Here we have the 4th EP from Detroit, Michigan rapper WTM Miles. A member of the WRLD Tour Mafia, he would properly introduce himself at the beginning of this current decade off his first couple EPs I Shoulda Been Dropped & Trapped n L.A. ahead of the full-length debut studio album Crackhouse Mafia. Miles’ previous EP Cross State Lines celebrated its 1-year anniversary this fall & is preluding the upcoming Shortstop mixtape by dropping off some Road Music.
“Shandeur Sanders” is this stellar Detroit trap opener produced by Niketech boasting that he got more bags than Michael Kors whereas “Cup Dirty” puts a morbid flare to the Motor City’s unique take on trap music talking about a woman letting him know she’s worthless by looking for a come-up. “Future Bright” has a dark Detroit trap atmospheric remaining optimistic regarding his future while “Bad Habits” featuring Homealone Drock trades the mic back-&-forth over a Carlo Anthony instrumental. “Racing to Ms” ends with a 1 more Detroit trap joint talking about being on track when it comes to getting closer making millions.
I can only assume that we’re gonna get Shortstop at some point following R.A.F.A. (Rockstars Are Fuckin’ Awesome) in a few weeks until we get to crossing that bridge, Road Music will hold off fans well enough. The production primarily bases itself around the Detroit trap sound that the group he’s a part of made a name for themselves off & giving a taste of what’s to come in the form of a gift before the year ends.
Dirtcore Music is an independent record label based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan founded by local rapper, singer/songwriter & producer Crossworm. The sole artist officially signed for its first 2 decades of existence until bringing Samson Samson whom he formed Bodies Below Sea Level with, Madd Maxxx, Mumm Ra, Sleep Lyrical, J Reno whom he formed Misery Coast with & Grounds all on board. Others such as Gavyn Gunn & Oblivia have spent a brief amount of time signed to Dirtcore with Gavyn’s debut EP Malevolent being a great start to his ongoing trilogy & the rest of the current roster dropping off a showcase compilation on Christmas.
“You Can Get It” by Grounds, Mumm Ra, Samson Samson & Sleep Lyrical produced by Crossworm follows the “Good Evening” intro fusing electronic & trap to -leave enemies toe-tagged whereas “Burn It All Down” by Bodies Below Sea Level industrially finds themselves in a pyromanic type of mood. “The Split” by Misery Coast & Sleep Lyrical meshes these acoustics & hi-hats to talk about this being their life’s work prior to “Kill Em All” by Madd Maxxx & Misery Coast spitting the wicked shit over a trap instrumental.
Madd Maxxx gets his own solo cut with “Zatoichi” aggressively promising to take you out over a cold blooded aboom bap instrumental from J Reno leading into the cutthroat “Landmine” by Madd Maxxx & Misery Coast talking about rollin’ with villains & henchmen. “Keep You Safe” by Grounds, Madd Maxxx & Sleep Lyrical aesthetically somewhat reminds me of 1,000 Suns/Living Things era LINKIN PARK just before “Wear Them Kicks” by Madd Maxxx after an interlude from Dirtcore’s label manager Bando suggests to slide by him if you wanna try him.
“Heavy Babies Weigh Too Much” by Grounds teases his upcoming EP Walking into Tragedy this spring with a self-produced alternative rock track that breaks down during the 2nd half of it but once “Ill” by Madd Maxxx & Samson Samson gets back in their wicked bags decimating a boom bap instrumental, Bodies Below Sea Level goes into “Killmode” for the final song on the comp with the occasional guitars reminding me of “My Last Breath” by Evanescence serving as the entrance theme of former 2-time AEW TNT Champion, AEW World Trios Champion, 2-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, TNA World Champion, 6-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, 9-time WWE tag team champion & The Patriarchy leader Christian Cage.
Making my holiday season a little better, all 8 artists get together to end what’s been an outstanding year for music by compiling a collection of songs that’ll get the average listener unfamiliar with Dirtcore familiarized with who everyone is from an artistic standpoint & a little bit as people. The production from the trio of in-house producers displays the Grand Rapids imprint’s prominently underground wicked shit sound & expanding beyond it for industrial music, rock music, boom bap, electronic rock & trap signaling that everything they’ve done these past few years was only the beginning.
Newark, New Jersey veteran Redman returning after a decade for his 9th full-length studio LP as a Christmas Eve miracle. A member of the Hit Squad, he later signed to Def Jam Recordings & saw success during the 90s & 2000s as a solo artist & later with Method Man as a duo after his first 3 albums Whut¿: Thee Album alongside Dare iz a Darkside & Muddy Waters cemented his icon status. The latter turned 28 a couple weeks ago & is returning after almost a decade for Muddy Waters 2.
After the “Welcome” intro, the first song “Da Fuck Goin’ On?” kicks the door down with a 77 second self-produced hardcore hip hop joint gettin’ on his grind whereas “Whut’s Hot” goes for a bit of a rap rock vibe instrumentally courtesy of Khrysis talkin’ about not being told what’s poppin’ & what isn’t. “Jersey” produced by Rockwilder goes for a soulful vibe representing his turf & after the “Fat Shirley” skit, “Lalala” by Method Man & Redman moves forward with a fun look at their back-&-forth chemistry although I prefer the DJ Premier remix.
“Don’t You Miss” reflects on the old days since he’s a 90s boy who never gives up & giving everyone exactly what they pay reuniting with his mentor Erick Sermon behind the boards for leading into “Ignant” talking about the fact that there ain’t nobody else around his city like him bringing his classic ignorance using the same sample as “Tearz” by the Wu-Tang Clan. After the “Uncle Quilly” skit, “Aye” takes it to the streets over a funky ass beat while “Hoodstar” brings a disco flare to the table talking about being well known in the streets.
The lead single “Don’t Wanna C Me Rich” samples “Luck of Lucien” by A Tribe Called Quest letting everyone know that he’s been doing alright for the past 9 years just before “I’m on Dat Bullshit” dabbles with trap a bit thanks to Hallway Productionz talking about those runnin’ their mouths behind his back & to get a life. After “Da Trunk” skit, “Pop da Trunk” hooks up some synthesizers & handclaps showing off his mob ties while “Gheddo Motivation” goes trap again to provide street gospel.
“Dynomite” featuring Sheek Louch finds the pair linking up reminding everyone that both of them be movin’ while “Wave” takes a minute & half to discuss being all about real shit & shrugging off anyone who tries to be all up in his business. After the “My Weed’s Been Taken” skit, “Kush” featuring WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg brings the synths back in the fold for a stoner’s ballad while “Booyaka Shot” aggressively talks about fuckboys never winning & that the G’s stay up.
Ke Turner joins Funk Doc on the Mike & Keys laced “Goofy” so they can poke fun at all the weird muhfuckas out here these days & after the “Obama Stick Up” skit, “1:00” ruggedly let’s y’all know the way shit’s going down from the cannabis king’s side of things. “Lite It Up” strips the drums for a star-studded New Jersey posse cut featuring El Da Sensei, Hakim Green, Heather B, Lady Luck, the Lords of the Underground, Naughty by Nature, Nikki D, Queen Latifah, Rah Digga & 4-time NBA Champion Shaquille O’Neal sampling “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang while “Wudeytauknbout” playfully talks about having a look at all his haters.
“Why U Mad?” featuring Mr. Cream & Runt Dawg sees the trio wanting to know the exact reason for everyone walking around so pissed over a Rick Rock instrumental & after the “Soopaman Luva 7” skit, we are treated to the 7th installment of Reggie’s beloved series of tracks split into 2-parts. “Looka Here” featuring KRS-One nears the conclusion of Muddy Waters 2 with both of them assuring that everything’s in order & “Smoke wit Me” ends by addressing his legend status.
Funk Doctor Spock’s been teasing this for so long to the point where people were calling it the east coast’s answer to Dr. Dre’s mythical Detox album & now that we finally got it after 15 years, it’s his most consistent body of work since Red Gone Wild: Thee Album roughly 18 years ago this spring. I find it to be more well-produced than the commercial Reggie & Mudface were in addition to the Brick City Masher making a returning to form to the humorous hardcore approach he’s known for.
St. Louis singer/songwriter SZA finally releasing her 3rd studio LP. Breaking out over a decade ago in the alternative R&B scene off the strength of her first 2 EPs SEE·SZA·RUN & S, she would eventually sign to Top Dawg Entertainment in the summer of 2013 & has since made herself home with the west coast label by putting out her 3rd EP Z alongside the RCA Records distributed full-length debut CTRL. Her sophomore effort S.O.S. went more contemporary & is celebrating it’s 2-year anniversary with Lana.
“No More Hiding” produced by Michael Uzowuru is this drumless, acoustic R&B opener singing about having to build everything twice over whereas “What Do I Do” takes the moody trap soul route instrumentally thanks to benny blanco & Cashmere Cat telling her ex that called her on accident that it’s too late & their relationship won’t be the same ever again. “30 for 30” featuring Super Bowl LVI & Super Bowl LIX halftime show performer Kendrick Lamar samples “Throw Some D’s” by Rich Boy saying “fuck you” to the haters if they’re saying it first while “Diamond Boy (DTM)” strips the drums again to sing about being addicted to her new man.
Meanwhile on “BMF”, we have SZA coming through with some summertime vibes describing a young & handsome man from southwest Detroit who happens to be fly & bossy just before the atmospheric “Scorsese Baby Daddy” admits to hating being the one that’s doing the most & being addicted to the drama. “Love Me 4 Me” slickly sings about romanticize the scariest things & asking her new partner if they love her for herself, but then “Chill Baby” gives off a moody boom bap approach courtesy of Cade & Lil Yachty finding a bitter piece.
“My Turn” brings a trap soul flare back to the table giving her partner his turn to do the hurtin’ because she deserves it & still digs him even if life ain’t fair at all while “Crybaby” lusciously addresses the public’s perception of her being overly sensitive & emotionally vulnerable. “Kitchen” has some cool psychedelic guitar licks throughout breaking down the difficulty of doing the right thing sometimes & after the “Got Behind Me” interlude, “Drive” returns to a drumless edge singing about driving in the middle of the night.
Reaching the final moments of Lana, “Another Life” hooks up some synthesizers knowing that she & her partner could ride down asking him if he would still love her in an alternate reality wanting to be by his side & the lead single “Saturn” finishes the S.O.S. follow-up that’s been in the making ever since the predecessor initially came out a couple winters ago blending neo-soul, alternative R&B trip hop, psychedelic pop & psychedelic soul explaining her confusion of this world.
Don Toliver joins SZA on the contemporary/psychedelic folk-inspired “Joni” to start the deluxe run of Lana sampling “Angeles” by Elliott Smith written from the perspective of Joni Mitchell while “Take You Down” asks her lover if he you mean all the shit he said the other day & if he was just talkin’ or tryna swing her way. The final bonus track “PSA” takes it back to her alternative R&B roots singing that she doesn’t want anyone calling her anything other than #1.
Hitting a healthier mental state than when she recorded her past 2 albums, Lana only a month after her upcoming Grand National Tour co-headliner Kendrick surprise-dropped GNX feels more ready to move on & let go as opposed to being overly burdened by past hurt. Finding solace in meditation & yoga, her growing sense of inner peace reflected on the most personal body of work that the generational talent of an alternative R&B singer has ever crafted giving the world a look at where stands presently expanding on S.O.S.’ contemporary sound in favor of trap soul, neo-soul, alternative R&B, bedroom pop, contemporary folk & psychedelic folk.
This is the 18th studio LP from San Diego, California chopper as well as horrorcore veteran & Brainsick Muzik founder Twisted Insane. Writing his first rhyme at the age of 12, he would go on to put out 5 mixtapes & a couple full-lengths until he was featured on the Tech N9ne single “Worldwide Choppers”. The Root of All Evil & The Insane Asylum further elevated his status in the underground, maintaining a consistent schedule since dropping 13 more albums in the process. Halfway Gone a couple months ago wound up becoming the most personal entry in his discography & has surprise-dropped a Napalm.
After the “Initiation High” intro, the first song “The Concoction” starts by hopping over a ghoulish trap instrumental showing off his chopper skills for almost 4 minutes & wanting everyone to quit the tough guy act whereas “Fear” works in some prominent bells mixed with hi-hats spittin’ like 2Pac ahead of his recent cancer diagnosis. “Please” goes for an atmosphere of vibe to the beat talking about missing him with that bullshit leading into “Up” flexing Brainsick’s rise in popularity.
“Do Somethin’” embraces a Memphis sound so he can fight to the death just before “Yeet” brings a slower trap flare to the table talking about blood being on his chucks & the heater showing no peace whatsoever. The title track brings the bells back in the equation wanting everyone to watch out for the shooter comparing his raps to the incendiary mixture of a gelling agent & a volatile petrochemical, but then “Lift” morbidly talks about the time to go beast being now.
After the “Cat Got Ya Tongue” skit, “No Peace” begins Napalm’s final leg speeding up his flows naturally again hoping to strike the frontlines one day & cops only sticking their guns in his face while “Sicks Feet Deep” gets in his horrorcore bag talking about catching bodies. “Body in the Trunk” continues to display Twisted Insane’s murderous tendencies leaving corpses in the back of his car & “When I Come” rounds it out shrugs off anyone who’s faster than him by assuring they’re not on his level lyrically.
Coming off the deepest & darkest body of work that he’s ever made, Napalm makes a statement that the Brainsick Muzik founder refuses to stay complacent revealing the next level of work ethic & music in light of opening set at the 6th annual Nightmare Before X-Mas show at Catch 1 tomorrow. The overall sound is prominently trap heavy a lot like the San Diego lyricist’s recent output has been except rather than continuing the personal concept of Halfway Gone, he’s letting off rapid fire bars around the gangsta lifestyle & occasional themes of horror.
California emcee Wildcard linking up with C-Lance for his 8th studio LP. Coming up in 2007 off the debut Dark Night of the Soul, he would go on to build up an impressive discography for himself from there whether it be The Odyssey & The War or even his last couple efforts Shadow Work & Change in Cabin Pressure. Last summer’s Western Promises resulted in one of his finest albums of his entire career yet & is now looking to up the ante by dropping The Zodiac Project.
“Aries World” opens up with a horn-heavy boom bap instrumental referring to a bunch of rats on meth as being Disney on Ice while “Taurus Jacket” maintains the sonic vibes of the predecessor talking about what he spent his 1st rap check on. “The Gemini Dance” featuring Kail Problems fuses rock & trap discussing themes of romance just before “Cancer Circle” featuring BARZ! finds the 2 talking about pushing until the wheels fall.
Apathy joins Wildcard for “Leo Lounge” returning to the boom bap promising that everyone’s getting clapped as if it’s gonorrhea leading into the soulful “Virgo Lane” apologizing for causing pain when he was selfish to the core. “Libra Season” featuring Dead Poet Devil hooks up a gospel sample to talk about going through it all while “The Scorpio Element” goes rap rock acknowledging that the hardest thing for him to do is change.
“Sagittarius Soul” has these prominent organs mixed with kicks & snares for a dedication to his mother while “The Capricorn Game” featuring A-Wax finds the 2 linking up & talking about their trigger fingers getting cold. “Aquarius Blue” shifts gears back in trap territory encouraging to drown out the voices in your head, but then “A Pisces Tomorrow” featuring Endr Won introspectively wants those who’re not in their lives anymore that they love them if they were here.
Pizzo comes into the picture on the song “Summer Snow” dropping hardcore lyricism on top of this crooning boom bap instrumental while “Brutal Blue” featuring B-Guy Griffin blends some hi-hats with melodic background vocals talking about the wild & lawless lifestyles that they live. “All Above the Above” ends The Zodiac Project with 1 more soulful boom bap joint pouring heart in his music only providing y’all with his side of the story.
C-Lance has become one of the best underground producers within the last 15 years & for anyone who loves the tracks that he’s done with Wildcard up to this point, you’re gonna love The Zodiac Project equally if not a tad bit more than the Western Promises he made almost a year & a half ago. The concept if you couldn’t tell is built around the zodiac signs & C-Lance’s diverse production carries over the consistency of the predecessor.
Covington, Georgia emcee Boondox releasing his 7th EP. Coming up as 1/3 of the trio Southern Hustlas Inc. under the moniker Turncoat Dirty, he would go on to sign with Psychopathic Records in 2005 following the release of his debut EP Dama Blanca & remained under the Insane Clown Posse’s wing for about a decade putting out his first 4 albums along with his 2nd EP PunkinHed through the Detroit label that runs beneath the streets. “Sippin’” off his debut The Harvest is also the entrance theme for former 5-time JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion & JCW Hall of Famer 2 Tuff Tony if you watch JCW Lunacy. Former labelmates Twiztid later brought the Killer Scarecrow on board over at Majik Ninja Entertainment in the winter of 2016, whom he’s still signed to today. So Much Blood a couple years ago marked his return to the wicked shit & is now returning for a Black Winter.
After the titular intro, the first song “Punisher” produced by MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 is this dark trap intro likening himself to the titular Marvel antihero whereas “2 Wrongs Make a Right” embraces a rap rock vibe instrumentally warning that you don’t really want it with him. “Intermission” keeps the guitars in tact feeling like he won’t be forgiven because of the life of sin he lives while “War Journal” chaotically gets ready for a massacre.
“Vigilante” gets back on the trap metal tip again to talk about the season of killin’ shit coming as well as never being the same & undertaking in public safety or retributive justice without commission, but then “Vae Victis” suggests that everyone pulls the curtain down to see for themselves that everything really ain’t what it seems making sure they know who he is in the midst of giving everyone else the 3rd degree.
Both of the previous EPs that Boondox had put out through Mobstyle Music in tandem with MNE under his original Turncoat Dirty stage name has shown how much the persona has grown artistically in the past 2 decades & Black Winter reaffirms that. 7’s production is mainly trap-based with some trap metal undertones sprinkled in & Boondox’ lyricism tends to be more hardcore as opposed to the gangsta-concept of Cryptodirt over 3 years ago.
Memphis, Tennessee emcee Frayser Boy ringing in the holidays with his 4th EP. A member of the Hypnotize Camp Posse, his first 3 albums under Hypnotize Minds Productions produced by his mentors DJ Paul & Juicy J would solidify himself as one of the label’s biggest acts ever as did the B.A.R. (Bay Area Representatives) collab effort with fellow Hypnotize Minds alumni Lil Wyte a decade ago already. Coming off the Bay Day trilogy of EPs however, Bizzle’s got Christmas Trees for everyone.
“Bah Humbud” is this choir-trap opener about smoking weed whereas the title track takes the Memphis route instrumentally telling us how he spending Christmas Eve gettin’ stoned. “Fly Away” gives off a dirty south vibe altogether talking about wanting to take a flight while “Let Me Smoke” returns to a trap direction inhalin’ & exhalin’. “High” featuring T-Rock formerly of the Prophet Posse ends with them flexing that you’re now smoking with the best.
Frayser for me has always stood out within the Hypnotize Camp Posse & I still hold his first 3 LPs in high regards when it comes to his discography. That said: Christmas Trees as a stoner myself is a fun holiday themed stoner’s EP to smoke to during the holiday season heavily basing it’s theme off puffin’ that good good in the middle of winter on top of production built around trap, the Memphis scene that made him who he is or even a hint of dirty south thrown in.
This is the 18th EP from Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino. Blowing up in 2017 off his self-titled EPwith 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 proved to be a well received Black Soprano Family Records debut becoming 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 memory. 6 months after having Real Bad Man produce The Game is the Game followed by Ill Tone recently producing Built for Cuban Links named after Raekwon’s iconic solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…produced by RZA, Meech started the final quarter of the year flexing his Millionaire status & is ending it with a look at a Full Moon.
“Who Braggin’?” awkwardly kicks things off by impersonating Future for whatever reason while “Legal Money” takes the atmospheric trap route instrumentally doing shit that no one else can compared to him. “Forever” works in some background vocals & hi-hats talking about being too valuable whereas “Real” featuring Duckman vibrantly flexes that they’re still clappin’ out here. “Dat’s My Bae” feels like another Future-inspired song & so does “Back Ballin’” except it’s more playful. “Everything He Knows” lavishly ends with promising that he’ll do this shit for life.
Not trying to make it to sound like that I’m hating on the guy because I’ve been listening to Elcamino ever since he first signed to Griselda almost 8 years ago & have given him his praise in the dozen of projects I’ve reviewed him in the past, but I’m kinda torn on this EP personally. He can very much sing as well as he can rap on trap production like he can on traditional east coast sounds, it’s that the heavy-Future influences can be a little off-putting to me.
Maywood, California up-&-comer Peysoh dropping off a brand new EP with only 11 days left in 2024. Introducing himself 4 years ago already with the debut single “6 Block”, he would later sign to EMPIRE Distribution for his full-length debut Ghetto Journal at the beginning of 2022 in addition to a sophomore effort Get Rich or Life Sliding the next summer. He recently landed guest verses on Berner’s 16th album Hoffa & of course the title track of Kendrick Lamar’s 6th album GNX a month ago, preluding next album by declaring Peysoh Did It.
“Ain’t as Evil as Me” is this Mobb-influenced open or talking about how nobody out here is more evil than he is whereas “Not Me” eerily works in some pianos getting on the gangsta rap tip lyrically. “Lucky 7” embraces the Detroit trap vibes talking about his nickname & getting away with some shit while “What’s Beef?” puts a modern west coast trap twist on a homage to the iconic Biggie track. “Let ‘Em Run” goes Mobb for the final moments asking the city to tell you who be poppin’ shit.
Similarly to the new YoungThreat mixtape that came out earlier today It Gets Greater Later, we have another artist who was featured on Dot’s surprise LP coming through with a body of work that lands a step above Siete7x’s recent tape Stucc in the Hole in terms of quality. All 3 artists can very much rap, but the latter tape had too many features & the other 2 artists didn’t have to bring any in whatsoever.
Legends Will Never Die 