(She Called Me Scum)

Well, I had no idea what to expect from this track, but it definitely wasn’t this. This is an artist I first discovered yesterday, as he produced a track for FAWKEM, and now he’s showcasing his own stuff, and so let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new single by rapper, producer .Tetsuo, and on the track, it’s 3 minutes and 41 seconds, and believe it or not, it actually samples a fucking Christmas song. 

I didn’t even think this could be possible until today, but for real, this whole song (beat and all) is just a classical piece that sounds like a 1980s Christmas song with those luscious, dreamy horns and beautiful keys and all, but played on loop with the male vocal snippet on loop. There’s no actual hip-hop element to the instrumental; it’s literally just a sample on loop, which is fucking impressive.

This is some West Side Gunn-level engineering. But ironically, the one song this reminds me of is the Kanye and Kid Cudi track ‘4th Dimension,’ how that track begins with that old-school tune but then evolves into that experimental rap beat.

The difference there is that it actually does evolve into a hip-hop beat. This one just remains a loop, kind of like WSG’s song ‘RIP Bergdorf,’ how it’s nothing but a sample loop.

Regardless of that incredibly unique production, we have the man himself who raps his ass off over this beat. He has a very fast and chaotic style to his verses. It kind of reminds me of an early Tyler, the Creator in its messy yet unpredictable way of rapping (imagine Bastard/Goblin Era Tyler but sped up). 

There’s no pause in his rhythm or wordplay across this song. It’s all just fast-paced, fluent, and lethal pen game.

I will say I wish there was some sort of structure between the words. Instead of being one big, long verse, I feel this cut up into one or two verses and slowed down so that the audience can hear his lyrics more clearly. Plus, I feel it would benefit that gorgeous production more to have a more methodical pacing. But that’s just me; maybe my brain is just too slow to catch the words, but besides that fact, it’s a dope track regardless!

Yeah, in conclusion. Although I would have preferred a bit more ‘slower’ rendering of the vocal performances, the actual rapping was dope and so was the production, so that shouldn’t detour anyone from checking this one out! 

(FAWKEM SIDE A)

After reviewing a couple of singles by this man, you can bet your ass I was beyond excited to finally review a full project by him. Considering he’s one of the most unique and original MC’s I’ve discovered lately and how hard his singles went, I just knew a record by him would go hard! So let’s talk about it!

So, this is the debut album by MC FAWKEM. Including six tracks and one feature with ‘JACK2UN’, and let me say this right off the bat, I fucking loved this album.

Immediately as the album started, I fell in love with that production, and the further the album went, the more my feelings grew stronger! The soundscape and beautiful atmosphere of this record are almost too much to describe. We are talking elements of: 

-Jazz

-Ambient 

-Soul

-Classical

-Swing

These kinds of sounds I was not expecting when I first played the record. Considering I’ve heard him on some of the most emotionally driven and infectious trap beats I’ve ever heard, I was assuming his debut would follow the same energy, but instead, he’s embracing the opposite. These instrumentals are soft, delicate, intricate, gorgeous, and satisfying to the highest degree.

Each song has its own methodically placed, surreal, breathtaking production that features elegant strings, grand keys, and angelic melodies that just put your mind, heart, and soul at ease as your ears are focused on nothing else but the beauty that is the sounds of this album. The only

album that really comes to mind ‘Production-wise’ is Knxwledge X Anderson Paak ‘NxWorries’, although not sexual in lyricism, but the same style of awe-inspiring instrumentation with that larger-than-life feel to it!

I can honestly say, although only six tracks, what he does with these handful of songs is more than 90% of what the game can do with a big-budget 20-track project. Because it feels organic and naturally produced. It feels down-to-earth and authentic in representation, and that’s why this album hits the way it does!

Another main factor of why the album goes hard is because of FAWKEM himself. A man who always seems to surprise me and surpass any expectations I thought I had for him. The way he lays down bars is unlike anyone I’ve heard in a while.

As I stated in previous reviews, he has the ability to change his form at will. Whether that be by hype and energetic or thoughtful and introspective or smooth and collected! He changes his position depending on the track at hand, and that level of performance is something I can guarantee you isn’t normal!

Across this album, he features unbelievable pen game, smooth flow, and intelligent lyricism. There are parts where he talks his game up, and others where he brings up personal moments in his life, such as ‘going hair for a cheeseburger, then half it to eat.’ He has his feet in all possible lanes of lyricism, that again impresses me more than anyone can know!

A lot of people attempt to naturally switch lanes but fail miserably. But that’s never a problem for FAWKEM. Whether he wants to talk street or introspective or personal or talk social commentary, he can do all and do them well! The feature on this album is also fire! He brings a solid chemistry to the album and stands out enough to be memorable!

Overall, as I would have expected. This project was SOLID. Immaculate production and even more so MC work. I highly recommend everyone listen to this work of art! 

https://soundcloud.com/htownwvmo/sets/fawkem-the-album?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=0&si=F8F540E149694BB38B7F572D212B8FD5&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

(URBAN MINDSTATE)

After I reviewed his last single, I can honestly say this man rose straight to the top of the list of artists on my radar! He’s easily one of the most passionate and energetic rappers I’ve heard in the past few years, and this latest single proves that even further! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest single by MC FAWKEM, and this time around, he’s determined to shake the whole world up with this banger! I’ve listened to this track five times in a row already, and I’m going to listen 100 times more because this thing goes HARD!

Let’s talk about the production first. This feels like an explosive combination of gritty, hardcore, OG trap, Southern 2000s Hip Hop! From that heavy bass to those melodic vocal harmonies to those 808 kicks going off!! The combination of these three elements reminds me of Lil Jon and the Eastside Boyz and early Gucci Mane!

It’s raw, ruthless, groovy, infectious, and hard-hitting all in one! I haven’t heard an instrumental as tough as this in a minute! This brings back memories of my teen years when I first discovered this genre in its purest form, and it stacks up just as well as those artists back then!

Now onto the man of the hour. FAWKEM, as he’s notorious for, goes HARD. I love how he can fluctuate between sounding smooth and collected to hyped up and energetic! That back and forth complements this beat, and not only that, something I’ve noticed that he does, which very few artists pull off, is his ‘freelance’ form of rapping.

Pretty much, it sounds more like he’s just thinking out loud and speaking his mind in the booth rather than spitting written-down bars because of how organic, natural, and fluent the flow feels! He doesn’t have a pattern to when or where he drops bars and manipulates the beat to fit him best with his lyricism and pen game, and that’s what makes him unique!

Overall, I’d rank this two minutes and thirty-seven seconds of some of the hardest, most memorable Hip Hop I’ve heard in quite some time! FAWKEM has that unique ability to leave an impression on everyone he’s on the mic with, and I can’t wait to see what more he has in store!

https://soundcloud.com/htownwvmo/urban-mindstate?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=0&si=7E86C1820E144E57B0A16C5646182885&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

LET HIM LIVE (RODNEY HINTON)

You know, whenever extraordinary situations occur in our society, whether that be for the worst or for the better, it’s common for musicians to use their medium to express their emotions and opinions on the matter, and on this occasion, we have a rap song dedicated to the man in question on the title. Let’s talk about it!

So, this latest track by FAWKEM, produced by .Tetsuo, and together they drop what could easily be the most powerful and strongest social statement of the year. 

Starting with that beat, it has what I would consider a somber, heavy-hearted-toned instrumental featuring subtle keys, an emotionally driving female vocal performance on loop that I would compare to the song ‘4:44’ by Jay-Z in the way it makes your soul cry when you hear it. In the same respect, I feel they were going for the same effect, and it’s definitely an intense experience.

Also, that ambient hip-hop beat to be used as the base of this track makes it even more substantial on the listening. 

Also, the way the track starts is also intimate. With the spoken word account of what happened and their thoughts and opinions on the situation. This obviously sets up the mood and the mindset for the track and specifically the lyrics to come.

This is where FAWKEM comes into play. To say he’s speaking passionately on this issue would be a huge understatement. Across this 2-minute track, he’s expressing his bare emotions, rage, honest thoughts, and all. 

This feels less like a written verse and more just anger built up and taken out in the studio over this beat.

He’s extremely expressive, to the point. Brutally truthful about his feelings towards the police and the case itself. Now, from someone who has only seen about this case from the outside in as an Australian, I completely understand the outrage and dangerous morale of the community, as I also believe this situation was a terrible misuse of justice. So, when I hear this man speak his mind on the case and the events in their entirety, it’s easily one of the most driven and truly outspoken tracks of the year!

This is definitely a humbling listen. This track ain’t concerned about radio plays or playing at the clubs or anything like that. This song is about making a statement and letting the world know that what took place was, in fact, beyond wrong, and FAWKEM, along with millions of others around the world, are letting their voices be heard! 

This is a track you cannot afford to ignore! 

https://soundcloud.com/htownwvmo/let-him-live-rodney-hinton?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=0&si=C5293FA5E5674812BFC60E609FA3EF7D&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

(Everything And Nothing)

Now, this album is my kind of speed! Although this is the first time I’ve discovered this man, he fills all the requirements in my personal preference for a solid, fresh, and engaging 43 minutes of content! So let’s get into it!

This is the latest album by MC Huey Briss, and along with ROHO on the production, we have 14 of some of the dopest tracks I’ve heard all year. Also, what I feel makes this album sound different from the rest I’ve previewed is that it’s maintained the lyricism and deep, meaningful verses while also showcasing production and instrumentation that represents the mainstream with its big, bold, and powerful sounds and million-dollar mixing sounds as profound and professional as I’ve heard all year!

When I went through my first run through of this album, the production reminded me of some solid early 2000s West Coast purity. Quality you’d hear from Dr. Dre or even DJ Quik, DJ Battlecat, in the way the instrumentation is crisp, grand, theatrical, and beautiful all in one. 

You can hear the orchestral-level emphasis on the power of the instruments, how they ripple, amplify, and transform throughout the listener’s body and soul with execution so organic and well delivered that it literally has the presence of an elite atmosphere you normally only get with the legends of the game. Absolutely incredible!

As far as the MC work goes, it’s somehow just as incredible as the production! We are talking some of the most heartfelt, smooth, and fluent bars you’ll hear all year. We are talking Common ‘Be’ level smooth.

The way this man spins a narrative or tells a story, his in-depth details, and precise lyricism and rhythm is truly something special to witness. He has a special sense of ‘authenticity’ about him that I don’t feel with most rappers I hear. Along with that, he also showcases aspects of humility, self-confidence, incredible passion, and enthusiasm combined with lethal pen game and strong cadence to match.

When listening to his verses, I couldn’t help but be taken back by his all-round skill and finesse when delivering his bars. Sure, he had his moments of braggadocio, as all MC’s do in the game one time or another, but for the most part, he felt like a humble student, soaking in the game, showing off his experience within it, and being the best MC that can be for himself and for those incredibly made beats!

I’d definitely recommend this album to everyone! Mainstream or otherwise. This is one killer record that will be on my repeat for a while! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7KuW3MbVl2KGEmT9xVZAyr?si=WmpuW6XESOOCItyvCrFP3w

(The Price Of A Sample: 8)

Talk about a long-lasting series! To have eight editions is a credit in and of itself! And I’d have to guess the longevity is due to the two powerhouse producers bringing this to life! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest beat tape by producers Jazzy Lion Man & Skip The Kid. Both I discovered through different aspects of the culture, but both equally talented in their own right, so when they come together for this 11-track 20-minute phenomenon, you know it’s going to be dope!

Now I can tell right off the bat just how surreal, ambitious, and lucid this album is. Even though it’s a beat tape, they’ve used their own masterful production techniques to make sure every single instrumental is compelling, gratifying, out of this world, and atmospheric at the very least! 

This is the kind of album you can listen to while getting high with good headphones on and just let the world go by while your mind is treated to a sonic experience that would make you mimic lucid dreaming and then some!

Every instrument feels cinematic, theatrical, larger than life, and fascinating in its execution. I love the grand horns, the harmonic keys, and beautifully orchestrated jazz elements! 

In fact, one of my favourite moments of the album is track ‘10 Mil in Coke,’ where we hear this detailed news report about a cocaine drug bust worth 10 million, and then it suddenly breaks into this high-paced jazz instrumentation! At first, that made me laugh at the sudden switch-up, but then the more I re-listened to it, the more it grew on me! Especially since towards the end, we hear Eazy-E talk, which is always a pleasure!

Speaking of, I love the track right after that one, ‘Eazy Jazzy E.’ I love its fluent and drone-like loop with those occasional beeping high-pitched notes to break up the repetition. Very skeletal yet super dope!

Although there’s no rapping to be found and may not be as aggressive as, say, Jazzy Fatu or any tracks featuring Here$ Johnny. This beat tape is definitely original, creative, and worth a listen for its tranquil and beautiful moments! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4kSol8eEz5uAuuYfxAqCgk?si=VRPj8AoJSgyOYNC3hCJdhQ

(Apex Light)

Now, this is the kind of beat I love to see this guy on! I’ve literally heard him rap on every kind of sound, influence, and sample imaginable. From the most muddy raw atmospheres to the most experimental and original! And now he’s back on his smooth boom Bap shit, and this is the middle group I feel he works perfectly in!

So, this is the latest single by one of the most consistent MC’s in the game right now, ‘Here$ Johnny’, and features ‘Mr Skip’ on production and ‘YOUNG STADIX’ as the second MC on the track!

As far as the beat goes, I love it! It’s so bloody infectious and groovy. Right off the bat, I love the looping ‘Left, Right’ vocal snippets that sound like a drill sergeant saying them. After that, we have a more classical and soulful male vocal harmony on loop, subtlety in the background, as this light female voice also is heard ever so slightly angelically looping as well for a mere second and a half. 

There’s a lot about this beat that screams cinematic and surreal energy. This is the kind of beat you could literally listen to for hours and never get sick of (And if you want, you are given the opportunity to do so, as the instrumental version comes with the single).

Regardless, this is a fantastic beat that perfectly complements Here$ Johnny and his frequent collaborator to go OFF on!

As expected, Johnny comes in hot and heavy with his trademark aggressive sonic running knee to the face of the audience as he rips apart this beat with his raw and rugged delivery, his vicious lyricism, and his destructive aura and rhythm that always sounds like he’s two seconds away from jumping out of your headphones to start something! It’s that no-nonsense, fuck what you say mentality that has made him such a household name in the underground!

Right alongside him is his partner in crime. The dynamic duo between Here$ Johnny and YOUNG STADIX has been well documented with past releases, and they further prove why their chemistry is among some of the best in the game right now!

Just like Johnny, he comes in with that ruthless energy, that undeniable charisma, and knock-your-block-off lyricism that has him damn near throw the dictionary at the beat with how well he utilises words, phrases, puns, and expressions! He’s the ultimate threat on a track, and working with such a phenomenal beat, he can do no wrong!

Overall, another fantastic showing by Here$ Johnny and company! For someone so consistent, he’s always on the money! Don’t sleep on this single or any of the previous! 

https://open.spotify.com/track/7L7V88kFJbT9hsWYsM1iZW?si=liF74sKnRZKH_jPmos8wHw

(Scarred Hands & Stained Pages)

Man, it’s been WAY too long since I last reviewed the producer of this record. I was honoured enough to cover some of his stuff years before my website and even had an interview with him via Zoom, and now he’s back collaborating with one of my favourite MC’s of the underground! So let’s talk about it!

This is the latest collaboration between rapper G Fam Black and producer Bofaatbeatz, and together they drop a fresh 10 tracks featuring 

-Kingdom Kome

-Lu Chin Chen

-Pryme Prolifik

– Aztec The Barfly

-OGBenGrimm

-Azariah

-P-Ro 

-Barbaric

-Oblivious 

-Sankofa

And if this tape has taught me anything, it’s that no one inherits the spirit and power of the old school like Bo Faat!

When this man is on the production, he’s able to encapsulate and bring to life the classic, vintage, crisp, and hard-hitting precision and quality of the early to mid-1990s with acts such as 

-Naughty By Nature 

-LL Cool J

-Ice Cube

-Gang Starr vibes that emphasise down-to-earth, gritty atmosphere while also providing larger-than-life instrumentation and grandiose sounds and aesthetics that make this not only a homage to the past era but also an originally crafted and designed piece of Hip Hop that showcases Bo’s incredible diversity, creativity, and masterful technique behind the beats!

When working with the monstrous MC like G Fam, there are certain sounds and beats that suit him best and highlight his unique and rare skills on the mic, and I feel Bo has constructed the perfect playlist for him to go off on; each instrumental pairs immaculately with G’s vicious and extreme performances, which makes this project even more impressive!

Speaking of the man himself. As I’ve said across multiple reviews, I’m always left shocked and surprised by G Fam’s aggressive approach to his delivery and flow on the mic. He’s the definition of ‘Extreme’; he makes 99% of the so-called ‘hardcore’ rappers sound childish in comparison.

When he spits bars on the track, it feels less like verses and more like vocal earthquakes jumping from beat to beat, destroying everything in its path! Pair that with lethal penmanship and powerful technique, and you have yourself a man who features all the skills to be THE force to be reckoned with in the industry!

Speaking of the current ‘industry’, the finale track (similar to the latest P-Ro X Mathias’ album) ends on a huge cypher-form track with all of the underground’s biggest names coming together as a collective to provide a final blow to close the album off.

Each artist delivers dope verses and impressive techniques and skills that showcase why they are some of the most talked-about talent out right now! G Fam and Bo definitely chose correctly for who should feature on this devastatingly dope cypher!

As expected. This collaboration project was beyond successful. The production was flawless, and as usual, G Fam provides his terrifying excellence on the vocal performances, adding to his ever-so-deadly discography!

https://open.spotify.com/album/5K0H42xniC04EjVP3IxqQn?si=GFPQX_mqSguTGqrYyhZ0uQ

(Tears In Your Eyes)

I’ll tell you one thing, seeing an album as smooth as this one brings tears to mine. It feels like the perfect ‘going away’ present for the listeners and die-hard fans. Although short in length, this one felt just that little bit more special than the rest! Let’s talk about it.

So, this is the latest record by mega producer Circa97, who this time around made a Beat Tape! Consisting of seven tracks, 14 minutes of content, and a producer feature in GialloPoint (how often do you see a beat maker feature on a beat tape?), anyway, with only a handful of tracks, this one has a certain level of intimacy that you don’t get from the others.

Right off the bat, I love the production style on this record. Why? Because it feels old-school! It feels classical and a representation of the golden era of music. This feels less of a ‘Hip Hop’ album and more just a ‘Classical Music Album’ with a Hip Hop twist.

The notes are gorgeous, the chords are riveting, and the overall instrumentation aspect is breathtaking to say the least!

If I had to pinpoint any of the seven tracks that feels most ‘Hip Hop’, it would be track three ‘Cold World’ featuring Giallo Point, but that’s a given considering it’s two producers in that field on one track!

But for the rest of the album, I can honestly say it just feels like a gorgeous piece of music that pays homage to the days of old. I want you to picture a 1900’s orchestral score. Think of all the glossy and shining production, the grand and cinematic musicians all playing in complete unison and synchronicity.

Think about the aura that would give off, the pure and organic atmosphere music of that caliber would create, and then I want you to try to picture that same energy in this beat tape. Although only under 15 minutes, it really does hit that way!

I’ve covered more than a handful of Circa97’s projects. I’ve heard him at his most muddy, I’ve heard him experiment with all kinds of different sounds, influences, and samples across all fields of music, and I’ve heard him create some of the greatest compilation records the underground has ever heard. And yet, we have never gotten this side of him (until now), and it’s a face I NEED the world to see!

Whether you’re a fan of beat tapes or not is irrelevant. This album goes beyond that! It goes beyond ‘Hip Hop’ but instead highlights the main key that keeps us all engaged and spiritually focused. QUALITY MUSIC! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/02AnOUrYmsyYrcKQD9of84?si=laZSTHs-R8CZCPZ1XDxdYw

(Life Kinda Different/Black Roses)

Today I have the incredible opportunity to not only discover a new dope artist but cover two singles at once! Only done this once before now, so let’s get into it!

This is the latest two singles by MC ‘LuAble’, with the first being 

-Life Kinda Different: 3:01

-Black Roses: 2:13

Now two very different tracks for their own reasons! Starting with ‘Life Kinda Different’, 

what I love about this one is its darker, more surreal overtones. You have those heavy bass plucked strings that thump in the background, and then you have subtly looped, is this vocal choir-style harmony that gives the track its ‘elegant’ nature. 

I love how when these two main features are combined, it makes an almost ‘Art Hop’, early to mid-2000s underground era production with your

-Illogic

-Atmosphere

-Brother Ali-type atmospheres, the type of song that makes the listener contemplate life and forces the audience to think. I love production like this as it was my favourite era of hip hop.

As far as the rapping goes on this one. He has a fantastic combination between witty and braggadocio bars and personal, thinking-out-loud lines that sound like he’s just talking in the studio about what’s been going on in his life without actually writing traditional ‘bars’ down.

For example, in his second verse, how he goes ‘Told me get my tooth fixed, mm well maybe/going through some fucked-up shit yeah lately’

That’s an example (to me) of the man just bearing his private thoughts on the mic without worrying about traditional rap bars. But the genius is he seems to go back and forth between your standard written verses to these moments so effortlessly that it left me nothing short of impressed!

Now onto his second track ‘Black Roses’, man, this beat is almost the opposite of the first one! Instead of having a more introspective vibe, this feels straight out of the 90’s ‘A Tribe Called Quest’ era with those thick bass lines, those synth chords, and that fucking beautiful chorus groovy loop with that small snippet of some vocal sample. Man, that is a tight beat switch for the chorus!

This is the kind of beat you can just hear Q-Tip or De La Soul could go off on! This is pure ‘Jazz Rap’ era instrumental, and I could listen to this beat for weeks and never get sick of it! In fact, it’s already added to my personal playlist!

Now. For this song, LuAble is featured alongside Dskillz Harris, and these two remind me of a modern-day Q-Tip and Phife Dawg! Their chemistry is flawless! Both have incredible flow, infectious rhythm, with fun and witty wordplay and pen game.

Unlike the other single, there aren’t really ‘heartfelt’ or ‘personal’ lyrics to point out. This literally sounds like a tribute to that classic golden era. This track is just fun, groovy instrumentation mixed with passionate, light-hearted displays of bar fests that just make you happy to listen to!

Overall, I love these two singles because they showcase the strength of two different styles of production and lyricism. Definitely don’t sleep on these two tracks! 

Shoutout to Dskillz Harris for production on these two singles! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4UVK0IAbWpDL8kU9L0NFZ0?si=Eb7So4_qQgi4GB2XV7-2pQ

https://open.spotify.com/album/4uwEYJiLuhT7WyXYrKPEyQ?si=ZpJKjr5vQs249ZV4TmPTYg