(MARCHITECT)

It’s been an insane year to say the least for this man. A producer that I named the second best of the year as he’s responsible for some of my favourite records of 2025! Working with a range of different MC’s to create a unique sound for each project and now we are finally at the end of his run for the year and with an MC I’m unfamiliar with I’m excited to see what they bring as a duo! So let’s get to it!

This is the brand new EP by Producer Vinyl Villain and MC M-P and together they dropped a solid six tracks with just under 19 minutes of run time to run the sonic marathon one more time before the new year!

It seems on this project, Vinyl has taken his most serene, soulful and luscious production we’ve heard from him all year! Six samples of absolutely soothing renditions of borderline ambient and atmospheric instrumentals that have a breathtaking simplicity to them that I found absolutely addictive! 

You’ve got tracks like -Porches which has this irresistible looped track that I found phenomenal! It’s got this angelic vocal harmony that’s left on a repetitive pattern as well as these delicate piano keys and very subtle jazz-like drum patterns that help give the track a base to build upon! A track that I could easily listen to for hours and never get sick of!

Or we can even inspect the track -Young Deniro which has a more menacing and eerie vibe compared to the other tracks! It’s a mixture of surreal jazz and haunting strings and keys. This kind of has a sombre vibe to it as if this song is in between mourning and death. 

The sound of what I’d expect to hear in between life and passing is what I assume would sound like! It’s truly a spacious and experimental take on a beat that I’ve never heard before!

The song -Bands Anthem Me is another track that caught my attention due to its larger-than-life nature. You’ve got those uplifting piano chords that sound like an organ melody at a church choir! 

On top of that, you have those light drums and a beautifully executed vocal harmony that plays as a loop and as an intro performance that is crisp and simple but in depth! 

Once again, Vinyl shows everyone why he’s one of the best producers we’ve got living, and with this final EP, he wraps up the year in a truly ‘villainous’ manner!

As far as the MC goes. He’s an incredibly talented man that really surprised me! His style kind of reminded me of ‘The Hidden Character’ in execution! I’m talking about that fluent, unpredictable splash flow where he can spit at any given moment or place and still sound good on the beat! 

This man has an incredible level of charisma and eccentricity on the verses! His vocabulary was impressive, as well as his enunciations and pen game sounded crisp and powerful all in one!

Across these six tracks, he showcases an incredible talent for rapping. I can’t believe I haven’t heard of him until now, before he’s definitely a style I would fuck with heavily! From his passion for the sport to his obvious conviction to the fact that he can carry an EP alone, solo, no help, just him and his ridiculous MC skills and raw attitude to keep it high energy and entertaining! 

Not everyone can mesh this we’ll

Under the production of Vinyl, but this man M-P proved he’s one of the rare ones! Absolutely annihilating the beats, making them his own whole, incorporating his own aesthetic and atmosphere to elevate each and every instrumental, making this one of the most memorable EP’s I’ve heard this month!

So, make sure you check this one out. A collaboration worthy of your attention and one I can see being on everyone’s radar for a while to come! 

(Excelsior! Zero Celsius)

So, according to my records, it was the 24th of May the first and last time I covered this man. From what I remember, it was quite an interesting record with a lot of compelling elements! Now we are going into the past with his 2022 record that I was told was phenomenal, and so let’s see if it really lives up to the hype! 

This is the 2022 record by MC (and on this tape, producer) Ice Fang. Containing 12 tracks, 25 minutes, and the likes of -Lync Lone -Pinto, as these two have the job of making this album bang that much harder!

If we’re talking about the production value, I appreciate the sounds this album contains due to its minimalist aesthetic with those light layers and looped instrumentation that is smooth and soothing to the listener!

You’ve got tracks like -Situation Critical, which consists of maybe my favourite loop across the whole project! You’ve got this gorgeous vocal harmony of this woman singing a repetitive loop that sets my heart and ears at ease!

You’ve got those lusciously plucked strings alongside those light piano chords and thick bass; overall, it’s the perfect track! 

I love the track -Mandela Effect as well, it has a rather unique and interesting feel to it. At the start of it, you’ve got those light, soul-inspired beats with those light strings, snippet vocal loop, subtle drums that all come together in a sphere of relaxed instrumentation!

But as the song progresses, it turns into this groovy, dance track that makes you want to groove your body! Sure, it’s in the last 15 seconds, but it’s still dope!

In fact, speaking of dope, the track right after -Golden Monkey is fucking dope as well! Also providing a slick, groovy/funk nature with those infectious drum patterns, slick strings in the background, that light vocal sample, and an overall 70’s feel to it that is so fucking irresponsible!

The production aura on this record is surely top-notch! A lot more groovy and lighthearted compared to the first one I covered, and I definitely see the hype he told me about! 

Of course, this wouldn’t be the album without Ice himself! Just like the production, his rapping style on this album is different and feels like a variation of the tough street raps I’m so familiar with! Instead, he’s bearing his soul and showing a more introspective side that is further separate from the street poetry and more in tune with his own personality, feelings, and inner thoughts and perspectives that make this track feel like a funky diary entry more than anything else!

One thing I noticed also was how in certain songs, we would hear him actually singing in tune with the choruses or vocal loops, which gave a nice 80’s RnB vibe like how they’d do that with Jodeci or Boys II Men, etc. Very nice touch! But on top of even that, we have this man showcasing a more freelance, anywhere and everywhere type flow where it really just sounds like he’s spreading his inner thoughts on paper and then spitting them into the studio! 

I loved his lively nature, his free-form charisma! The way his lyricism felt personal and introspective while maintaining a solid foundation of bars and set-up lines while also keeping a sense of structure to the beats themselves. He’s walking a fine line across this tape, and it all works out fluently!

Although an older tape, definitely worth checking out and experiencing what makes him such a worthwhile name in the industry right now!

https://open.spotify.com/album/3MLoGbi49tiRYW4wHFl6Z2?si=2i_Bu-vsQqaj7GjBBHJUXw

(THE BEATS THAT STOLE CHRISTMAS)

Across the entirety of 2025, I’d say (for me) one produced stood out amongst the rest and had me hooked since my first discovery of his production. A man who turned every release into a grand score of epic proportions and a man who set a new standard for how production is supposed to sound! 

This man is BONEWESO, and he is back with one more release before the new year: a beat tape (the second of the year), and with a strong Christmas theme running through it, we are given an example of what can happen when a mastermind handles the fusion. Let’s get into it!

Brand new record, 12 tracks in total. And I gotta say, while most albums like to put a ‘thug’ twist on the records, such as -Borirock -Gucci Mane, etc., on this occasion, he’s putting an almost ANTI Christmas concept, which I found badass and original as hell!

Just as the artwork suggests, this is truly the Grinch’s album! If the Grinch had access to a studio in his garbage cave, this is exactly the type he’d make! 

A record full of angry, hateful, anti-messages that go against the traditional Christmas themes we are used to! He uses a variety of skits and snippets from a whole range of Christmas movies to make up the dialogue, including, of course, the Grinch!

What I found pleasantly surprising was the handful of tracks that were used from the HIDDENSPLASH album earlier this year! One of my favourites, and hearing those beats was amazing (brought back dope memories). He did the same thing on the first beat tape with some of the Infinite Wave beats!

As per usual, you get unrivalled technique in all of his instrumentals. Absolutely crisp & powerhouse interpretations of Jazz, Soul, Boom Bap, and more! Although the ideas and messages themselves are more an untraditional anti-Christmas theme, this still presents one of the strongest fusions of Hip Hop & Xmas that I’ve heard yet!

One of the songs – MISTLE TOE WITH YOUR HOE stood out to me as a track I could picture an MC like Mickey Diamond crushing! I heard his voice all over it and, of course, with the rest, picturing all my favourite MC’s on the album and how they’d sound on top of these luscious yet raw and splashy beats that are good enough to be made into a modern-day classic record if it had vocals!

In the most out-there way possible, I feel this is the ADULT’s perception of a Hip Hop/Xmas album. One about the reality of the holiday, when the magic is gone, the bills pile up, the greed shows its face, and the adults are left fronting the cost.

I love this more gritty, almost nihilistic approach to the holiday portrayed on this record! It’s refreshing, creative, and above all, original! 

Trust me, this is a Bandcamp album worth buying! You won’t experience another like it, and it’s going to leave an impression on you whether you want to or not! BONEWESO STRIKES AGAIN! His undefeated streak continues!

https://boneweso.bandcamp.com/album/the-beats-that-stole-christmas

(Lucha Libre For Christmas)

Talk about an end-of-the-year collaboration I didn’t expect. Two men who, in their own right, have taken over their specific lanes in their own ways! But all I want for Christmas (is a dope hip-hop album), and these two deliver that gift, luxury-wrapped and ready to dive into! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new tape by MC Action Figure 973 and Producer Circa 97. With 24 tracks and the likes of 

– Lord Juco

– Malcolm Sef

– Hound 

And across this tape, we hear a divine fusion between the two forces, which combines ever so fittingly as one of the strongest forces in the rap game meets with one of the most powerful in the production industry. 

When we talk about the beats on this record, the first word that comes to mind is ‘beautiful’ because that’s the effect Circa has on his albums! 

I’ve covered all of his records this year (I’m pretty sure), and the one thing he always accomplishes is a sense of delicacy and integrity that makes you feel like you’ve been transported into the early 1900s in vibe, aesthetics, and atmosphere. From delicate piano keys to those fantastical plucked bass strings, gorgeous vocal harmonies, acoustic guitar strings, and more.

He’s always taking the audience into a realm of in-depth sounds and concentrated influences that run through your whole body and take over the soul! 

The production on this tape (similar to many others over the years) is angelically bold and minimal. Adding a handful of layers to each track with just enough going on to take you on a sonic journey, but not too much where the layers become overbearing and messy! 

He’s a master of his craft, and he knows exactly how much to add per track, and he understands which influences and genres to utilise for the songs, and that’s why he’s one of the most compelling beat makers we have right now!

I have to shoutout that badass intro as well! Having the clip of all those wrestlers saying Merry Christmas across the entire track was genius! The perfect way to start the record and give a special warm welcome to the audience! 

As far as the MC work goes, we hear Action on his usual routine of rapping style and eccentric performances that have made him one of the most successful and looked-out-for names in 2025! 

What drew me to him earlier this year was his technique on the mic and his apparent love for wrestling!

As a man who loves wrestling, I always gravitate to those artists who use pop culture as a concept and theme! Pair that with the lyrical gift of gab that this man possesses, and you have a balance that most would die for! 

On this tape, he showcases all those praises and more as he’s able to utilise that lush and rich production to his advantage and spit his trademark flex rap with some unique punchlines and clever puns that had me engaged all throughout the album!

There was a line where he goes ‘I could fuck around and release a blank tape with the Obi’ I thought that was clever! 

Or the line ‘I might go on tour and never come home/like the territory days, life on the road/going town to town putting local champions in chock holds’ 

Those are just two examples of lines I fucked with HEAVY! As the whole record runs exactly as smooth and precise as these. On top of his evident lyrical ability, we have his natural charisma that runs all throughout the album, saturating the songs with confidence, conviction, passion, and his love for the art of wrestling and all that makes for a fantastic experience for the listener!

The features on this album go hard as well! Providing an interesting contrast to Action’s cadence while enhancing the tracks that they are on, elevating the album as a whole!

So, what are you waiting for? This sonic present isn’t going to open up itself! Go check it out now with the link below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0C6UOzHrTSyiKRRuNGx9t7?si=XnKrks_ERzq0_i8xWQ08hw

(ANGELS WITH FILTHY SOULS)

NOW THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE is undoubtedly the sequel of the year! One I didn’t expect we would get but one that has got me more hyped than any other! 

I still remember the buzz of the first album, it’s the album that got me addicted with all three men combined with this project and now they are back to capture the lightning in the bottle for the second time and they do it effortlessly! Let’s go!

This is the brand-new powerhouse project between the trio of 

-Kil the Artist/DeevoDaGenius and Bluehillbill! The three of them return with features such as

-Al Divino

-Conway The Machine.

Those two names are all you’ve ever needed to dominate the record and across this 41 minutes we hear an elevation and maturity of what made the first album so critically revered! 

Firstly, I want to re visit the topic of ‘chemistry’ for these three and the main reason I hold the debut one in such high regard!

This trio don’t just work together, they THRIVE off each other! It’s the closest we will hear of magic in this underground landscape. The natural harmony between Bluehillbill and Kil the Artist is something that needs to be studied. The way they throw the verses back and forth from each other! The fact they unite their big personalities into one effort (as if they share a single mind) is ridiculous.

They share such a brotherly relationship that it feels like twins. They aren’t just merely collaborating they are sharing SOULS! Utilising each other’s strengths and feeding off it! From their eccentric performances to their sharp lyricism and smooth & efficient flows and pen manipulation!, everything they do is the definition of NEXT LEVEL!

From BlueHill’s ability to rap with a velvet tinge to it, as if his words can bend and stretch across the instrumentals like rubber! The way he’s able to twist and add complicated bar structures that roll off the tongue like a knife through butter makes him one of the most standout artists we’ve heard in the last few years! 

To Kil’s powerful verses, the way he’s able to grab the attention of the listener with his incredible charisma, captivating wordplay, and theatrical approach to his flow, he’s the type to take over the room as soon as he walks in!

From the moment he enters the track, the culture goes silent as they know he’s about to drop fire— a man that you wouldn’t think would have an equal, and that’s the beauty of this pairing!

All this makes it even more impressive that they are able to rap alongside two of the strongest names in the industry—Al Divino &Conway The Machine— and they make it look effortless! (Which is not something everyone can say) and further solidifies their grandeur as a duo! 

Now, of course, in speaking great lengths into the actions and skills of the two MC’s but there is a certain and rather important third member of this trinity that not only helps bring life into this album but has contributed to some of the best production we’ve heard in 2025, period. A man who has broken every boundary and risen to the top of the underground with his mastery of big sounds and soulful atmosphere, and that man is 

DEEVODAGENIUS

Across these 13 tracks, we hear bigger, bolder, and more crisp instrumentals than on the first. To me, this one feels like the ‘older brother’ of the two projects. The first represents the younger sibling who is still in their naive carefree mentality where there’s bright colours on every corner, funky/groovy & lively sounds to move your body to, and waltz through life absolutely oblivious to the reality of the world.

But this one feels a lot more grounded, heavier, and more surreal in execution. Across this tape, we hear the darker side of the family coming together and, in turn, Deevo utilising grittier and more powerful tones that are bound to leave a lasting taste in your brain and soul.

I will say this! I love the subtle hints at Christmas that runs throughout this record! You hear the samples used in the 2 home alone movies ripped throughout as well as some light jazz pianos that let you know that Christmas is in the heart of Deevo, just not making it at the forefront ‘like the sonic equivalent of Die Hard’ the non Christmas, Christmas movie! 

As usual (just as the first) this album contains an epic intro that feels like your listening to a trailer. Distorted choir vocals, heavy piano and a variety of vocal snippets that truly give off a cinematic approach!

From there we have the unrivalled ability of Deevo and his mastery of techniques. From heavy Jazz influences to some of the dopest boom Bap tracks you’ve heard in a minute! 

Deevo is putting his hand deep into the musical cookie jar. Pulling out any and all influences to embrace and turn into a masterpiece of a track!

If I had to choose a favourite instrumental, I’d have to say -CHARLIE BROWN I can’t help it this beat is so fucking filthy that you’d be left snoopy at the sound of it!

Across this track we have those heavy, distorted chord progressions in that ridiculous minimal loop! 

Accompanied by those plucked bass strings and bare boned drum beats that all comes together for one of the most stripped back but unforgettable songs on the tape! 

another modern day classic by the trio. I don’t remember the last time I heard a trio group, let alone any as solid as these three. I can tell you one thing though, when it’s all said and done these tapes will go down in history as some of the best the underground has ever released!

https://www.e11evationrecords.com/store-e5pCb/p/angels-with-filthy-souls?fbclid=PAVERFWAO2ZjVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAafH7UIW5D0IgUy528MT2jhwPdbnSOqOali4PkuRdVn7BRjD5jeoft6aXBF6kg_aem__FLjC-JWPOj_ihyn8sea9g

(Smoke Wave 2)

This has been a review in the waiting. One of those occasions where my immense build-up of requests forced me to put this one on the sidelines until the right time. Today is that moment, and I’m ready to tackle a record that has all the details to become the album of the month! Let’s go!

This is the brand-new powerhouse collaboration sequel between MC’s Sayzee & Jamal Gasol, with production credits from the likes of: 

-Sayzee

-Fludust

-The Standouts

-Odd Father

-Leezy Boy Sr

-Sonny Carson

-Denny Laflare

-Halal Beats

-Finn

Now, you’d be right to at least assume that with so many names on the production, it runs the risk of being messy and all over the place stylistically, but you’d be wrong! Across this tape, we hear these nine men come together under one single vision to create a record so wavy and beautiful that it instantly becomes memorable and additive to the listener, and I feel that’s exactly what’s happened!

On this album, we hear beats that have influences of:

-Funk

-Art Rap

-Ambient

-Jazz

-Soul

– Boom Bap

And more. With this roster of names and their own unique personalities and skills, it gives each song its own distinctive sound instead of having 14 of the same song. You have all individual flavours that are bound to make every kind of rap fan content and happy! 

If I had to pick my favourite track off the whole record, it would have to be -Ally Oop (which is produced by Sayzee). The brand of influence he brings to the table is so fucking infectious and groovy that I found myself returning to this one more than the rest!

Firstly, you’ve got this angelic and gorgeously incorporated vocal harmony that sounds like an angel singing it! On top of that, we have these luscious violin strings, methodically paced drums, plucked bass strings, and some very light, random chord progressions that come and go in a glimmering fashion! 

Denny lit this song on heavenly fire, and it burned majestically! I fuck with every song on this record, but that stood out to me the most!

If we started talking about the MC dynamics between Jamal and Sayzee, then you’re talking about a duo that individually has been taking the culture by storm! So, of course, when they come back together after all the added experiences, exposure, and evolution that you’re naturally going to get, a better, stronger, and more crisp record than before is going to happen, and that’s what happened here!

On this album, we hear some of the best and most organic-sounding chemistry I’ve heard all year! They sound so fucking smooth in the way they toss the verses back and forth, the way they dominate the tracks, and the fact that they go completely featureless (besidesLord Juco), which proves that they know they have the ‘IT’ factor to hold a record down with just their abilities alone!

For two men who I’ve heard on complete opposite ends of the lanes as far as style and themes are concerned, they mesh so well as a team! It’s as if their personal egos come together as one to create one united mind that is determined to flex on as many people as possible and showcases the best of their combined abilities, and let me tell you, it works! 

You’re really doing yourself a disservice by not checking this out! I know I was late to the party, but this one is, as I predicted, one of the strongest records of the month and shows just how much a collaboration when done right can accomplish! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4xO5ppgeYQU69UMIIP9yHP?si=ACJiktYmTFqZA-ITHCEFlw

(TWO ZINGS THAT STOLE CHRISTMAS)

Twas the night before the ZINGERS ruled the world one more time. It’s starting to feel a lot like that wavy shit, everywhere you go, and with Xmas around the corner, I ain’t talking Rudolf when I say the animals are coming loose! Let’s get to it!

This is the brand-new album (and sequel) by MC and FEED THE FAMILY member Borirock! His second Christmas album, improving on the first in every way possible!

Across this tape, we have production from

-LARON

-BONEWESO

-REDHANDS

-GRIMM DOZA

-FELONS

-TREMENDISS

And MC features from 

-BLUEHILLBILL

-AL DIVINO

-DUN DEALY

Now, right off the bat, this feels like the last Christmas album on steroids! The production feels stronger, more crisp, and absolutely devastating in execution. Fusing powerhouse sounds with that Xmas vibe to create a fusion we haven’t heard before in this niche subgenre of rap!

Imagine a film score director creating a hip-hop album but with a Christmas hint, and you’ve got this! Absolutely atmospheric beats, big instrumentation, and an overall mastery of elements and influences to take you out of your shell and force your brain to expand and explore the sonic adventure that these producers put you on! 

For example, you have songs like -UNCLE SAM MURDER SPREE, produced by BONEWESO, and once again, he doesn’t know how to miss.

From those long jazz horns to those delicate piano keys and methodical drums to come together for a beat you’d expect to hear on the -INFINITE WAVE project! Its very nature is angelic! 

Or the track -MASTERP, which takes a strong left into the more soulful area with that angelic vocal harmony on loop as well as that separate subtle vocal line in the background! 

This track also includes funky piano keys, plucked bass strings, and more groovy drums to make you feel like you just stepped back into the 70s! It’s absolutely gorgeous! In fact, every track by Bone kills!

I also love the final 30 seconds of the track about a sunglasses robbery! While this news snippet is going on, we hear the classic Christmas-themed music accompanying it!

Taking a more experimental route, we have the second-to-last track -BELICHICK as we are graced by the presence of the Splash god himself, Al! He started this track off accompanied by this ambient/experimental instrumental consisting of what sounds like a synth/flute sample loop across this methodical drum pattern and heavy bass, as well as some sci-fi-inspired chord progression that runs through the whole song! 

This is the perfect soundscape by LARON to utilise the essence of both AL & BORI! A duo we’ve heard plenty of times before as they both present a chemistry that is undeniably strong!

As far as the MC work goes. This feels like the same Bori we got in the ‘INFINITE WAVE & LORD OF THE ZINGZ’ era. To clarify, he hasn’t ever been lacking or boring in his performances. He’s constantly been top 3 MC’s for charisma, eccentricity, and wavy bars! 

But those two albums stand out to me specifically because of the uniquely heavy and focused performances I heard from him! He felt next level on those two tapes (as they came back-to-back), and on this record, he inherits the same locked-in, precise sharpness that could decapitate any beat in front of him!

Even when you look at the aspects such as Bone Weso on production, Dun Dealy on the closing track, a track with Al Divino! So many elements resembling INFINITE WAVE and his energy to match. 

Although this album doesn’t feature as much Christmas relevance as the first one, he makes up for it with extra intensity, ridiculous bar structures, and adlibs, as well as solid features and production to close off the year with an album that is sure to be remembered for years to come!

I’ll never not love the fact that Bori can go from 0-100 in less than a second. How he’s always on top of his game always adrenaline fueled and ready to go berserk on a track as he is here. He’s riding with his brothers across an end of the year surprise drop that highlights the very essence of Bori, FEED THE FAMILY and the associates he made over the years and this album feels like a proper explosive send of to a phenomenal 2025 and I know without a shadow of a doubt the culture will dig it!

So, get your hot chocolates ready, go sit besides the Christmas tree, watch the snow fall and most importantly go bump the new BORIROCK and company as that is truly the best present you can ask for this year! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4tBdc0CGzcUqfeOISvxEbB?si=e-kOE2DIQDmuzUw0rNyfgg

(SUPREME NOFACE)

It wasn’t that long ago that I first discovered this man, and since then I’ve witnessed his progression through the underground and the culture, and his rise and honesty. It makes me the happiest person to see an artist make a wave in such a competitive scene, and with that in mind, let’s talk about 

SUPREME NOFACE

This is the brand-new record by MC 067Red. With production by Scudd & REDHANDS as well as executive production by 1000WORD$ and featuring the likes of 

-Mondo Slade

-Codenine

-Figerson

-Knowitall

With such a devastating roster to accompany him, this project is definitely one for the ages! 

Across these 18 tracks and 31 minutes of material, we have a collection of some of the most angelic, gorgeous, and atmospheric instrumentals I’ve heard in a minute! This score is scattered with ambient takes, soulful energy, and the sonic equivalent of sitting by the ocean in a nice hot breeze on a bright summer’s day!

I felt myself instantly taken back by the masterful production across this tape and the feelings it gave!

I love how left field this album goes. Instead of going to the overused ‘boom bap, gritty’ sounds that are dark and violent in nature, we have a more refreshing, clean, and inviting instrumentals that relax your body and brain while you vibe to the record provided!

This is EXACTLY the type of tape we needed in the underground right now. Sure, we have certain names contributing to the more ‘lighter’ interpretations of the culture, such as 

-Sabio Dub

-Lo Katana 

-FLYG

-KnowItall

But it really is a movement that I feel needs more attention and practice, and in that respect, I love the fact we have producers such as Scudd, REDHANDS, and 1000Words coming in to provide that kind of push for the ones who are looking for something new!

This feels like what ‘A Tribe Called Quest’ and ‘De La Soul’ did for the culture back in the 80s when they went against the growing ‘gangsta rap’ sound and made their own alternative product that blew up! This is that time for the culture and I’m happy and blessed to bear witness to it!

As far as 067Red is concerned, he absolutely blew me away with his performances. Not that it would have been easy to live up to the hype of these beautiful beats, but he made it look easy. Across this tape, he showcases his contrast to the instrumentals with his raw and in-your-face performance that sounds like someone who just came up off the streets and started spitting in the booth!

He has the intensity of a hustler, while highlighting the ability of a true lyrical genius and verbal assassin! He has an interesting combination of a freelance ‘splash’ flow and a traditional rhythm that fused together to create his one-of-a-kind presence on this album.

I love the bundle of his street poetry, combined with his vivid storytelling and his ability to wave words in a way that cuts through the beat like a knife through butter and rocks a no-nonsense performance that I felt addictive and infectious!

I have to also shout out the features on this! I fuck with every single name here, but they all elevated themselves to new heights in this one! I was shocked to hear how well they pulled it off, from Mondo’s ‘preacher’ feel verse to Figersons’ intimidating and intricate dissection of bars; they both nailed it!

Codenine providing his masterclass in street slang and wavy aura across his verse to Knowitall flexing his extensive/complex vocabulary like an English professor using his PhD to show off in the audience’s faces!

Everyone on this tape felt the gravity of the production and acted accordingly! Definitely a massive highlight on this album!

From start to finish, this album was perfect. That lush production, those ridiculous features, and that performance by 067Red. It all came together better than I ever could have hoped, and I hope you all get to that link below and experience one of the best albums of the month and year! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1vzS59nwwdZzVHjZ93uKka?si=p64nVjT4Tq6OtTu6VIEycA

(Rooted In The Essence)

I couldn’t be happier than this man has decided to drop one more album in 2025. There are few artists I’d put in the same category as this man as far as depth, lyricism, emotional connection, and creativity. In all honesty, this man is in a lane of his own, and each new drop feels like a renaissance of art itself. Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new album by MC Kendall Spencer and producer August Fanon. A duo that has made some of the most powerful music I’ve ever heard. Together, they drop a fresh nine tracks featuring 

– Yonnas

– Kendall’s wife (in track 8)

And I want to re literate that whenever these two come together for an album, it goes beyond your traditional ‘Hip Hop’ music. It becomes a journey laced with introspection, heartfelt stories, and the unburdening of the soul to such an extent that you leave pondering the immense mental and emotional impact you’ve just experienced.

Such is the case with MC Kendall. I’ve never heard a normal record from the man; instead, a string of heavy-handed, brutally honest, and sincere verses of pain, struggle, overcoming the odds, and finding light at the end of the darkness in such a way that you feel like you’ve taken the harsh journey in life alongside him! 

Every time he even breathes on the record, it feels like a bar of gold in comparison to other rappers. It’s because he has substance in his step, real-life experiences, and lessons learnt to share with the audience. In the same way preachers don’t get up on that pedestal and just talk bullshit, neither does Kendall.

He’s a man who’s about to blow your mind with the life he’s lived and the conviction & integrity he’s forged along the way. That’s why his bars and pen game have such impact to them because he’s actually talking about something important to hear and not just rapping bullshit! 

He’s a true ‘MC’ (Master of Ceremony), a man whose ability to make you feel in your bones every word he has to say as if you’re transporting yourself is something second to none. Plus, it seems August is one that can bring his best qualities out the most! 

Speaking of the man. Let’s talk about August in December (see what I did there?) he’s a man who I’ve praised many times for his mastery of the production, the way he’s able to utilise any sound brought to him and make it an atmospheric gold mine, and as I stated above, I feel no clearer is this sonic dominance more clear than when pairing up with the likes of Kendall! 

Across this album, we hear a more traditional and, dare I say, minimal approach to the instrumentals (at least compared to the showings I’ve heard from him across this year and others), an attempt to most probably match the gravitas of the subject matter and maintain the tone and vibe of the record itself.

See, I feel this is one of those examples of an album I don’t have ‘favourites’ on. Because I feel the right way to hear this project is in order and played continuously from start to finish. It’s not about ‘hit singles’ or ‘club tracks’; it’s about telling a cohesive story, and the relationship between the lyricism and the production is key in exploring that narrative completely.

So, with that in mind, I was listening to this record as a whole rather than individual pieces, and I was taken back by the surreal energy and the big, bold flavours embraced across the few layers at any time each song had made me feel! 

If nothing else, August is hip hop’s greatest chameleon. He can shift his expertise and taste depending on who he finds himself around and create instant synchronicity, and this time is no different! 

So, with all that in mind, I ask you all (as I always have) to please give this man and his music a shot. I guarantee you that you haven’t heard anything like it and that it’s going to leave a lasting impression on you, whether you like it or not! 

https://kendallspencermusic.bandcamp.com/album/rooted-in-the-essence

(Skums & Roses)

This is another example of an artist who’s been killing it over 2025. With a steady flow of releases that have gained steady attention and interest over the months, working with a whole team of various producers who have helped establish his signature sound and made him the artist he is today! So for what I assume to be one final time of the year, let’s go!

This is the brand-new release by MC Reek Osama and this time with Producer SkumBag Diggs with 11 tracks, 29 minutes, and the likes. 

-BLUEHILLBILL

-Figerson

-Starz Coleman

-Hank Dope

A collection of A+ Tier underground names who in their own lanes have killed it this year as well! But across this field, lend to the atmosphere of the record! 

On this one. We hear SkumBag create a solid score filled with some of the most cinematic interactions of Boom Bap that you’ve ever heard! This speaks right away with that opening track -Prada Balaclava, where we hear those luscious & delicate piano keys looped alongside those sharp & subtle chord layers and thudding drum with that ridiculous bass that makes for a powerhouse of an intro track!

As the album goes on, the sounds only get more interesting and theatrical! Taking the very next song for example, we have a take to the more muddier version of the album. You’ve got those distorted chord progressions alongside light piano keys and such heavy bass that it overwhelms the senses! 

Not to mention the feature by BlueHill, someone who has proven his ability to adapt to any production, especially the more raw material (such as these ones).

I find for me the track -Lost My Sanity has to be my standout beat! It has this stadium, mainstream feel to it (like something you’d hear 50 Cent or Jay-Z on) but with a combination of the trademark underground Hip Hop sound to create a blend of both worlds that I found myself gravitating to over the repeats!

To say the least, SkumBag created such a strong showing for Reek and all the affiliated involved! 

Speaking of Reek, and his showing, he once again puts on a masterclass of MC work in his trademark gruesome, raw, and unhinged take on the underground’s sound that has kept him at the forefront of the culture for the whole year!

What makes him such a dangerous threat is the fact that he can combine his ruthless and cold-blooded performance alongside his genuine skill as a wordsmith and storyteller!

Not many are as good at telling stories or painting vivid imagery as he is! He’s able to dive deep into the filth and violence of life and create art from it. As if he’s the spokesman for the depths of depravity the world has to offer and was born from it! 

His bars feel less like bars and more like haunting warnings of deadly foreshadowing! As if he knows something we don’t and is providing an endless stream of threats and warnings to the world! 

The company he brought with him is just as strong as he is with the eccentric personalities and performances! The type who can blend any instrumental and are some of the most original lyricists and musicians we’ve heard in 2025. Men I’ve covered all year, men who haven’t disappointed me yet! 

Needless to say, this was another amazing record by Reek. I don’t think I’ve come across a mediocre record yet, and as expected, he ended 2025 with a bang! 

Shoutout to everyone involved and SkumBag on the production! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1CpLpCNX0QpLZ7HZUZQJbv?si=sXX6SMd7QyqWrDoEroxTtQ