(TheSmokeFaceKillahLP)

Nothing excites me more than discovering new artists! Especially ones who have been generating buzz over the social media platforms. If the world hypes over them, then it only makes sense I do the same! So let’s get on it!

This is the latest album by SHA, which is produced entirely by Chef! Together, they dropped 12 tracks with 23 minutes of content and features the likes of: 

-Arold

-DayDaDon

-Jiles 

-Packy Marciano

-Ali. Riann

Now, starting with the production by Chef. I gotta say I love what he did with the sounds on here. Firstly, the exterior of this album is rooted in muddy, gritty boom Bap beats, but what Chef does is provide emphasis on those elements and elevates them to a higher standard. So if a normal boom Bap album is a no-name street criminal, then this record is Wilson Fisk. The motherfucking kingpin. 

You can hear the quality upgrade in the instrumentation itself, in those jazz-oriented piano keys, in the classical/choir-style vocal harmonies, or even in the rare instances of smooth, club-vibe beats on the track ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ with those beaming synth chords and infectious hip-hop beat! 

The point I’m trying to make is that Chef doesn’t just cook with basic bitch ingredients. He spends the extra $ for the premium tastes, the premier tastes, and recipes that your average cook can’t even read, let alone create. 

This record may only be 23 minutes, but in that small time, Chef was able to elevate and evolve the hardcore sounds of Boom Bap into a luxury sonic adventure that will leave your ears and soul craving more for days afterwards!

Now, we know what the Chef can do, but the real question is, how worthy is SHA to be eating off those delicious beats? Well, if Chef is Zeniff, then consider SHA Sanji. The man who equals the producer in consistency and quality and is more than ready to kill the production provided.

I noticed very early into the album just how skilled he is. You can hear his overwhelming passion and enthusiasm for the art. He has this infectious spirit and energy for the rap game, and he expresses it into his riveting wordplay, his amazing pen game, and his smooth/fluent flow that just glides all over the tracks like a bird flying over the crystal-clear waters of the ocean.

I also love his studio cadence. He’s the man in the booth, and he’s going to make you believe it before the album is over. He’s the kind of person that has the ability to talk and have everyone in the room listen. He’s also the type of person to have a sixth sense with the beat, to never miss a beat or step. His every bar and verse is exactly spot on with the instrumental, never an awkward moment or error in his delivery.

While I’ve never heard of his features until now, each person provides that little something extra to help elevate this album into new heights and provide excellent chemistry and synchronicity with SHA himself!

Overall, absolutely loved this album! Everything from the production to the features to the MC work of SHA, it’s all beyond satisfying, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout to see where he goes from here! 

Record Mixed/Mastered by SUMBU of The Soundlab 

Elevation Records, Product & Play, World Order Group

https://open.spotify.com/album/1bQIMGLJzP0P7tNxVlR0au?si=w9b66ziMQByVUvh_ZCvUqw

(NYU)

After winning ‘Single of the First Quarter’ for his fantastic tribute to ‘A Tribe Called Quest’, I had him on my radar immediately. So, of course, when I got wind of his new album, I had to cover it! So let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest album by O The Great! Featuring the likes of: 

-Tru Mentillz

-Masta Conga

-Castle Money Beats

-Tone Spliff

-The Prxpect

-Ashtronomicz 

-Ralphie Reese

-Jamil Honesty

– Isaac No Beat

On the beat and 

-Daniel Son

-Sunez Allah

-Pro Dillinger

-Twistello 

-Ruste Juxx

-Supreme Cerebral 

-Eloh Kush

-Ralphie Reese on the mic!

And man, although I’m not usually a fan of albums with more than one producer, the way each man captures the vibe and atmosphere of the record, that raw, rough, and rugged exterior with those theatrical sound executions and muddy textures comes together to create one of the most unique and original listening experiences of the year!

The thing I immediately noticed across this album was how grand and immersive the instrumentation was done. Whether you’re talking the elegance of the subtle yet shimmering piano keys or the dreamy and elongated horns or the orchestral use of those low/high note combinations that you can hear in the background on the song ‘Live From The Mecca’, every song on this album uses instruments in the highest quality and deliverance possible. 

Of course, every album uses sounds (that’s a given) unless you’re planning to go a cappella, but there’s definitely an ocean of difference when you hear an artist who actually pays attention to detail, works on making every single sound pop, and mastered to such a point that it sounds cinematic in its final outcome, and this is what these producers have committed to do for this record, and I can’t respect it enough!

One thing I also love about the production is the subtle use of old 90’s rap snippets. I won’t spoil what they are, but if you’re a real hip-hop head, you’ll be buzzed to hear them too!

As pointed out above, not only does this album showcase a roster of producers but also MC’s! Some of the finest in the industry right now. Meaning O had his work cut out for him to not only match but thrive in the presence of such beats, and I can report back to say he stands firm and demonstrates just why he’s one of the powerhouse rappers himself!

Across this record, you can hear his deep and dope studio cadence as he absolutely destroys each beat he’s on. His beat-for-beat flow is uncanny, and he has the skill to manipulate a beat to work for him and not the other way around. I love his witty and dominating presence with his rhythm and his striking lyricism that’s equal parts intellectual and street smart! No one can throw down bars quite like him!

I’d say his passion and enthusiasm are two underrated traits about O that get overlooked. Of course, he’s a surreal artist, but he’s demonstrated time and time again that he has a real love for the art of rap. When he’s crafting his verses, he’s being methodical about it, he’s taking his time and thinking about what word fits best where, and you can feel that concentration in his voice and in his energy he threads into each and every beat on this album. 

Whether it’s his brilliant efforts rapping alongside underground legends, or his ear and taste for superior producers, or his creativity and construction of phenomenal ideas and concepts, one thing is for certain, we are seeing O in his prime zone, and while he’s in this state, I don’t know anyone that can match.

I can’t praise this album enough. Across these 13 tracks, you get everything you could want for a rap album.

Dope verses, ridiculous features, outstanding production, and enough soul and heart to fill up 10x artists’ discographies and then some. This is NOT the album to sleep on!

https://open.spotify.com/album/0q5DbTra7JCSlSuN9giWQn?si=Omu7_VmNSxSllWxow6afkw

(Death Blows)

This has to be one of the most hyped moments for me all year! Why? Because we are getting new Substance810! For those who’ve been living under a rock, he had one of the most prolific years last year with records such as: 

-The Port

-The Lion’s Share 3

-Catacomb 

-Wise Words

And now he’s back with an MC army that would make any rapper quake in their boots, and he’s really to kill! Let’s talk about it!

So, new Substance810 single off his anticipated new project ‘One Inch Punch’, produced by Haas Almahdi and featuring the likes of: 

-Philmore Greene

-Waterr

-DJ Rhettmatic 

And right off the fucking bat, this beat is like a time machine back to the golden East Coast 90’s with that Wu Tang, Onyx, Mobb Deep type shit. We’re talking heavy thudding Hip Hop structure with those subtle keys in the background, with those absolutely shredding cuts and scratches that make it even more reminiscent of the old school era.

All this put together forms that raw, rugged, and in your face demeanour that will kick you down if you ain’t bold enough to handle it. That ‘fuck your feelings’ atmosphere that the 90’s wore like a badge of honour, and the kind of instrumental that is perfect for three powerhouse MC’s to go off on.

And that’s exactly what happened on the track. These three men are some of the rare breed of elite rappers you’ll find in the game right now. They don’t just spit bars; they drop knowledge! Starting things off with Substance810 himself, followed by Philmore Greene, then ending with Waterr, and each man drops verses of the year contenders that melt the papers they’ve written on!

Each man is devastating in their own right. With endless capabilities for lethal penmanship, precise execution of wordplay and flow, and intelligent and street-smart lyricism. There ain’t a weak breath uttered across this whole single, and the game should be lucky that they are only together for one song because if they were to make a collaboration album, that would be game over, industry DONE! 

Of course, as expected, this single is straight fire. From that ridiculous production to the monstrous bars and verses, this thing has the recipe of being the single of the year!

https://open.spotify.com/track/1ksDGn3RlZfEv5OOOrnXul?si=F2IMGigkSMayovuX2mZUeg

(Jell-O)

What do you know, after all the credit and hype I gave to the Penlordz X 6th Man collaboration in ‘ELEPHANT TUSK’, we are already back! This time with one of the more original and high-energy singles I’ve heard this year! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest single between Penlordz (Audio Messiah and Fam Ross) with Shade Cobain back on the production, and I’m honestly surprised and impressed at how this one turned out!

I’ll try to describe the production as best I can! We have these subtle horn loops over what sounds like a field of maracas being shaken! But it also features various voice samples across the track that give off a loose jazz vibe in the way some of the old-school cuts (like Herbie Hancock) would feature the occasional abstract voice snippets across a song. 

But also how the instrumental ends in an almost ‘rock and roll’ conclusion. There’s just so much going on in this beat that it’s remarkable. It’s lively, unique, creative, and refreshing all in one. I definitely never heard a beat like this all year, let alone from Pen Lordz! Fantastic.

Onto the MC duo themselves. On this cut, it seems they are delivering a more ‘freelance’ approach to their verses to properly complement this abstract production. As usual, I love their verses! They can’t miss. They bring their trademark elite lyricism, their untouchable witty and clever one-liners and puns. Their knowledge-filled bars combined with their effortless flow and advanced vocabulary and smooth cadence combined even more with their energy, enthusiasm, and passion for the game, and they have the full fucking package!

This is definitely one of the most original singles you’ll ever hear, trust. The production is off its rocks! The MC work is perfect as usual, and the chemistry between all three is as immaculate as you can get it! Check it out now!

https://open.spotify.com/track/7oMCXibfo1olZcioJRrjLA?si=e8bYfg8gSRSqpCIk4gNUIw

(The Greater Good)

I swear, you could check in with Machacha every week and he’d be releasing something epic. He’s dropped about 20 classic albums at this point and he ain’t done yet! This record shines just as bright as his other classics! Let’s talk about it! 

So, this is the 2024 collaboration project between MC Apollo and Machacha. Featuring the likes of: 

-Supreme Cerebral 

-Kahlee 

-Tone Spliff

-Sean Links

-Miskeen Halem 

-Wild Pigeon

-Jamil Honesty

And with this powerhouse list of artists assisting this record, it was impossible to fail. Starting with Machacha, the man who doesn’t know the definition of an L. We have his trademark skeletal and ambient immersive production style that makes each song feel cinematic in its own right. 

You could use any song as an example, but let’s talk about three to hammer the point of his brilliance! 

The track ‘Coup De Gras’ with those powerful guitar strings over that simplistic yet perfectly crafted boom Bap beat on repeat. The combination of just these two elements makes for a soundscape for Apollo to go off on!

The track ‘HALLEJUAH’, we see him embracing his more muddy side with those heavy piano keys that are so in your face that you can feel the keys right next to you! Combined with that thick bass lines and skeletal beat, you have a combination so gritty and raw that it only makes sense to have the likes of Supreme Cerebral come in and destroy the track!

Even the track ‘THE MEASURE’, which features a tone shift with a much lighter piano key execution with this subtle yet beautiful vocal sample across a traditional hip hop beat. Sounds like something early 2000’s Kanye would have made! It’s pure, uplifting, and smooth to listen to!

When it comes to Machacha, you can never keep him in a box. He’s proficient in every sound you can think of and then some. He could release 52 albums a year, and each album would sound different than the last! If it ain’t obvious by now, he ain’t one to sleep on!

Onto the rap powerhouse himself, Apollo. The man tasked with working over these magnificent songs, and he does a fucking good job doing so! I noticed while listening to this record his extraordinary enthusiasm and passion for the game! You can hear it in the way he crafts his bars, his witty and clever puns and one-liners, his sharp lyricism, and his top-tier pen game that rivals any of the best in the industry!

He has this infectious energy and love for the craft that his tone and studio cadence is a man who is competitive for the top spot and a student of the environment, constantly sharpening his skills and pen until he’s one of the best out!

As stated, he doesn’t come along and work alongside some pure killers in the culture, but he has no problem not only holding his own but also showcasing his talents as an equally skilled player alongside these names, proving his worth! 

This album is absolutely fantastic from start to finish. My only regret is that I didn’t cover it sooner! Check it the fuck out!

https://open.spotify.com/album/4RhKYxUzqkEsoyZqDF2lwN?si=kWWNWOTGTveOYRBiNgySWA

(More Like 10 Days)

It’s often said that an album with many names attached to it can come across as bloated. As the phrase goes, ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’, but if done under the right circumstances, these kinds of albums could be ‘iconic’, and that’s exactly what we have here. Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest album by Party G The Humble, which features one of the largest rosters of the year! Including MC’s like: 

-The Musalini 

-El Camino

-Feugo Base

-Flames Dot Malik

-Pretty Rick Hyde

-Chyna Baejing

-Willie Mays Blaze

-ellzzz

-blest poet

-Absolute 1981

-Fatboidash 

And on the production side, we have:

-V Don Soundz

-Che Noir

-Pretty Rick Hyde

-Rewind Presidential

-Project Porter

-Remy Fisher

This is an absolutely gargantuan project with the realest names on the mic and on the beats. The first thing that’s noticeable about this record is the level of chemistry and synchronicity with all the rappers involved! Each man and woman on this project brings that fire and burning spirit that brings the absolute best of them on this album. I’m talking savage verses, lethal lyricism, a combination of witty and tough street puns and one-liners that come together for a rap compilation that sounds smooth, fluent, and effortless!

I can hear the competitive edge in the air on this one, each artist trying to outdo the other. Trying to make sure that their verses reign supreme on the song, and it’s that energy that makes these types of albums shine.

If you ain’t competitive, then you ain’t really hungry for it. It doesn’t have to be in a violent or in a hating spirit but just the natural feel of ‘He/She thinks they can out-rap me? Alright, bet watch me do my shit’ type mentality, which makes the most famous feature songs/albums shine!

As far as the production goes, with so many names on the beat, it’s surprising to me that it all comes together for some fluent, polished, and crisp instrumentals that not only represent original personality but also a mutual sense of what the album’s ’atmosphere’ needs and works accordingly.

At its core, I’d describe this record as an extravagant Boom Bap project with elevated sounds and samples. You can hear those luscious chords, those melodic vocal loops, the strings and notes that come together gorgeously and yet maintain a level of edge and nerve that represents its ‘raw/hardcore’ influence that makes this the perfect album to have both types of vibes. 

It knows how to be elegant and beautiful and harsh, in your face, and goes back and forth between these opposites to give the listener a sense of diversity and also showcase how the different producers can execute their various styles and flavours on the track!

Overall, for such a massive album, this thing goes HARD. Quality production mixed with equally stunning performances on the mic! Definitely worth checking out!

https://open.spotify.com/album/4uYdZQKCkLPNsBoNv6Rrsb?si=8y4iK6PHT2CBppVqetg95w

(Vyllans For Hire)

The first introduction to the WCU! Such a dope idea and something I’m infinitely more invested in than the current DCU (Fuck James Gunn, SynderVerse forever), so consider this the number one universe to pay attention to, and with a banger like this, it’s the strongest introduction you can ask for!

So, this is the latest single by heavyweight producer Wulverine, and this time he ain’t alone because he’s brought with him MC’s Heartbreak Julio and Con$piracy, and this trio breaks more than the 4th wall with this one!

Wulverine introduces a beat so sharp and powerful you’d swear Dr Doom is around the corner, those creepy organ keys subtlety looping in the background over that traditional/skeletal hip hop beat that comes together stronger than the Avengers and hits harder than Guy Gardner with the Rage lantern!

No surprise this beat shredded ears like Logan and creates a stronger hypnotic trance than Jean Grey on a bad day! Best to say I ain’t talking Storm when I say the lightning is coming, better step back!

As for the two MC’s coming together like Daredevil and Punisher ready to kick ass and take no names! Love their aggressive attitude and approach to the mic, their lethal lyricism and fluent flow so smooth it would make Black Panther lose rhythm! 

Their chemistry is stronger than Batman and Robin, but they ain’t on that timid shit, they’ll show you the Red Hood and blast your shit away with their intricate bars and dope verses! 

BOOM! SPLAT! SMASH! BLAM! Is all you’ll ever hear if you try to step to these two. Only this time it won’t be an onomatopoeia you’ll be hearing, just straight hands for trying to fuck with two of the dopest street tier players you’ll ever hear on a mic!

Is it a bird? A plane? Nah, it’s just Wulverine dropping that dope beat with the two underground Avengers saving the culture one verse at a time! 

https://open.spotify.com/track/6g472Zd7BdyZJhRX8F1nXH?si=FhOTGj2IRym_OT43ON5Snw

(Wulvermania III)

This new album consists of three of my favourite things rolled into one medium:

-Comics

-Wrestling

-Hip Hop

When you combine that trio, you get the recipe for perfection, and I’m standing on that hill that this will be the best instrumental record of 2025.

So, brand-new beat tape by underground sensation ‘Wulverine’, someone who since I discovered his work several months ago, has only continued to impress me more and more with each new collaboration he does, and now with this, he outdoes himself yet again. 

Eleven tracks, thirty minutes, and it consists of all the things listed above in intros, outros, and placed throughout the songs. The album cover is beyond sick, and the music itself even more so! 

He’s able to combine the elements of: 

-Classical

-Hip Hop

-Ambient

-Soul

-Swing

-Jazz 

And the way he’s able to utilise and manipulate each genre and emphasise one or two sounds at a time per track to really capture the pure essence and feel of the instruments and the role they play is just surreal.

He makes every chord, every Lucius string, and beautifully crafted note pop brighter and more cinematic than 95% of the artists out there can. When listening to this album, even if it’s only a beat tape, it sounds high-end, masterfully executed, and each instrument is elevated to such glorious heights that it almost sounds as if a team of twenty musicians helped make this record come to life instead of just one man! 

I also LOVE the frequent use of wrestling samples and snippets. It might be such a small thing (or not someone’s cup of tea at all), but to me, it just brings this album to a whole new dimension than without it! It’s done so frequently yet so subtly where the audience gets to hear a little something to peak their fanboy vibes of wrestling, which would spike the adrenaline and then follow up with a dope instrumental track.

This is the sonic equivalent of giving someone an energy drink or shot of caffeine before introducing them to a skatepark or adventure park. You’ve already got the energy inside you, and on top of that, you get given a reward? I can’t believe more producers don’t incorporate this smart strategy that is obviously targeted at a certain demographic of people who would definitely fuck with this style of record! 

Once again (this time without even the use of vocals), Wulverine has proven why he’s one of the most gifted and talented producers the underground has right now. He’s consistent, quality-driven, and smart enough to target a certain audience! This album is absolutely incredible from front to back! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/70l3hMauhkPdRkN0m2peeb?si=Vx1MCI-0SdiCGfT0RfgeUg

(Rare Air)

It’s always a great moment to discover new artists, and today is one of those days! So, without much more, let’s get to it!

So, this is the new single by MC Noware Fast called ‘Rare Air’, which was produced and written all by himself! Gotta respect that. Featuring a short and brisk one-minute and fifty-seconds of content.

Right off the bat, when it comes to the production, you can hear those beautifully plucked strings used for the loop combined with those delicate/subtle synth notes with that skeletal/raw hip-hop beat that all comes together to create this dreamy and elegant art-hop beat that forces your body to relax and your mind to wonder!

This is the kind of instrumental you’d put on after a stressful day and lay back, smoke a fat one, and let the refined melodies take you away to a place more peaceful!

I also love how towards the end of the song, it just rides off with this gorgeous singing sample to end with no rapping, just pure soul atmosphere. The perfect way to close the track off!

As far as the rapper goes, I’d definitely say he has a unique style that’s exclusive to himself. His flow and delivery feel very free-form. It doesn’t sound like a normal structured layout of bars but more him just introspectively thinking out loud. His tone provides a strong sense of reminiscing and as if he’s just thinking back on his life while in a booth, opposed to having something pre-planned.

His lyricism is personal and direct, and his pen game is deep, visual, and creative as he’s trying to convert the listener to the various times and places he’s recalled in his memory. 

For such a short song, there’s a lot here to dissect, from the smooth production to the original rap style, this track stands out for all the right reasons and can’t wait to see what he does next!

https://youtu.be/mNXGQ94EzeQ?si=UdTcKI9VmGCvpu8_

(ELEPHANT TUSK)

A brand new single alert by the notorious Penlordz, who haven’t taken a break in their career yet. They are either dropping music or working and promoting upcoming music; there’s never an in-between. And with one of the hottest producers out right now, this was guaranteed to be a lyrical banger! Let’s talk about it!

So, Penlordz Fam, Ross, Audio Messiah, and Arsinel are back collaborating on the fresh new track being produced by 6th Man’s Shade Cobain for this 3-minute and 38-second nonstop heat!

When we talk about the production, it starts off with these sharp, loud chords that pierce through the listener’s headphones and make an immediate impact. From there, we get this methodically paced combination of plucked strings and a subtle boom bap beat that brings all these elements together in such an amplified way that it actually does sound like what a threat or an elephant stampede would sound like in sonic terms.

I love how raw, unconventional, and tribal this beat sounds. From the national instrumentation to the atmospheric tones and aura surrounding the production, it’s definitely a standout beat, one that could only be crafted by a studio general of the 6th Man collective!

Now, onto the Penlordz. I’m not joking when I say you could throw rocks into a river and make them skip, and they could utilise that as a beat and rap their asses off across that sound.

Let alone when you put them in front of an instrumental or this magnitude, they are bound to destroy, and that’s exactly what they do.

It’s hard to criticise these guys as three separate people because they move, act, and come as one. So when I talk about Penlordz (unless it doesn’t feature the rest), then I’m talking on behalf of all three because they have god-tier chemistry and synchronicity; they know what the other is thinking and share the same passion, enthusiasm, and experience across the track in their respective verses!

There’s never a weak link among them. Each raps superbly with killer one-liners, sharp delivery, and lethal wordplay to rival anyone in the game going! 

They’ve crossed the finish line ten times over this year, and they’ve just gotten started. Beware of the Penlordz and their sonic elephant tusks because they will penetrate and obliterate all in their path, and teaming up with sixth man, hopefully, one of many collaborations in the future!

https://open.spotify.com/track/3u72Qgd038t2BgGPQngKVu?si=t_hM5LUlRCuPaqdONc20nA