(Stovetop Chronicles)

Talk about a man that I’ve had my eye on for months now. After being sent countless of his music , I became hooked. From feature verses to dope-ass singles, he doesn’t miss, and so of course, when it comes to a full-length album, it has me hyped! So let’s fucking talk about it!

This is the brand-new project by powerhouse MC Benny Watts and producer Profound79, and together they drop 12 fresh tracks with the likes of 

-Daniel Son

-DeAngelo Xavier

-Born Unique

-Dj Tray

All accompanying the album to elevate it that much further because this thing is already incredible without said names but included? This is ‘AOTY shit for real.

Let’s talk about the production real quick. As has become trademark, Profound79 has the magnificent ability to make any track he makes drip cinematic aura and make it feel like a hip-hop score made by John Williams!

I’m talking about that breathtaking, larger-than-life sounds that go through your whole body and bones and come out through your brain, forcing the listener to be completely transformed and transfixed on the music itself in a trance-like state!

This album gives me a strong late 90s East Coast vibe! That heavy, raw, and thudding beats with sinister drum patterns, plucked strings, intricate keys, and more!

Think of legends like Havoc, DJ Premier, and RZA and more. That professional ‘PROFOUND’ beat makers who you can tell take their time with every second of the music and don’t release ANYTHING that ain’t perfect, no questions asked. This is the same aura I’m getting from this album; every second of the beat feels grand and theatrical and masterful!

I knew Profound was good, but he’s given me an extra 79 reasons to praise him as one of the greatest going right now! Respect to him!

Of course, he’s only half of it. The other half is Benny, who, fuck it, I’ll say it is the most consistent Benny in the game right now, the one who still sounds passionate, hungry, and fresh! The one who re innovates himself on every single track and the one who has the enthusiasm and energy for decades, with enough to spare for the whole industry!

Across this project, he’s letting everyone know that he runs this shit! He sounds better than I’ve ever heard him on tracks. His pen game is sharper, his performances greater, his storytelling more in depth, and his flow smoother! 

He’s out here like the Hip Hop Ghetto Santa Claus with bars for everyone! The type that focuses on the verses and not stealing someone’s big sandwich and shit!

With every breath he took on this record, it had me scrunching my face at the fire he was dropping! Bar after bar, one-liner after pun, story after story, he doesn’t stop!

This is literally nothing but verses from start to finish! AS RAP WAS SUPPOSED TO BE. Fuck all that alternative ‘Hip Hop was actually meant to be’ backpacker mentality bullshit. He’s resetting the game for everyone in the culture, and at this point in the league, you either put up or shut up, and he’s definitely 1988 Michael Jordan in this shit! 

With the amount of powerhouse features across this record, he’s effectively and effortlessly keeping pace with some of the industry’s greatest and making it look easy! He’s not an up-and-comer anymore; he’s one of the made men, and he’s here to stay! 

I already knew this album was going to be fire, but even so, this is beyond great! This is CLASSIC material. This is a duo that people will talk about for decades to come! Make sure you don’t sleep on it!  

Shoutout to Swiss Miss for the album art! Dope as always

https://bennywatts.bandcamp.com/album/stovetop-chronicles-4

(Doc & Marty)

If you had told me (at any point in my review history) that I’d be reviewing an album not only called ‘Doc & Marty’ but one that features men called ‘Jred The Doctor & Just Mcfly’ I would have accused you of being on acid. But here we are in 2025 and I’m reviewing one of the smoothest albums to date! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand new album by the two men mentioned above, two incredible MC’s with the likes of 

-nomstks 

-Vincent Pryce

-Saint Kay

-80Rock

-DJ Manifest

On production and the likes of 

-Jimmie D

-Mori$$ Regal

-Rvlr Magz

Helping on the mic, and legit this is one of those unique records!

Let’s talk about the production first, as we’ve got a handful of names helping to bring this record alive and boy do they do the fucking job or what! This thing sounds absolutely beautiful!

This album has a phenomenal combination of the likes of 

-Jazz

-Soul

-RnB

-Synth Pop

-Ambient

-Art Rap

And the way the producers utilise these delicate elements is unreal. With a few key genres used in each song they magnify and emphasise all those incredibly lush, smooth and harmonious sounds over a hip hop blueprint and create pure magic.

Each song is like a fever dream come to life, all synchronous within each other and helps elevate the tracks that came after and before while also maintaining individuality with unique, fresh and gorgeous tracks that after a once-over play through will relieve all levels of stress and anxiety and force you to focus on the tracks! Incredible.

If I had to choose a favourite track I’d have to say ‘Iridescent’ because of all the wonderful instrumentation and elements! You’ve got those plucked strings, those soft rock drums and light/subtle keys going off in the background. 

Every track on here is killer and when they come together for a full record, that’s when true atmosphere is created!

Now, onto the two MC’s. You’ve literally got the hip-hop equivalent of Doc and Marty on the mic, and they kill it! Doesn’t matter if they recorded these in the past or the future, they go hard!

You’ve got both men who deliver incredible bars with a smooth and deliberate rhythm and flow! We’re talking verse after verse, landing on the beat precisely, no exceptions! Both men have ridiculous charisma and passion on the tracks that make you feel their infinite wave of energy and enthusiasm! 

I love how easily they can toss the mic back and forth between each other. There’s no awkward transition or weird energy in balance from one to the other; it’s both minds linked up and on the same wavelength as the other, producing brilliant verses and bars back and forth!

Across the few features on here, they also do an incredible job of maintaining the same vibe all record round and hired perfect, balanced MC’s who help elevate the record further and also have fantastic energy! So shoutout to them!

This is definitely a can’t-miss record! It’s fun, smooth, executed efficiently, and an overall great time! Don’t sleep on this!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1vwbJ9xoJbF06Zwc10F0BG?si=pzgP7Ak_RoyN6lh1pBrRmA

(Graph Law$)

It’s been a minute since I last covered the work of this producer. A man who has been on the forefront of interesting, creative, and innovative textures in the fabric of Underground Hip Hop and a man who has piqued my interest more than most in the last few months, and so it’s got me even more excited to see what he has going this time around. So let’s talk about it!

So, this is the brand-new beat tape consisting of both Graphwize and Cedar Law$, who together drop 11 dope cuts with one feature in ‘Sh4mel’ to bring that lyrical fire:

I’ll be real, I was expecting based on the other name with Graph for this to be your standard MC/Producer link-up, but a duo beat tape is even more impressive and, when done right, more compelling, and this thing is the definition!

This project has so many different flavours and layers to it that it’s impossible to keep track! You’ve got so much instrumentation like:

-Groovy Bass Lines

-Plucked Guitar Strings

-70’s P-Funk Aesthetic

-Thick Drum Patterns

-Ambient/Lo-Fi Keys 

-Lively Piano chords 

-Jazz Influences and more

There’s so much engaging and fun instrumentation going on that it’s hard to process it all! Some tracks are light and fast-paced, reminding of a score from a Studio Ghibli movie! Then we have more methodical and surreal tracks that help activate your mind, give the body goosebumps, and make you feel a certain way using a more regulated tempo and production! 

I love how each of the 11 tracks provides a unique experience that’s vastly different from the rest and yet still is able to combine fluently as a ‘project’ instead of just a collection of tracks thrown together for the sake of a record. 

Each track has immense depth, flavour, sound, atmosphere, and story told in sonic form. You can tell the concentration, the effort, the vision, and the creativity invested by both men to create a project such as this one!

As mentioned above, there was one feature who absolutely tore the house down in his moment. When you have only one MC, you’ve got to make sure to bring the heat, and he definitely did that! Killer verse to say the least!

This is a fantastic project from front to back, providing evidence once again that Graph is one of the strongest and definitely most stand-out from the rest, and his efforts alongside Cedar proved to be a fruitful endeavour with what will most definitely have months and months of replay value!

https://graphwize.bandcamp.com/album/graph-law

(Green Stacks)

We have a brand new duo for me to discuss! The more I dive into this review shit, the more I find fresh and talented artists like these ones who are on a grind that will take them to the top very soon. That’s the serpent tongue guarantee! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand new single by MC Halfcut and Producer Cole The God, and together they drop this over three-minute banger that is sure to put everyone on notice!

Starting off, we have the production, which I can’t lie is infectious as hell! We have a combination of those intricate keys that are subtly going off across the track in their own unique patterns! We have this old-school, East Coast style drum patterns as well as this very light vocal sample that is gorgeous in execution!

We also have what sounds like synth chord notes going off in the second half of the track to give the song that extra layer of flair that I really love! Plus a few scratches, and this song has an amazing combination of sounds that all come together for a neck-banging track that is sure to have you visiting the chiropractor in the next week!

Now onto the MC aspect with Halfcut, this man goes OFF in his own right! He’s absolutely brilliant in his skills.

I’m talking cold monotone savage rhymes so sharp they will cut your headphones off your head! His pen game is strong, his passion is evident, and his flow is solid and powerful as he makes sure every breath lands exactly where it’s supposed to!

He makes sure to utilise every second of this almost four-minute track with his cold-blooded demeanour and underground mindset with his street poetry and expansive vocabulary that puts most to shame!

He’s no-nonsense, diabolic, down-to-earth, and downright devastating in his execution of his bars! If this is a sign of things to come, then this is something to look forward to!

An amazing single that should make everyone in the game excited for the official album drop!

https://youtu.be/4-LGBG-_xLc?si=bMS-p5cA872MFX1p

(liGHT)

Another day and another opportunity for covering new music, and today is the introduction of a new artist for me who, based on his socials, has been on quite the upward trajectory, and after hearing this new album, I completely understand why! This is THE SHIT right here! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the brand-new album by MC Young Reese Dude and Producer Don Johnson, and together they drop a fresh nine tracks with the likes of 

-P The Prophet

-Jon Connor 

-DeeDee

-Ty Farris

-Kid Vishis 

An absolutely stacked list for this incredible album, and to dive into this record, we gotta talk about the production because Don brings a level of mastery and glory to the beats that is almost indescribable! 

Right from the very opening track with that gorgeous jazz influence, it reminded me of a 2000s Common track. Felt so organic and natural and was the perfect introduction for the album! As the album goes on, we have a record filled with 

-Delicate Piano Keys

-Solid Drum Patterns

-Intricate Vocal Snippets

-Thick Bass Lines

-Plucked Guitar Strings

-Funk-based Instrumentation and all of this comes together in the most glorious and masterful ways where the techniques feel both ‘seamless’ and ‘powerful’ all at once!

I feel Don has taken inspiration from the golden early 2000s and paid homage to those larger-than-life, BIG sounding songs with clean-cut and crisp instrumentals that pop with every second! The early years of Kanye, Common, and even Jay-Z 

This album feels like a love letter to those more ‘simplistic’ times when hip hop was more pure, straightforward, and original while maintaining that level of quality and execution that that era was known for! 

Absolutely incredible effort by Don, a man I hope to hear more from in the future!

Now, only Young Reese Dude, and if the production is dope, then that just makes him

DOPER because in what would feel like the impossible task of properly utilising this level of production, he nails the task effortlessly!

After hearing how he handled that first beat, I knew I was in safe hands, and I was right. This guy is seriously talented! He’s bringing back the old-school, essence-driven raps that made the ones that came before us so iconic and notorious. He’s tapped into the same energy, and it’s evident!

Everything with him is on point, from his strong lyricism to his incredibly smooth flow. He’s got passion and enthusiasm for years! And a vocal performance that is fit for proper recognition!

He has this focused and calm cadence across the beats, where he utilises his incredible pen game and skill that would put 90% of the artists in this game to shame!

His stories are in-depth, and his one-liners are so sharp they can cut your head off! 

Across this album and working alongside those powerhouse features, he showcases just how talented and dope he is by not only being able to keep up with said names but also making it look easy!

He has incredible chemistry with those names, as each feature verse brings their own brand of heat to the tracks and helps evolve the album from great to phenomenal!

What a fucking fantastic album. The production is flawless, the features incredible, and Young Reese tops it off with his immaculate performances! This is an album you CAN’T MISS!

https://henhouseforum.bandcamp.com/album/light

(Wayward Son)

It’s as simple as this. When it comes to album creativity and execution, I can’t find anyone to put next to Maze. Since I first discovered him with his ‘KOMPLEX’ album, he’s done nothing but shock, impress, and blow me away. 

Every album tells a different story and is arranged a different way from the rest, and this album is definitely no exception. As usual, Maze dropping what could easily be ‘AOTY’, we have to talk about it!

Brand new Maze overlay. This time rocking with one of the dopest producers around in Fumes The Threat! Together, they drop nine tracks with one feature in ‘Tay Da Crown’. 

And I could tell this thing was going to be phenomenal from the opening track alone, with that absolutely incredible sample of ‘Wayward Son’ by Kansas. That set the tone for the whole record and the vibe we would be expecting for the rest of the eight tracks!

I honestly think Maze couldn’t have chosen a better producer than Fumes to make this record! !because I can’t think of many others who can engage in that ‘cinematic, theatrical’ and surreal instrumentals the way he can! He’s the king of it! Anything he’s on automatically sounds larger than life in execution!

This album is an eerie and mysterious take on the underground hip-hop scene. With elements such as jazz, boom bap, 90’s rap, classic rock, funk, and more! As usual, Fumes is giving a masterclass in fusion and mastery of the various elements and influences in creating one of the most hypnotic and fundamentally sound hip-hop records we’ve had all year!

Of course, we can’t forget the efforts of Swab across this album as he’s one of the main driving forces in the quality of the record! Whenever he’s on the cuts or production, you’re bound to get a classic and real one. Know the history between Maze and Swab as they have a chemistry that stands the test of time, and that history repeats itself on this, and Swab brings to life the essence, colour, and character of this already vibrant record! 

Both Fumes and Swab together are a match made in heaven, and it’s one I need more of! 

As far as Maze goes, he’s going out of his way to create one of the strongest and most interesting conceptual efforts we’ve heard all year. Every one of these nine tracks is a story told from the perspective of Maze.

Everything from the storytelling, the introspective bars, the methodical flow, and the aura he’s drenching the tracks with makes this less of an ‘album’ but more a short-length film with a fantastic score to die for.

I love how natural and in control Maze sounds across this album. He’s committed and in his element in bringing this visual novel to life, and as the main character in the story, he deserves an Oscar for his performance!

As usual, his pen game is superior to most! His flow is untouchable, and his energy and charisma are immense! 

He’s out here repping and putting Arizona on the map by going above and beyond with each and every release, whether that be incredible straightforward hip-hop albums or immersive short novels come to life (and everything in between). This man has a special talent in making sure every single release is grand, precise, unique, and above all, quality! 

This is an album I know I’ll be on for months to come. It’s an incredible chemistry between Maze, Fume, and Swab that screams ‘modern-day classic’, and I hope we can get more of these three together in the future!

https://mazeoverlay.bandcamp.com/album/wayward-son-2

(Many Men)

I’ll tell you now, this song doesn’t sound anything like the 50 Cent classic hit. Whenever I see that name, I can’t help but imagine that type of tone, but as usual, Reek has decided to go into his own direction completely and pulls out yet another BANGER! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new single by MC Reek Osama and Producer Chef Bogey, and together they drop a two-minute track that is thrilling from start to finish! This is the type of track you play at the gym when you want to throw in those extra pumps!

Starting with that beat, we have Chef utilise those shredding guitar notes that are done in a fast-paced repetition motion with those slow and methodical drums in the background, with slight chords in the background that vaguely linger to give the song an extra boost!

This rock-influenced track is absolutely killer. Because (at least for me) it’s a side of Reek I haven’t seen utilised before, and it brings out a special kind of energy and rhythm to make Reek GO OFF ON, and he does just that.

Speaking of the man, we have Reek who seems to be embracing his strongest lyrical energy we’ve heard in a while! There are so many puns on this track that made me scrunch my face up and glove around the house in shock at the lines! Such as!

‘On the strip with a pole, fiends throwing dollars at me’ or 

‘Gave the cops my description, got my Face-Booked’

‘Send him a trip to the sky, let’s see how far the block will take him’

This guy doesn’t miss! He’s focused on just dropping lyrical blade after blade and showing the world why he’s one of the best to do it! He’s outrageously talented with those bars, heavy flow, smart wordplay, and ferocious pen game with his trademark deep and grimy vocals that set him away from the rest in the game! 

This single makes me so fucking excited for the upcoming album! These two have incredible chemistry, and I know a full project will be FIRE! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7lta49cbA5xLntzudlpzOp?si=XT_sixzbRyyBXrF6jJ4kdA

(Find Me)

WHOOOOOO, this is the kind of track I’ve been looking for in a minute! This is the kind of energy that’s been missing from the underground! This track legit gave me flashbacks to my youth years and the music I used to rock with in my teen years, wow what a buzz! We gotta talk about it!

So, this is the brand new single by MC Nero and produced by my main man CAOS, a man I’m more than familiar with who seems to be nursing a more ‘behind the beats’ role and with fire like this he’s doing an excellent job!

This track is 3 minutes and 11 seconds of pure unfiltered and unadulterated heat that reminds me of the early to mid-2000s South Hip Hop Scene!

That beat has these repetitive theatrical notes with those thudding drum patterns that make it sound like a performance at half-time! It’s glorious, infectious, passionate and downright dirty! 

This beat gives me strong T.I., 8Ball & MJG, Lil

Jon vibes in the instrumentals, lively energy, it’s gangsta aura and it’s larger than life execution and overall atmosphere!

This is the kind of beat you could literally listen to for hours and never get sick of it! I’m on my 5th replay to this song for the review and my head hasn’t stopped moving since! The definition of swagger! 

As far as the man Nero goes. He suits this beat perfectly. He complements the beat with his own brand of infectious swagger and charisma that floods the track! 

He has a sharp and powerful rhyming style that makes sure he never misses a beat and his words are as acute as razors and as passionate as the best going!

He has incredible enthusiasm, love for the game which can be felt with every word he spits! His flow is on point and his pen game is exactly the type this beat needed! It’s brash, braggadocio and across this beat that’s all that’s needed! No one wants to hear overly lyrical raps over a club banger tune like this! Save that for the deeper cuts this is strictly for the ones who have good health care and can risk banging your head nonstop till it hurts!

Overall a FANTASTIC EFFORT by both involved. It’s catchy, powerful, anthem-like and surely one of the singles of the year!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1zaquRRWII3Jq5o4lX2Ru1?si=TS8fTOFCSfeB_sNHhqQZ3A

(The Black Teddy Santis)

A duo I never thought I needed but now can’t imagine life without. One of the most consistent MC’s alongside the producer with a run of a lifetime! We GOTTA talk about it!

This is the latest collaboration project between MC André DeSaint and producer Machacha and together they dropped nine tracks with 26 minutes of content with the likes of 

-DJ Dre

-Sunset Tim

-Eddie Kaine 

-Maze Overlay

-Jachai

-Hell’z OWN

And let me tell you now that I haven’t heard Machacha sound smoother than he is here! (Which sounds incredible to even think) but it’s true. He’s riding a wave no one can touch across this project!

So many soothing elements from delicate keys, swaying ambient notes, what sounds like a triangle being intricately hit for maximum calming effect. Light almost reggaeton drum patterns with sharp and plucked strings. 

Every track has an incredible sense of breathtaking charm to it. It’s one of those albums where you play with high-quality headphones and let your mind wonder! It truly is the best hip-hop equivalent of that reggae nature and relaxing qualities within the grounds of rap! 

There are even subtle elements of jazz scattered throughout the album maximising that breathtaking effect across the production. I was listening to this and had all my stress and worries just fade away, it was the best feeling! Machacha really tapped into his ‘Tranquil’ side and I want more!!

On the mic we have André the man who I see everywhere on everyone else’s projects absolutely killing it in the feature position which makes it that much more exciting to hear a full project of his own!

As expected, he brings that same level of gritty, enthusiastic and sharp rap styles as he has all those other times being recruited as a hired mic killer!

He’s both savage and introspective on the mic being able to switch at a moment’s notice between exciting bragging to deep personal cuts and everything in between!

I love his charismatic attitude on the beats. He’s confident and brash, and his pen game is next level. He’s got a mastery of rhythm, and his flow is fluent and always on the mark. None of this off-the-beat shit, just pure MC skill at its finest!

I loved his track ‘Nostalgia Ain’t Cheap’ with Eddie Kaine and Maze Overlay together! Two of the heaviest hitters in the game right now, and André kept up with the best of them and maintained the energy of the track perfectly!

I can’t wait for the world to hear this side of Machacha! He’s provided the culture with so many tough bangers that it’s due time for some refreshing and exciting change of pace for the legend, and I hope we can hear more in the future! Alongside DeSaint, this thing was guaranteed to be a modern-day classic! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6t9PtOOpIzaLdZofrpESca?si=7OZWLW8HQa2kSisnOkBO4w

(Dark Side Of The Ring 3)

One thing I can testify and claim without a shadow of a doubt is that Action Figure 973 is a WWE stan from head to toe. Trust me, after I thought he could keep up with me in two NJPW tournaments (with one even promising free reviews during all of G1), and he still gave up. He’s only built for WWE shit, but I can at least respect his dedication and love for ECW! And in that respect, you get this album. Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest series of Action’s ‘Dark Side Of The Ring’ which has Sam ROTHSKEEM on the production and, of course, Action on the Mic! 5 tracks, 13 minutes, and nothing but pure old-school wrestling references and paying homage to one of the greatest who ever did it! (Sabu)

 Across these 5 tracks, we have these dark, harrowing, and mysterious instrumentals! That feature such things like:

– Horror Keys that jump out at you

– Brooding Synth Chords

– Manipulated and Tortured Jazz notes

– Thick Bass Lines

– Heavy Drum patterns

And with these elements, it turns this under 15-minute project into a thrilling, exciting, and engaging experience with eerie vibes and a gritty atmosphere!

Although each track is different, they all coordinate together to help the project as a whole instead of sounding like a collection of random tracks that don’t fit! 

It’s tightly wrapped, and for a wrestling fan, it’s everything you could want. From classic clips (such as the intro) to various mentions throughout the record! You can tell this was made by a true wrestling fan! So shoutout to Sam!

As far as Action goes! He’s obviously a monster across this album! He’s helping maintain the balance between Wrestling Stan X Real talent on the mic. There’s this misconception across non-wrestling fans that albums like these are bound to sound like a geeky novelty based on the theme, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Whether you’re talking about West Side Gunn or Mickey Diamond or Estee Nack or especially Action, these men prove time and time again that with this new trend comes an exciting new territory that very few have explored yet, and they bring a fresh new perspective that I fuck with heavily!

Action normally chooses the shorter and more compact projects that are designed to just hit you quick and hard, like a pocket shot of adrenaline that you can just take with you on the go! 

His wordplay is slick, sharp, and dope! He has a powerful presence across the beats, and his specifically tailored lyricism is nothing less than addictive! (For us wrestling fans anyway.)

He’s a true icon and personality on the songs, and his stance as a MC heel or babyface depends entirely on the concept and theme he’s undertaking, but for now, I’d say he stands pretty solid behind the fans to create something fun, memorable, and passionate! 

P.S. That Jimmy USO track (concept) was ASS! Fuck USO, he ain’t main event anything. Should have made a song about Okada or Omega or Swerve, anyone but Mid USO!

Regardless, go check this album out! You’ll love it! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1auqYbZlKLAuCepzOAZ2Os?si=OiI4oTWpSxKzKbAlmlYT9w