(Get To You)

We are so fucking back! Only discovered this man literally a few weeks ago, and yet he’s left an impression on me in the best way possible. After hearing a couple of singles by him (that provided two different styles), I was convinced of his talent! Now I’m back to cover yet another track, and I sense we are getting ANOTHER side! Let’s go!

This is the brand-new track by MC Faceless Sage and Producer Akkunn, and together they drop one of the most infectious three minutes you’re bound to hear all month! Let’s discuss why!

Well, firstly, I want to start with the lyrical side of things because once again, he stunned me with his killer fluency, confidence, charisma, and sharp wit on the bars!

Of course, some could say I’m biased due to being a massive anime head, but I can’t lie; his anime puns and references always have me hyped! Whether he’s talking about Jujutsu Kaisen or, in this case, TMNT, Pokémon, My Hero Academia, or Death Note! The way he incorporates the lines and adds them in so smoothly and effectively throughout the verse is another reason why he’s so goddamn talented!

The way he raps, he makes it sound so effortless! As if he’s just spitting what’s off his mind, as if he didn’t write anything down and just put down what’s on his mind at any given moment, so fluent and calm yet with a sharp precision combined with a dedicated rhyme scheme, and he’s showcasing one of the more effective performances I’ve heard in a minute!

Now, onto that production! This is another W for me because he’s incorporated one of my favourite fusions in hip hop! (Jazz) and it sounds ever so beautiful! First and foremost, you’ve got that thick Jazz Horn loop that runs throughout the entire instrumental that is met with some light and delicate piano keys as well as some minimal drums and some type of wavering chord progression that is side by side with the Jazz horns! 

All this comes together to create a strong sonic structure and atmosphere that you could listen to for hours and never get sick of it. I’m already on my sixth listen and still not over it; it’s just so fucking infectious and hypnotic! Akkunn really killed it on this track! I never heard of him until this,  but now he’s officially on my radar! 

So, if you have been following my write ups. Make sure you check out the last two singles I reviewed and then definitely peep this one! It’s absolutely fantastic, and he’s impressing me more and more every time! 

https://youtu.be/jVFqjxwl1yc?si=OXi_GRbjMWZVc-VY

(EPISODE WON)

After the extraordinary Jackpot drop by SHAWBRUVAZ earlier in the year, I would be stupid not to keep my eye out and support any further drops by these guys, duo or otherwise. The other one was a generous free drop by Jackpot, and it only felt right to pay back the favour when it was time to pay for the next one. I knew regardless it was going to be a dope project, but even so, I wasn’t expecting THIS LEVEL OF HEAT. We’re gonna talk about it!

This is the brand-new album by MC/Producer INF with 21 tracks with the likes of 

-SHAWBRUVAZ

-Al Divino

-???

-HYDRO

And to say this album is lively would be the biggest understatement of the year. What started with one of the most animated and chaotic releases we ever heard in ‘TWIN BLADEZ OF DOOM’ turned into one of the most passionate and original records we’ve heard.

I want to start with the MC work first. I know I’m new to this man (or SHAWBRUVAZ), but the more I replay that album and this one, the more I understand just how energetic and powerful he is as a performer and as a lyricist!

He really is like a comic book character come to life. Each word of his comes with a realistic onomatopoeia! It’s like you can hear the ‘BOOM’, ‘WACK’, ‘WHAM’ in real life over every bar he drops! 

Not only is he incredibly animated, but the way he can weave his smooth lyricism into those incredible beats, it’s like he’s Black Mirror style plugged into the music itself and uploading his words and verses into the instrumentals themselves to create the PERFECT flow and pen game!

He doesn’t have a traditional pattern of rhyming. He doesn’t stick to the basic formula, as seems to be the standard for all Jackpot or 23Incredible artists, to literally go on their own paths and rap in their own original forms. That’s what we get from him as well!

He’s like the gun the mask shoots! His verbal bullets can hit anything and anywhere at a time! Any part of the beat he wants to target, he will! No predetermined way for him to rap. He does his own thing, and it’s fucking INCREDIBLE!

Not to mention the fact that he raps with some of the most compelling artists in the game and rocks with them as vibrantly and as fluently as ever. He ain’t just a newcomer in this shit, he’s a brother and the chemistry between the legends confirms it! Hearing him rap alongside Al and ??? Legit gave me goosebumps! 

Now to the production, this is again another WILD experience of gaming culture mixed with wavy splash boom Bap that changes everything we knew about how music is supposed to sound. It’s like he plugs all the listeners into some kind of VR atmosphere and we download all these digital sounds and samples that can be overwhelming at times due to the pure noise and duality of it all!

So many tracks have classic & nostalgic gaming samples that only the older generations would know about!

If the last record was a living comic then this is an NES console come to life! Brash game snippets combined with gritty hip hop that’s in your face, experimental, loud and unapologetic! 

The fact that he produced this himself is even more impressive to me. It’s controlled chaos ‘and I say controlled lightly’ because every second I listen to this it feels like at any moment the characters and samples are going to jump out of my headphones and drag me in!

But across the gaming world we do have various influences from 

-Funk

-Jazz

-Classical

-Soul and more. What’s also fascinating is there are plenty of tracks where he just doesn’t have any rapping! Just lets the instrumentals and the melodies vibe solo! Which I love, provides a level of unpredictability and smoothness to the album, letting the audience just enjoy the music every now and then is a genius idea!

He lets the ATMOSPHERE speak for itself and then chooses when he wants to rap (or have the features rap) such a laid back yet powerful sonic statement. He’s obviously a man who understands how the creative mind works. A man who not only cares about making a ‘rap album’ but wanting to make a score that will be remembered for years to come and can never be replicated.

As much as I can try, my words can’t possibly do this justice. It’s art in its truest form. I know some of you will say (but $44 is steep) well that was $66 for me Australian and sometimes the best art costs and I’m not trying to force anyone to buy anything but I can say that if you do invest, you’ll be listening to a one of a kind experience that you won’t forget! 

If you’re interested, head over to Jackpot Records website and you’ll find it! 

(Manhunt)

I can’t lie. I feel a seven-track project is the best way to experiment with these two on deck. Two of the most popular MC’s in the game right now, two different personalities and characters coming together to create an exciting experience that the game hasn’t seen yet. Does the pairing work? Well, let’s talk about it! 

This is the latest collaboration album between the two MC’s Boldy James and Rome Streetz. Together, they drop a seven-track EP feel with production from (according to Spotify)

-James Clay Jones III

-Jerome Allen

-Michael Denny

-Nicholas Craven

-Wavy Da Ghawd

-Chuck Strangers

-Michael Suski

And I want to discuss production first. Because I have to admit, I loved the sonic direction this one went in! What you’ll hear is a combination of gritty boom-bap mixed with lavish soul to give the listener a variety plate of different sounds that should make every kind of hip-hop fan happy!

For example, you have tracks like -Like Biggie Did, which has the more soul-meets-classic vibes! You’ve got that old-school vocal harmony loop that is absolutely angelic in its execution!

This is accompanied by some subtle bass strings and super light drum beats! 

This is probably one of the more skeletal takes on the album but one that works wonders for the likes of Rome and Boldy!

We have tracks like -Hot Plate, which provides the more gritty boom-bap experience! There’s that haunting vocal harmony that has a passing/eerie effect to it! (Unlike the other one that was bright and vibrant)

On this one, we have those sticky key progressions and skeletal drums! There’s also some sharp violins that come as quick as it goes! It sounds like a one-second loop snippet! Either way, a truly sombre style track! 

We can even look at the outro track – Manhunt, which closes the project off with a more trap beat than the others had! You’ve got that fascinating harmonica sample that gives this song a real country/spaghetti western feel to it! This is combined with some heavy bass strings and what sounds like a classic 808 trap beat! This is definitely the more out there track for this duo, but they still kill the beat regardless!

Definitely a mystery bag of beats, some I love, some I don’t, but with the quality of rappers on this album, they make it work better than most would!

Speaking of the rappers. We have Rome and Boldy, two of the most recognised rappers in the game right now, and both have paved a way in this hip hop shit! So them coming together for this 18 minutes feels like two titans acknowledging each other and deciding to create pure chaos with their bars!

I gotta say, this collaboration worked out a lot better than I was expecting it (not because either MC is bad), but I wasn’t sure how their personalities and styles would mesh for a whole album, but after listening to it, I understood why it made sense.

You’ve essentially got the best of both worlds; you’ve got Boldy and his cold, calculating, almost robotic demeanour slicing through the production accompanied by his vivid street poetry and dangerous bars about what he’s experienced, his path to success, and a trigger warning to the haters! 

Then you’ve got, on the flip side of that, Rome’s more high-pitched octaves, the more obvious charisma coming out, and spitting his take on street bars, brash/in-your-face lyricism, drug talk, and how he’s dominating the game right now!

In a lot of ways, they are different sides of the same coin. Similar in topics and themes yet executed in different ways. One’s more cold and dangerous approach, the other more lively and explosive! BOTH have the ability to rap circles around the competition and are showcasing that here and now!

I also love how there was no features and I mean with these two taking centre stage, why would you want it? Not saying no one could match their performances but it would feel like overkill when you’ve already got two killers of this magnitude going verse for verse! So I was happy there was no one else to disturb the chemistry!

All in all, a great showing by both men. Great chemistry, solid production and a great little 18 minute album to tie us up until their next drop! Go peep it below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5OAT54oeB6x3VFbcbGwkbX?si=hr1IQuI0TH68AMGAGaWTzg

(Dead Man’s Hand)

The day has FINALLY COME! The day that one of the iconic Monster Trio drops his sequel to one of the hardest projects from last year, ‘King’s Casino’, and now he’s come back to claim that top spot with undoubtedly one of the hardest EP’s you’ll hear, period! Let’s fucking go!

This is the brand-new EP by MC JJackpot and producer Koba Dera, and this consists of seven tracks with the likes of 

-Snotty

-Mondo Slade

-Pro Dillinger

And with this insane list of MC’s to acquire their parts in this EP, we come on STRONG with seven absolute bangers!

Let’s talk about the MC work first. JJackpot, this man doesn’t know how to take an L. I reviewed most of these singles for this project, but it doesn’t make them any less exciting! What separates him from the rest (in my opinion) is the combination of his lyricism and his flow!

The flow, he has one of the most fluent and smooth deliveries I’ve heard. He’s like the modern-day Biggie/Method Man! It’s as if his wordplay glides across the instrumentals like a piece of grass in heavy wind, absolutely weightless and effortless in execution!

When he’s spitting his verses, the sharpness combined with the precision is something uncanny. He’s a master of the delivery; the fact he can be this smooth and still be this lyrically devastating is ridiculous. It’s obvious he must have studied those legends to inherit the same skills that they made famous!

I’ll tell you one thing, if I was a rapper and saw him record his verses in the studio, I’d be hesitant at best to continue due to his pure brilliance on the mic!

And his lyricism, he ain’t just smooth but he’s fucking vivid. Some of the bars he spits as if it’s nothing, whether he’s talking about SpongeBob or Lilo & Stitch or describing boss moves as a ‘maid man’, he makes everything he spits sound immersive and descriptive! It doesn’t matter what he talks about; he’s like a legendary author! One who can bring any topic or theme to life, and this EP is proof of his variety and verbal versatility! 

Even though there are only seven tracks on here, it’s a lifetime for other rappers of pen game, rhyme schemes, bars, and sharp instincts.

The fact that he can stand with the incredible roster listed above is further proof of his talent! He ain’t putting just anyone on his project; he chose THE VERY BEST, and what’s most impressive is how well he holds his own. He just showed that he’s their equal and brother in arms. This is something I’ve known since his Casino album, but now the world can see what I’ve known since last year! Absolutely incredible effort!

Now, onto the production. Talk about a fucking GLOW UP! Not that he was bad before, but Koba has shown such an incredible levelling up that puts him in the upper echelon of the underground producers, and if he keeps up this consistency, he could be outdoing everyone, period.

Across these seven tracks, we hear Koba showcasing his trademark dark, gritty, and surreal instrumentals that are equal parts powerful and intense!

This score sounds like a dark walk and midnight across the hardest street you’ve ever seen! The sound of ‘danger,’ which is why it makes JJackpot’s verses that much more potent and hard!

I love the ‘Underground Hip-Hop Sopranos’ feel this album has. I hear how it inherits the same tension and theatrical drama from the show in its most serious moments. Each song represents a different major plot point from a show of that magnitude.

For example, track 7 -Last Draw sounds like Tony Soprano finally snapping after the horse died and has it already decided in his head that Ralphie has to die!

Or track 6 -Fold Or Bleed sounds like the dark and unforgiving soundtrack to the last moments of Adrianna. Someone who had a good heart but fucked up in the worst way possible, and she couldn’t run away from the consequences (in the form of Sal). 

Of course this is up to personal interpretation but this is just how it felt to me. Listening to this EP reminded me of key moments from the show (or at least what it would be if they incorporated underground hip hop into them) and I feel the fact I can even envision this at all speaks volumes to the skill and technique of Koba to trigger the imagination to this level! Truly masterful work!

As I expected, this album didn’t disappoint! One of the most solid EP’s I’ve heard yet and the chemistry between JJackpot And Koba was absolutely perfect! Go peep it below now! 

https://youtu.be/74yjbrjDJcg?si=Tc2SbHVyDnFkgroT

(Wake Up To The Madness)

We are back with yet another single off one of the most anticipated albums to come from this year! With yet another feature by a man who until recently didn’t know he knew B1, but now I can’t unhear it! So with that in mind, let’s talk about it! 

This is the brand-new single by MC’s B1 The Architect and YoungReeseDude with B1 on the production! The two of them drop a solid 2 minutes and 40 seconds of pure, unadulterated hip hop that is sure to please even the most hardcore of rap fans!

I feel we gotta start off with that production! The first thing that hit was those incredibly rhythmic drum patterns! It’s the first thing you hear, and the way it rolls through the song is amazing! It’s so smooth and captivating in its loop, makes you feel like they used a real drummer in the booth for it (not that I’d be surprised).

As well as the drums, we have these luscious piano keys which provide a great harmony balance to the song, and on top of all that, this screeching synth-style string progression that provides an experimental element to the whole song! 

Once again, we have a more darker tune for their collaboration, and it suits so well because the two men have experience in diving into that realm and now are back to show once again why they rap on any kind of beat and light it on fire!

The duo of B1 and Young Reese is one I’ll never get sick of. They match each other’s energy and charisma. They have their own personalities and cadences that make them unique from each other, yet they have a special bond and synchronicity when it comes to the beat that makes this all the more special! 

Both their verses are hard-hitting, detailed, incredibly sharp, and lyrical! Both these men have an excellent vocabulary, and they’ve been known to rap about anything and everything under the sun in the past, and this time is no different, matching the eerie tones of the production, they go full force with precise verbal assaults and smooth delivery that can match up to anyone on the game right now!

All this is to say that (as no surprise to me) these two hit off once more, and I hope we can see what Reese does with the upcoming album! He’s a dope MC who seems to be able to vibe with anyone!

And B1 with his dope production and even doper bars is setting great anticipation for said album, which I can’t wait to hear! In the meantime, peep the new single below!

https://open.spotify.com/album/4j5gKVybGfQdXIn2etyDmO?si=q2E24TLKTOG3ej_yqKrBlQ

(BOOK OF HIMOTHY: VERSE IV)

This is one of those albums that has been anticipated for around a month now. By an artist who is a legend in the industry with probably the most years put into the game period! Never one to shy away from the truth or saying whatever’s on his mind, and with one of the strongest discographies built in the game, we are back with another record that is sure to impress! Let’s go! 

This is the brand-new album by MC and head of the 6th Man Camp, we have The Bad Seed, who is coming back swinging with a huge 15-track record that features on the production the likes of 

-Silverback Lauren

-Murda Megz

-Jah Freedom

-Shade Cobain

-CJ Drove

-Pitch 92

-Team Demo

-Frank_Bo74 

And can you believe this is his 30th project! That’s fucking wild. To have this many and have such a high success rate is beyond impressive. I’ve covered his older shit, his shit over the past few years, and I can confidently say he’s aged like a fine wine— ‘a brutally honest and in-your-face bottle of wine’. 

Now the album kicks off strong with a heavy East Coast beat by Silverback that kicks you in the fucking chest with the sounds! With those big organ chords and that choir-inspired vocal harmonies that all come together in this grand and larger-than-life instrumental! 

Throughout the whole album, we have gems that make you feel like a fever dream in hip-hop form! For example, track two—HIMOTHY produced by Murda Megz! Which has this incredible guitar chord, drum beats, and synth chord fusion that makes you feel like you’re listening to an 80’s action movie scene! Think Lethal Weapon chase scene with Riggs and Rog! 

I also love the vocal harmonies towards the end of the track; it gives an extra layer of theatrics to the song!

The song -QUEEN&SLIM (Produced by Silverback) starts off with an interesting vocal snippet from a film or tv show! As that passes, we get this real old-school beat that kind of reminds me of the 2000s Jay-Z! You’ve got those sticky chord progressions, infectious 90s style cuts, and those heavy-handed drums that take me right back to the old-school era!

Also on this track is where our one and only feature is shown in one of my favourite MC’s going right now, HONEY DINERO!

One thing I love about the production on this is how each track resembles an aspect of ‘gospel’, whether that be the organs or piano or choir-like vocals. Not many albums stick this closely to one sound (but based on the artwork and title of the album, it would make sense that’s how the majority of this album sounds). It’s just impressive that, especially with this many names on board, it’s synchronised this much! 

The only thing more impressive than the production is Seed. He sounds like he’s on a mission to remind the new generation exactly who he is and why he deserves your respect! He makes that clear from the opening track where he discusses two men and their drama with him (if you know, you know), and from there, we kick off a flurry of dope verses, bars, and in-your-face rhyme schemes that is trademark SEED!

I love how on the artwork, he’s representing The King himself, ‘Notorious B.I.G.’ and dare I’d say channeling the same ruthlessness on the beats, the same raw and rugged wordplay, as well as an impeccable flow and sharp lyricism that forces you to mean-mug the world for exactly 15 tracks back-to-back!

He’s hitting back stronger than ever. His authentic honesty mixed with his experienced brash bully rap makes him a threat against anyone else in the game right now!

Besides Honey, he has no other features. No one else to attempt to match his energy, just him rocking the house, providing why he’s one of the dopest MC’s period.

This whole album and his performances run like a championship run. Knock out after knock out, he’s never one to back down from a challenge, never stays quiet on an issue and is always ready and swinging!

As someone who follows his life outside of the music scene and the many conversations we’ve had back and fourth it’s refreshing to know that he’s exactly the same in and out of the booth and that makes his music that much more compelling! 

Once again another killer record by Seed! One of the only artists who can make a 15 track album and still keep your attention the whole way through! Make sure you go support the man and buy his bandcamp and hear the brilliance! 

https://thebadseed6.bandcamp.com/album/book-of-himothy-verse-iv

(GALATIC DONUT)

Based on the premise alone, incorporating DBZ into the album? That’s already a W for me. But then you add in the producer responsible for this album? Nah it’s already a wrap and I haven’t even heard the record yet! But I know we gotta get into it ASAP!

This is the latest EP by MC’s Novian Wright & Jo Saza and we have the one and only DeevoDaGenius on production! Together they drop a solid 7 tracks with no features in sight just two dope rappers and a beat maker to keep the energy up!

This album starts off with a quick 13 second intro of the iconic Buu Saga moment when Goten and Kid Trunks use fusion on Piccolo’s command! This would be right before fighting Super Buu! A boss ass moment and a perfect way to capture the energy and vibe of the two MC’s being introduced to us!

As the album goes on we get a beautiful glimpse of a fusion of 

-Soul

-Alt RnB

-Ambient

-Funk

-Hip Hop 

-Jazz and the way Deevo combines these elements and crafts memorable singles out of them is actually insane. There hasn’t been a single project I’ve heard of his yet that I’ve felt lacklustre about but especially on the projects when he deviates from the ‘traditional’ rap sounds and tries his hand at more experimental and creative fusions is when I feel he shines best!

These 16 minutes are a collection of immersive, in depth soundtracks to access your deepest thoughts and imagination. This feels less like a rap album to play out in your car but more one to sit back, close your eyes and let the originality and conceptual flow of all three involved take over and give you a sonic wave you’ve yet to experience before!

I love how fluent the music is, even though each instrumental has so much going on they still connect with the other 6 tracks in a proper and consistent manner! 

Deevo understands the assignment in creating the best possible score that enhances the two performances and personalities of this duo and that’s why each song is crafted immaculately with colorful melodies, sharp instrumentation and an overall groovy exterior that will have you coming back every time! 

You know, when I went through my first listen of this EP I had one thought. These two men remind me of ‘EARTHGANG’ of course not a copy of them and they do their own thing 

But I feel the same level of chemistry between the two, similar energy and charisma running through them. The fact their personalities and cadences can create such an explosive dynamic over the beats I found truly impressive! I’ve heard plenty of duo’s over my time as the serpent tongue and most are dope but there’s not many that can create this level of excitement and passion that blows up over the track!

The type of enthusiasm that can’t be made but god gifted! 

It really was like listening to the synchronicity of Kid Trunks and Goten! Go and re watch that Saga if you haven’t in a while, and listen to the witty banter, the rebellious nature and playful rhythm of the two! (That’s not including post Gotenks) they had Gon & Killua vibes and I’m getting that exact same feel by these two MC’s here!

How they go back fourth, the way their words can be manipulated across the beat and sound almost bouncy! The sharp lyricism and authentic vibes they share make this album so much fun to listen to! Like two brothers kicking off the EP of the year!

I’m so fucking happy they decided not to use any features to potentially taint the game they were spitting! They have enough swagger to give to everyone decades (Naruto style) and never run out!  So they sure as hell don’t need anyone else taking over what they already mastered! 

Man I can’t talk enough good about this album, from the DBZ influence to the music itself. This is a trio you don’t wanna sleep on!

https://open.spotify.com/album/0VIIywMy62TfUJJ0FtqUW7?si=e8v7ZEbJTPaIvNFGzH5cFQ

(REALITY RAP)

It’s a wild experience for me to go into every new album of these guys and think ‘this is my new favourite production’. I can’t help it. These men keep creating bangers that each new album lights up by senses all over again. With that being said, let’s get into it!

This is the brand-new album by iconic hip-hop duo MC ZELL and producer Dev Rogers. I discovered them in 2025 and haven’t looked back. I’ve been rather vocal about their success and consistency over the year, and they haven’t disappointed me!

Across these eight tracks and 16 minutes (might be their shortest offering to date), we hear Dev on what could be seen as his most soulful and atmospheric instrumentals to date!

Each track feels and has a level of aura to it that’s hard to pinpoint. It’s not exactly ‘boom bap’ but it’s not exactly mellow either. It’s somewhere in the sweet spot middle that got me hooked immediately!

I mean that intro track -BALTIMORE STATE OF MIND might have my favourite instrumental I’ve heard all year. My god, is it beautiful!

There’s this heavy jazz influence, light plucked strings, and this angelic vocal harmony that is so subtle yet so crisp that it adds a new layer of warmth to the song that comes together in this surreal experience!

There are other tracks such as the second track in -YELLOW TAPE (STORE RUN) that has this combination of adventurous and gritty tones associated with it. It’s got this rhythmic jazz horn loop that feels as powerful as can be! Assorted with that are these heavy-set drums, and a sturdy yet more background placement of these sharp chord progressions that help provide some extra tension to the song!

Hell, if we look at the track -CEMENT SHOES, which had the most wild intro with what sounded like Star Wars light saber battles, that later evolved into this raw meets stoner rap vibe! I think it’s because of those swaying plucked chords in the background! Reminds me of some prime Cypris Hill shit!

They also have some more hypnotic drum scores and light jazz notes that later evolve (in the finale 20 seconds or so) into this light jazz feel to close the track off! Very well done indeed!

Point is, Dev is giving us a masterpiece in instrumentation, even more than he normally does! Absolutely brilliant! (Especially that intro track, god damn)

I still remember the first critic comparison I made of ZELL ‘He’s like a real-life Inosuke’ and that’s still something I die on! Across the 5-6 albums I’ve reviewed of theirs, (maybe more) he’s maintained and upheld his trademark intensity in his performances and I feel with each release he’s only gotten more socially aware and using his platform to speak his truths and views on the world around him, giving the younger generation tips on how to be better!

When you think about it, he’s kind of hip-hop’s answer to Furious Styles. A street kid turned sensible adult who wants to teach the new school how to succeed in life! And doing so in his own practical and in-your-face approach, wanting to save people from the hood!

He’s back stronger than ever with his ferocious cadence, his powerful wordplay and his damn near shouting bars that you can’t help but feel resonate throughout your bones as you go through the album.

For 16 minutes this man hits you with a truck full of verbal lessons, messages and street poetry but instead of used to brag he’s using as a warning spot! I also love how across all these drops he works solo, no one next to him just ZELL keeping the energy alive himself and that’s something I gotta respect heavily!

This duo has never given us a reason to worry and they haven’t started now. Another adrenaline-filled drop by the two men, one you should definitely check out below! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/2baCwGl9JSFbkHqyXwC0pB?si=bx2Lp-MgR2yHae7SxEsb-Q

M.I.K.E.Y. (Maybe I Knew Everything, Yesterday)

Man, I fucking love concept albums. The very premise of a ‘Concept’ album is that the artist or band is thinking of a theme or idea to utilise in music form! It means they are thinking and activating their creative genius, and no more evident is this than here! With an idea so deep that I found myself hooked on this album before I even pressed play. Let’s get into it!

This is the brand-new album by MC Yasin and producer Clypto, and together they drop a solid 13 tracks featuring the likes of 

-Eloh Kush

-Tim Jones

And get this (as the Bandcamp description tells us): this album is based off the premise that Michael from ‘The Godfather’ knew everything was going to happen prior to YESTERDAY! 

Yes, you read that correctly. What a fucking concept! One of my favourite movies showcased in this manner is beyond exciting! And that puts both men in my good books for life just for executing it!

So, let’s start with the production aspect. Because to match such a grand idea, you’d need the perfect soundscape to work with, and that’s where Clypto comes in! Working with a whole arrangement of sounds and influences, he brings to the table a variation of softer cuts, classical styles, hard-hitting and funky instrumentals all to replicate the roller coaster ride of the film itself!

Whether you are talking about more sombre cuts such as -Michael In The Restaurant with that bare vocal loop done in two different layers, one a male voice in the forefront and the other in a shorter female snippet following behind the main one! I also love how that main vocal harmony evolves into a full sentence throughout the song!

This song also provides us with some plucked strings and light drum work that all adds up to create a slow burner that makes you think about life! (Not to mention that smooth flute sample!)

There are more upbeat cuts such as -Hang Gliders that has a more late 70’s early 80’s funk/soul vibe to it! You’ve got those upbeat vocal choir style loops accompanied by those light horns in the background and those groovy piano keys that sound full of life with every note! 

It sounds like celebration, like victory, like SUCCESS! The kind beats Stevie Wonder would make just full of spirit and happiness! Such a dope cut!

(Not to mention Eloh’s dope verse!)

We even have cuts like -Holy Water which has one of the more ambitious sonic layouts of the whole album! With that insane vocal snippet that repeats in one-second intervals as well as the plucked strings and that high-pitch chord progression that all in all makes this both one of the more skeletal joints but also one of the most memorable due to its out-there nature!

This song sounds like contemplation and mystery. Like ‘The Godfather’ thinking of his next move and planning accordingly! 

Point is, every song on this album (to me) represents a different concept and stage of process. As if to replicate what the film so perfectly represents! An absolutely phenomenal job by Clypto! 

Now, I mean as far as bars go. After I’ve described what it’s about, you think the pen game gonna be lacking? Of course not! This is Yasin showcasing his lyrical genius by strategically setting up verses and bars that represent the notion of the concept he created.

So think of his work here as a running film/story just like ‘The Godfather’ from the interlude, to the middle to the outro and everything in between. He’s single-handedly spinning his own grand narrative and using Hip Hop as the medium to do so! 

Of course, every now and then we hear his brash side come on, he drops the occasional in-your-face, brag bar to remind the audience and the culture who the fuck he is, but for the most part, he keeps it relevant. Every song is layered with verbal references, in-depth conceptual work and colourful expressions and performances to really bring this album to life!

He’s a grand author with a compelling sense of storytelling and drama! I mean, already trying to breathe life into an already legendary film is hard enough, but to do it in an underground hip-hop scale? A tough task indeed, and he absolutely nailed it!

If you are just someone who only cares about club bangers and hit singles. This probably won’t be for you! But if you can appreciate the art of storytelling and a strong conceptual approach, then you will love this! Bandcamp link below— go click, buy, support, and listen and feel the excitement!

https://yasin3.bandcamp.com/album/m-i-k-e-y-maybe-i-knew-everything-yesterday-4

(Dinosaur BBQ: Music Video)

Due to a special request, I’ll be covering a song off an album I’ve already reviewed but one that is now equipped with a music video! It’s not every day I cover these, but I was blessed enough to be chosen to do this review! So let’s talk about it!

This is the brand-new MUSIC VIDEO for MC Seth Narley and Producer Halal Seeds, and as mentioned above, this is for the track ‘Dinosaur BBQ’, which, for those who don’t know (or don’t remember) that amazing, stripped-back and atmospheric soundscape with those light vocal harmonies, sharp violin strings, and methodical drum sounds! 

So, it’s only fair that of all tracks, THIS is the one for the video. Right off the bat, I must say I love this video as just like the song, it’s so simple yet so powerful in the message it perceives!

Firstly, we have the man Seth walking out of a food joint in an ‘avirex’ jacket back to his black van as he begins to rap!

We also get the occasional montage of stuff like: 

– other moving cars

– driving footage

– street signs 

As well as the occasional footage of Seth himself getting out of the car to visit places! 

The footage definitely feels third person meets first. Because although it is focused on him and his car and him rapping! There are plenty of shots of other areas I just mentioned to add an extra layer of ‘aesthetic’ to the video (which I found pretty dope).

If anything, this gives me ‘Taxi Driver’ feels, a man roaming the streets at night, observing the world around him! I love how he raps in and around his car as well as the message behind it (which was added on the IG Reel’ where he goes ‘You gon tell me I can’t smoke in this shit?’ Absolutely love that for the caption!

You’ve heard the song. You’ve heard the album. BUT have you seen the music video? If not, make sure to roll over to Seth Narley’s IG and you’ll find it!  Or click down below! 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVHaT0Fkbqf/?igsh=ZmJxMnNoaHg4emFh