(Realest Alive)

April seems like the era of dope singles, and this one just seems to add to that legacy because out of all of them, I’ve heard this month that this one might be the one that SLAPS THE HARDEST, or you could say it’s ’The Realest?’ Let’s get to it!

This is the latest single produced by 2wo Offishal and features Cyphersick & Vic Spencer. All three of these names are prominent powerhouses in the game, and they help create a track that could easily be played at any club or radio station in the world right now! It’s that dope!

First starting with the production, this one has a mellow G Funk-reminiscent feel to it with soft and slow instrumentation with those delicate keys and synth notes! When I first played this, it reminded me of a track you’d hear off Wiz Khalifa’s ‘Kush And OJ’ mixtape. It shares the same groovy, chill, and infectious tones and energy that makes you want to lay back and smoke a fat one while vibing heavy to a fresh beat, and that definitely describes this!

This track wouldn’t be as pump without the two lyrical superstars on the beat making this thing pop! I love how they both produce their own style and characteristic on the beat while simultaneously being at once with what kind of energy and atmosphere the track should have! They balance a fine line between being original and stand out to ruining the track with having opposing forces that taint the instrumental, but thankfully, as two professionals go, they both figure out the best way to do their own styles while keeping the rhythm alive!

They both, as per usual, have slick flow, witty wordplay, and fun, vibrant, and high energy that matches the sound they are rapping on. They even share this vibe on the chorus! You can just hear it in their voices; they are having a good time rapping on a funky beat while spitting some lethal bars and creating a hit song in the process!

If you’re looking for the freshest song of the year, look no further because this is it! Trust me, this will be the track that stays on your repeat for months on end! 

https://youtu.be/MnkbwufENX4

(Fons Et Origo)

Look who’s back? It’s MALCOLMSEF, the main man who presented us with that killer single from my

previous review, and this time he’s back and this time with the producer ‘The Olympics’, and together they release another dope single into the game!

Starting with the production, compared to the other one, this one feels a lot more subtle, relaxed, and dreamy. The soft-spoken jazz notes that quickly dive into the background and a more folk/harmonic chord structure with some light vocal tone to help create one of the most beautifully crafted ambient-driven beats I’ve heard all year. I love the choir-style vocals, the serene instrumentation, and the light, traditional hip-hop beat wrapping all this up.

Speaking of rapping, we have the man in question back, and just like with the first single, he’s back on his top-notch rap shit.

Considering how short this track is, he’s wasting no time showing off his solid flow, his complex wordplay, witty puns, and dope penmanship. There’s no time for filler on this one, and he doesn’t have any! He’s just rapping solid and with great energy, passion, and cadence that gives off a confidence vibe that lets the listener know that he is ‘that guy’.

This single was short and sweet with a fantastic performance by all involved. Great recommendation and can’t wait to hear more from both!

https://open.spotify.com/album/64qziD0Yvv8SWpRgZCvjOP?si=_ldYn_UxTeCVeW2cJCcXJg

(Alchemy 2: Ein Sof)

Once again, it’s time for me to discover and cover new artists! An event that one upon a time happened to me around twice a month now is a daily experience. Such is the path my content is taking me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! Let’s talk about it!

So, this is the latest collaboration album between rapper ‘Kingdom Kome’ and producer ‘Onaje Jordan’, and together they come with a 15-track project with 45 minutes of content! Featuring the likes of:

-General Backpain

-Sean Links

-Che Uno

-Eloh Kush

-Daniel Son

-Hakim Green

-Lyrik3l

-Nejma Nefertiti

-G Fam Black

-Killy Shoot

-Thirstin Howl The 3rd

-Xp The Marxman

-Ruen

-Kenyattah Black

And when you’re riding with such notorious names, you know you don’t have the luxury of being complacent or mid. It’s your job as the artists to blow the fucking roof off, and that’s exactly what this duo does!

Starting with the production, Onaje utilises a lot of classical, late 1950s-era sounding instrumentation and samples/loops. The way he combines these beautifully timed sounds with theatrical and gritty boom Bap is a work of art that gives birth to a new breed of subgenre that is equally tough and thought-provoking! 

Another aspect of this album I love is the historic and informative nature of the record. It has this archaeological atmosphere to it with its lyrical themes and even use of various voice samples talking about items or events relating to the field, which makes it feel like an Indiana Jones movie come to life!

Also, I appreciate the fact he decided to keep the record rough around the edges in aesthetic. Yes, polished in certain cases is fine; obviously, that’s how most people want their products finally done, but (at least when it comes to rap) the best records can come when the producer leaves a certain amount of ‘grit’ on the beats and mastering process to maintain that raw side that would otherwise be lost. Kind of like how the show Daredevil kept a lot of one-take fight scenes instead of using CGI or editing to fuck making it sterile, so for that reason, I respect this one was produced!

Now, onto Kingdom. The man who has a lot to prove and work with regarding both production and features alike, but he exceeds all expectations! 

I love this guy’s style; he comes to the studio with a tough cadence, a confident flow, and top-tier penmanship. When he raps, he sounds like the man, like his foundation is unshakable and he’s come into his own from his years of experience and grinding to make himself a major threat in this rap game.

Which says a lot because across this album, you have some legendary features! The two that stood out to me most were Umbrella’s Daniel Son and G Fam Black, who absolutely annihilated the tracks they were on, but even so, Kingdom not only maintained his vibe but rapped equally side by side those types of MC monsters! So that speaks a lot because trust me, that ain’t easy to do; whenever I think of the fake scenario of having to rap alongside either of those men, I start sweating because I could take 10 years to write a verse, and it would never amount to one from them! So praise to Kingdom for his ability!

Overall, there’s nothing I can complain about this record! It’s got the length, the features, the production, and the verses! Trust me, this could be the album to beat for the year! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/1TAOpp1IdfRcdMpomYpqX1?si=BrgEvXV_SaGHhXcHKQnKOA

(Wish Me Luck)

Nothing better than a nice relaxing single to listen to while you’re coming home after a long shift or a mellow day off walk with your dog on a beautiful day, and that’s how this song feels to me by this new artist I just discovered! So let’s talk about it!

So this is a new single by rapper ‘MALCOLMSEF’, and this one is produced by ‘SKIP THE KID’, both names I’m unfamiliar with until now, but based on this single, they both go hard!

Starting with the production, we have these horn sound loops that are placed over this dreamy, lo-fi slow feeling beat that sounds like the kind of beat you’d hear when you get high and everything starts to go real slow. But if you’re sober as stated above, it just sounds like a relaxing fever dream beat that can relive stress and help increase your mood throughout the day and the kind of beat you could listen to on repeat and never get sick of! The atmosphere this gives off is incredible!

Now onto MALCOLMSEF, who I have to say delivers probably the best opening line ever: 

‘Mother Nature, Mother Father, Mother Fucker’ if that’s not a great opening line, then what is? As the song progresses, we get a solid performance by him!

Whether that’s his smooth and methodical flow and delivery or his introspective and thoughtful wordplay and lyricism or just his stand-out deep rugged tone that has a splash of emotion that can be heard within the end of his pronunciation of his sentences or bars.

He has a unique voice and excellent sense of timing and rhythm across the beat in question, which helps ensure the track as a whole is dope all the way around!

For a single by both involved I’ve never heard of before, I was pleasantly surprised! Great MC, Great producer, and a Great track in general! Fantastic work by all involved! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/5WC40kTNtjByHa7HeHF7Dk?si=NgkD30XoRYWdEsqKOb5rzw

(I Am Temporary)

I know I must have said this last time, but I never thought I’d be in a position where I’m reviewing remix albums. His last album remixing Mac Miller was so incredibly lively and brilliantly done that you know I had to come back and check out what he’s been up to lately, and so let’s talk about it!

This is the latest remix tape by producer Gold Matter. A man who I was introduced to by the Penlordz click as he was a frequent producer of their joints, and now he’s focused on his own work, which seems to be taking well-respected and established rappers for a remix LP adventure! Last time it was Mac Miller, this time it’s Joey Bada$$!

A man who I used to be obsessed with all the way up to his record ‘ALL AMERIKKKAN BADA$$’ in 2017 and then admittedly fell off his stuff, but that doesn’t change the fact he’s one of the most talented artists and lyricists out there in the game, and so this is an exciting project to cover.

The beats on this thing are so engaging and warm like the sun that it’s impossible not to smile while listening to this album. The production is so many things: it’s groovy, infectious, beautifully composed, crafted, and edited. It’s thought-provoking, technical, creative, and smooth. It’s soulful, serene, and sunny. It’s a sonic fever dream, breathtaking and tranquil. It’s original, soothing, and refreshing in every single way.

There are just so many things that Gold does right when making projects like this, and one of the main things (which I feel would be an underrated or overlooked quality compared to the music itself) is the fact he’sconsiderate. 

I can guarantee on my life that any and all real hip-hop fans have heard either posthumous or remix tapes that just piss you off when you hear them. Their lack of respect, features forced in place that never would have happened, or production that just sounds like fingers on chalkboards compared to the voice in among a list of other things.

But on here, Gold actually makes sure to make music that Joey actually would use and rap on or alongside of. He’s respecting the artist just like he did for Mac Miller. (Side note, that Eminem-produced 2pac album was a plague on humanity.) 

Anyway, venting aside, consideration is why he’s the perfect man for the job, the one to find the best verses to apply, the best production choices that suit Joey and his style. It’s something EVERYONE should do, but few actually do. 

I could listen to Gold remix albums all day, and I hope he continues the trend. Whether it’s for other artists or fun projects like this, he’s one of the best producers going, and I really hope more can appreciate this! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/20MZ9sj9wZ8C4umdZtOC8B?si=wAWphqK2TOqUbEPzrp_nEA

(Olympic Gun Run Champions)

New single alert! It’s the familiar face of Here’s Johnny with new collaborations alongside feature rapper Greyphox and producer GhostXMachine, and this trio is here to make more than waves!

Starting with that production! Holy fuck! Talk about grimy. This thing feels like a combination of experimental/noise/hardcore boom bap. One thing is for certain though: this thing is fucking vicious! It’s best described as a bunch of distorted classical instruments played wrong on purpose for a more horrific effect. 

This actually reminds me of a Denzel Curry song ‘P.A.T.’ off his 2019 album ‘ZUU’ with that same distorted, noise feel to it and the aggressive nature of the track.

This guy GHOSTXMACHINE definitely left nothing to the imagination when he produced this track and made sure it was as vile, violent, and dangerous as it could possibly sound. This kind of beat actually does sound like it would inspire a trio to wear clown masks and rob a bank and pull a joker. This is the kind of beat that would inspire pure madness and purge activities; this beat is definitely not for the faint of heart!

Now, how do our two feature rappers respond to this beat? With ruthlessness, of course! You don’t appear on a single this vicious without fighting fire with fire. Here’s Johnny sounds just as passionate and deviant as I’ve ever heard him! Grey similarly so! They both hop on the track with a sinister aura and vibe in their very essence and soul and utilise that into the studio! It almost feels like there was an interaction with a fucking Ouija board before recording this because there’s nothing but eerie and evil vibes in the room, and I’m nothing but down for it!

So, if you ain’t a pussy and ready to hear some real grime shit, then look no further than this! Trust me, you won’t be the same afterwards (but of course, the serpent tongue wasn’t 100% when I got here), so I’m always down for whatever, son! 

https://heresjohnny850.bandcamp.com/track/olympic-gun-run-champions-ghostxmachine-ft-heres-johnny-greyphox

(THOT PATROL)

Here’s Johnny is back and this time with a very interesting offering for the fans. In the form of an 11-minute and 11-second compiled version of 6 different tracks rolled into one, which is all produced by Clayhead, which I find a very interesting approach, but nonetheless, it should be dope!

So, across this EP/long-length track, we have various sound inspirations such as:

-Classical

-Boom Bap

-Piano 

-Grime 

And when combined together, it definitely does make for a more compelling and theatrical offering than most projects. This EP feels cinematic, detailed, masterfully mastered, and technically executed, that makes most other albums sound trash in comparison.

I love that even though this is a short project, there’s so much flavour, colour, atmosphere, and energy packed into these 7 speedball tracks in a time frame most would find impossible to thrive in. Here, he is producing some absolutely definite results in the hip-hop game, absolutely unreal!

Here’s Johnny’s work is nothing to look past either, as he takes on the challenge just as seriously to rap dope beats over such a quick project, and he shows his true strength over this EP by dropping some of his most passionate, moving, and engaging performances he’s done so far!

He comes in with these ruthless bars, ocean-like flow, intricate wordplay, and powerhouse lyricism that just seems to be getting better with every release he drops!

You can hear the urgency in his voice on this one, you can hear his commitment and work ethic to make this blitz one of his most memorable performances yet, and I honestly feel like he’s accomplished just that on this one!

For such a short project, this collaboration raises all expectations, and it just goes to show if he can do this well over a short release, what do you think he’s capable of on a full length? I mean, I already know the answer, but the important question is, do you? 

https://heresjohnny850.bandcamp.com/album/thot-patrol

(But Wait, There’s More)

This is actually the perfect way to bring my second review for Twogeebs. I only reviewed one of his albums, but wait, there’s more! Fuck yeah, let’s talk about it.

So, this is a collaboration project between better rapper Twogeebs and producer Bop Phrases. Together, they bring you 9 new tracks with 24 minutes of content. Featuring the likes of: 

-Peace Maker

-DONTÈ

-Heartbreak Julio

-Jules Clay

And across this project, we see Two rap on a very different vibe than he did on his last one. This time around, we hear a very strong Lo-Fi/Ambient/Art Rap style that is common with artists such as:

-R.A.P Ferreira

-Quelle Chris

-Kenny Segal

And not gonna lie, I LOVE this style as one of my favourite subgenres of the game. And so to hear this level of Lucius, creative, experimental, and controlled chaos sounds brings a joy to my heart that most genres can’t do!

I love the fact that this album brings so many samples to the forefront, such as: 

-Wrestling

-SpongeBob

-Some Motivational Speech

-A Thriller Movie snippet

– An Infomercial commercial 

And it’s this level of chaos I love about this type of subgenre. You never know what to expect and where the producer is going with his music. It’s unpredictable and a fun journey to be a part of as a listener, and of course, I know this level of what seems ‘disorganisation’ in music won’t be for everyone, but as someone who spent his teens more than a decade ago vibing with this style, it brings me home to my comfort zone, so I definitely fuck with this sound!

Back to geebs. The man who surprised me with his MC skills on the first album, ‘Garden Hate,’ I heard a bit back, and now that he’s back, he sounds improved and more confident in himself than he did before!

I do notice (across a few of the tracks) he does sound slower with more methodical flow and delivery, which could be to balance out the insanity of the production, which if so is a great mindset, and either way, he absolutely kills the bars on this one as well!

His flow is still as fluent as ever, his wordplay is stronger and more potent than before, and his lyricism is more introspective, in your face, and more self-confident than he was before. He’s letting his savage, bully rap side come to the front, and I think he definitely suits the style, and it would be interesting to see him utilise this persona over proper grimy beats because it’s definitely rare to hear those types of lyrics over these experimental productions, but that’s what makes him unique; he’s not concerned with labels or preconceived notions but just working on himself!

Once again, another home run by the boy, and even though he’s on a whole new spectrum of sounds and production, he still manages to kill

it and prove why he’s one of the best going! 

https://open.spotify.com/album/63LTmX7iEqk1CwCOkBeWz1?si=DCzGA4E2SiSQ4V2eCaByzQ

(Sedimentary Rose II: A Brave New World)

Once again, we’re back with another dope duo! One thing I’m absolutely loving about the last few years in the underground is the fact there are more albums featuring a single producer, and that’s the way I prefer it! So with that in mind, let’s talk about it!

This is the latest album featuring rapper ‘Oblivious’ and producer ‘Crack Sizzlack’, and together they bring an 11-track project that hits as hard as Mike Tyson fresh out of prison! 

The production on this one feels old school and seasoned like an age-old wine that was left for decades and is finally opened and ready for consumption! 

From the very first track, you can hear that clear-cut, crisp sound that has been infused with everything from

-Classical

-Abstract

-Boom Bap

-Art Rap, and more. With so many producers out here doing the same thing as everyone else, depending on what is trending that week, it can be exhausting to have to go through so many albums a week and find the same tiresome or watered-down version of a good product, so it’s always exhilarating to me when I discover music just like this that doesn’t follow trends or what’s ‘hot’ in the moment but breaks through with their own sonic designs and ideas to make something that’s not only dope but original!

I love how every beat is slightly different from the one before, and how each instrumental has its own personality and life to it that the rapper and features utilise and make something truly special from it as a result! Absolutely incredible work on the production front!

Onto the rapping side of things, as mentioned above, we have Oblivious. Someone I’m not too familiar with but one who has impressed me beyond any doubt and has made me a long-life fan!

I love his raw, deep octave tone he brings to his raps like a DMX type! Very down-to-earth and gritty sound associated with his voice, his flow is overpowering that forces the listener to observe all of his thoughts and words with intrigue! His wordplay is witty and tough and his lyricism is definitely above average the way he makes sure each word and bar lands exactly where it should be over the beats!

On this album he comes alongside 

-P-Ro

-Xcel

-OGBenGrimm

And these three definitely give him a challenge to overcome with their powerhouse and infamous styles over the years with various features and albums but Oblivious definitely holds his own and raps just as well as the boys! Which I can tell you is not an easy thing to accomplish but that’s just how talented he is!

Overall, another showcase by Crack and Oblivious is someone I’ll definitely be tunnel-visioned and on the lookout for now! 

https://actualissues.bandcamp.com/album/sedimentary-rose-ii-a-brave-new-world

(HOLLOW MAN, M.D)

Back on my Here’s Johnny shit. The man who reached out to me a while ago, now and since then I’ve experienced a range of different sounds and styles, and today, it’s time to start a new. So let’s talk about it!

This time around, we have him working with producer LUNAR, a man who is new to me, but I was sure excited to check out and see what he’s all about. It and across these new 10 tracks, I have to say I’m impressed.

Firstly, the production feels spectacular in a way I haven’t heard from a Johnny project before. It has a unique fusion of 80’s Synth Pop/Electronic vibes to Classic Jazz Boom Bap. If you can imagine what those two combined sound like, you’d get this. The two contradictory inspirations somehow work well together because they are separated between songs, so we never get those two sounds on the same track, which works well and also means there’s proper time to make sure each time the theme is switched up, LUNAR focuses on one style at a time instead of working about fusing both.

Like when a song such as ‘SINGIN’ ASS BOY’ plays, you can hear that grimey cold Boom Bap sound with that dope as chorus and chilling repetitive strings that make for an East Coast hardcore feel to the instrumental.

But then you can have tracks like ‘Psycho Sid 2 Sid Justice,’ which has that mentioned 80’s Synth vibe like if Tears For Fears went Hip Hop, this is what their music would sound like! 

There are many examples of track variety like that, but somehow it never sounds ‘cluttered’ or ‘awkward ’ with the extreme spectrum sounds but instead feels original and interesting!

Now, Here’s Johnny back and this time not alone, featuring: 

-Mike G, The Writer

-Dot-Com Intelligence

-Devo XO

-Quazil D.Sol 

-Matt Mars

-Yung Regis

-Lord WHO

And across this project, we hear Here’s Johnny provide more energy and passion than most. It feels like a lot  of the reason is because the main topic seems to be about ‘snitching’, and as someone who agrees that’s a bitch act, I understand the emotion reaction behind the treason, so his heightened reactions and more specific and precise lyricism and sharper flow definitely make sense.

His delivery on this one kind of reminds me of 2010’s Denzel Curry. When he had that run of going ballistic on the beats and sounding enraged and angry but in a dope way. That’s how his flow reminds me on this one, not on every track, but on a lot, he’s wearing his passion on his sleeve, and it shows!

All the features on here are beyond dope, but fuck, I love that Dot Com is on this one, especially considering Wulverine was on his latest album as production credits, and now Dot is on Here’s Johnny’s project; it’s a wonderful full circle!

Regardless, another dope project and dope collab by Here’s and LUNAR. They bring a fantastic atmosphere and aesthetic to the album and another addition to an ever-growing quality discography! 

https://thecelestialsanctum.bandcamp.com/album/hollow-man-m-d