Roc Marciano – “Mt. Marci” review

Roc Marciano is a 42 year old MC/producer from Long Island, New York who started out in the very late 90’s as a member of the Flipmode Squad. He then went solo in 2008 & has dropped 8 albums since, with the latest being Marcielago last December. Almost a year later, Marci is following it up by dropping his 9th full-length album.

After the “Allegories” intro, the first song “Downtown 81” talks about breaking bread at the penthouse over a savory Jake One instrumental while the track “COVID Cough” featuring ScHoolboy Q includes a reference to WWE Hall of Famer Mr. T over a perilous beat. The song “Wheat 40s” talks about not playing the hero role over some strings while the track “Spirit Cookin’” with Action Bronson finds the 2 on their mobster shit over a piano & a woodwind boasting their girls get busy like UFC Women’s Strawweight Chamlion Zhang Weili.

The song “Pimps Don’t Wear Rabbits” talks about those hating need to quit over a grimy beat while the track “Butterfly Effect” talks about trusting the process over a jazzy instrumental. “The Eye of the Whorus” with Stove God Cook$ sees the 2 talking about being paid to gloat referencing WWE Hall of Famer & 4-time WWE tag team champion Chief Jay Strongbow over a funky beat while the song “Steel Vagina” talks about this woman betraying him over a bare piano instrumental.

The track “Broadway Killa” with Kool Keith finds the 2 talking about being cold blooded over an instrumental with some frightening synths while the song “Baby Powder” is well played 2-parter as Marci talks about hustling drugs over an peaceful instrumental from Chuck Strangers, but then transitions into some triumphant horns. The track “Trench Coat Wars” talks about smoking weed in a g-wagon over an eerie instrumental while the song “Wicked Days” talks about how no angel can stop the bullets over a murky beat & the Trent Truce feature is wack as fuck.

The track “Garbage Pal Kids” talks about how this chick’s gonna run if he calls her over a guitar while the song “Crocket N Tubbs” talks about how real bad boys move in silence over an alluring beat. The album ends with the title track, where Marci spits about writing it in coke oil over some keys & a high-pitched vocal sample.

It’s no secret that Roc Marciano has paved the way for cats like Griselda throughout the previous decade & this is a great way for him to kick off his 2020s output. His gritty lyricism never fails to amuse me this deep into his career & the production is on point as always too.

Score: 4/5

Vangarde – Self-Titled review

Vangarde is a newly formed MC/producer duo from Boston, Massachusetts consisting of veterans Mr. Lif & Stu Bangas. They first united at the beginning of the year after appearing on Stu’s latest EP Beats & Blood but fast forward 10 months later, they’re coming together for an official full-length debut.

After the “Global Shift” intro, the first song “Shelter in Place” enlists the help of Blacastan to discuss wanting America to do better over a noisy boom bap beat whereas the next track “Basquiat” boasts his lyricism over a dreary instrumental. The song “8:46” with Reef the Lost Cauze, Blueprint, MURS & Puma Ptah serves as a response to George Floyd’s murder over a funky boom bap beat & after the “Old World Brokeness” interlude, the track “Wave the Flag” talks about COVID-19 over an ominous instrumental.

The song “Sonar” finds The Perceptionists reuniting to get on the woke tip over a diabolical beat & after the “New World Adjustments” interlude, the track “Now’s Only Now” talks about not losing hope for the future over a monstrous boom bap beat with some keys & strings. “The New Normal” pays tribute to Gang Starr over a charismatic instrumental & then the closer “No Hitter” talks about being meant to rebel over a quasi-jazzy beat.

Stu Bangas has been having a Hell of a 2020 musically & Vangarde’s eponymous debut is no exception whatsoever. He continues to remind listeners of his place as one of the greatest producers that the underground has to offer & his sound meshes with Mr. Lif’s ever-thought provoking lyricism very well. Would love to see these 2 veterans work more with one another in the future.

Score: 4/5

2 Chainz – “So Help Me God!” review

This is the 5th full-length album from Atlanta, Georgia veteran 2 Chainz. Coming up as 1/2 of the duo Playaz Circle, they eventually signed to Disturbing tha Peace Records/Def Jam Recordings in the 2000s & only released 2 albums before venturing off into solo careers. His last 2 outings Pretty Girls 👍 TRΛP MUSIC & Rap or Go to the League have truly become staples in Tity Boi’s career as both of them excellently showcasing his maturity. But after being hyped all year, here we are with the man’s 5th full-length album.

The album starts with “Lambo Wrist”, where 2 Chainz boasts over a wavy instrumental from STREETRUNNER & LilJu. The next song “Grey Area” talks about being old enough to be & do a number of things over a jazzy beat while the track “Save Me” with YoungBoy Never Broke Again sees the 2 talking about being their own worst enemies over a soulful instrumental from Mike WiLL Made-It. The song “Money Maker” finds ColleGrove reuniting to make a decent strip club banger backed by an awesome sample of “Piece of My Love” by Guy while the track “Can’t Go for That” ponders where to draw the line with this woman over an instrumental sampling The Bird & the Bee.

The song “Feel a Way” with Kanye West finds the 2 talking about how God don’t make no mistakes over a nightly beat from Boi-1da & Mike Dean while the track “Quarantine Thick” with Latto sees the 2 paying tribute to all the sexy ladies in the world over an instrumental with a dope piano-loop. The song “Ziploc” with Kevin Gates finds the 2 talking about drug dealing over a monstrous beat while the track “Free Lighter” with Chief Keef & Lil Uzi Vert sees the trio talking about getting hooked up with their dope over a rowdy instrumental from Keef himself.

The song “Toni” talks about how ill this bitch by the same name is over a TM88 beat with some prominent bells while the track “Southside Hov” if you couldn’t tell by the title compares himself to JAY-Z over a climatic instrumental. The song “Vampire” talks about keeping a gun by his car seat over a lavish beat from Cool & Dre while the track “Y.R.B. (Young, Rich & Black)” with Rick Ross finds the 2 talking about what it means to be such over an orchestral instrumental. The penultimate song “Wait for You to Die” talks about how no one cares about you until you’re gone over a David Banner beat with an Alan Lomax sample & then the closer “55 Times” talks about how he’s doing something right over a chilled out instrumental from Dem Jointz.

A lot of cats put out their best work when they’re younger, but 2 Chainz is one of the few instances of an artist getting better as they get older & it’s undeniable. There are a few features in the tracklisting that I could’ve done without, but the personal lyrics are compelling & the production choices are very consistent as well.

Score: 3.5/5

Redd – “Symphony of Sympathy” review

Redd is a 26 year old rapper from Detroit, Michigan known for his association with local underground powerhouse Majik Ninja Entertainment. Given that, it was only right for Twiztid to sign Redd to their new sub-label Welcome to the Underground & give a hand in pushing his full-length debut.

After the melodic piano-inflicted intro, the next song “Followers” with Twiztid finds the trio talking about those who only care about how big they are on social media over a tropical beat whereas the track “Vulnerable” talks about being just that over a bare acoustic instrumental. The song “Smile” ponders what it takes to be happy over a cloudy beat while the track “2 Signs” with Blaze Ya Dead Homie & KYNE sees the 3 awkwardly going full blown country rap.

The song “Good Morning, Goodbye” with Illy Maine finds the 2 talking about cheddar chasing over a upbeat-trap instrumental while the track “Real Talk” with The R.O.C. sees the 2 boasting over a mellow beat from Mvc Mowl. The song “Love” is a melodramatic story about being drawn into this woman he first started talking to on Facebook while the track “Hello Stranger” talks about going it through it all over another country-flavored instrumental.

The song “Banana Clip” with Polo Frost sees the 2 talking about groupies over some claps while the track “Gameboy Color” with Gibby Stites finds the duo making multiple video game references about over a suiting instrumental. The song “Summit” talks about climbing to the peak over a woodwind infused trap beat while the penultimate track “Sleep on Me” talks about being underappreciated in the rap game over a nocturnal instrumental. The album finishes off with “Bounce”, which is a club banger backed by an beat kin to D4L’s “Laffy Taffy”.

I was curious to see where Redd would take things on this album (especially with one of the freshest underground labels in recent years backing it) & honestly, Symphony of Sympathy is pretty solid. The features are either hit or miss with me personally, but I really appreciate how versatile it is throughout.

Score: 3.5/5

Aesop Rock – “Spirit World Field Guide” review

Aesop Rock is a 44 year old MC/producer from New York known for his massive vocabulary. Dude 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 Aesop on his own was in 2016 with the release of The Impossible Kid but as we approach the end of 2020, the man is delivering his 8th full-length album.

The album kicks off with “Hello from the Spirit World”, where Aesop describes the concept of the album over a xylophone-infused instrumental. “The Gates” then talks about being detached from society over a video gamey-beat while the song “Button Masher” talks about being buzzed over an abstract instrumental. The track “Dog at the Door” is literally about a dog barking at his door over a funky beat while the song “Gauze” talks about being watched over some drums & a bass guitar.

The track “Pizza Alley” talks about an experience he had in Peru over an entrancing beat while the song “Crystal Sword” talks about being nary of a known other over a funky boom bap instrumental. The track “Boot Soup” gets on the battle bar tip over a buzzing beat with some explosive drums while the song “Coveralls” talks about being on his old shit over a quirky instrumental.

The track “Jumping Coffin” talks about letting the combatants in over an electro-flavored beat while the song “Holy Waterfall” talks about a paranormal energy being waken & gaged over a synth-enlaced instrumental. The track “Flies” talks about cleaning his whole crib from insects over a calming boom bap beat while the song “Salt” talks about an unknown condition over an atmospheric instrumental.

The track “Sleeper Car” talks about feeling like losing it all again over a whimsical beat while the song “1 to 10” talks about having a bad back over a bare piano instrumental. The track “Attaboy” takes listeners to different levels of the spirit world over a dark beat while the song “Kodokushi” talks about dying alone over an Atari-esque instrumental.

The track “Fixed & Dilated” talks about a list of people he plans to haunt over a paranormal instrumental while the song “Side Quest” talks about skating the store at night over some bass & live drumming. The penultimate track “Marble Cake” talks about wanting to meet the maker over a tense beat with a brief switch-up near the end of the first half then the album ends with “The 4 Winds”, which describes sideways rain over a exploitation-esque instrumental.

I know this literally just came out, but I’ll honestly go as to far to say that this is one the best albums Aesop Rock has done yet. The outdoorsmen concept of the whole thing is very well executed & his production has only gotten better with time.

Score: 4/5

Goodie Mob – “Survival Kit” review

Goodie Mob is an Atlanta, Georgia quartet consisting of Cee-Lo Green, Big Gipp, Khujo & T-Mo. Their 1995 debut Soul Food is easily one of the greatest southern hip hop records ever made & their 1999 sophomore effort Still Standing is really good too, but the 3 albums that’ve followed have been either hit or miss. However after a 7 year hiatus, they’re reuniting with Ortanized Noize for their 6th full-length album.

Things kick off with “Are You Ready?”, where Goodie Mob talks about strengthening the Black community over a rock-flavored beat. The next song “Frontline” talks about anarchy over a rubbery instrumental while the track “Curry Goat” goes at the studio gangstas over a ghostly beat. The song “No Cigar” with André 3000 sees the 4 asking who wants the smoke over bouncy trap instrumental while the track “Prey 4 da Sheep” with Big Boi finds the 4 talking about those lost in the matrix over a laidback beat.

After the “DC Young Fly Crowe’s Nest Break” skit, the song “4 My Ppl” is an empowering tribute to African Americans over a rebellious instrumental with some occasional horns & then after the “Big Rube’s Road Break” skit, the track “Off Road” is a wonderful feel-good anthem that I can imagine being blasted at BBQs next spring/summer.

The song “Try We” gets confrontational over a cavernous beat while the track “Me Tyme” is them saying all they want to hear is that they’re thinking about over a smooth boom bap instrumental. The song “Back2Back” talks about getting flirtatious over symphonically sensual beat while the title track talks about talks about going to war over a instrumental with a well incorporated flute & guitar.

The penultimate song “Calm B4 da Storm” warns the listener that they haven’t seen nothing yet backed by multiple beat-switches & after the “Big Rube’s Amazing Break”, the closer “Amazing Grays” talks about making your time count over a chilling instrumental.

If you wanna hear a great comeback effort from one of the greatest southern hip hop groups of all-time, I HIGHLY recommend this album because I honestly think it’s their best since Still Standing. Organized Noize provides a fantastic musical backdrop for Goodie Mob as the quartet do a great job at tackling the social issues that we’ve been facing throughout this hectic year.

Score: 4/5

Future & Lil Uzi Vert – “PLUTO X BABY PLUTO” review

This is the new collaborative effort from 2 household names in the trap subgenre of hip hop, Future & Lil Uzi Vert. The 2 have come together a handful of times throughout the last few years with songs like “Too Much Sauce” or Wassup” but after dropping a couple singles this past summer, they have seen fit to take things to the next level on PLUTO X BABY PLUTO.

The opener “Stripes Like Burberry” sees the 2 talking about wanting to make their mother’s proud over a energizing instrumental from DJ Esco whereas the next song “Marni on Me” pays tribute to the Italian clothing company Marni over a bland Brandon Finessin’ of Working on Dying & Outtatown beat. The track “Sleeping on the Floor” talks about partying over an instrumental with some rubbery bass while the song “Real Baby Pluto” talks about their alter egos over a banger beat from Zaytoven.

The track “Drankin’ n’ Smokin’” talks about women over a calming instrumental while the song “$1M Play” talks about shooting it up over a woodwind-infused beat. The track “Plastic” talks about their Cartiers over an instrumental with some strings while the song “That’s It” talks about their woadies being coyotes over an hypnotic beat from Wheezy.

The track “Bought a Bad Bitch” talks about how fine their girls are over a nondescript instrumental while the song “Rockstar Chainz” is a solo Future cut about feeing like autopilot over an uneventful beat. The track “Lullaby” right after is of course an Uzi solo cut about doing wrong over a DY instrumental with an AMAZING vocal sample while the song “She Never Been to Pluto” is the duo getting back together to talk about kicking hoes out like Kudos over an EDM/trap fusion.

The track “F-Off Dat” talks about smoking a good pack over a plain instrumental while the next song “I Don’t Wanna Break Up” talks about wanting to stay with their significant others over a moody beat. The penultimate track “Bankroll” talks about their money over a triumphant instrumental & then the closer “Moment of Clarity” talks about everyday being a movie premiere over a luxurious Turbo beat.

For the 4 month wait, the end result is pretty mid. Not only is Uzi carrying a good portion of the tape, but I wish he & Future took more risks because on the production on here is just so mediocre & safely played. Would’ve been a much better EP if you ask me.

Score: 2.5/5

Verbz – “Radio Waves” review

This is the sophomore effort & High Focus Records debut from Croydon, South London, England, United Kingdom emcee Verbz. Introducing himself in 2017 off the full-length debut Lessons of Adolescence produced by Brighton beatsmith Mr. Slipz, he would later put out the debut mixtape Pathways a little over 52 weeks ago & that interested the Hove, East Sussex imprint enough to bring them on board in an attempt of shocking the Radio Waves despite the COVID-19 pandemic going 7 months strong.

“2202 FM” begins with a boom bap instrumental nostalgically reminiscent of 90s east coast hip hop talking about always walking right way maintaining an irate mindset & after the “Radio” skit, “Changed” blends cloud rap & boom bap realizing the time’s now for him to right all of his wrongs. “Falling” featuring Melanin 9 finds the 2 talking about being a product of more than simply smoking weed staying on the come up while the jazzy “Summer in the Bits” spending late nights & early mornings in the place he loves.

Preceding another “Radio” skit, “Scenes” cherishes each remnant of growth later confessing he isn’t sure where this road will take him leading into “Decline of Self” featuring Confucius MC & Coops finds the trio jumping over a piano-driven beat keeping it real to themselves & picking up the cards they’ve been dealt for years. “Piece of Shit” keeps the old school boom bap vibes going talking about never having a plan & simply making it work while “Hold Ur Own” makes it a mission to do his crew out in the Cronx proud.

“Know tha Status” featuring Axel Holy, Datkid & Upfront MC brings the keys back in the fold combining it with some kicks & snares talking about being selfish by default while “The Rain” succeeding a 3rd “Radio” skit refers back to the phrase “when it rains, it’s pours” after another life was lost in vein. “Weekend Blues” jazzily suggests everyone keeps their heads High to Focus on more demonstrating some clever wordplay just before “Men Can Breathe” featuring Benaddict dustily advises artists to find their balance & stay grinding until they get the chance of making money off their music.

Preceding the penultimate “Radio” skit, “Limitless” instrumentally reminds me of Nas’ iconic debut illmatic talking about there being nothing left other than the stains of what once was while “My Wonders” featuring Fliptrix comes together to burn skunk & pour liquor for their loved ones left. “The Feeling” explains burdens of the mind planting the roots of a new person while “Hope” featuring Nelson Dialect talking about only a few appreciating this. “In My Mind” excluding the “Radio” outro finishes by describing the only place he can find his peace.

I still prefer Lessons of Adolescence by a slight margin, but Verbz & Mr. Slipz still make an exciting High Focus Records debut out of Radio Waves & it gives me the impression they’ll put out some of the best material through the label as the decade goes on. Other than the skits kinda draggin’ it on a bit longer than it should’ve been, the unrivaled chemistry of Slipz’ cloudier yet denser boom bap production paired with Verbz’ introspective lyricism exposes what everything that makes them one of the UK hip hop movement’s most exciting acts in recent memory & the beginning of something greater for each of them.

Score: 4/5

Jehst – “Heathens” review

Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom graffiti writer, MC & producer Jehst dropping his 4th EP. Introducing himself by releasing an EP called Premonitions through his own label YNR Productions based out of London. He would go on to drop High Plains Drifter along with his debut album The Return of the Drifter & the sophomore effort Falling Down under the Leeds imprint Low Life Records, following the latter up with the Mengi Bus mixtape & the Nuke Proof Suit extended play. Coming off The Dragon of an Ordinary Family as well as the experimental Billy Green’s Dead, he’s compiling 4 tracks ahead of his next LP.

The title track gives off a dusty boom bap suggesting the younger artists must’ve thought he was born yesterday whereas “420 Every Day” works in a horn sample to talk about smoking weed daily. “State of the Union” gets the 2nd half of Heathens going with my favorite track here, hopping over a boom bap instrumental from Pitch 92 to letting off shots using his pen & “Body Bag” wraps things up angrily asking if anyone’s looking for a war they can’t win.

I believe there’s a good chance High Plains Drifterwill always remain my favorite EP in Jehst’s discography, but I’d have to rank Heathens as the weakest of the 4 placing it behind Nuke Proof Suit & Premonitions. However, I don’t want to mislead anyone into thinking I’m trying to call this wack when it’s one of the more average entries in his catalog. His penmanship isn’t an issue, although the production dividing itself between boom bap & the experimentations of Billy Green’s Dead could’ve been stronger than I hoped for.

Score: 3/5

ΠΔV – “Emergency Tsunami” review

This is the 5th mixtape from 30 year old Toronto, Ontario, Canada rapper, singer/songwriter & producer ΠΔV. Coming onto my radar in 2016 after signing to The Weeknd’s Republic Records imprint X♥O Records along with his feature on “beibs in the trap” off of Travis Scott’s sophomore effort Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, he would go on to release a total of 4 mixtapes as well as 3 full-length albums & an EP. Now I personally haven’t been the biggest fan of ΠΔV’s music up to this point because of his monotonous delivery, insipid lyrics & generic production choices. But once I found out Wheezy was producing Emergency Tsunami from top to bottom, my morbid curiosity got the best of me & I decided to go into it with an open mind.

After the “Breaking News” intro, the opener “Friends & Family” is a surprisingly compelling rags to riches story backed by a triumphant beat whereas the next track “Young Wheezy” with Gunna sees the duo paying tribute to the man behind the boards himself over a nondescript instrumental. The song “Nasty” of course gets raunchy over a buttery beat while the track “Repercussions” with Young Thug finds the 2 warning their opposition that they don’t want the smoke over a wavy instrumental.

The song “Vetement Socks” talks about how everything he buys is expensive over a tropical beat while the track “Don’t Need Friends” with Lil Baby sees the 2 talking about feeling relieved now that they’re getting money over an atmospheric instrumental. The song “Make It Right Back” over a woodwind-infused beat while the track “Trains” with Lil Keed finds the 2 talking about sleeping with hoes over an instrumental that sounds like it was made for Playboi Carti.

The song “Do Ya Deed” with SahBabii is a HIDEOUS ode to getting head despite the piano-inflicted production while the track “Droppin’ Tears” boasts over a wavy beat. The penultimate song “Modest” talks about being humble over a symphonic instrumental & before the “Breaking News” outro, the track “Turn & Twist” talks about going full throttle on top of an instrumental with some synthesizers & GORGEOUS background vocals.

Even though I don’t care for this mixtape, it’s actually safe for me to say to call it a cut above anything he’s done since Reckless. The features are cool & Wheezy’s production is top notch as is Mike Dean’s mastering, but I’ve come to terms that ΠΔV just doesn’t captivate me as a rapper. I mean I think his performances have improved a tad bit, but the songwriting is still pretty subpar

Score: 2/5