Kevin Abstract – “blush” review

Here is the 6th solo LP from Corpus Christi rapper, singer/songwriter, producer & director Kevin Abstract. Making his debut over a decade ago in the form of MTV1987, he followed it up 2 years later with the fantastic American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story & rose to stardom as the de facto leader of the now defunct BROCKHAMPTON collective the year after. Both of Kevin’s solo efforts since then ARIZONA baby & The Family were solid although I liked the latter more for it’s chipmunk soul heavy sound. Blanket went for an indie rock direction to quietly end his RCA Records tenure joining X8 Music & Virgin Music, finally putting out blush after teasing it for months.

After the “Introduction” intro, the first song “H-Town” featuring Ameer Vann as well as Love Spells & SoGone SoFlexy finds the quartet over a boom bap instrumental thanking God they’re all still alive today prior to “Copy” featuring Love Spells & SoGone SoFlexy giving off a bit of a psychedelic rock vibe praying their lovers come running back to them & “Danny’s Track” by Danny Brown referencing the inaugural IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, Real American Beer founder & Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) co-founder Hulk Hogan.

“Yoko Ono” featuring Love Spells & Makana XO goes drumless with the help of Kiko Merley so the trio can ask what a classic is without a b-side or The Beatles without the late John Lennon’s widow whereas the chaotic “Nola” by Ameer Vann, Drigo, JPEGMAFIA & Love Spells produced by Quadeca references WWE Hall of Famer, 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, the inaugural 6-time TNA World Champion, TNA X Division Champion & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Kurt Angle.

Love Spells sticks with Kevin on the Glue outtake “Post Breakup Beauty” that Romil Hemnani co-produced looking back on a relationship that only lasted a mere 9 months & wanting to feel like as if they’re untouchable just before “97 Jag” featuring Love Spells once again finds the pair wishing they would’ve followed their instincts instead of crashing out. “Text Me” could very well be the only song without a guest verse singing over a Sekuo sample of recovering from a breakup for 2 years while “Geezer” marks the new superduo’s introduction with their own eponymous single built around pop rap, indie pop, bedroom pop & boom bap

“I Wasn’t There” by DERBY lets his indietronica/bedroom pop styles flourish for a couple minutes on their own & after the “blush” interlude, “Maroon” by Dominic Fike finds the other half of Geezer asking if his partners can remember a time where he made their face turn brownish-crimson. “Pop Out” by Ameer Vann, Drigo, E Bleu & Love Spells brings an experimental trap flare to the table talking about the bad bitches coming out now that it’s summer, but then “Girlfriend” by Drigo & surprisingly Dr. Dre’s daughter Truly Young links the 2 up talking about having each other.

Kevin jumps back on the mic for “Bloom” featuring Ameer Vann & Love Spells to cook up a melancholic trap cut wanting their lovers to know they’ve been waiting their whole entire lives for them to come in the picture while “Abandon Me” by Quadeca tries to figure out why the individual he has in mind stays by him instead of turning their back on him like everyone else in his life. “Red Light” featuring Ameer Vann ends blush with both BH alumni delivering a perfect fusion of pop rap, alternative R&B & neo-soul limiting their growth for the love of their lives.

“Everybody Plays to Win” featuring Ameer Vann & Love Spells starts the deluxe run asking how they can be forgiven & not fall astray while “Medicine” by Ameer Vann, Drigo & Love Spells links up the 3 over synths & hi-hats feeling like their partners were sent from heaven above. The title track featuring Love Spells talks about fiending for love & others not knowing what they’ve been on while “Fall” gets Kevin handling verses by himself over a cloudy trap beat getting to the bottom of as to why a former friend turned his back on him.

AJ, Ameer Vann, Devanmanleyy, Drigo & Love Spells all clique up during “Don’t Ever Ask No N***a for Some Change” talking about flags they ignore by choice while “Oath” by Ameer Vann & Love Spells rides around town with heaters in their pockets. “MenOnTheMoon” sticks out as another Kevin solo cut jazzily feeling like he’s the only one left of himself while “Moonlight” by Ameer Vann & Love Spells talking about being painted as demons since that’s the way they’re viewed.

“On My Son” reflects on the lessons Kevin’s learned taking another moment all by himself hoping to move the way his family did soon as he wakes up the final bonus track “T.W.N.D. (That’s What N****s Do” featuring Ameer Vann & Truly Young caps off the extra batch of music with them puttin’ these snakes in on their asses if they wanna spaz out getting this money backed by horns & a repetitive Memphis-like vocal flip.

2001 was the first album that I listened to start to finish growing up in the early 2000s so when I heard blush was gonna be Kevin’s answer to that, it immediately had my interest. The final product however has a tad more highs than flaws. I love that the production goes from hip hop to alternative R&B, neo-soul, drumless, experimental hip hop, alt-pop, indietronica, bedroom pop & pop rap in a cohesive manner although the lack of Kevin performances make it feel more like a compilation.

Score: 3.5/5

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Jon Connor – “24” review

Flint, Michigan emcee/producer Jon Connor enlisting KLC of the No Limit Records in-house production team Beats by the Pound to produce his 7th studio LP. Someone who’s steadily been holding it down for the last 2 decades including The Calling, Vinnie Chase & S.O.S. trilogies along with the Best in the World series paying homage to some of Jon’s influences, Salvation, While You Were Sleeping & Unconscious State. He was even signed to Aftermath Entertainment for 6 years before departing after Vehicle City wound up being shelved, returning nearly 6 months since providing Food for the Soul to drop 24.

“1 Time” was an aggressive opener talking about it rappers who’ve got caught up in the clout & forgot to live life putting it up for the real ones whereas “Where You From?” featuring Lil Wyte finds the 2 linking up to tell us what it’s like in Flint & Memphis respectively. “Nothin’ Gon’ Change That” featuring Fiend & Mac throws it back to the No Limit days with it’s horn instrumental separating the real from the fake leading into the funky “Get Right” asking how you were poppin’ bottles if your money ain’t right.

We get a sequel to “Story to Tell” off S.O.S. II: The Road to Legendary produced by MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 recalling a time where he was 13 & KLC giving it a jazzier feel as opposed to the trap sound of the original while “Work” featuring DJ Paul finds the 2 linking up to talk about getting that money over some dirty south shit. “Kings & Queens” featuring Jay Allure reminds me of those collabs Mia X used to do for No Limit just before “Motivated” incorporates these pianos & strings to talk about always staying inspired even when he’s been knocked down.

“Wake Up, Go Hard” featuring Mr. Serv-On gets the final leg of 24 with a dirty south anthem in ode to the everlasting hustle while “The Biggest Flex” featuring Dee-1 gets together for a lead single tryin’ to figure out who you’re frontin’ for. “Black Magic” featuring Enjoy Melody hits us with more No Limit nostalgia reminiscent of Mercedes in this particular instance & “Story Time” closin’ down shop by telling a tale of tragedy ending in gunfire after the opps caught him by surprise.

It’s been no kept secret that Jon has always been heavily influenced by the late 90s run No Limit Records was so to have KLC fully produce an entire body of work from him could more than likely appeal to those who look back fondly during that time period where No Limit was popular enough to have their own faction in WCW when WWE was in the Attitude Era. All that aside: KLC’s production feels like a mix of old & new ideas with Jon’s dream since he was 14 finally coming to fruition as a full circle moment in his career.

Score: 4.5/5

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Bktherula – “Lucy” review

Finally got the 3rd studio album from Atlanta, Georgia rapper & singer/songwriter Bktherula. Beginning a decade ago as a pop/R&B singer, she eventually broke out in the plugg scene after dropping the single “Tweakin’ Together” produced by my lil homie Premiere Maxx off her debut mixtape Love Santana. This resulted in her signing to Warner Records, following it up with her sophomore tape Nirvana along with the full-length debut Love Black & LVL5. It’s been over a year since LVL5 2 & her label has finally decided now is the time for Lucy to be released.

“DropWhenIDrop” starts with an industrial instrumental flexing that she’s been working her ass off & being in it to win it whereas “LoveSexDreams” produced by Skaiwater talks about wanting to see someone when she said she wasn’t gonna fall in love. “BBGurlGoSlow” featuring Ty$ finds the 2 over a cloudy trap beat 9lives co-produced coming their way after dropping what they want & the lead single “adult swim” bears it’s name after the Discovery Global-owned Cartoon Network late night block, taking it a step further with the Robot Chicken influenced video.

After the “I Feel Like” skit, “Bleht” cooks up a futuristic trap instrumental for Bk to completely spaz out with her flow showing how hard she be going until “Delilah” gets in her petty bag a little looking to take down one of her exes. “Abstract” brings his heavy synthesizers into the fold singing for God to forgive her for her sins cutting them off for a peaceful outro, but then “Euphoria” featuring Joey Bada$$ & KayCyy gets together for well executed pop rap duet & Murda Beatz drawing influences from rock.

“DumbShit” marked the final single that was teased flexing that she’s living life fast letting us all know this is what sounds like whenever her detractors are going through Hell & some of the best adlibs of the LP pop up during “R.I.P. (Rest In Peace)” basically killing off her ego delving back in the rage style. “OCB” fuses hypertrap & pop rap talking about your hoe wanting to be with her instead of you while “PickUpThePhone” goes drumless to pleas for her partner to answer her call.

To kick off the 4th quarter, “No Contact” heavily relies on synths speaking of nightmares when images of her heart on cold pavement come to mind while “Big Feeling” gives off a warm trap feeling talking about having the instinct of others going to hate on her. The final song “LookAlive” ahead of the “I Know” outro properly ties up Lucy by telling her partner she doesn’t feel like she’s loving them right & being on her side whenever they come back.

Birthing a new era in her career, Lucy proves to be the most personal & genre-defying entry in Bk’s discography thus far elevating the potential that was realized when she first got signed several years ago. Once you get past both of the skits & a couple redundant moments during the backend of it, the general sound is more pop rap-driven than the LVL5 series was albeit the rage undertones remain breaking down the topics of ascension & creative awakening.

Score: 4/5

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Lorde – “Virgin” review

Lorde is a 28 year old singer/songwriter from Auckland, New Zealand breaking out as an international superstar in the fall of 2013 after signing to Republic Records & putting out her full-length studio debut Pure Heroine many months after the debut of former AEW World Trios Champion, ROH World 6-Man Tag Team Champion, 2-time IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, IWGPインターコンチネンタルチャンピオン, IWGP USヘビー級チャンピオン & NEVER無差別級チャンピオン Jay White until eventually focusing on her double life in South Park, Colorado as a geologist named Randy Marsh. In all seriousness: Her sophomore effort Melodrama would go on to become the greatest alt-pop album of all-time & Solar Power produced by Jack Antonoff stands as her most polarizing work to this very day, hoping that her 4th LP would recapture the acclaim of her first 2.

“Hammer” fuses alt-pop & electropop with indietronica, Baltimore Club, ghettotech & art pop for an ode to city life & horniness leading into “What Was That?” dabbling with alt-pop, electropop, dance-pop, future garage & synthpop to sing about the aftermath of a breakup. “Shapeshifter” collides alt-pop with a hint of alternative R&B together so she can portray her partner having the ability to transform himself due to mixed signals & misunderstood communication while “Man of the Year” brings some indietronica & singer/songwriter vibes to the the styles of the last track singing about the person she wants to be.

Her relationship with her mother gets touched on during “Favourite Daughter” carrying over the alt-pop & indietronica styles just before “Current Affairs” acoustically samples “Morning Love” by Dexta Daps recalling an experience she had watching Pamela Anderson & Tommy Lee’s sex tape under the influence of both ecstasy & psilocybin. “Clearblue” keeps everything stripped back instrumentally to make caution of becoming pregnant following unprotected sex just before “Grown Woman” finds herself back in an alt-pop direction singing about trying to find a mature female in her life for almost 3 decades & counting.

“Broken Glass” hits the final leg of Virgin with a cathartic take on synthpop bringing up the self-hatred Lorde has towards her own image while “If She Could See Me Now” blends alternative R&B & indietronica reflecting on everything that made her the person she is today expressing her hardiness of a past version of herself being happier with her future self. “David” finishes up the album with a minimal direction up until the halfway point where it starts crescendoing asking if she’ll ever love again & feeling as if she doesn’t belong to anybody.

Flicking a light on inside of her in midst of Solar Power’s divisive feedback & her breakup with Justin Warren at the same time, Virgin diverts away from the prominent folk pop sound of her 2021 predecessor in favor of focusing more on what made her break out in the alt-pop subgenre reflecting on her femininity. The secondary influences of indietronica, singer/songwriter, art pop, electropop & alternative R&B in Jim-E Stack’s production pans out more impressively than what the Bleachers spearhead tried to do with indie folk, psychedelic pop, soft rock & indie pop 4 years ago.

Score: 3.5/5

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Frankie Cosmos – “Different Talking” review

Frankie Cosmos is a 31 year old singer/songwriter & musician from New York City releasing her first couple EPs Zentropy & Fit Me In ahead of the full-length studio debut Next Thing. The latter going on to catch the attention of Sub Pop Records, who signed her in the spring of 2017 & has remained on the Seattle indie label to this day. Vessel, the Haunted Items tetralogy, Close It Quietly & Inner World Peace have all been well-received in the bedroom pop subgenre of indie pop albeit not as much as Zentropy was. Something that I was hoping her 5th studio LP would change going into it & based on both singles that were teased ahead of time.

“Pressed Flower” opens with some acoustics singing about gentrification & rebirth whereas “1 of Each” confesses that she doesn’t know what she wants & not even gravity can hold onto her. “Against the Grain” maintains a steady indie rock direction singing about her preference of being along as of late while the 2nd & final single “Bitch Heart” finds herself missing who she was because she can’t go a day without being on her phone.

We get some synthesizers & jangly guitars colliding on “Porcelain” to address dissociation just before “1! Grey! Hair!” maintains a general indie rock vibe singing about the idea of growing up hardly crossing her mind & suggesting heartbreak occasionally means heartthrob. “Vanity” was a great lead single pulling from indie pop feeling as if she’s another victim of another’s careless futility leading into “Not Long” turning back to an indie rock direction singing about the relatable desire to stay in bed all day.

“Margareta” works in these warm riffs that give off a summertime feeling briefly summarizing our main character of the song rolling down the street in a run down car with her jacket hanging in the backseat while “Your Take On” delves further down the indie rock sound painting a love interest as a villain because it makes her worthy of being cherished. “High 5 Handshake” executes some of the most calmly passionate vocal performances throughout the album portraying, but then “You Become” laments over a friendship dissolving as a result of said former friend becoming a person she doesn’t recognize.

Dismissing the presumption of her passing away, Frankie rather insists she was taking more of a “Joy Ride” chillin’ in a bike lane of a restaurant since that’s where everything goes down while the twee-driven “Tomorrow” sings about not backing out from a show she has to perform in 24 hours. “Wonderland” continues down the final moments of Different Talking singing about getting to know herself more than with time while “Life Back” recalls feeling like she wasn’t gonna reclaim herself the day prior, feeling completely fine after some time to recollect. “Pothole” lastly caps it all off with colorful death of ego optimistically finding meaning in the world as we know it.

Vastly themed around growing up & figuring out how to know yourself, Different Talking redeems Frankie Cosmos from the lukewarm reception of her output since her label deal with the most insularly written AND sonically varied material of her entire career. Primarily combining indie rock & indie pop together, she furthermore takes the opportunity to focus less on twee pop than Inner World Peace did almost 3 years ago leaving the comforting bravery of her early adulthood behind due to the epiphany of that same person always living inside you no matter how much we change.

Score: 3.5/5

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Tech N9ne – “5816 Forest” review

Kansas City, Missouri veteran Tech N9ne kicking summer in full gear with his 26th studio LP. Starting out 3 decades back as a member of the groups Black Mafia as well as the 57th Street Rogue Dog Villians & the Nnutthowze, his profile began to increase in the late 90’s after landing a spot on the Gang Related soundtrack & becoming among the first to join Yukmouth’s then-newly formed collective The Regime. But after having issues with Interscope Records & Universal Music Group following the release of his iconic 3rd album Anghellic, that’s when Tech decided to form his own label with the help of a man at Paradise Originals named Travis O’Guin. Together, they would call it Strange Music & solidified itself as one of if not the biggest indie label in the world. Tech has made it a tradition to drop a project or 2 every year since Everready (The Religion) back in ‘06 except for 2022, returning the next summer with Bliss to mixed reception. C.O.S.M. (Class of Strange Music) became the best Collabos entry since my personal favorite Welcome to Strangeland & 5816 Forest looks outdo himself even more with only 2 guests on it because of people clowning him for overloading his projects with guests in the last 2-3 years or so.

After the “Donnie Call” skit, “The Birth” takes a trip down memory lane over some keyboards from Matt Phoenix speaking candidly on his mother’s health struggles whereas “Fridee to Sundee” (Triality)” demonstrates his storytelling abilities & unique slang taking a darker trap approach to the beat. “Yoda” featuring Lil Wayne finds the 2 likening themselves to the Jedi Grand Master from The Walt Disney Company-owned Star Wars franchise until “Ball” recalls another story from his household growing up.

“RDV” after the “Alyia Call” skit throws it back to the days of old school hip hop instrumentally harking back to his 57th Street Rogue Dog Villians days & “Lola” takes it a step further remembering the woman to convince him to go from beatboxing to MCing. “Black Walt Street (The New Breed)” dabbles with hyphy a bit reminiscing of his middle school days when he took on the original moniker Black Walt, but then “Excited” cheerfully talks about making his days the brightest.

Wrapping up the first leg, “The Nice One” cloudily remembers when the “white ones” used to come up to his locker telling him what people have said regarding him while “The Punishment (Lockdown)” paints a picture of a formative childhood memory backed by some thick bass & organic percussion. The chipmunk soul-based “What I Do” recalls beginning to steal during his freshman year of high school & after the “Reign Call” skit, “No Rub” takes it back to a hyphy vibe suggesting he should’ve smashed raw.

“Fish Captain” remembers when his stepfather gave him a summer gig because of the kids he was rolling with at the time of his adolescence while “Sacrifice” featuring Strange Music signee Jehry Robinson acoustically admits to working on their craft instead of what regular kids did. After the “Bella Call” skit, “Livin’ in the Sky” brings a trap flare back refusing to write sad songs for those in his life who’ve passed on & can’t be with us today.

After the “Call with 2 Year Old Alina” skit, “This I Know” blends bright piano blinks beneath triumphant horns along with a loose bluesy guitar & a soul sample reaching back into his earliest memories to make a big screen-worthy image of his formative years prior to the closer “J6’s” finishing up talking about not knowing his life would change at some point when life deals you bad hands lot of times & avoiding these issues by coming up with a plan.

Maybe the most I’ve enjoyed a Tech album since N9na, it’s such a deeply personal & sonically ambitious LP that marks a significant chapter in a legendary career for the indie titan. 5816 Forest reminisces on legacy, loyalty & the roots of independence in hip hop revisiting the foundational moments that shaped him & Strange Music resulting in a raw, reflective body of work that combines hard-hitting lyricism with moments of vulnerability, grit & growth.

Score: 4.5/5

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3200 Tre – “Spin the Block” review

This is the 13th EP from Lansing, Michigan rapper 3200 Tre. Introducing himself on wax during the fall of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic had completely shut the world down, he has since built up his last dozen EPs along with the full-length debut Michigan Music & of course the sophomore effort 30ville all during the first half of this ongoing decade. Signing to Rio da Yung O.G.’s very own EMPIRE Distribution imprint M.I.N.E. Entertainment last summer however, Tre’s ready to Spin the Block only a couple months since 30ville.

“Mindset” hooks up a piano-based Detroit trap instrumental referencing the Warner Bros.-owned Mortal Kombat franchise & talking about becoming his niece’s backup after her dad was tragically taken too soon whereas “No Attention” expresses his love for bustin’ bricks to serve crackheads. “1 Man Army” blends these keys & 808s together talking about the off topic shit he says being sidebars until “Sound of Love” flips some strings to detail his love for hearing CashApp notifications.

The song “Mix It Up” incorporates a Detroit trap beat with prominent bass & pianos occasional talking about his preference of standing on shit because he’s a grown ass man while “Bigger Goals” discusses the importance of making his kids rich because of his heart being broken as it already is. “Navy Seal” ends the EP by hopping over a bell-woven Detroit trap instrumental talking about liking fiends because they helped him change is life.

Not even a month after his latest album, 3200 Tre continues this personal comeback he’s been on since January with what could possibly be my favorite of the 4 projects he’s done since Rio made him a part of the M.I.N.E roster & serving as another example of why he’s one of the hardest working artists in the city today. He’s carrying the verses by himself rather than having a few guests with him, which I’m fine with since it makes more room for him to get wittier with the pen than he has previously.

Score: 3.5/5

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Benson Boone – “American Heart” review

Benson Boone is a 22 year old singer/songwriter from Monroe, Washington garnering the attention of Warner Records following “Ghost Town” going viral. Introducing herself to a wider audience off both her EPs Walk Me Home… & Pulse, his inaugural full-length Fireworks & Rollerbladesmarked a poorly received debut in terms of the pop rock style & his follow-up here has been generating a lot of attention from critics & fans so much that I had to give it a listen to hear what made it so appealing.

“Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else” was a mediocre pop rock single to start my off with further showing influences of big music & new wave addressing a former lover whereas “Mr. Electric Blue” sings about his father disrespecting the progressive pop rock band Electric Light Orchestra, who influenced a personal favorite artist of mine in KiD CuDi. “Man in Me” overloads this synth-heavy breakup letter with so much melodrama where it gets annoying after a short & “Mystical Magical” easily sticks out amongst the absolute worst songs I’ve heard all year making the late Olivia Newton-John roll in her grave.

Reaching the halfway point of this torturous listening experience, “Reminds Me of You” makes me miss Bruno Mars in light of 24K Magic turning 10 next fall & of course the Silk Sonic album An Evening with Silk Sonic. “Momma Song” was a disappointingly tiring adult contemporary single dedicated to his mother doing piano & symphonic rock little to no favors leading into “I Wanna Be the One You Call” redundantly exemplifying why it should’ve been on the cutting room floor & Malay’s involvement disappoints because of his production on the best alternative R&B album of all-time in Frank Ocean’s sophomore effort blond right above The Weeknd’s mixtape trilogy.

“Wanted Man” feels like him taking a giant shit on glam rock which the late David Bowie defined with his 1972 magnum opus The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars followed by “Take Me Home” homaging the EP that broke him out as a star except it underwhelmingly asks to be kissed like the old days. “Young American Heart” finally finishes this shitty album with him & recalling a time where he & his best friend felt limitless & indestructible.

Said to be inspired by heartland rock pioneer Bruce Springsteen & the Americana subgenre of country music, Benson Boone’s sophomore effort feels utterly commercialized to the point where you’d hear it in a dressing room of a store like Kohl’s instead of a generational attempt of solidifying himself as a successor to pop rock alongside adult contemporary & new wave doing the bare minimum of justice to every individual who’s brought out the good of all those styles making them what they are now.

Score: 1/5

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Dro Kenji – “The End of Nothing” review

Dro Kenji is a 22 year old rapper, singer/songwriter & producer from Summerville, South Carolina signing to both Internet Money Records & 10K Projects not even 365 days after he began making music. He has since put out 7 full-length studio LPs along with an EP & a mixtape, the latter of which being his most recent body of work coinciding with Valentine’s Day departing from the emo pop rap style he’s known for in favor of rage. 4 months later, he’s preluding his 8th album with his 2nd EP & the 2nd body of work from him in 2025.

“Pinnochio” kicks off The End of Nothing with a moody pop rap/trap intro wanting his bae at 2am & telling her how much she inspires him whereas “Tylenol” moodily talks about his drug addiction helping him. “Way Back in August” works in some acoustics from Census, Nico Baran & Niketaz asking why he & his ex keep crossing paths when his life’s goin’ the hardest while the woozy “Rude Girl” finds himself obsessed with that exact type of woman. Lastly, the acoustic trap closer “Unstoppable” caps off the EP by telling an ex who constantly lies to get away from him.

The stylistic departure of Love Kills left a handful of Dro Kenji’s fans divided on it but thankfully if you’re one of those people who missed hearing him over the emo rap sound he came up off of mixed with pop rap & trap, you’re most likely gonna come away from The End of Nothing looking at it is the most enjoyable thing he’s done since Wish You Were Here & it may even raise your expectations for his next album. Even if that tape was a passable experimentation from my perspective, it’s always great to hear artists get back to the basics of what got them this far in the game & he does it with ease.

Score: 3.5/5

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Bukshot – “Antagonist” review

Louisville, Kentucky emcee & Mobstyle Music founder Bukshot subtly dropping his 10th studio LP. From his lengthy solo discography to the groups & duos that’s formed with some of the biggest names that the underground has to offer, there’s no question that dude’s been putting it down for the culture for a grip at this point. Double Dragon had reunited a couple months ago for their sophomore effort Big Trouble with Double Dragon heavily inspired by the movie Big Trouble in Little China & is finally releasing Antagonist exactly 6 months to the day as Boondox’ most recent EP Black Winter.

After the “Villadictorian” intro, the first song “Bad Guy” produced by none other than MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 opens with a trap beat talking about being a villain whereas “I Was There” featuring Ill Bill goes for boom bap vibe to discuss never being afraid of the outcome & buckin’ at opps at every opportunity. “No More Fight” keeps it in the basement instrumentally finding his mind drifting further as time goes on leading into “Martyrs” bringing a doomsday atmosphere talking about handling business.

“All I See is Red” featuring Str8jaket likens themselves to the inaugural IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer & Real American Beer founder Hulk Hogan alongside fellow WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff in light of their new promotion Real American Freestyle (RAF) Wrestling holding it’s first show in a couple months just before “Darkest Night” dastardly talks about wanting to see the sun rise.

Jamie Madrox joins Buk on the cavernous trap single “Tear It Off” to talk about being in a standoff & burning the whole place down because their enemies don’t wanna stand tall while “My Woods, My Rules” after the “Hanzel & Gredel” skit morbidly portrays himself as a serial killer riding in a cabin in the forests. “Turbulence” featuring the Lune Squad & Str8jaket unites the quartet over some hellish background vocals talking about being living nightmares while “Chess” checkmates every last one of these heretics.

“Heel Song” after the titular skit references former 3-time CWA Tag Team Champion, WCW World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 10-time WWE tag team champion, 2-time WCW World Television Champion, 2-time IWGPタッグチャンピオン & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Scott Steiner while “Clocks” featuring Jarren Benton & Stevie Stone asks why everyone’s so foul. “Walk in My Shoes” promises to raise Hell whether he wins or loses while “Proceed with Caution” talks about doing God’s work.

Rittz appears for “Deserted” feeling like they don’t deserve to be left behind yet it’s worth it because they both live beautiful lives while “Bottom Feeders” talks about upgrading his hustle. “Dramacyde” completely dismantles all these so called influencers that we come across all over social media while “Rule My World” featuring Apathy talks about concocting ways of conquering the globe.

“Lovely” faces the concept of self-remorse head-on while “Get It Done” featuring Joey Cool explains that it doesn’t matter how you do your job as long as everything’s completed somehow someway. “Merciless” admits that he’s been in a weird mental place as of late showing absolutely no mercy & after the “Magnum Opus” skit, “Are You Still Down?” talks about people being there for you 1 day & gone the next.

Meanwhile on “Slaughterous” featuring Timbo, we have the father-son duo getting together to unload a full clip at everyone who be spewing bullshit regarding them while “It Ain’t the Same” talks about holding on to memories of a person who isn’t here with him anymore. “Pressure” suggests to shake yesterday off like a bad habit since we’re living for today while “Enough” talks about our families needing us now more than ever.

“Man Down” featuring Chris Webby & Slaine advises to stand your ground instead of running since people will stab you in the back if you’re not watching it while “Wide Awake” talks about being unable to sleep as a result of the thoughts racing through his head. “Loyalty” colorfully explains what allegiance means to him while “Free” featuring Matt Phoenix talks about never letting anyone else steal your shine.

After the “Say Bye to the Bad Guy” interlude, the penultimate track “Summer Vibes” featuring Str8jaket & Wrekonize nears the end of Antagonist with a ballad that thematically revolves around them getting fucked up during the warmest time of the year while “Nuisance” by The Horde featuring 9 Millz by grittily talking about refusing to fuck with any & all dimwits.

For a triple disc offering Antagonist has gotta be the the most I’ve enjoyed a Bukshot solo project in a while. Maybe even surpassing Weirdo as my new favorite of his. 7’s production on this one balances boom bap & trap as opposed to his recent output with Buk focusing more on the latter subgenre with the Mobstyle founder showing a villainous side to himself.

Score: 4.5/5

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