Lil Tecca – “Tec” review

This is the sophomore full-length album from New York rapper, singer/songwriter, producer & Galactic Records founder Lil Tecca. Blowing up in 2018 after signing a distribution deal with Republic Records & the viral single “Ran$om”, it would later be included on his debut mixtape We Love You Tecca that same year & would receive lukewarm reception although it’s truthfully grown on me a tad bit over the course of time. His debut LP Virgo World was released during the pandemic & is widely considered to be the weakest entry in his discography. The last time we heard from Tecca was a couple summers ago when Internet Money Records founder Taz Taylor executive produced a worthy sequel to We Love You Tecca & is looking to give a listeners a closer at Tec.

“Yves” is a cloudy trap opener produced by BNYX of Working on Dying asking the the fuck is you on & that his shawty knows he’s a Don whereas “H.O.E. (HVN ON EARTH)” featuring Kodak Black works in a cloudy pop rap atmosphere talking about the women in their lives behind Heaven to them. “Gist” goes into plugg territory a bit courtesy of Rio Leyva & Taz Taylor feeling like they tried to stab him in the back when all he did was count the bread, but then “500lbs” blends some synths & hi-hats talking about not trusting a single thing he’s told.

On the other hand, “Fell in Love” featuring Ken Carson finds the 2 getting boastful over some rage beats just before the title track talks about regretting but not receiving accompanied by cloudier instrumental from Taz. “Salty” has a spacey, orchestral trap quality to it that Dynox provides with Nick Mira as well as Rio & once again Taz ballin’ regardless leading into the summery “Real Discussions” looks to never take this shit for nothing.

“Dead or Alive” shows off his wealth & looks back on his upbringings over a glossy instrumental while the dancehall-inspired “Want It Bad” is soured by mediocre romance-inspired subject matter. “U Don’t Know Tec” gives off a moodier vibe dissing those try to associate themselves when it only benefits them while “Used2This” talks about switchin’ hoes like switchin’ the channel over an incredibly colorful ass beat.

To start the final leg of the LP, the piano-driven “Trippin’ on U” admits he can’t change this bitch & is unwilling to do so while “Either Way” promises to never switch sides with a somewhat afrobeats inspired sound. The penultimate track “Need Me” returns to a trillwave groove keeping his day going & “Monday to Sunday” concludes Tecca’s sophomore effort by doing this shit early every day over synths as well as hi-hats from Noah Mejia.

I’m going to have to take back my previous statement when Virgo World dropped that this guy was a 1-hit wonder because as I mentioned: We Love You Tecca has grown on me with time & the sequel was cool. That being said: Tec beat the sophomore slump allegations on here because I can truly say it’s the best full-length LP to date. The production compared to the debut 3 years before is more consistent & Tecca profoundly shows us how much he’s grown up.

Score: 3.5/5

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ShittyBoyz – “TRIF3CTA: The Finale” review

This is the 4th full-length album from Detroit trap trio the ShittyBoyz. Consisting of BabyTron alongside Stanwill & TR Dee, they emerged off their debut mixtape 3-Peat under Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records in the summer of 2019 taking the motor city by storm & following it up with another tape & 2 full-lengths with the last ones being Trifecta as well as the the sequel last summer shortly after BabyTron performed at the Gathering of Dreams with his father Mr. Sadistic of former Psychopathic Records rap metal outfit Motown Rage. Over a year later, the Boyz are now looking to close out the trilogy by completing the TRIF3CTA with a finale.

“Perfect 3” starts it all off with some flutes & hi-hats talking about how they really are an immaculate trio together whereas “Boomshakalaka” works in some horns tossing the mic back & forth with each other boasting that they’re the ones. “Triumphs & Trophies” is a 2-minute bell/trap crossover encouraging to let them get the drop, but then “Tronald & Stanley” if you couldn’t tell by the name finds the Dookie Brothers jumping over pianos for a minute & a half saying you can’t see them like 16-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena.

Meanwhile, “50 Boyz” gives off a straight forward Detroit trap sound talking about how they be with the fuckery leading into “Fun & Games” gets on their hi-NRG shit betting the’ll put ‘em in the ground if it’s beef for that cheese. “Forever Lit” has a more suspenseful atmosphere declaring that they’ll always be up just before “Fly Life” beautifully kicks the hi-NRG back up going into detail of the fly shit they be doing.

“Mosh Pit” references former 14-time WWE world champion, WWE Hall of Famer, 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 3-time WWE tag team champion & WWE’s current CCO Triple H while “Duck! Duck! Goose!” aggressively cautions not to flex on them because they’ll embarrass you in the process. The synth-laced yet Bay Area inspired “Mood Switch” that Jakesand cooked up points out that they’re still undefeated while “Ball Players” gives off a piano-driven trap vibe chockfull of basketball players wordplay including a bar about Point Grey Pictures founder Seth Rogen, who plays Allen on Invincible.

Moving on from there, “Tip Off” makes me feel like blasting this in the middle of driving downtown making it no secret that they’ve been waiting just to ball while the cloudy “WrestleMania” named after the WME Group-owned TKO Group Holdings division WWE’s marquee event makes it clear that they ain’t even gonna fight. “Game 7” gets on their back & forth shit for a minute a half over a rowdy beat calling out those in the club who ain’t throwing shit while “Juggernaut” brings back the synthesizers contemplating if this shit for them on the beach as they dancing.

“Sh!tty Pack” featuring BFB da Packman goes into a more sample-based trap direction even though BFB doesn’t do it for me not wasting bullets on their asses while “On Fire” hooks up a shimmery backdrop with hi-hats having more stripes than a referee. “Wembanyama” blends these strings, bass licks letting it be known his cousin in a suit after saying the wrong shit until “Danny & Jake” featuring GrindHard E & YSR Gramz ends the album with the latter 2 getting washed in a 3 minute cypher.

This whole trilogy has been some of the ShittyBoyz’ best material & they went on a pretty fun note to complete the TRIF3CTA. Wasn’t too big on the features personally, but the Detroit trap production never fails to interest me as do the charismatic chemistry that the trio have always had. Here’s to the next chapter of the biggest group that the local trap scene has to offer today.

Score: 3.5/5

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EARTHGANG – “EARTHGANG vs. the Algorithm: R.I.P. Human Art” review

The EARTHGANG are a duo from Atlanta, Georgia consisting of Olu & WowGr8. Starting out a little over a decade ago dropping 3 mixtapes along with 2 albums & an EP independently, this resulted in J. Cole signing them to his Interscope Records imprint Dreamville Records in 2017. This resulted in a trilogy of EPs leading up to their major label debut Mirrorland, which revealed themselves to be one of the best artists that the label has to offer. They went on to give their Spillage Village collective some shine by dropping their 4th album Spilligion on Dreamville the next year & Ghetto Gods further cemented them as the 2nd best signing on the roster behind J.I.D of course. But in light of severing ties with Interscope & staying on Dreamville solely, Dr. Dot & Johnny Venus are celebrating by releasing their 5th EP.

“The Wake” intro sets things off where things musically have a bit of Frank Ocean influence to it calling to let all their homies free whereas “Die Today” asks if you’d come & kiss my cold or run up in my bank account if something were to happen to them over a pop rap/contemporary R&B crossover produced by Olu that’s actually better than half of what was on Puff Daddy a.k.a. P. Diddy or Diddy’s final album The Love Album: Off the Grid. “Flavors of Karma” is an organ/boom bap hybrid talking about karma coming in different flavors & not telling you what it feels like that is until the cloudy “Imagine” talks about having paradise at their fingertips. “Bobby Boucher” featuring Benji is a groovy southern pop rap closer reuniting with their vices.

These guys are truthfully my 2nd favorite act on Dreamville behind J.I.D other than Cole of course & here we have the first in a trilogy of EPs after no longer being distributed by Interscope makes me anticipate that they’re gonna have more creative freedom down the line now that they’re still with Dreamville Records & don’t have to worry about major label bullshit. The southern hip hop production also draws from cloud rap as well as boom bap & alternative/contemporary R&B with the EARTHGANG themselves feeling as if a weight’s off their chest delivery-wise.

Score: 3.5/5

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Ouija Macc & Trizz – “Coronella” review

This is a brand new collaborative album between west coast hip hop artists Ouija Macc & Trizz. The latter hailing from Los Angeles as a Brotha Lunch Hung protégé briefly signing to Madesicc Muziccwith the other taking the underground wicked shit scene by storm since signing to Psychopathic Records in 2017 & forming his own subsidiary of the Insane Clown Posse’s label that runs beneath the streets Chapter 17 Records over 2 years ago. Both of whom have crossed paths with each other a couple times in the past even though they’ve already made a name for themselves with stellar albums like Stalewind or Baseline Cavi. But with Ouija coming fresh off the 3-Headed Monster’s sophomore effort Rampage last week, he & Trizz are teaming up to make Coronella quite possibly the best collab project in his whole discography ahead of his upcoming 4th solo LP Darcc Planet.

The intro sets it off with an uncanny trap instrumental talking about they been down before & remain 10 toes down in spite of it all whereas “Pedigree” works in some horns & hi-hats declaring this to be a robbery with their destiny being the death of them. “Dead Presidents” gives off a murkier atmosphere acknowledging all these bitches want & Ouija taking a shot at Donald Trump just before the cloudy trap banger “Round the Way” talking about you waiting in Hell for them referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, the inaugural WWE Hardcore Champion, CWA World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Champion Mick Foley.

“Smoke Dope” gives off a nocturnal edge to the beat of course providing an anthem for all the smokers out there leading into the cavernous “International” produced by Devereaux talking about both of them being known on a global scale at this point in their careers. “Vegan Caviar” works in these rattling hi-hats promising to fuck you up, but then “Outcast” is a spacious boom bap ballad dedicated to everyone out there listening who’s been rejected by society.

Golden BSP on “Spokes” is ok despite the eerie trap production along with the subject matter of how this shit’s a game & they’re getting paid about it instead of playing about it while the cloudy “Black Card” calling out those who be frontin’ that they hard when we all know they’re not whatsoever. Brotha Lynch Hung gives one of the best feature performances throughout “The Opera” solemnly declaring that the homies will deal with any problem while “Too Many” has more of a traditional west coast sound to it talking about being surrounded by more than enough of the wrong people.

The song “Terror” featuring HEXXX mixes trap with g-funk sampling “High Powered” by RBX reminding everyone of their gangsta backgrounds & C17’s first signing spitting as hard as Brotha Lynch did a couple joints ago the penultimate track “Spiral” featuring Ricky Hil gives off an airier tone instrumental with smoking weed & drinking tequila being what they’re about. To finish Coronella, former Strange Music in-house producer MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 cooks up the psychedelic closer “I’m Outside” admitting they’re feeling like losing their minds.

2 & a half years ago by now when Ouija Macc teamed up with Baby E on We Never Forgot, it quickly became my favorite collaborative project that the hatchet’s biggest solo act had ever done even though it was a new sound for him. That being said: Ouija & Trizz have just dethroned that tape in favor of Coronella as his best collab effort & Trizz’ too. The guests are 50/50, but both MCs help bring the best out of one another as far as chemistry goes & the production is more eclectic from trap to boom bap & g-funk.

Score: 4.5/5

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Joey Cool – “Enjoy the View” review

Joey Cool is a 38 year old MC from Kansas City, Missouri starting out as a long-time affiliate of local independent hip hop powerhouse Strange Music dropping a total of 4 mixtapes & a studio album on his own until Tech N9ne decided to officially sign him to the Snake & Bat in 2017. He then dropped an eponymous sophomore album the next spring followed by Old Habits Die Hard as well as Coolie High & I Tried to Be Normal Once. But with the 1-year anniversary of The Chairman of the Boardpassing by a couple months ago, Joey’s beginning the fall by enlisting Mario Casalini to fully produced his 7th album.

After the “It’s Rare” intro, the first song “Oh God” is a gospel trap crossover to start off the album declaring that he is who he is & that he will help teach you what to say on your journey whereas “Kingdom” featuring Tech N9ne is a more rap rock infused cut calling out those trying to bring their paradises down. “Kansas City Classic” shoots for a more playful vibe aesthetically talking about continuing to drop exactly that in you bastards leading into “Flickin’” giving off a bit of a west coast feel sonically reminding that he isn’t going anywhere.

“Sweet” featuring Lex Bratcher starts off with a wavy trap sound prior to a triumphant beat-switch during the 2nd half both being at a level that’s not near, but then “At My Expense” takes a groovier approach refusing to the back & forth tonight. After the “Please Tip Your Ushers” interlude, “Hallelujer” goes full blown gospel rap telling you to ask anyone if he’s been that dude just before “Closer Now” featuring K.A.A.N. & King Iso talks about how they was all supposed to drown there over a moody instrumental.

Meanwhile, “Sink” blends some keys & hi-hats tackling the concept of depression even further while “I Bet” featuring Wennely Quezada comes through with more of a pop rap duet accompanied by an spacious beat explaining that they just can’t go down the river. “Peanut Butter Jealous” featuring X-Raided pointing out how no one wanted flicks with him now that they’re well established with a bouncy trap instrumental while the lead single “Great Time”drops off a club banger for the 1-time.

“Buckets” gives off an eerie tone to the beat feeling like he’s on today while spirit-lifting “We Got Us” talks about how his mom told him there would we be days like this & that all his family as his each other specifically with his father Bill Johnson being featured on here as he’s been in the past. The penultimate track “Buddy Effyn” hops on top of a pitched sample explaining that too many tried to shade or change him & “American Swankster” closes out the album on a jazzier note declaring himself to be just that.

Now the deluxe has 8 bonus tracks & I’ll touch base on them. The first of which “Swank You Very Much” is this empowering trap rock cut talking about knowing that his mother is proud of him while “Big Cool” looks to add another title over more guitars & hi-hats. “Give ‘Em Hell” has this cool gospel flip throughout telling everyone to stop talking to him like it’s 2012 while “Oxygen” featuring Jehry Robinson gives off a peppier trap tone advising to get back.

“Chai Tea” featuring Lex Bratcher goes into a futuristic direction talking about being off the titular mixed-spice tea while the piano-driven “Don’t Cry” featuring Mac Lethal talks about not shedding tears for them. The “Kingdom” remix adds 2 new verses from King Iso & High Deafinician of the unConventionAl KingZ that make it better than the original & “Do-Over” ends the deluxe by having Matt Phoenix help Joey go full-on rock down to the Swankiest of Strangeland flexing his singing voice predominantly.

Self-titled & Old Habits Die Hard are my personal favorite albums in Joey’s catalog, but Enjoy the View has to be my favorite that he’s done in a while in my opinion. Mario Casalini’s production gives off a different vibe of its own & the American Swankster himself happens to be the most emphatic he’s ever previously as far his performances go. Couple underwhelming features too, but it should be noted that most of them stick the landing.

Score: 4/5

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Cymarshall Law – “The Peaceful Warrior” review

This is the 13th full-length album from New Jersey emcee Cymarshall Law. Emerging back in ‘04 as part of the duo Power Man & Iron Fist alongside the late Pumpkinhead, it wasn’t until 3 years later where he branched out on his own off the full-length debut Hip Hop in the Flesh, which was followed up by the Hip Hop in the Soul trilogy & Freedom Express. He’s made a handful since, which the last one I covered being I Still Love H.E.R. couple years back. But with the 1-year anniversary of The Sorcerer’s Art Supplies coming & going over the weekend, Cymarshall’s returning as The Peaceful Warrior.

The “Warren Peace” intro is a angelic boom bap opener to the album talking about how original & different he is whereas “Burn Bright” takes a jazzier route declaring himself to be a burning sensation on the mic. “Outside Looking In” brings in more jazz horns, kicks & snares hoping better days are ahead as it’s looking grim for him right now leading into the piano boom bap infused The Orator” living up to it’s name perfectly saying just because you started your journey early doesn’t mean you have to get to the destination before them.

“Doing My Thing” gives off a groovier vibe talking about being out here doing his own shit these days prior to “The Pressure” works in some strings as well as kicks & snares talking about the pressures that he’s been dealing with in his personal life. “Find the Top” is another piano-boom bam cut saying he loves hip hop culture more than Jada Pinkett Smith loved 2Pac, but then the title track talks about being ready when the time comes over a mellow backdrop laced with kicks & snares.

Meanwhile, “Soul Mates” featuring a soulful hook from Kafeeno is a moody boom bap pop rap crossover to start of the 2nd half of the album talking to that one special woman in his life while “Competitive Man” brings it back to you raw getting on some hardcore shit. “Palm of My Hand” gets dustier sonically talking about having the game on lock while “Royalty” ends the 3rd leg of the LP with some keys, kicks & snares talking about how their spiritual intelligence could never be taken away from them.

“Speak It Into Existence” starts the 4th quarter of the album with another piano/boom bap hybrid discussing how he really spoke his good fortune into existence all from being persistent while “Lost” featuring Peter Anguira on the hook takes a dreamier approach instrumentally getting on some more personal subject matter drawing from his past. “Insecure” is another jazzy boom bap cut giving a shoutout to anyone listening who’s ever felt inconfident & “Keep Growing” featuring Talk2Francis closes out the album with both of them over a dreamy loop with kicks & snares talking about being here for growth.

Compared to The Sorcerer’s Art Supplies a whole year ago, The Peaceful Warrior is unquestionably better. Maybe even a tad bit superior to I Still Love H.E.R. the year before that. Slimline Mutha’s production ranges from jazzy boom bap reminiscent to that of one of my personal top 5 producers Pete Rock to moody pop rap with Cymarshall getting more personal on the lyrical side of things.

Score: 4/5

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Summrs – “What We Didn’t Have” review

This is the 9th full-length album from Lafayette, Louisiana recording artist Summrs. Starting out as a member of the Goonie-founded SlayWorld collective, his presence has been known predominantly in the plugg scene by constantly dropping projects whether it be his last EP What We Have or even the Fallen Raven LP, both of which I highly recommend listening to if you wanna get into his music. But coming fresh off his last couple albums Stuck in My Ways & Ghost from earlier this year, Rino’s looking to bring back the plugg elements that Ghost lacked on the official What We Have sequel What We Didn’t Have.

“Overdosing on Toxicity” sets the tone of what’s to come by telling his lover to save him & that he’s been feeling crazy over some pianos, synths & hi-hats whereas “The Healing” gives off a bouncier flare instrumentally talks about curing his soul. “Rehab” works in more synthesizers & hi-hats from Goyxrd making it clear that we all know Summrs is the MVP leading into “Feel Dumb” takes the psychedelic route a bit confessing that he’s sick of everyone showing him fake love or those who be making up their lives.

Meanwhile, “International” shows off Louiveedee’s new btich who just so happens to be nasty behind closed doors over some icy synths & hi-hats prior to the 2-parter “Playin with a Demon / Jokes on U” reminding the hoe who’s been cheating him exactly who she’s fucking with starting off playfully prior to a shimmery switch-up. “The Talk” addresses some bird business & being as dark hearted as he is backed by an atmospheric beat, but then “Xanax / Burnt Memories” talks about deserving my flowers today as opposed to when he’s no longer here to smell them over some synths & hi-hats with a bassy instrumental switch.

“Til Death Do Us Part” gives off a bit of an intergalactic atmosphere to it calling out a bitch for trying to get in the middle of his money & that she knows damn well of Rino being a player while “If Ya Wanted 2 Know” weaves these wavy synthesizers into the fold opening up about us being the reason that he goes. “Top Off” starts off by pulling up stuntin’ over a peppy instrumentally while “House Arrest” later admits that he can’t have his pole with him since he got an electronic ankle tag on him taking it back to the pluggnb sound.

“Auntie Cat” keeps the synths & hi-hats in tact paying homage to his late aunt of the same name knowing that his grandmother’s fucked up over her passing trying to get her back while the Asian rock-infused “How Dare You” talks about not dying from drank. “Martin & Gina” featuring Autumn! finds them comparing themselves & their Glocks with a switch to that of the titular couple from one of the greatest sitcoms of all-time going straight plugg while “Chasing Your High” featuring Desire encourages their lovers to stay the night since they makes theml feel right.

“It’s Nothing” marks the beginning of the end for the best album of the 3 that Rino has dropped this year declaring that he & his crew keep them Draco’s out without fucking around over a booming yet futuristic beat, but the “Spiritual” outro really wraps everything up by by drawing from regalia clarifying that he still goin’ through pain cause we were with him through everything.

What We Have is the best EP in Summrs catalog, so I went into What We Don’t Have expecting it to be his finest full-length LP surpassing Fallen Raven & that’s pretty much what we got here. The pluggnb production is more consistent than his last couple albums we’re truthfully & you can really hear the pain that he’s experienced in his voice delivering the most personal subject matter of his career.

Score: 4/5

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Puff Daddy – “The Love Album: Off the Grid” review

Puff Daddy a.k.a. P. Diddy or Diddy & more recently Love is a 53 year old record executive, rapper, singer/songwriter, “producer”, entrepreneur, actor, television producer, sex trafficker & racketeer from Harlem, New York getting his start as the talent director at Uptown Records before founding his own label Bad Boy Entertainment. He would also have a huge role in the commercialization of hip hop culture on top of cultivating artists from The Notorious B.I.G. to Mary J. Blige & Usher. As for his own catalog, Puffy has dropped 5 solo albums in the span of 26 years despite the common knowledge that he doesn’t write his own lyrics or even produce. Although his debut No Way Out is widely considered to be the best, the next 3 he would put out Forever as well as The Saga Continues… & Press Play all received harsher reception in comparison. The last time we heard Puff in a full capacity was the winter of 2010 when he introduced the world to Dirty Money on the moderately received Last Train to Paris, but is returning after 13 years by signing a 1-&-done deal with Motown Records for his 6th album.

“Brought My Love” featuring The-Dream & Herb Alpert is a funky, R&B/pop rap crossover produced by Mario Winans & Stevie J of The Hitmen setting the tone of what’s to come with Puff dropping corny lines like “In the future, we’re both fine. I just gotta write a ticket with no fine” whereas “What’s Love?” featuring NOVA WAV finds the latter singing & P. Diddy rapping about what the purpose of love is if you can’t drown in it. “Deliver Me” by Dirty Money & Busta Rhymes is possibly THE best track on here since Puffy himself hardly appears on it letting Dawn Richard & Kalenna shine as well as the previously unreleased J Dilla instrumental drawing from electronic music & especially Busta’s verse at the end, but then “Stay Awhile” finds Diddy on mic once more with Nija asking to their significant others to stay with them for a bit longer over a groovy beat from Lil Rod.

Jozzy comes into the picture for “Homecoming” cautioning of a lover that’s not good to one another over a dreamy boom bap instrumental & Puff hilariously starting his verse by saying he kicks flows & busts down doors for her when everyone knows he’s never written any of his raps throughout his whole career just before “Pick Up” by Fabolous & Jacquees finds P. Diddy taking the backseat on the mic in favor of adlibs once again so Fab can outperform Jacq over slow instrumental talking about their partners being the ones they want. “Tough Love” by Swae Lee doesn’t have any Diddy presence whatsoever asking if it’s real or if she’s alone also with some twangy guitar licks & hi-hats leading into “Stay Long” by Summer Walkergoing for a magical sonic approach thanks to Timbaland & London on da Track talking about wanting nobody in her business.

“It Belongs to You” by Jozzy brings back the funk singing that her man knows that he has her while “Another One of Me” finds Puff back in the fold with French Montana, The Weeknd in what’s said to be his final feature ever & 21 Savage for a spacey trap jam declaring that part of them won’t come around again with the best verses going to Abel & 21 respectively. After the “Intermission”, the following song “Moments” by Justin Bieber sings over some live drums about how patient he’s been while “Need Somebody” by Jazmine Sullivan dives into mellower turf with co-production from KeY Wane singing that everybody needs somebody even if this shit ain’t right.

Kehlani & Ty$ share a heartwarming duet together on “Mind Your Business (Bosses in Love)” singing about doing whatever they want because they’re both bosses in their own rights & after the “Nasty” interlude from Jozzy, we have Coco Jones filling in Kehlani’s spot for “Reachin’” so she & Ty$ once again join forces on top of a cavernous trap beat encouraging one another to keep calling. Puffy returns with K-Ci from JodeCi as well as Kalan.FrFr for “Stay” jumping on top of pianos, gospel vocals & hi-hats for a pop rap cut pleading for their partners not to leave while “I Like” by Mary J. Blige sings about seeing him calling & is thankful he’s thinking of her over a sample-heavy beat.

“Closer to God” by Teyana Taylor fresh off her role in the A24 Films hood drama 1,001 sees the former Star Trak Entertainment/G.O.O.D. Music recording artist proclaiming she’s at peace when she’s with her husband Iman Shumpert over a blatant reggae instrumental while “Boohoo” by Jeremih proclaims it hurts when you’re gone but he still ain’t done with that over another funky beat. After the Burna Boy interlude, the DJ Camper co-produced penultimate track “Kim Porter” by Babyface & John Legend is a genuinely profound 7-minute tribute to P. Diddy’s first wife who passed away in the fall of 2018 with Timbaland behind the boards once more & “Space” by H.E.R. ends the album with bare pianos from Infamous telling her man to come her way.

Diddy doesn’t sing at all on The Love Album: Off the Grid as many including myself initially thought he would & only recites rap verses that people in the studio wrote for him on 6 of the 23 songs, so he’s pretty much playing DJ Khaled for the most part on here curating a bunch of mid contemporary R&B/pop rap hybrids after saying last summer that R&B is dead. The production truthfully isn’t too bad for both of those particular styles of music & unlike much of Khaled’s output, but the performances from the guests come with mixed results even though Puff gets washed on every song he raps on pretty much. I also feel that he called it Off the Grid to spite Kanye West since he went on IG last fall saying Diddy’s with the feds even though Ye technically wasn’t wrong.

Score: 2.5/5

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Ransom – “Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child” review

Ransom is a 45 year old wordsmith from Jersey City emerging as 1/2 of the short-lived duo A-Teamalongside Hitchcock. In 2008, he would branch out on his own following their disbandment beginning with the full-length debut Street Cinema & the Statik Selektah-produced sophomore effort The Proposal. But it’s been safe to say these last couple years have been his biggest so far whether it be the 5 EPs that he put out produced by Nicholas Craven, the 7 EP based around the 7 deadly sins or his previous album Heavy’s the Head produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Rome Streetz collab album Coup de Grâce, or even his last couple albums Chaos is My Ladder or Director’s Cut 4. However only a couple months after Deleted Scenes 2, Ransom’s still applying pressure by putting out a 9th EP.

“The Powers That Be” is a drumless opener with Ran talking about prophesying this entire blessing whereas “New Test of Men” takes a jazzier route making it known that it was a never a priority for him to stay rich. “Scape Goats” featuring Che Noir & 38 Spesh is where the EP starts to pick up more as all 3 artists on the TCF Music Group roster astonishingly tossing the mic together over a string-infused boom bap instrumental & “The Desolate One” might be my favorite track on here from the rock-inspired Nicholas Craven beat talking about the industry being full of demons & broken angels. “Hymns” rounds it all out by providing some ghetto gospel over a ghostly instrumental from Sibbs Roc.

Even though I still think Deleted Scenes 2 is the best EP Ransom’s dropped this year, I still enjoyed a good portion of what we got on Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child. The 2nd half of the EP is better in my opinion, but the sounds are eclectic & the lyricism from Ran never disappoints me since he’s been on another level. That goes for both features too.

Score: 4/5

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Izaya Tiji – “Alexandria” review

This is the sophomore LP from Ohio recording artist & producer Izaya Tiji. Emerging as a founding member of the Slayworld colllective, he would go on to build an extensive solo catalog for himself standing at a full-length debut alongside his last 22 EPs & 3 mixtapes. My personal favorite being his last previous tape Know Nothing Else 2 over 2 years ago at this point. But coming off Before Alexandria couple months ago, Izaya’s finally delivering the main course.

“Envy” is an atmospheric trap opener targeted towards those who’ve become jealous of how far Izaya’s come in his career up to this point whereas “Face Shot” takes the cloudier route boasting that he has the flash on without any cameras around the premises. “I Eat Humans” works in a shimmery backdrop & hi-hats discussing that he got Jew ties as well as giving a finger to the facists, by then “Rockt” gives off a more psychedelic trap edge this time around firing back at those who said he flopped.

Meanwhile, “Elysium” produced by SOULJASPIRITS dives back into trillwave turf talking about his own blissful heaven leading into the moody trap cut “Shy” discussing the whole concept of shyness altogether. “Can’t Stop 3” with thr6x moves forward with a triumphant tribute to the late Takeoff of the Migos who was gunned down the day after Halloween last fall just before “Cold Nights” gives off a ghostly feeling insteumentally tackling the metaphor for the feeling of isolation & detachment from others.

“Fritos” compares his white Molly to that of a hot tub & having old money sitting at the bottom of my bag looking like the titular snack over an airy trap beat while the dreamily produced “Hiccup” talking about people knowing he’s here for the big bucks & having to put back someone who got out for being too wild. “My Twins” hooks up these piano chords & hi-hats addressing an adversary he doesn’t see eye to with no more while “Simba” is a bell-infused trap cut talking about feeling like the titular Disney character.

Moving on from there, “At Last” brings back the keys & hi-hats once more saying at least he has his family with him even though he needs to kick the habit of substance abuse while the luxurious trap flavored “Empty” talking about being possessed by the money. To start the 2nd leg of the album, “Smushed” featuring YSK finds the pair teaming up over a delicate loop & hi-hats flexing that they so hard that they made their cities fly while “Infinite” gives off a more energizing vibe instrumentally talking about how they gon’ take you down.

“Got That” goes into glossier territory with the trap beat telling his homie not to talk back since he ain’t his bitch while the ghostly “Ain’t Faint of Heart” vents about a woman that wound up breaking his heart. “Vacant Trap” keeps it trillwave by pointing out an empty trap house that he just so happened to come across by while “Mac & Cheese” whips up a peaceful trap instrumental boasting that he got the check & letting these little motherfuckers continue to run their mouths for entertainment purposes.

Reaching the end of the 3rd leg of the album, “Cauterized” acknowledges that he can hook people up with a 4 piece & that he’s rolling up in a donkey over a spacious backdrop & hi-hats while “Butterfly” starts the 4th & final leg on a pillowy note talking about having to grow up on top of showing off the kind of doors that he has on his new whip. “Blackouts” admits that he’s lost some people & going haywire as of late backed by more spacey trap production while “Big Hat (Eye for an Eye)” hops on top of a subtle beat talking about not to worry since he knows the way.

“Half” has these cool electronic undertones throughout pointing out that every single thing he got ain’t recently ain’t all for him yet he ain’t dividing it all in an even portion while “Space from Reality” talks about people pushing down as if it’s the UFC, whose parent entity Zuffa was merged with the WWE to form TKO Group Holdings a few days ago after Vince McMahon’s sale of the historic septuagenarian professional wrestling promotion to WME Group was finalized over a euphoric instrumental. The atmospheric penultimate track “That’s My Dawg” is a straight-up dedication to the people in his life whose backs he’ll always have & “Call of Duty” closes the album by hopping out with the sticks with a beat that gives off a godly aura.

The prelude that we got back in July ended up being one of Izaya’s best EPs in a while, so that alone was enough to increase the anticipation I already had for Alexandria & it’s quite truthfully on the same caliber if not better than his previous album 2020 only less than 2 months before COVID shut the whole world down. Tad bit too long, but he expands on the cloudy plugg/pluggnb trap sound that made a name for himself as well as sounding impressively focused & even improving his flows a bit.

Score: 4/5

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