(ANCIENTVUDU)

THIS AIN’T A DRILL! Another single from one of the most anticipated albums of this year! Featuring the producer to beat in this day and age and an MC that has been killing the career longer than most of y’all have even been rapping! Together they set the culture on fire with 

ANCIENT VUDU

So, this is the latest single by Bone Weso X ??? Featuring ERG ONE and this trio ain’t one to fuck with! Let me tell you why (if it ain’t already obvious)

Let’s start with Bone. Up until this point, he’s already dropped more modern-day classics in the last two years than people have in their whole discographies, period. 

With his level of control, precision, and mastery of the beats, he’s come back with another jazz-infused masterpiece with those swaying Lucius horns that dominate the track with its looping presence and beautifully orchestrated notes creating that divine atmosphere that takes over your body for that entire 3 minutes!

Add into that those skeletal yet thudding drum patterns that accompany the horns and the subtle use of those delicate piano keys that hover around the track,  and you have a recipe for one of the coldest and most infectious hip-hop tracks of 2025! (Which is saying a lot for Bone Weso)

Of course, the one task to kill the verse is The Hidden Character (???) who, as I mentioned above, has been massacring beats for almost a decade and hasn’t slipped yet. He’s that boss-level, sharp delivery, and commanding presence that always takes charge of a room that he entered in and always is the leader of any track he’s on!

On this track, he comes through with that complex and versatile lyricism and wordplay that’s he’s notorious for! His trademark street poetry and wavy aura come together in buckets to create another timeless verse that can’t ever be forgotten or replicated!

His sharpened pen game and ruthless studio approach always forces the culture to pause and take notice, and today is no different. One of the handful of rappers that can properly utilise a beat, and again, he absolutely destroys the instrumental!

Far from alone we have ERG ONE who comes back into the mix as he comes back stronger then ever in a classic verse of his own that not only matches the ruthless energy of ??? And Bone but stands out as its own original and dope offering to the track!

He has equally sharp word play, impressive vocabulary and stunning flow and rips right though the track instrumental and marks the perfect way to close the track off!

I can’t express how excited I am for this album to drop! This will surely be a strong contender for ‘Album Of The Year’ as with everything Bone drops it’s gonna be a classic!

https://youtu.be/vvPgFYBkWjg?si=WraOqaEix_QSNkwV

(Cabaret Voltaire)

Man, it’s always exciting to discover new talent and grow my knowledge in this rap game, and that applies to this record right here! Two men come together to create not only a hard-hitting and powerful album but one that is original and stands out from the rest! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest collaboration album between MC SCVTTERBRVIN and Producer Fiqqouw, and together they released 11 tracks, 26 minutes of content, with the likes of: 

-Pedalay The Boss

-Talaj KVMI

-Ullnevano 

Right off the bat, I gotta talk about that production! Because what caught my attention was the variety of ‘Gritty, Muddy Boom Bap’ influence to the ‘Smooth, Surreal and Theatrical’ all within the same album.

On one track, for example, ‘Piano Of Doom’, which is approximately named because it features these chilling and cold piano keys combined with that skeletal drum pattern and heavy horns in the background, subtly going off to create that ‘larger than life’ aura across the whole track!

But then there’s tracks like ‘Optophone’, which features this beautiful vocal choir sample that’s repeated across the whole track! Accompanied by this gorgeous voice, we have this heavy and thudding drums and a subtle bass line! And with only barely over a minute of content, this is one of those tracks that comes and goes but leaves a smooth and lasting impression!

As I said above, this album does an excellent job at switching between the ‘Rough and Rugged’ and the ‘Artistic and Atmospheric’, and it’s all thanks to the talent of Fiqqouw, who uses his mastery of production and technical prowess to create this diverse and engaging listening experience!

Now, onto the MC of the night. The man tasked with rapping over such dynamic and creative instrumentals! But what’s even better is that not only does he pull it off, but he makes it look easy!

SCVTTERBRVIN comes into this album swinging! He’s hitting on all cylinders, whether you’re taking his sharp lyricism or his relentless and ruthless flow that leaves impact dents all over the production!

Whether you want to talk about his extensive vocabulary that can be heard on the track, covering each and every song with complex bars, clever and witty one-liners, intricate mini stories, and perspective writing, he’s literally taking over every possible aspect of the track with his abilities!

Even his pen game is incredibly versatile! Depending on the track in question, he’ll layer his verses to match and doesn’t just spit the same style on each song, making sure there’s versatility, originality, and most of all, passionate, enthusiastic, and authentic in his art! Which I respect the most! None of that fake shit!

If you haven’t already, go check out this album! It’s got something for everyone, and I guarantee you’ll find the project dope! 

Shoutout to the features for doing their thing on the album! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5BRFVIOKc7Oep9uu1yaTfh?si=4DXh6Wi8QTaBATDe7YWyAg

(NO HOOKS)

BARS ALERT!! 

This ain’t the type of single you fake-ass mainstream heads need! This is for the underground! For the real ones, the ones who actually care about lyricism and ain’t jerking off about radio hits or club tracks! Benny ain’t about that; he ain’t no sucker; he’s a real MC! With goals of outdoing everyone in the game right and dominating with his sharp words and extensive vocabulary! And doing so with 

NO HOOKS!

This latest lyrical massacre is produced by Profound 79, and together they give you three minutes of the toughest single you’ll hear in your life! 

That beat? There ain’t no pop singer on that shit, no techno influence, no washed-up R&B star looking for work on the vocals; nah, just straight dirty! Those methodical keys looping back and forth combined with that skeletal drum pattern and subtle yet intense Arabic-style vocal performances, and when you combine all of this, you get one of the dopest instrumentals you’ve heard in your life! 

It’s raw, rough, and rugged. It’s gritty and grimy and the kind of protection only a REAL ONE can jump on, and that’s where Benny comes up!

Didn’t I tell you already? Benny ain’t here to play! He don’t care about your feelings, opinions, or how a song ‘is supposed to sound’; he’s out here doing him and his alone and creating hood magic with it!

He brings in his trademark brute and commanding vocal performance with his sharp wordplay, piercing flow, and impressive one-liners and puns that can put any other rapper to shame! One that comes to mind is ‘My Terror Squad ain’t got a Joe or a Pun on it’

He’s on another level, and he’s been flexing that next level since day one! He ain’t like the rest of you amateurs; he’s THAT GUY, and this song further proves it!

Another solid single by the man himself, Benny Watts. It’s cold, cruel, and crucial to the rap game, and I guarantee you this won’t be the last time we hear from him this year!

https://open.spotify.com/album/3ShtPy9gP3UIOlOyd1KAiY?si=Zxmwn-zPRWGHo9rpHCQxBw

(HOUSEFIRE)

This man is truly a GOAT among GOATs and definitely the waviest. This man’s house burnt down and what does he decide to do? Make a full-length project two days later!

Can you imagine anyone else doing? I’ll wait. This man has defied all expectations and standards for his projects and this one might be the biggest flex of them all! Let’s get into it.

So this is the seventh of December 2024 record by Bori Rock and produced by Al Divino. Featuring ten tracks and the only affiliates being 

-Al Divino

-Bluehillbill

Now, besides the elephant in the room being that he’s recording an album after his house got burnt down! Another aspect to this that surprised me was Al’s production.

Anyone who’s familiar with his work will know just how influential and often ‘chaotic’ Al’s instrumental choices can be. It’s that brand of ‘aura rap’ and intensity that brought him to the dance to begin with alongside Estee and company.

But on this one, I feel a lot more of a relaxed, smooth, and composed side of Al that I honestly don’t remember seeing in a while or ever. Even on his latest batch of exclusive EP’s off his website, they are far from smooth but more psychotic/experimental offerings that me and the other fanbase have become addicted to over the years.

Over these ten tracks though, we hear elements such as beautifully orchestrated instruments. Soulful vocal harmonies, grand and cinematic arrangements, and production quality that runs as smooth as any other project I’ve heard from him yet.

A track that stands out to me is ‘EXPECTED THE UNEXPECTED’ with that gorgeous vocal loop over the track with that sticky bass line and minimal drum pattern that makes for a soul/rap fusion and one of the best I’ve ever heard!

Of course there are still hard tracks such as ‘DEAD VAPE’ which re surface the trademark Al and his muddy experimental nature in spades! With this being the shortest track on the album it really felt like Al decided ‘fuck it, one track has to be grimy’ and then this was born. Sharp chords on loop with deep bass with an infectious drum pattern makes for a ridiculous track!

As far as my boy Bori goes surprisingly he sounds as wavy as he ever has. When he calls others ‘unwavy’ he really leads by example! This man still dealing 48 hours out from his house burning down he decides ‘fuck it, let’s drop fire’ and he does! That kind of mentality can’t be taught! You’re born with that shit!

Across this 19 minute project we hear Bori rap over this phenomenal production with the utmost aura, energy and intensity! His trademark swagger is on full display and rapping alongside Bluehill and Al he’s on prime time!

I listened to this album about 5x before writing this and it always blows my mind that the first words he says after the intro song was ‘My house just burned down and shit, fuck it’

Names his album ‘HOUSEFIRE’ after going through it and that’s his first line? If that ain’t the hardest opener to an album I don’t know what is. As far as the rest of the album goes as usual he utilises his infinite wave personality with his unpredictable voice and style to create another Zinger of an experience! 

If this isn’t one of the greatest rap albums to exist period then I’m trippin. The production is flawless, the sentiment is strong and the verses and features are tough, fluent and consistent! What more would you want? On dogs!! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6c2wZCtqvRVHHUGSqIivVO?si=JkkStfRcQZWLlI74cQ73Kg

(10,000 Hours)

Man, these two have been on a roll this year! They have released fire in their own respective catalogues and even one project together prior to this! 

On the aim to be two of the most consistent artists of the year, they are back once again with their fifth album each, respectively, and with that being said, let’s get to it!

This is the latest collaboration album between MC’s G-Fam Black & P-Ro with the production handled by Hi-Q, and together this trio dropped 11 tracks with exactly 30 minutes of content to dive into!

Hi-Q, although not as frequent (album-wise) as the other two, did drop his critically acclaimed ‘The Ballad Of Broken Toys’ in January alongside Father Focus, Confucius, and since then has been an associate of various singles for other artists, but long story short, he’s a problem.

Especially when he locks in for a full album, which he did this time around! Now, I probably say this a lot, but this is the best I’ve heard him yet! On this rap, all the instrumentation is grand, methodical, crisp, and absolutely enormous in sound and satire! He ain’t playing around on this one!

You can hear the organic piano keys, those haunting vocal harmonies and loops. Those sharp guitar strings, and those deep bass lines and down-to-earth drum patterns! Everything he does on this one is masterfully executed and beautifully arranged!

Each beat sounds gritty and heavy, a boom bap exterior with the addition of lively and colourful instrumentation and emphasis on crystal-clear clarity and soundscapes! The songs are equal parts muddy and intricate! Nothing but love and respect for Hi-Q’s abilities!

Now, onto the dynamic duo! The pair that have been killing the rap game this year and already proven that together they make a dangerous team! In the album ‘Death By Design,’ and now they are back to massacre the industry all over again!

Starting with P-Ro. He’s the assassin of the pair. He comes in swift, deadly, and precise. He’ll be the one to sneak up behind the beat, pull out his kunai, and slice his throat before the beat has time to react to P-Ro’s lyricism flooding all over the track!

He’s got that sharpened vocabulary and wordplay across the songs; he never misses a beat, always landing his words where they are meant to be! 

He’s got that slick, intrusive, and deep energy and rhythm that leaves his verses hanging in your head hours after the album finishes!

Now onto G Fam Black. Unlike the ‘assassin’ type of P-Ro, G Fam is the definition of an ogre. He’s Hip Hop’s Yujiro Hanma ‘The Strongest Creature On Earth,’ and he never leaves anyone alive when he’s on the mic.

He has that absolutely sickening deep vocal tone that sounds murderous by default. Combined with his thudding and explosive flow and wordplay, it’s like mini nukes are going off on every second of the beat whenever he’s on the case!

Even when you see it coming, like on this one when you know he’s next on the track after P-Ro, your body and mind will never get used to the approach of the ogre. G-Fam’s intensity is always at 100/10, and regardless of whether he’s rapping about street shit or strawberries, he’ll rip apart any MC limb from limb and takeover the track unlike anyone else I’ve ever heard do it.

When these two release solo, it’s a problem; when they combine it, it’s a global threat. When they have Hi-Q on the production? It’s game over. Don’t believe me? Check this shit out now!

https://open.spotify.com/album/5LKP0wcJkLDwk0RqKwS5GD?si=wB16ydYEQTehTMstuwgY1g

(NOSFERATU)

Man, this is quite the interesting single! As far as the rapper being someone I’ve never heard of to the producer being a main man to me, this combination intrigued me to no end, and soon you’ll find out why!

This is the latest single by MC jean111e and producer Ant Kelly, and together they dropped 2:53 of some of the most interesting rap I’ve heard in a minute!

Let’s start with that instrumental by Ant. This thing feels like if Willy Wonka turned into a trap star. It’s so unique! We have what sounds like synth chords bouncing and plucked up and down as they slowly fade out before returning a few seconds later!

It also features with it a subtle drum pattern and some groovy bass lines! When all of this is combined, it definitely gives off ‘Art Rap’, ‘Experimental Rap’ vibes based on that beat, and as different as it is, the more you listen to it, the more it grows on you! Definitely nothing like it out there!

Now, let’s talk about the rapping. Starting off with Jean. I love her swagger and energy in her verse! You can hear her hustle, enthusiasm, and passion for the game within her words!

She features crisp delivery, smooth flow, infectious rhythm, and street vocabulary across her bars and verse! 

I love the grit attached to the words she spits! She always delivers her sentences with an extra spark attached to them! 

Although brief, her verse definitely set the tone well for the rest of the song to come and built a strong foundation for the atmosphere and for Ant to pick up off from as he closed the song off with his verse!

Now, this is the Ant I’m familiar with! The MC. Didn’t even know he could produce, but regardless, on the mic, he’s unstoppable, and on this track, he provides a short but powerful burst of energetic and dynamic vocal performances with sharpened lyricism, fast-paced flow, and distinctive rhythm to match the aura provided by jean in the first verse!

He’s able to match the chemistry well and help pull off a solid second verse that remains in keeping with the song’s theme and atmosphere while also distinguishing his own pace, tone, and cadence on the track!

Overall, a great, fun little single with a distinctive instrumental and two solid verses, each their own style and formula! 

https://open.spotify.com/track/3wUR0keLNxnHDr4DlY8unE?si=tAM_-0igTkOXFMrRAqfj6A

(CORRIDOR AFTERLIFE)

Now, this is the kind of EP I want to see! Although this is only a new artist for me, after the first listen, I could not only hear the potential but become enlightened by his level of creativity and originality! Let’s get into it!

So. This is the latest EP by MC and Producer ‘th3prism’, and on this occasion, he dropped five tracks with one extra bonus track at the end, and all of this is only 11 minutes! 

I’m going to start with the production because after what felt like an hour of trying to come up with the best sentence to describe the sound, this is the best I could think of: 

‘An intergalactic one-man hip-hop show.’ If that doesn’t sound intriguing to you, then get the fuck outta here! If I read that anywhere on any review, I’d tune in immediately! 

But this is how it sounds to me; it’s almost as if th3prism was involved in the events of space battles in ‘Star Wars’, but instead of fighting, he spent his time dropping hot bars and vibing! This EP has a beautiful arrangement of sounds from:

-Synth 

-Ambient 

-Noise

-Experimental 

– Lo-Fi

-Trap

And the way he combines these influences makes for a project that is equally chaotic and hypnotic! This is the kind of EP you listen to if you want to go on a mental adventure and tune out the world around you! It’s absolutely immersive of an experience!

I love how fluent the music itself is. For 11 minutes, he doesn’t waste a single second. He makes sure every track progresses one after another without a single break or awkward transition (you’d expect in this day and age with the technology we have, for that not to be a problem anymore, but it still happens rather frequently), but in this case, his mastery of the music itself and his overall vision for what he wants this project to be, it came out fluently, riveting, and enveloping in all the best ways possible!

As far as the rapping goes, I can’t talk highly enough about what he was able to accomplish on that front! Not only was his production on point, but so was his infectious rhythm, energy, and delivery across these tracks!

He has this focused and intense tone across the beats, like he’s a man with a mission who has tunnel-visioned what he wants to say and preach upon the EP!

I’d consider his way of rapping similar to the likes of ‘R.A.P Ferreira’ or ‘Navy Blue’, with that nonchalant attitude, intense vocabulary, and often cryptic poetry-level bars that would take 50x re-listens to understand a verse. 

This is the kind of rapping I grew up with in my teens, so it definitely made me happy to hear the rapping style of his, and combined with that truly atmospheric production, it combined beautifully for an out-of-this-world (literally) and stand-out performance on both fronts.

This EP really impressed me! I couldn’t even fault the project if I tried. The only thing I can think of is that it was too short! I can safely say he’s officially on my radar now, and I can’t wait to hear what he does next!

https://open.spotify.com/track/2KuA0MEckqRKWnJUe8rmtg?si=LlSW85pCSU-vklQ9qtACug

(40Oz Bandit)

Damn, looks like we have some ballroom jazz vibes this time! This beat is incredible. We have .Tetsuo (not Naito) come back with another banger single. This time it’s just over three minutes, and even though I’ve reviewed a small handful of his tracks, this has to be my favourite yet!

Why? It’s that fucking jazz, man! He’s utilised jazz before, but unlike the others, this one feels more organic! It feels so real, as if he hired a jazz musician himself to play live instrumentation on the beat!

These jazz notes are not just the same chord repeated over and over but, in fact, a variety of different notes and octaves performed to give the listener the illusion of ‘live music’ combined with beautifully organic organ keys! I mean, I haven’t confirmed this with him or not, but I can only assume he didn’t actually hire a real band for this song! If he did, that’s fucking legendary! 

But for now, let’s just chalk this up to him being one hell of a producer who can pull off the greatest feats, such as imitating live music! Absolutely phenomenal!

Now, what’s also very impressive is his rapping ability! (You were right, Tetsuo! I did end up getting used to it) At least for this song. Yes, he still has faint usage of his ‘free form, everywhere type flow and delivery,’ but it’s done a lot less than normal, and he’s actually pacing himself across this song! Taking breaths, slowing down, and delivering a tad bit more methodical pace, which I love!

Because in this flow, I can understand what he’s saying, I can absorb the lyrics, and see what he’s on about! Maybe it’s because of this gorgeous instrumental (or possibly band), but he’s changed his rap style ever so slightly, and honestly, I hope he does this from now on! 

No features on this single, just him and this flawless jazz score. This is the .Tetsuo I want to hear and see more of! As I said, my favourite single of the bunch so far, and hopefully, he can ride this wave!

https://open.spotify.com/track/2fRLacfb6pYD2CA4D4RQ8W?si=Zpjjz7P4SMiUIMhJDkJIcQ&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A1ifH4FDrXMIpun6vmQNCkg

(Bun Rush Bros)

I can’t believe it! We already get a new Penlordz track! Every time they drop it’s like Christmas all over again, and going by that example, I’ve had more than ten Christmases this year alone! Let’s get into it!

This is the latest track by the legendary Pen Lordz (Fam Ross, Arsinel, Audio Messiah), and this time we have producer DJ Phurcat on the track, and this one is somehow even better than the tracks I’ve heard this year!

That production is absolutely flawless! I swear these last few months alone I’ve heard GOATED beat choices by these guys, and it just seems to get better with every release! This one has a combination of gorgeous jazz sounds and 80’s funk homage with those slick drum patterns combined with those plucked surf rock-sounding guitar strings! 

I love how this beat has two different tones and rhythms! You have the jazz part, which I’d consider the chorus of the song due to its brief and explosive nature, and then we have the 80’s funk/surf rock vibes for the rest of the song! 

That alone makes this track unique, but also considering the fact both parts sound absolutely incredible is just another tier entirely! I’ve listened to this song already about six times since doing this review, and I can’t get enough!

Speaking of not getting enough, we have the notorious Pen Lordz! I swear these two are the best in the game right now and the only ones to appear on the ‘Serpent Tongue Award Show’ twice in a row and probably three times with tracks like these!

Once again, they showcase their god-level chemistry. When either of these three men are together, they can read each other effortlessly and with such finesse that one of them could stop mid-sentence, and the other would pick up mid-word and finish the bar without anyone of us knowing that even happened. 

That’s how in tune everyone is, and I’m shocked more people haven’t picked up on it as I have! The fact they are still underrated is criminal to me; they have some of the best flow, pen game, and lyricism in the game right now, no question! 

So, do me a favour. Go peep this track right now! This is one of a ton of singles, EP’s and albums they’ve dropped this year that have exceeded expectations and proved why they truly are ‘Pen Lordz’. 

https://open.spotify.com/track/34ECaJxCTyS93sTYRGgMm4?si=d2LbCD3NRPqJ95dR6QjV_g

(Memories Gone)

What an exciting time to be a hip-hop head! So many dope artists and producers around with quality drops coming every other day! This is one of those occasions with two of my favourite artists coming together to make one of the best singles of the year! Let’s go!

So this is the latest single by MCs Weapon E.S.P and B1 The Architect, that’s also produced by B1! It features a sick singer, Kid Renaissance, on the chorus! 

Let’s get that beautiful production discussed first because, man oh man, that is a blessing for the ears. I never knew B1 could be so smooth with it! The way he utilises those gorgeous jazz notes and subtle piano keys, plus those funky soul drum patterns! All of this put together is just beyond perfect.

It’s no secret that I’m a stan for jazz hip-hop production, and this one ticks off all my boxes! Another thing I love about this beat is how during the chorus, the beat turns minimal and lets the chorus be the star of the track!

It’s such a small factor, but it proves just how talented and technically minded B1 is on the production! Absolutely unreal!

Now onto the verses because you couldn’t ask for better chemistry if you tried! Both men spit some of the best bars you’ll hear all year! Both complement the beat and spit engaging, thought-provoking, and sharp sentences that leave a memorable taste in your mind! 

They are both so equal in lyricism and pen game that it’s near impossible to choose a favourite. The precise vocabulary, the infectious enthusiasm, and rhythm both men hold is beyond amazing! This level of synchronicity is hard to come by, and yet they execute that shit effortlessly! 

They just casually came out of nowhere and dropped two of the hottest verses of 2025 and bounced. This is what ‘real’ talent looks and sounds like. When they can drop a single with no hype or promotion and still come out hot! This is a chemistry I need to hear on a whole album!

Of course, I can’t leave without discussing Kid Renaissance! This track wouldn’t be what it is without his contributions to the chorus! He absolutely killed it! His melodic, angelic vocal performance was absolutely immaculate! It fit the track perfectly, and his chorus is one that will leave an impression on me way after the song is over! Fantastic work!

This is definitely a single you can’t afford to sleep on! This level of structure and presentation, filled with brilliant production, singing, and rapping, literally has everything going for it!

https://open.spotify.com/track/5Rj7JwI1LioEiwlsDXF03w?si=9dPkuKyXQSaX2CdUfL9zEA