Tag Archives: Albums

It’s All About “Risk & Reward” for ST Spittin’ & DJ D Sharp (Album Review)

This is the 8th full-length studio LP from Oakland, California emcee ST Spittin. Emerging off his first few mixtapes Lighters & Ink Pens alongside 2nd Impression & Open Season, he would continue to expand his discography by putting out 3 albums The Morning ShowAction! & All in a Day’s Workfollowed by a trilogy of EPs Lucky 6When the Ball Drops & Retrofitted ahead of the 4th LP, EP & mixtape Boom!Don’t Judge Me & Footwrk respectively. We would later get a sequel to Boom! & Footwrk as his next 2 albums, Cool Water for the last one & Summer Madness being his 5th EP. However, I was interested in hearing Risk & Reward since Golden State Warriors deejay DJ D Sharp was behind the boards for the whole thing.

The title track is a jazzy trap opener to the album letting y’all it’s all about that whereas “Seat at the Table” shifts gears with it’s boom bap instrumental feeling like he’s moonwalking on the red carpet  getting what everyone else wants. “Pesos” featuring Stunnaman02 goes for a cloudier vibe so both of them can talk about being unable to rest since they have cake to make, but then “God in the Room” featuring Dustin Sharpe & Mani Draper fuses some kicks & snares with strings admitting the Big G was at work when they wrote this.

“Profile Pics” brings a groovier flare to the beat talking about how it’s time to put in a new shift since he’s back on the job just before “Maximize” featuring HBK CJ & Khyenci dives into a pop rap direction advising to maximize your energy. “It’s Alright” featuring Ian Kelly incorporates twinkling piano chords trying to tell her that something’s better than nothing leading into the luxurious boom bap cut “Flashes” talking about seeing the greatness in him shining.

Champ Green & D. Bledsoe join ST on “Each One, Teach One” hopping over a symphonic sample admitting to buying a lot of time to spend more while “Wide Awoke” takes it back to the basement instrumentally flexing that he knows for a fact someone gets inspired whenever he’s on the mic. Lastly to finish the album, “What Ya Call That???” happens to be a soulful ode to the ones tellin’ ‘em how it is.

Over a decade into the game & ST. Spittin’ celebrated Steph Curry’s born day by putting out the most well-crafted body of work of his career so far. DJ D Sharp continues to reveal himself as one of the best beatsmiths in the Bay Area right now as his production here is varied in sound & we get a glimpse of the Oakland emcee at his rawest, most confident, playful & honest all in 1.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Elcamino Taps in With Real Bad Man on “The Game is the Game” (EP Review)

Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino following up his Black Soprano Family Records debut They Spit on Jesus with his 15th EP. Blowing up in 2017 off his self-titled EP with Griselda Records, his profile increasingly grew after being followed up by Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 along with dropped 2 studio albums & a few EPs the year after that. They Spit on Jesus was the first Camino project that I had covered since On the 3rd Day & that much like No Weapon Formed Against Me was an improvement over some of the material we’ve gotten from him in recent years. Fast forward 5 months later, Real Bad Man’s being enlisted throughout the duration of The Game is the Game

“Give Them Hope (Curtis)” is a piano-driven opener saying he was more of an understudy for Ghost that constantly took notes whereas quasi-jazzy “Chest Wrestlers” talks about not having time for fake aggressive coke-snorters. “Champagne Pisses” featuring the B$F general himself Benny the Butcher works in these strings, kicks & snares asking if anyone fears not making it to the finish line just before “Fashion Week” featuring King Ralph finds the 2 brothers showing off their big mafia statuses.

Meanwhile, “New Levels” talks about being long way from a crook with all the sacrifices that he’s taken on top of some vibraphones leading into “C’mon Nephew” goes into soulful territory to pen an open letter to his nephew forgiving him for some bullshit he pulled some time ago. “No Fighting” featuring Boldy James is an organ/boom bap crossover likening themselves to scramblers, but then “Expensive Cloth” brings to funkier flare airing out those who want him to be more of a target

Rick Hyde joins Elcamino for the penultimate track “Melrose” pushing near the encore of The Game is the Game discussing their elevations over pianos, kicks & snares that is until “Sllick Talk” featuring Player K rounds out the EP by hopping over synthesizers calling themselves shooters trying to score as well as telling y’all that we should be seeing the way both of them be living now.

If you enjoyed They Spit on Jesus as much as I did 6 months ago, you’re probably gonna like The Game is the Game almost as much if not more than the LP that officially introduced Elcamino to the B$F roster. Real Bad Man continues to further cement himself as one of the most in-demand producers the underground, the guest-list is equally tight & Camino’s just breaking down how it be out here.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Chyna Streetz Goes “From Hell to Chanel” (Album Review)

This is the full-length debut album from Brooklyn emcee Chyna Streetz. Starting in the spring of 2018 off her debut EP Weird Girl Antics, she followed this up with 2 more EPs in the form of both Hourglass & more recently Visions respectively. That said: I knew that From Hell to Chanel had to be the next artistic evolution for Chyna compared to those early EPs. Especially considering the fact that R.F.C. Music Group in-house producer 183rd did the whole entire thing top to bottom.

“Chanel Boy” starts by mixing a flute with kicks & snares exclaiming that we done let the right one in whereas “Emerald City” goes for a cloudier atmosphere talking about those moving sloppily even when they’re the ones who be rolling the dice. “Sirens Lullaby” goes straight g-funk reminding everyone that’s listening of the fact she’s been had motion leading into Rome Streetz joining his wife Chyna on “Matrimony” richly talking about it still being hard to believe they found the plug.

Continuing from there, “Bernadine’s Rage” gives off a soulful boom bap vibe declaring herself to be a goddess just before “Dark Night of Soul” passionately looks to make the moment count for a minute straight & the beat enhances the ambitious mood quite a bit. “Entitled” has this crooning sample encouraging y’all to make your next move the best one, but then “888” hops over some strings as well as kicks & snares talking about being born to shine.

“One of One” goes into spacious boom bap turf breaking down her uniqueness while “Right Back” featuring Ox Omni blends kicks & snares with a climactic orchestral flip talking about sending shots right back where they came from. “Judas Kiss” concludes the LP by admitting she’ll never know if it was all worth it & that even know a few have done their names dirty, the roses are still growing.

The trilogy of EPs we’ve gotten from Chyna throughout the last 6 years have each shown artistic progression in her & From Hell to Chanel brings it full circle to the point where I could argue that it’s her most consistent body of work to date in my personal opinion. She’s grown as a songwriter & 183rd’s production is significantly more fluent than her previous material.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Kembe X Gets Personal & Explores New Sounds on Hippie Sabotage-Produced “Sleep Paralysis” (Album Review)

Chicago, Illinois emcee & Top Dawg Entertainment affiliate Kembe X returning for his 3rd full-length album produced by Sacramento duo Hippie Sabotage & his first in nearly 5 years. Getting his start over a decade ago with the debut EP Soundtrack II Armageddon & the debut mixtape Self Rule, his profile would continue to grow off the strength of the debut LP Talk Back as well as an eponymously titled 2nd EP & the sophomore effort I Was Depressed Until I Made This. He’s worked with the Saurer brothers a few times in the past, but they’re finally releasing Sleep Paralysis after working on it for a whole year.

“Fade the Sun” starts us off with a lively danceable opener telling anyone who wants a piece of him to get in line whereas “Pole Vaulting” hops over a trap instrumental to talk about being over the bullshit. “King” works in a more rubbery beat to remind y’all that he’s royalty around these parts prior to the synth-driven “Love Songs” taking a melodic approach talking about never seeing a king of romance that went wrong.

To end the first half, “Shallow” brings a cloudier vibe to the table wanting to be called a visionary who did it first when it’s all said & done while the atmospheric “Where Demons Come to Die” admitting he damn-near lost his soul & sacrificed his peace. “Kill Everything in the Way” declares himself as the new leader of the resistance over a slow boom bap beat just before the wavy “Rolling Stoned” featuring Isaiah Rashad talks about keeping it cold, fresh & clean.

One of my favorites on the album no question has to be “Start a Business” from the groovy instrumental to the motivational lyricism encouraging people to start up their own businesses since they can’t be employees for the middle man forever & finally, “Baby I’m Up” concludes Sleep Paralysis with a 7 & a half minute ode to his success after people tried to leave him for dead & drag his name through the mud.

TDE’s been slowly but surely allowing the biggest artists on their roster to release new music in recent years after making their fans wait forever, so it makes perfect sense for Kembe to make a comeback & one that new listeners will find themselves invested in. He’s exploring new sounds with the help of Hidden Sabotage & the subject matter is significantly more personal than his early stuff was.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Estee Nack Releases His 3rd Classic in the Span of a Year With Futurewave-Produced “Stone Temple Pyrex” (Album Review)

Lynn, Massachusetts emcee/producer Estee Nack joining forces with Toronto producer Futurewave for his 11th proper full-length studio LP. Emerging as a member of the Tragic Allies, he also branched out on his own my senior year of high school off his Purpose-produced solo debut 14 Forms: The Book of Estee Nack & has since built a lengthy yet impressive discography for himself. Other highlights include the Sadhugold-produced Surfinongold.wav alongside it’s sequel The Order of the Golden Fleece, the Giallo Point-produced Papitas, his collab efforts with al.divino, the V Don-produced B.R.A.P. (Born Rewards & Penalties), the Griselda Records debut Nacksaw Jim Duggan & the Mike Shabb-produced Live at the Tabernackle. So considering the high quality of those last couple efforts, Stone Temple Pyrex had to be as equally great.

“Sunday Service” starts by blending jazz & boom bap talking about getting rich every Sunday whereas “Subtracktion” gets more grimier instrumentally to say right now’s a great time to have a great time. “Glaciusvsfulgore” featuring Rome Streetz brings the 2 Griselda signees together likening themselves to the titular Killer Instinct characters of the same name with the beat sounding reminiscent to Daringer, but then “Oscardelarenta” hooks up & an uncanny loop with kicks & snares talking about never doubting himself.

On the other hand, “&Bondizlyfe” goes drumless to detail the hustler lifestyle leading into “Blockwarz” featuring Daniel Son talking about the top spot forever being theirs over a crooning boom bap instrumental. “Weirdscience” flips another eerie sample so Estee can diss all the weaklings who want power just before “Datewifdef” talks about mathematics being the foundation for him sonically keeping it in the basement.

“Cornchowder” featuring Raz Fresco incorporates a jazzy loop referring to their minds as weapons & letting it squeeze while “Wavydominicans” featuring ??? & BoriRock finds the trio over grim piano chords talking about a sinister presence. “Eddiebernays” featuring al.divino strips the drums once more making this shit complete while the final song “¡Sorpresa!” excluding the “Ogoscardelarenta” remix aggressively suggests to check the sign language.

This upcoming weekend will mark a whole year since B.R.A.P. (Born Rewards & Penalties) came out & the Nackman has already blessed us with his 3rd classic within the span of 365 days. The guest-list is briefer than Live at the Tabernackle’s was, Futurewave’s production is mainly rooted in the traditional boom bap sound with jazzy & drumless undertones mixed in & my favorite Tragic Allies member picks up where he left off 6 months ago lyrically.

Score: 9/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Frankie Goldie Makes Christmas Come Early with Debut LP “Vegas Winter: Jugg Motivation 101” Prod. by Devereaux (Album Review)

Las Vegas, Nevada emcee Frankie Goldie of the Swamp Society collective & the duo Gloom Unit alongside Acetone Boogie releasing his full-length debut. For about a year & a half now, he’s been establishing himself as an artist within the underground wicked shit scene whether it be 7 solo singles or the Gloom Unit’s debut EP Come Heavy produced by Devereaux arriving on New Year’s Day to high reception from the juggalos. But after teasing Vegas Winter: Jugg Motivation 101 for next week, Frankie has decided to let Christmas come early.

After the “JM101” intro, the first song “CAKEWALK” begins with Devereaux who produced the entire LP working in strings along with bells & hi-hats talking about throwing money in the circle like it’s a seance whereas the lead single “RAWKZOFF” instrumentally gives me a bit of a Memphis rap vibe (i.e. One of my favorite groups Three 6 Mafia) coming to get his rocks off. “CODE BLACK” featuring Donnie Menace finds the 2 talking about being cold blooded killers over a morbid trap beat, but then “Rollie” exultantly lets y’all know it’s that time.

“CAVIAR DREAMS” featuring Darby O’Trill is a jazz/trap fusion getting that bloody money just before “BRIXINDASAFE” goes for a cloudier atmosphere refusing to behave since he stuck in his ways. “KATANA” featuring Kold-Blooded returns to a darker trap sound looking to slicing necks with the titular sword while “Lemon Drizzle” is a fun club banger about sippin’ dirty Gatorade without giving a fuck what a hater has to say. Another standout “BULLETPROOF COUPE” turns up the aggression mixing Faygo with Grey Goose & having the digiscale tippin’ on ‘em prior to the 6-minute BIGMANEONDABLOCK” fusing trap, jazz rap & soul so he can count his digits.

Vegas Winter: Jugg Motivation 101 much like Come Heavy is living proof that the Swamp Society is a force to be reckoned with in the underground except JM101 will give you a better idea as to who Frankie is artistically & personally. He shows his influences from the Insane Clown Posse & Esham to the Triple 6 Mafia, Jeezy, Future & Lil Ugly Mane on top of Devereaux continuing to evolve as a producer throwing additional elements of jazz, soul & influences from the Memphis scene into his signature trap sound here.

Score: 9/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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“Bakin’ Soul” Ranks Amongst Raz Fresco’s Best Material (Album Review)

If I’m not mistaken, I believe this is the 15th proper full-length LP from Toronto emcee/producer Raz Fresco. Someone who I’ve been familiar with since high school whether it be some of his features or his own extensive discography including the Magneto Was Right mixtape series, the Futurewave-produced Gorgeous Polo Sportsmen album, the Nicholas Craven-produced Boulangerie album, the Cake beat tapes or more recently the Gia…À La Carte collab EP with Estee Nack from last summer. But with Cookin’ Soul coming off producing the acclaimed Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga for Tha God Fahim last month, Bakin’ Soul here seemed more than promising to me going into it.

360°” starts with a lo-fi boom bap instrumental refusing to let the mean city take your smile whereas “The Pure” featuring Dano & Lil Supa takes a funkier approach talking about how all that frontin’ will leave you fucked up in the end. The drumlessly jazzy “Receipts” goes after the loot prior to Estee Nack & Lord Apex joining Raz on “Kodak Moment” bringing back the kicks & snares talking about every time they release drop new music being Kodak moments themselves.

Moving forward, “Snakes & Ladders” goes for a symphonic approach confessing he learned life for the first time after playing the titular game that is until “Keep on Pushing” featuring The Musalini returns to the boom bap making it all money when they spit. Life Lessons” gets introspective over a crooning sample with kicks & snares while “Regrets” featuring Tha God Fahim teaches the youth not to make the same mistakes that they did. “Marvelous Fabrics” reminds that the hood’s still starving even after giving favor to Ukraine, but then “No Cap” featuring Gritfall closes up shop with a cloudy beat calling out labels for paying ads selling backwards lifestyles.

I personally was introduced to Raz a little after I started my freshman year of high school hearing his feature on “Why Bother” off of Ace Hashimoto’s 5th mixtape All Day DeShay: AM since it’s no secret that I was an Odd Future kid during my adolescence & Bakin’ Soul most definitely stands as some of his best work primarily because of how organic the chemistry he has with Big Size & Zock Beats feels.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Da Flyy Hooligan Teams Up with The World Famous Beat Junkies For a Game Changing Collab Project “There’s Hooli And There’s Everyone Else”

In a groundbreaking fusion of British rap finesse and American turntablism mastery, UK rapper Da Flyy Hooligan has joined forces with the legendary collective of DJs, The World Famous Beat Junkies, for an electrifying international collaboration project titled “There’s Hooli And There’s Everyone Else.” featuring DJ Rhettmatic, D-Styles, and DJ Babu. Definitely a game changer in the world of underground hip-hop.

Da Flyy Hooligan, known for his distinct style and uncompromising lyricism, has carved a niche for himself in the UK rap scene with his unique blend of gritty storytelling and flamboyant persona. We remember him when he pulled up on us in L.A. back in 2018 and laid down a Mic Session. Since then his consistency and grind has been un-matched. Today in 2024, his collaboration with the Beat Junkies marks an exciting new chapter in his career as an independent artist.

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Mission: Infect Release New EP “arM:Igeddon”, First Project Together in 7 Years (EP Review)

Mission: Infect are an underground collective consisting of Lo Key, Badluck, Dubbs, DurtE, Grewsum, Madd Maxxx, Malaria, Mumm Ra, St. Sinna, Tha Wikid One & Zero. They’ve released 6 full-lengths together in the span of nearly 2 decades including the Chemical Threats tetralogy, XterM:Ination & Asphyxiation with quite a few other members finding success on their own as solo artists in the wicked shit scene. However after 7 years of silence as a unit, the crew are getting back together for their first EP.

“Pathogen” featuring Grewsum, Lo Key, Madd Maxxx & Tha Wikid One is this hardcore trap opener putting their gas masks on whereas “Guns Up” featuring Badluck, Grewsum & Lo Key kinda draws from electronic dance music instrumentally talking about rallying up the soldiers. All 3 emcees stick around for “Old Man Flow” working in kicks & snares to drop battle bars just before “Load ‘Em Up” featuring DurtE, Lo Key, Madd Maxxx & Tha Wikid One finds the quartet over a dark trap beat talking about taking ‘em down.

Badluck, Grewsum & Lo Key get back together for “Get Ya Mask On” returns to the boom bap going door-to-door to get their blast on leading into “Fire Back” featuring Dubbs, Lo Key & Malaria keeps it raw talking about rightfully being veterans decapitating heads again. “Welcome Home” featuring Badluck, Grewsum, Malaria, Mumm Ra, St. Sinna & Zero concludes the EP with everyone over kicks, snares & electronic-toned synths acknowledging that the underground missed them as a unit.

This is the 2nd longest gap between releases for Mission: Infect since Chemical Threats 3 & 4 both came out 8 years after Asphyxiation since everyone’s been focusing on further establishing themselves as solo artists. That said: arM:Igeddon still proves the collective hasn’t gone anywhere after all this time. The production is varied in sound whether it be horrorcore, trap, boom bap, hardcore hip hop or electronica/electronic dance music & everyone sounds happy to be reunited.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Ransom Illustrates His “Lavish Misery” (EP Review)

This is the 11th EP from Jersey City wordsmith Ransom. Coming up as 1/2 of the short-lived duo A-Team alongside Hitchcock, he branched out on his own in 2008 following their disbandment beginning with the full-length debut Street Cinema & the Statik Selektah-produced sophomore effort The Proposal. But it’s been safe to say these last couple years have been his biggest so far whether it be the 5 EPs that he put out produced by Nicholas Craven & his last EP 7 based around the 7 deadly sins or his previous album Heavy’s the Head produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Rome Streetz collab album Coup de Grâce, or even his last couple project Chaos is My LadderDirector’s Cut 4 & Deleted Scenes 2. But I knew Lavish Misery had to be a step above Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child especially with Harry Fraud on production top to bottom.

“Immaculate Conception” is a smooth ass opener to get things going talking about being a God born in human form whereas “Chain of Command” works in these rich piano chords, kicks & snares advising everyone to look at what y’all did to him. “Matchstick Men” takes the orchestral boom bap reminding you to leave the bullshit behind route leading into the soulful “Live from the Roxy” featuring Boldy James talking about staying to themselves because misery loves company.

Approaching the 2nd half of the EP, “The Losses” focuses on the Ws whilst ignoring the Ls bringing a groovier atmosphere instrumentally just before “Wilson Fisk” featuring 38 Spesh spaciously likening themselves to the Kingpin from the Marvel franchise. “Eye of the Storm” tackles the richness of his pain with some synthesizers backing him, but then “& 1” finishes Lavish Misery by ruggedly breaking down a long road to recovery.

Ransom has already been one of the most consistent MCs that hip hop has seen in recent memory, but he really did give us a classic EP as we begin to near the end of the first quarter of the new year. The features are kept to a minimum yet both of them maintain his level & Harry Fraud’s production is more consistent Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child last fall so the Jersey City vet can find exuberance in his distresses.

Score: 9/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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