(Play For Keeps)

Back again to cover my artist of the first quarter of 2025! The man who reigned terror on the game with album after album, and now after a short break and taking his foot off the throats for a minute, King Kaine is back and the foot is pressed firmly back on, and he ain’t here to be at the back of the line; he’s leaving right where he left off!

So, this is a new eight-track record with 24 minutes featuring production by

-The Stand Outs

-Ghost Dave

-Hobgoblin

-Soul LXRD

-Pecue Quinn

-VV Stears

-SH4MEL

-Usual Suspects

And cuts by the legendary Swab! When you combine these names together, you have a diverse project that showcases some of the most expert and interesting sounds the year has shown so far!

Whether you’re talking about the opening track ‘Crystal Ball’ with its NES-style game intro soundtrack that evolves into a classical loop beat with a slight snippet of female vocal that sounds like she’s gasping!

Or maybe we can talk about the track ‘Eddie’ with those organ-sounding piano keys in a fancy loop which sounds like a haunted house/classical composition with again more vocal snippets to give it that extra X-factor!

Hell, if you really want, you can talk about the track ‘That Feel’ which features smooth, harmonious, and gorgeous strings that sound almost folkish in the modern rap era way. If medieval folk ASMR meets 2020’s hip-hip, you’d get this sound, and it’s fucking awesome.

Did you see how easily I could paint that picture in your mind of his sounds? That’s the first three tracks! And I’m going to let the listeners listen for themselves to hear how dope the project is, but the point is, he’s utilising these names in the best way possible to create not only a dope and infectious atmosphere but also certain lanes sonically he hasn’t travelled to before! It’s a win-win situation for the fans and Eddie, and this level of risk-taking is what keeps him fresh and interesting!

If you thought the beats were tight (they are), but Eddie definitely does them justice. His trademark in-your-face and ruthless style, methodical pace, and studio cadence make him a constant problem in the game. 

He comes through with that vicious lyricism and legal pen game that leaves paper melting from the words and bars he writes down! His flow is always pinpoint accurate, and his verses are so versatile and powerful that he can go bar for bar with absolutely anyone in the game!

Across this project, he’s accompanied by 

-Flee Lord,

Which is a dope choice in my opinion, keeping the features rare and providing the listener with not only a dope solo album but also shows to the fans that he doesn’t need features to help carry a record and he’s more than capable of doing it all on his own! Also, shoutout to Flee Lord for his dope verse as expected!

Nothing but banger after banger on this one. Technically, since this is his third album of the year, this can be his 3 Peat! Give him all the rings because he’s earned them! Move over MJ, now it’s the EK era! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/69ipD3azXQUP9BhvRXD7lV?si=RgoOnnn-RLuroqiBcmrMLA

(INTRICATE DETAILS 2)

The Penlordz have to be vampires. Because there’s no way they can sleep. I refuse to believe that they do; they have the consistency rate higher than any collective period. So once again, let’s talk about it!

So, this is an album by the Penlordz. On the album, it does say officially Fam Ross and Arsinel, but Audio Messiah is featured throughout, so fuck it, I’ll just regard it as a trio album!

Across this album, we have production by Worldwide Culture, someone who I haven’t heard of until right now, but if he’s rocking with the crew, then I know he’s gotta be dope, and he is! 

Across these 12 tracks, we have the lordz reinforcing the more ‘melodic and harmonic’ production style like we saw on the previous project ‘PenLordz 4.’ A lot of similar vibes across the board!

What we see worldwide accomplishing on this one is a surreal and atmospheric vibe that captures the essence of harmonic, angelic, and transcendent music that puts the listener in a state of relaxation and comfort while listening to one of the smoothest and dopest albums of April! 

Right from the first intro track, we hear that calming and mystical/vibrant setting sit in, and that same feel continues throughout the rest of the project.

Although new to me, he’s definitely impressed me enough to warrant further anticipation for any and all future drops to come!

Now, onto my favourite trio going right now. As per usual, these guys can’t miss. They are at that point now where they share the same thoughts and ideas, the same energy, the same fucking blood runs through all 3 at this point, and they are 3 in one (literally).

They haven’t missed a step in at least 10 projects ago, and their god-tier chemistry runs like water. They always have that thinking man’s lyricism, and their wordplay and penmanship are, of course, brilliant as their collective name suggests!

Another thing I love about Penlordz is how they take their time with every line they deliver. They ain’t in this to rush or be a fake chopper or say a lot of words that don’t mean shit, they are here to spit knowledge, encourage self-awareness and spit straight to the point, dope and down-to-earth bars to prove that you don’t need all these gimmicks or flashy things or fake viral videos to get over just honest, hard-working men who have perfected their craft and that’s what we are seeing here.

This definitely won’t be the last time I talk Penlordz this month alone, probably, but once again they hit the nail on the head alongside producer Worldwide and I hope we see future collaborations with them!

https://open.spotify.com/album/3fepK5XNb9BTjMpYzr3ciD?si=FaqFU1oqSb-uooGzMavqVw

(Minimansiondust Vol 1)

I’m in that Estee vibe right now, and so I figured I’d do a deep dive on his discography and cover his ‘Minimansiondust’ series, of course, starting from Vol 1. So, let’s get to it!

This first volume came out in 2017, almost 10 years ago now, and was handled by Mr. Rose on the production! Featuring the likes of: 

-Al Divino

-Codenine

-Rosati

-Chronic Tone

-Recognize Ali

And these names help breathe life into this project that helped innovate and kick-start the career of Estee to the powerhouse he is today.

Right off the bat, the production by Rose is unlike anything I’ve heard him on prior.

It’s not that grimy or raw as he’s usually on. In fact, it’s quite soulful and smooth with beautiful instrumentation, harmonic vocals, and rich, colorful samples that sound pleasant and organic in execution.

From the opening song with those gorgeous notes playing in the forefront and then featuring Nack’s charismatic bars, which flow as fluently as the beat.

From there, we just get even more well-produced instrumentals by Mr. Rose, who knows exactly how to set up a certain vibe, and in this case, that vibe is ‘surreal’ and ‘atmospheric,’ making you forget all your troubles and just sit back and enjoy a dope hip-hop album! 

Although only 25 minutes in length, the way Mr. Rose masterfully designed the sounds and rhythm across the 10 tracks is proof of real intelligence and technique across the project! 

Speaking of Estee, the man of the hour. Although he’s rapping on unfamiliar territory (at least to me) and a lot more mellow sounds than usual, he’s still rapping his ass off and providing his signature ruthless, passionate, and raw style that he’s only evolved in the present day!

As usual, his flow is untouchable, his lyricism is witty and street smart, and his pen game feels so natural it’s as if he doesn’t write at all! As if he just spits everything off the top of his head and just uses his soul and heart to give his extraordinary performances and memorable adlibs and singing passages!

Whether you talk about his most present album or his early discography, it’s clear he was the man his day one! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5uBZzibWKm7dhqxErWvYMW?si=PQINK4NiRQaD9JfJw6zJ4g

(Triple Black Diamonds 2)

When you think of killer duos in the underground, nah, fuck that in the whole game, who do you think of? I guarantee on most people’s mouths it would be Al Divino and Estee Nack.

These two have revolutionised the game in a way no one else has. The moves they are making in today’s climate are untouchable, and I feel it’s only appropriate that I take a trip down memory lane to provide context (for those who need it) on why these two are the ones right now.

So, this is a release from 2022 featuring both Al and Estee on the mic. But on production, we have a whole list of names such as: 

-EWONEE

-Al Divino

-FutureWave

-DJ Mastamind

-LOMAN

-NO FACE

-PLAZABO

-GRAYMATTER

And if I had to describe what I love most about this duo and what keeps them memorable is their level of chaos. Each release with them included features what sounds like a sonic tornado storm of crazy instrumentals and wild samples and sporadic vocal lines and explosions of verses; it’s just an unpredictable time with every listening experience, and that is unique to just them.

It never feels forced or ‘put on’ by these two; they aren’t trying to be recognised as ‘noise or experimental’ artists; they just are that creatively talented that they do what they want, when they want, and it’s that level of rebellious behaviour within the industry that makes them such a force to be reckoned with.

Of course, you can’t ask for a better back-and-forth than between Estee and Al. They know each other so well, and at this point, I feel they share the same mind, so it’s always perfect flow and energy that they could probably go for hours on end and never stop. 

Whether you’re talking about Estee’s ‘talking’ style rapping where it’s hard to believe he even writes down anything or you’re talking about Al’s gritty and deep/raw voice spreading his lyrical poison on the tracks, they are each other’s Ying and Yang, and there’s no duo out there that can match their level of chemistry and intensity.

As far as the production goes, it’s as wild and batshit as you’ve ever heard them. No better example of this than on the song ‘Credit Union Computer Glitch’ with that droning loop beat that just hypnotises the audience and features not only a fantastic back and forth by the pair but the most insane performance of Ad-libs and vocal performance I’ve heard ever by either of them.

No matter how many times I listen to this track, it blows me away. This is the energy I was talking about above! You can’t make this up; this is pure organic. 

The whole record is just as original and ridiculous in all the best ways possible; you can guarantee never a boring experience with these two, and the selection of producers performed the assessment well, not to disappoint!

If you’re new to Estee and Al (like I was just a few years ago), then definitely check this one out to understand why they are the most impressive and important duo in the game right now!

https://open.spotify.com/album/5Yr4OD3VOGJ0ryNYEsuOje?si=niOI-F3pR4qgbv7KB7g4ng

(Five O’ Clock Tea With Bricktop)

It’s been a minute since I covered a Hobgoblin release. Must have been January the last time I did, and now it’s time I get back on his vibe! This time with new artists, so let’s talk about it!

This is the latest collaboration between rapper ‘Doza The Drum Dealer’ and producer ‘Hobgoblin’, and together they release 10 tracks with just under half an hour of content, with 26 minutes. Featuring the likes of: 

-Mar 

-Kaeson Skrilla 

-Osvn

-Bearsnchills

-Dax Mpire

-Ark Medina

-Innocent?

-D. Goynz 

-Skanks The Rap Martyr

And with this group of underground maniacs really to knock the block off anyone who tries to talk shit in the game, we have a record that is not only well done but has the edge to keep all fakers away.

Starting with the production. It’s beyond well documented the quality and expertise of Hobgoblin; he’s more than earned his spot in the greatest underground workers going, and you can be sure that if his name is on the album, then it’s going to be a banger, and this one is no exception!

We have him utilising a theatrical style atmosphere featuring UK Grime Boom Bap with entertaining film/show snippets throughout to give the project more of a ‘cinematic’ vibe. 

Each beat has that larger-than-life, rough around the edges, and crisp texture to it that makes the listeners make that scrunched-up stink face at the incredibly raw and cold-blooded beats that make Hob a household name to begin with! 

When he wants to go smooth, he’ll out-smooth the smoothest producer you know. But when he wants to go grimy? He’ll be the king of that shit, knocking off all your favourites.

Onto Doza. A man who is new to me, but after this, I guarantee he won’t be ever again. I was more than impressed with his honest, in-your-face, and bare rap style. He ain’t worried about that dumb, fake shit that all the fakes use to get views or reactions; he’s a dope rapper, and that’s what he’s doing on this one.

His flow is strong and sharp, his lyricism even more so. He makes sure each word he says lands with more ferocity than a sabertooth tiger on cocaine! His lyrical claws dig into all his contemporaries and leave them all bloody corpses fighting for breath! 

Across this one, he brought with him equally skilled predators who smell blood and go for the kill. They all contribute to elevating the bloodthirsty aura of this record and leave no doubt who the illest in the game are right now!

Do I need to elaborate? This shit is DOPE. 

-Deadly

-Ominous

-Phenomenal

-Extraordinary 

And I’m not sure which duo could do it better! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5xKxmdFXKiOIbVTe2EnF4m?si=LdDafrD1RFGfRl1AksNmUA

(Off The Porch)

It seems like a familiar sight has returned, sneaking under an alias. It seems with maybe less of “ HERE’S JOHNNY” to review, he’s chosen the Mick Foley route and unleashed his Cactus Jack persona with ‘JohnnyBeBad’ and this time with a production effort by ‘LYNCHVILLAIN’, we have 20 minutes and 07 seconds of dope content to get through, so let’s get to it!

So 6 tracks. No features, and talking the production side of things, this one feels like Johnny is tapping into his ‘Griselda’ era of music. With gritty boom bap combined with sparkling and destructive sample loops that, when combined, create a devastatingly strong sonic presence real enough to punch you in the face!

This vibe starts off immediately with the opening intro all the way through to the ending. 

The level of tension and dark energy that LYNCH provides is incredible with his skilled technique and masterful execution of grime, poisonous and powerful weapons of beat that is undeniable to the audience. 

With every track that goes by, it feels like the tracks only get more extreme, more hardcore, and more lethal in presence and execution. Definitely gotta give a shoutout to LYNCHVILLAIN as he definitely lives up to his name.

Now onto the new name and face but familiar voice in JohnnyBeBad. He’s back with his usual gritty and energetic style of flow and delivery. His witty yet intense approach to his wordplay and lyricism and his overall studio cadence makes him a recognised player in this game!

His approach is unavoidable and unapologetic. His manner is cocky yet that arrogance is from experience sharpening his craft and perfecting his technique to the point of near perfection. He doesn’t mess around; he’s in your face and he stays there for the whole 20 minutes like the drill instructor in ‘Full Metal Jacket’ and he ain’t giving anyone a second to breathe.

It’s his aggressive and definite attitude on the mic that makes him such a memorable figure right now!

Overall, another great showing by Here’s Johnny/ JohnnyBeBad and LYNCHVILLAIN put his best foot forward with this one! 

https://youtu.be/fbKzw4oXDNs?si=DRmZcuhM06Ztt79a

(It Takes A Village)

It’s time to take another look at the Black Soprano Family. A crew founded by Benny The Butcher and has spawned some of the most skilled players in the game right now:

-Flames Dot Malik

-Rick Hyde

And now we introduce IMYOUNGWORLD to that roster, and based on how good the others are, I’m excited to explore this one! 

So, we have 9 tracks and 22 minutes. Featuring the likes of -Sule, and straight off the bat, what’s brought to the listeners’ attention is the larger-than-life and mainstream feel this sound unleashes and represents. It’s something BSF has become notorious for with all their releases, regardless of the style and level of grit attached to them; each album sounds high-profile, crisp, and provides that rich atmosphere that makes you want to play this at a club or across the nation on the radios and cars! 

That’s how big this feels, especially when you have tracks like ‘9 to 5’ with those melodic vocal sample loops, those trumpets, and that traditional up-beat hip-hop beat which sounds like something you’d hear from Joey Badas$$ or Logic, and they do this production justice!

Or even the track ‘GUAGM’ which opens the album off with that smooth gospel vocal sample which turns into this thudding and heavy-handed boom-bap beat enough to slap you in the face! 

This album has so many different sounds and feels and inspirations that feel like strands of the man’s soul come to life, used as sonic fuel to be on his best game!

Speaking of, we have IMYOUNG the man who is fresh to me, and after listening to this album, I was once again blown away by this artist.

Once again, BSF found a guy who has true passion, talent, and energy. He ain’t just rapping; he’s pouring his heart and soul into these bars, and you can hear it in his tone, cadence, and emotions that are drenched all over the record. Regardless of what he’s talking about, whether it’s about his past life or what he’s excited about or present life in general, he’s putting his best foot forward and puts all his effort into every word!

He has impeccable flow, sharp and introspective lyricism, and his overall performance in the tracks is infectious and inspiring! He’s proving why he’s one you should look out for in the game right now and having fun with it, the perfect combination!

All in all, another W from BSF. They are developing a roster that could rival anyone going right now, and I’m excited to see the rise! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/64knTiIScIt02N87vPAfRD?si=bBFcmecrRiOX72OBqMANYg

(Heavenly Unknown)

Last time we checked in on SB11, he was doing a dope collab beat tape, but for now, we are taking a trip back to September 2024, where he released this modern-day classic, which is now being released on vinyl. So, what a better time than to write this review now! Let’s get to it!

So, this is a project completely produced by SB11 and features an absolute monstrous crew to match, including:

-Flashius Clayton

-Planet Asia

-Defcee

-Josiah The Gift

-SUBSTANCE810

-Shottie

-Mickey Diamond

-Lord Juco

-Knoe

-Norm Regular

-Cousin Feo

-Flu

-Kaos The Baker

-LORD JAH-MONTE OGBON

-Ace Cannons

-A. Saxon

Yes, you read all those names right. This album couldn’t fail if it was recorded on the streets with $2 broken equipment. Let alone handled by one of the best producers out right now. 

Right off the bat, and something I’ve completely forgotten about but is how fucking masterful and beautiful SB’s techniques and craft are. No matter what beat or influence he gravitates to, he makes every song sound lavish and grand like an angel of hip hop touched it and granted divine power that generates from the ears to the soul and throughout the body. It’s nuts.

It’s just impossible to really describe how fluent, crisp, and soulful his work is without hearing it firsthand yourself, but even the small things like transitions between songs or the outros or intros, every possible detail is done with extraordinary precision and care to the point where it sounds like one of the most cohesive and perfectly structured pieces of hip hop I’ve ever heard (and I mean that). 

On top of the rappers, does it really need any explanation as to if they were good or bad? If you have any idea that these names are bad, then you haven’t heard them before. Anyone who has knows the answer is EXCELLENT. These names are the top of the list of who’s running the game right now, and so as that goes, they deliver nothing but fire verses back to back to back.

In fact, this list was overkill 10x over. SB11 was on some diabolical shit when he thought of this roster; he was on some ‘fuck the game, I’m here to destroy’ type super villain shit. So long story short, yes, they all did absolutely fantastic! Also, super shoutout to Flu! Reppin’ the same country as me, Australia! Gotta love that shit.

Overall, you can’t ask for a better album digitally or on physical release. If you can, make sure you cop this on vinyl and support one of the dopest in the game right now; he’s not even a 10, he’s the SB11! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5fcSM3oDcg4wDrnRZjarL6?si=Px5bo1HxTiygVmRQvQReCw

(Ganjalf The Baked)

Funny story this. After reviewing the last single he sent me, I let Spotify just play, and this song came up! I fucked with it while it was on, then didn’t think much else until I got a message asking to review this exact track! Everything came full circle in the end!

So, new track by UK rapper ‘OnlyOneOnlySon’ and produced by ‘Famskii’. Right off the bat, I didn’t care what this sounded like. The artwork is dope as fuck as well as the song title, so I was going to love this either way. And lucky for me, it ended up being a good track!

Right off the bat, the production is hectic! With those smooth jazz chords playing in an infectious loop that just rolls off the beat and makes it feel like heaven in the ear of the listener! On top of that, we have what sounds like hip hop meets synth pop.

When I listen to this production, it just reminds me of 80’s rap mixed with ‘Tears For Fears’ type sounds and inspiration with those dreamy and ambient atmosphere surrounding the jazz and rap parts of the song to tie up into a stoners paradise of a single that would be a perfect anthem for the annual 4/20!

Now, OnlyOne, the man who impressed like no other the last time I heard him, and he’s only doing more so. With his smooth delivery across this beat, his witty yet insightful lyricism, and passionate flow and cadence on the track, makes him the perfect candidate for the powerfully crafted instrumental we have in front of us!

He seems solidly focused on making sure each and every word and breath he takes on this is lined up perfectly to the beat at hand. They both complement each other the way I haven’t heard many pull off!

Overall, a bloody good single and performance by the duo involved. Amazing artwork and song title and just hits in every direction possible! No complaint can be found! 

https://open.spotify.com/track/0yPQmPL7FdP5GbmvTErshK?si=UzY6IQfaQH6wyBiLRjIuuA&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A2Pvu3lfYH8MF3dyR0moSF0

(Thru The Eyes of A Madman)

This is gonna sound bad right off the bat, but hear me out, all. G Fam Black is one of those artists that I always forget is dope until I re-listen to him on a new feature or project. It’s like my brain has sonic amnesia to him that I keep re-discovering his dopeness every new verse he drops. So here we go again, and I’m once again blown away!

So, this is the latest collaboration project between MC G Fam Black and producer Mike Martinez, and together they bring 10 new tracks featuring the likes of: 

-DJ Decepta

-Aztek The Barfly

-Oblivious 

-Sankofa

-P-Ro

And let me tell you something, this thing hits H.A.R.D. holy shit.

This thing sounds like Grime Boom Bap’s older, alcoholic, abusive brother came home from jail and took over the household. This project sounds harder, tougher, scarier, and grimmer than anyone on the market right now.

Another aspect of this album is the amount of old-school cut and scratching. It’s an aspect of Hip Hop I love from the olden era, and it makes me happy to hear it again in any modern-day albums, so I love that!

But I really can’t express this enough: these monstrous beat progressions, these chilling keys and notes, and these eerie melodies take over your body and soul and trap you focused into this record from start to finish. It’s captivating as fuck and doesn’t let you free till the last second. 

Mike found his magnum opus with this shit! And he even raps on one song to make his voice heard, but this is definitely production you’ll have to experience to truly understand what I’m saying, but it’s that REAL SHIT.

G Fam Black. The man so vicious he’s plagued me with amnesia, apparently. But as per usual, his intense nature, his gargantuan energy, and deep, blood-curdling tone. He sounds as lethal as the album over does. With every word he spits, just like a rapper like Bub Styles, he doesn’t say his sentences; he fires them like a rocket launcher aiming at the instrumental and leaving it in shambles with no room left to be found, absolutely lawless.

Listening to G Fam flow and rhyme on songs feels less like a verse and more like a chaotic atmosphere, like the sonic equivalent of a VR experience where if you close your eyes, you’re surrounded by critical intentions, theatrical effects, and murderous intent. He’s the kind of artist you could listen to and legitimately worry at any moment you could breathe wrong during the album, and he could stop his bar, jump out of the Bandcamp or Spotify app, and beat the shit outta you for interrupting him. That’s how serious he feels about listening to, and I love every second of the pressure he creates!

Overall, this is a fucking BEAST of an album. It’s unforgiving, loud, brash, and in your face, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! 

https://gfamblack.bandcamp.com/album/thru-the-eyes-of-a-madman