(Dying Embers)

Well, I can tell you all this much. I wasn’t expecting this! After covering his album with dope producer Hi-Q, I thought I had a sense of what I was getting myself into, but I was wrong. He’s pulled the rug from right under me and created a brand-new experience for me! So with that in mind, it’s time to dig in! 

This is the brand-new album by MC Samuel Tafari and Producer Szyslak Productions with 16 tracks and the likes ofDJ TMD andSeiza as the only guests on the album!

I can’t even lie, man. That intro instrumental had me in shivers. That absolutely haunting and chilling chord progression had me going for a second. I was in a sort of shocked trance until it slowly transformed into a more traditional type hip

Hop beat! But I’ve never heard a beat start like that, absolutely insane! 

The second track intro I found sick! As they sampled the vocals of legendary singerLeonard Cohen and his song ‘You Want It Darker’ off his 2016 album of the same title. (Fun fact, Leonard also narrated a 1994 documentary called ‘The Tibetan Book of the Dead’, fun little nod there.) But regardless, this intro strongly follows the same eerie narrative as the first in what seems like a theme! 

This song also transforms into a more booming hip-hop beat! I love how they continue to use the song snippets of Cohen! Makes for one of the more interesting songs of the whole album!

While the production on the album has its moments of haunting continuity, such as tracks likeLava Lamp with its dark interpretation of jazz horns or the songBeat The Count with its shrieking chord progressions and heavy bass notes, the rest of the album does seem to fit in the context of either lighter, more atmospheric vibes or straight, trademark hip-hop beats! 

It does feel like a nice variation to work with as it gives a little something for everyone. But for me, those more darker shades of instrumentals left the longest-lasting impression on me that I couldn’t even shake. This producer is no joke!

As we come back to discuss Samuel, he’s a man with loads of talent and a distinct voice about him! He ain’t just about rapping per se, but each song he rocks, it’s as if he’s trying to tell a well-written and well-performed story! One with extremely vivid imagery, full of cold and calculating charisma, and enough technique to impress both the old and the new heads of hip hop!

He takes these instrumentals head-on! Whether it’s the gruelling, sombre ones, or the more refreshing and lighter ones, he effortlessly works through them and provides a different experience depending on the tone and style of the beats! Sometimes he’s more methodically charged and serious.

Other times he sounds aloof and carefree as he takes a dive into his more introspective feelings and emotions!

Other times it’s just straight, brash, and in-your-face lyricism that is designed to keep you on your toes and give the portion of the audience the type of ‘raw, gutter verbal assaults’ that they want out of Samuel! Just like with the production, he’s giving the audience what they want in all varieties of forms using his expertise of wordplay, pen game, and use of vocabulary! 

I love how decisive, in-depth, and concentrated his flow is. He doesn’t fuck around; when he’s spitting bars, he’s doing so with intent! Each word means something in the grand scheme of things, and he puts it all there for a reason. It’s this type of approach to his raps that makes him such a profound artist to listen to!

Again, this was not at all what I was expecting, but I’m glad I listened to it because it’s going to be a game-changer. Make sure you give it a try and let me know how you feel! 

(Standing On Ceilings)

The first thought I had when I turned this album on was ‘did I just smoke a blunt?’ Because the vibes on this remind me exactly of how music sounds when I am. 

I’ve been introduced to new artists in a whole range of ways, but never quite like this! What a spectacular way to discover talent! I hope all future ones hit me this way! 

This is the brand-new album by MC Hunna Band$ and produced by Quiz! Together they drop a fresh batch of 13 tracks with 

– Pachino MG

– Dirty Sanchez 47 as the features for this rather explosive, entertaining, and atmospheric release that will definitely make you feel some kind of way (or if you already are, maintain the feeling).

I wanted to start off by taking the production! Because the instrumentals on here have an infectious, methodical, surreal, and cinematic nature to them that touches all the senses and gives you an actual ‘experience’ rather than just a random collection of songs put into a list! 

You’ve got examples such as none other than that intro track – Bird’s Eye View with that Pink Floyd-inspired slow burner interlude that evolves into this rhythmic production that has these plucked bass strings, skeletal drum patterns, and the occasional high-strung electric guitar string! It’s one of those groovy tracks that makes you wanna bump your head for the entire duration it’s on! 

We have the track – Standing On Ceilings that sounds like it’s ripped right out of YG’s ‘Still Brazy’ classics and I fucking love it! It’s got this heavy G-Funk influence with those synth chords, bass, and god it’s one of the most fun I’ve had with an instrumental in a minute! This is the kind of song that belongs on the radio! Infectious as all hell!

Hell, the track – 69 Malibu has a more smooth and harmonious interior with those glistening piano keys and light jazz-style drums and a hint of bass. There’s not too much going on with the layers, but they are produced so masterfully that it just becomes a relaxing and satisfying score rather than one that’s lacking in content.

When we discuss the performances, I was impressed by Hunna for a lot of reasons: his natural stage cadence, his ability to change his energy depending on the song (from soft to hardcore), his cunning wordplay, his adaptability on tracks, and even his vocal tones.

He fits the mould of this production perfectly. He has a certain way with words and pronunciation  that I found rather appealing. 

I think it’s because of his ability to turn it up or down at any moment, given his mood or feel of what each track needs.

For example, on tracks like -Poison, he has that slick street talk with that gravel in his voice that almost reminds me of a Maze Overlay accent, truly staunch and brash. But then you have tracks like -Standing On Ceilings where he ups his energy and stakes and becomes this hyped-up, evolved version of himself that’s intense and more locked in than ever! 

But at the same time, you can hear tracks like -Addict Mentality where we hear his more serious and introspective side as he bares his truth and personal feelings and experiences! 

There are so many sides to him, and his ability to express each of them is a talent not everyone has! To me, it makes more of an artist than most in the most traditional sense of the word because he’s using his performances to expand, experiment, and execute a variety of different ways to use his voice, and that’s sick in my opinion! 

Combine that with a genuine talent, fluent flow, and wicked pen game, and you’ve got one lethal MC!

Gotta shoutout Dirty Sanchez and PACHINO as well! Both artists absolutely nailed their respective parts and brought home that real, authentic rapping style that had both personality and power! They definitely elevated the record with their features.

I’m very glad I had the opportunity to discover these new artists. From the MC work to the production, it all hit on a solid, groovy, and ever-adapting level that most don’t hit! Check the link below to find out!

https://open.spotify.com/album/0CijzLKHHdOQZmCxkA5DPt?si=bVlAEWFfRqqSauJ1yFI_Ag

(Method To My Madness)

The more I listen to this woman’s music, a question kept re-appearing in my mind. ‘What would best describe her in one word?’ And the more I thought about it, there could only be one true answer. 

‘Soul’

This MC puts her soul and heart into everything she releases, and that passion and love is felt by us, the audience, and so (as it always has been) I am grateful for the opportunity to once again discuss the latest album by one of Hip Hop’s greatest rappers in the female division.

This is the brand-new record by MC legend Nejma Nefertiti, a woman with a storied discography that continues to get better and stronger by the years! On this one, we have the producer LuckCharmBeats working the beats, and the likes of 

-Destruct

-Napoleon Da Legend

-Magdalena Gomez

-Pos

-Shortie No Mass

And scratches by DJ Evil Dee

And let you tell you, readers. This one is something special. From the very first seconds of this album, you experience that trademark lively, old-school fusion of Hip Hop and Soul/Funk. She has the effect of breathing life into each instrumental she raps on, and the intro tells that tale well from the 80’s era scratches, the light vocal snippets to the consistent string progressions, and the thudding and hypnotic drums! The best way to start this album off!

But this isn’t all; there are so many examples of instrumentals that are full of life and energy and enthusiasm! For example, the track -It’s Us (featuring Napoleon) is one of those beats you won’t be able to help but groove to! It’s got these mesmerising flute samples that run throughout the whole song as well as this sporadic sound that appears and disappears every few seconds, which I found quite quirky and fitting for the track!

I also loved those rock and roll-style drums that go off in what sounds like this old-school late 1960s groove that I fell in love with instantly! It kind of reminded me of that concert scene in ‘Back to the Future 1’ when Marty is playing that rock and roll music! Needless to say, I fucked with it heavily!

Another prime example of this bursting instrumentation is the song -Kanya! If infectious harmony was a being, then this is what it would be! It’s a combination of experimental samples and classic boom-bap structure to create this fusion unlike anything I’ve heard before! From that bizarre vocal interpretation to that squeaky-clean chord progression and loose drum beats! This one feels more like the aftermath of a few joints surrounded by your closest friends and loved ones, vibing together!

Kind of reminds me of the same energy as Busta Rhymes’ classic single ‘Woo Hah!’ Same whimsical nature to it!

These are just a few examples of the type of beats and production you can expect from this album. A lot of variety in textures and sounds that make it all real fun to listen to!

When we discuss Nejma and her contributions to the album, we are discussing an artist, a performer who literally puts everything in her delivery, bars, words, and tone. She’s the type of MC that always wears her heart on her sleeve, which helps her verses alike more authentic, relatable, and easier to fuck with!

She’s your favourite rapper, favourite rapper. She has been repping her own lane for years now, developing and creating her own original style that is exclusive to her, and we get to see this in prime form across this new album!

From her impactful lyricism, to her spiritual performances and dope student of the game mentality that helps her stay rooted in the lessons of who she grew up with as well as keeping her verbal efforts in the modern day and bursting with high spirit, confidence and enough natural charisma to fill herself, the people around her and the culture for days! She’s just that powerful in her ability to light up the stage whenever she touches the mic!

The more I hear Napoleon on a track with her, the more I see him as her spiritual equal. Both are incredibly talented rappers but their certain chemistry is something I haven’t seen anyone else possess together! It’s truly remarkable and special (not to discredit the other guests they all left an amazing mark on the album and it’s replay value) it’s just Nejma and Napoleon hit different!

Once again, another gold effort by Nejma and company. Luck killed it with the beats and the verses and guests speak for themselves! Make sure you go click the link and support today! 

https://nejmanefertiti.bandcamp.com/album/method-to-my-madness-m-t-m-m

(NOTDEADyet)

This is an MC I find myself covering more and more this year. What started out as the occasional feature appearance has turned into now my third or fourth full-length review! What that means to me is that he’s making his rounds around the underground, and that’s an exciting thought! Anyway, let’s get into it!

This is the February EP Drop by MC D-DON with production from 

-RVSE

-Darius Lazar

-Q Three

-D-DON

And across these five tracks, although there’s a small handful of different names on the beats, it feels as fluent as if one man was responsible! And that fluency is a heavy experimental and noise-based take on the boom-bap genre that I feel is well executed!

So many of the tracks have this dark atmospheric  aura with sharp string progressions, chaotic and abrupt synth notes, methodical drums, and an overwhelming sense of unpredictability and insane sounds that come together in this one expression of unadulterated obscurity that somehow WORKS! 

It’s as if a tornado came through and created a house! You don’t expect all these abrasive elements to click, but the fact that they do (especially across a few different individuals) speaks volumes about the level of trust, communication, and commitment to this EP! 

You can tell each man had the same vision in mind. That each member knew what the project itself was going for, and that D-DON himself, acting as head of the table, made sure everyone and everything ran smoothly, and that’s a dope effort on his part!

If I had to play ‘DEVIL’S ADVOCATE’ and pick a favourite beat? It would have to be -unLIKE (track 2). To me, it’s the most eerie display of chaos across the whole five songs, and that kind of production is up my lane, so I loved it!

When we discuss D-DON himself, what makes him such an interesting MC is the fact he never has a stuck lane for his lyricism and storytelling. He’s always switching up what he wants to talk about and make it sound smooth as hell! Whether that be talking about his experience talking to his homies, or talking to his girl, or even talking about how he must be addicted to being uncomfortable off the last track.

That’s why he’s such an unpredictable card. You never know what side or mood you’re going to catch him on. He’s like a walking talking ‘etc a sketch’ board. Shake him once and you’ll get a whole clean slate for him to try something new!

We even have small moments of him testing out singing! (Such is the case on track 3 -orangeCRUSH) which is something I haven’t heard from him before. Regardless of his topics, he’s always got a crisp flow, a strong performance, and a heavy presence on the tracks that’s laced with cold tones and precise bars. I love the fact he can run an EP all on his own without any help! That’s the level of performer he is! A one-of-a-kind by the definition!

Although short, definitely not worth sleeping on. The production is unique and refreshing, as is hearing D rap whatever is on his mind! Peep the link below!

https://d-don.bandcamp.com/album/notdeadyet

(SUPREMEMACHINES)

This is an announcement no one in the world could have expected! A supergroup of the most epic fucking proportions! Three heavyweights who have conquered their respective lanes now feel the need to create their own Underground Bullet Club that is officially TAKING OVER! 

This is the absolutely enormous fusion of MC’s 067Red, ??? and ActionFigure 973. Curated by the one and only 1000 Words with an equally impressive production list the likes of

-Felons

-DirtyDiggs

-BONEWESO

-Tremendiss

-Cee Gee

-infamousgod

-REDHANDS

-Zilly900

With the sole features of -Mondo Slade & -GREA8GAWD appearing on the track! 

To say this album is magnificent couldn’t be more of an understatement. When you have the level of talent (on both the production and the vocals) you’re bound for greatness. As soon as this album was introduced I knew it was going to be a classic and I was right.

First of all, the names attached to the beats? You couldn’t ask for a bigger producer supergroup than this. They are the real-life NWO coming together, wrecking shit, clearing house, and leaving a mark that will last a lot longer than black spray paint! I mean this is some GENERATIONAL SHIT!

Every single name on this list is a powerhouse. There’s no two ways about that, each one could help make an ‘album of the year’ score just on their own (and have done that quite literally) so to see them working together is any underground hip hop fan’s dream come true.

From the cinematic arrangements of BONEWESO, to the minimal excellence and utilisation of Tremendiss to the larger-than-life and theatrical effects and sounds of Felons!

The iconic and lavish collection of instrumentation worldwide knows of Cee Gee who has reached the mainstream with his iconic beats! 

The smooth, hypnotic, and elegant bangers that only DirtyDiggs can produce! The type of shit that you binge smoking a Cuban cigar and drinking wine! 

Infamous God? You’ll be hard-pressed to find a producer more animated and expressive than him! He turns every track into a walking, breathing comic book panel! 

REDHANDS, a man who’s become more renowned by the hour thanks to his atmospheric, jazz-heavy influence fusions mixed with boom-bap! On some gritty Herbie Hancock-type shit! And who can forget Zilly900! One of the most underrated and compelling producers in the current landscape!

One to always push the boundaries and try a variety of sounds and inspirations to create a colourful sonic discography that no one can touch!

The point being, THESE NAMES ARE THE GOATS. You won’t find any better than them, and they bring their best food forward on this one with crisp, sharp, and hypnotic instrumentals that I guarantee will be on everyone’s replay list over the coming year!

If I had to play  ‘DEVIL’S ADVOCATE’ and choose a favourite beat out of this list? It would have to be -SUPREME MACHINES AKA the intro track by -Felons that was the PERFECT way to set up the album and the trio involved. That high-energy, heavy-handed instrumentation felt like an entrance theme! So fucking dope!

Speaking of the trio. We’ve heard all three rap alongside each other in different times. The most recent being on 067 Red’s ‘CALIFORNIA IS BANNING GLOCKS’ album on the song -HIDDEN AGENA which features all men. Obviously, I wasn’t the only one that was blown away by that combo because here we are now! 

This is like watching a Triple Threat match between prime HBK, Ric Flair, and Undertaker. Who do you even root for? When you have three of the absolute pinnacle of hip-hop in one album all on the same song, it makes you feel spoiled for choice as you find every new verse on the songs being your favourite! 

The great thing is, each man has such a different style and personality that stands out. From 067’s raspy vocal tones, with his in your face type delivery. Action with his iconic tongue in cheek/braggadocios bars where he’s pretty much the culture’s favourite wrestling geek Bully who loves to dissect every flaw of his opponents in the most creative and entertaining way possible! 

Then ??? The man with the one of a kind flow and tone. He’s the prince of splash style with his machine gun like rapping, his flexibility with his bars that wrap around beats like no one else can do and his unique form of street poetry that is equal parts cryptic and compelling!

With these 3 on the case, you can expect nothing but lava lyricisms, unlimited charisma and a hint of brotherly competition in the air. It feels like they are trying to out do one another with each verse delivered and I mean when you have 3 GOATS rapping together that’s bound to be the case.

Accompanying this trio we have Mondo Slade and GREA8GAWD both men (who are incredibly talented in their own rights) help establish and maintain the same course of pen game, energy and balance across the tracks! They hold nothing back and show why they deserve to be mentioned in the same manner as the other 3! Nothing but love and respect for those two!

I’m still feeling buzzed about this album. This has every potential to be ‘AOTY’ in 2026. From the impeccable curating by 1000 Words to the gold standard of production to the note worthy trio. This one is for the record books and if you don’t support this album, then why bother with the culture? BECAUSE EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALBUM IS THE CULTURE!

https://thehiddencharacter.bandcamp.com/album/suprememachines

(Obscure Pressure)

*New Artist Alert* 

In the last month alone, I’ve discovered more new artists than I can remember. It goes to show no matter how deep I go into the underground (pause) there will always be new cats to discover and this pair are two of them! Let’s talk about it!

This is the 27th of Jan 2025 album by MC Ill Java and Producer Aarr Kellz with the one feature being my main man D-Don! And I gotta admit navigating this 9-batch of tracks was hella fun and here’s why!

First of all the production on this album is fucking entertaining and animated that it makes me feel like I’m listening to a TV Show soundtrack, remember Spy Kids One? That main villain? That evil Willy Wonka guy? This music reminds me of his scenes! It’s super bouncy and colourful that it essentially goes against all the grains of what underground hip hop is supposed to sound like and I’m fucking happy they did that!

There are a few boom bap adjacent songs like -The Wind Blows or -Lead The Pack but even then they still contain their own out there, adventurous and magical sounding atmosphere that differs them from the rest of the stuff in the industry right now! Do you know how many times I listen to a new album and actually have fun? Not many! Sure I fuck with ALOT of albums and value many artists but to actually have fun and feel a sense of adventure to the record is something I don’t see every day and this man brought that feeling back for me!

These are probably 9 of the most stand out tracks for the pure sake of joy. Of course it’s greatly done, excellent technique and form but I can’t stress enough how you can hear a sense of passion and charm to this one that you just don’t hear much. Hell there’s barely any artists in the MAINSTREAM who rock sounds like these! It’s truly a one of one in concept and I hope to hear more of these type beats in the future from him!

When we discuss the MC Ill Java, boy does he GO OFF! I can’t imagine it would be easy to rock these types of particular instrumentals as an MC, but he locks into the same carefree energy as the beats and drops a collection of bars and verses that help put emphasis on the beats provided!

It’s like he has a spiritual connection with the production, the way he’s smoothly composed, flowing through each song with effortless precision, uncanny rhythm, joyful charisma, and a soulful presence that just warms you up like a fire on Christmas Eve! 

I love this fucking combination, man. This chemistry is top-notch. They both complement each other to a tee! The production helps layer the verses, and the performances help elevate the tracks! It’s a match made in underground heaven, and on top of that, it’s a non-traditional soundscape that makes it so much better! He ain’t trying to be a tough guy or a gangster; he’s just rapping. He’s being himself and using clever bars and intricate wordplay to do so! 

I feel like the only one I could compare this MC to in the current landscape of the underground is Sabio Dub. He has a similar version of execution with his verse that is equally impressive and effortless! But besides him, he’s definitely in his own category!

Even though this album is a year old now, if you haven’t heard it, please give it a try! I can’t believe it took me this long to hear it, but I’m glad I did because it is fucking sick! Link below. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1SXibznenpoeDTvX2ycAON?si=1BY62tj8RkCWEC_KttlEXQ

(LUKEY DIGITAL)

After an impressive showing from his last album ‘PowerWolf’, a record I had as a favourite album of September last year, I was anticipating what this man was going to do next as he’s always striving for better and more creative outlets! 

What I came to find was something that even surprised me! An album so out there and original that we have to talk about it! So let’s!

This is the brand-new album by MC Lukey Cage, who also does the production on the record! It consists of eight tracks, 29 minutes, and the likes of 

-Mr. Muthafuckin’ Exquire 

-Ben N. Grimm, and with these two names in place, we have the set-up for an album that is sure to surprise! 

So, right off the bat, I love the technical and cinematic feel this album has! It feels less like a rap album and more like a sonic series of eight mini episodes. 

There are so many elements involved. From hard rock influences (THE ABYSS -ROLL CALL) with those strung strings and drum patterns! Or that introduction track that feels like Marvel’s Bishop going through time and space to show us past events as he speeds through timelines to get to the current present!

Hell, we can point at that rock and roll comic feel of track 3 -SINESTRO & SCARECROW, which in name alone has a clear inspiration to the comic books! 

This one has that fun, fast-paced, and theatrical atmosphere with another leaning towards rock music, then it does hip hop! (I love that vocal harmony that runs throughout the entire track!)

Track 5 -SEX MUSIC (LET’S DO IT) I found this a more tongue-in-cheek song considering it starts off with ‘this isn’t a song about sex’ then proceeds to be the most explicit and sexual song on the whole album! 

Plus the instrumental? It feels like a mix of an 80’s action film montage moment and Cyberpunk soundtrack score! It’s like a hit of adrenaline straight to the face! 

It also is completely appropriate to have the legendary -Mr Muthafuckin Exquire on the track as he’s become notorious for this type of content! 

In my opinion, the most interesting take on the album is 3 DRIBBLES. I think I can see the approach he’s trying for. It reminds me of a skit Lil Wayne did years ago on one of his mixtapes where he talks about ‘believing in himself, even though there are other dope people in the game, but he has to believe in himself!’ 

But I mean, hell, I can imagine this song and its lyrical content rubbing some people the wrong way, but if they can see the real message behind what he’s trying to say, then it should be clear what he’s really trying for, but hey, I’m just a spectator and a journalist, and from my perspective, this is definitely the most outspoken I’ve heard in a while. 

That’s the thing. Lyrically, he’s on a whole different side to himself. He’s improving his performance, his charisma is more intense, his intentions are sharper and more clear. His energy is Stella and more deviant than I’ve ever heard him. 

The whole album ‘up until that one song’ he was flying higher than ever! His flows were faster, his lyricism more vivid, his conceptuality more in depth, and his vision more grand in scale than he’s ever attempted.

I do feel like he’s a mad genius in thinking. The type of artist that can’t be contained in the normal hip-hop lane. He’s always trying to do something new and different! Hell, I talked to a lot of cats about his last joint ‘PowerWolf’; some hated it, some loved it! I feel his originality can be too much for people to handle at times, but that’s the exact quality I look for in any musician, hip-hop or otherwise! 

I have no doubt (if not for that one song alone) that this album will ruffle some feathers. Do I think this is a good album? Yes. I think the grandeur of the record speaks for itself, and he did a good job at making a memorable record, but at the same time, I can see some people who aren’t looking for such extreme ideas not digging it, but that’s their loss!

I’ll leave the link below, and as a pro freedom of speech-minded person, I’ll let you decide on how you feel! Comment your thoughts and shoutout to Lukey for yet another standout album! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5uFQpkd1tpK60tJrUNu9YN?si=ZflDUSFlT1OhS3xB9WZzyA

(LOEFLYYY)

Talk about work ethic! This man is still fresh off his incredible album with BoneWeso, and now he’s back with another (for now) Bandcamp exclusive of a record that he recorded and mixed all by himself! It’s always exciting to see an artist’s progress, and I can tell you firsthand this one is worth looking out for! Let’s talk about why!

This is the brand-new album by MC and 23 Incredible artist Nyeusi Loe, and this time around he’s accompanied by producers:

– Soul La Flare

– RSNZ

– NOFACE

An absolute killer of a beat team. Each of them I fuck with heavily, and to see them on the same project? It’s like the underground Hip Hop Marvel ‘Defenders’ team! A gritty, tough team not to fuck with! 

Now, as I’m sure I said in the review for ‘YUNG LAZARUS’, I feel Nyesui showcases a more smooth and mellow character in the 23 camp. He has a certain type of ‘serenity’ to him that others don’t. 

He has no need to spaz on a beat, shout, or put on an aggressive edge to make his points; he’s confident in his lush and clean delivery that makes every word felt and each bar land that much harder!

Across these 10 tracks, we see him in his wheelhouse with his sharp lyricism, his fluent manipulation of words that he makes do gymnastics across the instrumentals! From his bar structures to his vivid pen game that make you feel like you’ve personally stepped into his mind and felt the exact situations and circumstances he’s rapping about. Again, that’s when his calm demeanour comes into play; it makes what he says feel that much more surreal and immersive!

You can tell (even with his more relaxed rapping) he does inherit a bit of that iconic ‘splash style’ you can hear him shooting words and sentences across the beat in any way he feels most comfortable! He doesn’t conform to a specific way of doing it; he does whatever feels best in the moment, and that coupled with his passionate voice makes for a killer performance that I can’t put down!

Also gotta shoutout to my main man -Datkidbravo for his dope verse! He’s always locked in, never one to miss! -Obijuan also killed it! Great choices for the record!

As I mentioned above, the producers on this list are insane! I know from studying his past discography that he has quite the extensive history with -RSNZ, and cats like -Soul La Flare and -NOFACE have been staples in Jackpot Records & Al Divino works, and so it’s only natural they’d be accompanied on 23 projects, and they do (as usual) a phenomenal job on this one as well!

Across these songs, we hear a combination of smooth, soulful, and atmospheric hip hop that has subtle nods to 

-Funk,

-Jazz, and more. You can always be reminded this is their production as throughout the tracks they add those recognisable adlibs of gun sounds and trademark phrases and words! But it is the type of production that you can sit back, relax, and just sink into the score they’ve set up! It’s a beautiful expression of art!

If I had to describe the ‘feel’ of this album, it would be this. A gorgeous walk through a forest on a nice sunny day (after a thick blunt), the instrumentation stays divine and ever so harmonious, but there’s always that tweak of experimental hip hop vibe that all three of those producers are known for! 

So I shout them out for showing restraint in the execution of these beats, but they still throw in the sprinkle of noise/brash inspiration into the production, which gives it that flare and volume to the track!

I love how stripped back yet powerful each song is. These guys specifically are masters at talking a few layers and creating cinema. They don’t need a thousand aspects to make a banger, give them a handful, and they’ll sonically feed the culture for months! 

Considering this album is a ‘name your price’, you have no excuse not to go grab this and spin it! This is easily worth $25, but now it’s up to you how much you can pay! So go to the link below, purchase the record, and experience the vibe! 

https://nyeusiloe.bandcamp.com/album/loeflyyy

(Crown The Collective)

Who would have thought that the album with some of my favourite production so far in the year came from a remix album? Definitely wasn’t expecting that, but considering who the producer is, I shouldn’t be surprised. This man has spent the last few years building a solid discography, and his name in this game has quickly become one of my favourites of his yet! Let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new (Remix Tape) by MC/Producer Poe Mack! Across these nine tracks, we have the likes of 

– Supastition

– The Bad Seed

– Napoleon Da Legend 

– Van Gunz

– Benny Watts

– Rapper Big Pooh

– Ethemadassassin

– Wordsworth

– Dee-Up

– Cesar Comanche

– Quanstar

Quite the impressive list of men to accompany this album! And I’ll talk about them later (spoiler alert: they all slap), but what stood out to me first and foremost was the production! Because this time around, Poe sounds more grand, masterful, and soulful than I’ve heard him before! He’s the definition of sonically CRISP!

He sounds more organic and free than I’ve heard him be! It’s as if these remix beats are breathing new life into him!

Each track is so fucking smooth and clean. I feel like he’s paying homage to the golden era of music. From the groovy 80’s Soul and Funk to the unbeaten 90’s East & West Coast Hip Hop variations, as well as some modern-day influences, to create this ‘best of all three worlds’ and blending them to create this atmosphere fever dream of sounds that for a lot will be defined as ‘nostalgic’ and for the rest sound ‘incredible’. Either way, it’s a dope fucking effort!

If I had to name my favourite beat off this whole tape, it would have to be -Their World (Track 7). This song reminds me of early 90’s Nas or Mobb Deep. It’s truly rooted in the 90’s with those mesmerising drum patterns, delicate keys, and synth chords in the background!

As well as those iconic cuts and scratches (done by Tone Spliff & Yamin Semali), Tone is a legend for doing it on this track, but both absolutely kill it!

Man, again, as I said above. You’d be pretty crazy to assume any of these names would ever fuck up their verses! You’ve got a handful of the heaviest hitters in the underground, and they all come together under the Poe banner to give him some of the strongest verses they have, and it shows! 

The regular names I was expected like Seed and Van Gunz were no shock; I was just excited to hear their trademark fire across their respective tracks!

But men like Napoleon and Ethemadassassin! I wasn’t expecting them to be on this. Two lyrical monsters who devastated the instrumentals they rocked! Incredible effort!

Poe Mack himself is an underrated verbal assassin! He’s always rocking his powerful, raw, and in-your-face tier of performance and flow! His pen game is always vivid and complex, and his timing on tracks is up there with the best of them!

I think overall, I love the chemistry and fluency of each man on this album. The remix truly highlights their best features and although it’s different beats and sonic structures each song helps compliment the one after and before it! Poe did a fantastic job at curating such a remix tape, because I can’t lie not that many remix tapes grab my attention but this one definitely did! So shoutout to Poe for that!

If your like me and skeptical about remix tapes. Fear not because this one is legit! From the dope MC’s to the even grander production! This one will surely make any hip hop head old or new happy! 

(SWEETEST AROMA)

Sometimes a track or project gains so much traction across socials that I’m forced to check it out. The universe has its way of promoting what the culture wants to hear, and on this occasion, it’s none other than this track right now. Featuring an MC’s I’m new to, a guest MC’s I’m familiar with, and a producer who I’ve been fucking with since last year! This trio is about to make a killing this year; you’ll see.

This is the brand-new single by MC OcBully, with Tremendiss on the production and the guest appearance by the one and only Borirock! Together, they drop one of the hardest three minutes you’ll hear in your life.

Let’s start with that production; fucking hell, is it grimy! What it essentially is is a mysterious vocal loop that’s repeated every eight seconds or so that’s combined with some light guitar notes, sharp synth chords in the background, and some incredible bass and subtle drums that help serve as the backbone to this incredibly powerful instrumental!

It’s one of the more minimal efforts I’ve heard all year, but as is to be expected by Tremendiss, he’s able to take a small handful of layers and create pure magic with it.

I guarantee you, no one else I can think of can use what he used and create what he created! What others would FAIL in executing, he just created one of the hottest singles of the year, and that’s on god. Man, that fucking vocal loop gave me goosebumps! Truly remarkable!

Now onto the MC work. I loved the chemistry between both Oc and Bori! We have Oc starting the track off, and he provided us with a strong and charismatic approach to street poetry, heavy-handed bars, in-your-face flow, and a wordplay that’s sharp and engaging! 

He draws you in with his descriptions and vivid narratives of the shit he’s seen, the shit he’s going to do, and his life in general. Like a thug poet who used his gift to cause chaos and verbal violence on every bar he spits! A truly entertaining artist who will definitely be on my radar from now on! (Especially for this upcoming album)

Now, when I say entertaining, I don’t know of another MC who quite understands that more than the Bori! He’s a hip-hop icon! From his voice to his adlibs to his personality, his bars, his wavy demeanour, he’s got everything going for him! He has easily one of the most distinctive voices in the game right now. As soon as you hear a Bori verse, you ain’t gotta ask who it is; you know it’s HIM! 

And on this track, he brings back his trademark aggressive lyricism, his Coke wave in spades, and his infectious energy that has made him such a notorious name to begin with!

Considering I only discovered this single a few hours ago, I’m hooked. This will be on my replay for weeks on end, I can tell. It’s always a treat to hear FEED THE FAMILY rocking shit! And now a new MC to watch out for in Oc! Make sure you don’t sleep on this single! Check it out below! 

https://youtu.be/tR2Gz1VCH4w?si=9ctmgubsug0puIF_