billi0n – “Revenge” review

This is the debut mixtape from Atlanta, Georgia rapper billi0n. A member of the ØWay collective, he would properly himself last year off his debut EP Heavy after signing to 10K Projects, he would follow it up with both Bravo Bill & then Not Playin’ in the summer, dropping the other 2 extended plays a couple months apart from each other. I also enjoyed his appearances on The XA Tape, returning 7 months after Not Playin’ looking for some Revenge this Friday the 13th.

“Skyrim” begins with him hopping over a hypertrap instrumental referencing the greatest entry across the entire Elder Scrolls franchise whereas “Elite” fuses hypertrap & psychedelia talking about making the baddest bitch pray to God. “Nøt Guilty” continues to hit us with more rage beats talking about his daughter casually chopping shit up with the glizzy prior to “The Grudge” blending some synthesizers & 808s so he can boast that he’s out in New York City.

Meanwhile on “Sleigh Bells”, we have billi0n talking about how all these muhfuckas can get it & he isn’t referring to the bitches at all just before “Jordan Belført” featuring diamond* sees the 2 throwing red & blue tips out the dumper together. “Max It” featuring Yung Fazo leans towards a futuristic trap vibe instrumentally talking about doing whatever it is they’re charged for leading into “Elephant” wrapping up the 1st leg boisterously breaking down his entire lifestyle.

“Sex Symbol” starts the 2nd half talking about a woman who has some kind of twisted power over men & being at the point in his life where’s starting to get fed up with smoking weed while “Impressed” fuses trap & chipmunk soul to explain that his pockets lookin’ stereotypical in as well as having no time to be tender. “10 Floors Up” featuring Diorvsyou & Tezzus finds the trio mobbin’ over an industrial trap beat while “Conditions of Love” talks about being ready to fuck heads up.

To kick off the 4th quarter, “Daydreamin’” chops up a blissful vocal sample admitting that he fell asleep whilst sippin’ paint because he stays dirty while “Spendin’ a Ticket (Adin Ross)” energetically talks about having no problems smacking up anyone who snitches on his crew. “Bonus Freestyle” goes off the top for a minute & a half flexing that he copped a bag without checking the price of it while “Øn the Road” saves the tape’s final verse for Pz’, praying that all the mobsters & killers keep it legitimate with him.

Receiving a co-sign from local trap trailblazer Young Thug yesterday & considering the fact that he’s already signed the Uy Scuti Boyz a.k.a. diamond* & Tezzus to YSL Records already, it wouldn’t surprise me if billi0n joins the label once he fulfills his 10K Projects contract & surpasses all of his early EPs he’s given us prior to this tape in terms of quality. He’s said to drop another LP later this year called Metalhead & if he continues to refine himself artistically like he did after getting his Revenge, then it could be a superior sophomore effort.

Score: 3.5/5

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Mickey Factz – “The Plague” review

Mickey Factz is a 33 year old MC/producer from The Bronx, New York who broke out 2 decades ago off his debut mixtape In Search of the N*E*R*D. He would go on to drop 14 more tapes until Nottz produced his full-length debut The Achievement: Circa ‘82 under Soulspazm Records celebrating it’s 10-year anniversary this fall, dropping a few more full-lengths & mixtapes afterwards. Coming off 1 Above All & the Tru Crime trilogy of disses directed at Tru Life however, he’s returning for his 4th EP.

“Verbalize” hops over a gritty rap rock instrumental dissing Aye Verb whereas “Shutter Island” goes for a jazzier boom bap vibe explaining how much of an issue mental health is today, hoping those who need help see a psychiatrist. “Ong Bak” works in more guitars mixed with kicks & snares talking about leaving this kinfolk with grievances just before “Letter from Hitman” hops over another boom bap beat reading a message Hitman Holla sent him.

The song “All Set” continues the 2nd half of The Plague on some soulfully dusty shit talking about setting his sights on becoming the MVP leading into the celebratory “Accolades” suggesting that he should let every accomplishment over the course of his career speak for themselves. “Genesis 3:14” spends the last 3 & a half minutes speaking directly to Aye Verb, wanting him to know that he believes he’s struggling with mental health issues & hopes the dude gets the help he truly needs.

Some people may know this guy for beefing with the likes of Wale or former Slaughterhouse members Joe Budden & Royce da 5’9”, but Mickey Factz dedicates The Plague to taking shots at Aye Verb & it makes for some of his most enjoyable material that I’ve heard from him in years. Even if the production isn’t necessarily the best as far as boom bap goes, Mickey’s disses towards Aye Verb all transition into 1 another cohesively & makes the extended play feel like 27 minute diatribe sticking to battle rap’s traditions.

Score: 3.5/5

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The Horde – “Rydas Rebels: Gone Rogue” review

Southern horrorcore superduo The Horde consisting of Boondox & Bukshot are back with a new extended play. One hailing from Covington, Georgia signing to the Insane Clown Posse’s own Psychopathic Records in the mid-late 2000s & the other puttin’ it down for Louisville, Kentucky since ‘97 by founding the independent hip hop label Mobstyle Music. The pair started worked with each other for over a decade now continuing to do so after the scarecrow left PSY to form his very own Krimson Crow Entertainment following his 4th album Abaddon eventually signing to Majik Ninja Entertainment couple years later whether it be their first 2 mixtapes Hell’s Kitchen & Paradigm Shift as well as their debut EP Overdrive or even their work with Claas as The Underground Avengers. Their debut album The End is Nigh celebrates its 3-year anniversary in a few days, coming off Paradigm Sync! to declare that a couple of Rydas Rebels have Gone Rogue.

“Mobsta Party” featuring Zodiac MPrint brings all 4 of them together freestyling over the instrumental of the classic 2Pac single “2 of Amerika’z Most Wanted” featuring WWE Hall of Famer & current Death Row Records owner Snoop Dogg whereas “Headshots” featuring Siamese Goat God takes a funkier approach to the beat spitting that gangsta shit. After “In Tha Mud” & “Bout It” freestyle over “In da Club” by 50 Cent & I’m Bout It, Bout It” by Master P featuring Mia X respectively, “True to the Way” featuring St8jaket & 9 Millz ends with them freestyling over “Forgot About Dre” by Dr. Dre featuring Eminem.

If you’re familiar with the Psychopathic Rydas’ output back when Boondox was signed to the label that runs beneath the streets with the Eastside Ninjas, then you should probably know what you’re getting yourself into with Rydas Rebels: Gone Rogue & would argue at it’s on par with that 1-off Rydas album that MNE dropped at the beginning of 2020 in terms of averageness. Boondox & Bukshot continue the gangsta rap themes of Paradigm Sync! except that the guest list isn’t all that impressive & the beats they’re rapping over make me wanna listen to the original versions of them.

Score: 2.5/5

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The Musalini & Smoke DZA – “Uptown Saturday Night” review

Brand new collaborative EP from Manhattan, New York emcees The Musalini & Smoke DZA. One of whom has been putting it down for over a decade dating back to when I was in high school & the other has been making waves for the past 6 years, signing to Jamla Records at the beginning of 2022. These guys have crossed paths with each other on a couple of tracks over the years like “Multiple” & “On the Go”, so the idea of them spending an Uptown Saturday Night together & bringing a couple other artists along for the ride didn’t seem too bad on paper.

“Respect Money Power” hops over a luxurious boom bap instrumental to talk about the world being theirs & burning flower whereas “Blues” featuring Fuego Base finds the trio over a jazzier beat so they can discuss counting up $100 bills. “Mack 10” goes for a rap rock vibe instrumentally admitting that all this money on their minds is fucking up their heads just before “Let’s Talk Money” ends the 1st leg of the EP by wanting to discuss finances.

To get the 2nd half going, “Stash House” blends a string sample with some kicks & snares encouraging everyone to peep the scenery while “Bread-Winners” featuring Lord Cartel marks my least favorite guest appearance of the 3 despite the themes & continuation of the previous track’s symphonic spin on the traditional boom bap sound. “Horses & Bourbons” by Mu$ featuring John Dutch finds the pair talking about going on a run & not referring to court when they say that while “Eye of the Storm” concludes with them living by the code since everything has a limit.

Being a fan of Smoke DZA since my adolescence & getting put onto The Musalini when he was wrapping up his tenure at TCF Music Group, the idea of them joining forces for Uptown Saturday Night had me wondering if it could reach the same level of quality the Choose or Lose collab EP that Mu$ did with Wais P & Statik Selektah last fall. And although I prefer the latter, fans of both MCs will get a kick out of this extended play. Could’ve done without a couple of the guests, but DZA & Mu$ do a fine job of flowing off each other well over John Dutch’s production.

Score: 3.5/5

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Jack Harlow – “Monica” review

Louisville, Kentucky recording artist, producer & actor Jack Harlow returning with his 4th studio LP. Breaking through when the pandemic started off the single “What’s Poppin’?”, this resulted in DJ Drama & Don Cannon signing him to their Atlantic Records imprint Generation Now Entertainment as well as them putting out a mediocre full-length debut with That’s What They All Say that same winter & who could forget the arduous listen of a sophomore effort Come Home the Kids Miss You in 2023? Jackman. followed 11 months later & I thought that was alright, not really expecting anything different out of Monica.

“Trade Places” begins with Jack desiring to get alone with his lover the way she wants to whereas “Lonesome” produced by Rogét Chahayed talks about how sometimes he has to walk away when his partner’s feeling alone. “Prague” admits to his partner that he should stop holding on to them existing as a couple because he misses this woman the more she resists just before “My Winter” goes for a more laidback vibe describing a woman who he considers to be the complete opposite of himself.

To get the 2nd half of the album going, “Move Along” comes across as this 54 second interlude cautioning to be careful of what you take from him while “All of My Friends” talks about people telling him he comes off too strong to others. “Living Alone” confesses he can’t postpone disrupting the tempo of this person’s life any further & after “Against the Grain” asks his partner why she’s opposing what considered to be normal, “Say Hello” finishes with him suggesting he’ll get at this person when his life gets slow.

I kinda had the feeling that the commercial success of the obnoxious “Lovin’ on Me” would get to Jack Harlow’s head because Monica is a step above Come Home the Kids Miss You, but worse than Jackman. & has me questioning the future of Generation Now following Lil Uzi Vert’s departure. The production is more lenient towards the contemporary R&B & pop soul side of things rather than the pop rap style he became known for & although I very much appreciate him trying to artistically transcend by doing what he hasn’t done previously, I’d much rather listen to GENA’s full-length debut The Pleasure is Mine or Jill Scott’s 6th album To Whom This May Concern.

Score: 2/5

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Bruiser Wolf – “Push & Paint” review

Here is the 5th studio LP from Detroit, Michigan emcee Bruiser Wolf. A member of the Bruiser Brigade collective, his 2021 solo debut Dope Game Stupid would become an experimentally gangsta & comedic gem although the sophomore effort My Story Got Stories was more moderately received a couple years ago. Both of his last couple albums Potluck & Made by Dope produced by Harry Fraud respectively have become his most celebrated material thus far, looking to Push & Paint for 313 Day.

Payroll Giovanni appears on the intro & final single “Hater Not an Opp” explaining that the only thing both of them have on their minds is the product moving in & out prior to Akeem Ali joining Bruiser for the lead single talking about having a “Common Goal” over a Mobb beat. That said, it wasn’t necessarily my favorite teaser of the 3. “Ole Girl” featuring P-Lo finds the 2 asking women if they may have this dance while “Toxic” featuring Sada Baby goes for a hyphy vibe instrumentally talking about all of their bitches being the poisonous type.

The 2nd half begins with this animated beat admitting that he isn’t good with “Numbers” hence why he doesn’t call hoes while “Ask Yourself” featuring GT links up to make people question if they can fuck with the real ones. “Why They Play Me?” featuring Babytron talks about people loving their flows every city they hit up but once “She a Bill” featuring Sheefy McFly himself describes a woman who fit the receipt similarly to a wallet, “Wannabees” concludes Push & Paint takes a dig at those who want to be hip hop’s answer to the Warner Bros.-owned Quick Draw McGraw/Yogi Bear Show character Snagglepuss.

Receiving a huge co-sign from 2-time NBA Champion Kevin Durant this past fall, Bruiser Wolf’s way of celebrating 313 Day is pretty solid even if it doesn’t blow me away the same way Made by Dope or Potluck did. Sheefy McFly’s production here is mainly reminiscent of the Mobb & hyphy west coast hip hop scenes which is cool since I’ve heard some comparisons between him & E-40, except there a couple features I could’ve done without & it does pick up towards the backend of it.

Score: 3.5/5

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Elucid – “I Guess U Had to Be There” review

This is the 5th studio LP & Rhymesayers Entertainment debut from Queens, New York emcee/producer Elucid. For nearly 2 decades, he’s been making a name for himself whether it be his 10 mixtapes & 2 EPs that he’s released by himself or becoming 1/2 of the abstract duo Armand Hammer. His full-length solo debut Save Yourself came during the spring of 2016, which was followed by I Told Bessie as well as the Fat Possum Records-backed Revelator & Interference Pattern. Given that 2 of 2025’s most celebrated albums Golliwog & Mercy both came out under Rhymesayers, it was only a matter of time for I Guess U Had to Be There to drop & my anticipation was raised after learning Sebb Bash was fully producing it.

“1st Light” began the rollout with this drumlessly abstract lead single talking about being on farmer time whereas “Cantana” works in some exuberant pianos & a soul sample wanting to be left the fuck alone in addition to being on his 8th life. “Hands n Feet” featuring Estee Nack finds the 2 leaning towards a hardcore boom bap vibe dropping bars that they assume will go over people’s heads more than Israeli drones, but then “Make Me Wise”strips the drums again describing the government pairin’ propaganda with a pie in the face when that & the drone line on the previous track aren’t entirely wrong.

My favorite track here would easily be “Coonspeak” from the abstractly conscious lyricism to the experimentally wicked & drumless loop just before “Equiano” reaches the halfway point bringing the drums back in whilst turning up the psychedelia telling it straight how it is. Armand Hammer reunites for the 3rd & final single “The Lorax” returning to the boom bap & including a reference to the infamous Malice at the Palace brawl which occurred when I was about to turn 8 while “Fainting Goats” featuring Breeze Brewin’ hop over this drumless chipmunk soul beat talking about their reaffirmations of nobody having harder motion than them.

“I Say Self” rounds out 3rd with a sinisterly dark approach instrumentally talking about his refusal to put swine above himself while “Visitation Place” shifts towards a psychedelic direction with the beat tearing apart the type of people who should be doing more when they don’t & seeing it in their eyes that nothing’s adding up when he can’t either. “Alive Herbals” turns up the funk looking to the paint the block blue with money inside his shoes & “Parental Advisory” ends the album on some drumless psychedelic rock shit wondering if his firearm awoke anyone from their sleep.

Receiving a huge co-sign from one of my top 10 producers of all-time The Alchemist calling him “his favorite producer today”, Sebb Bash validates that by linking up with Elucid to surpass Revelatorto become the greatest entry in his entire solo catalog & continues to ring in this new era for Backwoodz Studioz since they’ve signed this distribution deal with Rhymesayers Entertainment last spring. His abstractly conscious & hardcore lyrical style has been progressively improving & Sebb cooks up some of his greatest production built around drumless, boom bap, psychedelia & chipmunk soul.

Score: 4.5/5

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Stacc Styles – “Stacc of Spades” review

Tucson, Arizona recording artist Stacc Styles is back with his 4th studio LP. The founder of Dope Shop Records, he introduced himself in the spring of 2015 off the debut album Inside the Ride followed by the sophomore effort Mr. Purple in the fall of 2020. Stacc has also been an affiliate of Suburban Noize Records dating back to being a roadie for the punk band Mower, eventually signing to the west coast underground label in 2024 & his last full-length Live Your Best Life refined his whole artistic identity. Almost a couple years later, he’s returning with a Stacc of Spades.

After the titular intro, the first song “God Mode Activated” makes his return over a funereal trap beat talking about being the head honcho whereas “Still Riding High” leans towards a g-funk vibe for all the stoners out there. “Relentless” goes for a more rugged vibe instrumentally & takes a hardcore approach to his songwriting prior to “What You Mad About?” posing a question for all the haters who’ve been detracting him since signing to Subnoize.

“Knife Rips” embraces a more celebratory tone refusing to stop because it’s only gonna go up from here just before “Pounds to Grams” featuring D-Loc & Judge D of the Kottonmouth Kings finds the trio getting back on their weed smoking shit. After the “Sub Noize Legacy” interlude throws it back to the Tsunami Bros.’ only album King Harbor with a full-blown turntablism cut, “Stamina” works in some pianos & guitars boasting that no one has his kind of endurance while “Modern Day Hero” talks about how dreams do come true.

Preceding the “Message from Munchies” skit, “Take Your Time” hops over a bluesy boom bap instrumental wanting the world to know everything will be ok in the end while “To the Dome” featuring the DG@F General himself Chucky Chuck & the late Saint Dog comes through with an old school 90s west coast heater. “How You Living” goes g-funk again wanting everyone to ride with him into this new era & once the original Kottonmouth King Johnny Richter appears for the reggae-inflicted single “More Peace of Mind”, the closer “Anything’s Possible” featuring Too Rude frontman Dog Boy ends the album on an optimistic note.

Live Your Best Life was a solid refinement of Stacc Styles’ whole sound that Suburban Noize Records laid out the blueprint for & not only does Stacc of Spades take it to the next level with his magnum opus, but also one of the greatest things Subnoize has done over the course of the 2020s along with Obnoxious’ debut album Sic Audio & the King Klick’s self-titled extended play. From the incredible list of the label’s most celebrated alumni to Stacc’s own performances & the production, it feels like their way of moving forward whilst celebrating 3 decades of it’s foundation.

Score: 4.5/5

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Nezzy – “The Infamous N.E.Z.” review

Brand new LP & the 4th overall from Sandusky, Ohio emcee/producer Nezzy. Emerging within the underground in 2022 off his first 2 EPs Subject to Change & Pyramids, he went on to follow this up by releasing the full-length debut Hippie Thug in the spring of 2023 & subsequently his 3rd EP New World Disorder a couple months later. Hall of Infamy & his previous album Worm Food from last summer have both elevated him in terms of popularity containing some of the greatest tracks of his career, dropping The Infamous N.E.Z. almost 9 months succeeding it’s predecessor.

“The Infamous” produced by C-Lance gives his flowers to one of the greatest hip hop duos of all-time Mobb Deep fresh off their final album Infinite this past fall whereas the self-produced “Mysterioso Pizzicato” maintains a gritty boom bap vibe instrumentally talking about cremating any rapper who thinks they’re hot. “Cuckoo!” wasn’t my favorite single of the 3 although I do appreciate the old school east coast hip hop just before “Raiders of the Lost Art” featuring Ja’king the Divine teams up over a Stu Bangas beat talking about hip hop being more than fame & riches.

We get a cool tribute to the classic video game “Def Jam Vendetta” although I prefer Fight for New York like most people & Icon was complete garbage, but then “Gein’s Theme” ruggedly talks about how there won’t ever be another MC of his caliber. “Vat of Acid” gets the 2nd half going admitting that he’s been a bastard from the very beginning while the lead single “Kaboom Bap” talks about being the man with the plan.

“Riddle Me This” rounds out 3rd with this eerie boom bap beat suggesting to keep your head on a swivel & stay vigilant while “Most Writeous” featuring Copywrite finds the 2 promising over some horns issuing a promise of snatching microphones from anyone who’s spitting wack rhymes. “N.E.Z.” lastly sends it all off saluting The Notorious B.I.G. & the late Prodigy on top of promising to go crazy musically until the day he can’t anymore.

Nezzy has been constantly turning heads by evolving his whole style known for combining hardcore vulgar references filled with deeply introspective conscious rap full of uncompromising rhyme schemes & thought-provoking choice of words ever since opening for opening for Psychopathic Records alumni Anybody Killa & DJ Clay at the co-headlined Welcome Home Party couple years ago, to which The Infamous N.E.Z. feels like a refinement of Worm Food in terms of lyricism & production.

Score: 4/5

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Lamb of God – “Into Oblivion” review

Lamb of God is a groove metal band from Richmond, Virginia comprised of bassist John Campbell, lead guitarist Mark Morton, rhythm guitarist Willie Adler, drummer Art Cruz & frontman Randy Blythe. Introducing themselves a quarter of a century ago off their full-length debut Burn the Priest & the sophomore effort New American Gospel, As the Palaces Burn would catch the attention of Epic Records & their major label debut Ashes of the Wake remains my personal favorite in their discography even now. Sacrament, Wrath, Resolution, VII: Sturm und Drang, self titled & Omens were all solid in their own rights although I personally prefer some more than others. They’ve been teasing a new era since this past October right around the time a video of theirs appeared on season 11 of the MTV hit-series Beavis & Butt-head marking their debut for Comedy Central & it’s finally here with their 11th album.

The title track & 3rd single incorporates some metalcore influences into their signature groove metal sound singing about being the face of tyranny in the age of conspiracy whereas the 2nd single “Parasocial Christ” sprinkles some hints of thrash metal throughout for a statement criticizing the current age of social media. The lead single “Sepsis” combines thrash & groove metal with sludge metal for a throwback to their Burn the Priest days except Randy’s noticeably angrier now that he’s older while “The Killing Floor” feels reminiscent to the As the Palace Burns era following the name change.

“El Vacío” reaches the halfway point embracing more somber guitar tones singing about a monster sleeping in their home state while “St. Catherine’s Wheel” kicking off the 2nd leg. After the 4th & final single “Blunt Force Blues” blends groove metal & metalcore for a reflection of the various skills they’ve accrued over the course of their career, “Bully” taps back into the band’s typical angst some have come to know them for while “1,000 Years” sings about unleashing the dogs of war to fill his crimson glass. “Devise / Destroy” spends the last 4 minutes riding off Into Oblivion by taking a more antagonistic approach to delivering the social commentary Randy wants to get off his chest.

Self-titled & Omens were both alright to me personally, but the teasers we got in preparation for Into Oblivion gave me the impression that it would be their best since VII: Sturm und Drangafter I had graduated high school over a decade ago & I can definitely say with confidence that it joins the likes of that as well as Sacrament & As the Palace Burn in comprising the other 4 albums I would have join Ashes of the Wake to comprise my top 5 favorite full-lengths throughout the Lamb of God canon. The groove metal veterans take secondary inspiration from metalcore, thrash metal & sludge metal to issue a warning regarding people accepting what would’ve horrified them 2 decades ago.

Score: 4/5

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