(Blood On Earth)

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it a thousand times over. When it comes to music, language isn’t a barrier that matters as long as the energy, spirit, and passion are there, and this latest record has all three in spades! Paired with one of the best producers going right now, you’ve got yourself a recipe for greatness! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest project fully produced by Superior and features Sirio and N.A43. Is the eye as they come together for a 10-track, 32-minute experience with only four guest verses from the likes of

-ILL ONE

-SD Kong

-Franco Carter

-Varoner

And as stated about whether the record was in English or, in this case, Spanish, it’s the spirit of the album that counts!

Starting with the production. We See Superior showcase his ‘Superior’ skills behind the beats by bringing to life a handful of skeletal, ambient, raw, and absolutely cinematic scores that bring every instrument and sample to life in a way only he can! 

Across the tracks, you can hear the use of angelic vocal loops, crisp and polished sounds such as grand strings, delicate and beautiful keys, intricate acoustic notes, and more. From what I can hear, his formula is to focus on a few key sonic elements per song and amplify them to such a theatrical level that you can’t help but admire its awe-inspiring and grandiose standing across each track.

When a producer (especially one of this calibre) decides to apply the ‘less is more’ approach and really build on the few key instruments they imported from song to song, it has this magical effect of proving an almost ‘dreamlike’ state where the music pops out and goes throughout your whole body and soul unlike anything else can!

The best I can think of right now is Frank Ocean’s ‘Blonde’, how the stripped-back production and instrumentation caused an amplification in aura and atmosphere! The same applies here. With more room for an intimate connection to the music, you get a more personal connection, and I absolutely love it!

Now, onto the MC’s at work. While I can’t understand what they are saying, that doesn’t matter in the slightest as the vibe and incredible performance and energy they are giving off and chemistry is on a next level!

You can hear the absolute resolve and the unwavering enthusiasm and passion that every verse sounds like scripture on the beat. The flow was smooth, the rhythm was on point, and the bars, although in Spanish, sounded savage, lethal, and on point across the instrumentals!

The back and forth between the two MC’s was undeniably beautiful in motion, fluency, and precision! No awkward moments or transitions between the two, and the level of intensity and conviction they provided on the songs was clear and powerful!

I do love how the three features did amplify the songs they were on and weren’t there just for feature sake! They were explosive, confident, and sounded dope on the tracks!

Overall, I love this. I loved the intimate atmosphere of the record, I loved the combination of the trio on this album and the features! Definitely an album you can’t miss!

https://open.spotify.com/album/5p2yZLPr9snbzF7QQ2NyYy?si=bq9VV94xQ22isegkfq7_2Q

(Missing No Meals)

As I was scrolling through Spotify mindlessly, shopping through the endless options to listen to, I found this. A project by two of my favourites in the underground! I knew I had to give it some press, so let’s talk about it!

This is the 2024 release by MC Primo Jab and Producer Chuck Chan. Both men have released some of the most captivating albums of the last few years, and together with no features, they decided it was time to bring together the ultimate supergroup. So let’s get it!

Across these six tracks and 19 minutes of content, we have an album that’s focused on food! And I love it. Every song in one way or another mentions food, and as someone who is more passionate about food over everything (besides music), that made this a favourite of mine already. Plus, having Primo Jab on the cut, rapping and incorporating different bars and witty puns about food and double entendres and the whole nine yards!

He’s already proven how gifted he is with his pen game and original style and lyricism (as was further demonstrated this year with What Do Sounds Smell Like?) but the fact that he had to make sure he referenced ‘eating’ or ‘food’ or write a specific bar where food is used in a clever parable or analogy, man, that shit got me so hyped!

Maybe I’m on my own on this, but I fucking LOVE when artists are tasked with doing creative or conceptual shit like this. Where a specific topic is the main focus, and they work around it, it’s a dope process. I wish more artists would try, and the fact someone as naturally gifted as Primo Jab was doing it was even more satisfying!

Of course, he ain’t alone because he’s got the legendary Chuck Chan on his side, and across these six tracks, we hear him create various examples of skeletal and ambient/atmospheric sonic experiences that only he could pull off. The pattern I discovered was that he’d latch onto a few key instruments and polish/master them until they shine bright enough to carry the production! For example, track two, ‘Raw Cuisine’, where it features that methodical bass notes combined with that choir-style female harmony vocal loop, which, paired with that minimalism beat, creates something phenomenal!

Or track three, ‘Gourmet Pain’, which has what sounds like subtle horn or jazz chords that are playing on an infectious loop that takes over the track and gives it that ‘out-of-this-world’ vibe to it.

I love Chuck’s formula on this record; he’s taking advantage of the ‘less is more’ approach and making gold out of it!

To me, you can’t beat this combination. Two men in the prime of their careers coming together for a conceptual EP? You can’t fucking beat it. Check it out ASAP!

https://open.spotify.com/album/71ff2gw7tNGJX8Nhm6DqLz?si=9HGXLN0GTnSPJQkHK73XZw

(FLU FOG EP)

Man, I’ll tell you this. Based on the interesting artwork and title, I wasn’t expecting the sound to be like this! Let’s fucking talk about it!

So, this is the latest collaboration EP between Jezus Borgia and producer Mike Martinez (who is one half of the Jezus duo), and together they dropped five tracks with 15 minutes and the likes of 

-Empress Kirsten

-Big Dese to help on the project, and man, first and foremost, this was a lot of fun to listen to!

These five tracks just have a lively, colourful, and engaging atmosphere to it that I can’t really put my finger on. It’s like Mike is having the time of his life with his friend who he gets to rap alongside, and I feel that’s what is causing the surreal and original production that feels organic. 

Each song feels crisp, smooth, raw, and just authentic. There are so many elements, like on the first and second-to-last track, the utilisation of the female vocals was absolutely divine!

How on the final track you have this groovy and infectious hip-hop beat that forces you to move your body and groove! Fuck it, I have no shame to admit it, if the beat is good enough, I’ll dance to that shit! Those ‘fun and cool’ beats like back in the ‘Kool & The Gang’ era or ‘Fresh Prince’ or ‘A Tribe Called Quest’, those kinds of beats with soul and spirit and harmony! You just don’t get much of those these days, so I’m glad they decided to go off with a special bang!

As I said in the intro, this album really doesn’t sound how it looks. I was honestly expecting super muddy, rough around the edges, and lethal-type deliveries, but not at all. Don’t get me wrong, this duo absolutely KILLS the beats and provides some of the best bar work I’ve heard all year, but it’s very passionate and enthusiastic work. It sounds like these two men are just having fun, trying to outdo one another, and enjoying the five tracks they have together!

Again, this level of ‘collaboration’ is rare. It’s always about sounding the most tough or menacing in the tracks, and although I’m entertained by this method as much as the next guy, I can’t help but appreciate that two good friends are here to show off their lyrical strengths and have a blast doing it!

Especially on the last track, ‘Good Vibes Only’, is the perfect example of this. As the track implies, it’s nothing but positively enforced dope bars by two of the most skilled in the game right now. Maybe this is so shocking for me to believe since Mike produced only two to three weeks ago one of the coldest and chilling albums I’ve ever heard for ‘G Fam Black’, so to hear him vibe so effortlessly is wild to me, but it’s a side of him I love!

Long story short, this is one of the most catchiest and thrilling EP’s I’ve heard all year. The chemistry is perfect, and that production is fun, enjoyable, and crafted to excellence! You can’t afford to miss this one!

https://open.spotify.com/album/5VtjvaVGOULntVlRtsilSZ?si=Q4H2z_H9TbGSxkhv-qi-xw

(BLEU MAGIC)

Boy, do we have a special treat for you today? A trio of the highest quality who are going beyond viral and making waves in the music shit with their impactful performances and distinct records, and now they come together to bring you all one of the dopest albums of the year! Let’s get it!

So, this is a collaboration album between producer DeevoDaGenius and the MC duo of Kil The Artist & BLUEHILLBILL, and together they drop 12 tracks and over 40 minutes of content. With FEED THE FAMILY’s own Borirock as the solo feature to help make this record BANG.

So, starting with the production. As is common with most BLUEHILL releases I’ve heard, this album contains vibrant, atmospheric, and surreal usage of instruments, technique, and mastery of the beats.

Whether it’s grand and melodic guitar strings like on the track ‘THE MAN’ or absolutely infectious and looping piano chords on the track ‘20 PERCENT,’ or even if you’re talking the track ‘ANGELA SIMMONS,’ which incorporates that ambient/soul-inspired keys that vibe in and out with different octaves. 

The reason for these examples is the fact that every track not only has a unique and distinctive personality to it but that each sound in the tracks is pure, polished, and clear. This is the kind of production where you can point out everything invoked with ease. It has a cinematic level of clarity, and it’s these organically crafted instrumentals that make any record that involves BLUEHILL stand out from the rest!

If I had to choose a favourite song, it would have to be ‘SWITCHING ZINGZ’ featuring Borirock. That beat is incredible! It has a groovy, Latina dance feel to it. With those quick and lively loops featuring that harmonic vocal snippet, it all just comes together for one of the smoothest tracks on the album!

As far as the rapping is concerned. To say these two have amazing chemistry would be the understatement of the year. Kil The Family and BLUEHULL understand the importance of the powerful production they have and don’t take it lightly. They both (in their own respective styles) take turns ripping apart the beats with their killer MC instincts, their smooth rhythm, and pen game that could rival anyone in the culture right now.

Both men hold down the tracks with their own distinctive voices and characteristics, where you can hear it’s them without even checking the song information. No clones with these two; originality is their trademark, and they flash that shit like a badge of honour!

I love how they tag in and out of the tracks. There’s no awkward pause or weird choppy transition between the two men, just pure, natural flow and handing the spotlight to the other, and I love the brotherhood between them both!

Of course, they’ve decided to test their skills with Bori, who is one of the best going right now easily, and they passed that test with flying colours!

This album only just came out, and I fucking loved it! It’s fresh, charismatic, and raw all in one. The production is the definition of lively, and the MC’s are hungry, passionate, and coming for the kill! Definitely an album you can’t afford to miss!

https://open.spotify.com/album/548yu5kwzRIZD1eaLzucK1?si=uuCQXO40Te-T7t7ZtgJNSQ

(25 Red)

New single alert! This is an artist and an upcoming release that is making waves in the underground and guaranteed to be one of the biggest drops of 2025, but for now, we have this teaser track that showcases a small sample of how dope this record will be!

So, this is the latest track by rapper Jjackpot that’s been produced by Manostijeras, and right off the bat, this track starts off in the most unique way I’ve heard in a minute.

You hear this sample of what sounds like Ren and Stempy (easily the most disturbing cartoon of my childhood), and after that small intro, we get this elegant and muddy boom Bap track that is as infectious as they come.

You have those repetitive deep notes on loop in the background followed by a skeletal, raw, and rugged Hip Hop beat that features delicate and subtle piano keys that are barely heard, and then the occasional blast of a horn that fades in and out.

There’s actually a lot going on as far as the production is concerned; with quality headphones or audio equipment, you should be able to distinguish the individual sounds that may be hard to interpret listening out loud. Regardless, a fantastically raw beat that you could listen to for hours and never get sick of!

To complement this ridiculous production, we have Jjackpot! The man who has made more waves than most right now, and for good reason! He possesses a strong blend of: 

-Enthusiasm

-Personality

-Rhythm

-Pen Game

-Flow that separates him from 90% of the cats in the game right now! His vicious and aggressive tone makes every word feel like steel and every bar feel as sharp as a katana slicing through the competition.

He’s methodical and surreal when dropping his verses and came through with one of the most satisfying and powerful choruses I’ve heard in a while. Ending each chorus line with ‘there’s 25 to life in there’ It just adds something extra to the song that most songs don’t have, fuck with heavy!

Overall, a fantastic single to promote the album, which is bound to be huge! Spectacular production and even more so MC work! Definitely a single you can’t miss out on! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5bultOvMq2im6V0WzfAGnm?si=4KIOwMpcSHec_oYcdFA7Pw

(Art Official Intelligence)

New single alert! This time with a new artist and producer, which is always exciting, so let’s get to it!

This is the latest track by MC Spy, MC and producer MoonDoctor with the legendary Ruste Juxx, and this trio released a two-minute and fifty-four-second song that is sure to knock your ass down with the heat!

Starting with that beat, this song has a strong ambient/Lo-Fi aura to it with those looming strings that are orchestrated in such a beautiful loop pattern that it gives off an outer-world ambiance to the song! The beat itself feels skeletal and raw in nature, but when combined with those dreamy chords, it makes for a rather atmospheric and melodic aesthetic! 

Across this wonderful instrumental, we have the two MC’s who use their immaculate chemistry and synchronicity to create the perfect few verses for this song.

You’ve got the slick, composed, and introspective rap style of Spy MC, who spits his pen game with a calm and collected cadence and flow that kind of reminds me of Q-Tip from ‘A Tribe Called Quest’.

Then on the back end, we have the legend Ruste Juxx, who provides a more in-your-face and rugged personality on the mic. Savage and lethal lyricism with an ‘in-your-face’ approach to his pen game that forces every word to be felt and absorbed by the listener!

Overall, the combination of the two MC’s is spot-on, the production is delicate and unique, and the trio come through with one of the hottest singles of the year! 

https://spymc.bandcamp.com/track/art-official-intelligence-feat-ruste-juxx

(Trooper/Fifty Bags)

We’re back in action with DJ Krooked. He’s back with two fresh new singles with different artists per track, and so, let’s see what it’s hitting on!

Two tracks 

-Trooper (1:44)

-Fifty Bags (2:35)

And each track feels different in its own way. Let’s start with the first one featuring Daniel Son. This track is the shorter of the two, and DJ Krooked made sure this beat had the eerie synth chords, with that super dark and muddy bass and skeletal boom bap beat that provides the perfect foundation for Daniel Son to go off on.

With a beat right up his ally, Daniel Son, the master wordsmith goes off in his trademark dead serious, monotone, killer street vibes that he’s become notorious for.

As per usual, his verses are composed and calculated; every breath lands exactly where it’s supposed to as he spits his street life stories in such detail it feels like you’re there yourself! 

One other thing I love about this track is the outro, how Krooked just lets the instrumental ride off into the sunset. Sometimes it can be a nice addition to a song, and this was one of those times!

For the final track, we have the likes of Ant Kelly and DB. For this track, DJ Krooked utilises a more theatrical and cinematic instrumental with these grand horns and a traditional hip-hop beat as the base.

Although quite simplistic in the sounds involved, the execution is done so masterfully it sounds like he’s sampled a Godzilla destroying a local city scene. It’s so powerful and intense it provides a shot of adrenaline to the listener!

Across this track, we start with Ant, who honestly comes from the same cloth of bully rap as the likes of NEMS, Bub Styles, and The Bad Seed. Just pure, aggressive, and mean wordplay and savage lyricism! He sounds like a villain, and he’s got the aura of one too!

Although not as brutal, DB does his part in crafting a dope as fuck verse with lethal pen game, high energy, and enthusiasm as well as a passion for the game and smooth flow to match! This pair has incredible chemistry together, and across this monstrous beat, they can’t miss!

All in all, two different yet powerhouse singles! The production on both was well made and infectious while sporting some heavy hitters on the mic! Great work!

https://open.spotify.com/album/2pcYr7H5QqQjfX1JJcgK4B?si=R2ULWxqhSqSPohKlDuUUyg

(Morning Rain)

The time has finally come! One of the most anticipated singles of the month! Let’s talk about it!

So this is the brand new song by B1 The Architect that includes Sythe on the production and, most excitingly, you have the legendary Blu on the feature! This is banger-worthy in name alone! 

Let’s start with the production. I love the skeletal/muddy texture of this track. You have those swinging keys going from lower to higher pitch with light use of bass strings and a raw, barebone Boom Bap beat that comes together in a perfect storm of ambient, eerie, crisp, with a dark atmosphere all wrapped in one! 

This is the kind of beat you could play for hours and never get sick of it! Fantastic performance by Sythe!

Onto the rap verses. We have a dope opening verse by B1 who showcases his signature deep, raw vocal tones that give off a faint monotone vibe as he spits his thought-provoking bars with excellent precision on the beats. With him, the flow and wordplay is like clockwork. It’s always on point where it needs to be and he never misses a step.

His lyricism is deep and heavy, like he’s literally writing this on a dark and stormy day. Very bleak in nature.

On the opposite end, we have the legend himself Blu who honestly comes in sounding more dire and serious than I heard him in the past few years. When I think of Blu, I think of fun and infectious Jazz albums or celebratory music with big parties of names and features. 

But on this one, he’s talking about the struggle of death, saying how ‘My Home girl’s father died, My Home boy’s daughter died. When they express how it feels, the shit makes all of us cry.’

Like, damn. That’s such depressing yet real lyrics from him that I just haven’t heard in years! Sure, he’s fitting the sonic aesthetic to a tee and his lyricism definitely fits the mood of the song, but it just comes as quite the shock that the man who just recently released ‘40’, probably the happiest album I’ve ever heard, turned around and made one of the most harrowing verses I’ve heard this year. 

All in all, this is a fantastic piece of music. It’s gritty but self-reflecting at the same time. It’s got fantastic production and the lyrics really make you think, which is good to have every once in a while! Check it out!

https://open.spotify.com/track/6OjMzECo0UX5l7QzqikzXy?si=6tLXbrLlRv6Lofug1_obEA

(The Blue Carpet)

The most anticipated release of the past few years has finally come! It’s been two years since he last released a studio album, and now after a barrage of singles, he’s finally back with an LP that is sure to change the game up once again!

So, this is the latest studio album by Umbrella’s Own/Dirthouse’s underground powerhouse, Snotty. A man who has taken the game in a chokehold since the early 2020s and now is the apex predator of the culture.

Beside him on this record is rising producer sensation, Goodphella, who has been tight as thieves with Snotty in releasing these singles and is responsible for the production of the whole album! Together, they dropped a fresh ten tracks with the likes of: 

-Mvck Nyce 

-Pro Dillinger

-Kamron Bahani 

-Borirock

And this short list is absolutely PERFECT for what the affiliates should be. Four of the sharpest minds in the game right now who have been pushing more moves than 95% of the game combined. As they surround Snotty on this LP, we hear Snotty absolutely go off!

There aren’t any restrictions on Snotty on this one, just him and the microphone, and he’s spitting as hard as I’ve ever seen him.

He brings to the table his trademark lethally smooth flow and rhythm that makes him penetrate tracks more effectively than an assassin stealth killing a group without even making a sweat. This is what Snotty does on tracks! He comes in, murderous the track, then leaves. 

As we found out on the various single tracks he dropped, he’s opening Pandora’s box by reflecting on his personal and introspective side. This definitely doesn’t take away from his impact or power on the tracks; if anything, it reinforces just how deadly he can be, considering he can walk into any lane and still come out on top!

I gotta admit, the track ‘After Hours’ was my favourite. When I heard Pro shout ‘STEINER BROTHERS BACK’, man, that got to me! No one is better as a duo than these two! They are the original partners in crime, and they’ll ride or die till the end! 

Overall, Snotty has out-performed himself on this album. He’s dominating, filled with aura, and unmatched in street bars, witty one-liners, and wordplay so crisp that it sounds like he never even has to catch his breath. Pure artistry!

Goodphella. The man behind the masterclass of Snotty providing the beats.

What I love about his work across these tracks is his use of luscious and beautifully orchestrated loops and gorgeous samples where you can hear the individual strings and chords and harmonic notes that just ring through your heart and soul, spreading throughout your whole body!

A lot of these beats are simplistic in the context of just using a few instruments per song, but because of his immaculate techniques and the ability to amplify the music itself into its highest and purest form, he can take regular sounds and make them sound Dolby Atmos quality.

I also love how he utilises various samples and movie snippets to keep the LP sound engaging and prime time. My favourite being the classic Joe Pesci ‘Goodfellas’ bar scene ‘Thought I Told you to fuck ya mother?’ It’s one of my favourite movies, so to hear that always makes me happy!

But the fact that he can add in these scenes and still never cause the record to break or pause or have any awkward moments of obvious breaks or cuts in the music itself and keep it all seamless is absolutely incredible and further proof of his skill as a producer and why he’s someone who you shouldn’t underrate! 

What can I say? I knew this album would be absolutely cinematic, and it was. It’s gritty, muddy, classy, and theatrical all in one. We get to hear Snotty in his prime alongside one of the best producers in the game right now with a handful of his best friends and associates. What else could you want from a Snotty album? Long story short, it’s perfect.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6QmLevj9TpgKzAkocuB2HI?si=mTQcCqrXRuOTQTtGy0N5BQ

(Incredible)

Once again, time to cover a new artist! One who has been making waves in the underground and the socials, so it’s only right I jump on the bandwagon before it leaves the station. So let’s get to it!

So, this is the collaboration album between MC Don Sazòn and producer misterdillinger, and together they dropped seven tracks and fifteen minutes with the likes of: 

-Fastlife

-The OG Ninja

-Meph Luciano 

And with less than twenty minutes, these boys didn’t have time to fuck around, and they didn’t!  Starting with misterdillinger. I really love what he does in the short time he had; it felt like a surreal, otherworldly atmosphere with delicate and intimate instrumentation that moves through your body and soul with each breath-taking chord, string, and note utilised across this fifteen-minute score.

I also love the emphasis on the topic of ‘incredible,’ from dictionary definitions to samples from the cartoon superhero movie ‘The Incredibles,’ which I thought was dope. 

If I had to choose a favourite track, it would have to be ‘Maniac!’ It sounds like something off Legend of Zelda. Those gorgeous chords that sound like a combination of folk and ancient Chinese music, it’s delicate, swift, and absolutely beautiful in execution.

Now onto Don. This man found a way to navigate these atmospheric and harmonious melodies with his own brand of passionate rhythm and soul! He has an infectious level of confidence and enthusiasm that can be heard throughout his verses and bars, and his witty, clever puns add an extra level of depth to his lyricism!

He has a smooth flow and a sharp sense of word placement across the songs, which is hella important in making the tracks link and work so well!

Even when he’s rapping alongside his associates, he doesn’t falter or show any sign of inferiority or weakness. He holds his own and shows everyone why he’s the man right now and can rap alongside anyone in the game!

Overall, for fifteen minutes? This thing goes HARD. The chemistry between everyone involved and the overall feel of the record is something most artists couldn’t accomplish! Dope effort! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4VteedgNGJyGsePjzTXTTr?si=B40Elp_tSQGwAGuMy0JpiA