Truth – “Nostalgia ThEraPy” review

Queens emcee Truth formerly of the trio Gods’Illa teaming up with Da Beatminerz for his solo debut EP. The year after the group’s full-length debut Believe in Gods’Illa however, he would start to build up a solo discography for himself with From Ashes to Kingdom Come. He then followed it up 3 years later by dropping the sophomore effort The Fight for Survival as well as For All Intents & Purposes. The latter of which was also produced by Da Beatminerz fully & was not only my personal introduction to Truth’s music, but one that I found myself enjoying more than his previous work too. So with that in mind, I was sure I was gong to enjoy Nostalgia ThEraPy as much if not more than that previous LP.

“Truth Is” really sets the tone of what‘s to come by laying battle bars down over dusty boom bap production whereas “Lock & Load” works in an eerie loop with kicks & snares aiming for the kill. “Spit It” featuring Al Skratch & Kurious finds the trio over a bloodcurdling boom bap beat encouraging to speak your thoughts just before “Here & Now” brings in the horns boasting that he’ll tear down any stage anywhere.

To start the 2nd leg of the EP, “Da Beatminerz Sound” has to be my personal favorite track off the whole thing as Truth reminds that him matched with Mr. Walt & DJ Evil D is a deadly combo on top of this raw ass instrumental that they’re known for prior to “Won By One’s Will” taking the symphonic route telling y’all to kneel down to the pharaoh. “Queens Carnivores” featuring Royal Flush begins the encore with this bluesy sample repping their stomping grounds & “Calling” ties everything up with a soulful flip by getting busy.

Even as a 9-song EP running at 27 & only 3 features, Da Beatminerz continue to bring the best out of Truth because this is another pretty impressive body of work from them. It’s like a warm dish of hip hop comfort food that just so happens to incorporate some new herbs & spices courtesy of the chefs involved, all by design as Truth continues to evolve lyrically over the traditional east coast boom bap sound.

Score: 4/5

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Gloom Unit – “Come Heavy” review

The Gloom Unit are a West Coast horrorcore duo consisting of Acetone Boogie & Frankie Goldie. One of whom comes straight out of Tucson, Arizona & the other representing Sin City Las Vegas, Nevada respectively as part of the Swamp Society collective. Acetone’s been putting it down for the underground for over a decade at this point putting out a total of 3 solo LPs as of me writing this review & Frankie has been establishing himself artistically by doing a couple features & even releasing 2 solo singles. But after coming together in the fall & preluding their debut EP in the form of a few singles, Acetone & Frankie are looking to Come Heavy by properly introducing themselves to kick off the new year with Chapter 17/Psychopathic Records in-house producer Devereaux behind the boards start to finish.

After the intro, the first song “Anna in da Attic” is an occult trap opener paying homage to the Insane Clown Posse’s best storytelling track ridin’ dirty with the chromes “Amy’s in the Attic” whereas “Blood on My Chucks” instrumentally gives off more of a west coast vibe to spit the wicked shit with the bells calling back to “Real G Shit” off of Blaze Ya Dead Homie’s self-titled debut EP & I just wanna say I mean that as a compliment. “Dead Ringer” shifts back into trap turf trying to figure out why they hatin’ just before “Bury da Bones” works in some pianos & hi-hats talking about how no one else like them. “LeanGutt” then closes out the EP on a triumphant trap note with elements of chopped & screwed dedicated to the thuggalos.

These guys have only been getting better with each single they’ve been giving us, so it was more than enough to convince me that Come Heavy was gonna be a promising introduction to who the Gloom Unit really is. Now that we finally got their debut EP to start 2024, it should absolutely please the juggalos & maybe even some G*59 fans too. Devereaux’s production is chiefly trap-oriented with additional elements of west coast hip hop or even chopped & screwed mixed in leaving it up to both Acetone Boogie & Frankie Goldie to further hone in their chemistry.

Score: 4/5

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Big Hit & The Game – “Paisley Dreams” review

This is a brand new collaborative mixtape between Big Hit & The Game. One of whom hails from Los Angeles, California coming fresh off his debut album The Truth’s in My Eyes a few weeks ago after being in the making for a decade & the other is an established Compton, California veteran at this point mentored by both Dr. Dre & 50 Cent who put out Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind a year & a half ago, which was the most I’ve enjoyed a project from him in quite some time. Both projects where executive produced by Big Hit’s son Hit-Boy, who eventually produced Paisley Dreams to start 2024.

“Backfade” is an ominous boom bap opener talking about having each other’s backs using the old school west coast terminology whereas the title track takes a more soulful approach admitting to being fathers first & real ones secondly. “P Fiction” featuring Hit-Boy finds the trio shifting into trap territory declaring themselves to be menaces leading into “Bang” talking about banging for the cause over a Mobb instrumental.

Meanwhile, “Cutthroat” starts off the 2nd leg ballin’ on top of a g-funk beat & TeeFLii’s hook being inspired by the late Zapp frontman Roger Troutman just before “The Game Won’t Stop” returns to a more soulful sound talking about shaking the cops. “Crisis” featuring Half-a-Mil has a gospel flip to it discussing the struggle while “Happy Ru Year” is a hyphy-tinged New Year’s anthem. “Body for Body” rounds out the tape by smelling homicide over a trap instrumental.

Wild to think that Game pulled up on Big Hit & Hit-Boy to only do 1 track with each other only to end up with a 9-song tape to release out of nowhere on New Year’s Day. If you’re a west coast head, you gotta check out Paisley Dreams at some point. Hit-Boy’s production mixes boom bap, trap, g-funk, Mobb music & hyphy altogether as his dad teams up with the Compton vet on the mic to rep their sets.

Score: 4/5

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Conway the Machine – “Palermo” review

Buffalo emcee Conway the Machine following up his best release of 2023 at the beginning of the month Conductor Machine by putting out his 12th EP only days before Christmas. As you may already know by now since late 2015, as part of the 3 OGs of Griselda Records alongside his brother Westside Gunn & their cousin Benny the Butcher, the trio have had the culture on lock ever since their arrival by their constant work ethic balancing quality & quality as well as bringing the underground to the mainstream or vividly detailing their lives in the streets on top of boom bap, drumless, jazz rap & even trap production. Con’s full-length debut From King to a God was my Album of the Year for 2020 & the Shady Records-backed sophomore effort God Don’t Make Mistakes is the most personal he’s ever been. Organized Grime 2 & Big Ghost Ltd.-produced What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed were both great EPs, but his latest full-length Won’t He Do It received more moderate reception even though it was the beginning of a new era for him & like I said out the gate: Conductor Machine was the best thing Conway has done this year, but is now teaming up with German lo-fi producer Wun 2 resulting in Palermo.

After the introductory interlude, the first song “Carduni” really starts off the EP with a dusty ass boom bap instrumental getting on his Pyrex shit whereas “Mind Tricks” talks about his mind playing tricks on him over and over unsettling beat with some kicks & snares. “Brick by Brick” reminds how exactly he built his whole career taking a more lo-fi approach to the traditional boom bal sound, but then the drumlessly jazzy “Cold Dish” featuring Goosebytheway flexes that they both have all the intangibles.

“Cosca” tells all the haters to stay in their lanes going for a groovier vibe with kicks & snares but following the “Zisa” skit, Goosebytheway returns for the uncanny boom bap infused “Montagna” reminding that everyone knows the way they be movin’. “Bianca” continues to push near the end of Palermo by bringing back that lo-fi flare so La Maquina can boast & finally to wrap up the EP, “Gaspare” featuring Goosebytheway sends things off with 1 last boom bap joint telling their competition to give it up.

I was already familiar with Wun 2 heading into Palermo because of his collaborations with Hus Kingpin or Tha Connection, so I was undeniably interested in what was gonna come out of this EP & I still enjoy it although not as much as the last EP we got a few weeks ago. The production fuses his lo-fi sound with boom bap along with Italian samples so Conway can built its concept around the themes of both resistance & truth.

Score: 4/5

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Mickey Diamond – “Gucci Ghost 4” review

This is the 11th full-length studio album from one of the illest Detroit emcees in the underground currently: Mickey Diamond. Emerging at the beginning of 2020 off the strength of his debut EP Bangkok Dangerous, the dude has since gone on to turn quite a few heads in the underground by building up the impressive discography for himself with his previous 9 albums alongside 7 EPs & a mixtape. But for the past year, Mickey has been consistent putting out some of the best material of his career thus far. This includes the Gucci Ghost album & it’s sequel produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Ral Duke-produced Oroku Saki EP, the Sadhugold-produced Death Threat$ album, the Camoflauge Monk-produced Capital Gains album & more recently Gucci Ghost 3 only last weekend. But as we approach Christmas weekend, Diamond & Big Ghost are keeping the series going by unleashing a 4th installment to the Gucci Ghost saga with only a few days’ notice.

After the “Cut the Check” intro, the first song “Gucci North Face” is a sample-based opener referring to WWE Hall of Famer, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion Rikishi whose nephew Jacob Fatu is the longest reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion & a former HoG Heavyweight Champion whereas “Ice Caps” gives off a somber boom bap edge talking about being in the last days. “Maurizio’s Funeral” has this drumless soul flip declaring himself as a hitman for hire rocking luxurious attire prior to “Giverny Frames” bringing back the kicks & snares so he can get on his mobster shit to round out the first half of the album referencing 10-time WWE world champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion, United Football League (UFL) co-founder & $7 Productions co-founder The Rock.

After the “Gucci Boycott” interlude, “Yachts n Boycotts” starts the 2nd leg of the LP by jumping over a suspensefully dark boom bap instrumental asking to be forgiven for his sins along with reminding that there’s a thin line between family & friends just before “Godzilla Mac 10s” keeps it raw talking about being a certified killa. “Murder for Hire” morbidly gets in his outlaw bag leading into “The Last Supper” featuring Big Trip, Bori Rock, Shaykh Hanif, Snotty & Ty Farris closing out Gucci Ghost 4 in the form an 8-minute posse cut with my favorite verses going to Diamond as well as Big Trip, Snotty & T-Flame. I also loved the line Ty had regarding Dana White, who is now the CEO & President of the UFC after Endeavor merged Zuffa with the WWE to form TKO Group Holdings this fall.

You know since the first Gucci Ghost came out at the beginning of December last year & then 2 followed only 3 weeks later, I should’ve figured that a 4th installment was on the horizon at some point & I actually happen to love it as much as the predecessor that we got only the previous weekend. Big Ghost Ltd.‘s production is predominantly in that boom bap style with more drumless undertones, Mickey still remains as one of the sharpest lyricists in the Umbrella collective & I love how there’s more features except they all pop up in the backend of it.

Score: 4.5/5

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Snotty – “Boy George Dreams” review

New York City emcee Snotty making his 11th EP the 4th & final project that he’s given us in 2023. Establishing himself by dropping his last 10 EPs along with 3 mixtapes & The Steiner Brothers’ eponymous debut, he would go on to join the Umbrella collective with likes of Jay Royale or Mickey Diamond & even his Steiner Brothers cohort Pro Dillinger to name a few. I’ve also heard his features throughout the Gucci Ghost series as well as The Final Sniff of the No Cosign, Just Cocaine saga & even some of Hus Kingpin’s material within the last few years (most notably Portishus). But coming off the Chapter II EP couple months ago, Snotty is helping close out the year by putting out Boy George Dreams.

“Everybody Eats” is an orchestral-tinged opener likening it a soup kitchen whereas the soulful “190E 2.5” admits that he feels like part of him has changed & that shit’s hardly been the same for him ever since the love been gone. “Obsession” has a bit of a boom bap flare instrumentally detailing his obsession with enterprising prior to “Apartment 1C” featuring fellow Umbrella collective member Mvck Nyce works in this solemn sample taking things to the streets.

The beat on “Dapper Dan Jaccet” pays homages to Daringer’s whole style explaining how hard be flexing that Gucci, but then Daniel Son of the Brown Bag Money collective teams up with Snotty for the grimy “Felonious Food Courts” reminding that the streets know the names & they don’t have to say it twice. “Tuxedo Enterprise” shoots for a smoother instrumental bragging that they invented fly & “Shrimp Dinner” by The Steiner Brothers eerily talking about out they’ll Hudson River shrimp dinner someone.

“Ostrich Interior” starts the encore of Boy George Dreams on a drumlessly moodier note assuring that there’ll never be another like when it’s all said & done that is until “Trench Baby” slides through with a sample-laced sendoff to the project by Snotty telling the story of what it was like for him being born & raised out in the trenches of my 2nd favorite place to travel to in here in the States behind Los Angeles of course: NYC.

Of the 4 projects that we’ve gotten from Snotty this year: Boy George Dreams has to be my favorite solo project of his but that’s not to say it isn’t neck-&-neck with the Steiner Brothers album. The guest list is consistently unparalleled throughout the 10-track/24 minute offering, the production teeters between boom bap & drumless and I lastly find the performances from Snotty himself to be the most passionate he’s sounded so far. The Umbrella collective stays consistent.

Score: 3.5/5

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Big Hit – “The Truth’s in My Eyes” review

Big Hit is a 52 year old rapper from Los Angeles, California notable for being the father of one of hip hop’s most in-demand producers that we’ve seen in recent memory: Hit-Boy. He was found guilty & convicted of a hit & run resulting in great bodily injury almost a decade ago, unlawfully being sentenced to 12 years & 4 months in prison including a 5-year GBI enhancement connected to Count 1. This February, his petition for a writ of habeas corpus was granted & became a free man few weeks ahead of his son’s 36th birthday. Hit would have his father join forces by making Surf or Drown 2 a collab effort tailored for Father’s Day Weekend & now only less than a couple weeks until Christmas, they’re keeping it rolling except Hit-Boy is fully producing his dad’s official full-length solo debut album.

The title track is a symphonic opener to the album talking about keeping it gangsta so I ain’t got shit to hide whereas “Red Lotion” featuring Jay Worthy & RJ finds the trio boasting that they’re flamed up & burning forever on top of a drumless soul sample. “Load ‘Em Up” featuring the Baby Stone Gorillas sets out to load it the sticks, spin the block, load ‘em up & pull off in the Lotus truck leading into “Take Some Off of That” going into trap turf with co-production from Rogét Chahayed calling out those who ain’t cut from the same cloth as him.

“Extra Clips” gives off a smoother edge to the instrumental describing the way he lived in the streets proclaiming the LA County Sheriffs to be worse than the feds just before “Wigglin’” featuring Mozzy shifts gears by lacing a chill backdrop with hi-hats & even a g-funk beat switch during the end of it as both of them admitting they’re trappin’ again, but then “Broke the Mold” luxuriously disses all the copycats out here these days.

Big Hit’s son joins his dad on the mic for the booming lead single “A$AP Chauncey” looking to run it up while “Boo Bop” works in these strings & later keys accompanied by hi-hats dropping braggadocio on the lyrical front. “Shoppin’ Monster” featuring WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg fuses elements of trap & g-funk so both of them can celebrate while the highlight “Man, I’m Rollin’” gives off a jazzier flare thanks to The Alchemist rockin’ shit that’s fresh off the showroom floor.

“Breaking the Ice” featuring Half-a-Mil & J. Stone weaves together pianos chords with kicks & snares so everyone can handle business while “The Pain is Deep” gives off a g-funk vibe once more admitting that if this is heaven, then he doesn’t even wanna see hell. “Inspiration” featuring Figg Newton & Killa Twan is a decent trap cut dedicated to everyone catching cases while “Speaking in Codes” featuring Benny the Butcher does that general sound significantly better advising that the sharks gotta learn to finesse around.

The penultimate track “Stay On” featuring Big Tray Deee formerly of the LBC Crew & Tha Eastsidaz finds the 2 joining forces over a funky boom bap beat as both of them make it known that they’ve paid their debts to society after spending time behind bars prior to “G’z Don’t Cry” closes out Big Hit’s debut LP that’s been almost a decade in the making by soulfully admitting that the titular rule is in fact a lie.

Now for those of you who just got into Big Hit this spring when he came home & put out Surf or Drown 2 with his son the next month for Father’s Day, there’s no way that you’re not gonna walk away from The Truth’s in My Eyes liking it more since you get a better look of who he is artistically & personally. Even though a few guests fall flat, the overall sound impressively ranges from boom bap to trap & g-funk on top of Big Hit’s passionate performances.

Score: 3.5/5

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Team Demo – “It’s a Demo” review

Team Demo is a DMV-based production crew consisting of DJ Dialtone, J. Cosell & Mr. Wise. They’ve produced for the likes of 50 Cent, Tha Alkaholiks & even the late Sean Price to only name a few. They just compiled a collection of previously released tracks earlier this year, but are now coming together for a full-length producer album of original material with Wais P on most of it. Kinda like how Ghostface Killah was prominently featured on Raekwon’s solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… & vice versa on Ironman.

“Quest Love Bounce” featuring Planet Asia & Skyzoo is a cinematic boom bap opener chockfull of hardcore lyricism whereas “Extras in the Pot” featuring Rome Streetz finds the 2 over some pianos, kicks & snares getting in their drug dealing bags. “5% Tint” featuring Che Noir & Hus Kingpin takes a soulful approach instrumentally wanting to take the lives of a couple opps leading into “Camera Flash” featuring Illa Ghee & Method Man finds the trio eerily talking about how you can pose like the flash of a camera itself.

Meanwhile, “Creep” featuring Montage Øne & MC Eiht gives off more of a minimal west coast sound as all 3 lyricists spit that g shit just before “Odee” featuring Termanology talks about running through the streets with it & a suspenseful boom bap beat. “Poli with the Plug” featuring Kingpen Slim & Vado ominously gets back on their hustler shit while “Do You Believe?” featuring Sauce Money angrily looks to make believers out of those who aren’t already.

“What You Don’t See” featuring Lil’ Fame & NEMS draws near the end of the LP dustily declaring that the things you don’t see is what you get turning the tables on “What You See is What You Get” by Xzibit prior to “Hallelujah” featuring The Bad Seed, Planet Asia & Ras Kass truly tying things up here with a gospel sample & a guitar so everyone is able to let off rapid fire bars in their own distinctive fashions for nearly 4 minutes.

If anyone enjoyed the joint “Crime Wave” off of 50’s final Shady/Aftermath album Before I Self Destruct that celebrated it’s 14 year anniversary last month, then you’re gonna want to check out Team Demo’s official debut. The production is raw paying homage to both the east & west coast which makes sense considering the list of guests that they bring along with them for the ride is generally consistent.

Score: 3.5/5

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BigBabyGucci – “When You Go to Sleep” review

This is the 20th EP from Charlotte, North Carolina recording artist BigBabyGucci. Getting his start in the summer of 2016 off his debut EP ART HOE Collection, he would continue to build a name for himself by putting out 19 more EPs as well as his last few albums & a mixtape along the way. But coming off one of his best LPs to date When U Wake Up, he’s closing out his 2023 by putting out a 9-track EP clocking in at 21 & a half minutes nearly a week after Calvin Tankman became the DPW Worlds Champion & The Motor City Machine Guns ended The Workhorsemen’s reign as DPW Worlds Tag Team Champions.

“Alone at Night” is a spaciously drumless opener talking about how he doesn’t know what’s wrong with him whereas “Full of Sin” admits that he believed he could find myself inside the drugs & never did in the end over a guitar-driven instrumental. “Night Shift” gives off a bluesy trap groove trying not to take anything serious for real prior to “Murder Shit” coming through in some Marni shit & that everyone knows for a fact he’s stuntin’ taking a futuristic approach to the beat thanks to Venny.

To start the 2nd half of the EP, “Genie in a Bottle” turns into mellower territory feeling like this woman was a part of him just before “Do or Die” refuses to fumble under pressure & simply call it fake over kicks & snares mixed with pianos. “Wanted 4 Murder” boasts that he’s wanted for killing the pussy over a moodier instrumental prior to “Provide 4 U” featuring Tony Shhnow talks about providing for their lovers so they never need bringing a dreamier vibe. “Icebreaker” closes out the EP continuing to make things atmospheric telling her to break the ice.

When U Wake Up still stands as my favorite full-length of the 3 that BigBabyGucci has put out & even though this EP was clearly supposed to be the deluxe version of that new album, I think him putting it out as a separate counterpart isn’t too bad either. We have him expanding on his versatility trying out some new sounds beyond trap & pop rap with alternative R&B, his performances/songwriting match the caliber he reached couple months ago & the Tony Shhnow feature was as entertaining.

Score: 3.5/5

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K-Rino – “7 Hour Block” review

K-Rino is a 53 year old MC from Houston, Texas notable for co-founding the South Park Coalition collective with Ganksta N-I-P now known as Brother NIP as well as his extensive discography. Highlights include Stories From the Black Book, Danger Zone, No Mercy, Solitary Confinement, Annihilation of the Evil Machine, The Maven & who could forget the 7-disc The Big 7? Anyway he just came off his 35th album Audio Optics last month & it was ok, but I was interested going into 7 Hour Block.

After the “Arrival” intro, the first song “Got the Game Twisted” is an incredibly chilling opener to the LP talks about witnessing people go mad for fast riches in front of his very eyes whereas “Bad Understanding” shifts into boom bap territory a bit admitting he has exactly that & absolutely no one can break the cycle. “Words 2 Live By” has to be a favorite of mine on the album working in more kicks & snares along with a soul sample breaking down that life ain’t life until you start living it through prior to “The Ghost Maker” gets in his hardcore bag over some pianos.

“Something Better” gives off a funkier groove explaining how sad it is for him to watch greatness reducing itself & being average musically ain’t something to be content with just before Lord Save Us” instrumentally kinda feels like a homage to Dr. Dre’s production style during the 2000s asking God to save everyone from all the war-makers & fraud capers. “Cut Throat” of course shoots for a more sinister atmosphere & confrontational lyricism, but then “Bout to Pop” mixes some piano chords & hi-hats explains that situations happen in life so your mind can adapt.

The track “Friend Zone” begins the encore of the album by drawing inspiration from jazz rap telling the story of a woman she met at a party with among a group that he was in while “If You Were Still Here” has this chugging guitar passage & weeping strings talking about the absence of the fallen weighing heavy & that you gotta make songs about this kinda topic time to time. “The Departure” wraps up Killer Rhymes Intellectually Nullifying Opponents’ 36th LP with an outro shouting out everyone who’s been rocking with him all this time.

This dude has been celebrating 4 decades of being in the rap game with a discography bigger than artists like KRS-One, E-40 & Tech N9ne. But in my opinion: 7 Hour Block has to be my favorite thing Rino has done since A Long Short Way nearly 3 years ago already. DJ Trajic’s production is consistently eclectic pulling from boom bap, trap & jazz rap with the H-Town veteran delivering a mixture of conscious & aggressive subject matter.

Score: 4/5

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