Tag Archives: Cookin’ Soul

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The Musalini & Cookin’ Soul Got the “Mackaroni” (EP Review)

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New York emcee & Jamla Records recording artist The Musalini teaming up with Cookin’ Soul for his 6th EP. Beginning to take the underground by storm since 2018 after dropping his debut mixtape Musalini Season, he went on to release 3 full-lengths & another tape before signing to TCF Music Group. Since then, he’s made himself home by dropping a few EPs & Return of the Oro in the early part of this decade. In God We Trust produced by 38 Spesh, The Don & Eye alongside its sequel fully produced 9th Wonder & Pure Izm produced by Khrysis have all quickly become his best material over the past 3 years. And with the run Cookin’ Soul’s been on these past couple months, I can say stakes for Mackaroni were pretty high personally.

“Say You Love Me” featuring Hus Kingpin & Reuben Vincent starts us off with the trio over a soulful admitting to their flings that can’t say they care whereas “Never Be a Stranger” takes the groovy boom bap route talking about being a pimp. “‘92 Olympics” featuring Tha God Fahim gives me a mafioso atmosphere a bit instrumentally likening themselves to the US men’s basketball team over 3 decades ago just before “I Want It All” featuring Planet Asia taking the luxurious route expressing their desire for everything.

MadeinTYO interestingly joins Mu$ on the luxurious boom bap cut “Mack of the Year” talking about being the pimp’s pimps of 2024 leading into “Got Her” showing a J Dilla influence to the beat getting in his romance shit. “1 Time” featuring Le$ works in these organ-synths with kicks & snares bringing that style for the block whilst turning it up a notch while “Fresh Air” featuring Raz Fresco & Skratch Bastid keeps it boom bap with lavish piano chords talking about mornings on the beach. “Lay Up” warmly looks to turn everything he touches into chicken & “Pay the Man” is a jazzy closer demanding to be paid what he is owed.

Despite the fact that some of of Mu$’ output can be a bit too overloaded with the amount guests, I’m not gonna deny that Mackaroni is the most I’ve enjoyed his music in a while. Cookin’ Soul goes on a 3-peat with the production since it’s on par with Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga’s & Bakin’ Soul’s, the performances from the features themselves are more consistent & Mu$’ is straight mackin’ for nearly 26 minutes.

Score: 8/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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

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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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Tha God Fahim & Cookin’ Soul Release an Exciting Beginning to the “Soul Cook Saga” of the Supreme Dump Legend” series (Album Review)

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Tha Dump Gawd himself Tha God Fahim from Atlanta, Georgia beginning the 2nd month of 2024 by linking up with Spanish production duo Cookin’ Soul for the 21st full-length LP in his ever-growing discography. Starting as an affiliate of Griselda Records as well as being 1/3 of the Dump Gawds alongside Mach-Hommy & Your Old Droog, we also can’t ignore the massive discography that he’s managed to build for himself, some of the standouts include Breaking Through tha Van Allen Belts & Dump Assassins. But dude has been on a CRAZY ass EP run in 2023 with the standouts being the Camoflauge Monk-produced Dark Shogunn Assassin, the Nature Sounds-backed Iron Bull & the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King 4, the Oh No-produced Berserko, Fahim’s last EP Dump Gawd: Rhyme Pays produced by Mike Shabb & even the previous album Tha Supreme Hoarder of All Pristine Wealth. So hearing that Big Size & Zock Beats would be behind the boards to begin the Soul Cook Saga of the Supreme Dump Legend series, I was certain it had to be the best body of worked they’ve ever produced for another MC.

After the intro, the first song “Blood Sport” starts things off with this cinematic boom bap instrumental likening himself & his squad to champions whereas “Get Ur Weight Up” takes a more lo-fi route working in thee kicks & snares so tha Dump Gawd speaking on some advice that was given to him. “Economics” featuring The Musalini who signed to Jamla Records last year talks about turning rhymes into heavy cash over a boom bap beat with this infectious sample, but then “Guillotine” hooking up more kicks & snares with this psychedelic backdrop flexing that he’s “Into the Dragon like Bruce Lee”.

“Shark Biting Vampires” featuring Dano makes it clear that they don’t want anyone sounding like them on top of some woodwinds & just before “Heavy” featuring Raz Fresco makes up for Dano’s guest appearance on the previous cut which might be the weakest feature on the album. Here though, Raz & Fahim discusses the heaviness of words sometimes over this spacious boom bap instrumental. “Pedal to the Floor” kinda gives me a bluesier vibe making it clear he ain’t new to this leading into the dusty “Safe Hands” looking to make other rappers look bad. The orchestral sendoff “The Way of the Samurai” lastly portrays another day in the Shogunn saga.

Breadrick Douglas is said to be have Dump Goat II], 3 more projects with Monk, 3 with Craven, another one with Cookin’ Soul presumably titled Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga 2 & a self-produced one all coming down the pipe in the future & Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga. Cookin’ Soul’s boom bap production is consistent top to bottom, I enjoyed nearly every feature & Fahim indeed cementing himself as the strongest performer Size & Zock have worked with on a full project to date.

Score: 9/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Tha God Fahim & Cookin’ Soul Release an Exciting Beginning to the “Soul Cook Saga” of the Supreme Dump Legend” series (Album Review)

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Tha Dump Gawd himself Tha God Fahim from Atlanta, Georgia beginning the 2nd month of 2024 by linking up with Spanish production duo Cookin’ Soul for the 21st full-length LP in his ever-growing discography. Starting as an affiliate of Griselda Records as well as being 1/3 of the Dump Gawds alongside Mach-Hommy & Your Old Droog, we also can’t ignore the massive discography that he’s managed to build for himself, some of the standouts include Breaking Through tha Van Allen Belts & Dump Assassins. But dude has been on a CRAZY ass EP run in 2023 with the standouts being the Camoflauge Monk-produced Dark Shogunn Assassin, the Nature Sounds-backed Iron Bull & the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King 4, the Oh No-produced Berserko, Fahim’s last EP Dump Gawd: Rhyme Pays produced by Mike Shabb & even the previous album Tha Supreme Hoarder of All Pristine Wealth. So hearing that Big Size & Zock Beats would be behind the boards to begin the Soul Cook Saga of the Supreme Dump Legend series, I was certain it had to be the best body of worked they’ve ever produced for another MC.

After the intro, the first song “Blood Sport” starts things off with this cinematic boom bap instrumental likening himself & his squad to champions whereas “Get Ur Weight Up” takes a more lo-fi route working in thee kicks & snares so tha Dump Gawd speaking on some advice that was given to him. “Economics” featuring The Musalini who signed to Jamla Records last year talks about turning rhymes into heavy cash over a boom bap beat with this infectious sample, but then “Guillotine” hooking up more kicks & snares with this psychedelic backdrop flexing that he’s “Into the Dragon like Bruce Lee”.

“Shark Biting Vampires” featuring Dano makes it clear that they don’t want anyone sounding like them on top of some woodwinds & just before “Heavy” featuring Raz Fresco makes up for Dano’s guest appearance on the previous cut which might be the weakest feature on the album. Here though, Raz & Fahim discusses the heaviness of words sometimes over this spacious boom bap instrumental. “Pedal to the Floor” kinda gives me a bluesier vibe making it clear he ain’t new to this leading into the dusty “Safe Hands” looking to make other rappers look bad. The orchestral sendoff “The Way of the Samurai” lastly portrays another day in the Shogunn saga.

Breadrick Douglas is said to be have Dump Goat II], 3 more projects with Monk, 3 with Craven, another one with Cookin’ Soul presumably titled Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga 2 & a self-produced one all coming down the pipe in the future & Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga. Cookin’ Soul’s boom bap production is consistent top to bottom, I enjoyed nearly every feature & Fahim indeed cementing himself as the strongest performer Size & Zock have worked with on a full project to date.

Score: 9/10

Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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Q&A with Album Art Designer and Illustrator, Cxppington

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At a time where album artwork has made a major resurgence in bridging the gap between listeners and their favorite albums and artists in Hip Hop, there have been only a handful of illustrators who are at the forefront of bringing life and meaning to albums before we ever press play. It is our honor to introduce album art designer and illustrator extraordinaire, Manuel CEP Concepcion aka Cxppington. In case you’ve been living under a rock, he is the man responsible for bringing some of the most iconic Hip Hop artwork in recent memory to life for the likes of Sean Price, Griselda Records, CRIMEAPPLE, 38 Spesh and more. We got the chance to sit down with the celebrated artist to learn more about him and his craft.

-What were your early influences that inspire your artistic approach today?

I have a long list of legends and icons that have influenced me along my journey. Comic books, graffiti, and street art dominate my day to day. Icons like Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Sam Keith, and Rob Liefeld. I really love what those guys created and was totally inspired by what they represented. Aside from them, I’m definitely a huge fan of artists like RAMMELLZEE, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Warhol, Francis Bacon, Matt Reid aka Matt Doo, SEEN, Cope2, and Banksy. I could go on and on, but to save time. That’s my list right now. Lol.

-How would you describe the style of your artwork?

Grimy Opulence. I have a dark art style that I like to splash with a bit of luxury. My work is like Ghostface Killah wearing one of his bedazzled boxing robes, carpet rolling a victim while wearing all of his jewelry. How’s that for a visual?

-Who were your earliest influences in Hip Hop?

My Mt. Rushmore is Rakim, KRS, BDK and Kool G Rap. The other side of that mountain is Wu-Tang & Mobb Deep. But I’m literally a fan of it all. From Cypress Hill to Company Flow. Snoop Dogg to Kool Keith. I literally love all of it and I’m still that way. I listen to a ton of Jedi Mind, Quelle Chris, Griselda, Curly Castro, even all the commercial artists. I just love the music and if it speaks to me then it goes on the playlist and into the collection.

-What were some of your earliest cover placements?

My first cover was with the production duo Cookin’ Soul, Blanco & YG. Yea, that YG. I made the art to their California Livin’ project. It was my homage to Joe Cool. He’s the one that created Snoop Dogg’s “Doggystyle” album. I thought he was dead. But he wasn’t. And he got upset. But it’s cool now. Lol.

-How did you connect with Sean Price?

Dallas Penn. In 2012, I was teaching myself digital design and started doing novelty art. I was doing 8-Bit pieces of rappers and I designed Sean as Iron Mic Tyson in the classic Nintendo Punch Out game style. I made a shirt and sent it to Dallas. Sean saw the shirt and was like “Yea, but where the fuck is mine?”. I never looked back from there. So in essence, I owe my entire livelihood right now to Sean Price. Rest In Peace, King.

-You linked with Westside Gunn and Griselda Records through Sean Price too, right?

I formally met WSG at the first memorial show for Sean Price at SOB’s. I had shared my art with him prior to that via IG, but we both got the opportunity to speak in person at that show and build from there. Dude already had a master plan back then. The rest is pretty much history.

-After the successes of FLYGOD, Reject and DGSN, did your career as an artist in Hip Hop change?

Nothing drastic. It was pretty much just more work. I really didn’t get to make this my main source of income until late last year. It took a while to get here. Hiatus and all. But I knew in my heart that I had what it took to make things happen. I just had to make that initial jump off the cliff. And when you have kids, jumping off of cliffs isn’t an option, fam. Lol. But I have a strong foundation in my wife and family, plus I thoroughly believe in my ability. So I’m glad I did. Things are good right now and I’m grateful.

-How did you come into contact with Air Vinyls and 38 Spesh?

Jordan Commandeur. He connected those dots. I had created the covers for CRIMEAPPLE & DJ Skizz’s “Wet Dirt” as well as Observe Since 98’s “Return Of The Savage”. He contacted me and let me know he was a fan of what I did and a short while later brought me on board to create for Air Vinyl as an In-House designer.

-Speaking of Air Vinyls, you recently did an incredible piece for the alternate cover of Loyalty + Trust 2 for Flee and Spesh paying homage to Prodigy, how did that come about?

That’s just me missing Prodigy. I knew that he was a big part of Flee Lord’s journey into rap. So it was actually an idea I had for the first edition of “Loyalty + Trust” in 2019. But something wasn’t sitting right with me and I completely changed it. It wasn’t even the golden skull character either. Timing is everything and I revisited the concept again this time around. Made it even iller too. But yea, that’s just my homage to one of my favorite rappers of all time and my salute to Flee as well.

-What is your work volume currently like? Do you currently take commissions?

I’m creating 4-5 covers a month. That’s front, back and inners. The release of that art is completely up to the rappers and producers I made it for, but I’m for sure pushing out 4-5 covers every month. I also have my monthly print drop which is doing pretty well for us thanks to my amazing supporters. And as of this past summer I am no longer accepting any commissions for album artwork. I have enough work to carry me into the new year, so I literally don’t have the time for any more. I’m also doing side work with some notable names in the art game, so I can’t wait to share more on that.

-What can we expect from you to close out 2020 and what are you currently planning for 2021?

I have 3 more print drops. Oct. Nov. Dec. and then it’s all systems go on my first art gallery titled “Run For Cover” debuting September of 2021.

-The Art Gallery sounds dope! Can you tell us more about it and how can we experience this event in case travel is still limited due to COVID?

Well, because of the pandemic we’re carefully planning everything in a fashion that behaves like we expect this thing to still be around. So there will be limited entry, masks, plenty of social distancing, the works. Gotta keep everyone safe. But we’re also planning a virtual experience in case no one can actually be there physically. And even if they can, I’m sure there’s plenty of my international supporters that would appreciate not missing out on this gallery. I currently have a portfolio of over 100 covers. From singles, to EPs, and LPs. So I’m choosing 20-25 of my absolute favorite and most meaningful pieces and blowing them up to dimensions of 36×36 and personalizing them artistically, so they are unique in their own right to have on full display. Of course there will be limited merch made available at the show and simultaneously on my site. We also plan on having some special guests join us there. So I’m hoping for a memorable experience for everyone.

-As we always ask here on UGHHBLOG, what’s your definition of “Underground Hip Hop?”

Anything not on commercial/syndicated radio. Regardless of style.

-Do you have a site or online shop where people can experience more of your art and keep in tune with your future endeavors?

http://cxptxmbxr.bigcartel.com we drop limited edition prints on the monthly. Also my IG: http://instagram.com/cxppington

I’m currently working on a nice mix of different things all art related and just overall fun to see, own, and experience, so stay tuned.

-Definitely! Lastly, any shout outs?

Shouts to my beautiful wife. My 2 awesome sons. My nieces. My nephews. And all of their parents. And Big Ghost Ltd. Thanks to you and UGHHBLOG for having me.

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Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com

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