(Mack Julien: The Retape)

Man, what a roll this man has been on this year. After his February banger EP ‘Gasoline Bomber’ and now after a two-month project break, he’s back with his partner in crime to set fire to the industry once again!

This is the latest album by Poe Mack, which has 12 new tracks and features the production credits of

-Poe Mack

-Van Gunz

-D.R.U.G.S

-Linz Prag 

And cuts by the legendary Tone Spliff!

Now, right from the get-go, this thing feels and sounds like a love letter to the 90’s golden era of Hip Hop! From the lavish instrumentation paired with those beautiful chords, notes, and strings, accompanied by that hard-hitting traditional Hip Hop sounds with the old-school cuts and scratching, you have yourself a modern-day banger with a nostalgic twist!

You can actually feel the intention to detail and the fine-crafted execution and love put into it by the various producers. These five names are letting their ‘passion’ for the game speak for them. This is the beauty of the underground: you can find real passion and enthusiasm for the art of hip hop that isn’t tainted by money or corporate greed, just pure and genuine talent and admiration for the culture, and that’s exactly what we are seeing here!

The MC skills of Poe have been tried and tested for years now, and he’s only getting better with age. He possesses a methodical approach to his rapping, and it makes every word, bar, and verse be something to listen to and wait for. Similar to the effect of a Pusha T-type artist where you’re not rushing to talk, just slowing your pace up and delivering with your intricate rhythm and lyricism that fans have no choice but to hang on your sentences.

As per usual, his flow is steady and precise. His pen game is excellent, and his overall studio cadence, energy, and aura is at an all-time high, making him the one to look out for right now! (If that wasn’t already clear in his February drop)

As usual, his pairing with Van Gunz remains a staple in his music, with this dynamic duo trailblazing the competition and opening up new undiscovered lanes to conquer and conquer! 

All in all, no surprise to be found. This project was hella dope, with a lot of fun and exciting production, with powerhouse producers and a dope MC reuniting with his partner in crime to kill this shit all over again! 

https://poemack.bandcamp.com/album/mack-julien-the-retape

(My Next Ex)

You know, sometimes in an artist’s career, they decide it’s time for a temporary or permanent switch-up in their musical endeavours. Whether this one is long-term or one-off, we have yet to see, but based on the info I read about this release, it got me curious to see how this artist navigated the other lane, so to speak. So let’s talk about it!

This is the latest album by Sy Ari Da Kid, with all songs being produced by FeralJag, featuring 11 new songs with the likes of: 

-K CAMP 

-Jastin Martin

-Joe Trufant 

And this album is an R&B record! So a completely different switch-up than the one I reviewed months ago. He’s embracing his more sensual and sexual side, baring his open and brutally honest thoughts alongside some smooth, skeletal, and emotional production that definitely has that modern-day alternative R&B vibes with the acoustic, synth chord combinations that are more attributed to acts like: 

-Frank Ocean

-SZA

-Summer Walker type sounds, and it suits. What’s happening across this album is he’s letting his soul and consciousness decide the atmosphere of the record, as the lyricism and instrumentation go hand in hand in creating the ‘structure’ of this record, as one can’t work without the other.

From the opening song, we have that revealing female vocal snippet with her confession, which sets the tone for the album, as we immediately have Sy telling us his intentions and guilty pleasures all over the track.

Lyrically, this kind of reminds me of SZA’s ‘SOS’ album or the one even before that, ‘Ctrl’, in the aspect of pure unadulterated honesty, for better or for worse. Sy isn’t concerned about keeping his thoughts or intentions to himself and is making a risky move being so open, but the fact that he is going all the way with it gains a bit of respect for the courage to make an album of this magnitude!

The sounds on this are very smooth, sweet an even hypnotic at times. Very reminiscent of the albums I mentioned above, it’s the kind of album (instrumentally speaking) you could play and just sit back and relax and let the magic of the album bring you in and your body relax and your mind wonder.

A lot of fun and methodical RnB vibes with killer tunes, infectious beats and larger than life presentation of such sounds makes this a stand out production effort by FeralJag and the features definitely do their part in helping elevate this album to that next level!

All in all, for a switch up of this caliber I feel it was done exquisitely! The singing and vocal performances were on point, the music itself was immaculate and the features were golden! Can’t complain about this one and hopefully the rest of ya’ll can keep an open mind too!

https://open.spotify.com/album/2pfLIyTcFrwPmQeXyy51sL?si=wcxnEsfxRnumJlowZhJDiA

(Meditate & Manifest)

Man, two of my favourite artists in the underground are working together on a single project. After hearing and reviewing both artists, you’d think I’d have some idea of the artistic direction or process they will take with the music, but I’ll be honest, this album surprised me in the best way possible! So let’s talk about it!

This is the latest collaboration effort between MC PruVen and producer/MC Sleep Sinatra, who does production this time around for the full album! It features 12 tracks and is one hell of an experience! 

This isn’t the kind of album you listen to for ‘hit singles’ or ‘radio songs’. This album is for revelation, thought-provoking messages, and meditation. Across this album, you’ll get a sense of surreal music, hypnotic tunes, and instrumentation that is fused with ambient, experimental, and cultural musical elements that make this one stand out from anything else that has come out this year.

As a listener, you’ll feel something unique and healing about this album that you wouldn’t otherwise find in a normal release. The way the sounds fluctuate in its unconventionality and colourful melodies and diverse sonic textures and harmonies makes for the kind of record that will surely make you feel better off afterwards than you did before.

My favourite track has to be ‘Frequencies You Choose’ because it samples that eerie, dark tune that you undoubtedly would have heard on social media on conspiracy theory videos! I’m sure that sound is rooted in more complex history, but that’s what I know it from, and I find it dope that they are using that beat to rap on!

As far as the rapping goes, as expected, PruVen goes hard and shows off his original style of rhyming, flow, and lyricism. He doesn’t really have a structure to his bars and verses, feels free form, and as if he’s just speaking off the top and not actually Re sighting lyrics.

Across the project, we see him delve into various lyrical matters such as healing, society, braggadocio, and health advice. As I said above, this is the type of album that makes you think of the lines and take time to absorb and understand the lyrics themselves, and in that context, you couldn’t ask for a better rapper than either PruVen or Sleep Sinatra for that type of hip hop.

With every new release by PruVen, we get a different soundscape from him, and that’s why he’s on my radar. He’s always on the hunt to try something new, different, and creatively original. No two projects of his are the same, and this release is just another example as to why, among fans who are out of the box, he’s one of the most popular.

If you’re after an engaging and interesting project that makes you think, then this is for you! If you’re only looking for club bangers, then this isn’t the one. But I guarantee you’ll never forget it!

https://pruven.bandcamp.com/album/meditate-manifest-3

(Ask God For Help)

We’ve only just entered the month of May and it seems this one MC was lying in wait, buying his time before he could unleash this masterpiece to dominate the month already! So let’s talk about it.

This is the latest collaboration project between MC Asun Eastwood and producer Mk Ortiz, and together they release ten tracks with just under half an hour in length. This project features: 

-Bub Styles

-Cousin Feo

-SmooVth 

-Falcon Outlaw

-Shottie

-Maze Overlay

And let’s start with the production. Because Mk created a methodically designed atmosphere featuring beautiful instrumentation with abstract sounds, foreign instruments, lavish chords and notes, as well as clear-cut and crisp technique that makes this sound like a sonic fever dream! It feels as if each song is its own personalised chapter that adds up to a full story told.

I love how a lot of this album presents a guitar-heavy nature in a lot of different styles from Spanish, Metal, acoustic guitar strings, which provide that level of originality missing from a lot of albums today.

This duo is set to do something different and refresh the underground as we know it, and this is the way to do it!

For example, the track ‘For Help’, which is an instrumental track, makes me think of ‘Maggot Brain’ in execution and aura. Not to mention right after that track, ‘Debaucherous Diary’, which features a melodic choir vocal accompanied by a beautiful jazz melody. 

Just on the production alone. This thing is leagues above the rest! The way they are testing the waters and going completely out of the box is something I not only welcome but heavily appreciate!

On to Asus. The man who is one of the most sought-after feature artists in the game right now, and for good reason. He has the whole package as an MC, and when he’s on his own shit, he’s even better!

To do this level of production justice isn’t easy, and no average rapper could pull it off, but Asus is the furthest thing from it. He has a strong enthusiasm on the mic, his energy is high, and his lyricism is absolutely ridiculous. He’s never been one to make a lame move on the beat, and he’s got a pen game that can rival anyone else in the game.

The fact he decided to rap alongside arguably the best going in the last few years in Maze Overlay is further proof that he’s down to test his game against anyone in the game and doesn’t shy away from friendly competition and absolutely kills the outro track.

This man doesn’t have an off switch or know the meaning of the word ‘no’, he just does his own shit, his own path, and forces those around him to respect his work, grind, and contributions to the game without ever compromising! A sentiment he did share on ‘Married To Money’ with that Joey Diaz voice sample.

All in all, this is going to be a tough album to beat this month or this year. Absolutely savage collaboration, and the features go OFF just as hard! Definitely don’t want to miss this one! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1DeoG1OtQQCy93PCF8CJXg?si=Ae8H4KjCRV6PkPL-yjkjNw

(Inspired By The Corner)

You know, it’s very rare for me to say I’ve covered a full solo project by the legend himself Tone Spliff but I’m honoured to be doing so. If you don’t know who this man is then that’s truly the biggest crime you could be charged with.

He’s one of the most prominent, profound and prolific producers going right now and I’d even consider him one of the greatest of all time, period. The way he’s shaped and melded the underground is beyond incredible and his infamous level of quality is notorious and with all the different work he’s done for other projects (my favourite being his collaborations with Vic Monroe) and now he’s going solo and I can’t fucking wait to dive in!

So this brand new Beat tape has 14 tracks and all production is done by Tone of course has what he delivers here is one of the grooviest and infectious beat tapes we’ve heard all year! So many different influences from

-G Funk

-East Coast

-Soul

-RnB

-Funk

-Boom Bap

-Jazz and more. 

He’s a master of his craft that can transform any element of sound into a dope beat that can ring in your head for days on end. 

I love his use of technique and old school loops and instrumentation that just makes you feel like your listening to beats from the late 90’s early 2000’s era in how larger than life they feel or how bold and powerful each sound was and how it made you wanna groove and you can just imagine the whose who of rappers, rapping over these joints because of the perfect execution on the production and how bright and colourful they are! 

Also the fact that there’s a variety of different inspirations and styles makes this project that much better. Whether your talking the track ‘MMM HMM’ with his tasteful use of that vocal sample over that traditional Hip Hop beat or if your talking about ‘SPENDID LOVE’ with that smooth, heavy synth sound record which has a blend of soul and funk mixed it with a 90’s classic era Hip Hop beat in the forefront as well as that harmonious female vocal snippet added into the mix.

The point being no matter what track you decide to play it will be masterfully done, passionate, energetic, lively, original and unique in it’s own special way because that’s just the kind of artist Tone is. I’ve been following his career even years before I started my website and he’s not made a subpar track or project yet and this one is no exception!

So please, sit back and tune in to this masterclass in production as he’s one of the very few who can provide this experience! 

https://tonespliff.bandcamp.com/album/inspired-by-the-corner-instrumentals

BRAP (Born Rewards & Penalties)

It’s time for Estee to add another producer to his ever-growing collection of collaboration albums, and this one is bound to be a banger! Let’s talk about it!

This is the 2023 collaboration between Estee Nack and producer V Don, who has also been putting in his time in the underground, and together they come together with 11 tracks and 33 minutes in length! With the features as follows: 

-The Hidden Character

-Primo Profit

-Rigz

-ETO

These monsters would be a lethal addition to anyone’s arsenal, let alone a powerhouse like Estee! And in my opinion, what they accomplish with this record is a ‘celebration’ record. This is a ‘we’ve already crossed the finish line 4x over and now we’re just having fun with this shit’ type album, and the way the sounds are surreal and rich in cultural instrumentation and big bass notes and chords makes me feel like they infused Louis Vuitton fabric into the music itself to make it that extra rich and vibrant shit.

A lot of these tracks feel pitiful and petty, as if they are making this dope, dark, raw, and gritty beats just for the sole purpose of giving off the sonic middle finger to the composition. This definitely must have been a side mission project for these two who didn’t need to massacre a dead boy but decided they just had to flex the competition for the fuck of it, because they can, and you can hear the well-deserved arrogance woven into the production!

Speaking of. Once again Estee is on that methodical, take his time to murder the game type shit. He’s not worried about going crazy on this one as he’s already the top of the game, so he’s sending a warning message to everyone who dares standing up to face him again.

There are a few sentimental-sounding tracks like ‘Who to Trust’ with that harmonic beat, and he’s talking personal shit on it, but at this point, he can talk and do anything on a track, and it will come out excellent.

Of course, with the lethal MC’s by his side, he uses his natural talent and charisma to accompany them in sharing dope verses, fluent lyricism, and god-tier pen work. 

This one, as said above, feels like a victory line album. Like a couple of Goodfellas circling around the area they just beat down to see if anyone’s even up just to shoot at the corpses. Absolutely insane record and amazing chemistry as expected! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0IdvFvVuQfrssVKNxiA2OT?si=Jc14nLjFQwSEhX18OW1a4g

(IWANNAFXCKCARMENHAYES)

Besides discovering one of the best discographies in the hip-hop period, one other aspect I love about diving down into his old albums and aligning myself with his producers from back in the day is that if they collaborate again, I can be familiar with them, and none more important than Grubby Pawz, who is working on the latest Estee X Al album in 2025, but before that, he helped release two of Estee’s most expressive and interesting albums in his catalogue!

This is his second collaboration and somewhat sequel to his ‘I WANNA FXCK’ series with Grubby Pawz! Featuring 14 tracks with the likes of: 

-DJ Rec One

-SPNDA

-Hidden Character

-Codenine

-RLX

-Datkidbravo

-Singapore Kane

-Al Divino

Now, I have to say, Grubby this time around has released one of the most ‘grounded’ Estee Nack albums I’ve heard since his earliest days. The production is so skeletal and grim, combined with beautifully orchestrated jazz and also dark, cinematic ambient drone sounds (especially at the start), that it sounds like ‘Noise Metal’ inspired. As the album goes on, we have more down-to-earth beats such as track 2 ‘HOODSANDHAV’NOTS’, where it’s just a straight-to-the-point, heavy bass, traditional beat boom Bap track.

Of course, you have gorgeous moments on the album such as track 5 ‘SEXAPHONESESSIONNUMBERSIX’, with those angelic jazz notes and Estee practicing some nice singing on this to make for an overly sexual love song, something like Snoop Dogg’s ‘Sexual Eruption’ track but definitely muddier in execution.

Regardless, I love how down-placed this album feels. Of course, we have probably weeks of hours’ worth of experimental and chaotic drops by Estee, and so on the occasion when he switches it up, it’s a refreshing switch of pace to hear! 

Going along with this different production, we have Estee also trying new, more laid-back, and sensual delivery and style, and I gotta say it suits him! This album feels like his rest mode album that he makes before going wild on the project to come!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely not boring, and he still has his signature charisma and personality that brought him to the game, but it just feels like he’s taking his time, spitting fun and more witty bars, and just flowing with the instrumentals more instead of trying to manipulate or craft it differently, just working alongside it, and as a result, it sounds more fresh in execution!

Of course, you still have certain tracks like ‘UNTITLED’ featuring his partner in crime Al Divino, where he snaps back into his beast mode, but other than that, in comparison to other projects, this one is a lot more groovy and savvy than usual, and I’m all here for it!

Another banger to add to his discography and pairing with Grubby. It all makes sense why he’s the one chosen to represent him on his latest upcoming album! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2NQwtfti76DLzWx5F7hecr?si=zSRgdmQWQbehv8fEbe_EJA

(PLEASE! PUT MY MIND TO EASE)

*Players, ready to FIGHT!*

Nah, I kid. But for real though, this kind of music reminds me of Tekken! I was rocking hard to this, picturing myself as Jin Kazama killing the competition! But I digress. 

This is the latest EP, Beat tape by producer ‘Ernest H. Carter’, another opportunity that was made possible by him reaching out to me, which I’m always eternally grateful for! And as I mentioned, this is a beat tape, so instrumental in structure with five tracks in total. 

Now I’ll admit, right off the bat from the first song ‘DANCE CUT’, I thought this was going to be some straight Fight Game Tekken hype music (and that track was), but as the album got deeper and I stopped visualising myself as a jacked 8-pack Japanese man, I discovered this album has a lot more sonic depth than I expected. A lot of elements such as: 

-Jazz

-Piano

-Rock

-Soul

-Ambient 

-Experimental

-Hip Hop

And the way these all blend together honestly remind me of the late great Nujabes in the way he’s able to blend all these elements in an exciting and originally creative way to make sure every genre shines and it’s all brought together into this music soup where every flavour is recognisable. 

I fucking love projects like this when you hear a quality beat tape, NOTHING else compares. Like for me, my favourite beat tapes are: 

-Knxwledge ‘Hud Dreams’

-Madlib ‘Shade of Blue’

Both these albums represent and glorify each specific sound to its utmost significance and peak. Making every beat, every chord, every note sound magnificent in result. This is how I feel with this one.

Every track is beautifully crafted, composed to perfection but done in HIS WAY, not losing an ounce of his originality or fun with making the record, and honestly, what’s a project without fun? A boring one.

Can’t say I was expecting what I got out of this, but damn it was FIRE. Let me put your mind at ease, Ernest. YOU KILLED IT. 

https://ernesthenrycarter.bandcamp.com/album/please-put-my-mind-at-ease

HD (Hosted By DJ Flipcyide)

It’s been a minute and a half since I last reviewed CAOS. In fact, if I remember correctly, it was his Valentine’s Day album that I covered last! Now he’s back with his label ‘XECUTIVE HUSTLE ENTERTAINMENT’ and with the legendary ‘DJ Flipcyide’ as the host, this has the potential to be something special! So let’s talk about it.

This is the latest compilation record by Chaos featuring the likes of 

-Muzikk 

-Nike Genre

-Nero

-T.G

And produced by the likes of 

-BEAZOOTH

-CAOS

-SIDESWIPE

-ISAC NO BEAT

-SEAN DIVINE

-LOB BEATS

-BOUKLAS

-MIRROR BEATZ

-BANGERZ

Now, you can tell CAOS and all affiliates involved were focused on making this as grand, lavish, and big-sounding as they possibly could. This sounds like a statement to me as if they are trying to say ‘it’s our time now, everyone else move out the way’ and the way they utilise their energy, enthusiasm, and big ball aura across this record.

This kind of project feels like a stadium mainstream Hip Hop record you’d expect to hear from the mid to late 2000s with your 50 Cents, your Young Jeezy’s, your early Kanye West, etc., very glamorous and high-end shit that is meant to come across as a tier above the rest in its presentation, which I find dope!

DJ Flipcyide definitely adds a good vibe to the album similar to how a DJ Drama would do in the same fashion, adding that hype and excitement for the listener’s experience, helping to level up each track from good to bumping! The formula of having different names on each track gives it a ‘cypher’ feel to it that is dope to feel that level of friendly competition and grind between the artists, which is always great to see and hear!

The names involved definitely feel they put their best foot forward to create the best atmosphere possible. Each verse is original, lethal, savage, and satisfying! They made sure to prioritise their chemistry and synchronicity on this album. Nothing worse than listening to a compilation like this, and the features feel forced or awkward or bad in general.

Thankfully across this one, we don’t have that problem. Each man is not only dope individually but work well as a team which is super important in this setting!

Overall, a fantastic big time showing by XECUTIVE HUSTLE ENTERTAINMENT and curious to see where they go from here! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4llL0LsVoSkCI7yKi7Sbaw?si=aqmkASKLSrGwYrM94N8o2w

(Battle Royale)

If I had to think of all the great groups, artists from the 90s who have been thriving and growing their consistency and originality in the present day, is there a better answer than Onyx? In the last few years, you’ve had Fredro blow up in his production career, helping make dozens of solid projects, and then the group as a whole releasing banger after banger, not including the album they just dropped not even a month ago, and now this? 

THIS IS HOW YOU MAINTAIN A CAREER.

Anyway, this is a collaboration album between Oynx and French hip-hop group L’Uzine, and together they are featured by producers: 

-G High Djo

-Tony Toxik

-Stab

-Cenza 

-DJ Rolxx 

-Gash

-Permafrost

-Draw

-Fredro Starr

-DJ King Flow

-Effet Papillion 

-Chilly Gonzales

And man, this one definitely feels larger than life. I know I repeat the phrase a lot, but it definitely feels like it on this one because you have a real studio ‘Battle Royale’ taking place across this album. These two super groups going back and forth is like a free supply of adrenaline to the bloodstream and also provides the perfect example of the fact you don’t need to understand the language to catch someone’s infectious energy, passion, and aura on the beat! 

Even if Onyx wasn’t in English, there’s no way people could deny their ruthless power and intensity, and the same goes for these boys, French or not, they absolutely destroy the tracks with their flawless flow, precise tones, and rhythm across the tracks! The chemistry between the two acts is undeniable and makes you feel like you’re listening to a gang from two regions coming together in unity, which is a scary thought to witness in person, but on the musical side of things, it’s absolutely dope! 

On the production side of things, it’s just as giant as the MCs involved. We have big, bombastic beats and chords/strings that come together with sharp bass and gargantuan presence and surreal atmosphere that is the perfect battlefield for these two Titan collectives.

This ain’t the album to go for if you’re looking for a ‘sentimental’ or ‘thoughtful’ experience. Nah, fuck that, this is full-blown raw boom bap in your face, relentless tunes that don’t pretend to be anything but the savage sounds they are! 

This is 53 minutes of unadulterated madness, with each producer going pure chaos mode and bringing out the reckless intensity of the MC’s and possessing them with these rhythms that will kick your teeth in if you’re not ready to handle the heat! 

Warning. If you can’t handle the heat, don’t come in the fucking kitchen! But to the real ones, be ready to experience one of the greatest collaborative albums in years!

https://open.spotify.com/album/3lAQ6ADktTeYIR9Nt3utr5?si=3xiSbJWWTrmACQUWo2fqKQ