(The Black Album: Revisited)

Man, talking about taking a trip down memory lane. We are going all the way back to 2018, and on this special review, we are talking about one of my favourite rap albums by my favourite rapper of all time, ‘Jay-Z’, and his ‘Black Album’. 

An album that is engraved in the fabric of Hip Hop and changed the landscape as we know it today. But as fantastic as that album is, we have produced ‘BigGhostLtD’, a man who, to say it lightly, has created a new wave of standards and quality in this modern era with countless present-day classics that just can’t be matched. 

But on this day in 2018, he decided to take on a mammoth of a task and make a near-perfect album even more so! So let’s talk about it!

First of all, it seems like Big Ghost has brought a new level of ‘bombastic’ that wasn’t originally there. 

His level of unparalleled production and masterful attention to details is clear on this one. With tracks like ‘Encore’, for example, a track with the original having a dare, I say, ‘flat’, and not as exciting instrumentals in the album, especially after the refreshed Linkin Park X Jay Metal edition took over everyone’s attention regarding this song.

But Big Ghost adding slowed reverb beats with heightened bass and a more snappy drum pattern to finally make this track feel ‘alive’ compared to the original. Not to mention the classical instrumentation that runs through the song gives it that ‘theatrical’ flavour it didn’t have normally.

If I had to choose the most interesting spin on the album, it would have to be ‘Dirt Off Your Shoulder’, which arguably had the hardest beat on the original, but on this re imagined version, Big has added an almost 80’s ‘surf rock’ flavour to the track. Making this track feel like a montage song they might have used in an offshoot grease film or some movie with a beach scene with some wild teens. I’d have to sit on this one for a few days, but I can’t decide if I enjoy this beat over the original, but regardless, it’s fresh and definitely interesting!

On the flip side of things. The track 99 Problems, which to me (the original) always had a bit over-the-top chaotic energy to it as far as the production has. But on this one, Big Ghost gives it a more relaxed, smooth rendering with big guitar notes on loop and some kind of flute sound, but still, I think this version suits the song more!

The song ‘Lucifer,’ which again had one of the best beats on the whole tape with that pseudo-reggae atmosphere to it by Kanye West, but on this version, while maintaining the reggae theme, Big adds a more slower, deeper, rich production with a more ambient tone to the track, and I gotta say I fuck with it!

As far as a re imagining goes, this one is as legit as it gets. Such fresh, crisp, and versatile experimentations that I can’t help but respect the vision Big Ghost was trying to convey over this one, and I feel everyone should give it a listen at least once! 

https://bigghostlimited.bandcamp.com/album/the-black-album-revisited

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(PEN LORDS 4)

When you talk about factions in the Hip Hop right now you’d be hard pressed to find any as consistent and fast paced then the infamous ‘Pen Lordz’ across their respective members they’ve dropped more albums collectively this year then possibly anyone else. Let’s talk about!

This is technically a record featuring producer Arsinel and rapper Fam Ross. But it may as well be an album by Pen Lord Audio Messiah as he’s featuring on almost every track. The only lord missing is Gold Matter but despite that his presence is felt in spirit and essence!

Right off the bat. From the intro track featuring Born King this one already feels larger than life. It feels serene, it feels sonically different than the rest of their projects so far. The production quality is theatrical and cinematic in execution. The use of classical instrumentation is absolutely breathtaking and it sets the scene for a most compelling and memorable listening experience.

I feel like on this project they are informing us that they are already at the finish line and they’ve set up chairs and tables of food and just letting the victory soak in. It’s not as grimy as the other albums, not as much ‘urgency’ in their sound as in previous and this is exactly the reason why. They are already out of the race and now any new project they release either as a collective or otherwise is just side missions at this point.

Now, onto the rapping as discussed above this time around it’s a more relaxed, smooth and easy verses then on projects previous. Between Fam Ross and the others you can hear their relief, confidence and embracing of the finish line and then proudness of the work they put into the game so far that they are just spitting what comes natural to them.

I love their mellow rhyme schemes, their deep and powerful wordplay and their mastery of penmanship. That goes for all the features on this project such as

-Born King

-Andrew Jackson

-Ramon Yancey

-King Adroit

All who help push this relaxed and peaceful narrative and it comes together to create one of the best atmospheric experiences on an album I’ve heard all year!

So, for all those who haven’t already heard a Pen lord album, then shame on you but this is a good place to start! If you’ve been keeping up to date then this could be their best release yet! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5ASuBUwdoTTLCrT2pK1fxX?si=GNRaVcEzQymqfnkuszkTKg

(Lo Jack)

After an impressive first album release in ‘Word’ Hip Hop’s workhorse is back with another banger single! So let’s talk about it!

This time around he features legend ‘ethemadassasin’ and produced by ‘Junior Markno’ and I gotta say this single has a strong 90’s Boom Bap feel. This feels like a track you’d hear cats like Nas, Jay-Z, Wu Tang would rap on! 

It has a vibrant, raw and crisp drum pattern and sharp keys alongside a light vocal loop in the background that gives it that extra ‘spark’ to light up the instrumental and make it pop!

The structure of the rapping is having Ethemad starting first and Maze closing the track off and as anyone who isn’t living under a rock would know E killed it! His notorious flow, wordplay, energy and charisma are on full display on this track! He sets the tone for Maze to come in and absolutely slay!

Maze comes in strong with a perfectly fluent flow over his verse that made me shake my head in how crazy hard he went on this one. I was thinking to myself ‘Is it really not possible for him to ever take an L?’ And the way things are going it seems he’s immune to the idea because he always seems to get sharper and stronger with every new release! 

This is an exciting teaser of things to come! A dynamic duo that will make everyone in the culture happy! Check the single out now!

https://open.spotify.com/album/7ewTCgvAWIRWSDHsRM2a5w?si=0bo6PPGFTC2w67jaB0o-vA

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(Unholy Scriptures)

When we talk about labels that have been on a roll these past few years, it’s hard to look past 100MAD and their various contributions to the industry, whether we are talking about the vast albums produced by Fredro Starr or the rise of this man right here and why his 2025 releases could be the big game changer that shakes up the culture.

So, this is the latest full-length album by rapper AYOO BIGZ with 13 tracks and a 36-minute run time. The features on this project are as follows:

-Shottie

-RJ Payne

-Daniel Son

-Fuego Gawdz

-Benny Watts

-Sayzee 

-Sticky Fingaz

-Spit Gems

-Fuego Base

-Pete Powerz

-Snotty

-Bubu The Prince

And I’ll tell you what, the first thing that came to mind when listening to this project was how it reminded me of a DMX album (but if the Christian symbolism was flipped), like how X would make these tough-as-fuck raw albums, then do prayers in the middle or end in this scenario, it’s a tough, uncompromising album but with AYOO using the ‘unholy’ identity instead. So that was my first thought on this record.

Across these tracks, you’ll hear some of the most raw, gritty, killer Boom Bap/East Coast bully rap you’ll hear all year, period. This is what it would sound like if Nems was just jumped and on a war path for revenge.

The sounds are deadly, the beats are heavy and cut-throat, and the whole album feels like the sonic equivalent of walking down a dangerous street at midnight. A feeling of tension and unease comes across the listener while listening to this menacing body of work.

As far as AYOO goes, he’s, of course, got the rugged and rough-around-the-edges persona unlike anyone I’ve ever heard. As I said, you take a Nems, piss them off. Insert DMX’s “ don’t give a fuck” attitude and then top it off with the cadence of Sticky Fingaz, and you get BIGZ. 

Absolutely terrifying delivery, crushing flow, and wordplay, and every sentence he drops remains felt minutes after the delivery, making this whole project feel like a fever dream that you won’t recover from hours after the fact.

With one of the strongest entourages of features you can get on a record, they help push and lift this record to even more sinister heights with their grimy aesthetics and cold-blooded verses.

 Honestly, this is probably the hardest album dropped so far. It’s ruthless, defiant, and downright brutal from start to finish, and anyone who is looking for that tough, bully rap won’t find it better than here! 

Shoutout to all the producers who had this happen such as

-NAR

-Nickel Plated

-J Slash

-ITRAK

-Fendi Pendergrass

-Lord Nexusz

https://open.spotify.com/album/3hZp8i3zb6ocw8whfx0aoL?si=2vvWdzNeRSKedrvPDWfxPg

(Donation Link)

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(Thousand Yard Stare)

What an exciting day for the culture indeed! The last time I coveted this artist was his 2024 project ‘Strapped’ back then featuring Fredro Starr on the production, but now in his first album entry for the year, he’s accompanied by producer Body Bag Ben, a man who has done more than his fair share of grinding in the underground, and now they’ve come together for a dope record that could very well be considered for album of the year!

So, 10 tracks. 37 minutes of run time. Across this project, we have features from

-Red Inf

-Lukah 

-Royal Flush

-Vel Nine

And across this project, we see Body Bag present a Boom Bap experience that is unlike any other. Instead of relying on the same (dare I say exhausted) at this point clichés and trademark sounds, he’s utilising different sounds and instruments to create a more ‘engaging’ and ‘diverse’ soundscape for the listener. For example, the track ‘Stay Healthy’ where he uses what sounds like Spanish acoustic guitar as the base on the instrumental.

Or the track ‘Chosen’ which has what sounds like Asian-style notes plucked in the background to make the song sound ‘larger than life’ or ‘theatrical’ in execution.

Even the song ‘G Code’ with that harmonic/Folkish notes at the start which then dives into a switch-up with light, keys in a melodic arrangement.

My point being, although the skeleton of the album is Boom Bap and gritty in nature, the moving parts, outer layers, and personality of the record are all fresh, original, and creative in alignment.

In perfect synchronicity with these amazing beats, we have an equally amazing MC in UFO Fev. A man who has also spent years grinding and perfecting his art, craft, and skill on the mic until he arrived where he is now as one of the most sought-after rappers to work with.

His trademark raw energy, his passionate wordplay, and smart lyricism make him a force to be reckoned with, and this album is no exception as he shows all these qualities in spades. His flow is timeless across these beats, and his confidence cadence is infectious to hear.

Even amongst the dope handful of features across this project, he’s unfazed and maintains his professional skills and knowledge on the mic to remain solid across each of the 10 tracks!

Overall, a fantastic performance by the trio of MC, producer, and features! Definitely a strong contender for ‘Album Of The Year’

https://open.spotify.com/album/20ylt5WXvTILyDYRcBRRIo?si=2Pqh43M0Q0SDZeCdffbdjw

(Donation link)

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(Music Up In Here)

I know it’s been a minute and a half since I last covered Taiaha’s music. But every time I revisit his albums, I forget just how magical his vibe is. He’s unlike any artist I’ve ever heard before or since. Whatever mana he carries with him into the studio is definitely one of a kind, and once again, I get the chance to cover his music, so let’s go!

This time around, he’s coming back with 6 new fire tracks! And although a shorter project than previous works, that same magic and traditional aesthetic is woven into every song!

From the very first song, you can hear those melodic vocals combined with that amazing tribal production that only he could pull off. As someone who was born in New Zealand, it sounds like I’m walking into a teleportation machine, and I’m back on the local streets of Auckland, hearing the everyday Māoris with their guitars in hand and vocals top-notch! It’s a feeling of home that, for some reason, no other artist can provide me outside of your classical ‘NZ Reggae playlists.’ Regardless, this is one of many reasons why I’m always excited for a new Taiaha release because he brings the spirit with him.

As the EP continues, you hear a variety of different vibes and sounds from: 

-NZ Reggae

-Soul

-Soft Rock

-Hip Hop

-RnB 

A lot of different sounds and inspirations, all brought by BVA and mixed and engineered by Dave Atkins, the legendary drummer of ‘Wolf Mother,’ who features his drums on tracks such as ‘Hot Forever.’ His influence on this project brings that extra piece to the puzzle to push this EP from amazing to phenomenal!

As far as Taiaha himself, he’s never lost a step. Whether he’s gone for 5 or 10 years, he’s going to sound immaculate on the tracks. He has unmatched energy, passion, resolve, and cadence. His soul can be felt in every bar he spits, and it goes through your headphones and to your heart. 

He’s not alone this time around with features from: 

-Brad Strut

-Shook

Who both kill the parts they are on and pair with him nicely! 

The Verdict? Another dope addition to the ever-growing fantastical discography by Taiaha. I’m going to make sure to push this as much as I can because he is an artist that’s special to me, and I guarantee if you give him a chance, you’ll feel it too!

https://taiaha.bandcamp.com/album/music-up-in-here

(Donation link)

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(Face/Off 2)

Let me tell you off the bat this is an idea I pitched to either Philth or Q Rap one of the boys about an album where they rap off against each other in a beat tape version of a thriller film! Turns out that was already a thing just with a different guy! 

So, this highly anticipated collaboration sequel project featuring both Philth Spector X Killer Kane has 13 tracks (12 features and 1 bonus). 

Upon listening to this project it feels as closely as a ‘Beat Tape Battle’ as I could have expected! Every track has high energy featuring both artists of course I’m not that versed in beat tapes or their signature techniques to know who is who on each part but they both don’t just look similar they sound it too! (In the best way possible)

There’s a variety of influences on this project such as

-Ambient

-Lo Fi

-Soul

-Classical

-Funk

-Hip Hop

And when combined by true professionals like these two are you get magic. Although done by two different artists the music itself is fluent and wave like. Flowing through each track seamlessly with barely any disruptions or moments to break the rhythm. It sounds like 1 long song broken up into 13 parts It’s truly a work of art in pulling off such a feat.

I love how the energetic and tempo can alternate between one track and another, on one you can have a faster paced guitar heavy track like ‘Two Face’ and on another like the song ‘Spaced’ you can have a loop heavy, audio equivalent of sunshine rays on a breezy Sunday stroll with those relaxing synth keys.

Each track has its own personality and character to it which ultimately makes every track stand out!

These two are definitely masters in their own field. Both pulled off a masterclass in beat tape artistry and both are now on my watch list permanently! (Well Philth already was but now Killer Kane definitely is too!)

https://philthspectorxphilly.bandcamp.com/album/face-off-2

(Donation link)

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(The ESP Tape)

I’ll tell you now, if Hip Hop had bingo cards, then this would definitely not be on it. After his 2024 drop with Crotona P, we haven’t heard from Mike until now, and boy, what a way to start the new year! Let’s talk about it!

So, this album features the rapping of Mike Titan and production by Zcience Division. Featuring 7 tracks and a handful of features such as:

-Crotona P

-Tali Rodriguez

-Generalbackpain

-Feral Serge

And right off the bat, this production and themes are some of the most interesting I’ve heard all year. On the surface, this album is about ‘The Mystery Of Telepathic, Telekinetic, and Psychic Powers.’

And Mike x Zcience do a fantastic job at portraying this narrative with eerie/creepy instrumentation, thrilling conversation samples, and voice notes.

The frequent mentions of Scientific Methods and conversations about aliens and the supernatural give this record that ‘mystic’ feel to it that I haven’t really heard this year besides the new Clipping. Record 

This album’s structure has a fluent switch-up between clips and interludes and the actual rapping itself. Instead of having one aspect of the record overwhelm and take over the other, I feel each piece is done at the exact right amount to keep listeners on the edge of their seats and at the same time enjoy the dope lyricism and features included in the rap song portions! 

Speaking of dope lyricism, we have Mike Titan, who, I’ll be real with, his 2024 release ‘This Is The Place,’ record amongst the other drops didn’t blow me away, but I knew with time he would definitely drop something that would be right up my alley, and this album is the definition of that!

The way he drops his methodical wordplay and smooth flow and conceptual penmanship are excellent to hear!

Nothing worse than listening to a record with a big, powerful theme, and then once you get to the actual verses, they have nothing to do with the concept of the album! That shit pisses me off, but you don’t have to worry about that for this one because Mike keeps everything theme-related while dropping dope bars. 

The various features, including 6th Man’s own Crotona P, also drop fire on this one. Each feature upgrades the songs they are on and helps maintain the strength of the record as a whole!

Overall, I’m surprised and in the best way possible. This record is where it’s at! Shoutout to Zcience for the production! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6FkExHfuEa3MeHDvpwDeFd?si=DbGmdOhHSD-KotHp1PWP4w

(Donation Link)

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(Acquired Taste)

I know, I’m going back a year with this project, but sometimes dope projects just come to my attention, and I’m compelled to write on it! So let’s get into it!

This 8-track project is a collaborative effort between rapper ‘Breeze Mantana’ and producer ‘Trox’, and on this project, they feature

-100GrandRoyce

-Maze Overlay

-Marcus Strokes 

This project, although short, provides a rather unique and rich sonic experience to the listeners.  The production sounds polished, uptown, and grand in execution. The kind of beats you’d expect to hear coming out of a Lamborghini or a famous who’s who party. I love how Trox was able to utilise specific Hip Hop beats and turn them to gold. Combining various instruments, samples, and inspirations to not only make the listener feel boujie but provide a variety pack of sounds to enjoy.

Also, I love the use of intros, outros, and interludes. It gives this project that extra ‘theatrical’ atmosphere to the record. There’s even an interlude about the luxury and price of caviar. If that doesn’t scream ‘rich’, then nothing will.

Onto Breeze, after listening to this album, I came to appreciate his ability to navigate such soundscapes in a smooth, crisp, and elegant fashion, where his vocal performances blended with the production rather than sticking out like a sore thumb over the top of the beats.

He has velvety flow, witty wordplay, and smart penmanship. His lyricism ties into the theme of the record and adds that layer of depth to the overall project.

It isn’t every day where someone can match the likes of Maze Overlay on a track, but Breeze proves his worth as an MC by standing toe to toe with the legend himself and across the whole album showing why he should be the one to keep an eye out for.

Overall, a short and sweet record. Brilliant chemistry and fantastic features! Win/Win/Win as far as I’m concerned! 

Shoutout to -360bags for the artwork! 

https://breezemantana.bandcamp.com/album/acquired-taste

(Donation link)

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(MegaFoul)

Sometimes, I like to travel back in time and discover how certain artists sounded with their first releases, see how they’ve evolved since, and how far they’ve come. Today I have the opportunity to go back to the first EP by Umbrella Collective’s Kingpin Pro Dillinger and his project with producer Megaladon.

This was released in 2020 with 5 tracks and a total of 15 minutes in length. I’ll start with this: surprisingly, Pro doesn’t sound much different than he does now, quite scary when you think about it. He’s been this intense of an MC since day one and hasn’t changed since. On this EP, he has his trademark gritty, raw, and cold-blooded delivery, and his vicious flow and cadence are as tough as they’ve always been. I feel the one slight thing different is his verses are a bit faster delivered than usual. As he’s progressed, he’s slowed down his pace on the mic, which makes him sound more cerebral and sinister. 

But honestly, besides that, he sounds identical to how he is now, as the WWE likes to say: ‘Then, Now, and forever.’ Pro Dillinger will be the hardest.

Now, Megaladon is someone I’m new to. The one thing you can tell is that although these beats are heavy boom bap excellence, they’re a few tones lighter than what Pro would nowadays associate with. Of course, back then, this would have been a period of experimentation and trying different sounds, and so we get this, but it’s far from bad in any sense of the word! This production still goes hard as fuck and delivers those crisp, polished, and ruthless instrumentals stiff enough to knock your head off!

There is one smooth cut on the album: the track ‘Listen’ ft Jazzy Joyce. This is the only lighter, jazz-influenced side of the EP. It feels unique to hear Pro on something so mellow, but he makes it work, and Jazzy always delivers a fantastic verse!

Overall, for a debut EP (if the internet was correct), then this is phenomenal. The world got to experience the legend of Pro Dillinger for the first time, and the culture hasn’t been the same since. Megaladon also proved himself well and, hopefully, since then has gone on to become a must-have name because he was incredibly dope!

https://open.spotify.com/album/6e4eeJqw0a9F15Gd6wNsK7?si=SxNPG7l4Tlq4iKSkaRefuw

(Donation Link)

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