(Omerta 3)

This is a moment in my career that I’m super happy about! Why? Because the last time I covered this MC was way back when I was still writing for the legendary ‘Raw Side Hip Hop’, and so this will be my first time covering him under the ‘Serpent Tongue’ title. And with that being said, let’s get into it!

This is the brand-new record by MC E Murda and produced by Bryan Blox, and together they drop a solid nine tracks, 25 minutes of PURE HEAT that is meant to rival the best of the best in 2025! 

I feel we should talk about the production first. As I remembered from the first project I covered from him, this is a gritty, boom-bap-filled roller coaster that’s filled with trauma lyrics, vivid memories, and situations of pain and overcoming! This score pairs perfectly with those narratives and creates a sound bed for the most extravagant pieces of underground hip hop you’ll be expected to hear! 

To name one song as my favourite would be impossible, so I’m going to name the small handful that really stood out to me! Firstly, I want to discuss -Life Of Sin. This track has so many qualities I love.

Starting with that harmonic vocal loop that subtly glides through the instrumental in the most beautiful and profound way possible! On top of that, we have these light piano keys as delicate as I’ve ever heard of, as well as some ridiculously powerful bass and drums that will damn near blow your face off if you ain’t careful. I’m talking that mean mug the world type shit! 

Also, not to mention that amazing feature verse by the one and only Flee Lord!

We also have the track -Air Drake. A track that features the only feature ETO, who, as you’d expect, dominates the verse! But apart from that, we have this absolutely ridiculous instrumental that feels like murderous intent come to life! 

The amount of layers of cold-blooded, sonic ruthlessness is impossible to ignore. You’ve got those heavy, plucked strings, those heavy bass, and one of the most downright gritty tracks of the whole album! Absolutely could listen to this track for hours due to his relentless energy! 

Actually, I want to talk about that intro! It has a true mafia feel to it, and the rules of not snitching and the consequences of such. It’s the perfect way to start the record. 

See everything from the way it starts to ends, the placement of the features to the beats themselves. It’s all placed with such technical precision that it matches some of the best production of the year!

Now, onto the MC of the equation. E Murda, this man was a beast when I first heard him, and he’s even more deadly now! What makes him stand out for me is his next-level ability to portray himself in situations, the way his depth of words reaches. 

The way his words have a unique combination of sharp, deadly, and smooth! The kind of guy that can sell water to fish, just before he finds a way to drown said fish in that same sold liquid! He’s a talented MC with a strong personality, tough street poetry, and a charisma so eccentric that you can’t help but pay attention to! 

Across this 25 minutes, he didn’t waste any time. No filler or awkward moments. Just pure bars with enough savagery and precision that it’s sure to scare off any pretenders in the game right now! He’s the real deal, and he’s making everyone remember that!

From the first album I covered of his, he’s only leveled up all his attributes. His lyricism, his performances, his techniques, cadences— absolutely everything is upgraded, and you can hear it! He’s coming in with a lot of confidence and vigorous willpower to make sure every single breath he spits on the track has purpose and is felt through the bones of the listener!

I absolutely loved this record. I loved the undeniable chemistry between E and Bryan! I loved the legendary features and the overall atmosphere of the album. Make sure you check it out below!

https://open.spotify.com/album/4wdjFEI8pQ3BhGL6uGh1Nq?si=m30TmbhOTpqjEes9gyVbhw

(Keep You Waiting)

Talk about ‘Keeping us waiting’, this is bound to be a project for the ages. Two men at the top of their respective fields dominating the 2025 year and now combined for a powerhouse fusion that ends the year with a BANG! Or more specifically with a ZINGER! 

This is the brand-new record by FEED THE FAMILY General Top Hooter and iconic, workhorse producer Machacha, and together they drop an iconic 10-track, 22-minute sonic drive that will leave your mind blown by the end of it! This project features the likes of 

-BeenOfficialLord

-Dun Dealy

And let me tell you now, Top has been one of those names that since I discovered him (which was his ‘Hooter Hyena’ tape), he’s done nothing but evolve, level up, and improve on every single aspect of his career to where he has become a monster in the field.

What makes him stand out? To me, it’s his powerful interpretation of street poetry and the gravitas in his voice that makes his stories feel that much more dangerous and, most importantly, vivid!

Another aspect of his MC characteristics that’s impressive is he can work across any kind of production and make it work! For example, he’s a king in his wavy, boom-bap, gritty underground sound (alongside the FEED THE FAMILY Crew).

We heard him earlier this year on ‘Handing Out Samples’, working with deeper and more cerebral sounds and darker tones. Then we even heard him feature on one of the most incredible singles of the year on the new Apollo Brown X Ty Farris tape, where we heard him go off on a big, mainstream-sounding stadium vibe beat! 

There isn’t a sound, influence, or instrumental he can’t work with, and across this tape, we hear him utilise that exact quality to his advantage. We hear his impressive lyricism, his cold and calculated flow, and demeanour sync perfectly with Machacha’s atmosphere to create a stunning array of verses that’s sharp, surreal, and powerful!

He has the kind of energy that can rock a whole record by himself if he has to! It’s always a treat to hear him alongside his brothers in arms, but his undeniable charisma, conviction, and skillset make him a man that needs no help to get over! As he says on the track – Resident Evil ‘I’m the Apex predator, top of the food chain’ all that is true!

Now, as you all know, the other part of this equation is none other than Machacha. This man has easily been the most overworking producer this year. The amount of bangers he’s dropped is well over 20! (In fact, I have another review needed with him and DOZA later!) A testament to his work ethic, and now he’s decided he needs to be a part of the legacy alongside Top, and I loved what he did with the sounds.

Across this tape, we hear a combination of the roughest, muddiest boom-bap tracks you’ve ever heard and melodic, methodically crafted songs that make a heartfelt attempt at connection, the emotional/mental side to Top and his stories!

For example, we have tracks like ‘Spin Towers’ which is just downright wavy energy. You’ve got that almost Asian influence with those old-school plucked strings and elegant piano keys with those heavy bass and drums! One of those methodically inspired beats that the FEED family thrive off! 

Not to mention the killer feature by BEENOFFICIALLORD! He’s never one to be lacking, and he doesn’t start now!

We have tracks like ‘H2H’ which showcases the other side of the balance I was talking about. This is an example of the more mellow, delicate, and beautifully executed piece of music with those violin strings, light drums, and some of the most beautiful piano pieces I’ve heard in rap this whole year!

On this track, we hear Top shed his soul a little bit and what he feels and thinks on the daily! Definitely a thought-provoking track!

Then we have tracks like ‘While It Lasted’ which honestly feels like a finale vibe song, the kind of track that you’d expect to be towards the end (as it is) it has a feel of conclusion to it and it’s another beautiful listen!

You’ve got those plucked strings, further strings in the background in a different rhythm and a vocal humming loop that’s ever so angelic. Not to mention the brother in arms Dun Dealy closing the track off!

Even if you haven’t been witness to the year of either of these men THIS is the one to watch out for! It’s the perfect collaboration of MC & Producers and a strong closing for 2025! Check it out below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5rjEpzPlSmACJA5vudYaJM?si=dEi06hRQQiGSqho8c02ElA

(THE ZING WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS)

You know I had to do this surprise drop. A build-up to the announcement of a brand-new Christmas-themed record by the Dawg himself! The man who has set the culture on fire with one of the most wavy, original, and gritty discographies in 2025. So to celebrate an incredible year for him and FEED THE FAMILY, we are taking a step back in time to 2023, when we tell the story of 

THE ZING WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS! 

So, this is the Christmas 2023 drop by MC powerhouse BORIROCK! On this record, he’s accompanied by producers such as 

– Don Hooto

– MINIMANSIONMELLOS

– Latrell James

– CHUPISNOIZEY

And with only eight tracks, the Boston Grinch came alive to rob the industry of all the aura, wavy energy, and success all for himself! When Bori says ON DAWGZ, he ain’t talking about Max! 

Right from the start, we get exactly what you’d expect to hear from a Bori X Christmas record. I’m talking the most gritty and explosive/expressive, raw, and chaotic adlibs and bars you’ve ever heard in your life but done over classic/old-school Christmas tunes that, dare I say, feel ‘tainted’ by this new wave of boom-bap wavy force that is impossible to ignore or look past!

Maybe it’s because it’s December and I’m consumed in that ‘Christmas Spirit’, but this might be some of my favourite Bori productions I’ve heard in a minute! That unpredictable twist of gritty hip-hop and organic merry music is absolutely magical (in the most savage way imaginable).

This album gives me a strong feeling of the Gucci Mane ‘East Atlanta Santa’ tapes but way more energetic and charismatic with arguably better production match ups! Whether that means that intro track ‘XMAS INTRO’ where it’s literally just Bori going ballistic over a Xmas classic! 

Over whether you’re talking about the track ‘XMAS W DA KRANKS’ which has a more Boom Bap infused Christmas vibe with those trademark piano chords and heavy drums! It’s a combination of Merry and muddy! Whether you’re naughty or nice, it’s all the same to the wavy dawg! 

Then there’s tracks that don’t feel too Christmasy such as the song ‘IN-TUNED’ which has an overwhelming Soul instrumental with that infectious vocal loop with the subtle horns and funky drum patterns! A short and sweet track that provides a type of interlude from the Xmas themes! 

The song ‘BAPE TOWEL’ has what I would consider a gangstas Christmas soundtrack. It’s got those hollow taps in the background that almost sound like reindeer bells! But combined with plucked bass and some hypnotic drum patterns that make this a thugs anthem you’d play in late December, drinking egg nog and mixing candy canes with your Hennessy! 

Even the outro track legit sounds like the Grinches theme. This is what I imagine he plays In his headphones as he robs houses, destroys Christmas In the most wavy way possible! You’ve got those sinister synth chords, subtle plucked strings in the background and absolutely ridiculous drums!

The perfect idea for an outro track with the closure of bells to match! A truly dark and savage way to end!

Bori, whether it’s 2003, 2023, 2033 he’s always gonna hit! Always provide the culture with that high intensity, chaotic atmosphere that puts him on another plane of tiers compared to his contemporaries!

Across this album (as we all expected him to) he goes off in his trademark slang and phrases his recognised adlibs and adrenaline filled performances where he’s always going 1000x miles a second!

His unmatched wavy flow, his unique batch of street poetry and the ability to match his style with any theme or concept! Whether that be Christmas, X Men or Lord Of The Rings. No lane is unattainable to him and he provides it on this record!

There’s not a single boring point on this album and that’s the thing there NEVER is! He’s hype turned human. He’s the definition of endless stamina with a wavy conviction so strong he leaves impressions everywhere he goes that lasts a lifetime!

I can’t lie all, this was one fucking FUN Christmas album. If this was 2 years ago, I can’t wait to see what he’s evolved with next! Make sure you support the man below and buy on bandcamp!

https://borirock.bandcamp.com/album/the-zing-who-stole-christmas

(MY STORY NARCO STORY)

We got another NARCOMIX track before the end of the year. One that is inspired by the latest anticipated record by DJ Premier and Nas, ‘Light Years’. This track covers the song ‘My Story, Your Story’ featuring AZ.

Now, right off the bat (as is the case with every NARCOMIX), the production is the same as the original album, so the normal DJ Premier beat! You’ve got those elegant piano keys, those plucked strings in that repetitive rhythm, and those light drums! One of the more subtle tracks on the album, but it hits just as hard! 

Now, how do I feel about the lyrical aspect? I think considering Gustavo is attempting to compete against both AZ and Nas, it’s a tough task, but I feel he does an excellent job of maintaining a consistent three minutes of non-stop bars!

He showcases more charisma than usual! Strong, fluent flows, precise and sharp wordplay, a heavy pen game, and a ton of killer one-liners, puns, and bars that make up the mix! 

I do feel this time around he’s trying a more lyrical approach (adding more words per minute in), trying to match the same tone or energy as the ones on the original track, which was a nice switch-up to hear!

The only downside I found (and I hated this from the original track as well) was the overuse of saying ‘My Story, Your Story’. That line on this mix and the normal one was overdone and over-saturated. I wish that was cut down, especially for a three-minute track.

But besides that one aspect, I loved the direction he took this NARCOMIX! It was fun, vibrant, and interesting! Definitely one to check out! 

https://gustavolouis.bandcamp.com/track/my-story-narco-story

(Wolf Tickets)

Two releases in a matter of weeks?! Someone pinch me because I’m sure I’m dreaming. It wasn’t enough that we got our first Mickey drop all year with Big Ghost nonetheless, and now we not only have a new album but teasing of a new series from the pair? Nah, this is Christmas come early! If this doesn’t get you excited, then you don’t support the culture; it’s as easy as that! Let’s fucking go!

This is the brand-new album by MC legend and Umbrella member Mickey Diamond and regular beat-making collaborator Big Ghost Ltd, and together they drop this new album with no features, just these two!

Now, in my previous review (regarding his physical-only drop ‘Dollar $ign Diaries’), I spoke on the fact that I could feel his maturity and growth in his lyricism, accepting life as it passes him by and evolving as a self-aware MC who uses his experiences and knowledge to elevate himself.

While all that is true on that record, I feel on this one he’s just having fun going back to what made him famous and brought him to the dance to begin with!

While that album was a special peek into his vulnerability, this one feels like his iron wall pulled back down and him back on his ‘fuck the world, I’m the GOAT’ level shit, and honestly, it’s infectious! 

He sounds like his early 2020 self. Back on his selfish, bragging, and powerful vocal performances that are cutthroat, verbally massacring the competition and leaving such heavy imprints on the culture that it leaves a craving that no other artist can seem to scratch or remove! Long story short, when he drops it’s like a sonic tattoo on the underground. His impact is fucking permanent!

What I love as well is the lack of features. Even on the original ‘Gucci Ghost’ series, it had its fair share of names and affiliations, but the fact he’s deciding to come back AND do it solo? That’s a statement and a half! 

That’s Mickey confirming he never needed anyone to begin with outside of his umbrella soldiers, and it’s a move I respect more than anything (especially considering this project is 12 tracks long).

I feel at the heart of this album (as it has been for all of his drops) is his strong cadence and charisma. His baritone octaves and deep voice have a level of aura attached to it that makes every single word feel tough and precious. Honesty, he could probably just make a whole album reading children’s books and would still shatter records with the level of confidence and precision he possesses!

But the fact he also has one of the most incredible rapping styles we’ve seen in the last decade is further evidence of his mastery of flow, his unrivalled pen game, and his ability to rock a record solo if need be! He’s literally the whole package! 

What’s there to say about Big Ghost that hasn’t been said yet? Anything he touches turns to diamonds. Even outside of Mickey, he’s run himself a ridiculous production discography working alone, side names such as

– Conway The Machine

– CRIMEAPPLE

– UFO FEV

– EDDIE KAINE and so much more.

His reputation precedes him and comes with a level of expectation that is fulfilled each and every time. Now, times that 20fold, and that’s the quality you get when these two meet up. One of the most iconic players in the game as far as pairing goes! 

Across this album, we get that same heavy-handed, skeletal, and old-school boom-bap classics that had us all rocking from the 2020s Gucci volumes!

We get the same combination of soulful sample snippets combined with those heavy bass, sickening drum patterns, plucked guitar strings, and an overall atmospheric harmony and brilliant score that makes you want to come back again, again, and again! 

I legit had to pause and check my phone at the intro of track 2 ‘High Steaks’ thinking I had accidentally left the shuffle button on and played the original Gucci Ghost record! They played the intro to track ‘Stone Island Shooters’ which had me going nuts! Love the throwback!

We have tracks like ‘I Dare You’ which has that iconic snippet of a Ric Flair promo which evolves into an 90’s RnB/Hip Hop inspired instrumental with those plucked strings, heavy synth chord running through and groovy drum pattern that runs through! 

This is one of those tracks you’d play in the car, windows down bumping your head!

There’s the song ‘Blood Moon’ which has a creepy scream at the start which sets the tone of the track. On this song we have these methodically paced guitar strings alongside some echoing chords and light bass strings which makes for one of the more minimal tracks on the record!

I love the horror reference raps by Mickey and the various adlibs on the song! Truly exceptional!

Once again, (as if it’s a surprise to anyone) that this makes for another modern day classic. The simple truth is this. When it comes to Mickey and Big Ghost, you can’t loss. They don’t understand the concept of taking an L and they never will!

Mickey is Bangkok Dangerous, he’s a Gucci Ghost. Whether he’s watching ‘Ric Vs Flair’ with his Bulletproof Bathrobes. He understands there’s No Liquor Before 12 but as he’s Imported Goods he knows It’s 5 O Clock somewhere.

Understanding that Nobody Bleeds Like Flair and that Flair 4 The Gold that’s what gives him his natural ‘Smoke Face’

He’s Mr Oroku Saki himself And His name is death. 

Oozing characteristics of NOIR, sending out death threats and capital gains he’s not only the Super Shredder but Mr Motherfucking Gucci Gambino AKA 

-Diamond Cutter or THE WOLF TICKET. 

shoutout to -D-Styles for the cuts on the album! 

https://bigghostlimited.bandcamp.com/album/wolf-tickets

(Fish, Chips & Guns)

Wow, I wasn’t expecting this pairing up. Two men who share similar lanes and work alongside the same type of artists, but the idea of these two on the same record is surprising and bound to be a special occasion! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new surprise drop by MC God Gotti and producer Lo Katana! Two of the most interesting names in the culture currently, and pairing up for greatness!

9 tracks, 15 minutes, and -FLYG on the feature list! 

Now, I gotta say, as frequently impressed as I am with Gotti across all his releases, his performance on here impressed me the most! He was more fluent than I’ve ever heard him. He was laying down bars after bars, verse after verse, relentless in his motions and equally as sharp.

There were no gimmicks or trying to be funny in any way, just raw, rough, and rugged bars that were also equal parts smooth! 

He was hitting on all cylinders on this one. I genuinely haven’t heard him as focused and tapped in as he was on here. It was crazy!

He doesn’t waste any of the 15 minutes given. Besides the intro track (which was only 22 seconds anyway) or the ‘Wifey Interlude’ (which was 42 seconds) and the various features by main man FLYG, it’s all him rocking that luscious Katana production!

Speaking of FLYG, he absolutely killed his verses on here as well! I don’t think I remember these two collaborating prior to this, but regardless, their energies and passions for the game are similar, so I knew it would be a dope process, and it was! He’s on his prime, shit-dropping two solid verses filled with his trademark set-up bars and one-liners! 

As far as the production is concerned, I can honestly say Lo is quickly becoming one of my favourite producers in the world right now. Every time he drops something new, it’s always gorgeous, masterfully done, and angelic in execution. 

He’s the type of guy that can make the audio equivalent of an ASMR clip! Or turn the waves of an ocean or a beautiful summer’s day into a musical experience! 

He’s always out there creating soulful, funky, and atmospheric instrumentals that warm up the body, mind, and soul! 

He also doesn’t waste any of the 15 minutes. Honestly, he’s like the hip-hop equivalent of Phil Collins! That surreal production, the goosebump moments, and build-ups that keep you coming back for more! 

This whole album plays like a heavenly score created by a mastermind. A man who knows the secret to harmony and ascension! 

I can’t praise these beats enough, seriously. It reminds me of Phil Collins x Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild soundtrack. The depth, the immersion, the immaculate use of the instrumentation, and everything in between. 

This is truly god-level shit. He’s just going around, minding his own business, creating modern-day classic-worthy instrumentals and dipping. He should be the one on everyone’s mind and mouth, be the one the culture is critically acclaiming! This shit is dopamine in a bottle, and it’s nothing short of phenomenal!

To a collaboration I wasn’t expecting, to a pairing I can’t imagine without! With the addition of FLYG, this record breaks all expectations and comes out the other end as one of the strongest albums of the month! Check it out below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2ThIYKiIAouSXfSNJrc0mR?si=HqIyYqpDTfKR_of_AHlNSA

(DOLLA $IGN DIARIES)

I’ve counted many blessings in my career so far. From the support I’ve gained to the volume of artists willing to come to me for reviews to the growth I’ve experienced in just under a year’s time, but I’d count the opportunity to listen to this physical-only drop for a Serpent Tongue exclusive among my top honours, and with that, I’ll be persuading you, the audience, as to why not only has this duo not missed a beat, but somehow grown in their time apart. Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new limited edition album by one of the most powerful and influential collaborators of the modern era.

MC and Umbrella soldier, returning to the scene, Mickey Diamond! And of course, accompanying him is one of the most iconic producers we’ve come across in the last decade, Easy Big Ghost Ltd! Together, they reunite for another modern-day classic continuity from their legendary ‘Gucci Ghost’ series.

8 tracks, 24 minutes, and some of the most mind-blowing music I’ve heard all year, and that’s saying a lot. 

Across this album, this feels like the natural sequel to Gucci Ghost 4. As great as Gucci Gambinos was, I feel this one is superior as it’s more contained and structured to the original atmosphere of those 4 previous albums.

In the opening track (and outro), we get this theatrical take on spoken word. The intro has a preacher’s speech, while the outro has more of a thug spoken word, like a night/day ‘yin vs. yang’ mentality to it. 

Both tracks feel lively, they feel cinematic, and gospel. As if they are speaking undeniable truth that everyone needs to hear. 

From there, we get that classic Diamond X Ghost chemistry that the industry has been missing the whole year. I’m talking about that heavy bass, surreal piano keys, ridiculous drum patterns, and even a touch of sharp violin that forces you to bop your head for the entire 24 minutes uninterrupted! 

I’m sitting here writing this in a restaurant and on my third listen, and I still can’t stop moving and mean-mugging the world (that’s the effect this record has on you!)

In trademark fashion, Big Ghost presents a score that’s organic, mastered, and raw in every fabric of the score. He’s inherited the spirit of the original 4 and found a way to elevate, level up, and heighten every single aspect that made those albums memorable and raised it 10x fold.

Even in the small things like the intro to the track ‘Meet The Dealer’ where we have a snippet of a parent finding out their son is involved in illegal shit and trying to tell him about the consequences and ends with the dad yelling ‘ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!’ To have that be the last line before the rapping makes it feel like a sickly tale of caution to the audience!

Same said on the track ‘Plenty Of Money’ where we have an argument between a man and a woman which kicks off one of the more smooth tracks on the album with those plucked strings, soothing bass, and methodical drum patterns! This one feels more like a reflective track where Mickey can bare his thoughts and past on the song!

And it’s core, this album feels like a direct expression to Mickey’s more matured, thought-provoking, and reminiscent lyrics, and Big has crafted each song to match his mood, emotions, and mental state at the time. That level of synchronicity is beyond rare these days, and the fact we got this type of connection even after years of experience together is phenomenal.

Mickey Diamond. The man that has crafted a discography so mythical that it’s hard to believe it’s that good (but it is), and despite the endless stream of classics in his collection, this one might be his most introspective and raw lyrical performance I’ve heard from him.

Don’t get me wrong, if we are talking straight ability, he hasn’t aged a day. In fact, like a fine wine, he’s only gotten more devastating in his ability to murder a beat; his one-liners are more creative, sharp, and smooth! There’s a song on here where he weaves in a line about ‘Good Burger’ and ‘Kel Mitchell’, and it had me trying not to scream on the bus when I first heard it! 

So, when taking ability, you should slap yourself if you think he’s lost any sense of skill. BUT there are so many verses where it sounds as if he’s baring his soul, he’s telling us what has been burdening him since he’s been gone, and I haven’t heard him being that brutally honest in a while. 

Across this album, he’s blending his trademark braggadocio bars with personal revelation, and it’s in that fusion that makes his verses stand out on this one!

On his past albums, he sounded like the most charismatic and talented young and hungry MC in the game! Now he’s the Don. He’s the one calling the shots and instructing the new generation how to do this shit! 

With years, he’s matured and developed a sense of his own mortality while also continuing to confirm his rightful position as the top of the underground food chain alongside his Umbrella family, reinforcing REAL HIP HOP. And this newfound awakening of Mickey could be the most deadly form of him we’ve seen yet, and I’m excited to see what the future holds with his music!

For those who have already secured a physical, you’re in for one hell of a time! For the rest of you. All I can say is hopefully this makes it to streaming because this is one of the most complete, structured, and quality albums I’ve heard from the man yet (and yes, I mean that!) shoutout to the duo dominating the culture one album at a time! 

(The Rise Of 80)

It’s been a solid minute since I last covered this man! An artist who brought a new level of depth and creativity to his music that I really haven’t come across since. But a surprise DM later and I’m back into what is bound to be another mind-blowing experience that will live in my head rent-free for the next foreseeable future! Let’s go!

This is the brand-new record by MC Casket D. With production from the likes of 

– Bailey Daniel

– Elite (from DreamVille)

– Falak and more.

And MC credits of

– Shorts

– Oaklin Winthrop

– No-Artist

– G3NESiS

And when I say this record is special, I mean that in so many different aspects. For example, the ‘80’ in this album title is a throwback to his debut album ‘80 Loafs LP’ and a celebration of the progress he’s made from the bottom to where he is now!

As he did with the other project I covered, this album focuses on themes that are beyond the human experience. Beyond dope bangers and radio tracks, but topics of humanity, the soul, living with regret/satisfaction. Death and life, there’s so much going on in this 13-track album that it’s impossible to listen to just once without going back and catching all the subtle/complex thought-provoking lines scattered throughout the album!

Casket D. Himself presents as an author, poet, and philosopher all in one. He’s the kind of man to sit in one spot just writing his thoughts for hours and taking those unedited thoughts to the studio for the pondering of the audience! 

He’s always given me the vibe of a man who’s never content with himself or the life around him, a man who’s always plagued with eternal thoughts and feelings of that he can’t exactly shake or solve but forever theorising and calculating the act we call life itself.

Across this project, we hear his freelance flow. His permanently curious eccentricity and his complex lyricism that will always have the listeners discovering and dissecting his bars to uncover the hidden meanings! One of the most interesting and inspiring rappers we have going today, to the point that each and every track is a life-altering event rather than a simple ‘Hip Hop album’.

Like how he says in the song – Bad Fortune 

‘I foster greed that’s my specialty, free will, do what thou shall when accepting me’

Who the fuck else writes like that? That’s some Aesop Rock level complexity, and this is the kind of raps he’s using across the board! Absolutely insane!

If the raps are extraordinarily performed, then the production is the shadow of the words. As was the case with the first album, the production has the same cinematic, surreal, and atmospheric qualities to level an imprint on your mind long after the record is done!

The entire 33 minutes, I felt these goosebumps run across me due to how masterful the production was done.

I’d say this is more cohesive as a full record than it is picking and choosing random ‘hit songs’ like you would with normal records. Due to the chemistry the instrumentals have with the words, they have to be played in order to feel the full effect, and so with that in mind, I don’t really have a favourite track as the whole score is my favourite! 

I love the fact this record is scattered with skits to further enrich the sound and the human experience! This almost feels like a mental/emotional and spiritual sonic experiment! Having this kind of synchronous pairing feels like a CIA mission to see how the human soul reacts to perfectly balanced music and words!

Although this record is 33 minutes, it legitimately feels like an hour due to its depth, detail, emphasis on each instrument, the sharpness, and ambient tone of it all! Absolutely unreal.

If you’re looking for a normal album, then skip this. This ain’t for you, son. If you’re looking to expand your beliefs and understanding of life itself, then go right ahead, click on the link below, and enjoy your newly changed perspective! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/3BPhIL7P0XWjHo6XsNJh3a?si=H_la95ccT221QhqGW7v3AQ

(Legit X Rex Seshunz-Born inside A Dream)

 I feel a lot of times when artists are releasing albums or any form of music. The one thing they lose track of is ‘the artistry’. For many, it can be a stale process of habit, obligation, necessity, but losing sight of the reasons and passion that brought them to the dance to begin with. It’s with this in mind that I can sit back and rejoice in the fact that artistry is not dead with this duo and company as they release a record that’s as beautiful as it is complex. I present to you 

Legit X Rex Seshunz -Born Inside A Dream

This is the latest collaboration project between MC Legit and Producer Rex Seshunz! This record also features the likes of 

-Mix and Mastery by Fresh Kils. -Cuts by DJ Uncle Fester/DJ Lando and MC features from the names as

-Theo 3

-Daniel Son

-Gene One

-Solomon Childs

-Jinnahcide

-KDB

-Unknown Mizery

One thing I want to express my admiration for in the lyricism is the fact that Legit is the type of artist to wear his heart on his sleeve and let his convictions speak for him. Across this project, he presents one of the most authentic and charismatic performances I’ve heard all year.

His lyricism is a mix of introspective storytelling and self-confidence/bragging bars as it sounds like he’s letting both sides of him come to life on this album and showcase his verbal diversity on the songs!

On one track, he’ll blow us away with his humble, witty, and thought-provoking bars that force you to play back the verses to fully grasp and understand what he’s trying to say and the various meanings behind his bars.

Then on other tracks, he’s out here using verbal precision and pressure with his harsh, gutter talk to show his contemporaries ‘if you want to go down that route, I can do that too’ an MC with no lane closed to him and a master at all! 

What also impressed me about his approach was his mastery of the basics! It may sound obvious, but a lot of people don’t have it or learn to run before they can walk.

I’m talking about the fact he knows how to structure a verse, how to utilise his breathing, making sure the bars land in harmony with the beats, not a tick before or after but right on time! 

If there’s any other indication of his abilities, I’d say it’s the features he brought with him. Names that are dominant in their lanes from Daniel Son to ‘The Mayor of the Screwface Capital’ Theo 3 himself.

Every man a powerhouse that Legit, legitimately holds his own against and brings to life a chemistry that only truly talented names could form, and he definitely counts as one of them!

As far as the production is concerned, I just adored the combination of Rex on the beats and DJ Uncle Fester on the cuts! Both legends in their own right and both able to create classic records on their own merits, so together? It’s a guaranteed home run!

On this album, we hear a masterclass of elevated underground hip hop where each element is emphasised, vivid, and amped to new heights and stands as a new bar for the rest of the culture to follow!

You can tell the production is born and bred from years of history and brotherhood. Whether that be growing chemistry with the same artist (as this is their second album together featuring Legit X Rex)

or throwbacks to acts such as ‘Babylon WarChild’ that appear on this record. (In this case the cello being played on ‘waters course’ by Stiltz from said group!)

Its rich history helps create the present landscape of music, and it’s a factor lost on many artists today! The importance of kinship and love! 

A few cuts on this track stood out to me more than most, and those songs are: 

-Dreamz On Reset. This song is a beautifully angelic take on an underground hip hop track. You’ve got those gorgeous violin strings and those hypnotic drum beats and thick bass that all come together for a minimal yet satisfying instrumental that Legit absolutely goes off on! Also the fact of that divine xylophone on the chorus? Get outta here with that! Atmosphere building to the max!

-Water’s Course is another ridiculously good track that I found myself going back to! For example, I love those chipmunk-style vocal harmonies at the start and subtlety throughout the track. I love those delicate piano keys in the background and those in-your-face drum beats! This track is more raw and gritty compared to the first but infectious nonetheless!

Or we can even look at the song – Cauterize, which has an old-school 90’s hip-hop vibe that I absolutely adored! First of all, the scratches and cuts were elite to say the least! On top of that, there are these groovy keys in a looping motion that had my head bopping the whole song! More funky bass and some methodical drums that brought the whole song together!

As I mentioned above, ‘artistry’ is a key factor that’s lacking in both the underground and mainstream. Something more should be concerned with, and I’m glad these guys have understood the necessity of it and brought back spirit to an ever-growing soulless culture!

https://buildingwithlegit.bandcamp.com/album/legit-x-rex-seshunz-born-inside-a-dream

(Hardcore Holiday: RIP SABU)

As an ECW stan, it makes me happy to know this isn’t even the first Sabu dedication I’ve covered over the year! To know so many people respected and were inspired by the homicidal, genocidal, suicidal maniac SABU! And in saying, we gather back with a single that is sure to be one of the most powerful and inspirational singles regarding this man and his legacy. I present to you

HARDCORE HOLIDAY

Brand new single by MC/Wrestling fanatic Teek Hall! A man whose lyrics are one that seems more often than not to suit my own due to his many wrestling references!

On this track, he’s accompanied by acclaimed producer SPGBamm, a man I’ve covered a handful of times of the year and one I’ve never been disappointed with! 

These two men go out to create the perfect tribute track to Sabu, and I could tell after only one listen that this one was something special.

Let’s start with that production, essentially a hip hop re imagining of his classic theme song ‘Huka Blues’. 

First, we have the intro using the spoken word announcement of the passing of Sabu to kick the track off in the most respectful way possible as the beat lingers alongside the words until the passage passes and we get both the beat and Teek appear in full swing, and we hear that re imagined beat kick in with full force!

It’s so sick to hear those thudding drums over those Arabian-influenced guitar strings and those thick bass turns this already classic theme song to new heights of memorable and infectious! To me, I’d compare it to the moment Alien Ant Farm dropped their cover of ‘Smooth Criminal’. Sure, the original will always be a classic, but I can’t go back! This is that for wrestling, and I’m sure Sabu would be in the spirit world bumping this shit heavy! 

Talking about heavy shit, we got Teek Hall doing his best to honour the legacy and make the production rock, and boy does he ever! He’s straight wrestling talk all the way through, no breaks or pauses in his style, just straight bars, puns, one-liners, and dedication to Sabu!

A few of my favourite lines of his on this track:

– Kayfabe was never the code, this was real life/could have retired at any time but it ain’t feel right

– I put my life on the line in a downward spiral

– Tornado DDT through the table out of spite/a leg drop on top of a neck and it’s good night

So many incredible references scattered throughout this song! He’s in full wrestling mode and I couldn’t be happier! He brings as much intensity to the performance as Sabu did every single time he stepped into the ring! 

Crazy flow, focused wordplay, eccentric execution, he’s doing the whole nine yards on this record and the passion and heartfelt admiration of the legend can be felt in every single line in this record!

If you’re a wrestling fan of any capacity, this is a MUST LISTEN track. It’s beautifully produced and phenomenally written! As far as tribute tracks go, this is the new one to beat! Go check it out now!

https://open.spotify.com/album/7stTHLtj2LNt2SN1pxUH2k?si=VcBnfjq5RXqN1rIow2LbYg