(The Barcelona Tape)

Smoke DZA. The man who has more then earned his recent notoriety and reputation in the game. Whether that be from his albums, mixtapes or various feature appearances his name is on everyone’s mouth as of late and for good reason, so let’s talk about it!

This latest 12 track 35 minutes project sees Smoke rise to a more ‘high stakes/rich’ status compared to a few of his others. One I reviewed a while ago ‘THC3 (Kushedgod Bitch)’ which was a stoner anthem album with more chill, smooth and smoker aura tracks.

On this one it sounds more traditional Boom Bap influences with more of a ‘mainstream’ appeal then that other one.

The features including 

-Ling Hussle

-Flames Dot Malik

-24 Hours

-Really Jaewon 

-Bizzle The Bad

-DJ Muggs

-DivineRBG

And each feature brings their own unique vibe and performance that helps them stand out on the tracks they are on. I was excited to see my main man Flames was on two tracks on here, and it’s insane to hear how quick to 100 he gets when he starts rapping like on the song ‘Dirty Euros’ where it has this chill instrumental, then two relatively relaxed energy verses then out of nowhere the ghetto incarnated voice comes and hits you in the face and I absolutely loved it!

Across this album you can catch various tempos and themes to experience! Such as slower tracks, fast paced ones, more stoner inspired and more ghetto or smooth. Smoke gives us a variety pack of instrumentals and with a handful of features to rap on top of them (not to mention the legendary DJ Muggs) then you have a recipe for at very least a fascinating listen!

Overall, this was a nice leg up for Smoke DZA. I loved how professional and mastered this sounded and the level of quality with the features and his own verses makes this a must listen!

Shoutout to who I could find for the producer credits!

-Let’s Go Hayes

-RFC Music Group

-Pria 

-Dizzy Banko

-Purpledogg

-Cartune

-DJ Muggs

-iseekarlo

-Kino Beats

-Harry Fraud

-John Dutch

https://open.spotify.com/album/4IdTS89QkC2kfXqQ6CHnXS?si=LG3F2Z7XQpeoIygWrCfpIQ

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(Serenade Symphony)

I can’t believe it took me this long to discover FlyG. I’m a sucker for Jazz/Soul-type production, and this is his second project that features this style, and even after the first listen, I knew this would be one I would remember for years to come!

This is the latest project by rapper FlyG and producer SPCL_CHRCTRS, and together they create another irresistible and powerfully smooth record that goes through your whole body and brain and eliminates any and all stress inside your body!

From that opening track featuring that Jazz Melody that just melts into your ears, it sets the tone for how beautiful the rest of the album will be, and for the 17 minutes of duration, this thing is the kind of album you play while it’s raining outside with a hot chocolate in hand and just reminisce on life and all your loved ones. I swear this album has a healing factor built inside of it because of how ‘magical’ it feels while listening to it; call it a placebo effect, but I definitely feel something!

Once again, we get to bear witness to FlyG’s smooth-sailing sentiments on the beat. He has tasteful flows, crisp wordplay, and excellent penmanship. Instead of rapping alongside the production, he’s always fused with the beat itself to be one with it. He never sounds ‘too high’ or ‘too low’ on the production side of things, and he’s always sounding intelligent, on point with conviction that lets the listeners understand that he is ‘the one to beat’ right now.

Again, another solid showing by FlyG, and combined with SPCL, they are a perfect match in the studio, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more releases from both. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5TvdVcoRJWU9fJ7lRJLQkj?si=SvXiEBcuQx6Ca404U-FrLw

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(DISCONNECTED)

It’s been a minute since I reviewed a project by August Fanon. The man who in the last few years has had a run most producers could only dream of, and today he’s back on this new single featuring AWOL Da Mindwriter, and this shit is HARD!

Firstly, the production we see August going back to his jazz style influence, which is probably my favourite go-to of his 100x different styles he’s capable of pulling off. I loved those jazz notes played in the loop; it sounded so crisp, smooth, and natural it was a treat for the ears.

What I find to be a very interesting contrast to the production this time around was the very lively and outgoing charisma and personality of AWOL on this track that I wouldn’t say (in the traditional sense) complements the instrumental but one that stands out and helps highlight when two worlds collide and how that can help a track stand out and be memorable.

AWOLs contributions are fantastic, reminds me of a Danny Brown with his endless energy and enthusiasm that could rock a crowd into jumping up and down at a concert, and when he’s doing so over such a serene atmospheric jazz beat, it makes you experience both sides of the spectrum at once, and in that I find true artistry at its finest!

This single has definitely got me excited for the upcoming album, and I can’t wait to see what kind of chemistry we will see in the future!

https://open.spotify.com/track/1cH5R17U1d9SHHvww4Mf9t?si=5wNjy7g9TSuC2OwJrCYYwg

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(Charred Remnants)

After months of waiting, I get to finally experience another project by Sleep Sinatra, and not only that, we get the return of producer SOO DO KOO, and together they bring you what appears to be a prequel EP for an upcoming project, so let’s talk about it!

This EP has 4 tracks:

-Diluted

-Scrying Mirror

-8 Million Darts

-Grim Sleep

All of these tracks have this smooth, larger-than-life, and beautifully crafted instrumentation that fuses soul, lo-fi, boom bap, and ambient. These combined make for a project that is equally tranquil/breathtaking and raw, crisp. SOO has always had the ability to create serene soundscapes that help your mind wander, and on this one, it’s no exception. This is the kind of project you could play after a long day at work to relieve your stress whilst enjoying quality beats and production!

My favourite track is probably ‘Scrying Mirror’ with its infectious and harmonious vocal sample used for the beat!

Sleep Sinatra, an equally brilliant mind in the game, with his creativity being the main focus for me. For example, this is his SECOND project I know of that’s working as a ‘prequel’ with ‘Hero’s Journey’ being the same.

This to me proves his mind works at a different frequency than most; he’s not just thinking about making studio albums; he’s trying to create ‘experiences’, and his cinematic mindset is what makes him second to none.

Of course, his talents as an MC are well documented. He has a smooth, confident, and intelligent atmosphere to him, and he uses his relaxed tone and seasoned style to create the perfect co-op to these instrumentals!

Overall, an excellent and exciting edition to both these men’s discographies, and it’s gotten me even more excited for the future drops!

https://sleepsinatra1.bandcamp.com/album/charred-remnants

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(Loud and Clear)

This EP title says it all, Don Def is leaving nothing on the table with this one and with production by ‘Jokey Ent’ this 6 track EP should be some of the most enjoyable 17 minutes in the underground you’ll hear this month!

Firstly, the production feels high tier. Feels like that mid to late 2000’s era mainstream Hip Hop that you’d hear blasted over the CD players and radios. It feels crisp, original, raw and yet at the same time larger than life and rich in texture and sound.

I also love how each track compliments the next, and makes this (although short) project feel cohesive and tight nit as if the production had a water like quality where everything flows perfectly from start to finish.

Nothing worse than a collection of songs that just sound separate from each other in execution which ruins the flow of the album but I can safely say that’s not the case for this one! 

Don himself understands the assignment on dropping fire on these instrumentals because he comes in swinging. Whether we are talking about his passionate, energetic voice or his thrilling flow and lyricism or his top tier penmanship and cadence. He’s got the whole package and he uses all his talents across the EP to make it from a great beat tape to an excellent full album.

Every second he’s on the beat he doesn’t miss, every bar hit exactly where it should be. Every word and verse landed on the beat exquisitely and he’s doing the rapping so effortlessly that it almost seems like he’s mocking the rest of us with his easy execution of his wordplay and MC abilities!

Overall, another dope EP to add to the collection of projects to come out this year. Very excited to see more from this man and the producer! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7L1nAJGMj9OY4kfliS8ABA?si=h0EU5nr2Tp6G49DGqWIgMg

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(Raw Art)

New EP alert by two men, ‘Herbal T the God’ and ‘That Producer GI’, and together they come together for a 9-track, 26-minute experience that’s sure to impress all types of hip-hop heads far and wide.

From the opening track, you hear that combination of grime, boom bap, and drill, and when you come to this trio, you get a unique experience where the best of all 3 sounds come together and form a new, dare I say ‘raw’ sound that, if utilised by the right MC, could blow the minds of fans and artists alike!

Thankfully, we have Herbal on the case; the UK heavyweight comes in swinging with an impressive performance of dope flow, savage lyricism, and impressive penmanship. It sounds like (to me) at least that’s he’s manipulating and taking control of the various instrumentals and making them his own by adding his magical words on top of them, evolving them from beats to sound experiences. 

Whether he’s on softer vibes with ‘Half A Mill In Life Richness’ or more grimy tracks like ‘Drafted’, he knows how to transition his tones, cadence, and rhythm to fit the different atmospheres, and I can respect an artist that can understand the importance of switching up depending on the style of song!

Across this EP, we have features from

-Joe Spesh

-Magevizo 

-Kincee Babyface Pearlis

And each feature brings something special and unique to the tracks they are on and does elevate the EP instead of just being on for ‘feature sake’.

Overall, this EP fucking slaps. Great chemistry between Herbal and GI, the features are dope, and overall, for 26 minutes, this does feel larger than life! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/7Eas4FmrRz7eXipjGNIeYm?si=nMCTbMUHRoaE6bSuPLNpFA

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(Calling All Corpses)

So, leading up to the release of ‘Mid Death Crisis’, it inspired me to go back on some of the albums I didn’t dive into as hard as I did with the first few in his discography that I fell in love with as a teenager, and that’s when I re discovered this one, and honestly, after properly listening to it, this might be in my top 5 Wednesday 13 albums.

So, this is the 2019 release by Horror Punk legend Wednesday 13, who over the years has become infamous with his many projects under different aliases, such as:

-Maniac Spider Trash

-Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13

-Bourbon Crow

-Gunfire 76

-Murderdolls 

And his most ongoing project, this one Wednesday 13, and as mentioned above, a lot of his earlier work, such as: 

-Transylvania 90210 and Skeletons, were my favourite albums on repeat, but now I’ve discovered this one, and honestly, it goes right up there!

This album’s first official track, ‘I Wanna Be Cremated’, has this project off to an infectiously good start with a tongue-in-cheek Punk anthem talking about, as the song states, how he wants to be cremated.

The overall aura, nostalgia of the 90s, and punk/horror atmosphere continues on to every track after that, continuing with ‘Ghoul Of My Dreams’, which sounds like if Green Day had died, become zombies, and started playing a concert of the living dead because it’s got that mainstream feel to the instrumentation but with the trademark dark and twisted lyrical themes as Wednesday has made a career writing about!

The more I dive into this project, it becomes obvious why upon re discovery I love this album so much; it’s because (arguably) it’s the most mainstream punk-sounding Wednesday album (instrumentally) speaking. Most of his other albums have a more ‘Metal’ approach, and while I love those as well, there’s something wholesome and fun about hearing 13 put his trademark twisted themes and imagery onto a bed of infectious, anthem-worthy Punk tracks, and it makes the whole album a blast to listen to! 

Far from a one-hit wonder, Wednesday 13 decided to have fun with this one and dive headfirst into the punk-inspired aspect and produce banger after banger that will surely stand the test of time! Can’t wait for his new album! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1DFGTkD8vfNuiOETRRwBiA?si=IIIfOBakS9e58ttkULnbDQ

(Rectification)

The dictionary definition of Rectification is ‘The Action Of Putting Something Right’, but in my definition, it means Chainsaw Holiday has a kick-ass new single, so let’s fucking talk about it!

This is the latest single by the band with whom I’ve had dealings for a bit now, before I even made this website. A fantastic band on the uprise, and with this latest single, I can’t imagine how they wouldn’t be on the rise because this is 3 minutes and 50, some of the most kick-ass shit I’ve heard all year!

From the start of the song, you hear that 80’s Classic/Thrash Metal influence with those fast-paced guitar patterns, delicious drums, and vocals that remind me of a mix of Joey Belladonna’s Anthrax and David Coverdale’s White Snake.

This track feels like a Time Machine to the golden era; it’s so smooth, hard-hitting, and fucking infectious instrumentation that only these boys could pull off!

I also love how just over halfway through the song has a momentary slowdown as we hear a subtle pause on the gas before the track is pushed back into its golden rhythm! 

I’m telling you this track is absolutely amazing, and any Rock/Metal head of all ages will definitely fall for this one! Another amazing song by an amazing band! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/68Po5GfhHDTBraVcYnd2iJ?si=uJuCnRvLTcmC3XTGQTlNiA

(My Queen)

At this point, should we just give the crown to Snotty? I swear he’s appeared in every hit single to come out in 2025, and that’s not even including his own shit! Single after single, and he’s still on the throttle! 

This time around, he’s back with a song ‘My Queen’ produced by Goodphella. It’s 2 minutes and 6 seconds and features one of the most soulful melody loops I’ve ever heard. It features what sounds like an a cappella Beatles chorus sample slowed down with a tint of an echo, and the way it’s mixed and produced makes it sound so fucking smooth and relaxing that I can’t help but let my imagination run wild and notice my stress go along with it!

Snotty lyrically has gone back to his more sentimental and personal side. Talking this time about a woman he loves, this is a rap love song towards her.

On this track, he sounds relaxed, confident, and love-struck. I don’t think I’ve ever heard this specific side of him before, but as usual, emotions and feelings to the side, it doesn’t take away from his lyrical ability and the fact he’s one of the best going in the underground. 

Another affectionate and introspective track by Snotty. I have a feeling he’s either going to release one ‘softer’ or ‘toned down’ album and one normal grime album. Or one long album expressing both sides of him. Either way, every new single is just more excitement for a possible album drop, and I know it will be DOPE!

https://youtu.be/x6gSnONT1Ik?si=XRhki8AjarHdGwx

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(Guerilla Dynasty 3)

You know what’s rarer than a decent sequel? A quality TRILOGY. It’s hard enough for some to release a single quality album without trying their hand at 3, but when you have the chemistry and power these two have, it’s damn near impossible to think of taking an L.

This is the third in the ‘Guerilla Dynasty’ series featuring rapper Recognize Ali and producer Stu Bangas, and collectively they’ve been tearing the underground apart and rebuilding it to their own standards. This time around they feature the likes of: 

-SageInfinite

-Born Unique

-Lord Goat

-DJ TMB

-Verbal Kent

-A-F-R-O

-Blacastan (R.I.P.)

-Tone Spliff

-Boob Bronx 

-DJ Tray

And with these powerhouse affiliates, this duo creates one of the biggest explosions of 2025, and everyone in the game should be taking notice.

The production on this one is hard, heavy, and unforgettably unforgiving. It’s not enough that they’ve been slaughtering the game with their last two releases, but somehow Stu has found a way to make his beats even more raw, crisper, more grimey, and even more devastating. This is the kind of production you listen to, then go off and act wild after because of the chaotic energy this record puts into your soul! 

The one quality I feel Stu has that many producers fall flat on is the ability to incorporate and utilise the talents of the features and craft sounds and atmospheres that would suit them best to make each feature track not only a mere ‘song’ but a whole ‘experience.’ 

Each track is tailor-made for the guests and chosen accordingly depending on who’s on. It’s this quality that’s made him such a titan in the industry, and it really shows in this one as well! 

Of course, the partner in crime Ali hasn’t lost any shred of killer instinct, lethal lyricism, or deadly penmanship. Across this project, he’s as raw as he’s ever been; he’s like a man possessed across these beats and spits some of the hardest shit you’ve heard all year.

From each beat, sound, and second, he’s always on point. His aggressive nature makes his bars feel 500 pounds, and listeners have no choice but to look a certain way after each verse due to just how ridiculous his ability is!

Ali is at the point now where features don’t faze him in the least. You can put anyone and everyone on the track with him, and he ain’t gonna fret. He’s gonna stand his own and prove why he’s been killing it in the game the last few years!

Overall, as unlikely as it can be to accomplish, the duo has created the perfect trilogy! Nothing but the toughest music you’ve heard in 2025!

https://open.spotify.com/album/1XIEv6TKjXzAGVTacvPCaL?si=MUZOgCVHQdeTos-V7HCIqA

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