(FRESH POWDER)

Man, that title is such an interesting concept to me because I don’t think I’ve ever seen or felt ‘Fresh Powder’ unless washing powder counts? But don’t think that’s fresh… just thinking out loud! Let’s get to the album!

So, this is the 2024 album by MC Beck and Producer FVNTVNV, and together they released eight tracks with 18 minutes of content featuring the likes of 

-Big Man G

-Hus Kingpin

-Gustavo Louis

-Sabio Dub

That’s quite a line-up to acquire for such a compact record, and it lives up to the hype. You have so many distinctive personalities across this record, and they all mash together amazingly! Whether it be the smooth king himself Hus, the ever-so-charismatic Gustavo, or the Sunshine rap innovator himself Sabio Dub!

Beck has come together to provide so much flavour and depth into this record, and of course, none more compelling than the man himself!

Across this album, we hear a man who showcases his more ‘introspective’ and ‘intricate’ side of things. Taking a refreshing detour from the over-saturated ‘Gangsta Rap’ themes and going into a more witty, thought-provoking, and engaging tone with his approach to his bars, and I love it!

He has this level of sensibility with his style, he has an absolutely killer flow with dope lyricism, and a strong pen game! The way he writes and glides through the instrumentation effortlessly is awe-inspiring!

When he’s laying the bars down, he gives off this strong energy about him that’s hard to put into words unless you’ve heard it yourself, but it’s definitely special like he’s preaching to the crowd with raw magnetic forces! It’s really cool, and combining that with the chemistry with the mentioned MC’s and you have a recipe that can’t fail!

Speaking of. We have the production aspect! One that was a lot more ambient/Lo-Fi and mellow than I was expecting, but it does pair well with the style of BECK, so it was a well-thought-out idea!

You can hear those smooth jazz elements, those subtle vocal snippets on repeat, those bass-heavy strings, and soulful strings. All the instrumentation is done with a hint of cinematic energy, where each sound has tons of emphasis placed on it until it sounds like a theatrical score! I love the methodical and surreal execution of the music itself. 

It feels like slow waves in the ocean turned into music form. The patience built up with every note and key. How they’ve taken their time to marinate and cook before each sound is hit. Nothing I hate more than rushed production; you can just hear it, and it ruins any album. There’s a difference between fast-paced instrumentation and rushed, and I’m so glad to say that on this one, not only isn’t it rushed but it’s handled so tastefully and smoothly that it just takes your mind into that peaceful place for the entirety of the 18 minutes!

Overall, for eight tracks, this one hits really hard! Not hard in terms of grit or toughness but hard in quality and execution! Definitely worth checking out! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4Grg9sOpFXfGgNCHsdkEbB?si=H6X5gTisQ7CD4SHGNskQfQ

(3MB)

As a wrestling stan, this has to be one of the greatest pieces of hip-hop I’ve ever heard! This trio are real wrestling fans, and it’s a dream come true for fellow fans! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is a trio collaboration album between MC’s Mega Ran, Teek Hall, G1ToTheRescue who is also the producer! and together they drop these incredible 12 tracks featuring the likes of 

– A.J. Francis

– Josiah Williams 

– MVP

– Dwayne Swayze, and even a spoken word passage by Xaviour Woods!

Right from the first track, the production value on this thing is next level! I love the rock and jazz influences across this album! It feels as if there’s a real live band in the studio recording alongside the members! 

The music sounds crisp, fresh, masterful, and cinematic in execution! You’ve got those beautiful horns, the combination of both subtle and heavy drum patterns (depending on the track), you have the funky and groovy hip-hop rhythms and infectious breaks, and spacey synth notes that all come together to create a distinctive and distinguished sound palette that I haven’t heard from anyone else yet!

I love how each track will provide a new sound and atmosphere! No two songs are the same, and it’s that structured unpredictably that I love most about this album. It’s not that they are just throwing anything to the wall to see what sticks! Each song is technical and mastered in its own way with its own personality, but it’s the fact that there are 12 completely unique songs with their own sound influences and styles within the tracks that makes you feel like a wrestling fan’s ‘12 days of Christmas’ but without Rowdy Piper assaulting you in the process!

It’s something you definitely have to experience to understand, but it’s a score that is equally unexpected and satisfying to the ear!

As far as the MC side of things, that’s probably something I love even more! (If that’s possible about this album), the wrestling references are endless! I’ve never heard an album use so many in one project or, better yet, in each song!

The song ‘SMACKDOWN 99’ features a verse that has references to 

-NJPW

-WWE

-AEW all in the one verse! That is fucking insane and in the best way possible! I was bugging out the entire listening session over the bars delivered by both of them!

The actual chemistry between these three guys is just as good as the original 3MB and that’s another aspect I love. The consistent references to 3MB (as there are three of them in this line-up) and that’s just genius.

The synchronicity between Teek and Mega and G1 is incredible to say the least! The way they handle the flows and verses. Their phenomenal pen games and lyricism is beyond dope! I love how they can manage not only dropping endless wrestling quotes but doing so while remaining sharp, relentless, and ruthless on the beats! They are MC’s first, wrestling second!

I also love that spoken interlude by King Woods! He gives some interesting insight into dealing with a three-man team! (I guess who else to take advice from then him?) Very cool and geeky moment for me to hear that!

All in all, if you’re a wrestling head, you will fall head over heels for this album. If you’re not, it doesn’t mean you will hate it, but so many references will go over your head, which wouldn’t be fun to deal with! 

But all wrestling heads, you can’t afford to miss this one! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6O46HoR7VjS0Xrt34tCj5b?si=1XPFN2wOTty-pThqe_n8IA

(TRIPLE M’S VOL. 1)

Sometimes, you get an artist that is on such an undeniable role that you can’t help but be hooked. I first discovered this man with his project ‘BYRDS’ a record I reviewed favourably but didn’t exactly blow me away. 

Until I heard his album that dropped recently ‘BLEU MAGIC’ which made me appreciate this man on a whole different level, then came ‘Avematix’ entirely produced by Al Divino and by that point my admiration was complete. This man was officially on my radar for good! Now we have his third album in a row and how does this trilogy hold up? Let’s talk about it!

This is the latest album by MC BlueHillBill Hosted by DeevoDaGenius AKA DJ LEFTY DANGER and consists of 13 tracks with over 40 minutes of content!

Now, what surprised me the most about this record is the fact that we hear Bluehill rap over most of the most famous beats in Hip Hop from

artists like 

-ODB

-Jay-Z

-Notorious B.I.G

No doubt a lot that just went over my head but just those 3 alone made me explode with happiness because of course there’s always that thought in the back of your head when listening to your favourite songs saying ‘I wonder what this artist or that would sound on this beat’ and now for me one of my favourite MC’s is bringing that to life!

Across all those beats he absolutely nails it! He matches the flows perfectly, the energy and bars to match! He didn’t come hear to pay homage to the GOAT’s just to take an L. 

I love his interpretation of these classics and they will be tracks I continue to return to! As far as the other cuts on these albums they provide a rich inspiration of

-Old School Hip Hop

-Jazz

-RnB

-Funk

-Soul

And the way the production is handled with such finesse that they sound timeless! Really what you’re paying for with this album is a sonic feast of various colours and flavours that no other artist can obtain for you in one album! 

Sure, a lot of these beats are well established classics from the past but in the same breathe as when a company remasters a favourite film and does it justice so here do those rules apply! These beats are given love, care and the proper level of dope verses to make them worth being on this album!

For an album that’s over 40 minutes I was shocked at how fast it all went by. I literally sat in 10 seconds of silence waiting for the next track before I realised it was done! This album feels like an elegant and respectful throwback to the golden era with a modern twist.

It’s fresh, dominant and sharp on the production while also being nostalgic and reminiscent. I don’t really know how else to put it, I had a fucking blast with this project!

As far as BlueHill himself is concerned he’s in his own lane entirely. He’s an Aura farmer MC who capitalises on his infinite charisma and natural swagger while rocking his one of a kind rhythm and cadence on the tracks!

He has his trademark high pitched vocal performances (similar to a Borirock or Danny Brown) and as equally dope as both! It’s with his golden voice that makes every track he’s on be instantly recognisable! You’ll never mistake him for anyone else you can believe that!

I love how effortlessly he spits through these beats with his mellow delivery, his nonchalant vibe and his complex and visual lyricism and wordplay that makes the listeners think. 

One line that stuck with me on this album was him saying ‘I’m a life sized Vegeta’ which as a massive anime fan I found cool and funny at the same time considering he’s apparently only 5’4 but regardless dope line! 

I’ll be honest. The only part about this album I didn’t like was the constant use of the Host. This ain’t a knock on him or how the album handles it, it’s just my personal preference. I’ve never enjoyed shit like hosts or producer tags constantly used on tracks, it throws my attention span all out of wack and so I prefer music without that stuff.

But regardless, it doesn’t take anything away from the enjoyment factor of this record. The production is flawless and nostalgic. The verses are top tier and laid out beautifully and I’m sure the majority will love how hype the host was on this album! 

You definitely don’t want to miss out on this one! $25 it’s WORTH IT!

https://pensight.com/x/bluehillbill/mmmiloveyou

(Hypersonic)

Can you believe that this man (alongside G-Fam Black) is focused on releasing a new record every month of 2025? That’s absolutely nuts! And of course, we have to talk about it!

This is the brand-new collaboration record by MC P-Ro and this time around, Producer Iandonik, and let me tell you what, I’ve yet to see P miss yet! I’d have to say my favourite album of his so far would be ‘Used Crayons’ with Flu! But regardless, each new drop has been a banger, and this one is no exception!

13 tracks, 40 minutes of content, and the likes of 

-Tali Rodriguez

-G-Fam Black

-Jodi

-James Mitchell

-Aztech

-Lu Chin Chen

And right off the bat (at least to me), I can hear how much of an ambient/minimal tune they’ve taken in the production value compared to other ones! I hear a lot more stripped-back and bare instrumentals that help put emphasis on P and the other guests’ vocal performances as the main focus!

I’m talking features such as 

-Vocal Snippet loops

-A small handful of instruments used per track

-Subtle/Skeletal Drum Patterns

I’d say these are consistent in most tracks on this album with various influences from jazz to rock to everything in between! I have to say I am a big fan of this new approach and the take they took for this record. I love how they are utilising the ‘Less is More’ focus because it really forces the MC’s involved to step their games up!

I love the raw aesthetics of the instrumentation used on this album! It doesn’t feel polished or overdone, but instead, it feels atmospheric, sharp, and demanding. Although less refined compared to other projects in the past, this type of score is the perfect addition for a record like this! 

The harsh nature of the production helps inflame the grit and passion of the rappers involved! The rough exterior fluctuates the resolve and determination and skillet of the performances to that next level!

Anyone can hide behind over-done bears. But when it’s hacks against the wall and as down-to-earth as can be, how will you fare? P gives us his answer!

How does he fare? Absolutely fine! P-Ro has done nothing but put words to paper and deliver each and every month some of the most captivating verses we’ve heard in 2025, and this is no different! The man goes off!

I love how he utilises these beats and feels like he’s upgraded all his qualities from his fantastic flow, his powerful bars, and intelligent pen game! How he leans in and activates every single word he spits across this album (or any album) to produce maximum performance!

To me, P-Ro has always had a level of ‘preacher’

in him on the mic. I can’t really explain why, but whenever he’s rapping, I just become reminded of a figure like MLK, Malcolm X, or Nelson Mandela! Someone with incredible presence and the ability to reach a large audience with their words! 

As my father is literally a bishop, I grew up with that personality, so I know what that skill set sounds like, and he definitely has the IT, and as far as his chemistry with the other names are concerned, I’ve yet to hear someone he can’t mesh with! Always excellent synchronicity with anyone he brings on the beat with him!

All and all, another dope album! I’ll most likely have to rank each of his and G-Fam’s albums and see which I prefer most, but still, a new monthly edition you don’t want to sleep on!

https://open.spotify.com/album/7E39SLzW1veQ6WCUDB3s6M?si=7lClCf3lR7yg2JnSZbq_7g

(Summer Slam)

Wrestling-themed album. Wrestling-themed album that includes Xavier Woods?! Say no more, I’m in.

This is the latest full-length album by MC/Producer Sayzee! After covering his last album ‘Two Way Mirror’, I was curious what would come from him next, but I can safely say I wasn’t expecting this! 

This album features ten tracks, 28 minutes, and the likes of 

-Xavier Woods

-Jason Packs as the guests! 

Now, as far as the production goes, I’m surprised to report this feels like a fusion of rock and jazz. Actually, quite an interesting variety, especially for a rap album, but these beats are very unconventional and actually the perfect aesthetic for a wrestling-themed album! From that opening track ‘Recepits & Dues’, after a brief roasting by Woods, we get into this soft rock/Gospel Choir production with those angelic vocal arrangements! 

After that, ‘Big Van Vader’, we have this nu-metal feel beat that fuses old-school horror chords and synths with haunting keys over a glitchy/electronic beat that suddenly goes into this 80’s metal-rock chorus! This is like the wrestling version of ‘Sicko Mode’ with its constant switching! Plus, that guitar outro was fucking sick!

‘20 Inch Pythons’ begins with a heavy distorted country sound that progresses into an experimental hip-hop beat! Once again proving a more ‘rock’ base for the production other than your traditional hip-hop sound! 

The point is. Very unlike his last more traditional record, we have Sayzee let his creative and unconventional side run wild and in the process create one of the most interesting and memorable scores of the year!

As far as his rapping goes. He’s just as good on the mic as he is on the beat! I love so many things about this album.

I love the fact he’s added so many wrestling samples of different wrestlers to get every wrestling stan listener hyped throughout the record!

I love how his lyricism is based on wrestling! That sounds self-explanatory, but a lot of artists will use artwork and album names to bring in fans, only for the record’s content to be nothing different than a normal hip-hop album’s lyrics and all!

BUT that is not the case here, as he makes sure each verse on each track has layers of one-liners, witty punchlines, and references enough to keep a wrestling stan on his toes! I thoroughly enjoyed the effort and attention to detail he put into his lyricism!

I loved his passion and his enthusiasm! How excited he sounded to make an album of this magnitude and to be able to craft what very well could be one of the premier wrestling-themed records of the last few years! 

Regardless, this one is definitely one for the ages that will have you down for the count! No matter how Charles Robinson takes to get to the ring, you ain’t kicking out of those heavy-handed beats and even heavier rhyme schemes! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6DnTe5HTCasJJIS98FlT8c?si=YzdH6XuWRo-5ssfj3xGC4g

(GRANDMASTERSPLASH)

Man, I’ll tell you what. As far as producers and larger-than-life personalities go, very few, if any, can compare to this man. He has single handedly re shaped the definition of what ‘Underground Music’ stood for. 

From the first Tripe Black Diamond to now, where he’s having one of the most legendary EP/Album drop runs in modern music history, he’s continuing to not only shape the culture but contribute to it. Of course, that man is none other than 

AL DIVINO.

This is a 32-minute and 19-second album with 19 tracks and features the likes of 

-Rahiem Supreme

-ObiJuan

-Estee Nack

As is the case with any Al album, the main talking point is the production (whether he’s the one producing it or not) because he’s always choosing the beats that best represent him and that are tailor-made for him. Which means beats that are ‘experimental, unpredictable, chaotic, and lawless’.

It’s the one aspect I love most about his albums is discovering what new flavour of adrenaline rush I’ll be treated to this time around, and for this record, we have Al in his most unhinged, empirical, and creative we’ve seen him, period. 

What we have here is his trademark bag of distorted and manipulated jazz, funk, boom bap, and alt rap sounds but done only more than we’ve heard him do yet!

From that opening alt pop banger instrumental with those re-accruing synth chords to those distorted vocal pitches and various tones of guitar that muffle in and out, it’s the most satisfying and appropriate way for this album to start! 

As the album continues, you hear more of those influences mentioned above but done in a more chaotically theatrical style that makes me think of if a supervillain had access to a studio and live orchestra and how that would come out! 

Al is hip-hop’s scarecrow, and his doses of sonic toxins put down the weak who can’t handle the pressure and make minions out of those who can! Truly a twisted genius in his prime! 

I love how each track feels like it’s alive in its own warped reality. Like each instrumental is under the influence, and what we hear as the audience is the songs themselves on a trip! Jay-Z made the song cry, Al is making the songs trip! This is truly one of Al’s most powerful expressions of taste yet, and considering his discography so far, that’s saying a lot! 

As I mentioned above, Al only chooses the sounds that reflect himself, and that means alongside the beats, you also get one of the dark horses of the underground himself spitting on the mic. A man who has never compromised or filtered himself or his approach to the mic.

As soon as he gets on the mic, his raspy and aggressive tone comes in like an earthquake and destroys everything around it, and that’s the case here. He showcases his ruthless and dangerously unpredictable MC style with free-form flow, cryptic lyricism, and unwavering pen game and wordplay! 

Whenever he spits on the mic, he ain’t rapping, he’s commanding! He’s channeling his inner hustler and forcing the audience and all his contemporaries to either sync with his wave or get the fuck out, no questions asked!

That’s why anyone he associates with (such as the features mentioned) all have perfect chemistry with the man himself. It’s because he sets the standards, and people follow! You’ll never hear a mediocre breath from him or anyone in his camp, and it’s that level of maintenance that makes him a household name!

Although it’s on YouTube now, if possible, please go cop the official WAV on the link I’ll provide below! This album is an absolute masterpiece!

https://jackpotrecords.vip/shop/ols/products/grandmastersplash-wavs?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwLbQzhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp3ZVbEGwF9BlnVU7SGmMf0Exv5Bj5R67yx-XeCZ5OX090XHe1qb9oSfdDmEf_aem_RiXJT9n71TUrSEOZOAeHkg

(Pure Form)

The sunniest duo is back! Today I get to deep dive into these men’s past discography after listening to and being impressed by their most recent record. It was time to see what else they had to offer, and so here we go, travelling back to 2023 in the most…

‘PURE FORM’

This is another collaboration effort between MC’s Sabio Dub and MISKEEN HALEEM, while Sabio handled the production! Ten tracks with 22 minutes of length, and once again, this thing fucking slaps!

We have to discuss the production first and talk about this new batch of SUNSHINE RAP! The more I listen to it, the more obsessed I become! For those who are unfamiliar, I use that term because every time Sabio Dub (or the both of them) are on a track, the music itself is always optimistically smooth, positive in aura, and absolutely fun at its core!

This time around, I hear a strong combination of Jazz and Funk. From those funky 80s bass lines like on the song ‘PURE FORM’ with those jazz piano keys and soulful vocal harmonies that angelically pop off in the background! Absolutely incredibly chill and relaxing vibe on this one! 

We can even take a look at the track ‘DOLLAR SIGN$$’ which has that incredible Funk X RnB with a light drizzle of Jazz. This song sounds like a combination of Babyface and John Coltrane. You’ve got those ever-so-subtle jazz notes in the background, those funky drum patterns, and that light and delicate vocal performances that, although faint, give off that ‘larger than life’ attitude to this track!

I thought the most recent album production good? This one is next level (no offence to their most recent effort), but I think I’ve found my new favourite album of theirs. This production, the way each song grabs at your soul and takes away all your pain, worries, and stress, is absolutely incredible. 

For me, staying mentally conscious to write this while listening is the hardest challenge! Not because it’s boring; in fact, the complete opposite. Because it’s too mellow and heavenly in composition! I can’t recommend this album enough based on the sounds alone!

Once again, these two give a masterclass in chemistry. I love the fact this duo goes off without trying too hard or pretending to be anything they aren’t. You’ve got HALEEM’s strong and powerful vocal performances, his sharp wordplay, and relentless lyricism! 

Combined with Sabio’s soft-spoken, light, and smooth vocals with witty and encouraging verses and ‘sunshine’ inspirations in his words! 

I love the contrast between the two men. Similar to a Run the Jewels type energy. Except unlike El-P, Sabio is a lot calmer and more enlightened! But like them, they both share perfect synchronicity and aura between them, and each verse feels purposeful and crafted exactly as it should be between the two!

On this one, no features; they don’t need it! This collaboration is more than enough to make waves, and with this unique production, why ruin it by crowding it with others? I’m so pleased they decided to keep it between the two of them!

Overall, my favourite work of theirs so far. The production and verses alike are absolutely phenomenal, and I can’t wait to hear more of them together in the future!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1e59ZmR2nnsseM2q4kuhjG?si=rdienohRRjalnu1JFleCeg

(Coast Is Clear)

The more I discover about this man, the more I’m amazed I didn’t discover him sooner! The way he handles a beat, his unique take on the hip-hop genre is one I wish more people followed! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new single by MC Sabio Dub! Who on this specific song is both rapping and producing, proving he’s the full package when it comes to this music shit. 

Across this just under three-minute track, we have one of the smoothest takes on rap I’ve heard in years!

Let’s start with that fantastic beat. In short, it sounds like a combination of synth wave and Lo Fi/art rap. You’ve got those spacey and 80s-feel drum patterns and glossy keys that are combined with that gorgeous vocal sample that provides that ‘theatrical’ quality to the single! 

Although this track is only two minutes and 44 seconds, it feels like five. That’s because this dreamy instrumental forces your mind and body to just shut down any pressure or stress and just relax! I actually had to play this track multiple times before I could review it! (Not just for studying purposes) but because every time I’d put it on, I’d instantly feel sleepy and at peace, so I actually had to force myself awake to cover this, but it’s just so wonderfully bliss and upbeat compared to a lot of hip-hop today, and I love it!

As far as Sabio himself goes. He’s equally fun to listen to! He brings with him an optimistic and laid-back energy to him that’s equal parts passionate and deadly on the mic! He proves you don’t have to sound ‘sinister’ or ‘grimy’ to make dope music, and he’s (as far as I’m concerned) taking the essence of the early to mid-2000s backpack alternative era of hip-hop and combining it with a more positive twist and creating his own lane of what I would call 

‘Sunshine Rap’. I mean, how many times have you heard your favourite artists trending right now described as ‘Grimey, Muddy, Gritty’? And don’t get me wrong, I love most who specialise in those sounds.

BUT

With everything in life, we need a balance, and Sabio could very well be crafting that ‘other side’ on his own, and I’m so excited to hear the results!

So, what are you waiting for? You’ve got plenty of time to listen to your favourite Boom Bap artists! Give Sunshine Rap a go and feel your problems disappear, and the coast become clear!

https://open.spotify.com/track/4ZrmpxAgkvcd98n5cEnPjy?si=RY5bmGLfQv2DIJGWxnGk1w

(BRAP 2)

There’s just a handful of artists out there that get me next-level excited whenever they announce a drop, and this is one of those people. This man continues to have one of the most influential and legendary discographies in all of Hip Hop, and he’s not done yet! From his CCE album with Al Divino earlier and now to this, this man doesn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘quit,’ and the industry is all the better for it!

So, this is the latest full-length LP and sequel record by MC Estee Nack and Producer VDon, who collaborated back in 2023 with ‘BRAP1’ and now have set their sights together for the next stage! This album features the likes of 

-AL DOE

-Al DIVINO

-BORIROCK

-SHAYKH HANIF

-TY DA DALE 

What always stands out to me with VDon’s production is his utilisation of sounds. He’s one of the few beatmakers who fuse influences such as 

-Classical

-Jazz

-Electric Guitar

-Boom Bap

-Lo Fi/Ambient

And take these different genres and perfectly combine them into creating this one-of-a-kind product that somehow balances everything into one without any specific influence overtaking the other! 

For example, on the song ‘LAKOTA DREAM CATCHER,’ we have beautifully orchestrated piano keys and classical overtones while also maintaining that gritty and muddy boom bap feel, utilising those vocal snippet loops and skeletal drum patterns!

Or even the track ‘HIGHTECHNOLOGY,’ which has the most ambient and Lo Fi aura of all the tracks. With those spacey notes fading in and out, plus a few consistently going off in the background! With that old-school drum beat to go with it! This is one of those tracks that you’d listen to while on the substances, just trying to fade off and let your brain wonder! 

One of my favourite production cuts on the album is ‘OFFTHEPLANE’ because of its heavy jazz influence! You’ve got those gorgeous and melodic notes going off in different variations and tones. Along with a subtle bass line and a minimalistic drum loop, and you have one of the smoothest songs on the record!

My point is, VDon. Ain’t just a regular producer. He’s the man who can take the impossible and make it possible. Give him any fusion of genres and not only will he mix it perfectly but he’ll do it with cinematic quality like you’ve never heard before! Absolutely phenomenal work by the man! 

Of course, the other half of this record is Estee. The man who has captivated and moulded the underground along with Divino set the boundaries for what to expect in this rap shit and he’s back to do it again.

I’d say this is one of his more melodic albums in a while, there’s quite a few cuts where he’s trying his hand at vocal chorus’s or more singing style ad libs across his tracks! 

On top of that, he’s back with more charisma and personality than ever! Which is shocking to admit as every new release he seems to out do himself in that department but he just has such endless reserves of energy and magnetism that it feels like he can keep evolving forever and never get stale!

His trademark rhyming schemes is something you can’t question at this point! Absolutely incredible pen game, legendary lyricism and rhythm. On this one he sounds like he’s flexing on the game and he has every right to do so! When you’ve single handedly dominated the game the way he has, you’d be confident too!

I love his smooth and fun vibes on tracks like ‘CARVEL’ where he just sounds in his element. The first single off the new album and there’s just an anthem quality to this track with his laid back delivery and witty one liners and puns! He’s having the time of his life and it makes for the best music!

There’s cuts that I mentioned above ‘HIGHTECHNOLOGY’ where he’s joined with his usual brothers on the beat! All these men combined can’t miss. We have Al Divino on his cut throat chaotic shit, Bori and Shaykh on their wavey shit and Estee on his kingpin shit! 

Each man is in their element on this cypher type track and it’s absolutely incredible! 

Also have to mention ‘ELEGANT DELIQUENT’ because Al and Estee’s chemistry across that Jazz heavy beat reminds me of their notorious 2018-2021 run with albums like 

-AKIRAONACID

-HAMMERABI

-TRIPLE BLACK DIAMOND II

You can just hear that legendary duo work between the two of them, not that they’ve missed yet (they literally released a duo album earlier this year) but something about the combination of this instrumental and their verses took me back to memory lane with those classic records as inspiration!

Was there any chance of this album being anything but a modern day classic? Absolutely not. Again certain artists can release without ever worrying the listener about its quality. Both Estee and VDon are two of these types of artists. Both men are legends in their own right and when they

come together there’s no stopping them! 

Make sure either in physical or digital that you support the record and show love to the underground scene! 

https://serioussoundz.com/product/vdon-x-estee-nack-brap-ii/

(Totally! Unnecessary! White Guy Dub!)

The definition of ‘Creativity’ reads as follows: The use of imagination or original ideas to create something’ and on this premise alone I feel Brycon could easily qualify as one of the most ‘creative’ producers in the game right now! Let’s talk about it!

Across this album and it’s 13 tracks we see Brycon accompanied by the likes of 

-Maître D

-Mykal Rose

Decided to engage himself and the listeners in the sounds of ‘Reggae’ and the inspiration for this (according to his Bandcamp) is from his origin story in North Carolina. So with that in mind and this new pallete of sonic flavours to dive into how does this hold up? Well

I can’t lie, this thing is the sonic equivalent of a cloud. I was mesmerised from song one to the ver end. The way Brycon utilises those reggaeton sounds and instrumentation is beyond skilled and he’s absorbed to capture the very essence of the culture and the history of the legendary sound with all its organic characteristics and trademarks!

Honestly, this kind of reminded me of Madlib’s ‘Konducta Vol. 3-4: Beat Konducta In India’ but replaced the culture with Jamaica and make it a bit subtle and intricate in execution and you have this album! 

It’s so smooth and welcoming and the production itself is immaculately warm! It feels like the sonic version of a bright sunny day walk through the forest. I don’t do this during projects for review (for professional purposes) but I honestly felt like lighting up a fat one and going on a stroll to the local woodland and listening to this record to try amplify the sounds and feelings more so!

For a beat tape this brings more than just music itself. It also lends its hand at providing listeners with ‘atmosphere’ and ‘ambience’ in the most gentle and groovy way possible. I want to you to envision the vibes and nuances felt on the album ‘Exodus’ when we heard Bob Marley and The Wailers breakthrough the medium of the music industry with their captivating and natural songs of harmony, peace and love.

To a certain extent I feel that way here. This album is just the embodiment of ‘fun’ and ‘happy times’ and honestly to hear a Hip Hop inspired record that doesn’t feel too serious or moody in today’s climate is rather refreshing. 

I loved this album from the opening track. This is the perfect recipe for a great mood. If you’re feeling down or stressed, I guarantee (plant enhanced or not) you’ll feel better after just one listen! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2ee6kxEdw0X3yDZgMYEMlq?si=scuLGJM6Ro-IAkeE2Kz6Cg