people on it! That is absolutely insane, and yet it somehow works! So many of those artists I’ve covered over the year, and they all shine in their own verses!

Specifically, Ant/AU/Here$ & FLYG made the track phenomenal! Again, all names not new to each other, and all have their own characteristic that makes them special!

It was great to say Gustavo appeared on the record! A man I’m definitely no stranger to, and as usual, he brings his intense, raw NARCO energy! Of course, he has the song with the elaborate skit for the intro!

I must say the biggest surprises were seeing both Sleep Sinatra and SOO DO KOO! Both men I’ve covered in the past, and both are dope artists in their own right, so to see them pair with Jazzy was amazing!

Also, it’s wild to me how they decided to end the album on not only an instrumental but one with 3 fucking producers! That’s a statement right there. Only a man like Jazzy could have thought to do that! Ballsy and innovative!

As I complimented before, it’s amazing to me the mind Jazzy has (especially when he incorporates feature producers as well as MC’s) for this final grand project, and him knowing who to put where for which track, for which vibe, and atmosphere, he’s calculating it all and in doing so has pulled off the impossible project!

As this album is just shy of an hour you have a whole platter of different sounds, variety, inspiration, genres to stuff your face with!

If you want hardcore, gritty boom Bap check tracks -2/5/6 if your looking for a track with heavy Jazz influence you have tracks -1/15

If your after a more upbeat, groovy experience that’s when tracks like -13/17/14

There’s so many different aspects that you can explore! This is the biggest sonic adventure you could find this year with enough characters to discover that you could listen to this album 10x over and uncover something new everytime!

It’s hard for me to pin point a favourite beat for me, I tend to gravitate towards more Jazz heavy beats so the 2 I mentioned are up there but this is such a cohesive project that it’s impossible for me to listen to this in any other aspect but as a whole album!

It’s beautifully executed, synced perfectly with the production and the MC’s and feels like a proper grand finale for 2025!

If you haven’t heard this one yet then you are truly missing out! Make sure you click on the link below and hear the explosive underground representatives that make -3GGNOG! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5uYzbtXwQc2MooJ7WgnehK?si=3kjCE0iqTS6sERg6HvsCSg

(Psychological Cheat Sheet 6)

Man, what an opportunistic time to get to realise this one! I still remember when I did the review for the 5th one earlier in the year and how much of an impact it had and the strength of this duo, but now they are back and the question is ‘how do they fare this time around?’ Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new record by MC Vic Spencer & August Fanon and together they drop a fresh 14 tracks and 39 minutes of content that is sure to explode the culture one last time before the new year!

If we are talking about the rapping aspect of this album, we hear Vic pull off one of his more focused and methodically charged works we’ve heard him on in a minute! 

He’s always been the type of rapper to make every word feel heavy and important. Never an author to waste a single breath on a track, and we hear him on this one utilise patience, take his time with the enunciation and pronouncing of each sentence and bar to make sure it’s felt in full force and sinks into the instrumental as smoothly as it can!

He comes packed with his trademark raw charisma, his technically proficient rhythm and surreal flow and pen game that has him compelling the audience with his self-reflecting verses and in-depth imagery that is so potent and powerful that you feel like you’re listening to a collection of mini novels taking place over a series of luscious and beautiful productions!

I know I said this above, but I love artists of any genre (but especially hip hop) who emphasise ‘patience’ and take their time doing the rapping. Take an artist like Billy Woods for example, a man who’s critically acclaimed for his storytelling and verbal demeanour, and I feel the same qualifies for Vic!

He has that same rich sense of timing and complex lyricism that forces you to hang on every word he says and writes down, and that’s (above all) makes me love him as an MC

Now onto the second half of the equation, August Fanon. The man who I recently covered for his work on the new Kendall Spencer record, and just as frequently as he is a collaborator with him, he’s also the same with Vic. The bond these two share is rare, and you can hear it in the production on this very album!

Across these 14 tracks, we hear August go back to his more mellow, relaxed, and yet more atmospheric takes that feel equal parts minimal and grand in stature (a balance that isn’t easy to pull off, but once that a legend like him pulls off exquisitely!).

Very similar composition as the Kendall Spencer take, we hear a score that works best when listening in order. Sure, picking specific songs would naturally sound good individually, but it doesn’t give you that ultimate feeling of overpowering sense of artistic expression without it being listened to as a whole!

These are the kind of instrumentals that pair perfectly with the nature of Vince’s rapping preference and style, and in turn, make this whole record a phenomenally blissful listen!

That dreamy, soulful, almost ambient-like texture fused with the best and most potent elements of underground hip hop, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for success. Combine this with the originality and vivid lyrical performance of Vic, and you’ve got yourself not only a fantastic album but a brilliant further sequel on an ever-growing list of a series that’s underrated but has all the right elements to be considered among one of the best series in the game, period!

Make sure you give it a listen below. If this is your first time hearing this series, make sure to back to the others and experience the magic! If you are aware and have been keeping track, this one is bound to impress you just as much (if not more) than the others did! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6g8eP6xKinNVB2cbQDFtBH?si=ATgvAWmkS_ywNG3lWkuYWg

(CROWN ME KING)

It’s been a long minute since I last covered this man. A man whose identity (inside and out of music) is exactly the same. You don’t get that many people like that anymore, and his music reflects that!

Some of the most high-energy, big-performance feel comes from his records, and with the hype and roster on this one, I’m expecting nothing less than the same hardcore tunes I’ve come to expect from the man himself, and in his own words.

CROWN ME KING!

This is the brand-new and final record of 2025 for Producer/MC Nam Nitty! Accompanying him is the gargantuan list of names such as:

-PILLZBURY 

-BUB ROCK

-KING NOVA

-PETER LEO

-THE BAD SEED

-BULLY BLOCK

-RAH SUN

-VOICE WATKINS

-PRETTY P

-ENZO GLOBE

-J SOS

-NEEZ NO GOOD

-BARZ 4DAYZ

-JOHN JIGG$

-REEK THE VILLAIN

-KAESON SKRILLA

-MAXX BOND

-SPLASH631

That list is already half the review, and I ain’t even said anything yet! That’s fucking wild.

See, what’s interesting to me is that Nam is one of those names who consistently has a party worth of names attached to his records, and I bring this up because I’ll often praise artists who are able to carry an LP or EP on just solo merits alone. 

Although I stand firm on that stance, the thing to note about Nam is the fact that he’s reminiscent of a Lil Jon type. We all know and remember that Lil Jon had no problem during his early ‘Eastside Boyz’ record days to take over the record with his relentless energy alone! He made himself a household name before he ever branched out to the names glory feature name he’s now associated with.

Nam is that same kind of cat, although he could very easily rock an album just him, his raw beats, and his unrivalled intensity, but he chooses to use his skills as a hype man to encourage and incorporate like-minded and similar energy individuals to accompany him on his albums to put it bluntly, 

‘TEAR THE FUCKING HOUSE DOWN’

And that’s exactly what happens on these songs! Nam and the gang jump on and wreck shop with their various charisma and cadences, with their own unique and individual takes on verses, bars, flow, lyricisms, rhythms. They are all different but all high-octane energy as to maintain the large sonic flame of the record and never let it die down!

They all take turns demolishing the instrumentals, verse after verse, savage dissection of the beat after further musical slaughter until there’s nothing left of the beat to save!

As is commonplace with Nam, he hires underground MC Hitmen! Brutal figures who couldn’t give a fuck about radio hits or Grammys or any awards or recognitions. Their careers are focused on dismantling instrumentals, wrecking a beat and coming full force with an MC pack mentality so formidable and forceful that you’d be scared to attempt a feature amongst the family that Nam recruits! A true lyrical massacre! 

When we discuss the production, if you’re expecting Nam to have that intense level of lyricism firing on all cylinders and not have production rough enough to match? Get the fuck outta here! If the MC’s are savages it’s only because they are enraged by the hypnotic production that Nam created!

Across this tape we hear his trademark rugged, rude, raw and reckless expression of sounds and boom bap influences of the highest calibre! If you’re new to his music and want a visual of what to expect

Imagine if Onyx, M.O.P and DMX had a sonic baby that was born a cocaine addict like Royce Da 5’9 and that’s what this album is! Every beat is out to kill, absolutely murderous tunes that will force the listener to mean-mug the world and look at every business as a quick cash investment (if you know you know)

I mentioned Lil Jon above and in production the same formula applies! A sort of gutter/street equivalent of dance songs for the hood! Songs that only the realest of the real can groove to! That’s what this sounds like, songs with heavy drums, disgustingly plucked bass strings, haunting piano keys and all done in the most sadistic & masterful ways possible! 

The day Nam releases a subtle album is the day hell freezes over! I finished my shift half an hour ago and I’m still sitting here bumping my head and mean mugging my lunch area table and probably scaring everyone who walks in to clock in because this album is too fucking ridiculous!!

I gotta say I did love the track -PRODUCT OF REAGANANOMICS due to the obvious nod to The Notorious BIG and his song (Everyday Struggle) an inspiration they did beautifully! 

Yes, at this point CROWN HIM KING! When it comes to this lane of production and verses no one can touch him. He doesn’t go HAM he goes fucking NAM! He’s got some of the realest music out and if you don’t believe me, click the link below, fuck around and find out! 

https://secretsosietyentertainment.bandcamp.com/album/crown-me-king

(MASTERFUL)

Out of all the artists I’ve covered over the years, I think to myself, ‘How many of them can I truly call MASTERFUL?’ And after pondering on the sentence for a while, I’d have to say, considering the projection of his run this year, the amount of quality singles, EP’s and albums that this man had to be in the running for that definition to apply to them, and with that in mind, let’s talk about 

FLYG X NOKIDSGOTCATS -MASTERFUL

This is the brand-new single by MASTERFUL MC FLYG and extraordinary producer NOKIDSGOTCATS, and this time around, they bring forth a track that’s 2 minutes and 28 seconds long and is easily the most out there and experimental effort FLYG has ever put out! 

I was expecting something ‘different’ this time around as I saw the bio he posted regarding the up-and-coming single, and so I went into this with an open mind and a curious heart, and I gotta say I was left pleasantly surprised at what I got! 

First of all, I gotta admit I was a bit confused when I first heard FLYG go ‘NO KIDS’ because I could have sworn he rapped about having daughters (but then my dumbass remembered the producer’s name), and then all was right with the world once again! 

But in all seriousness, this track contains a lot of interesting aspects for FLYG.

For me, most notably was the effects of his vocals! He has a heavy reverb/echo effect that gives a back-up vocal sound to his words, which, although unorthodox, worked for this specific track! It made the overall song feel heavy and noteworthy, like his words were 10x louder and distinctive as a result! 

As far as his rapping goes, his trademark methodically paced what I’d call ‘patient flow’ returns. One used by legends likeBilly Woods,KA, etc., where they make sure each breath has purpose and each word a meaning beyond the bar itself.

So in this same sense, we get FLYG rapping his ass off, working to improve even further his puns and one-liners (as if he’s not already perfect), but he’s striving higher! Some of my favourite quotes from this song were

-It’s your fault, you had yourself to blame/Sniper flow my accuracy is my aim/never aiming for fame 

Or

-Understanding this lyricism is yoga flames/channel my inner chi/not to expend too much of my energy

This guy is like Eminem in his prime type shit, he’s gone from one-liners to complex structures and build-up bars, it’s nuts. As I said in the last review, I think by the end of next year, we as a collective fan base will have to do fucking mathematical equations to unlock the meaning behind his bars! His rapid increase is scary to see but amazing for the fans!

As far as the beat goes, by the producer I’ve never heard of before, he goes HARD! He makes exactly the vibe needed for this kind of track! This song feels like one of those Art Rap/Lo-Fi offerings that were prominent in the mid-2010s! Back when hip hop had its own ‘synth wave’ equivalent, and this is what it reminds me of!

You’ve got these hypnotic drums that sound like a ticking clock! You also have these deep and mesmerising distorted synth chords and very subtle and faint keys in the background that have an almost eerie nature to them!

This is already FLYG’s most out-there choice of production, sounding like raps by Pink Floyd! It’s larger than life, mysterious, experimental, and ambient all in one!

I feel like this is the kind of song you could only understand properly if you’re meditating or somehow catching yourself astral projecting in your sleep! It’s truly a remarkable beat and one you won’t hear a copy of, that’s for sure!

An unexpected collaboration but one I now want to explore more of! Let me know what you think by clicking the link below and experience the adventure known as -MASTERFUL

https://open.spotify.com/album/62M4NMeKgkO7tCiG2u7DGg?si=R_lbeiDtTYiwdZMm8ePY9g

(More Poison)

First of all, I want to shoutout the artwork! As someone who calls himself ‘The Serpent Tongue’, this shit is DOPE AS FUCK!

Now, this is an MC that I became very familiar with over his album ‘Welfare Island’, one of the dopest albums of the year, no doubt! Since then, he’s been on the radar, and he’s continued to surprise me with his EP’s or features; he’s one that doesn’t miss, and on this last offering of the year, he’s here to flip the underground one more time before he enters the new year! So let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new album by MC KnowItAll and producer Nick Wilford, and together they drop a solid ten tracks with the likes of 

– Patty Honcho

– Cande Genaro

– BlaQ Chidori

– Earn Dinero 

– WEX! the Master

And as I always do with his projects, I want to talk about KnowItAll’s lyricism first. His skills on the mic are what always stand out to me most on his projects (as dope as the production is), but his pen game is just next-level extraordinary!

To me, he has the same vibe as artists such as

– Earl Sweatshirt

– Illogic

– R.A.P Ferreira

– Billy Woods

Real lyricists and poets. He may not share their same styles or flows, but he has the same integrity of an author. One who takes pride in his verses, in the content and context of his bars, and making sure each line represents a potent idea, message, or phrase that will make the listener think and ponder said words.

Every verse feels like a well-written chapter more than it does your average set of bars. He approaches the game with a linguistic mentality, not a rapper’s, and it’s in that aspect that I love. Just like those names I listed above, you can hear the difference whenever he’s on a verse with someone else.

You can hear the other names RAPPING and KnowItAll PUBLISHING a new written portion of his overall sonic novel that he’s trying to finish. I don’t know if everyone else can hear the difference, but I definitely can, and I love every second of it, as someone who is a massive literature fan, when I hear this in others, it makes me geek up! 

He has a mature sense of flow, exquisite vocabulary, and a performance that’s soaked in experience, emotion, and a sense of balance between dope bars and worthwhile literature! A 

I have to admit, I love the features on this project as well. They provide a refreshing contrast to the style of KnowItAll, which adds extra energy and synchronisation to an already solid record! Each artist rocks a solid verse and ties the atmosphere of the album nicely!

Speaking of atmosphere, we have the work of Nick Wilford! A man I only have experience with today but one I will not forget! This man, across the ten tracks and 25 minutes, runs a sonic gauntlet of a variety of different instrumentals and influences that not only provide a unique listening experience but showcase the strength and technique of the man and the immersive nature of the beats!

For example, we have tracks like -Sola Dosis! On this track, you can find arguably the most ambient track we have here! You’ve got those heavy, aesthetic keys that sound like they are echoing in and out in the most intimate way possible! On top of that, we have those light piano keys, light jazz-style drums, and those beautiful bass notes that bring this whole track together!

This is the kind of beat I could listen to for days and never get sick of! Reminds me of a solid ASMR instrumental!

We have tracks like -Exit Anytime. On this track, we have a more upbeat and soul-based song with a lively collection of layers that is soothing to the body and brain!

For example, you have that gorgeous vocal harmony that’s looped in that classic underground hip-hop style!

On top of that, you have those string progressions in the background that feel alive in their pattern as if Nick literally breathed life into the chords! Not to mention those plucked bass strings that fade in and out in the most extraordinary way towards the end and more light jazz drums!

Or even the track -Something Changed, which to me has the more traditional hip-hop feel tracks on the album!

You’ve got the combination of those synth style strings that are looping at the forefront! As well as these light/delicate piano keys and (as what seems to be a theme on this record) is more methodically paced drum patterns! Which is a decision I fuck with heavy as it adds a level of ambiance to the record!

Not many artists I can say sync with KnowItAll perfectly but this man is one of them! Together they dropped one of the most incredible, interesting and immaculate projects I’ve heard not only all month but all year! Definitely one you don’t want to sleep on! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5glXdwV5woT08ihLywURAB?si=ZzoWZjhvSgSZrZHAP4mxvw

(Twelve 24: The Nightmare)

After exactly five years since the first one dropped, this man is back celebrating one of the most iconic runs we’ve had in the last half decade! Working alongside the who’s who of producers and rappers alike. Now he’s decided to end the year with a BANG, and working alongside this producer he can’t even fathom missing! Let’s fucking go!

This is the brand-new record by legendary MC Eddie Kaine! He’s accompanied by notorious producer Wavy Da Ghawd, and it features the likes of 

– Indigo Phoenyx 

– Wish Master

– Joon BK 

You know a record is special when the first track in has you feeling goosebumps! As soon as I pressed play, I audibly said ‘oh shit’ out loud at the grocery store and realised as the record went on just how solid this album was!

I feel I have to discuss Wavy first because the magic he did on this one is unbelievable. He’s created a score so powerful and soothing at the same time that he’s leaving the culture on seen knowing that everyone is checking this shit out without anyone saying shit about it!

If I had to describe the sounds, it would be a mixture of 

– Methodical Soul

– Slow-Paced Jazz

– Ambient

– Boom Bap 

And when these are combined, you get a soundtrack that’s equal parts breathtaking and thought-provoking! The kind of music that sparks the imagination of the listener and makes them feel a certain way!

Another aspect is the fact this whole record is fluent in execution! From the intro to the finale track, it’s all beautifully connected and complements the tracks before and after! Of course, you could listen to these songs individually, and they’d be a solid collection of BANGERS! But they are best suited as team instrumentals that work perfectly as a team!

I love the atmosphere and cold texture of the beats. This kind of reminds me of a brisk walk in the winter time, all alone with just your thoughts and body heat to keep you company fighting the elements! 

If you could turn those feelings into music, this is how it would sound! It’s elegant yet raw in presentation!

In saying all that, I guess that means Eddie Kaine is the COLDEST to be able to rock with such blistering sonic weather! He’s the type of MC to walk through snow with nothing but shorts, a SnapBack, and a gold chain! A man who’s been fighting through the underground and coming out on top every single time!

Across this tape, we hear the absolute best of the man. It feels like he’s trying to create his magnum opus with the verses he’s dropping on this one! I’ve never heard him so fucking crisp, so energetic, eccentric, and charismatic! You can tell this special 5-year anniversary sequel means the world to him, and he’s wanting to showcase more than ever his growth and success in that time period, and he sounds fucking insane!

Everything from his pen game to his set-up bars, his one-liners, puns, phrases, complex literature, and verbal massacres! He doesn’t waste a single second on this album.

He’s either setting up a dope bar, working the choruses, adding adlibs, or giving us a few snippets of spoken word to further elevate the record!

He wants to make sure this album is as theatrical as can be with the production given! Also, not to mention, he’s a rare MC that can sound as elegant as the smoothest poet while spitting some of the harshest and slickest bars we’ve heard in the culture period! 

I also love the features he has on this project. My first time hearing of them, but they match the album energy very nicely and offer an infectious contrast to Eddie’s style with their own, which makes for an entertaining listen! Nothing worse than people putting on features that sound exactly like their own shit! But thankfully, that’s not the case here!

Look, at the end of the day, it’s an EDDIE KAINE X WAVY DA GHAWD album. Can you really expect anything else but brilliance? Go listen to the album below and go support the men! The $ is worth it! 

https://eddiekaine.bandcamp.com/album/twelve-24-the-nightmare

(CAMEL CLUTCH RAP)

I want to firstly say, merry Christmas to everyone! It’s been quite a crazy year and I’m blessed to make a whole range of friends and business partners, and one of them is none other than this man (and his produce for that matter), and with that in mind, let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new record by the team of Gustavo Louis and Producer YFI, and together they drop a strong seven-track project, and this one we hear the duo come back with a mellow and more surreal offering towards the end of the year, and it’s this sound that I appreciate to hear for the Christmas week!

Starting with YFI, I’m excited to hear that he’s taking things at a methodical pace. I’m talking about those lightly layered, minimal sounds and purely atmospheric instrumentals that are sure to set your Christmas mood right!

For example, we have the track -Ayatollah, one of the smoothest examples of production by him here! You’ve got those angelic vocal harmonies that are paired with those slowed-down drums, plucked strings, and light piano keys that come together for a song that runs through your body in a fluent motion!

If we’re talking about the track -Sheik Boots! Which has a more gritty boom-bap flavour (while still maintaining the slower-paced rhythm), you’ve got those glistening/scattering piano keys. Sharp synth string loops, and some more plucked bass strings!

This sounds like it was inspired by a WSG-type beat! 

We can even talk about the song -Bad Man, which is quite a more traditional take on a hip-hop song with those infectious jazz horns that consist of chord progression as well as that light, delicate bass to bring the track together in one of the more powerful cuts we’ve got! Absolutely unreal effort!

That’s the thing about YFI, no matter what track or project, he’s always able to make something incredible, and it’s in his dedication and passion for the game that he can keep impressing us time and time again!

A lot of that can be said about Gustavo as well. This man has made at least 20 projects this year alone (not even including these yet), and his persistence, conviction, and passion haven’t gone unnoticed!

As one of my most improved MC’s of the year, he continues that streak with his ridiculous rhyme schemes, unrivalled charisma, and engaging bars that keep you coming back for more!

Across this tape, he’s heard combining his street poetry with his pop culture wrestling references hand in hand to create a type of fusion between the two that I enjoyed thoroughly! Of course, as any wrestling fan would tell you, there’s the album cover and name of ‘The Iron Sheikh’, and although I found the beats to be predominantly more on the softer side, Gustavo himself still rocks his high-energy, insane performances with his sharp wordplay, innovative pen game, and aura to match!

Rocking this album with no features, proving once again that he doesn’t need anyone else but himself to make an album pop and entertaining enough to warrant the listeners’ full attention as he lets his original, creative approach to the MC game speak for itself! 

Although this is only 16 minutes in length, I’d regard it as one of my late yet favourite Gustavo records he’s dropped this year! The chemistry with YFI was bloody amazing, as well as the rhymes he brought to the table!

Go check it out below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2p95mfawo1p5vQLUBW0MWA?si=Sgqm7Uk0Tc2ZmpXZU-qWWw