Chief Keef – “Dirty Nachos” review

This is the 32nd mixtape from Chicago, Illinois rapper, singer/songwriter & producer Chief Keef. Rising to stardom in 2012 off his 6th mixtape Back from the Dead & the full-length debut Finally Rich, he would go on to become a progenitor for drill music popularizing it in the Windy City inspiring the likes of Lil Uzi Vert & 21 Savage or even Billie Eilish. Other standouts in Keef’s discography include Bang 2, Almighty So, Back from the Dead 2, GloToven & 4NEM. But with Mike WiLL Made-It fully producing Dirty Nachos, expectations for it were very high for me personally.

After the intro, the first song “2 Times” is an energetic trap opener talking about having to steal a couple times in the past & seeing dollar signs when you look in his eyes whereas the title track encourages to get off the block & take a trip. “Doja” briefly yet bombastically flexes the kind of weed he be smoking leading into “Ridiculousness” featuring Ballout bringing a suspenseful atmosphere this time around talking about being on too much savagery.

2 Chainz’ feature on “Pull Up Ghost-Clan” is significantly stronger vibrantly boasting that they’ll be at the spot in a coupe just before dedicating “Damn Shorty” featuring Sexyy Red to all the strip clubs out there & I can definitely hear this being played at those kinda spots. “Why You Mad?” hops over strings & hi-hats asking haters the titular question prior to “Watch for the Pigs” menacingly calling out the feds.

“Charged Up” gives me a cloudy trap vibe instrumentally telling us that’s exactly how he be feelin’ while “Promenade” almost has a quirkier tone talking about the cops trying to get him on a daily basis. “Beware of Dog” might be my least favorite on the tape because it feels a little unfinished to me personally, but then “Girl Woo” although more fleshed out seems like a flat pop rap cut.

Meanwhile, “Player in Me” brings a trippier flare to the beat boasting his player status while “Love Don’t Live Here” comes through with aggressive braggadocio. “Status” chillingly sets out to fit 5 or 6 bitches in his car being on Saturn while “Harley Quinn” comparing his girl to the titular DC character over synth-horns. “Bang Bang” rounds out the tape by bringing Chicago drill undertones to the fold portraying images of the gangsta life 1 last time.

Almighty So 2 has been quickly turning into the modern day Detox by now, yet I’ll absolutely still take Dirty Nachos as a way of making up for the constant delays. Mike WiLL’s production is more refined than some of the O.G. versions Shawn Ferrari did, Keef gives some of his best performances I’ve heard from him in a while & the 3 features don’t bother me all that much.

Score: 4/5

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Flo Milli – “Fine Ho, Stay” review

Flo Milli is a 24 year old rapper & singer/songwriter from Mobile, Alabama who went viral in 2018 off her charismatic “Beef” freestyle. She then signed to RCA Records & put out her debut mixtape Ho, Why Is You Here? a couple summers later following by the full-length debut You Still Here, Ho? nearly 2 years later. So continuing the biyearly work cycle, it’s only right that she returns with a sophomore album since spring’s coming up.

To get us started, “Understand” acknowledges that she’s different from all these other women in the game over a Memphis style instrumental from Bugz Ronin whereas “New Me” featuring Anycia works in synthesizers & hi-hats thanks to Honorable C.N.O.T.E. talking about feeling like a brand new person. “Got the Juice” cautions that she’ll beef with you forever if you go at her first over a thunderous Kid Hazel beat, but then “Neva” featuring Monaleo refuses to conform with the help of Juicy J, Lex Luger & Purps providing a bit of a wealthy atmosphere.

“Never Lose Me” featuring Lil Yachty which I like more than the remix featuring Cardi B & SZA mixes pop rap with pluggnb, trap soul & even chipmunk soul affirming self-worth leading into “Toast” dabbling further into plugg courtesy of Cardo telling her ex to leave her alone. “Can’t Stay Mad” gets more melodic explaining she can put the bullshit behind when he loves her a certain way just before “Edible” featuring Gunna finds Bangladesh blending a guitar riff with hi-hats talking about how hard the sex be hitting.

Moving on with the 2nd half, “Lay Up” moodily makes it clear that that’s exactly what she wants to do while the minimal “Life Hack” produced by ATL Jacob refuses to let anyone play her & that she can’t be replaced. “Clap Sum” returns to put hoes in the ground accompanied by a monstrous Mike WiLL Made-It beat & after “Tell Me What You Want” goes for a bouncier vibe asking her lover what he needs from her, the final song “Not Sorry” talks about being unapologetic over another plugg instrumental.

From the moment I heard her “Beef” freestyle, I knew that Flo was talented & that it was going to flourish going into the current decade as one of the best females in the game. Sure enough: Fine Ho, Stay ends the 4-year trilogy with the most intimate installment of them all. A couple spotty features here & there, but we get expansive take on her lively sound & we find all of her alter-egos colliding together.

Score: 3.5/5

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Elcamino – “The Game is the Game” 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: 4/5

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ST Spittin’ – “Risk & Reward” 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 Show, Action! & All in a Day’s Work followed by a trilogy of EPs Lucky 6, When 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: 4/5

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Estee Nack – “Stone Temple Pyrex” 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” references former 2-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel “Izzy” Adesanya.

“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: 4.5/5

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Frankie Goldie – “Vegas Winter: Jugg Motivation 101” 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: 4.5/5

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Eric the Red – “Painting da Town Red” review

Here we have the sophomore effort from Bristol, England, United Kingdom emcee Eric the Red. Known for being the brother of Illinformed & Real Life Drama Records co-founder Leaf Dog of The 4 Owls, he would also become 1/3 of the Creatures of Habit & 1/4 of NLP in addition to forming his own label Lost Scroll Records almost a decade ago. His compositional solo EP Basement Blues dropped in 2016 & the In My Element beat followed as did the Illinformed-produced debut album Caught Red Handed. Coming off Broken Ear Drum, he’s releasing Painting da Town Red under Illin’ for Meds Records.

“Need in Your Life” sets up shop with a jazzy boom bap instrumental reaffirming that his biggest goal is to be the highest man alive whereas “Same Day” featuring Jack Jetson works in some vibraphones suggesting they’re addicts for narcotics still carrying them in their pockets now. “DNA” featuring Leaf Dog finds the 2 siblings over a grungy boom bap beat talking about hip hop being in all 3 of the Leigh’s blood when that can’t be disputed while “Again & Again” jazzily flexes he’s on his grind again.

As for “Krylon”, we have Eric & Illinformed keeping it in the basement stylistically talking about how he’s still looking for a rooftop to climb on leading into “Day Shifting” ominously recalling him growing up around shoplifting. “Mind’s Gone” turns up the eeriness talking about the drugs filled a gap despite him losing his mind in the process while “Route 66” featuring Smellington Piff brings the pair together warns of the long way back from Hell’s gates.

“Danger” kicks off the final leg of Painting da Town Red darkly advising not to be a threat to your own health dismembering crews while “Lock & Key” featuring Crossbow T links up so they can cook up something monstrous although it’s not a favorite of mine personally. “Super Fiends” references the alter ego of the Warner Bros. subsidiary DC Entertainment-owned Batman franchise until “Switching the Keys” finishes up by flying to the future using a hoverboard & cutting snakes in the grass.

Broken Ear Drum certainly has a good share of moments that’re absolutely worth going back to, but Painting da Town Red joins the same ranks as Caught Red Handed in being amongst Eric the Red’s greatest solo material & simultaneously could become one of my favorite projects to come out of Illinformed’s own label named after his solo debut album. The latter’s jazzy boom bap production here is a lot stronger than Broken Ear Drum, the guest list is kept to a minimum & Eric lyrically continues to set himself apart from Leaf exceptionally.

Score: 4/5

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Bishop Nehru – “Kult Life: From Pain to Paintings” review

This is the 7th EP from New York emcee/producer Bishop Nehru. Starting out dropping a couple beat tapes before emerging in the underground off the solid debut mixtape Nehruvia, he profile would only begin to increase in 2014 by signing to Mass Appeal Records & form the duo NehruvianDOOM alongside the late MF DOOM & putting out an overlooked self-titled effort together that same fall. Bishy would leave Mass Appeal a couple years later to drop 2 full-lengths Elevators & My Disregarded Thoughts on his own, both of which I look at as some of the best shit he’s ever done. He would also drop 6 EPs & 5 more mixtapes but coming off the Mysteries of Initiation EP last fall, Nehru’s beginning the Kult Life series by going From Pain to Paintings.

“Rise” is a cavernous trap opener talking about being unable to focus on healing & going from the hero to the villain whereas “Through It All” shifts into sample-heavy boom bap territory setting out to let everyone hear what this gift he has is. “Hold It Down” works in more kicks & snares promising the world when it turns around, but then “Keep It a Bean” soulfully shows the difference between real & fake.

The sequel to “Abandoned” starting the 2nd half is cool since that was a favorite of mine off Heroin Addiction going for a Flying Lotus vibe kinda while “Forever” hooks up a vocal flip & hi-hats talking about being good for life. “Devil in New York” returns to the boom bap detailing his encounters with Satan in his neck of the woods that is until the cloudy “Fears” concludes the EP by confronting all that he’s afraid of.

Regardless of Chulo or more recently 4 the Noners from a couple weeks ago being recent examples of how hit or miss Nehru’s discography has become over time, From Pain to Paintings is a solid beginning to the Kult Life series & I’m curious to hear the future installments. Dioni$ gets a chance to show his influences as a producer & Bishy breaks down more personal subject matter.

Score: 3.5/5

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Mission: Infect – “arM:Igeddon” 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 & 0. 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 & 0 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: 4/5

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Ramirez – “From tha Guttah to tha Grave” review

San Francisco, California emcee Ramirez back with his 11th EP. Coming up in 2014 as a longtime affiliate of the $uicideboy$, he would go on to co-found to the New Orleans-based indie label G*59 Record$ with them & build himself as an artist by dropping 8 mixtapes, his last 10 EPs & 4 full-lengths in the span of nearly a decade. Tha Playa$ Manual was his best LP yet with it’s g-funk production from Rocci & The Tragedy of a Clown was a good comeback from a year & a half ago, but is now taking us From tha Guttah to tha Grave.

“Beige Butter” featuring Le$ starts by hooking up this synth-lead with hi-hats swangin’ in their spaceships whereas “Rehabilitation” gives off a more psychedelic approach instrumentally except it hurts to say the Lil Homewrecker’s melodic vocals feel like they’re being drowned out in the mix. “Sleepin’ with the Fishes” takes the morbid trap route getting in his hardcore bag lyrically just before “Amphisbaena” featuring SXMPRA turns up the aggressiveness hitting licks together.

Meanwhile, “Warfare” has a glitchy trap vibe to the beat talking about having his victims brought to him out in the trenches leading into the heinous “Stick Up” letting the gunshots ring out. “Goodfellas” featuring SosMula chillingly asks if anyone wants the smoke with them but prior to the chopped & screwed version of “Rehabilitation” finishing the EP, the final song “In da Trunk” is a Memphis-infused closer pushing down the block.

After pretty much laying low last year, From tha Guttah to tha Grave happens to be a pretty solid return for RVMIRXZ & and. Maybe even the most I’ve enjoyed an EP from him since the Judgement Day trilogy. The production has some cool ideas pulling inspiration from the Memphis scene, chopped & screwed music, cloud rap, glitch hop, trap, psychedelia or hardcore hip hop boiling down the features to 3 as opposed to 5 previously continuing portray the experiences of gang life.

Score: 3.5/5

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