Felt – “Felt 4 U” review

Felt is a duo consisting of underground veterans MURS & Slug. The pair made their debut in late 2002 with a self-titled full-length produced by The Grouch, but would step their game up a lot much more on their 2005 sophomore effort that featured front to back production from Ant. Last we heard from them was in ‘09 with a 3rd album that was entirely produced by Aesop Rock but after a dropping a loosie earlier this week, MURS & Slug are hooking back up with Ant to drop Felt 4 U out of nowhere.

The album kicks off with “Never Enough”, where the duo talk about leveling up over a funky beat. The next song “Find My Way” talks about forever paying the price over an instrumental to cruise down the street to while the track “Don’t Do Me Like That” talks about getting into arguments with their wives over a mellow beat. The song “Trees” sees the 2 trading bars back & forth over a boom bap beat with an organ loop while the track “Through the Night” gets romantic over a sensual instrumental.

The song “Freeze Tag” is a crowd mover with a somewhat disco inspired beat while the track “Sticks & Stones” looks back on their childhoods over a heavenly instrumental. The song “Underwater” gets back on the love side of things over a fittingly aquatic instrumental while the track “Alexander F’real” continues to show their chemistry over a slick beat. The song “Hologram” with The Grouch & Aesop Rock sees the 4 talking about how they don’t give a fuck what people be hollering over what could possibly be the darkest instrumental on the whole album while the penultimate track “Crimson Skies” talk about being at the crossroads over a cinematic boom bap beat. The album finishes with “Borboleta”, where Felt talks about how far they’ve come & how far they have left down the road over an summery instrumental.

These guys have never disappointed me personally & this is a pretty damn good comeback for them. Ant absolutely kills it on the boards whereas both MURS & Slug both sound like they never left because the way they compliment each other is still as fantastic as ever.

Score: 4/5

ReadyRockDee – “Flow God” review

ReadyRockDee is an MC from Bridgeport, Connecticut most known as a founding member of the group Rowdy City. He just dropped a live album not too long ago & already, here we are with the man’s debut EP.

The EP starts off with “Still I Rise”, where ReadyRockDee talks about how nothing can slow him down over a boom bap beat. “The Chosen One” talks about how he has so many blessings over a rich instrumental while the song “What I Got to Lose” talks about being the truth over a triumphant beat. The penultimate track “What You Reppin’” with Teezy Money sees the 2 showing love to their respective hometowns of NY & CT over an aggressive instrumental whereas the closer “Lit & Dangerous” talks about being just that over an airy beat.

I personally thought this was a dope EP & would love to hear a full-length from ReadyRockDee at some point in the future. His presence on the mic is more ferocious than it’s ever been & the soundscapes on here suit him well.

Score: 3.5/5

Jay Royale – “The Baltimore Housing Project” review

This is the highly anticipated sophomore album from Baltimore emcee Jay Royale, who came onto my radar not too long ago with the release of his 2018 full-length debut The Ivory Stoop. But after a couple of big features on Vinnie Paz & Daniel Son’s latest albums, he’s back on his own for The Baltimore Housing Project.

The intro is pretty much Jay setting the tone for the whole album on top of a minimal yet punchy beat whereas the next song “Thousand Gram Figero” with Skyzoo sees the 2 coming with the battle bars over an old school boom bap beat. “The Town” pretty much describes the city that he grew up on over a foreboding instrumental while the track “Skee Rack” with Ransom goes at people who doubted them over a hypnotic beat.

The song “Pearl Handle” with Ill Conscious finds both of them talking about being strapped over a beat with a grim guitar passage while the track “Tint Cruddy” with Termanology sees the 2 talking about making it over an instrumental with a heavenly loop. The song “Hate to Love It” talks about his validity over an orchestral beat while the track “Lime” with Willie the Kid talks about how no one can compete with them over a piano & some heavy drums.

The song “Levaz” talks about pushing drugs over a boom bap beat with a luxurious piano loop while the track “Reefer Clouds” paints some dark street imagery over an instrumental with a plucky guitar loop. The song “Charles S. Dutton” gets back with Ill Conscious to reminisce on their childhoods over a flute-tinged instrumental while the penultimate track “Unreasonable Doubted” talks about people doing shit behind his back over a shadowy instrumental. The outro starts off with Jay talking about trying to bring back those classic Nas/AZ vibes on top of a murky beat, but then transitions into a decent “Unreasonably Doubted” remix.

If you liked his verse on “Scorched Earth”, you’d definitely enjoy this album because it’s probably the man’s best work yet if you ask me. The production is a lot more grimier than The Ivory Stoop was & Jay Royale does a great job at taking the listener through the experiences he had in his hometown.

Score: 4/5

Stevie Stone – “Black Lion” review

Stevie Stone is a 39 year old MC from Columbia, Missouri who first gained attention as one of the very last 2 artists to ever sign with Ruthless Records alongside Hopsin. Both of their full-length debuts New Kid Comin’ & Gazing at the Moonlight received little to no promotion, leading both artists to leave the crumbling label. Hopsin went on to form Funk Volume shortly after before closing shop in 2016 whereas Stevie signed to Strange Music in 2012. He eventually became one of the label’s biggest artists with albums like Rollin’ Stone, 2 Birds 1 Stone, Malta Bend & my personal favorite: Level Up. Then came the JL collab album Kontra-Band in 2018, which was really good too. But after Tech N9ne dropped his latest album ENTERFEAR this past spring, things over at Strange slowed down drastically due to the pandemic. However, Stevie is helping the Snake & Bat back in their groove by dropping Black Lion.

The album kicks off with “Set in Stone”, where Stevie talks about being unchangeable when it’s all said & done over an acoustic guitar. The next song “V.I.P.” serves as a club banger with a cavernous trap beat while the track “Type of Time” talks about being a threat over a MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 instrumental with a cool woodwind thrown in.“Underrated” vents about deserving more appreciation over a delicate instrumental while “The Worst for Me” details how this woman can’t leave him over a luxurious boom bap beat.

“Can’t Deny It” talks about a groupie wanting to chill with him over a smooth instrumental & while “Selfish” featuring Flawless Real Talk finds the 2 talking about why they’re so finicky over a vibrant beat with a woodwind sample. The track “No Permission” gives the listeners a proper clue of what his do’s & dont’s are over a druggy instrumental while the song “Teknique” featuring Tech N9ne gets sexual over an hyphy beat.

The track “Conquer” featuring Spaide R.I.P.P.E.R. is a decent mosh pit starter while the song “Jungle” featuring King Iso gets on the more braggadocious tip over a trap beat with a unique cricket loop throughout. “Dope Sick” talks about hard he be going over an intimidating instrumental from Wyshmaster while the track “Holiday” featuring Maez301 is an incredibly fun party anthem.

“Hennessy & Harmony” talks about being all in over a cloudy instrumental while the track “Vibe” featuring ¡MAYDAY! stoner’s tune backed by the reggae style production throughout South of 5th. “Some Days” speaks on having all these emotions bottled up over a piano-inflicted trap beat while the penultimate track “Still Standing” featuring Rittz finds the 2 talking about how far they’ve come over a melancholic instrumental. “Taste” ends the album opening up about how much fame has changed him over a chill beat.

Like I said earlier: Stevie Stone is one of the most prominent acts on Strange Music & this album is a fine example as to why even if it’s said to be his last under the local indie major. There are a couple of features that don’t really land with me, but you’re gonna get a good look at how much he’s changed throughout the years & the artist/person that he has become today.

Score: 4/5