(Checkmate)

We are finally able to witness one of many albums being released this year by the grime lord himself. With each album providing a different sound and style, it seems to be an exciting time for this man, and I’m keen to see how he handles each variety, but for now! 

CHECKMATE!

So this is the brand-new album by MC powerhouse Reek Osama and producer perutheproducer, and together they drop eight tracks with 12 minutes and absolutely no features!

As I suspected from the single dropped off this album, ‘Nicky Barnes’, this album provides a glimpse into the ‘theatrical’ and ‘larger than life’ aspect of Reek and how we would sound behind cinematic instrumentation, lavish production, and borderline thespian in nature!

I could tell right away based on the production that this thing was going to be as eccentric, lively, and full of flavour, aura, and classic theatrics that you’d expect to hear from the 1930s-1940s with various influences such as: 

– Choir Vocals

– Jazz

– Opera Piano Keys 

As well as modern-day: 

– Boom Bap

– Ambient

– Aura Rap

– 90’s East Coast Rap

All these elements come together to create the perfect fusion of balance between a record that pays homage to the classic styles while maintaining an original and fresh experience for the present day!

Tracks like ‘1-900 Hustla’ with that incredible intro with those jazz-influenced piano keys that evolved into a hard, boom bap beat with those keys subtly sprinkled on throughout the rest of the track!

Or even tracks like ‘Chainsmokin’ which sounds like a rap opera come to life! With that intro which sounds like Beethoven come to life, which then turns into a classical X boom bap fusion that gives me goosebumps while listening!

Every one of these eight tracks is like the ghost of classic/jazz/opera’s past coming back to compliment the spirit and dedication of Puru and the main man Reek into creating one of the most uniquely crafted and infectious records of the year!

Now, onto Reek. As the single I covered the other day suggested, on this album Reek is flexing his shit! He’s here to remind you all, ‘as he actually does on the outro of ‘Chainsmokin’,’ but that he’s the man and no one’s fucking with his style, and this record is hard to argue against!

In the spirit of the record and all the chess interludes placed throughout, he’s showcasing his own earned ego and conviction in this rap game! 

His bars are timely, his flow fluent and heavy. His lyricism is street poetry mixed with witty one-liners and puns that keep the audience entertained while he spits this in his usual intense, deep voice!

My favourite line of the album is easily ‘I’m Like Mr Bean, I don’t speak for nothing’. I don’t think I’ve ever heard his name used in a rap song, and as he’s one of my favourite actors, this hit hard for me!

As I said before, no features, just straight bars from Reek proving yet again why he’s one of the most premier MC’s in the underground and why he’s not one to be fucked with and why he’s always had the final CHECKMATE!

The rest of the game can keep playing checkers while Reek and Puru keep grinding on chess! With this intensity-orchestrated album, they aren’t playing to lose!

https://open.spotify.com/album/56OcF7qFSbuAL0Ghssu6Qm?si=5lmWvtYrSSW1HHQR1k8MNg

(Matthew Gets Sick Off Cheap Wine And Prefers Gruaud-Larose 1945)

One of my favourite aspects of doing these reviews is watching certain artists and producers thrive and evolve. The rare ones you’ll notice with every release, every drop get sharper, master their techniques bit by bit and eventually become perfect. 

I understand that’s a strong word and that’s why I don’t use it often, but in this scenario, I feel it’s only fitting to describe a producer who has spent the past five years creating everyone’s favourite albums and now he’s back to prove just how far he’s come. Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest collaboration project between super producer Wino Willy of Grilchy Party and Backwoodz own ‘FOHDH Matthew’ who is an MC from Philly who has spent the past few years making waves in the underground scene and now has decided to work alongside one of the best producers in the world right now for his 13-track extravaganza! 

Now, listeners will immediately tell that this production is darker, more surreal and muddy than he normally cares to go! The closest I could think of to this sound would have been his EP for Pro Dillinger ‘Dirty Work’ but even then that pales in comparison to how methodical and devastatingly powerful this album feels!

To me, this sounds like a combination of Soul, Jazz and Classical influences turned evil. So imagine those beautiful genres and instrumentation but manipulated and deformed to such a gritty extent that you’re left with an introverted representation of the usual ‘upbeat and joyful’ sounds and replaced with ‘doomed, depraved and dirty’ takes on the same genres.

But when it comes to Wino. He never leaves things in their base forms. Every single beat and instrumental regardless of the form, pitch or direction he has the trademark tendency to elevate every sound to a grand scale. With his production, you ain’t just listening to an album, you’re witnessing ‘an experience’ and that’s the effect his music has on people.

Considering he has this effect on more traditional hip-hop beats, can you imagine what sinister work he could pull off when he taps into his inner ‘Backwoodz’ vibe? When the ceiling is removed from the heights he can reach and also how deep he can dig his abyss. 

This album sounds unlike anything he’s done before. The piano keys sound heavier, the chords are harrowing and nightmare-adjacent. The strings are plucked in such a disturbing way it sends chills up spines. 

When I think of Wino I can’t help but remember that cliché phrase people use about the Japanese ‘They are just like us, only more so.’ 

Yes, there are many producers in the game right now, but Wino Willy is just like them ‘only a lot fucking more so!’

Now, onto the Backwoodz Studios Philly Star. The man who has caught the attention of labels and lyricists alike. Why? It’s because of performances like this that put him in the same conversation as the likes of 

-Billy Woods

-Curly Castro

-ARMAND HAMMER 

These three names alone have gained legendary status as storytellers and writers who have maintained the integrity and spirit of conceptually driven lyricism and are always in their own rare lane that very few have the luxury of entering alongside them.

But now we have another addition. This man’s talent is simply amazing.

He has an absolutely beautiful and overwhelming ability to tell stories. I feel like a kid sitting by a campfire as he instructs us on events, stories, and personal experiences. The way he can command the room and have everyone hanging on his every word is unreal. 

He has that natural spirit and enthusiasm for the game that’s expressed through his cold, calculated, and thoughtful approach to his wordplay, lyricism, and incredible vocabulary that feels endless throughout this whole album.

Each song feels like its own mini audio movie. Within the space of two to three minutes, he can portray a narrative so detailed, in-depth, and engaging that it feels like I’m listening to a short story audiobook series. If there wasn’t music behind this album, I’m sure he could sell out the spoken word section on reading apps. 

His flow across the beats is precise and fluent. Never an awkward moment or choppy transition between beats; he’s on a singular wavelength the whole way through, and he’s maintaining his passion, grip on the audience, and spectacular verses one after the other, never a bland breath uttered.

This is a match made in heaven! These two have a chemistry that most can only dream of, and both are rare talents in their respective fields that, when combined, make for the most deadly duo! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5zboXPKciZft94EjP5o4jV?si=QyVsILcXQpaKDR1YycwSMQ

(Pentastic Lordz)

Two albums back-to-back in 24 hours? Damn. Even for them, that’s nuts! I literally just reviewed the latest Fam Ross, and then I found this! Well, let’s get to it!

This is the brand-new project by Arsinel, which, as usual, features the other members of Penlordz, but what makes this album stand out is the production by my main man, ‘DJ Krooked’, a man I have watched the evolution of over the last 3-4 months, and it’s been incredible to say the least. I do remember vaguely him telling me he was working with Penlordz or going to be, but I completely forgot until right now! Regardless, this is some exciting news, and I knew even before I heard it that this was going to be a dope project, and I was right!

Starting with the production. What we have here is DJ Krooked understanding the legends he has in front of him and has made it a priority to make a series of memorably entertaining and powerful instrumentals that contain hints of: 

-Ambient

-Jazz

-Classical

-Experimental

-Boom Bap

And the way he mixes and blends each sound and inspiration is nuts! He makes some songs like ‘Trampoline’, which features this haunting, dark sci-fi-reminiscent sound with those high-pitch synth chords and minimalistic that sounds like a score Stanley Kubrick would have made!

Then he makes other tracks like ‘Not A Tool’, which has this sickening heavy bass with these wavy ocean-like vibration chords that make it feel like you’re listening to a song underwater! It’s got those theatrical heavy drums that I really enjoyed as well!

Although I’m a man who generally doesn’t enjoy the use of skits, I like how comic book-resemblance or B-side horror movie these feel! Very tongue-in-cheek, which feels fluent with the rest of the album! 

DJ Krooked is a man who is on a mission of improvement, self-reflection, and growth! From where I heard him till now, he’s like night and day. Add in the fact he’s now working with quite possibly the most dominant and skilful trio in the game, period? It’s a wrap. He’s taking over!

Speaking of ‘taking over’, we have one again, Penlordz. Who have used 2025 as their chess game while the world is playing checkers. From insane release schedules to an infinite supply of verses that never feel stale or weak! To the instigating of a culture shift within the underground itself! These three are on a completely different wave entirely from the rest, and it’s ridiculous to be an apart of and witness!

Once again, these three are on point in every single aspect. The bars, the flow, the lyricisms, the rhythms, the chemistry, the themes, the synchronicity— they literally have everything on lock! 

There isn’t an aspect of this rap game they haven’t MASTERED. They toss the verses back and forth to each other like child’s play. Shit’s so easy for them, they could probably do it in their sleep! 

On this album (and sort of similar to the other Fam Ross album), you can hear the high energy, confident, and borderline flexing aura in their performances! They are the kings to beat, and they know it, and they’ve decided it’s time to flaunt it!

From the sharp verses to the intelligent vocabulary and stunning display of one-liners and puns, there’s nothing they can’t do on the mic, and now they are just mocking the industry with their MC statuses!

A combination I was told about and completely forgot about, and now becoming one of my favourite collaboration efforts of the year, these guys make another solid record with refreshingly original production and enough dope verses to fill up a library (if you count their consistency of this year alone, that line wouldn’t even be an exaggeration).

Check out the album now!

https://open.spotify.com/album/2zkxK5DKHCzQpRkO6fr3am?si=e1pwk0Z1RKGRf_vNTDubNQ

(Funeral For A Dream)

When you try to imagine powerhouse Dream duo, who do you envision? Which pair is in the forefront of your mind that gets you most excited and a team that you’d trade a left arm just to hear come to life!

Well, for me. This is a pair I wouldn’t have expected in a million lifetimes and yet one that has me the most excited this year! Two men who have revolutionised the game in their own lanes, coming together to create a modern-day masterpiece. Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new, collaborative project between Bronze Nazareth, who this time is dusting off his mic and returning to the MC role as he leaves the production in the hands of one of the most legendary to ever do it, Apollo Brown! Together, they dropped 12 tracks, 43 minutes, and the features of 

-Love Jones

-Eddie Kaine to assist in the dominating effort of Magic on this record!

I feel like I want to start with Bronze today on the mic. Not just because it’s his full-length return to the mic as he’s been owning the beat-making lane but because he truly puts his best foot forward across this album and showcases why he’s one of the biggest, if not (the biggest), double threats in the underground!

From the opening track, we hear Bronze deliver his personalised fusion of charismatic, passionate, and methodical verses that feel like gold mines across the production!

With every word dropped, he soaks his bars in precise timing, sharp deliveries, intricate and powerful vocabulary blended with his uncanny flow and rhythm! 

He feels like a street scholar on the beat. Like he’s schooling the culture in a lesson of ‘How To MC Act 1’, he’s performing with confidence, intelligence, and street poetry that makes every bar delivered feel like an immersive soundscape that transports the listener into the situations described and makes it feel like we were there ourselves and feel the emotions portrayed!

He has such an incredible way with words. In fact, he doesn’t just ‘spit bars’; he lays down in-depth realism art that can be processed through the ear and translated to the mind for a full-blown drench of real-life feelings, mentality, and spirituality that can be felt by the world due to his incredible talent in making the verses as vivid and lively as possible!

To hear him rap alongside Eddie Kaine for me was one of the best moments of 2025. No fade to Love, he absolutely killed his verse as well, but as someone who has been following Eddie for the past few years now, to hear him go up against Bronze was something I not only wasn’t expecting but one that lived up to the hype 100x fold! Perfect single to promote the record!

Into the mythology of Apollo Brown. The man who happens to somehow get better with every new release, and this album is no exception! What he accomplishes on this record in the 12 tracks is a balanced tightrope between 

‘Old School, Raw, and Skeletal’ and ‘Cinematic, Theatrical, and Larger Than Life’. Most tracks feature this balance, while others showcase one of the two presets. Either way, it’s all phenomenal!

We start the record off with a track ‘Next Dream’ which has a somber, atmospheric vibe to it. Those plucked guitar strings and subtle keys in the background with slight static sounds in the background, as if you’re listening to a vinyl, give it that extra layer of ‘nostalgic’ with a thought-provoking speech given on the intro track to set the mood!

As we continue into the official rapping side of things, we get the track ‘Banshee Walk’ and he lays down some of the dopest and freshest G-Funk music I’ve heard in the modern day!

Those gorgeous synth chords. Those groovy and infectious synth chords, and those drums! It all comes together for a tight 3-minute banger that taunts over the rest of the record!

I love how on tracks like ‘Enough Lord’ we get back to that classic, cinematically surreal production Apollo is legendary for! We have these methodical drum patterns, with those light strings in the background and of course that beautifully executed vocal snippets that loops its way in and out of the beat giving the track an overall ‘Soul/Smooth’ texture!

As far as production goes, I’d have to say my favourite track would have to be ‘Lavender’ because it’s been a minute since I’ve heard a track come together in such cinematic, raw elegance the way this one did!

You’ve got those horns in a hypnotic loop motion in the background, with those heavy handed drums with that incredible thudding bass!

Of course we can’t mention this track without that magically utilised vocal snippet that Apollo has crafted to be the star of the track! Absolutely infectious!

This is the track where Love goes OFF on! Even though I’d never heard of him until now he absolutely killed it and left me wanting more!

Apollo Brown doesn’t make music, he makes life long memorabilia in music form. The kind of art that decades after its release gets studied and debated by experts and fans alike. The level of creativity and detail that continues to stun the culture, audience and artists! This man is one of the most perfectionist minded people in the industry today and he only has one mode of mind: Classics and that’s all he delivers.

With this album, he continues to out do himself yet again teaming up with the most sought after and respected duel threats in the industry today and when they came together as one, that’s the definition of ‘The Modern Day Classic: Funeral For A Dream’

https://open.spotify.com/album/2fo2pTBcrcwzP5xbyUGMC9?si=JcYPCpHARvGKDGL2DNTywA

(Nasty Work)

The worst fear of the underground scene has come true. This EP has brought to life a scenario I’ve always pictured since fucking with these guys, and that’s ’I wonder what would happen if they embraced a more hardcore/gritty’ structure. Well, now we know, and everyone in the game should be concerned! Let’s talk about it!

This is the latest brand-new EP by Penlordz Fam, Ross, featuring RiceMasterYen, and contains, as per usual, the other two members of Penlordz as guest MC’s! Six new tracks in total, and my god, is this a culture shift? If I’ve ever heard one!

From the very opening track, we get the most intense, muddy, grimy boom bap soaked the trio has ever been. The producer at hand did a fantastic job bringing together those surreal and methodically paced instrumentation to make it feel as bitter and gutter as possible!

I’m talking raw, unfiltered boom bap beats with menacing chords and powerful drums to emulate a sonic earthquake inside the ears and hearts of the listeners. Sharp notes and harrowing atmospheric create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere that is completely left field from what we are used to the guys participating in and yet one that suits them unconditionally and completely naturally!

Each of the six tracks is layered in grime, dark, and dense production with elements of 90’s hip hop, distorted jazz feels, and droning instrumentation to create a sonic field that feels dangerous and overwhelming in the perfect combination of ‘Chaos and Control’, a fine line that is hard to nail.

And yet, RiceMaster does it with ease! An absolute masterpiece to experience!

This new version of Penlordz continues to give me goosebumps with each re-listen. The fact they can evolve or transform into this from what they normally are is insane! For these three men to have untapped potential STILL after all they’ve accomplished this year alone is frightening!

Penlordz here. They sound less like a rap trio and more like a merciless street gang who just happens to spit. They have a cautionary energy about them, like the early Wu-Tang days, and with the fresh new ad-libs and intense deliveries, they are showcasing a new and more sinister version of an already perfect set-up, showing the world that ‘this is what could be permanent if you guys wanna fuck with us.’ 

It’s raw, tough, and ruthless. The bars have a tad bit more of an unpredictable splash delivery as they are embracing the more ‘chaotic’ side of them! The lyricism and pen game are as sharp and devastating as I’ve ever heard them, and their chemistry went from god tier to demon time as they sound like they used a Ouija board to gain even MORE synchronicity, which is an insane concept to imagine a world where THEY, of all people, would have to up their game!

It’s unforgettable, unforgiving, and downright sadistic between the three of them as they rip apart the beats one by one with their legendary abilities, perfect verses, and iconic personalities that stand out individually but come together 100x fold as a unit!

I don’t know if this is just an experimental project to test out this new aggressive music or the new normal, but either way, the culture better start taking notice before it’s too late!

https://famross.bandcamp.com/album/nasty-work

(Four Piece)

Well, god damn, who knew this kind of combination would be as dominant as this is? Absolutely ridiculous. Both men I’m very familiar with solo, but when they come together, they somehow make some of the illest must-ever made. We GOTTA talk about it!

So. This is the brand-new collaborative effort between MC extraordinaire Gustavo Louis and Producer Powerhouse Philth Spector, and together they release four new tracks (the four-piece) featuring only extra name with -$moove on the case to add his lyrical chops to the case!

Now, the first thing I can say is that the production is the definition of GROOVY! From the first track, I fell in love with the sounds, and it only got stronger the more I listened to it!

On the opening track, we have these incredible elongated keys alongside that old-school hip-hop drum patterns, as well as a subtle yet powerful vocal harmony that runs through the track from time to time! Although skeletal in execution, it fucking slaps!

Track two, we have a more menacing approach with those harrowing chords coming in and out of mainframe in a sinister pattern that feels like music you’d hear in a haunted house! Again, with those minimal drums and heavy bass lines, it’s a recipe for a scary ass beat that you definitely ain’t gonna catch me fucking with after dark! But definitely a vibe for sure! 

Track three, we have an experimental but methodically paced track with what sounds like a human humming rhythm as the main chord for the beat, accompanied by these delicate keys and mesmerising drums, and this ringing ambient sound that just plants itself in the corners of your brain until the track ends!

This is one of those tracks that stay with you for weeks after it’s done because of its ’noise/experimental nature’

Final track, we have probably the most ‘traditional hip-hop sounding beat of them all’. It has this really banging boom-bap flavour with those slow-paced chords, thick drums, and what again sounds like a wavering vocal harmony, but it could just be instruments or possibly a plucked guitar string, but either way, super dark, methodical, and tough!

I love how even though this is a four-track album, Spector goes out of his way to make sure every track has its own identity and soul! Each unique and tailor-made in its own fashion, sonic identity, and atmosphere! His best work I’ve heard to date!

Now onto Gustavo. The man with consistency up the ass but one who never fails! No matter what concept, sound, or theme he’s here to flex his MC skills, and nothing changes across this project!

He’s back with more colourful, immersive, and animated raps that make everyone else feel dull and lifeless in comparison!

Once again, his flows are fun, and of course, his lyricism and pen game are fun, vibrant, interesting, and entertaining! He’s the kind of cat that can rap about anything and everything and make it a masterpiece!

His vocal performances are always standout as he always brings out an infectious charisma, enthusiasm, and passion that barely anyone else shares! He’s the kind of man that could give 1/10th of his personality, and it could fuel the whole rap game 10x over! 

No matter the length of the EP, he’s here hitting home runs with his precise wordplay, his sharp bars, cinematic timing, and atmosphere so strong it’s like he’s used a Jujutsu Kaisen Domain Expansion and covered the whole world with his aura, and while he’s rapping, the whole culture goes silent and waits for him to consist! He’s that good!

He’s calculated, animated, sophisticated, dominating, and calibrated to this rap shit, one of the top-tier talents alone for his larger-than-life take on verses and how every word he spits sounds like an Oscar-nominated performance on the mic! 

These two are a match made in Hip Hop heaven! I don’t know why I’m so shocked (I shouldn’t be) it’s just I didn’t expect these two to collab in the first place so the stun of these two high profile artists coming together was a shock I still haven’t recovered from!

From the production to the verses (and the dope verse by $moove) it all comes together for a one of a kind EP that can’t compare to anything else this year! 

https://linktr.ee/philth_spector?lt_utm_source=lt_share_link#494157210

(Summer Heat)

It’s been a minute since I last covered this artist. But still keeping his relatively steady, consistent release in the new year, he’s back with a brand new project and we are going to dive into it!

This is the latest EP released on 4th July by MC’s CAOS and T.G, featuring on production: 

-CAOS

-Niv

-Risk

-ISAC No Beat

-Korben Palace

And has only one MC feature on Flame-On!

Now, as far as the production goes by all the various participants on this EP, I feel like it’s tailored to be a throwback to the old school of the mid to late 90s! CAOS is a man who has experimented with so many different sounds (even making a Valentine’s Day album), but across this one I feel he’s trying for a more grounded, structured, and down-to-earth listening experience that will attract the most common Hip Hop Head to the EP!

We’re talking grand and elegant strings, fancy synths, heavy drum patterns with the occasional plucked acoustic strings and theatrical horns, and eccentric vocal harmony snippets that add that extra layer of ‘cinematic’ quality to the track.

There’s even some somber piano keys on the final track with a slight jazz influence in the beat and rhythm! All these inspirations and instruments remind me of that golden late 80s to 90s when you’d have so many different aspects of the art from a group like ‘A Tribe Called Quest’ with their jazz/rap fusions!

Or Wu-Tang Clan with their iconic mix of grimy East Coast pioneering hardcore boom bap with that Asian Shaolin influence! Or even Public Enemy with its hard-hitting, in-your-face, politically charged old-school rap with the scratches and cuts! 

My point being. In similar fashion, I feel the production across this is inspired by the various styles and themes that made the classic era ‘Classic’ to begin with. Because of that diversity and creativity to utilise, and I feel the production value hit the same note and I fucked with it heavy!

As far as Caos and T.G go, you could say they also take inspiration in their patterns from the legends! Name your favourite.

-Mobb Deep

-OutKast

-Clipse

-EPMD

-Gang Starr, it doesn’t matter, they all share many of the same values: ‘consistency, chemistry, and clarity’, the all-important triple C’s, and that’s exactly what I hear from these two!

You can hear from the opening track till the end the level of synchronicity they have per track! The way they seamlessly pass the verse spot to the next without ever underselling or overshadowing the one before! It’s just pure, natural, and organic energy between two solid MC’s who are focused on creating a dope project!

Both men have incredible pen game, both have fluent flow, intriguing personalities, fire charisma, enthusiasm, and passion for the EP that floods through each word spoken in the 19-minute time span!

Such a short time frame, and they don’t waste a single second! Both go off using their natural talents and precise techniques to make sure each track goes off better than the next!

This is one of those EP’s you don’t want to miss out on! Dope production paired with equally dope MC work! Go check it out now!

https://open.spotify.com/album/28jZwGWDExkBiutPfFX0hv?si=fOQHp1B2QYWGJumxQdCVCw

(The Lion’s Share 4: The Last Specimen)

As if this year hasn’t already provided us with some of the biggest and most mind blowing releases and updates we could of asked for now we have THIS! Talk about an absolute game changer! These two about to take over 2025 officially! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand new sequel collaboration between powerhouse MC/Producer Substance810 and ObserveSince98 and together they released the highly anticipated 4th sequel to the legendary ‘Lion Share’ series that has revolutionised the underground to put it lightly! 

On this one we have features from

-Josiah The Gift

-Pro Dillinger

-Jamil Honesty

-Napoleon Da Legend

-Asun Eastwood

-Tiona Denice

-DJ Grazzhoppa

Man, a stacked roster for a stacked release! For an even more stacked production because somehow with each new addition to the series (I’ve bough the last 3 on Bandcamp so I listen to them quite regularly) they end up more theatrical then the last and this one has topped the lot! 

Compared to other releases, this one definitely feels more grandiose and methodical in its pacing. I’d have to compare it to an orchestra that’s scheduled to a 3-4 hour set. In that setting the band would take their time, milk every string and pattern. Deliberately emphasising the ‘surreal’ energy of the performance with building up the instrumental climaxes instead of just starting 100 miles an hour right off the bat.

This is how this album feels to me, the most atmospherical and methodical of the 4 I feel the beats are more though out, more in depth and grand in execution then we’ve ever seen Observe be in the past! 

He’s someone whose naturally known as a beat maker who dabbles in the theatrical style and soundscapes making him one of the most interesting and sought out producers in the game but even so there feels to be an extra layer of ‘aesthetic’ included into this project then others I’ve heard of his recently.

I love, how the Lion skit has remained and how it’s used to end the album! I love the cinematic value of the whole record! From track 1-13 we get a masterclass in how to evolve and elevate the instrumentation from a traditional song to a classic score that will go down in history as a modern day masterpiece! 

I can’t stress enough how beautiful the production is. It sounds like there’s a live band in the studio with them performing the music right along the recordings, that’s how organic and natural the music sounds! You can’t buy this level of care, talent and creativity! This comes inbuilt and that’s why Observe is one of the greatest!

Of course, this album wouldn’t be a ‘Lion’s Share’ without Substance810. The man who has already made a critical contribution to this year with his ‘One Inch Punch’ record last month and now he’s back with another critically acclaimed venture with this one!

Just like how Observe has leveled up so has Substance. He’s always been one of the strongest visual story tellers in the game but even he has evolved! With every verse dropped, it felt like I was teleported to his situations described and felt like I was watching it happen first hand! He’s just so fucking detailed and comprehensive with his lyricism that it’s impossible not to get sucked into every bar he spits!

His trademark charismatic pen game comes in spades across this one, his signature flow is as precise and smooth as ever! His rhythm is immaculate and his passion and enthusiasm are greater then they ever were before!

His sharp wordplay is absolutely incredible as it’s always been. He’s always right on time with his intellectual and street wise bars that never miss the beat! He understands the times he needs to be more deliberate and focused and which tracks require a more ‘introspective and analytical’ approach! He’s smart enough to switch his lyrical topics depending on the track theme at hand!

Of course, when it comes to the features he’s going to shine. Considering they are all his brothers and 2 of them are fellow Umbrella the chemistry is perfect and on point! The legends on the roster absolutely obliterate the tracks provided and help match Substance’s incredible energy and dope pen game! 

This might very well be my favourite Lion Share album yet. Flawless production and even greater performances! If this ain’t on your listen list then you ain’t a real one and it’s as simple as that!

(Psycho Silver)

What a delightful time it is right now! A brand new EP by one of my favourite new artists in the game! This man has changed the way I look at hip hop and has crafted a lane for himself that not only is unique but also fun and a refreshing take on the current landscape of rap! So let’s talk about it!

This is the brand new 4-track EP by MC and Producer Sabio Dub AKA Mr ‘Sunshine Rap’, the man who is bringing back the fun, loving, and passionate aspects of hip hop in its most pure and groovy forms! 

Across this one, he presents to us 8 minutes of delight, and although we still have the same mellow and relaxing energy, this one does feel a lot different than the rest!

Why? Well, instead of his usual jazz/reggae-toned ‘Sunshine Rap’ filled with happiness and positivity, instead, I feel he went for a more ambient, ASMR, atmospheric, damn near ‘theatrical’ side with a more ‘larger than life’ essence to the record. It’s as if he wanted to help us all astral project across universes across this EP, and I can’t say I’m mad at that!

We have those grand violin strings, those delicate piano keys, infectious synth keys, and thick plucked strings, as well as soul/R&B grooves with slap-style bass and more funk-based drum patterns towards the end (on the finale track), and all this comes together to create sonic cinema rather than enlighten the masses!

It’s vibrant, surreal, profound, and mind-bending music! The score to your acid dreams is what I’d call it! (Not that I’ve ever tried that substance), but I can imagine this would be the soundtrack to it! The production is heavy and deep; it’s purposely layered and in-depth in the sounds and the way they communicate with each other; it all comes together for a mesmerising and hypnotic score that puts Dub in a lane I personally haven’t seen him in before and curious to see if he goes again!

Now. Onto the MC side of things, as expected, we have the softly spoken, lighthearted, and mellow performance by Sabio. He always delivers his bars like he’s in the most calming and happy mindset one can be in, and this one is no exception!

He brings his soul-filled charisma and energy to the forefront while navigating this new venture, and he pulls off a nice balance of witty and introspective lyricism and pen game that makes his bars always sound interesting, wise, and borderline otherworldly!

With only eight minutes of time to work with, he does a great job at adding emphasis to his performances, making them sound fresh and, at the same time, creative and thought-provoking to the listener!

For such a short project, I think he nailed the execution! Definitely unlike any other project I’ve heard him on, and it’s exciting to wonder where he will go from here!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1DPa1lfdGsudsAMootr7sI?si=_wLy20r1TD60nxnGtVxeiw

(God Like Shammgod)

Wow, this 3 minutes and 28 seconds has to be up there for one of the toughest-sounding singles in 2025. After I listened to this the first time, it took me a minute to get back into it because of how much of an impact it left on me! This duo ain’t fucking playing!

This is the latest single by MC Jiles and producer Grubby Pawz. The latter already made a massive statement this year with ‘Coldest Combo Ever’ with Al Divino & Estee Nack, and now he’s back to release what sounds like it will be one of the most ‘grubby’ and ‘muddy’ albums of 2025!

Starting with that production. We have one of Grubby’s most methodical and chilling productions to date! We are taking straight killer vibes wrapped and coated with sonic acid, ready to melt any fake posers who try to step to that real underground hip-hop shit!

I’m talking haunting piano keys that hauntingly pace around the beat in a repetitive motion, setting that cold-blooded tone! We have those rough and skeletal drum beats that are eerily creeping in the background, lurking like a killer in the night!

And then on top of all that, we have what sounds like a ghostly faint whistle sound that comes in and out every now and then! Although there isn’t much here in terms of layers, and Pawz taking the ‘less is more’ approach, he has evolved the handful of elements into a thrilling cinematic masterpiece that will give you goosebumps right through to the end! This track makes me more excited than ever for the album drop!

Next up, we have Jiles, a man who I had no previous experience with and honestly only got my attention because I heard Grubby was working with him next, but after listening to this single, I fucking understand why! This guy is an absolute MC MENACE! 

I couldn’t believe his performance on this track! I actually had to pause and go check out his other shit to make sure he always sounds like this, and he does. This man is a monster on the mic; he makes all your favourite hardcore rappers sound like children in comparison.

He has this unmatched, untamed, gravely voice that is something to behold. Every word he spits sounds like an avalanche of boulders coming down onto the track! Crushing and flattening everything in its path! 

He has one of the most cutthroat and powerful auras I’ve ever heard. Utilising this methodical and ruthless tone, he paces himself as he delivers atmospheric street imagery and braggadocio lines that slam on the track word for word.

His flow is intense, his pen game strong, and his ability evident. He’s the kind of MC that would never need a feature to pop off because, honestly, what feature could even hope to handle his level of intensity? I struggle to think of one.

Regardless, this song is the definition of RUTHLESS AGGRESSION. It’s rough around the edges, potent, and deadly! Not for the faint-hearted! A truly powerful combination! 

https://open.spotify.com/track/1gK1ZRt2aU4gS2w3Bt8hQP?si=sEVxVR8SSqyaRY9yiIuigw