(W.H.I.M. 2)

Do you know how crazy your consistency has to be for me to remember clearly the original as I go into the sequel? It feels like that just dropped yesterday. This is a crazy level of work ethic by these two! But with that being said, I’m not any less excited to hear what they could have possibly done in such a short amount of time, so with that in mind, let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new EP Sequel by MC’s/Producers Sabio Dub and Malhee. These two return with a strong 10-minute/5-track experience that is just as smooth as crisp as the original. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to listen to this prior to my March Award ceremony, but still, this thing is incredible!

What I love about these guys’ chemistry is the fact they somehow draw out the most soulful/atmospheric and catchy instrumentals you’ve ever heard in your life out of the blue. With a collection of lavish vocal harmony loops, minimal incorporation of plucked strings, and rhythmic drums. The fact that each song features a handful of elements and still has the capacity to hit this hard is ridiculous.

Each track feels like a fluent predecessor and successor to the ones before and after. It has this heavy angelic feeling that can’t really be described without listening to it first yourself. The way they incorporate those gorgeous vocal samples, the way they utilise the bare yet powerfully driven instrumentation that is equal parts minimalistic and cinematic in its own right! I could legitimately listen to this shit for hours without getting sick of it!

As we discuss the situation of the MC work (as was the case last time), they both take turns rocking the mic. Both present different perspectives and styles, with Sabio showcasing his trademark ‘Sunshine Rap’ persona while Malhee has a more raw and up-front take on his studio presence, but both find a way to come together in unique harmony and knock out the perfect chemistry.

I love their dynamic chemistry. I love how they can make two distinct performances work in balance! It’s not easy to sync up two different cadences on one project (naturally because unless it’s masterfully coordinated, opposites don’t tend to mix musically), but they found that sonic sweet spot that you just can’t get enough of.  I can’t remember off the top of my head about the first one, but I love that this one has no features because it further highlights the connection between the two and lets their interactions soak into the beats and become imprinted on your mind for days to come!

Another solid sequel and EP. Have you heard it yet? Better yet, did you hear the original? If so, let me know and comment! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5MSguBKd2E7vSC5aze2wUD?si=6cLhK6_xRweYHRxYdsnUvw

(A JUNGLE BOOK)

Man, we are SO FUCKING BACK! I can’t believe it’s finally out. After I heard these two were working together, I was locked in immediately, and now that it’s finally here? Call this shit Shere Khan because they’re KILLING SHIT! Let’s go!

This is the brand-new album between producer FLUDUST x MONEY MOGLY, and they come stacked with a solid 11 tracks with the likes of 

-PRO THE ARTIST

-DOZA THE DRUM DEALER

-HELLZ OWN

-SHOTTIE 

-MICHAEL M

-NoEMOTION GOLDMASK

-PRIMO JAB

-TALI ROD

And man, this shit is almost beyond words. From front to back, this is the definition of ‘next level’ because the chemistry between both FLU and MONEY is undeniable. They worked together as part of the collective, but to hear FLU working solo and creating this level of magic is insane, Liz.

We gotta start with the MC side of things because somehow ONCE GAIN Money has found a way to blow me away. I wasn’t lying when I said he’s at the forefront of the underground due to his originality and creativity on his discography, and this one feels like an elevation of all that! Even from the opening track with that mesmerising chorus work by PRO THE ARTIST that sets up that atmospheric and crisp nature for all the other tracks!

What separates Money from the rest is his freelance fluency on the mic. He never conforms to anyone or any style; he just does him. Sometimes he’s fast-paced, sometimes methodical! Sometimes we hear him go crazy with high-level energy, and other times he’s calm and more serious or introspective. 

The crazy part is that he makes this work! I swear if anyone tried to be so many different lanes at once, it would come across as awkward and cringe, but not him! He’s a creative mastermind who showcases 100 and 1 versions of himself, and they all work! 

And the chemistry he has with the features? It’s absolutely incredible. As much as I loved every one on here, there is one selective track that had me on the edge of my seat as soon as I saw the name! A feature I was told would happen in the future, but to see it so soon had me hyped so fucking much, and as expected, they tore the fucking house down! And that’s 

Money X DOZA! (Track 5) 

This track gave me goosebumps for real! To imagine I would hear a song with these two creative GOATS with FLU on the production? It’s Christmas in March, and it lived up to any and all expectations I could have had! My favourite feature track on the album! 

As far as the production goes, Flu has spent the last few years (solo or otherwise) creating some of my favourite albums in the underground, and this one can be added to the list. He doesn’t miss, and this could very well be his magnum fucking opus!

Across this album, we hear him utilising a range of different styles and influences to create a cinematic experience that will take over all your senses and warp you into a sonic adventure that you’ll be wanting to return to time and time again; it’s that good!

So many tracks stand out to me, for example, that opening track -WXLF CRY WOLF. I love how it incorporated those orchestral chord progressions and those light keys fused with those thudding drums! One of the more minimal tracks that hit you like a tonne of bricks! 

Of course, PRO’s contributions on the chorus add so much fucking flavour and texture to the album that it can’t be understated!

There’s the track -A JUNGLE BOOK, which has this really nice, cinematic score to it with those plucked keys, those wavering chords, and those light yet hypnotic drum beats that force you to rock your head back and forth during the whole song!

I also love how it sounds like there’s the occasional vocal snippet added in that’s been heavily edited! Either way, an absolutely surreal track where Money goes off on!

There’s even the song -GOSPELLS which has this old school gospel feel to it with those angelic choir vocals that is combined with those tasteful drum beats and some deliciously plucked bass strings that are light but effective in creating a specific vibe to the whole track!

There’s also the amazing verses by Shottie X Michael M who destroy the beat!

Man, again I have few words. My words can’t possibly do justice to the scale of greatness this album provides. I beg all of you to click the link below, go support and show these two the love they deserve! 

https://moneymogly.bandcamp.com/album/a-jungle-book

(Out Your Jurisdiction)

Nothing better than starting your morning off with two men who seem to bring out the best in each other! After hearing both men kill in their respective lanes, it only seemed appropriate that they world re unite sooner rather than later, and after hearing this album, I can say with the utmost confidence that this is one for the culture that you can’t afford to sleep on! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new collaboration between MC Waterr and producer Vanderslice, and between the two, they drop a collection of 12 tracks that have the sole feature of -Dialect Tre, and I’ll be honest. 

When I first played this album, I wasn’t sure what kind of sound or direction to expect. Both of them have utilised a variety of styles over the years, so it was all a guessing game until I actually heard it, and I gotta say, what they went with is absolutely incredible!

If we start with the production side of things, we hear Vanderslice go into his more smooth, atmospheric, and mellow side of things. The whole album plays like a fever dream of the most beautiful sounds you could expect on a hip-hop album. 

So many tracks stand out to me as my favourites across the record. 

You’ve got the track -Screenpass from Aikman, which was absolutely gorgeous in execution. So many elements from those harmonious jazz notes to those methodical drum patterns, those key progressions that sound like choir vocals! As well as those plucked bass strings that all come together in this well-orchestrated manner that I found purely irresistible! 

There’s the track -Every Verse is a Spell, which has this slick soul feel to it with those subtle vocal lines in the background, those delicate and intricate piano keys, as well as those raw drums that provide that heavy layer that helps wrap this track up in that grand feel! 

Each element of the instrumentation on this thing feels premium and masterfully done! This is one of those beats I could legitimately listen to for an hour on end!

We can even talk about the track -O’Shea with the wordplay which has some of the most luscious plucked strings I’ve heard all year! So fucking hypnotic! As well as those, we have those minimal drum notes that act as a type of sonic skeleton to the track with a light tinge of those piano notes that are so subtle that it’s impossible not to love when you catch them on the track!

This whole album runs like a true ambient soundscape which includes the most gorgeous production you’ll hear in a minute. I knew Vanderslice was going to kill this, but I couldn’t have expected this!

Man, speaking of killing this, we have Waterr (a man I had the privilege of interviewing alongside my brother Brutus for his old publication), and so I’ve been on Waterr’s radar for a while now, and with every new drop, he’s continued to impress me and seemed to push the bar further each time while working with the best in the industry!

This time is no different! He brings back his trademark charisma, his raw and rugged delivery that packs more of a punch than Mike Tyson in his prime! The way he works his syllables, his flawless enunciations, and the way he’s able to almost manipulate the beats with his wordplay is incredible to hear!

To me, he’s always been that kind of rapper that can make his presence felt with just his energy and skill alone. He doesn’t have to do anything fancy or try any bullshit waves or trends; he’s a beast by himself, and this project proves that (once again).

I love how for the majority of this album, he’s just rocking solo (with the exception of track 6), where he has Dialect absolutely nail the feature verse! But besides that, he takes this album alone and makes it work. For those who already fuck with his music, you know just how much of a verbal powerhouse that he is! He’s got all the attributes to make an impactful album each and every time, and so it was no surprise to hear him takeover the album and make it his own!

Even the small variety of interludes and skits gives this record that theatrical edge to give it that extra layer of depth! It’s a classic case of ‘less is more’, and both men utilise this to a tee!

So, what are you waiting for? Again, this once isn’t to be slept on! From that angelic production to the hard-hitting verses! This one is incredible, and I guarantee you’ll feel the same once you tap in below! 

https://waterr.bandcamp.com/album/out-your-jurisdiction

(SELF MADE EP)

Well, it’s time for one of the most anticipated EP’s of 2026 to drop. I reviewed their first single back when it came out, and it only further solidified the anticipation for the release. Now that it’s finally here, I can confidently say that this was definitely worth the wait! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new EP between MC ANKHLE JOHN & Producer WHOA1.0, and together they drop this solid 5-track, 12-minute project that has all the grittiness and ruthlessness that I was expecting the two of them to drop!

When I say this thing is savage, I fucking mean it. It’s as if these two bring out the absolute best out of each other, and that manifests into raw and rough soundscapes that will force you to mean-mug the world around you for the entirety of the 12 minutes.

From the intense instrumentals of WHOA, who has spent the duration of the time that I’ve discovered him since creating a variety of different sounds and atmospheres that will make you feel like you’re walking down the darkest streets, waiting to get mugged by a thug with an empty Hennessy bottle to the back of the head! It’s that type of vibe!

I’m talking about that methodically paced, muddy layers that are equal parts minimal and powerful! The fact that each song fits into the ones that came before and after is testimony to the skill and mastery by WHOA! As he’s able to make sure each track has its own unique characteristics and sonic identity but also is fluent with the rest of them! That’s true talent right there.

But I can’t stress this enough, this is some of the most gruesome examples of Boom Bap I’ve heard in the last few years, period. I love the overall haunting sounds, the thick bass lines, those cold-blooded drum beats, and sharp chord progressions, sporadic piano keys— it’s all done to such an intense level that it feels overwhelming in the best way possible! The more I discover WHOA, the better he seems to get!

Speaking of overwhelming, we have the performances of ANKHLE, who has gone above and beyond with his verses on this one. I’ve heard his feature verses across multiple projects over the years, but it honestly feels like he’s turned a new and aggressive leaf that makes him sound like a true lyrical monster with enough aura and vibes to coat the entire underground and then some!

This man has always been known as one of the most charismatic, intense, and powerful performers in the underground. Of course, his penmanship is top tier, and his habit of fluent/manipulative flows that always wrap around instrumentals like verbal gymnastics. But besides all that, he has an original presence and sense of delivery that makes him comparable to such acts as

– Busta Rhymes

– ODB

– Sticky Fingaz 

But doing his own unique style. He ain’t trying to be any of those names, but he’s just so explosive and dynamic that it’s hard not to draw comparisons to some of the greatest in our genre to give you an example of the kind of energy he’s bringing to the table!

In just 12 short minutes, he’s able to not only steal the show but create such a mesmerising and infectious cadence that you’ll leave feeling bored of most other acts you’ll hear if they aren’t on the same wavelength as him! 

From the sharp bars to the extensive and vivid street poetry to the grand and lavish enunciations and the passion he injects into every word he spits, his handful of verses are equivalent to double or TRIPLE what most people are offering in the underground today! 

All in all, this was such a fucking fun EP. WHOA, doing his boss thing, creating 5 incredible instrumentals for ANKHLE to come in and absolutely MURDER! They are a fantastic duo and one I can hopefully hear together again! Go listen to it below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/3DlMjINlbUKXdFixfA8DLk?si=ScTNo1LrRy2CCA-_UuykTg

(Mr. & Mrs. SMITH)

It’s always a pleasure to be hooked up with new music by a person who has a great ear for the music itself. This is my third project in a row that has the influence of ‘Ceverely Yours’ that I’ve covered, and I never seem to be disappointed. With two dope MC’s and a handful of producers, this one is definitely for the record books! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new album by MC’s Maine, The Medicine, & Son Lee with production from

-JL Studios

-DJ Gatsby

-Nate Will x Simon

-BlackMagic

-ThisIsHipHopp

-JazzyLionMan

-Skip The Kid

And right off the bat, I have to give applause to the various hands on deck for this one. Because it’s not easy to synchronise so many hands in the kitchen and create a fluent record, but they managed to pull it off here! If I had to describe this album in a few short words, it would have to be ‘theatrical score’ because it has that larger-than-life, thrilling aspect in the instrumentation that makes this feel like a modern-day underground equivalent of a ‘James Bond’ or, as the film title ‘Mr And Mrs Smith’ suggests, it’s that level of grand, and I love it!

First of all, I love that no-nonsense intro! It’s literally just 13 seconds of the most brief and to-the-point description of the name, artists, and that’s it! Exactly how you’d expect a Daniel Craig James Bond to talk! No fluff! 

With the very first official track – Forever, we get this incredibly soulful instrumental with those gorgeous vocal loops, cinematic chord progressions, and those fantastical piano keys that have a choir/organ feel to them in its sharpness! A great ‘official’ way to start the album off!

There’s the track -Assassin Attack, which is a track I loved because prior to this, you had the skit -Call The Assassin, which has another straightforward bit of a phone call, which again gives me a strong 007/Mr. and Mrs. Smith vibes! 

And as the official song starts, it has this mellow, sombre vibe to it with those haunting, intricate piano chords and overall atmospheric vibe and rhythmic drum patterns that all come together in this thought-provoking/soul-searching vibe that I fucked with heavily!

Another track I fucked with heavily was the song -Calculated Moves. This one has a heavy classical essence to it with those fast-paced orchestral keys combined with those methodical drum beats that sound like a chord running through the entire track in the background! All the layers remind me of some Victorian-era music combined with underground hip hop! It’s colourful, eccentric, and feels like the perfect vessel for the MC’s to go off on! 

Hell, even the final outro spoken by Ceverely Yours is yet again straight to the point and fits the narrative of the skits. Just 14 seconds of no nonsense, and I feel it’s the perfect outro for this rather special album! 

Speaking of ‘special’, we have the immaculate chemistry between MC’s Maine, The Medicine, and Son Lee! I had experienced these two in the past with the album ‘Skip The Formalities’, and they definitely impressed me there, but this is a grander scale of observation on their work and their chemistry, and I can safely say even on a bigger scale, they still rock the house! 

Across these tracks, we hear both of them honing in on their chemistry, their individual styles and skills, as well as their own personal and conceptual writing feats that I found throughout the tracks!

They weren’t just rapping; they were actively working on creating and spitting lyrics that are in the same breath and concept as the album title, and I loved that they actually put the effort in to making sure the pen game matched the album’s content! 

Obviously they’ve already shown how much they can work alongside each other but on a bigger scale they upped their game 10x fold and became somehow even more tight and dynamic together as a duo. The back and fourths, the trust that the other will deliver on the verses on the end, their synced performances and energy is amazing and not to mention infectious.

Nothing worse then listening to a duel MC album only to hear that the two in question don’t vibe well together which in turn ruins the sonic aesthic of the entire record! Thankfully we don’t have to worry about that problem here as these two match as good as you’ll hear anywhere! 

Make sure you check this one out below! It’s got that vibrant production laced with even colder lyricism! You can’t get better than that! 

-Shoutout to Suspect for his contributions on the album! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5C4RFug0Mbx6RHU06AW9xs?si=-eOE1sZiR8O5zN2sEcQZ8Q

(If I Could Cry I Swear I Would)

First of all, such a TOUGH album title. Wouldn’t have expected anything less from the GAWD himself. After spending the last few years building his discography and working with the best of the best, he’s found himself in the presence of a producer who has defined the term ‘iconic’ and with that in mind, let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new album from MC Ferris Blusa & Producer Swab! This dynamic duo comes strong with nine tracks, 25 minutes of content, and enough charisma and confidence to umbrella the whole fucking culture! 

We may as well start with Ferris. It’s like every time I hear a new project from him, all the qualities I praised in previous projects get elevated and improved from the last. This is a man who may as well be crowned ‘The Underground’s Preacher’ as that’s how his performances feel to me, strong, in-depth, and heavy in execution. 

As a man who grew up in the church, these qualities I admired and can pinpoint from a mile away, and that’s exactly what makes Ferris so special!

The way he handles the beats, the way his wordplay soaks into the instrumentals and lingers in your mind for hours after the music has stopped. The way his vivid and lethal lyricism cuts through your mind and forces you to mean-mug the world around you just trying to process and take in his verses and grand feats of penmanship that he’s providing the world! It’s actually insane!

The way his vocabulary can capture the essence of his spirit and soul. The way he always seems to create a grand vision that feels heads over the rest of the competition because it feels less like a standard hip-hop album but more like a cinematic score that should be equipped to a live-action movie! Absolutely unreal the way he works the mic!

Speaking of unreal, we have Swab. He’s been a man who has elevated the culture for almost the last decade with his various work on other projects and even his own instrumental work that has been as grand as I’ve ever heard it! Working with the best you can find, it was only natural

he’d end up in the path of the GAWD, and man, I knew it would be, but I couldn’t have expected this! Holy shit.

First of all, one of the main qualities that makes Swab so compelling is the fact he can perfectly execute and capture the atmosphere needed per artist.

So, depending on the vibe or sound, characteristics of the artist in question, he can form their own sonic domain to accommodate their personalities, and that’s why this thing is GARGANTUAN in design due to the man at the helm! 

So on this one, we can have a variety of different levels of influences and samples that I feel synchronised quite well with one another.

It’s like a combination of Classical, Jazz, Boom

Bap, Orchestral, and Soul. Each element is utilised in their own unique ways to create nine distinctive instrumentals that stand out from each other. For example, we have tracks like 

-Break Bad, which has one of the more cinematic feels to it. On this one, there’s those deep and theatrical vocal loops that wrap around the whole track!

There’s also those thudding drum patterns, those mesmerising scratches, rhythmic piano keys, and towards the end, these light synth chord parts that add a little bit of fun texture to the song!

There’s the song -Bernic Mac, which has now female vocals on the introduction of the song that later evolves into these sharp piano chord progressions, wavy synths, and this underlying bass that wraps the whole track together! I just LOVE the heavy and raw feel this track provides! 

Hell, we can even talk about the track -The Y.A.M.S, which has one of those Cold, straight boom bap influences with a combination of those hypnotic drum beats, that ridiculously charged plucked strings, those choir-style vocal harmonies, and haunting keys! 

I also love those swaying chord progressions that come to make this track feel that little bit more groovy in the overall presentation!

This collaboration was bound to be a banger from the get go but I still couldn’t or expected this. Two legends came together to create a damn near classic. Make sure you click in below and experience it for yourself! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6sMkdlI0nODmBWIaQkhA0e?si=VqS-MGTESleMCYAm_ury6Q

(FESTINA LENTE)

Today we’ve got a review by an artist who I only recently discovered due to another MC’s album. This man was a feature on it, and he impressed me enough that I reached out, offering to work with him in the future. That day is now, and with this short yet adventurous record, I get to see full well just how talented of an MC he really is! Let’s talk about it!

This is the February EP drop by MC King Gus. It contains three tracks:

– PITIFUL LORE

– BACK AT THE BARNYARD

– FESTINA LENTE with a total run time of 8 minutes and production from 

– Quimby15 

– Declan 

Let’s start with track one. On this one, we have this piano-heavy harmony that is equal parts angelic and powerful. I love how it evolves into a proper hip-hop beat after that lavish interlude! As the beat is fully formed, you have these thudding drum beats, a range of mesmerising bass strings, and of course, the maintaining piano keys that provide that grand feel to the whole track!

On the second track, we have a more funky, 70’s feel instrumental. This feels like an old-school thriller film montage scene! You’ve got those infectious plucked strings that loop in that absolutely groovy fashion! There are also these flashy chord progressions that end in a high-pitched shriek every 10 seconds or so, as well as this very subtle vocal snippet that adds a bit of texture to the whole song!

On the final track, we have what is probably the most soulful feel on the whole EP. With those classical vocal harmonies, it is absolutely gorgeous in execution. It has this angelic and elegant feeling to it that gave me goosebumps! A rather minimal track, as those are accompanied by some synth chords and light drum patterns with some subtle piano chords deep into the background. The perfect way to close the EP off!

Across these three King Gus showcases a smooth and intricate flow and elegant performance! He ain’t out here yelling and screaming or trying to be gangsta or using street talk, but instead I hear a more introspective approach to his penmanship. It’s as if he’s contemplating what to say right as he gets into the booth rather than writing it down beforehand!

I absolutely adore his calm nature; it’s so refreshing to hear. I hear so much boom bap and chaos in my week-to-week that to hear an artist of this composition and sonic stature made me so happy because his delivery suits the energy and atmosphere of the tracks themselves!

He’s ever so crisp with his wordplay. He navigates the beats like a small bird peacefully flying through a forest of tall grass on a bright sunny day! He sounds passionate and in his element on his one. 

When I heard his feature, I was impressed, but now getting to hear a more fully formed version of himself and the directions he takes, I’m even more fascinated, and my respect for him grows because of the route he decided to take! He’s letting the soundscapes and his cadence do the speaking for him; it’s the type of thing audiences can and will pick up on! He’s not trying to win a popularity contest or trying to be something he’s not; he’s authentic, and you can hear it!

This may be only eight minutes, but it’s some of

the best eight minutes I’ve heard all year. There’s a real compelling energy to the whole thing that I want EVERYONE reading this to hear! So link down below and feel the energy for yourself! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4OE2rZrgVz6W3TN06xVqFV?si=rlkzhBDsQt6JMlCOMbuCug

(PURPLE P’S)

I’ve covered more than a handful of single reviews  this year alone and I have to say nothing feels quite as good as getting to hear a collaboration of artists that provide the listener with the perfect chemistry where each element from the vocals to the production fits effortlessly with one and another and on this occasion we get exactly that! So tune in, because you are about to experience something so cold!

This my friends is the brand new single by Producer Wavy Da Gawd and features the MC Bub Rock! together they dropped a fresh 2 minutes and 11 seconds of harmonious energy that had me feeling goosebumps as soon as that track started! 

Let’s start with that performance by Bubs. He’s one of those artists that I feel goes under the radar but always one to flex his consistency and quality! Everything I’ve ever heard him on has been straight fire. He has that old school 90’s/2000’s style of sharp lyrical abilities, a smooth and ferocious flow combined with this unique tier of street poetry that is wrapped in power, vivid imagery and so much personality that you feel like your right there with him in his descriptions!

His aura and charisma are always at a high. I’ve never heard a boring song by the man. Not everyone can rock his level of natural charm and cadence on the mic, you can hear that he’s completely in his element especially over this grand stage of theatrical production that defines ‘phenomenal’

We gotta discuss Wavy’s contributions to this track because it ain’t an acceplla song after all! What he does on here is another prime example of why he’s one of the best and most prominent producers in the scene period. Across this track we are blessed with this Classical meets Jazz fusion that is absolutely gorgeous! I can’t even front this thing is sonically beautiful to the touch. 

You’ve got those atmospheric chord progressions that come in two layers, one in a continuous loop the other (closer towards the chorus) appears in a more fluctuating rhythm!

You’ve got those Jazz horns towards the chorus as well which provide such magnificent harmony and texture to the song! 

On top of all that you’ve got some plucked bass strings and light drums that give that final touch of executed sound to wrap up the whole instrumental! Every aspect of the instrumentation plays a fundamental role in creating this musical fever dream! No filler to be found, every single part matters!

This might be my new favourite beat by the man and that’s no life. I could listen to this one for hours! 

Overall, one of the strongest synchronicities I’ve heard all year. If this is a sign of things to come then consider me IMPATIENTLY WAITING! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6trQhWNlQKtFO5SkcVvA88?si=B5EZPGDxT5mlL585Ra2h_A

(OUTERWEAR SZN 6)

Man, it’s actually insane to think that it was almost a whole year ago since I last reviewed one of his albums. Such a force to be reckoned with and a man who has left such a profound influence on the culture, and it’s almost been 365 days since the last. That’s insane, but as they say, the longer you make them wait, the higher the anticipation, so with that in mind, this one is bound to be ELECTRIC! 

This is the brand-new album and 6th sequel by MC Bub Styles and the collection of producers such as: 

– Foul Mouth

– 183rd

– Graphwize

– Snips

– Fumes The Threat

– birthday audio

– Retrospec

– Sebb Bash 

An absolute monstrous list of names on production! And they are accompanied by the MC’s as follows:

– King Miyachi

– Pro Dillinger

– Monday Night

– Lord Sko

– Chubs

– Arxv Bk

I want to start with the production, and the one word I want to emphasise more than most across this review is ‘refined’ because that’s how it feels across the board. 

On these 11 tracks, we see Bub rocking with some of the most refreshing, crisp, and mesmerising instrumentals I’ve heard him on yet. When you consider the powerhouse stature of the producers, it’s easy to see why!

So many beats stood out to me for the better. For example, we have tracks like the opener -MAKING UP FOR THE LOST CRIME, which has one of the most powerful and gritty beats I’ve heard in a minute, from those methodically charged chord progressions, surreal drum patterns, and what sounds like a grand bell being run in the background that echoes throughout the track! The perfect track to set up the atmosphere that Bub is going for across the rest of the 10! (shoutout to Foul Mouth for this beat)

Such as on tracks like -RUDE AWAKENING, which sounds like you just took a hit of DMT while meditating with a village of monks. From those spacey keys to the shimmering notes and overall lucid atmosphere that feels like no other beat I’ve ever heard, period.

I don’t even take anything anymore, and this song made me question if I had taken anything! Definitely a standout on the project! Shoutout to Fumes for this one!

We have the track – POTTY MOUTH which has a more old-school vibe to it with that layered instrumentation with those boom-bap influenced beats with those thudding drums, those haunting piano keys and subtle chord arrangements lingering in the background as well as what sounds like some electric guitar snippet! This is a return to that grimy, raw sound that Bubs has been known for his whole career! (Again Foul Mouth killed it on this one)

Returning back to the word of the day ‘refined’ because on this album Bub feels refined. I’ve heard him on variation EP’s, albums and singles and I’ve heard him sound like a human ballistic missile that absolutely rips apart a beat! But on this one he sounds more focused and concentrated than I’ve ever heard him.

It’s not like he’s lost any of his edge or explosive power but it’s more like his verbal weapons have upgraded to the point where he’s taken a more swift and precise approach instead of the atom bomb landing where everyone and everything gets evaporated in his path!

I love hearing this side of him. Seeing him focus his brutal and vicious energy into a single point of traction. Hearing his upgraded lyricism, his refined bombastic flow and his trademark rough and rugged charisma that has kept him such a dynamic personality in this hip-hop shit for years now! 

The fact that he always sounds like he’s taking charge on the beat. Being able to be the most vocal and dominant on the beat even when compared to some of the genre’s greats is insane! 

For example, do you know how hard it is to match the sinister and cold-blooded performances of Pro Dillinger? Or the impeccable flow of Chubs? The clean-cut bars of Lord Sko?, the swagger of MIYACHI or the larger-than-life imagery and street poetry of Monday Night? It’s almost impossible, yet Bubs was able to pull this off effectively and effortlessly making him one of the most adaptable and versatile players in the game right now.

This sequel was everything I hoped it would be and then some. A refined Bubs is a scatty concept meaning he can still improve after the state he was already in and that my friends is insane. Go show your support and love and click the link below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/270Z7EdkClszAdPbpQoZTW?si=7Oa-ZtFsQeavvpieB_7Dqw

(There Is No Peace Amongst The Stars)

It’s always an exciting moment when I discover a new artist. Especially when it’s from a different genre! I’ve spent so much of my time reviewing hip-hop music, but now I get to go back to my more original heavy metal routes that I started my writing days with! So with that in mind, let’s talk about this new EP!

This is the aforementioned new EP by artist -Grave Generator. (Which is a combination of Nic Heidt and Jon)

This time with five songs and 20 minutes of kickass content that is sure to pump you up like a shot of adrenaline to the veins! A project that’s full of surprises and heavy tunes that will kick you in the chest if you aren’t ready to handle it!

Right off the fucking bat with that opening track -Excavating Marrow, we have what sounds like a blend of Grind Core and Noise rolled into one! From those psychopathic vocal chords, fast-paced and disorienting drums, and shredding guitar (which is actually not guitar at all but all synth) which blew my mind to find out and it’s done with immaculate quality! we have a track that’s laced front to back with both extreme instrumentation and yet rhythmic harmonies that make this quite the enjoyable and badass opener! 

On the song -Good Night, it opens up with a more methodically paced interlude with those bulky/amplified synth notes that slowly build into the main track that has a more electronic/glitch component to it that I honestly loved the fusion of! This effect runs throughout the whole song in more of a continuous loop than anything else, but still, the effect is creative!

Along with that, we have more vicious, blood-curdling vocal performances, and what stood out to me the most was those absolutely insane drums! It felt like they were one step away from popping out of the headphones and hitting me in the face! 

On the song -Spine Factory, it has one of the more groovy and at the same time atmospheric nature on the EP! You’ve got those infectious drum patterns, shredding synth, and also (especially at the start of the song) these beautifully laced chord progressions that felt orchestral in nature! 

I also love how he brought back the influence of the electronic vibe back in small snippets across this song!

The vocals feel more ‘Melodic Death Metal’ in execution, kind of like anArch Enemy vibe! (Angela Gossow era), which is kick-ass as fuck! 

Track 4 – Betrayal definitely has a more dark anthem type feel to it! It gives me a heavier version of Slipknot’s – Heretic Anthem energy in its track structure, its more rhythmic presentation, and the way the synth work is done, it feels more mainstream and built for stadiums and venues of people rallying together and chanting in using the words spoken! It’s a cool track to pump to if you’re looking for that extra hit of motivation through the day!

Onto the finale track -1 of 1000, we are taken back on a Grindcore meets Death Noise with those glitch-style layers that come and go throughout the track in a classic sporadic and fast-paced notion! 

You’ve got those trademark grindcore elements of speed synth and drums as well as those back-to-form relentless, cold-blooded vocal performances that complement the track’s aggressiveness to a tee! 

I also love the almost Horror Punk aesthetics of the last 30 seconds of the track, reminds me of Wednesday 13 in its haunting and eerie execution to close the track off!

This is one HELL of an EP. It’s chaotic, brash, and as energetic as you ever need an EP to be. This has definitely been a fantastic first impression, and I hope I can hear more from him in the future! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1uw1WDVqoujiEPZKD3yYGC?si=rM1I56xrQ1y_bjGM4GyAIg