We have yet another Narcomix. The last handful of releases by this man have been him testing his own against some of the best beats in the industry and letting the fans decide who did it better, and this time he’s back to remix a WESTSIDE GUNN beat in the form of ‘BRIKOLAI VOLKOFF’, and how does he do it, you ask?
Gustavo, AKA Mr. Narcomix himself, comes into this beat SWINGING! He utilises this beat to his advantage, using his natural charisma and unpredictable nature to deliver bars that are not only consistent and even with the flow but also beaming with energy, passion, and his own quirky enthusiasm that is showcased in spades!
One thing I’ve noticed is this smaller, more high-pitched voice that follows him on all the remix tracks he does. I don’t know if that’s him or someone else’s voice, but it’s like he has his own fan following him everywhere!
I love how on this track he does this, such as waiting for those delicate piano keys at the intro to play before he starts to spit his bars! I love how he’s actually playing with the beat inside of or against his own ‘free-lance’ style. Not that I don’t enjoy that side of him, but it makes me feel like he’s trying more seriously to sync with this instrumental than others, which is sick!
I love how he gives himself a mini interlude before continuing with his second verse! He’s really making this track his own, and his colourful persona, driven flow, and pen game are more explosive on this track than others!
Another banger remix by the one and only. I hope WSG is paying attention to these remixes because he’s coming for all the beats!
What can I say about Ant Kelly? I’ve discovered so many different versions of this man. From that first project I was sent where he was on that NEMS energy (which was my least version of him) to his album ‘DIVINEWISDOM’ which highlights his improvement and his creative side and made it to my June award ceremony!
And now we have this one and after all the progress I heard this man go through I had nothing but high hopes and now that I’ve heard it, how do I feel? Let’s talk about it!
This is the brand new album by MC ANT KELLY! Featuring producers
-SketchTurner
-DJ Krooked
And MC’s such as
-King Adroit
-LORD LUCAS
-Audio Messiah
-Arsinel
-Black Silq
-Miskeen Haleem
-war will kill
And with his powerful roster on his behalf I have to admit. This album fucking ROCKS! I’m thoroughly impressed, the end.
Nah, wouldn’t do Ant like that but I ain’t lying this thing surprised me in so many ways! Let’s start with the MC first because as I hoped it seems he’s evolved again and has combined his extensive creativity and developed lyricism and pen game to create verses that are sharp, interesting and powerful in execution!
Like his first verse on the intro track how he was telling a vivid story and you can envision yourself right there with him in his story! It means he’s improved his storytelling aspects! But not only that he’s also worked on the smoothness of his flow and his vocabulary to the point where he’s spitting bars that make you think and mean-mug simultaneously!
You can hear his confidence at an all-time high on this album! I mean he wouldn’t invite the level of MC talent he has on this record if he wasn’t sure he could compete and stand tall with them and I can safely say he deserves all the credit! He’s not only keeping up with these names but he’s delivering his own unique style and charisma that stands out loud and strong on the album!
He’s always had an interesting and stand-out style (even back on the EP I wasn’t a fan of too much), but I could tell if he just worked on himself, he could be one of the greats, and after hearing his verses on here, he’s finally on that path, and it’s exciting!
As for the names on here, my favourite verses would have to be from either Silq or Messiah! Both have been on my replay list since this whole year, and to hear them over his lavish production definitely is something special! Shoutout to the others as well who also killed it!
Speaking of lavish production, we have one man who I fuck with and talk with, heavy DJ Krooked! Even from that first Ant album I was sent (by him), his production has stood out to me, and he’s only
gotten better and better over just a few months! This album is a further example of his inherent talent and masterful execution!
The other man I haven’t heard until now in Sketch, but both these men help create this mesmerising atmosphere that soothes the brain and relaxes the soul! There’s a lot of jazz, funk, and soul elements mixed in with underground hip hop and done in such a phenomenal way that I found it hard to write this as the production kept sweeping me away!
My two favourite beats would have to be ‘Aristotle & Ares’, it has these thick bass lines, infectious drum patterns, and some of the most interesting and powerful vocal harmonies for the sample loop that just takes this track to a whole new level! There’s also a slight, subtle vocal note in the background, which is also nice!
There’s also the track ‘Secret Sauce’ because of its raw, minimal yet gorgeous, elegant piano keys and that James Blake style vocal loops combined with those heavy-handed drums and plucked strings make for one of the most ambitious and beautiful songs on the whole album, not to mention the best idea for an intro track!
All this to say, this album is the definition of a home run. From the insane production to the evolution of Ant from a mere few months! And those dope features, this is the album I wanted him to make, and he finally did! Shoutout to everyone involved!!
I can’t lie, this is an album I didn’t know was coming but one that’s got me completely hyped? Why? Because this man is one of the most eccentric and incredible beat makers I’ve heard in a minute!
One that never ceases to push the boundaries and let his creative side fly, and on this record, he reaches new heights! Let’s talk about it!
This is the brand new album by producer AbbotJackson. Across this new project, he comes packed with 15 new tracks, 34 minutes of run time, and the likes of
– Jared Archdeacon
– Red Amandala
– Ian Mitchell
– Yahezkul Fanfan
And with this incredible roster of men, we have a tape that’s equal parts smooth and angelic and also mesmerising and powerful!
The production is the main focus point on this record as we have 13 of the 15 tracks as pure instrumental tracks, and they hit harder than most tracks WITH MC’s on it.
What he does here is highlight and bring forth aspects such as
– Soul
– Funk
– Jazz
– RnB
– Hip Hop
– Ambient
– Spanish Guitar
All together into a holy matrimony of sounds, samples, influences, and cuts to create a divine album that is sure to take your mind and heart away into a dreamland where stress and problems don’t exist!
This album feels like a continuously flowing river that never breaks course. It’s a fluent score of harmonic beats and delicate instrumentation that will keep your mind stimulated and your breath taken away!
I actually found it hard to write this because every time I went back to listen (for review’s sake), I found myself re-captured in the album’s bliss, angelic nature, and hypnotic energy.
For a better example, I want you to think of Knxwledge on the ‘NxWorries’ tapes in the types of magic you can expect on this project! This is definitely the type of album built to be played in album form to hear the chronic synchronicity he’s formed from the first to last beat! It’s absolutely magical!
As far as the two tracks with MC’s on them, it. It definitely provides a small break from the rest of the album, but in that break, it amplifies the music with the talent on top of it! Of course, Red is no stranger to Abbot, and the rest match the energy of the record and also help bring it to that next level with their own styles and personalities across the songs!
Man, for a record I didn’t know existed until the other day, this has to be one of the standouts for September. It’s organically beautiful, it’s crafted with passion and masterful technique, and provides a level of ‘Mythical Art’ that you just don’t hear nowadays in the underground! Definitely worth checking out!
Another EP by the king of ‘Sunshine Rap’ if you know, you know. One thing I have noticed is ever since I started covering him, I feel he’s gotten way more traction over just a few months! Making records with people I’ve reviewed and others! That kind of trajectory is what I love to see in underground cats, and this EP further proves my point!
Brand new EP by my main man Sabio Dub and fellow producer and MC Malhee, and together they drop a fresh batch of tracks with 11 minutes of content, and once again, we get a demonstration of smooth vibes and breathtaking execution!
Both these men bring the perfect balance between that subtle level of gritty underground energy and beats paired with soothing and jazz-inspired soft-spoken tunes to take away your stress!
As his trademark with Sabio, every beat he raps on or creates has a level of ‘sunshine’ to it that is the spirit of reggae put into hip-hop form. It’s always bright, vibrant, colourful, and fun in execution!
It’s for beats like these that keep him such an anticipated artist for me! From his groundbreaking instrumentation to his carefree attitude on the mic and his nonchalant style and presence, makes him a standout! These 11 minutes prove that more than ever!
Whether it be tracks like ‘Finish Line’ with those groovy jazz horns, those delicate keys, and intricate hip-hop beat to create a vibe for days! Or even the track ‘Everybody Eats’ with those light and sticky keys with that infectious drum pattern! It’s all done in such a melodic and gorgeous manner that it’s literally irresistible!
On the MC front, although this is the first time hearing Malhee, yet he showcased perfect chemistry with the likes of Sabio! Instead of providing a strong contrast to Sabio, the likes of Mikskeen Haleem does but instead matches his free, relaxing energy to a tee, and it’s wonderful!
They both (as I understand it) produced tracks on the album, and both men rap. I gotta say it’s not easy to find someone who has the same synchronicity as Sabio after listening to many EP’s and albums of his. There have been many features, and all provided fire, but as far as matching up the same energy is rare!
Overall, another dope EP by Sabio! He’s been on a 2025 roll that might be the new standard to beat!
Man, this is quite an interesting piece of music. Sometimes before I even listen to a record, I can tell something is going to be ‘special’ based on artwork or tracklist names. Whatever the case may be, this one just felt different, and after listening to it, I’m glad to say I was right!
This is the brand-new August album by MC Thoughts With Thought. He brings with him the producers
-Talen Ted
-Magnum Beats
-ARES
-Numbz
-Jay Fehrman.
And you know one, this one feels like a beautifully executed throwback to beginning of the very late 90’s or mid 2000’s where we got a string of thought provoking/Smooth Jazz filled Hip Hop Scores that challenged the ‘Gangsta Rap’ powerhouse that was the main aspect of the genre at that time.
Think of your Common, Atmosphere, Illogic, early Kanye, Lupe Fiasco vibes. This album feels right up that alley, providing the audience with something refreshing and interesting at the same time.
For example, we have these fun little spoken word passages that start with that intro and carry through the record with whatever is on his mind, and I love them! It’s like a small break-up between the music that helps reset the mind before going into the rest of the music.
Then, on top of all that, we have some of the most atmospheric and harmonious rhythms you’ve heard in a minute!
A lot of delicate chords, funky synth chords, light drums, ambient inspirations, and overall a mesmerising listening experience that you just don’t hear anymore.
No gun adlibs, no street/drug talk or violence, just pure melodies and soul-infused music that connects with your heart, soul, and mind!
As far as the MC work goes. This man definitely reminds me of a combination of Common and Lupe Fiasco! He has that similar introspective social commentary that feels both passionate and enthusiastic!
A lot of that speaks to those skits he puts on. Where he’ll talk on everything from his project being only $8 or the events around the world and how we ain’t doing shit about it!
He’s a man who makes sure each word on his bars has a meaning and a reason to be there. Not just spitting for the sake of it but written for the purpose of expanding the mind and in many parts bringing awareness to the masses.
One thing I do find ironic is the track where he speaks on all the corruption and bullshit in the world, ‘Black Sheep’. It is produced by ARES. So to have the god of war produce a track talking about constant war is very ironic to me!
But besides that, he’s got rhythm, cadence, and passion for days. His wordplay and structure are impressive, his flow is fluent, and his pen game is ever so extensive and fourth coming!
This album is definitely worth the $8 asking price. It’s not an album you’re going to hear at any clubs but more a mind-tuning experience that will hopefully help you expand and grow as a person! Definitely worth checking out now!
In my honest opinion, this man probably has one of the more underrated discographies of the past few years. One of those artists where the albums pop off but then not much buzz after the fact, and I want to try to change that!
Because he’s definitely got the aura and the character of a great artist with a release history that doesn’t miss, and this record is definitely no exception! Let’s talk about it!
Brand new album by John Jigg$ with 16 new tracks with the likes of
– The StandOuts
– jxkecregxn
– Kyo Itachi
– DJ Mickey Knox
– The Heretic Beats
– Swab on the beats
And
– M.O.U.F
– Rockwelz
– Streets Soprano on the mic, and together with this roster, John helps provide a larger-than-life listening experience that will stick with you for months to come!
Let’s start with the production. After listening to this record, it gave off a ‘biblical’ feel to the record. You’ve got these ‘BGGG’ series on the album that provide spiritual spoken passages that help bring the album back to a more meaningful and thought-provoking tone that I really loved!
It kind of reminded me of the DMX Prayer tracks he used to add at the end of his records but done with more elegance and grace!
Besides those moments, this record has a strong late 90’s or early 2000’s Hip Hop vibe to me. Certain tracks like ‘Stay Up’ remind me of a combination of a G Unit Meets T.I. track, with that busting, East Coast instrumentation with that early trap chorus that makes you want to groove and move your feet!
Then you have tracks like ‘The Memo’ which showcases a more orchestral and classical atmosphere with those sharp violin chords accompanying those hypnotic drums that help make this track stand out! Think early Common meets Gang Starr! Incorporating some surreal elements to create a track you’re bound to replay for weeks!
We can even look at the track ‘Suspects’ which has a more melodic and stripped-back inspiration. You’ve got those light and subtle vocal loops that are both angelic and powerful at the same time with those super soft drums!
Speaking of powerful, we have an incredible verse by Streets Soprano. One of the sharpest lyricists going in the underground and one who fits perfectly with this instrumentation!
All this to say that the variety of producers made for a great, cohesive structure (which isn’t easy to do with that many names) but I can report that it was done seemingly perfectly!
As far as John goes. As he always has, he’s bringing the flair and cinematic energy to the beat with his brand of vivid storytelling street poetry with equal parts introspective social commentary that keeps him a standout lyricist and MC!
Across the tracks, he doesn’t just sound like an MC, he sounds like a man on a mission. One whose job is to enlighten the masses using his extensive vocabulary, his nonsense, and powerful delivery and sharp pen game to structure verses that sound like scripture on the beat! As if you’re listening to a spiritual experience (as I mentioned above).
As someone who actually has a dad who is a church bishop, I know what strong conviction sounds like, and he has it in SPADES! He has fluent flow and a way with words where the world listens when he talks!
He doesn’t have many features on here (MC-wise), and that’s also part of the magic. He’s out there proving that you can rock a record without a party of company-bought features to try to pop the numbers up! Instead, having natural chemistry with the few you have to make for an eccentric and memorable display of music!
This was once again, a knock-out for John. As I’ve been supporting his work all year, he’s gotten stronger and stronger! Shoutout to all the producers and MC’s who helped make this album pure undeniable magic!
I’ll be honest right off the bat, I hate that the ‘A’ was removed from the word ‘Dark’ gives a motherfucker like me massive OCD.
Now, onto music-related business. We are back with a man who in a short few months’ time span has provided more versatility and creativity than most do in a lifetime and he’s back with yet ANOTHER lane to conquer. Can this man be stopped? Let’s talk about it!
This is the brand-new EP by MC God Gotti and Producer ‘ProdByP’ and together they dropped nine minutes, four songs and enough aura to fill a fucking stadium!
Right from the start we have ‘Dark Intro’ which has this funky NES-sounding jazz music. The kind of jazz you’d hear while waiting on hold on the phone or something! It’s very playful and ambient at the same time with those light drums and colourful chords!
On this track we have a deep spoken word passage introducing the project itself.
Then from there we have ‘Big Worm’ a track I’ve already covered in the past (if I’m not mistaken the second or third single I ever covered of his) regardless it’s super ambient and methodical in structure, you’ve got those long drawn-out bass lines, shrieking keys and what sounds like a slight vocal chord in the far background!
On this track, God uses his pen to make a verse lightly inspired by the antagonist of the classic movie ‘Friday’ Big Worm. His verse although short was composed well, great flow and lyricism. I feel it was more concerned with keeping the surreal pacing of the track than anything else ‘hence the short and to the point wordplay’
After that we have ‘Close Call’ a more upbeat and flavoured track compared to the last two. This track has a certain ‘Folk meets Boom Bap’ feel to
it. You’ve got those angelic and harmonic what sounds like flute keys gliding across the beat with some synth-style keyboard keys on loop and some light drums! It’s quite the work of art!
But then in the last 40 seconds, we get this J Dilla-inspired beat switch loop with short bursts of vocal snippets and plucked strings and subtle drums! It’s refreshing and provides some extra creative points to the track and showcases more of P’s skill behind the board!
As far as God goes on that track, he only rapped for the first half, but his bars were a lot more focused, precise, and on centre. Thunderous delivery with sharp wordplay and puns to keep
you on your feet as a listener!
On the final track, we have ‘Neck Brace’, which has probably the most somber vibe of the whole album! With those lower-registered notes in reputation giving kind of an ‘80s club playing in the background’ from the outside looking in time vibes to it.
It is certainly vibing but in a more relatively ‘separated’ aspect compared to a loud, bright, and warm experience you’d expect being inside the club or dance floor!
On this track, we have God end his contributions on the EP with style! He’s sharp, energetic, charismatic, and powerful in his voice and flow. He’s upped his pen game and provided the audience with a more demonstrative performance than on the last two tracks and goes off with a bang!
Speaking of going off in a bang, this track actually ends with guest MC ‘Miskeen Haleem’, usually associated with ‘Sabio Dub’, but comes to help conclude the track in his trademark gritty and in-your-face style that would normally be the perfect contrast to the lighter, relaxed Sabio, but on this one, he actually shows fantastic chemistry with God Gotti!
Overall, I enjoyed this EP for what it was. I wasn’t sure what inspired the artwork and name, as besides the intro track, I didn’t get much ‘dark or sinister’ vibes as I was expecting to get going in, but regardless, it’s a fun and groovy 9 minutes and one definitely worth checking out!
Oh fucking shit! We are going there! Out of all the remix beats I thought I’d hear, this wouldn’t be one of them! We talking new CLIPSE instrumental? Talk about a tall order, but if anyone can achieve this, I’m sure he can!
We have a brand new remix freestyle by MC Jhiakana, and as he’s rapping over the beat with the same name done by Pharrell! And when I say tall order, I mean it because he’s going to try out rap PUSHA T and NO MALICE, two of the strongest lyricists in the game right now, and for that attempt alone, he gets my respect, but the all-important question, what is the result?
Well, not bad at all! You have to also remember the original track is a duo track back and forth, so to try not only to do a dope remix but be the energy of two men (plus Dream), that’s a task and a half, and yet I feel confident that he did a worthy remix freestyle!
He has a strong, steady flow with a confident cadence! He’s set up a solid structure with regular intervals of bars, none of this ‘free form’ shit, but precise and accurate bars that land on the beat exactly where it should be (exactly like CLIPSE).
His wordplay is also vivid and interesting, with different topics being introspective social commentary to clever puns to wrestling references! He covers everything and does it in a slick way!
If this truly was a freestyle, as in all of the top, no planning, that’s ridiculous how good it came out! He’s done a few of them this year, and this might be his best yet, also because he suits the production so well!
All in all, another phenomenal remix. I hope this is all an interlude to a bunch of new music to come, but for now, dope excellence that is executed straight to the heart and the foundation! So I’m gonna get up outta here and drop the anvil with my sharpshooter!
ain’t gotta lie, the fact certain letters were removed from that title annoyed the fuck outta my OCD!
But now to music-related things, we are back with another single by the up-and-rising king of one-liners himself! Over the last 30 days, he has brought his A+ game and, more over the course of several EP’s and a handful of singles, that have seen his evolution and progress into one of the ones to watch out for, this latest track is further evidence of that!
Brand new 1 minute and 44 seconds by MC FLYG with this time working with Producer Lo Katana, and together they send through the airwaves a track so smooth and mesmerising that you’ll have to kick-start your heartbeat back to normal to move after listening to this track!
Let’s start with the beat. We have this slowed-down, methodically paced soul-inspired track with groovy plucked strings, sharp synths, and bass so thick it takes over your body!
Of course, the most noticeable element is the vocal harmony that loops in continuous motion of humming-style singing that is equal parts angelic and powerful and provides a harmonious aspect to the already loaded smooth track that is sure to keep you down for the count like a sonic tranquil device! I even had a hard time wording this due to its captivating and relaxed nature!
As far as FLYG goes, he doesn’t let any of this under 2-minute track go to waste! Right off the bat, his first few bars are some of my favourite! He goes
‘Me and Katana hitting you with something you’ve never heard/More potent than a designer drug, it’s too easy I render a shoulder shrug. Peace to the black goat mugs, promise there’s no way you dodge these lyrical slugs/the illest underground music, showcased by Paka the plug/you’re not in that category your catalog is swept under the rug’
Do you read that shit? That’s lyrical greatness! So much involved in just a 30-second time span. It’s creative, fun, and descriptive while remaining consistent with his flows and pen game.
He’s flexing on game right now, pretty much saying ‘You think I need longer than 2 minutes to drop fire bars? Watch this!’ And drops quality like that. It’s unreal!
This is definitely one of his favourite singles in a while! He’s been on a roll regardless, but the combination of the beat and his incredible bars makes this a standout among standouts!
Man. What a killer collaboration to have for 2025. Both these men, in their own paths, have created shockwaves that have ripped to shift the culture itself, and now coming together under one mind is something that the underground will be talking about for months, believe that!
This is the brand-new album by MC Jamil Honesty and Producer JrSwiftz! Together, they drop ten tracks with the likes of
-Dj Grazzhoppa
-Jay Royale
-Griot Noy
-Awon
-Kev Brown
-Blu
And -DJ Illogik providing cuts on the last joint!
And with this incredible guest roster, these two men create something that’s equal parts nostalgic and fresh!
To start with the production, JR brings back that quality control of the gritty 90s and feels like he’s paying homage to the era of
-Mobb Deep
-Gang Starr
-The Roots, etc., with the larger-than-life sonic expressions with cinematic instrumentation and often times skeletal and stripped-back beats that emphasise the ‘less is more’ aspect to create breathtaking music where you can identify each element in the song without it sounding messy or overwhelming!
The perfect song that showcases this theory is ‘Real Rap’. I love this track because it’s so minimal yet immersive! You’ve got those infectious drum beats with those light yet powerful keys and those raw scratches by Grazzhopa to add the cherry on top!
Few ingredients but creates something special! That’s the mark of a true artist!
Even if we look at the track that follows it, ‘94 Nas’, and we hear more of that 90s East Coast wave of hard-hitting, gritty hip hop! You’ve got those thick bass lines, jazz-inspired chords, and heavy drums.
As the song name suggests, this is that old-school ‘Illmatic’ Nas era beat, and I love every second!
All this is to say that (in my opinion) JR is using beats to write an appreciation letter to the ones that came before and to let the world know that without them, there would be no Swiftz, and to me, that shit is powerful!
Now, onto the MC work. Jamil has been working to be one of the upper-class rappers in the game right now. He’s on everyone’s features, and when it comes to his own shit, he snaps twice as hard! Now, while under this legendary producer’s music, he’s out for blood!
On this album, he hasn’t sounded better! Just as JR is, Jamil is also inheriting his inner 90s and utilising the influences of the classics such as
-Nas
-Black Thought
-Guru
-Big L
-Rakim and more. He’s showcasing a combination of his own massive original talent and techniques and combining it with the love and admiration for the legends to help write his own passage in the appreciation letter that JR started.
I love Jamil on this! His pen game is sharp, his flow is smooth and fluent! His lyricism is complex and personal, and his in-depth detail in his bars makes him feel like a poet rather than an MC!
I’ve never heard him sound so prolific and passionate than he does here! It’s like he’s activated a new form or level that he’s never used before now. He’s channeling his inner avatar and letting the spirits of the forefathers run through him as he spits some of the best verses of his life!
I love how on the track ‘Tennis Filas’ he decided to almost close the record off with a verse battle against some of the current greats! It’s a further testament to his confidence and skills to choose these lyrical titans to rap alongside!
The energy of this album is honestly infectious. I feel like I’m transported back into the 90s where classic albums dropped on the weekly, back when quality control was key and respect was a given.
The Serpent Tongue Reviews 