(Forged By Fire)

It’s been a minute since I last reviewed Kendall Spencer and his intense two-part series of albums talking about his work tragedy and how it affected his life. Definitely the toughest listen I’ve had in hip-hop so far.

But with a new album in the works, this new single is out, and it seems this time around he’s in a better headspace, more confident, and more ready to kill it. 

This beat has a nice, larger-than-life feel to it with theatrical horns playing in the background across this traditional/boom-bap beat. 

Across this instrumental, Kendrick talks about his conflicts but also his perseverance and toughness to overcome everything he needs to for his family’s sake. 

I love how his lyrical topics go from criticism of others’ work to his revelation of hardships from rent increase to stress to being strong for his family. I love this because it’s authentic; these are less lyrics and more thoughts he’s suffering at the time and letting them spill onto the page.

This is why Kendall is one of the standout artists; he’s truthful in every bar he spits with his brutal honesty and his revealing stories and experiences he’s exposing himself for everyone to see, and there’s a strength in that level of display that I can’t help but respect it!

This is one hell of a single, and it’s only got me more hyped for the album! 

https://strongarmkendall.bandcamp.com/album/forged-by-the-fire-35-pack

(Theme to an Imaginary Malt Liquor Commercial)

This is the latest single by ‘Psych-N-Dag’ and it runs 2 minutes and 41 seconds. From the intro replicating a commercial (as the title suggests), we get into this funky, vocal loop boom Bap track by Psych Major Beats that has this infectious feel to it, like a beat you could play for hours and never get sick of it.

After we get a glimpse of the production prowess, we suddenly get a taste of his lyrical skills as he jumps on the first verse! 

Alongside Psych, when the raps hit by the Dagha, they have (to me at least) a reminiscent vibe of the late 80s early 90’s rape style. Sounds animated, energetic, and passionate. 

From bar to bar, the words sound heavy with emotion and a vibrant aura that it sounds straight out of the Public Enemy or Run DMC era! The golden age aura.

It’s an underrated quality in hip hop to see fluency back and forth between two men. Sometimes you listen to a track and it the sound of the first or second verse is so out of sync that it actually sticks out to the listener! Thankfully on this track they found the right tempo, combination and how to make the track sound as harmonised as possible!

With these two combined, they make for a great duo! With electrifying production and fun, spirited flow and wordplay, they make for a hit that I feel anyone in the culture could get behind! A song that anyone can pump and enjoy! 

https://youtu.be/rQ6db3GviDQ?si=q6shYFEKByg2-O3T

(CHEESEBOARD BILLY)

This is now my second time covering a William Bostick record, and I couldn’t be more excited! So let’s talk about it!

This is another EP, this time with 6 songs and a 15-minute runtime. The album features: 

-7even Thirty 

-Svn Sinz

And from the first song, the project starts off strong with the sample of Eriyah Badu’s debut album ‘Baduizm’, which I thought was super dope.

From there, the album remains strong with the other 4 tracks, with strong, heavy boom bap vibes mixed with smooth, classical elements to make this unusual yet banging mix of inspirations!

I love how the 5 tracks try their hands with different sounds and vibes to create this one-of-a-kind EP. There’s no limit to William’s taste and ambition, and that’s something I respect about him! 

Like how on track 3 has this ‘Spanish feel to it with that fast-paced loop over those high-pitched keys’ that makes the atmosphere feel foreign and mysterious!

Or the track 4 that once again features classical female vocals just like track 3 did! All these different influences I love to hear, and especially that he had the ability to use them! Nothing but respect for the production!

Now, onto the rapping. Once again, just like his other EP, he brings with him his energetic personality and passion for his art to bust out raw lyricism, effortlessly done bars, flow, and penmanship! He’s an artist’s artist, and he doesn’t apologise for that!

He’s less flashy and more substance in his style. He’s just out here rocking the beats with savage bars and showing off his skill! Even across the two features, he remains on equal footing and shows us once again why he’s not one to sleep on!

All in all, for 15 minutes, this thing fucking slaps. Loved every track, every beat, and all the verses! Definitely not a project to sleep on! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/0eqBAKL62oI2yTdlvp2NBh?si=OOy3fqkfQmi9EBcW8XLEaw

(Gold Chain Music)

Every now and then I see a project that goes viral all over my socials. People talking and mentioning it until it can’t be ignored. This is one of those cases, so let’s talk about it!

This is the latest album collaboration album by legendary outfit ‘GCM’, started by the iconic Planet Asia and has proceeded to feature his entire roster! 

Who comes with 12 songs with a 41-minute run time. Across this project, the features are: 

-Planet Asia 

-K. Burns

-Piff James

-Tristate

-Midaz The Beast

-Montage One

-Supreme Cerebral

-Yaboycosmo

-Lenox Hughes

-Styliztik Jones

-Washeyi Choir

Talk about a conglomerate and a half. These names control the underground right now and have for years! Most of GCM, but still makes me happy to see so many heavy hitters on this project! 

Across this project, the legendary production by DirtyDiggs doesn’t disappoint the hype of this army appeal record as he shows off his theatrical and cinematic quality instrumentation and dominance in style and direction!

Every beat has its own powerhouse dynamic and aura to it. For example, the track ‘Butter Knives’ that features this choir-like male vocal loop that gives you goosebumps across a very wavey and fluent string-heavy beat that leaves you with an infectious head nod that can’t be contained!

Or the track ‘Concerning Us’, which literally sounds like an army marching in one spot with drums in their hands with a flag of America flying high. This would have to be the most patriotic song I’ve heard in a minute; just the whole atmosphere of it reminds me of the military! 

Even the track ‘Set It Off’, which embraces Diggs’ smooth side, with an absolutely beautiful jazz-filled loop across a simple traditional hip-hop beat in the background. This sounds like if Miles Davis was resurrected and hired for this one beat because of how perfect it all sounds! Probably my favourite beat on the album!

With the roster equiped on this project you can’t lose. Every song has MC heavyweights who don’t pull punches. Every verse is strong, crisp, deadly and savage.

There’s no such thing as weak bars across these guys and they make sure to obliterate every instrumental laid infront of them with the hottest flows and penmanship you’ve heard in a minute!

GCM are as great as it gets. They could make an album every day for the whole year and still not miss. When you have the talent they have you can’t hope to lose. I could listen to these guys all day! Quality production, lethal rapping and the most consistent of features! Definitely recommend!

https://open.spotify.com/album/4kJ77yJvpT9PgFO4etR2V6?si=xjRj0VLDSX2Dxr5j4_O_Sw

(Loot Clothing)

I wanted to take time to support and promote this dope as clothing company that specialises in classic urban-wear with some of the dopest designs I’ve seen in a minute!

The photos below are some of my favourite products and designs from the website but check out the link below to see the full range! Not sponsored by them just a company I discovered and thought they deserve a write up and support if you can!

Link below! Check them out now! 🤛

https://www.lootest88.uk/products

(Strapped)

I’ll tell you one thing, if there’s one thing Fredro is NOT, it’s strapped for beats. His run has gotta be studied in the industry. He’s back again with another killer album, so let’s talk about it!

This is yet another collaboration album by Fredro Starr this time with underground phenom UFO Fev, who has taken the culture by storm the past few years, and now with production from a legend, you know this is gonna be an untouchable album.

Starting with the production of these 11 tracks, I feel this time around Starr is showing a more colorful, expressive, and rich sound that makes you feel like you’re experiencing a sonic fever dream of flashy boom bap that makes you wanna move your legs and body while listening to these infectious beats.

The tracks ‘Batumi’ and ‘Fast Life,’ I feel, are perfect expressions of these ideals, songs you could play at a club and have crowds of all hip hop heads bumping. Of course, there are other tracks with a more ‘street/grime’ flavour, but these kinds of tracks stick out to me most as yet another example of Fredro’s progression and evolution as a producer!

Now, to the man himself, UFO Fev. The man who has captivated the underground and made waves as one of the best lyricists out and on, this one he only re affirmed this ideal with more polished, steady, and effortless bars and penmanship over those instrumentals.

His battle-tested flow and rhythm are as crisp as ever across these tracks, as he sounds as confident as he’s ever been and for solid reason!

On this album, he’s joined by the likes of 

-Red Inf

-Termanology

-TEK

And even pairing with these quality names, he’s keeping his own and helping to make some of the most quality feature tracks in the past few years!

Overall, another successful collaboration effort by both men. Excellent production, superb rapping, and features. When these two come together, they can’t miss! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2kzu9v28r8fc26iG6p5VNn?si=BTxA5qGWQZCYk2q1f3q9mQ

(Love Yourself/Get The Chance)

Today I’ll be covering the two latest singles by Snotty. As the hype for a new album drop comes closer and closer, we get these two as the appetiser until the future main course.

So, let’s first talk about ‘Love Yourself’ produced by Goodphella. At 2 minutes and 3 seconds, this track has a lot more mellow vibe than his usual shit. When I think of Snotty, I think Pro Dillinger hardcore style Boom Bap/Grimy shit, but he’s decided to take a smoother route, and I actually fuck with it.

You hear those melodic chords in the background with that chipmunk-style female voice loop over a Kanye ‘College Drop Out’ type beat. 

Across this one, you hear a softer, more reminiscent side of Snotty, a song of reassuring himself to ‘love yourself’ and bringing up various accomplishments in his personal life he’s overcome and to give himself some love. Absolutely love the switch-up, and across such a short period of time, he really makes a heartfelt statement, and I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing more of this side if he ever chooses to show it in the future.

Now, the second single ‘Get The Chance’ also produced by Goodphella. This one is 2 minutes and 20 seconds, and this beat from the get-go sounds classical/theatrical in nature with a slow-paced, skeletal beat. The kind of instrumental that forces Snotty to up his game and be the ringleader of the track with the beat taking a step back.

On this one, just like the other single, it sounds like he’s showing his sentimental side, talking about his trials and tribulations. The chorus makes that statement clearly: ‘I’m leaving the streets alone once I get the chance too.’

The statement is rather obvious in intentions, and I feel if these are all part of a future album, that he’s probably re evaluating his life and career and goals. Either way, this possible new side of Snotty is one I’d be very interested and curious to see!

Either way, revealing or otherwise. Doesn’t change the fact that Snotty is one of the strongest lyricists and rappers in the underground period. So I know whatever direction he takes, the record will be dope all around! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/3vrWXXY8w6LaaJY2PbrpKy?si=MnOb9-WKT2qPwUD-gPQeyQ

https://open.spotify.com/album/6oQ4ak3gj7Dy7wSjL9c9cp?si=GTeMjiSHQqiWw69Gs0gC8g

(100 Bats)

For the album cover alone, I had no doubt this was going to be a  dope album. Guess what? I was right! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest 2024 release by Ricky Bats. This is 10 tracks with a 32-minute run time. This is also another release completely produced by Fredro Star! (Yes, I know I’ve been binging his work as of late), but with someone who has evolved as strong as he has, it’s impossible not to!

Across this album, Fredro brings a strong underground loop-based boom bap vibe to the forefront! Whether we are talking about tracks like ‘How Real Is That’ with that female voice vocal loop over the skeletal, raw beat! Or on the track ‘Bats Man’ which starts with a dope voice saying ‘Gotham City’, but regardless, it has this theatrical, classical strings lightly in the background over this interesting, fast-paced drum pattern coming on and off the beat. 

My point being, across this one, he’s experimenting once again with new sounds, new formulas, and trying out production he’s not exactly famous for, and that’s why I love the journey Fredro has been on the past few years! 

Now, on to Ricky Bats. A newcomer for me who

I’ve only heard on various features but never in a full-length LP. I have to say I love this guy’s vibe and energy! He has a similar cadence to the likes of Snotty. A real street-smart aura combined with cut-throat wordplay, flow, and penmanship. He utilises every beat fantastically and makes them his own!

The way he weaves his words is flawless. He knows exactly when and where to bend words, use puns, place his bars, and it all comes together so effortlessly that it’s infectious! Across this project, he features 

-Brigavelli

-Scrip Scott

-Rhoody

And alongside this trio, they all work to maintain this raw, savage atmosphere across the beats and make one of the most cold-blooded drops of 2024!

The Verdict? Unbelievable drop! The production score is surreal, the performances immaculate, and the features banging! Definitely a must-check out! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/30oHZmtJgDmqvMlpygArM0?si=ia2KQNrqQo-oI0v91nTZ3Q

(Beats By Dro Vol.1)

THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE! This is that shit. If there’s any production you need to hear in the last few years, it’s this one! Let’s talk about it.

So, this is a 2023 record by Fredro Starr, who, of course, since this one, has gone on to produce a range of different collaborations and projects. And on this one, it features 11 tracks with various features such as:

– Harrd Luck

-Ricky Bats

-Inspectah Deck

-N.B.S

-LaQuan

-Jody Larenz

-SmooVth

-Hus Kingpin

-Manolo Rose

-Illa Ghee

-Lord Nez

-JD Era

-Jiggidy 

-Mysonne

-Johnny Vulgar

-Zab Judah

-Da Inphamus Amadeuz

Obviously, a who’s who in the underground scene, and across this album, they have the ability to rap over some of the best renditions of the classic 90’s era I’ve heard in a while.

I can’t speak highly enough about the production. Fredro sounds like he’s brought together all the best aspects of groups like Onyx, Gang Starr, Jay-Z, Big L, etc. Everything sounds booming, crisp, high-profile, and fresh in nature!

This is the kind of production I could listen to for days without ever getting sick. The kind of shit I would listen to walking around with a fat one light up and mean-mugging the world! Again, shoutout to Fredro for some of his best work yet! Respect!

Now, onto the underground A-Team that was recruited to absolutely demolish this album with their lyrical savagery, intense vibes, and bloodthirsty atmosphere and penmanship! These names sound like they’ve inherited their inner Onyx and provide some of the most wild and fierce performances I’ve seen of them yet! 

Each and every performer brings their own A-game with every feature, making your face scrunch and your neck twist! I guarantee you anyone who will listen to this won’t be able to sit still and have the urge to buckwild! 

I know I’ve been literally reviewing all these Starr albums backwards in terms of releases, but I’ve yet to find a bad one! Another killer project by the legend himself and all the company! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4mbKGneeSl3POl6Hx1RYAm?si=X4S2w25jTBWHaDO6fiS9nA

(Where Do I Begin)

Once again, it’s time for me to discover a new artist! One who I’ve seen going around social media but one I’ve never personally listened to until now! So let’s talk about it!

This is the 2024 album by rapper AYOO BIGZ with 10 fresh new tracks with a 29-minute run time! Producers are as follows:

-Nar

-KNG Bondalero

-Fendipendergrass

-Young Bangas

-Fumes The Threat

And from the opening notes on the intro track with those haunting chords sounding like a haunted gothic mansion over a hard-hitting boom-bap beat! It only goes harder and darker the further the record goes!

The production on this thing with those handful of some of the best the underground has to offer right now provides AYOO with dark, gloomy, crisp, and bloodthirsty instrumental that makes you feel like you’re living through an unsettling thriller movie with unending suspense and horror that doesn’t end.

Like on tracks ‘On Me’ with those prolonged strings in the background over those bombastic drums and beats! Or on the track ‘Seen a Boi Get Killed’ with those gangster-style key patterns sounding like something that would play in The Sopranos as Tony walked through a scene.

The point being, this album features a great mix between theatrical and grimy to have you feeling like you’re in a cinematic experience that will have your heart pounding to the final track.

Now, on to AYOO. The beast lyricist himself. He has one of the most intense personalities and performances on songs in a while! From his image to his voice, it’s all monstrous and it makes for a rather savage listening experience that you rarely hear in the game today. 

His flow is precise, his lyricism down and dirty, and his vocals will scare any fake artist away! Every time he raps on the song, it sounds like a beast unleashed and hungry for beats, which is perfect considering the range of ridiculous beats provided on this one.

He is accompanied by one man -Fazeonerok who pairs well with AYOO and on the two tracks they share together he maintains the energy, raw vibes and aura to make for a couple of thrilling tracks to give you goosebumps!

If you’re the kind who’s sensitive to caffeine or sugar. Listening to this once a day in the morning will wake you the fuck up! The energy is intense, the production is wild and AYOO is downright dangerous in his performances! He’s definitely a problem in the game and he can only go up from here! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1UZfZxXjdHM2b2CWjpLFEA?si=fiKwOxsYQ6iMEZDQ9qKyYw