Vinnie Paz – “God Sent Vengeance” review

Here we have the 9th full-length solo LP from Philadelphia underground veteran Vinnie Paz. Breaking out as the MC of Jedi Mind Tricks & the leader of the Army of the Pharaohs collective, he put out his first 2 solo albums Season of the Assassin & God of the Serengeti in 2010 & 2012 respectively until returned in 2016 with The Cornerstone of the Corner Store. The Pain Collector would become my favorite of his since his first 2 but since as above so below, Paz has been staying consistent by delivering a new solo effort every year. Tortured in the Name of God’s Unconditional Love spawned a trilogy & All Are Guests in the House of God continued it, only for it to come to a close on God Sent Vengeance.

After the “Abudadein” intro, the first song “Shepherd’s Rod” is this soulful boom bap opener courtesy of Hobgoblin talking about slapping a few rappers because of them moving backwards whereas “2 Knights Forced” produced by Evidence asks if he has to tell anyone time & time again that they’re flat out wack. “Bulldozer” featuring Young Buck darkly makes it clear neither one of them are trying to be righteous in any way thanks to Stu Bangas while “Head of David” ruggedly talks about being the real bad man.

Lord Goat joins the Heavy Metal Kings on “Acid Teeth” aggressively venting what it was like for them to be born into pain just before the August Fanon-laced “Timetravel_0” talks about everyone adapting if it comes down to him having to drop a body. “Megaton Swords” featuring Cappadonna teams up to take aim at sucka MCs together leading into “Rafiki Books” talking about learning to take a stand instead of taking THE stand over a DJ Sam Seed instrumental.

“Perfect Enemy” reunites with C-Lance behind the boards referencing former 2-time NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion Héctor Guerrero and 3-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion, WCW World Television Champion, 3-time WCW World Tag Team Champion & WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff just before “Battle Scars (Pharaoh Overlords)” comes through with this raw ass AotP posse cut making reference to the 2025 NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Chico’s Bail Bonds” ominously continues forward having the feeling that somebody’s gonna end up dying tonight, but then “All Guns Full Ammo” featuring Onyx finds the trio shooting shit up together.

Sick Jacken appears on the rugged “Sacrificio (De Muerte)” to send shots towards any man’s way over a Relense beat while “Heavy Chains” hauntingly talks about being afraid of himself. “Wings of Azrael” featuring Napoleon da Legend suggests for everyone to dance with the wolves while “Mao’s War on Sparrows” talks about there less Indians & more thieves these days. “Noise Drug” featuring Boob Bronx & Recognize Ali ends with all 3 of them coming for the weak.

Although the Jacinto’s Praying Mantis EP from last summer was a minor step down from the previous installments of the God trilogy, I still enjoyed it as a prelude & the final chapter of the saga finishes it off the way it started. The production is a mix of established veterans & lesser known beatsmiths on the come up focusing less on the trap elements of its predecessors in favor of a general hardcore hip hop direction.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Harry Shotta – “Odyssey” review

Essex, England, United Kingdom emcee Harry Shotta of SaSaSaS signing to High Focus Records for his 5th solo LP. Making his solo debut in 2010 off 8 Days a Week followed by the debut EP Xtravagence & debut mixtape 12 Months, he would go on to follow those up with Back 4 More as well as It’s Showtime & Screaming at the Skies until having Erb n Dub & Xyphon producing Spanner in the Works & Year of the Lyricist respectively. Possessed by the DNB came in the summer of 2020, making his debut for High Focus to embark on an Odyssey following the death of Skibadee.

After the intro, “Put My Feet Up” starts off jumping over a sample-driven boom bap instrumental from King Kashmere talking about feeling like his younger self in the booth whereas the lead single “It Wasn’t Easy” produced by Leaf Dog discusses being a product of hip hop culture. “Final Results” featuring Grafh joins forces to dismantle any opposition over a Farma G beat sampling a piano just before “Different Fabric” talks about the type of cloth he was cut from with Wundrop behind the boards.

MC Spyda & P Money both join Harry for the bass heavy 3rd & final single “Imposter” airing out those who be cappin’ in their lyrics leading into “Bad Boy Sound” featuring Eksman & Shabba D embraces a jungle drum & bass sound thanks to Telemachus homaging that popular style emerging out of the UK rave scene. “Labor of Love” featuring Scrufizzer talks about what this music shit mean to the both of them while the drum & bass “Motion Picture” compares his scriptures to movies.

“Stay Defiant” ends the 1st half of this audio Odyssey instrumentally taking it’s cues from the grime scene while the 2nd single “Legendary” featuring Fliptrix & Verb T comes together over a soulful DJ Jazz T & Illinformed beat talking about their respective legacies. “Wild Bunch” featuring Leaf Dog asking for everyone to put their hands in the sky although it ain’t a robbery while “Chasing a Buzz” returns to the boom bap talking about becoming a better version of himself after sobering up & firing back in the midst of the world becoming colder.

As for “New Breed”, we have Harry over this uncanny trap instrumental showing an eagerness of raising the bar & switching things up while grim-influenced “Overthinking” talks about the requirement of finding peace if one truly wants to get to the end of their journey. “Lazy Days” brings the kicks & snares back in full gear celebrating a fun evening out prior to Pitch 92 jumping behind the boards for “You Deserve It”, endearingly gives his flowers to his wife ahead of a whole decade being married coming up later this summer.

“Breathing Under Water” starts Odyssey’s final moments with a chipmunk soul beat talking about hiding out of fear while “Salute” dustily pens a passionate love letter to hip hop itself. The title track combines cloud rap with drum & bass talking about life changing since nothing stays the same while the closer “No Competition” featuring Westman sends off the full-length shrugging off the haters who keep both of them rent free inside their heads.

Taking it back to his roots in the wake of Skibadee’s passing, Harry Shotta’s introduction as part of the High Focus Records roster surpasses everything he’s done by himself within the last decade plus breaking down his adventures in music & the significance hip hop has had in every chapter of his life. The production’s more innovative compared to what the label normally puts out from going from grime to jungle, drum & bass, boom bap and chipmunk soul for an reflective Odyssey themed around Harry’s life both artistically & personally.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Action Figure 973 – “Dark Side of the Ring 2” review

Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973 continuing the Dark Side of the Ring saga with his 7th EP. Somebody whose growing discography comprised of 2 mixtapes & 6 EPs has been steadily making waves in the underground for a few years already, most notably his last EP almost a couple months ago titled after the Vice docuseries of the same name. In the midst of the show’s ongoing 6th season, a sequel to Dark Side of the Ring has arrived following WrestleMania XLI weekend.

“Raw is Act-Lo” opens with an eerie boom bap instrumental referencing the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings division WWE’s flagship program on Netflix whereas “Big Poppa Dump” references former 3-time CWA World Tag Team Champion, 2-time IWGPタッグチャンピオン, 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion, WWE Hall of Famer, WCW World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time WCW World Television Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 9-time WWE tag team champion Scott Steiner.

The finisher of current 3-time TNA World Tag Team Champion & inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champion Matt Hardy of The Hardy Boyz’ gets likened to Act-Lo’s work ethic on “Jordan Cement 3’s” leading into former SMW World Tag Team Champion, SMW United States Jr. Heavyweight Champion, 6-time WWE Hardcore Champion & WWE tag team champion “Al Snow” formerly married to the first of 4 women to win the WWE Hardcore Championship Cynthia Lynch getting a drumless homage of his own.

“Sunday Night Heat” featuring Young Reese Dude chops up a soul sample referencing 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion & NWA World Tag Team Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin just before ”Jaida Parker” gives his flowers to the NXT superstar who competed in a fatal 4 way at Stand & Deliver V against Jordynne Grace, ジュリア & the retaining NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer.

The song “Workhorse Champion” references both the late 8-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, WWE Hall of Famer & the inaugural WWE United States Champion Harley Race and the late 3-time ECW World Tag Team Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, 2-time SMW Tag Team Champion, 2-time SMW Beat the Champ Television Champion, 3-time SMW United States Jr. Heavyweight Champion, WWE Cruiserweight Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion & XPW World Heavyweight Champion Chris Candido while “Color the Old Fashioned Way” finishes with bars about the current 13-time WWE tag team champions The New Day fresh off dethroning former 3-time WWE tag team champions The War Raiders.

Ahead of the actual show’s next set to be focused around the late CWA World Heavyweight Champion
as well as WWE Hall of Famer & former WWE Champion “Superstar” Billy Graham tomorrow, Dark Side of the Ring 2 finds Action Figure 973 stepping back in the squared circle once more dropping lyrical suplexes as if he’s former IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン as well as a 10-time WWE world champion & former UFC Heavyweight Champion in both TKO Group Holdings divisions Brock Lesnar.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Twiztid – “Nickel Bag 2” review

In front of us is the 17th EP from Detroit, Michigan’s demented duo Twiztid. Consisting of Jamie Madrox Madrox & Monoxide, both of whom originally started out as part of the House of Krazees alongside childhood friend The R.O.C. in 1992 before their initial disbandment 5 years later. Almost immediately after, the Insane Clown Posse took Jamie & Mono under their wings by signing them to Psychopathic Records as who they’re known as today. They would become the label’s 2nd biggest act being their mentors off projects like Mostasteless, Freek Show, Mirror Mirror, The Green Book, W.I.C.K.E.D. (Wish I Could Kill Every Day) & Abominationz. Shortly after the latter was released, Twiztid left Psychopathic to form Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2014. Since then they’ve released 7 albums & 9 EPs on their own label, my favorites of which being /ˌrevəˈlāSH⁽ᵊ⁾n/, Glyph & more recently the Zeuss-produced Unlikely Prescription sequel Welcome to Your Funeral. Their own pop culture convention Astronomicon had it’s 8th annual event at the beginning of the month with appearances from the current TNA World Champion Joe Hendry, former AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker and 5 WWE Hall of Famers; Sting, Lita, Trish Stratus, Kevin Nash & Bret Hart. However to coincide with 4/20 weekend, they’ve whipped up a Nickel Bag sequel.

“421” is this hardcore hip hop intro produced by Fritz the Cat talking about getting down every single whether there’s a party going on or not with absolutely 0 fucks given whereas “Tarantula” takes a slower route instrumentally suggesting to keep it pushing getting high on the daily. “422” goes for a glitchier trap vibe thanks to Grady Finch talking about losing hope & control at the same time until the closing track “By Myself” maintains a darker trap edge courtesy of James Garcia or the artist formerly known as Young Wicked asking not to let them smoke by themselves.

The original Nickel Bag was known for it’s collection of remixes & only a couple newly recorded songs, but the sequel here outdoes it’s predecessor by completely ditching the need for any remixes in favor of more refreshing compositions other than “420 Premium Quality” being included on the Electric Lettuce deluxe. Fritz handles the production again other than James & Grady’s individual contributions, marking a return to Twiztid’s hardcore hip hop style after the heavy rap metal/nu metal influences during Welcome to Your Funeral.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Ilajide – “Pocket Jams 2” review

Here we have the 6th studio LP from Detroit, Michigan emcee/producer Ilajide. Formerly of the Clear Soul Forces, he’s put out a couple beat tapes along with 5 full-length albums & 7 EPs under his belt. It’s been 4 years since I covered Code 200 & that was the finest solo LP of his entire career, linking up with Seattle producer Def D for his best EP Tape Delay last summer. Continuing the 4/20 tradition of releasing music, Pocket Jams 2 announced on New Year’s Day is finally here on Night 2 of WrestleMania XLI merely hours after the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings acquired Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) from the Peña–Roldán family as a subsidiary of their WWE division in response their Tony Khan-owned competitors All Elite Wrestling (AEW) & Ring of Honor Wrestling (ROH) both being involved with this year’s annual Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), 新日本プロレス (NJPW) & Revolution Pro Wrestling (RPW) co-promoted event Fantastica Mania this summer held at La Catedral de la Lucha Libre Arena México.

“Pimp Talk” sets the tone with this funky self-produced instrumental telling us what it’s like to be a playa in his shoes whereas the aptly-named “Issa Nice Day” keeps bringing the funk for a summertime anthem only 2 months ahead of time. “Stop Talkin’” works in some crooning vocals & synthesizers for a retro, carefree club banger prior to “Impress Me” groovily talking about women having to wow him to get his attention.

Moving on from there, “Backhand” goes for a bit of a psychedelic flare telling his girl to shake somethin’ for him while “Don’t Talk to Me” woozily talks about bossing up & feeling wavy as a result. “Don’t Play” keeps the dance vibes going cautioning everyone not to fuck with him just before the funky “Party in Her Pants” talks about themes of lust.

“Make Me Loose” begins the final leg of Pocket Jams 2 for a playful ode to loosening himself up off the alcohol while “Slide” comes through with another funky dance number encouraging all the party people on the place to move their bodies. “Stallion” featuring & produced by Radio Galaxy finishes the Pocket Jams sequel paying homage to Parliament-Funkadelic as far as influence goes.

Representing a deeper dive into Ilajide’s artistic identity, Pocket Jams 2 fuses hip hop & funk music together blending the vibe of the 70s with the sound of 2025. Think of it as a UFO Time Machine from the 70s crash-landing in the future. The main goal he had in mind during the studio sessions is to make people move while staying true to himself, the journey he’s been on, growth & lastly self reflection.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Tha God Fahim – “Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 11” review

Atlanta, Georgia emcee/producer Tha God Fahim continuing to dump with his 59th EP. Starting as an affiliate of Griselda Records as well as being 1/3 of the Dump Gawds alongside Mach-Hommy & Your Old Droog, we also can’t ignore the massive discography that he’s managed to build for himself, some of the standouts include Breaking Through tha Van Allen Belts & Dump Assassins. He’s been putting out amongst his best material in the past few years like the Camoflauge Monk-produced Dark Shogunn Assassin, the Nature Sounds-backed Iron Bull, the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King series, the Oh No-produced Berserko, the Mike Shabb-produced Dump Gawd: Rhyme Pays, Tha Supreme Hoarder of All Pristine Wealth, Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga produced by Cookin’ Soul & Machine Gun Vocabulary produced by Cartune Beatz. Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 10 came out a few days ago & the saga is continuing with an 11th installment merely hours before Night 1 of the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings division WWE’s marquee event WrestleMania begins & after WWE CCO Triple H, former 4-time WWE women’s champion Michelle McCool, former 5-time WWE United States Champion Lex Luger, former WWE Tag Team Champions The Natural Disasters, The Ugandan Giant Kamala, Dory Funk Sr. & former WWE Champion Ivan Koloff all got inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame overnight.

“Make Better” is this chipmunk soul intro talking about taking the good & the bad to make improvements on top of flexing the unprecedented run he’s been on whereas “Guardian of Styles” featuring Jay NiCE keeps it drumless to call themselves the keepers of the technique. “Hungry 4 da Market” takes the boom bap route instrumentally likening his fighting style to the iconic Chuck Norris while “Motion” jazzily strips the drums again talking about having movement.

Jay NiCE returns for “No Days Without Dumpin’” getting back on the chipmunk soul vibe again so they can discuss not taking any days off in 2025 dumpin’ on the daily while “What Im Dishin’” featuring Jay NiCE talks about serving nothing but absolute heat on their ends references Homelander from The Boys on the Amazon-owned Prime Video. “Tha Lawbringing Revolver” finishes the EP with 1 more drumless track wanting to live comfortably & fleeing the country after concluding the saga 89 entries from now.

Given that I’ve been highly favorable towards the entire Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap saga up until this point, it might come as a surprise to many to hear me call this the weakest installment of the series so far although it’s still very much enjoyable. Nicholas Craven’s production here prominently centered around the drumless style on here & I appreciate hearing Jay NiCE on nearly half of it, but I hope to see more guests down the line as opposed to solely him or Big Cheeko.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Tunde Adebimpe – “Thee Black Boltz” review

Tunde Adebimpe is a 50 year old musician, singer/songwriter & actor from St. Louis, Missouri known for being the co-frontman of TV on the Radio as well as his roles in the 16th Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Spider-Man: Homecoming & the brief animated series Lazer Wulf on the Discovery Global-owned Cartoon Network late night block [adult swim]. However, he’s looking to embark on a solo career by signing to Sub Pop Records & putting together a debut album solely under his own name.

After the titular intro, the first song “Magnetic” was a post-punk revival & alternative dance lead single that suits the beginning of the LP rollout singing about thinking of his time & space whereas “Ate the Moon” takes the industrial dance route instrumentally suggesting to call the doctors, preachers & lawyers. “Pinstack” hooks up a prominent electric guitar so he can ask if you’d like to live in a dream, but then “Drop” blends indie pop & neo-soul into 1 singing about rising into the night.

“ILY” gives off a prominent acoustic vibe for a tribute to his wife & French cartoonist Domitille Collardey leading into “The Most” dabbling with synthpop suggesting that the love will live on even if the lover is a liar. “God Knows” delves into the complexities of a bittersweet breakup capturing his vulnerability just before “Blue” might be my least favorite track despite its electronic influences.“Somebody New” throws it back to the 80s bringing indie pop & indietronica together while the minimal “Streetlight Nuevo” wraps it up by riding this rupture until the break of day.

In a lot of ways, the excitement of doing something on his own for the first time ignited a similar spark in him as TV on the Radio’s earlier days. Wilder Zoby’s production prominently goes for an indie rock, art pop & indie pop flare with further influences of indie folk, dance-punk revival, synthpop, indietronica, alternative dance & singer/songwriter addressing themes of the human condition in all its forms under all its stressors both big & small. For this to be his proper introduction as a solo act, Tunde surely desperate grasps onto small moments of joy amidst the dissonance & sadness in any way he could possibly can.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Bernadette Price – “A Widow’s Cry” review

This is the official full-length studio debut album from Brooklyn, New York emcee & the current Ruck Down Records CEO Bernadette Price. The widow of the late Sean Price of the Boot Camp Clik & Heltah Skeltah, she’s made a few appearances on songs in the past whether it be her late husband’s posthumous offering Imperius Rex or even with the likes of RJ PayneRim, the Snowgoons, Ruste Juxx & Vic Spencer. With the 10-year anniversary of Sean’s passing approaching this summer, Duck Down Music Inc. has finally decided to allow the world to hear A Widow’s Cry.

After the Keisha Plum intro, the first song “Drama Time” featuring Ruste Juxx produced by Stu Bangas is this horn-inflicted boom bap cut warning that people ain’t slick as they think they are whereas “Real Life” featuring Smif-n-Wessun & Terror Van Poo ominously finds everyone getting serious topically. “Flatlined” featuring Terror Van Poo links up with Vinny Idol behind the boards to continue kicking it hardcore & after an interlude, “Bars” featuring Ruste Juxx & Terror Van Poo shows off their lyricism over a Khrysis instrumental.

The title track ominously warns that she’s gonna make everyone remember her for good leading into “Gloomy” featuring Terror Van Poo grimly talks about them moving like they gonna stick ya ass up for the loot instead of doing so sensitively as if it’s a love movie. After another interlude, “Sean’s Gone” soulfully remembers her late husband that tragically left us almost 10 years ago already & “Shut da Fuck Up” featuring Sean Price himself silences everyone over a boom bap beat from Da Beatminerz.

Santana Fox keeps it in the basement sonically during “Skully” assuring that everyone still out here delivering while “No Love” featuring Terror Van Poo reunites the pair so they can make it clear that they ain’t your muhfuckin’ friend. “Now Ain’t the Time” featuring Terror Van Poo soulfully declines any thoughts coming their way that isn’t theirs whatsoever & ahead of the outro, the final song “Do About It” featuring Rock & Terror Van Poo ends by suggesting y’all should’ve been believing in Bernadette.

Being able to hear her working with all those artists that I mentioned at the very beginning has really come full circle on A Widow’s Cry since her official debut LP establishes herself as an artist along with honoring the memory of her husband that left us way too soon. The production is primarily grounded in the traditional boom bap sound, recruiting the right beatsmiths & guests to join her in transforming her vision into a work of art.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Keri Hilson – “We Need to Talk” review

Keri Hilson is a 42 year old singer/songwriter, producer & actress from Decatur, Georgia breaking out in the contemporary R&B world when Timbaland signed her to Mosley Music Group & Interscope Records in the late 2000s for her full-length studio debut In a Perfect World… & the sophomore effort No Boys Allowed. Making her comeback after 15 years, her 3rd LP right in front of us marks the beginning of a new trilogy & her independent debut since she’s not on a major label anymore.

After the “Grateful” intro, the first song “Naked (Love)” passionately starts with a spacious R&B singing about having to find herself since 2010 whereas “Searchin’” featuring Method Man mixes hip hop & R&B from the boom bap instrumental to the romantic lyrics. “Somethin (‘Bout U)” continues with this 6-minute R&B ballad about finding something fascinating regarding the person she’s seeing currently & the lead single “Bae” gives off a trap soul vibe singing about what she loves her partner to call her.

“Scream” blends together trap soul & pop music for a single revolving around intercourse leading into “Whatever” promising to show her lover exactly what she’s made of & all she can do. “Weigh Me Down” has somewhat of a dancehall flare to the beat keeping her head in the clouds & her feet on the ground, but then “Say That” finishes We Need to Talk by making it clear that you have to tell her if you want her heart.

Being somebody who highly enjoyed Keri’s first 2 albums more than others did, We Need to Talk marks her highly-anticipated return with the 1st entry of a brand new trilogy that has me eager regarding the next 2 installments. The production pulling from trap soul, contemporary R&B, pop music & a hint of hip hop music well enough proving that she doesn’t need Timbo exploring themes of love, drama & redemption.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Mozzy – “Intrusive Thoughts” review

In front of us is the 10th studio LP from Sacramento, California emcee Mozzy. Becoming a fan of in the summer of 2017 off his debut 1 Up Top Akh & he went on to be featured on the soundtrack for Black Panther only 6 months later & drop 6 more full-lengths through his EMPIRE-backed Mozzy Records prior to Memphis veteran Yo Gotti landing him a contract with Collective Music Group/Interscope Records. His major label debut Survivor’s Guilt was more poignant than what Mozzy had done previously & Children of the Slums last spring exemplified growth in his rap career & personal life, although Brash Dummies became a letdown. 8 months later, some Intrusive Thoughts of his are becoming let out in the open.

After the “$FlyMoney2X” intro, the first song “Press Play” is this nervous opener talking about never taking a weekend off & never leaving his dogs despite what people say online whereas “Death Before Dishonor” featuring EST G finds the 2 hoping a gangsta shot them if they happen to die in their sleep. “Under Oath” works in more traffic music influences talking about the slums having a hold of him while “Katta Clips” dabbles with Detroit trap throwing it back to a deep cut in his catalog “Dear XXL”.

Lil Poppa joins Mozzy on the sample-driven “Nightmares” talking about it being hard to sleep at night trying to be doing alright leading into the solemn although much necessary “Keep Callin’ My Name” getting some pain off his chest lyrically. “7 2’s” continues the introspection feeling fed up with seeing graduation pictures whenever he checks the news, but then “Role Model” talks about him not trying to become someone others should take examples from.

“Pac Proud” hooks up these prominent piano chords gives his flowers to the late west coast icon 2Pac & speaks on being unable to forget the trenches since he’s a child of it throughout while “Hella Hyphy” taps in with his Northern California roots embracing the hyphy subgenre Keak da Sneak pioneered. “Who Want War?” featuring Polo G gives off a bloodthirsty trap vibe asking if anyone wants beef with them while “10%” advises to ask him why he signed to CMG.

E Mozzy & Maine Musik appear for “Modify It” catchin’ somebody lying about catching a body while “Reputation Everything” featuring Celly Ru breaks down their name around the street being everything to them. “Blood Diamonds” featuring Peysoh blends nervous music & gangsta rap themes together for a collab that makes up for the latter 2 while Tsu Surf gets his own solo cut with “Free Surf” calling for his freedom. “No Fabrication” finally ends the album brushing off any notion that his life is all cap.

Similarly to his CMG debut, Intrusive Thoughts doesn’t shy away from the trials & tribulations that drive some of Mozzy’s most memorable recordings bouncing back from the mediocre reception of Brash Dummies with his best since Children of the Slums. He continues his journey towards inner peace attempting to silence his unquiet mind & move forward from his traumatic youth in Oak Park in addition to imparting some knowledge on how to keep your mind strong enough to navigate street life & emerge with your soul intact.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!