(Where There’s A Will There’s A Way)

I live by a pretty simple life rule. If Swab was involved, review it! So that’s what I’m doing today. The MC on the project I’ve never come across until now, but with Swab producing the album, I’m not worried in the slightest! Let’s talk about it!

This is the latest collaboration album between MC Jus-P and Producer Swab. Together, they drop nine tracks, 23 minutes of content, with the likes of: 

-G.S. Advance

-G-Clef Da Mad Komposa

-Comet Madmen

And right off the bat, I love the dark and grimy atmosphere of this record. That beautifully crafted intro interlude sets the vibe for the album, which is drenched in mystery, intrigue, minimalistic undertones, and gritty boom Bap flavouring sprinkling all the way through!

The instrumentation across this one sounds like a mafia don walking through a city that he controls. The music sounds like power and respect. This is the kind of production that screams domination and precision. 

I love how cinematic each song feels. With only nine songs, there was no room for error or ‘filler’ skip tracks, and Jus knew this, that’s why he made sure, along with Swab, that each song went absolutely hard! That each song had its own soul and personality. Each song featured its own level of tough and rough exterior and its own muddy and gritty force oozing out of it, like nine individual mafia dons come together, and your task is to walk through each of their cities to the finish line.

That’s how his album sounds to me, masterfully crafted but ruthlessly executed! Wouldn’t expect anything less from Swab.

Now, onto this Jus. P MC. A man who will make or break my opinion of him with this record! Thankfully, I can say this definitely made it because he was extremely talented and did this production complete justice!

The first thing I noticed about his style was how methodical he was. He understood how deep and powerful this production was, so he decided to follow suit. Every word he spit had meaning to it, every breath had a reason and a purpose, and he made sure to deliver them all with precision and impact that gives goosebumps all around!

I love how relentless and introspective his lyricism was! He had his street moments, his bully moments, and his thoughtful moments! Depending on the track, he’d spit something different, and that showcased his diversity! His flow was in your face and uncompromising! 

He’s definitely utilising his storytelling abilities with his natural charisma and energy. He’s the kind of MC that can command a room just by speaking, and across these 23 minutes, he definitely took charge!

Overall, a fantastic effort by both men! I loved every aspect of this album and hope to hear more of them in the future! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5QPtGyeqduS50g99WzDbQ2?si=c9L8aV6hQ8mFjQPIegpwaQ

(The Holiest Mountain)

Alright, we are back with new music from .Tetsuo! I first covered his work as part of FAWKEM’s releases, and now I get to pry apart the brain behind the production with his own stuff, so let’s get into it!

This latest song is a whopping four minutes and twenty seconds long! A lot longer than I expected it to be. It features the man himself on production and on the mic! Alongside Rap Man Gavin (dope name), they drop a classical homage with a hip-hop influence!

That production is absolutely incredible. I love that classical, old-school sample. We get about ten solid, uninterrupted seconds of the sample before the jazz-influenced subtle drum patterns and merky, Lo-Fi wave of distorted sample looped come into effect, creating a bizarre soundscape of static-like features and overall manipulated instruments to create that field of confusion and disturbing ambiance. 

It’s quite the tease to have that gorgeously smooth sample play at the start only to butcher it for an experimental noise vibe, but it’s definitely a specific feel that I know a lot of people within this category of hip-hop will love!

As the rapping goes. Once again we hear .Tetsuo rap his chaotic, no-form, freelance style rapping. The kind of style that doesn’t have a method to the madness, just pure words everywhere and anywhere! 

I can appreciate the man working to build and evolve the overall atmosphere of the song with that already maniacal instrumental with his own equally unique and spastic energy and passion across the beat! His flow is fast, his delivery even more so! And his lyricism is so obscure and hard to catch you’d have to slow the song down to catch what he’s saying! It’s a vibe and a half!

Same can be said for Gavin. Although rapping a bit slower, he also contains the similar qualities of distorted, maniacal, and hyped delivery with sharp precision and a free-lance flow. Together, they do share brilliant chemistry for what it’s worth, and for the specific style of this record, the verses they are choosing to do are exactly what the song should have, and they utilise the production to its fullest!

I was promised by .Tetsuo that I would get used to this style, and with a lot of singles to cover, I’m hoping that’s the case! But for now, it’s still not exactly my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the intense nature of the beat, how they both try to maintain said adrenaline and energy. I can respect that, and I’m curious to see what he does next!

https://open.spotify.com/track/6aOFGqFeW3RoKq9lLZSlUO?si=OEu5Py7bR8-E5XKdqDFzMw

(Crystal Lake)

I’ll be straight with you all, there’s only a handful of artists that can leave a lasting impression on me. I have to review almost two to three projects/singles a day just to keep up with demand, so you can imagine how easy it can be to get burned out or forgetful over previous artists I’ve worked on. But that’s why this man is special; after his one collaboration album earlier this year, I haven’t been able to let go of the anticipation for a new record, and today is that day. To say I’m happy is an understatement! Let’s talk about it!

This is the latest single by my main man MC Just Mcfly (greatest rap name in the game), this time with producer Stack Moolah, and together they dropped a two-minute and 14-second banger that I feel everyone should hear at least once!

Let’s start with the production! I can’t tell people enough I am a sucker for jazz instrumentals in hip-hop, so of course I love this one! With those looping jazz progressions combined with those bass strings, it all comes together as smooth as butter! 

This beat actually reminds me of the soundtrack for the ‘Lethal Weapon’ series! Right before an intense scene, there was always a badass jazz instrumental, and that’s how I feel on this! Especially considering the heavy lyrics and themes!

This is the kind of production you can listen to for days on end! It’s smooth, relaxing, impactful, and soothing to the body! I can imagine myself walking my dog through a beautifully lit forest listening to this! Again, jazz, in my opinion, is the greatest influence in hip-hop history, and this was done justice!

Now, back to Mcfly. On this beat, he’s pulling up his Calvin Klein boxers, taking a deep breath, and dropping a verse WAY ahead of its time (I’m guessing you guys aren’t ready for this yet. But your kids are gonna love it!)

He’s riding through this beat like a skateboard and charging his pen with 1.21 gigawatts of power to send his competitors into the past, struggling to get their life and career back together again!

He’s gonna burn you so bad you’re gonna have nightmares like your mum at a younger age trying to hit on you, or your dad being a bitch. He’s gonna spin your head with all his lyricism and detailed stories. You’ll be thinking you’ve just listened to rock and roll, but it’s just the genius of McFly!

At the end of the day, whether you’re driving a DeLorean or any other type of car, or even just walking! This is the kind of track you need playing in your ears! It’s beautiful, powerful, and infectious! And who knows what’s next in the ‘future’?

https://open.spotify.com/track/73CaPYBrQH9uklO76H8Li0?si=kJTDncfrQQCL8z_RD8KJ8Q

(Dead Rituals)

Guess who’s back? The Underground’s very own Furious Styles and he’s back with a vengeance! After making it to my ‘Best rappers of May’ list, he ain’t satisfied with that. A handful of EP’s last month and he’s already back with this! Who’s gonna stop him? I’ll tell you one thing, those who try to gate-keep my man will end up losing their

DEAD RITUALS 

Brand new single by my main man HANK DOPE, featuring the ferocious FNO POP and together they come to kill the industry once again!

Let’s talk that beat because once again Hank’s ear for the muddy is untouchable. It seems every new instrumental I hear is more grimy than the last! One thing we hear is those mysterious grim chords that progress into a somber and guilt-filled choir vocals that further progress into a thick drum pattern that comes together to make a bass-heavy boom bap experience that will kick your teeth in!

I love how surreal, theatrical and equally gritty and powerful this beat is! Sure, only two minutes and 15 seconds long, but it packs enough punch to put Muhammad Ali to shame! Only real ones allowed, that backpacker shit gets sliced up over this production!

Of course, who else would qualify to rap over a beat as monstrous as this? We got HANK DOPE starting off the song. His opening verse is dark, lethal street raps with sharpened pen game ready to decapitate any of the competitors! His delivery is grim, his lyricism is methodical and deep, and his whole aura and vibe is enough to give goosebumps!

On the opposite end, we have FNO POP, who although shares the same murderous energy, I feel has a tad bit more enthusiastic aura! Like that red monstar in Space Jam! He might have been the shortest one but came with the highest intensity out of all them! That’s how I felt about that verse!

It was brutal, deliberate, intricate, adrenaline-filled, and infectious! He’s the kind of rapper who has that natural charisma that leaves impressions on the listener weeks after listening to something he’s on! He also has perfect chemistry with Hank and provides the satisfying alternative to the slower, more methodical pacing of Dope!

As usual, this ain’t the single to sleep on! Production on point, vocals on point! The whole atmosphere on point! Don’t sleep on it! 

https://open.spotify.com/track/1DNHgRMgqRG2XScJzI0d9K?si=wsq_TKATRqOnMYEggQmERQ

(BE YOURSELF)

Man, talk about a killer trio! Sometimes we get collaborations that you can tell just by looking at the names involved that you’re about to hear fire, and I can report back and say, I was absolutely right! Let’s talk about it!

So. This is the latest single by MC Wise Da God featuring the legendary CRIMEAPPLE and Red’s Corner on the beat for this 3-minute extravaganza that’s sure to knock you off your feet!

Starting with the production, we have this homage to the 90s with these harmonious keys that are glistening in the background, a traditional drum pattern with a subtle/faint female vocal snippet that can be heard in every other beat drop. 

I’d say this beat is more on the minimalistic and skeletal side, just letting the few instruments available to shine and stand out on their own and practice the whole ‘less is more’ procedure! 

Sometimes producers get in a habit of adding 100 different sounds into one song, trying to force a vibe instead of working on a solid 2-3 things that could actually sound dope! This is why I respect Red’s approach to this track because he ain’t trying to add no useless fancy shit, but making an enjoyable, infectious, and memorable beat!

Rapping on that beat, we have the two kings. First is Wise Da God; this man is as solid of a rapper as you’ll find in the game! He has tremendous skill, his lyricism is witty, introspective, and lethal! As he says himself, ‘My Flow is Sid Vicious,’ and he ain’t lying!

He has incredible fluent flow, and his pen game is untouched! Across this whole track, he lit the song on fire with his sharpened bars where no word was out of place. He knew where he had to land on each second of the song and set the tone for the second half of the song featuring the man himself, CRIMEAPPLE. 

This man truly needs no introduction. If you haven’t heard of him by now, you’re in the wrong place! He’s truly one of the best to do it right now! He’s got that trademark smooth, yet dominating personality and voice! His swaying flow patterns are iconic as he manipulates every beat he’s on to emphasise his own verses.

He’s always sounding cool, calm, and collected. Never letting the game stress him out, always the calmest guy in the studio and while delivering some of the dopest bars the game has ever heard! He’s truly an anomaly of an MC and on this track, as expected, he destroyed the track to the end!

Man, this is such an excellent and exciting single. I hope I can hear all three together on a track again! 

https://open.spotify.com/track/5iFTsGjxVYpaMVYJkorEa4?si=Nbzxm3g9QwuI73YHPrqdzA&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A6aI4TGCBaiFYvDD1pcmdLz

(L.O.S.S.E.S)

This is one of those artists who doesn’t make music but rather paints pictures using his grim and dark reality to portray a narrative so compelling that no other album could even try to compare. Let’s talk about it!

This is the latest studio album by MC Kendall Spencer. This man has released some of the most gut-wrenching and heartbreaking albums I’ve ever heard in my life, and now he’s back to put the audience through the ringer again with this one-of-a-kind brand of deeply emotional and personal lyricism! 

We have on the production a familiar collaboration with August Fanon, who goes back to his two ‘Trauma Center’ albums, and together they release 14 of the most heartfelt and inspiring tracks you’ll hear all year!

It’s been a minute since I last covered August, but those who have been following my reviews will know how highly I rank him. He’s one of the most uniquely talented producers in the whole world today due to his masterful techniques and unrivalled variety he can provide! He could make 10 albums for 10 different artists and come out with 10 different sounds! 

And for this album to complement the lyrical nature of the songs, I feel August has retuned to a more grand, minimalistic, and ambiance-filled production with beautiful instrumentation and somber delivery that makes this project (similar to many of Kendall’s) a tough listen to sit through!

You can hear those powerful horns, the usage of those plucked guitar strings, those luscious keys, and banging drum patterns. These are some of the intricate sounds included in this album as August uses inspirations from the likes of:

-Traditional Hip Hop

-Jazz

-Classical

-Soul

– Funk, and more!

As always, it’s the way that August arranges the instruments and the influences that help create the masterpieces he’s so well known for, and this one is no exception.

Every song is vibrant and striking! You can feel every sound coursing through your body, and when it relates to a record as heavy as this one, it amplifies his abilities 10x, showcasing even more cinematic and theatrical soundscapes that feel like a movie in audio form being displayed right in front of us!

Since it had been a while, I completely forgot just how gifted August was, but now there was no denying it! This man is one of the best to ever do it, period!

Now, onto Kendall. A man who is easily one of the strongest storytellers in our industry, and that’s because he’s not telling make-believe events; he’s speaking facts about his real life, and that’s what is so powerful about this record.

He’s always been the time to speak his mind into the music and never sugarcoat. On this album, he speaks about being audited and losing 30k, how he lost two jobs, and on top of that, the infamous accident! 

This man has lived the life for 5x people, and he’s not afraid to tell you about it. I love how on this project, he’s revealing his more selfish and prideful side!

I loved to hear lines about how if it ain’t his wife or family, then he would happily let them get fucked over for their sake, and I love that. You can hear he’s tunnel-visioning his family’s success and livelihood, and that’s how it should be!

It sounds like he’s turning over a new leaf on this project; he’s showing his aggressive, angry, and focused side. The other two albums were Kendall fighting through his immediate physical, mental, and emotional damage, but I feel on this album, we are more or less hearing his post-damage thoughts and mindset, and to be witness to this man fight through what he has and still be this dope and mentally tough is rare indeed!

Overall, easily one of the best albums to come out this year! From a production and lyrical perspective! I love everything about this! 

https://kendallspencermusic.bandcamp.com/album/l-o-s-s-e-s

(Ml Doom: Nobody From Nowhere)

I’m gonna tell you this much, it has literally been years since I last covered a Mr Muthafuckin Exquire verse and it couldn’t have come at a better time because this time around he’s featured on this killer song with one of the dopest MC’s I’ve heard in a minute! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest music video/single by MC Nobody From Nowhere, with the production handled by none other than the powerhouse Killa Mac and together they set you on a 2-minute and 4-second ride that is sure to blow all the fucking competition out of the water!

Now, let’s start with this beat! Because to say Killa killed it is the world’s biggest understatement! Because this instrumental feels like a homage to the golden 90s, sounding like a beat you’d hear in the East Coast, something you’d hear Wu-Tang Clan in their prime rap upon!

You’ve got those jazz-influenced notes on loop swinging in and out like something you’d hear A Tribe Called Quest add in their songs! With a beautiful bass line subtly reminiscent throughout the track, giving the song that extra level of gravitas while you’ve also got that infectious drum pattern that will stay rocked in your head for months to come!

When all these elements come together, you get one of the best-produced instrumentals you’ll hear all year! It may have aired in January but guaranteed it will be carried till 2026!

This single starts off with Nobody From Nowhere who sets the tone for the whole track with some of the slickest wordplay and lyricism I’ve ever heard. This guy is the definition of nice! The way he manipulates the beat with his words, his impressive bouncy vocabulary, and his sharp pen game makes for a deadly combination!

His rapping style reminds me of the 90s nostalgia back when MC’s use to have colourful and bright personalities and characters! His style, voice, and enthusiasm have something that I haven’t really heard in the modern era! His passion for the game, his infectious cadence on the track, is something that will keep him on my radar for sure!

To close the track off, we have the underground legend himself. Mr Muthafuckin Exquire, the man who has been setting the culture on fire for decades, and he hasn’t missed a step! On this single, he’s bringing his trademark in-your-face delivery and powerful flow! His notorious deep-toned voice and don’t give a fuck attitude floods deep on this track as he showcases his skill and just why he’s been able to last so long in his career!

His wordplay is excellent, his pen game is second to none, and his uncensored and ruthless execution of character is impossible to ignore! It’s this naturally chaotic nature of Exquire that has made him one of the most compelling and ground shattering MC’s in the game, period! He’s never had a subpar bar, and he didn’t start now!

You couldn’t ask for a better single if you tried! These two have chemistry with any other! The production is fucking flawless, and the MC work is beyond ridiculous!

I also love the setting for the music video itself. I love how raw and bare bones it is. Just the two men in the freezing cold with their breath visible and standing in the middle of a city square; it looks like just rapping their asses off. This is the kind of set I’d expect from these two! It’s direct, down-to-earth, and fitting for the track!

This is the single you can’t fucking ignore! Check it out now! 

https://youtu.be/xxy_lahJxkk?si=HgYc2xeXwA7iVkau

(Duck Hunt)

After such an incredible debut album drop by the man, he’s already back with another killer offering! This man can’t be missed!

What I’m talking about is, of course, the brand new single by Dirthouse representative JJackpot, which is produced by familiar producer Man0sTij3ras and features Obi Wan on the track.

Let’s start with the production; this thing just hits different! It has these sinister, wavy chord progressions that come and go in and out, swinging through the track in a repetitive loop that gives you goosebumps all over. This is the kind of sound you’d expect to hear in a horror movie as the killer is walking towards the victim! Truly incredible and horrific at the same time!

Behind those chords, there is a minimalistic drum pattern that is subtle yet there, giving that sound a bit of extra power (as if it needed it), but the combination of the two instruments makes for a truly intense listening experience without a doubt!

To match this chaotic beat, we have Jjackpot starting the song off with one of the dopest verses I’ve heard all year! With lines like ‘I knocked out his fronts, name my album the tooth fairy’ and ‘bring my 50 cal on all first dates, the Drew Barry ,’ 

If you haven’t noticed yet, this man is the definition of a PROBLEM on the mic. It should have been clear from his debut album, but if it wasn’t, he’s come back just to spite you haters again; he doesn’t fuck around !

He’s got unprecedented power, perfect fluent flow, sharp lyricism, and a strong in-your-face attitude that will bite back if you listen to it too much!

As if he wasn’t enough, he’s brought with him the man Obi Wan, a man who complements Jjackpot’s energy to a tee! They both have amazing synchronicity and chemistry together! 

He has the same levels of energy, aura, and personality! In the short time he had on the beat, he goes off! He pulls out his lyrical lightsaber and cuts a hole into the track, leaving nothing but his words and mic behind!

I love his unique rapping style, his also high-octave tone, his witty and street bars with his clever and thought-provoking one-liners! When Obi drops the force on the track, y’all will all forget about everything but him! He’s really that guy!

As if Jjackpot needed a reason to drop another banger this early! The culture still ain’t gotten over ‘25 Red’ and now this? Man, mark my words, by the end of the year, he’ll be the man to beat! 

Also, shoutout to artist Swiss Miss ilfiore for the dope artwork! Love the gangsta spin on the classic game cover! Absolutely dope

https://open.spotify.com/track/26X5t0kLATd3Hpjc6nC4rm?si=3PjlD6lkQU-Z37wAh8GjgQ

(Wit’ Tha Who’s Who)

Can’t believe we are already getting a new product from this man. It feels like it was yesterday I reviewed his beat tape, and now he’s back with this! This man truly doesn’t sleep. Let’s talk about it!

This is the latest EP collaboration by Producer Circa97 and MC WhoIsBravy, and together they drop six tracks with thirteen minutes of fire! 

Across this EP, you can hear Circa going back to his minimalist loop-based instrumentation, focusing on making sure each instrument is perfectly tuned, balanced, and vibrant! I’d say this is probably his most skeletal release to date, but as they say, the ‘less is more’ practice can bring out the best out of artists since they can’t hide behind anything fancy or overuse various elements!

Each track features a form of looping in the form of a classical/choir rhythm chorus that is repeated over two- to three-second increments across the track! The different tracks behind the loop feature different instrumentation such as: 

-Bass

-Piano Keys

-Xylophone 

-Drums

-Guitar

-Organ 

And these different instruments are used in various ways across each of the six tracks to best complement the specific sound, vibe, and match the tone and vocal sample of the loops in question.

As I stated above, this is as bare-boned as we’ve ever seen Circa get on this EP. He’s broken down all layers and decided to work with the essentials to pull off an interestingly raw and rough-around-the-edges project that is equal parts brief and compelling!

Now, as far as the notorious WhoIsBravy, well, the answer is simple. He is an underground powerhouse who has been grinding in the culture for years, getting his talent and skills as sharp as they can be to be in the position to be rapping alongside legendary beats by Circa, and fucking hell does he go off on them!

I love his energy; he has this high-octave tone that provides negative feedback to the very dark and gloomy instrumentation! You can hear it in his style, his free-form style of rapping, the kind of rapping that sounds more like off-the-cuff thoughts being put to recording rather than thought-out bars!

He has infectious passion on the tracks, chaotic flow switch-ups, and sharp lyricism and above-average pen game! He sounds like a man possessed with making sure each track is as dope as can be in his own surreal/methodical manner!

I know it’s a short EP, but still, I respect the fact he ran solo across this project. I always end up respecting artists more who have learnt to captivate a record with just themselves! Nothing wrong with features, but sometimes hearing a man take command solo is a special experience that you don’t see much anymore!

Regardless, another dope offering by Circa97! His chemistry with WhoIsBravy is undeniable, and hopefully, we can get more from these two in the future! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/3Hd7hF5XIgYLMZmuOnhyql?si=pyB4stQqRnmc89LCDJW77A

(RocAmerikkka 3)

When you’re in the position to list iconic album series, especially in the underground scene where one album has the potential to make or break you, let alone a series of them! It would be absolutely criminal not to include this series in your ‘GOAT’ conversations, and with this latest instalment, there could be enough evidence to have this series appear at the top of that list! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest third instalment of the collaboration between MC legend Flee Lord and Producer legend ETO. Both these men have contributed to causing shifts in the culture in their own right, and even more so together! Across this one, we have ten tracks with 29 minutes of content and features the likes of:

-Conway, The Machine

-NEMS

-Vel Nine

-Starz Coleman

-Mummz 

And let me tell you this. This album starts off MUDDY! That opening track ‘RA3 Intro’ is straight into that grimy, no-nonsense nature that these two are so notorious for, and from there, the album only gets more and more savage, intense, and gritty! 

Whether you’re talking about the single off the album ‘Kitchen’ featuring the ultimate bully himself, NEMS, providing that cutthroat performance to an already bloodthirsty production!

There’s tracks like ‘Digi Scales’, a guitar-heavy street anthem that features scattered heavy keys and a skeletal boom Bap so tough it will scramble any hater from even attempting to touch it!

But what makes this song stand out is the involvement of the real Mr. Hood Rich himself, Conway The Machine, who towers over this track like a man possessed and puts down a masterclass in his wordplay, iconic pen game, and murderous vocal tones!

We can even look at the track ‘Moral Of Struggle’, which is the one track off the album containing a more traditional and homage to the 90’s era of Hip Hop with those harrowing piano keys repeating back and forth for a raw, minimalistic East Coast feel track! 

What makes this track unique is the feature of Starz! This man gave what could be considered as the verse of his career! Absolutely amazing! 

The production is as grimy and ruthless as one could ever expect from ETO, it’s banging in all the right areas and absolutely vicious in execution and technique! God damn these beats went OFF!

Now, what would this series be without Flee Lord? The one-man tank that has proven time and time again why he’s one of the most important and dangerous figures in the underground for his in-your-face, dominant and powerful demeanour that leaves everyone else in the dust, and this one is no exception!

In this album, you can hear him in his prime performing a vocabulary massacre over these instrumentals with a consistency of a switchblade at a fire rate of a machine gun. As per usual, Flee Lord is no joke! 

His methodical verses haunt the tracks with ridiculous refined energy. Like the grime reaper dragging his scythe over the ground of his opponents with his unpredictable nature to pop off!

His iconic street bars echo all over these tracks, his sharp lyricism and pen game are second to none, and he knows it. You can hear his passion and confidence across the songs, with his swagger and studio cadence at an all-time high!

Even when rapping alongside industry legends, he has absolutely no problem with holding his own and maintaining his status, composure, and chemistry with the powerhouses, and it’s a wonder to hear!

This very well could be the best in the series so far! It’s dark, sadistic, banging, and lethal. The features are ridiculous, and the MC is in peak form; this album is NOT to be slept on! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0jxHemRIunoNO5YIVxSZsg?si=IvRPcMzOTxq9TnWzuyFpag