Zac Z – “Yeti Man Born” review

This is the 4th full-length album from UK-based MC, producer & singer/songwriter Zac Z. Breaking out in 2010 off his double disc debut Imperfections, the man would follow it up shortly after with liquid pepper before taking a decade long hiatus. He returned last summer by enlisting Deep n Beeper for Tripsville, Tennesse & is now rounding out 2021 by dropping Yeti Man Born.

The title track starts it all off with a lo-fi sound telling his lover why she should be all his whereas “Funky Pills” serves as an instrumental interlude having a more cavernous & psychedelic approach to it. “Mission from Mars” keeps things going with a cloudy beat & talking about life with him being pure bliss, but then “Sky Fall” follows it up with a more euphoric instrumental piece.

Meanwhile on “Hollow Fangs”, we have Zac staying behind the boards this time incorporating some elements of rock into this beat just before he hops back on the mic for “X-Ray Meditations” has a more settler yet funky feel talking about being free. “Energy Sparks” incorporates these turntable scratches with an angelic backdrop wanting this woman’s love leading into the “Buddha’s Smile” instrumental interlude picking up where “Hollow Fangs” left off sonically.

“Ethnic Dreams” is yet another instrumental interlude that’s perfect for smoking weed out late at night while the penultimate track “Lightning Strikes” goes back into rock territory & the dude’s singing that kicks in around the halfway mark just doesn’t do anything for me at all. To finish it off though, “Happy” ends the album with a 90 second folk ballad talking about wanting to sing for the stars & doing so much better than he did previously.

Much like Zac’s last 3 albums, Yeti Man Born sounds completely different than anything the man has done in the past & continues to succeed at doing so. It has a more enlightened vibe throughout & it’s very intriguing to hear how he has it all structured, bouncing back & forth between actual songs & beat interludes.

Score: 3.5/5

DJ Muggs – “Winter 2” review

DJ Muggs is a 53 year old producer & DJ from Queens, New York who came up as part of The 7A3 alongside the Bouldin Brothers in the late 80s. The trio only put out 1 album together but as the 90s approached, Muggs started to become a household name in the west coast as the producer for Cypress Hill & the leader of the Soul Assassins. He would go on to release 4 solo efforts & after dominating 2021 by fully producing projects like Death & the Magician or Cartagena, Muggs is returning for a Winter sequel given that the 1-year anniversary of that album is coming up next month.

After the “Winter 2 Theme” intro, the first song “Beaming Hi” by RLX is a symphonic opener spitting the fly lifestyle he’s living these days whereas “Absolem Reprise” by Roc Marciano takes a dusty boom bap route talking about being prone to kill it. “All White Party” by Meyhem Lauren fuses together some keyboards & punchy drums spitting that they gotta kill him to take his spot leading into RLX returning for the jazzy yet drumless “Have a Bad Day” hoping that on those who get in his face.

Meanwhile on “L.A. County”, we have T.F. coming into the picture ominously detailing his life as a Crip just before “Panoramic Sunroof” by Crimeapple keeps the boom bap vibes going detailing his mind moving as fast as the drugs he’s pushing. “God Killa” by Rigz has a bit of an Italian flare to the instrumental talking about killing motherfuckers’ egos, but then “Father Time” by Ill Bill takes a dark electronic approach expressing his desire to chop bodies up.

“More Fire” by Hologram weaves in some heavenly vocals throughout saying you can’t ruin his game while the vibraphone-heavy “Absolem Reprise, Pt. 2” by Roc Marciano perfectly picks up right where the predecessor left off lyrically. The final song “It’s Over” by RLX mixes a guitar & an organ talking about the title he earned from his gusto, but “Winter Black Ice” finishes the album off with an instrumental piece similar to the intro.

Overall, I think this is a worthy sequel to round out such a prolific year in Muggs’ career. I like how he gives a couple of the guest MCs more shine rather than just giving them 1 joint each as well as the diversity of sound throughout.

Score: 3.5/5

Ty Farris – “No Cosign, Just Cocaine 4” review

This is the 10th mixtape from Detroit emcee Ty Farris. Starting out under the name T-Flame, he was featured on a lot of projects throughout the mid-2000’s until the very end of the decade where he started to put out solo stuff at a prolific rate from Tyrant to Room 39. But with his profile continually increasing within the last year or so & dropping Practice Raps back in January, he’s rounding out the year with the 4th installment of his famous No Cosign, Just Cocaine series bringing along a notable cast of guests & producers for the ride.

“Slow Down” kicks the tape off with a synth heavy instrumental from Bozack Morris talking about being here for a reason whereas “Off With They Heads” goes into a boom bappier direction with the help of Wavy da Ghawd spitting that battle rap shit. “You Should Be a Shame” talks down on those mad at him over a darker beat from Black Milk leading into Big Twins tagging along for the wavily-produced “Over” talking about their upbringings.

Meanwhile on “Scary Times”, we have Substance810 alongside Dango Forlaine & Mickey Diamond joining forces for aggressively boasting their lyrical prowesses just before “Brands of High Quality” weaves in a cinematic Big Ghost Ltd. instrumental rightfully saying anything with their names on it is the shit. Stu Bangas’ production on “The Sicilian Defense” kinda gives me old school Wu-Tang vibes comparing life to chess, but then “Suffer” takes a soulful route talking about watching people in his life suffer in front of him. UFO Fev comes into the picture for the demented “Back Blocks” produced by Finn speaking on being products of such whereas “Anonymous Millionaire” leisurely talks about wanting to become one.

Vanderslice laces in some violins for Ty & Bub Rock on “Who Really Got Ya Back?” looking back on friends becoming enemies while the song “Run Through My Mind” with eLZhi is a calmer cut talking about them sitting on the porch with their thoughts. The penultimate track “Deemed Us Useless” finds Nicholas Craven behind the boards to spit some food for thought over a drumless sample & the Apollo Brown-produced “This is For All of Y’all” finishes the tape by giving flowers to his supporters.

Ty’s been one of the illest MCs to come out of this reviewer’s hometown for a while now, but goddamn has he leveled up so much on here. He drops some of the wittiest bars of his career throughout, the features all come correct & the production is just absolutely superb.

Score: 4.5/5

Jedi Mind Tricks – “The Funeral & The Raven” review

Jedi Mind Tricks is a Philadelphia trio consisting of emcee Vinnie Paz, producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind & turntablist DJ Kwestion. They’ve proven to be a household name in the underground for 26 years from having a hand in founding the Army of the Pharaohs collective to dropping essentials like Violent by Design & Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell. Since putting out the underrated The Thief & The Fallen back in the summer of 2015, they’ve started getting in the habit of dropping an album once every 3 years. The trio’s previous effort The Bridge & The Abyss was a solid follow-up, but had WAY too many interludes. However with Paz coming fresh off Burn Everything That Bears Your Name over the spring, Stoupe & Kwestion are joining him for JMT’s 10th full-length album a month after the longest MLW National Openweight Champion Alexander Hammerstone became the new MLW World Heavyweight Champion.

After the intro, the first song “I’m the Wooden Door” sets the album off with an Italian sample calling out the pussies whereas “Collapse the War Engine” is a sinister theme about being cursed with the dawn. Crimeapple tags along for “The Escapist” somberly speaking on going from hopeless from focused & after the “Pathogen” interlude, the Demoz-assisted “Don’t Get Blood on My Gucci” has a more calmer tone instrumentally talking about how you don’t wanna die.

Meanwhile on “2nd Hand Smoke”, we go into a more nocturnal direction with JMT saying they put these opps in the sky referencing former 3-time AJPW三冠ヘビー級チャンピオン, AJPW世界タッグチャンピオン, 3-time IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, IWGPタッグチャンピオン, GHCタッグチャンピオン, 3-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion & WWE United States Champion Big Van Vader just before Boob Bronx comes into the picture for “The Death of 1 Man’s a Tragedy, The Death of 10,000’s a Statistic” solemnly admitting spending their whole lives on the wrong side of the law. “Manufacturing Consent” fuses together an organ & a vocal sample to spit that democracy only works when people are informed & after the “We Tolerate the Sickness” interlude, “The Chariot” grimly talks about the most ignorant thing in this world. “Albatross” ponders why would anyone be mad at them with some keyboards sprinkled in the beat, but then Pro Dillinger joins in on the heinous “Crematorium” to quench for blood once more.

“Path of the Beam” has a bit a mystical feel instrumentally to spit that insulting shit while the song “We Bow in It’s Aura” weaves in an acoustic guitar shouts out the inaugural WWE Universal Champion, 2-time NXT Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, 3-time IWGPジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, 6-time IWGPジュニアタッグチャンピオン & RPW British Cruiserweight Champion Finn Bálor. After the “Until The World Consumes Us” interlude, the penultimate track “Abdallah Azzam Brigade” finds Demoz returning alongside Ill Bill & Recognize Ali for a vicious 5-minute barfest & “The Great Derangement” finishes it off by sadly picking apart all the lies we’ve been told.

I pretty much enjoy all the JMT albums with the exception of Violence Begets Violence being mid, but The Funeral & The Raven is a great finish to the trilogy that The Thief & The Fallen had started. I like how it has less interludes than The Bridge & The Abyss did, Stoupe’s production is still one of a kind all these years later & Paz lyrically always hits the target no matter what he’s on.

Score: 4/5

Noveliss – “Book of Changes” review

Noveliss is a 33 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who came up as 1/4 of the now disbanded Clear Soul Forces. However since 2018, he’s built an impressive solo career for himself with 8 EPs & the full-length debut Cerebral Apex. However in light of his born day earlier this week, he’s celebrating by dropping a sophomore album produced entirely by Dixon Hill.

“Empty” sets off the album on a jazzy note clearing out his mind whereas “Feng Sheui” takes a moody boom bap route talking about a dude with a stand alone complex. “Loss for Words” works in some pianos saying he don’t know better, but then “Sincerity & Reverence” is a lo-fi banger telling the story of his younger self. Meanwhile on “Scheminonameanin”, we have Noveliss contemplating the reason of life over an airy instrumental just before “Truthsayer” smokily gets on the conscious tip.

“Escaping” goes into a more moodier direction encouraging to embrace the highs & lows while the song “Spirit Bomb” spaciously talks about finding peace in a hyperbolic chamber. The penultimate track “Cold Mountain” once again returns into a more lo-fi kind of sound delivering nonstop wisdom & “Permanent Waves” closes out the album with an uplifting beat talking about being in search of such.

I’ve been following this guy alongside the rest of Clear Soul Forces for a minute & for the 3-year wait since Cerebral Apex, it was very much well worth it. Noveliss killed it with the basing the whole concept of the album on the I-Ching & Dixon’s production style couldn’t have been a suiting match.

Score: 4/5

Rasheed Chappell & XP the Marxman – “RX” review

This is the brand new collaborative album from Rasheed Chappell & XP the Marxman, the latter hailing from Los Angeles & the other coming straight outta New York. Both of them have been putting it down for a while in the underground by dropping acclaimed projects like Keep Firing or Sinners & Saints, but I don’t think they’ve ever worked with each other prior to RX so my interest was definitely there going into it given how much I enjoy their solo works.

“Congregate” kicks off the whole thing off with a downtrodden Reckonize Real instrumental reminding everybody they’re from the real whereas the Illwerd-assisted “Hefty Loc” goes into the boom bap direction talking about being the last ones left. Oran Juice II tags along for the drumless “Water to Wine” getting on their kingpin shit just before “Ganji” has a more dustier feel to the production celebrating their lifestyles.

Meanwhile on “Coke Pirouette”, we have Rasheed & XP extravagantly talking about how it seems like the game has changed leading into the tensioning “Mahogany Chips” speaks on being engineered from real life. “Orale” wickedly details the lives that they idolize, but then “Here” with Tim Hall incorporates some jazz influences remembering where they came from.

Jay Royale comes into the picture for the Roc Marciano-produced “Toss the Metal” spitting that fly gangsta shit while the song “Sinful Saints” finds Buckwild working in a soul loop looking back on the choices they made to live so well. The penultimate track “Reminders” works in some solemn horns talking about the days they used to slang dope & “Save a Spot” finishes the album on a more optimistic note by saying they won’t let Satan take their souls as well as trying to vibrate higher.

If anyone reading this is a fan of either one of these guys or both, then you’re really gonna dig what they bring to the table on RX. It’s cool to hear how well both MCs ping off each other detailing the hardships they both had to face from the respective coasts they grew up in with the production being rooted in that traditional old school sound we all know & love.

Score: 4/5

Silk Sonic – “An Evening with Silk Sonic” review

Silk Sonic is a newly formed superduo consisting of Anderson .Paak & Bruno Mars. The latter coming up in 2010 by dominating the pop charts & the other beginning to turn heads by being featured all over his mentor Dr. Dre’ final album to date Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre about 5 years later. Their paths first crossed with one another during the European leg of the 24K Magic World Tour where .Paak opened up for Bruno but after announcing the superduo’s full-length debut back in February to high anticipation, they’re finally unleashing it to the world.

After the funky intro, the first song “Leave the Door Open” kicks off the album with a smooth soul banger telling their lovers they’re there for them whereas “Fly as Me” takes a funkier route & the lyrics basically speak for itself. “After Last Night” is a slow jam professing their love for the women they slept with the previous evening just before “Smokin’ Out the Window” works in some Philly soul undertones talking about a woman who belongs to everyone getting into fights with her man like it’s the WME Group-owned UFC.

Meanwhile on “Put on a Smile”, we have .Paak & Bruno coming together over some strings encouraging listeners to look forward to the better days while the song “777” serves as a groovy pimp anthem. The penultimate track “Skate” is a straight up disco tune flirting with the hottest bitches in the room & finally, “Blast Off” finishes the album off on a glossier note talking about flying to the stars.

Man I knew Silk Sonic was gonna deliver on this album, but they went even harder than I expected them to because An Evening with Silk Sonic is unquestionably the best R&B album that I’ve heard all year. They have a uniquely natural chemistry & it’s amazing how they resurrected the sounds of the 70’s soul down to Bootsy Collins “hosting” it.

Score: 4.5/5

Aesop Rock – “Garbology” review

This is the 9th full-length album from New York emcee/producer Aesop Rock. Universally revered for his massive vocabulary, the man has put out a handful of underground hip hop essentials throughout the decades whether it be his solo catalogue or his membership of groups like Hail Mary Mallon or Malibu Ken. Last we heard from him was Spirit World Field Guide & now with the 1-year anniversary of that coming up over the weekend, long-time collaborator Blockhead is being brought in to produce Garbology from start to finish.

After the “Only Picture” intro, the first song “Jazz Hands” is a cloudy kickoff to the album serving as a “love note to the fuck show” whereas “Wolf Piss” grimly talks about making motherfuckers disappear if they trip the wrong light. “Legerdemain” goes into a more funkier route saying he went home different leading into the tuba, boom bap infused “Difficult” finds him admittedly bugging.

Meanwhile on “All the Smartest People”, we have Aesop over a drumless instrumental telling listeners that the titular type he knows personally are paranoid just before the dusty “Oh Fudge” talks about metaphorically having no bones. “More Cycles” weaves in some synthesizers saying he doesn’t ever blink first, but then “Flamingo Pink” ominously calls out his idols as cons.

Lice reunites for the psychedelic “All Day Breakfast” reminding everyone of how well they mesh with each other whereas “Fizz” groovily talks about a dude being a lame. The song “That’s Not a Wizard” incorporates some pianos speaking on bare-witnessing the second first step while the penultimate track “The Sea” has a more scrubbier vibe talking about how it all falls below. “Abandoned Malls” closes out the album on a more dramatic note talking about the death of his close friend Kurt Hayashi.

Blockhead has produced some of the best songs of Aes’ career, so it was only a matter of time that they came together for an entire album & it’s exactly how I imagined it to be. The whole concept of examining material discarded by a society to see what it really means is well-thought out & as talented as he is behind the boards, it’s nice to see him take it back to basics.

Score: 4.5/5

Madchild – “Shane 2” review

This is the 9th full-length album from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada titan Madchild. Coming up as part of the trio Swollen Members & the founder of Battle Axe Records, it wouldn’t be until 2012 when he officially broke off solo with his Suburban Noize Records-backed debut album Dope Sick. He would later go on a hot streak of follow-ups including Lawnmower Man, Silver Tongue Devil, the Evidence-produced The Darkest Hour & Demons. But ever since dropping The Little Monster LP from last winter, dude has been grinding his ass off following it up in the spring with The Little Monster LP 2 & then Shane in the summer. Now that we’re in the midst of fall, it’s fitting for Madchild is dropping Shane 2 before his upcoming collab EP with Obnoxious.

“Boom” sets it off with some horns & hi-hats talking about how life’s a scary movie with a psycho plot whereas “Abattoir” incorporates some dusty drums & a keyboard loop with the help of C-Lance welcoming listeners to his slaughterhouse. “Damage Control” sonically weaves in a faint vocal loop proclaiming himself as a broken soul leading into the guitar, boom bap fused “Kampai” talks about letting the beast out it’s cage.

Meanwhile on “Dog Tags”, we have Joey Oz joining Madchild over an airy trap instrumental from Jimmy Donn to say they were born with such on their chests just before the acoustic-tinged “Trapped” opening up on the demons in his head dancing. “A Confession” vividly tells the story of a good homie of his over a soulful boom bap instrumental, but then “Running” serves as a dark look into his depression.

“Rock Bottom” has a bit of a more playful sound to it with Madchild talking about coming from nothing whereas “Victims” is a jazzy battle rap anthem. The dejected guitar ballad “I Don’t Care” opens up about being cheated on leading into the symphonic “Hangman” getting on his confrontational shit. The penultimate track “Haunted” somberly confesses that he feels like he’s drowning while the closer “Overdose” is a bombastic look at his drug addiction.

It’s also worthy pointing out that “Salty” has a cool saxophone loop dissing those who’re envious of him, but then “OnlyFanz” is the epitome of fake woke basically saying he’s against sex work & even throws some transphobic jabs in the hook. Now as for Madchild putting freedom of speech in question after the song got the backlash it deserved: That’s not the case whatsoever. I & anyone with common sense is all for freedom of speech. It’s just that the talking points through the track are extremely shitty.

Much like how The Little Monster LP 2 is better than the predecessor, I can say the same thing about this. Yeah “OnlyFanz” is one of the worst songs of the year & I’ll even go as far to say it’s the worst song dude has ever made, but I like how it’s more serious than the first Shane was.

Score: 3.5/5

Shah Leezy – “Shiraz” review

This is the full-length debut from Staten Island emcee Shah Leezy. Coming up in 2018 off his debut EP Live at the Mecca, the man has gone on to release 5 more since then with the latest being The Iron Sheik Tape last winter. But for Shiraz, he’s enlisting GetLarge to fully produce it from start to finish & bringing some of his favorite artists from the city for the ride.

The “LuZ’s Intro” kicks off the album with a somber piano loop saying he’s givint classics until he goes idle whereas “Habibi King” weaves in some hi-hats & horns talking about chasing freedom. “Fear’s the Key” is a symphonic trap cut getting on the more boastful tip, but then Greezi Amlin & innocent? tag along for the soulful “Life’s Crazy” basically letting the title speak for itself,

Meanwhile on “Jamez Bondz”, we have Shah over some dusty drums & humming talking about chasing missions like the world famous spy just before “Pulp Fiction” delivered a viciously off-the-top freestyle over a rich instrumental. “Vince’s Revenge” talks about being a ram then a goat leading into Iso Indies comeing into the picture for the classy “Carlito” to bring back the braggadocio.

LDog Day Afternoon” is a thunderous hustler’s groove while the song “Wolf of Wall Street” is basically his allegory on wax. The title track takes a jazzier turn getting on his top dog shit & finally, the “LuZ’s Outro (Cheers)” rounds it out on a cheery note by dissing everyone who’s jealous of his success.

As much as I loved The Iron Sheik Tape, I think Shah is really starting to level up on this. really interesting to hear him give us a year of his life with this much heart & the overall sound of the album that GetLarge provides is uniquely detailed.

Score: 4/5