Rim – “Corner Disciple” review

Brooklyn, New York emcee Rim teaming up with Vanderslice for his 6th LP. Notable for being 1/2 of Da Villins, he also embarked on a solo career in 2018 with his debut EP Ugandan Lunch Meat along with the debut album Dead on Arrival & the sophomore effort KeeP! It Ville. Couple more EPs Algorhythms & Poetic Substance preluded Phresh Waves, which was followed by 2 more EPs; M!nd State produced by Finn & later Verse Ability. Both installments of Rimbrandt were ok & $5 Holla was a little better, although Corner Disciple had more potential to be his best.

“Da Corner” intro by BRNGTN kinda has this drumless reggae flip that sticks out calling himself a drug game participant whereas “If It’s Hot” featuring Maffew Ragazino & Planet Asia gives off a jazzier boom bap edge kicking the bitch-made out since they were never needed & out of both guest verses, Asia’s stood out to me the most. “Stick to the Plan” works in these pianos taking jabs at those always complaining about something leading into “Daily Crimes” featuring Illa Ghee ominously walking the ghetto forest speaking orders.

We have Rim over this mobster-style beat on “Night Drives” talking about taking his whip out for a spin during the evenings while “Him Did It” ruggedly cautioning to check the signs before striking. “Hazul Story” returns to the boom bap showing off his storytelling abilities prior to “Bodega Apostles” featuring Aye Wun & Spit Gemz bringing the trio together discussing their prophets statuses in the street corners. “1 Day” breaks down the possible experiences one could have while “Faction of Action” featuring Lørd Skø & Rock ends with all 3 of them warning not to slip.

Only a little over 2 months since Stuyville put out their sophomore effort albeit 3rd body of work together overall Welcome to Stuyville produced by Camoflauge Monk & 38 Spesh to high acclaim amongst underground heads, the Pennsylvania veteran gets with the Brownsville lyricist for his most essential body of work. Rim’s songwriting is top notch & Vansleazy’s gritty yet well polished production only elevates it.

Score: 4.5/5

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Vega7 the Ronin – “The Ghost Orchid” review

Here we have the 5th studio LP from Queens, New York emcee Vega7 the Ronin. Emerging after enlisting Danish beatsmith Machacha to produce his debut EP The Lead Lined Wall, he would go on to land feature placement on the 5th & final entry of Ty Farris’ historic No Cosign Just Cocaine mixtape series & tap in with Superior for his debut Sleep’s the Cousin. I equally enjoyed the Body Bag Ben-produced Kawasaki Killers, reuniting with Machacha for The Ghost Orchid after a mixtape along with an EP & the previous album album Griotes of the 3rd Rail.

After the “Floating Secret” intro, the first song “Quoth the Raven” references 14-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & WWE United States Champion Randy Orton and WWE Hall of Famer, former 2-time WWE world champion, ECW World Television Champion, 6-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 4-time & the final WWE Hardcore Champion, TNA World Champion & TNA X Division Champion Rob Van Dam whereas the sample-driven “Toast the Spiritz” talks about hearing a ghost in his liver staying nice & stylized in the Karl Kanis with the gats.

“Paper Presidents” works in a guitar driven boom bap beat making it clear he only cares about family & the paper incorporating a bar referring to BJW認定デスマッチヘビー級チャンピオン & WWE Hall of Famer Abdullah the Butcher prior to bilingual “K.R.E.A.M.” featuring Trepac spits beat in both the English & Danish languages. “Ritual”, talks about being legitimate if he ever calls you his brother just before “Barefoot Contessa” references 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.

As for “Stained Glass Ghost”, we have Vega7 giving a middle finger to the pressure since he can bench & lift the weight up as if he’s a fitness trainer calling himself the demon in the church while “Hokage Mountain” featuring André DeSaint, Jamil Honesty & Shottie brings the quartet together over a rap rock instrumental to restore the feeling. “A Flower for Farewell” symphonically flexes his lyrics being a relic of the past while “The World’s Borough” featuring Book$ & Paddy Duke ahead of the “Anden Del” outro represents their stomping grounds Queens to the fullest.

3 years have already passed since The Lead Line Wall properly introduced the underground world to one of the best songwriters in the game today Vega7 the Ronin emerged with Denmark’s finest producer currently & they get back a week after the anniversary to see the growth in their chemistry since they last got together for a whole body of work. Machacha’s production stays prominently grounded in the traditional boom bap sound & Vega7’s lyricism blends elements of both hardcore & abstract hip hop.

Score: 4/5

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Dutch Interior – “Moneyball” review

Dutch Interior is an indie rock band from Long Beach, California consisting of guitarist/vocalist Jack Nugent, guitarist/vocalist Conner Reeves, keyboardist/vocalist Shane Barton, drummer Hayden Barton, bassist/vocalist Davis Stewart & guitarist/vocalist Noah Kurtz. Their 2021 debut EP Kindergarten would prelude their full-length debut Blinded by Fame, the latter of which would become their most acclaimed project thus far & resulted in Fat Possum Records signing them earlier this winter. To coincide with spring, they’re making their debut for the label by putting out their sophomore effort.

“Canada” is this indie rock opener singing about seeing 2 sparrows flirting by the lake whereas “Sandcastle Molds” goes for more of an alt-country vibe dealing with holding on to your sense of self as the world descends into madness at a nauseating pace. “Wood Knot” keeps the alt-country influences going disregarding the idea of being a leaf when he’s a natural irregularity, but then “Science Fiction” sings about something shifted in his shape over acoustics & an organ.

The acknowledgement of self-awareness on “Sweet Time” of the world moving fast day by day is made clearly with it’s traditional country tone while “Life (So Crazy)” goes indie rock again singing that he misses the days when the moments were still until the weight came. “4th Street” embraces an Americana direction keeping their secrets close to the ground & the country-driven “Horse” dreams of living in the countryside. “Christ on the Mast” feels more alt-country feeling Hell bent & “Beekeeping” finishes their Fat Possum debut with a reflection on personal flaws.

These guys’ disparate influences all converge on here shapeshifting oscillates between sharply hewn indie rock as well as alt-country along with hints of dissonant ambience & Americana, all while still sounding like a band who both speak their own private language & translate it into something universal. They take the observation of us existing in a tradition of American music & take that to places that are personal to them finds its way in terms of songwriting through its own humorous twists & turns, an undercurrent of omnipresent & steadfast declarations of love.

Score: 4.5/5

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Selena Gomez – “I Said I Love You First…& You Said It Back” review

Selena Gomez is a 32 year old actress, singer/songwriter, producer & businesswoman from Grand Prairie, Texas notable for emerging as Alex Russo on The Walt Disney Company owned Disney Channel sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place & & later the A24 Films crime satire Spring Breakers. She even put out 3 full-lengths Kiss & Tell, A Year Without Rain & When the Sun Goes Down under Hollywood Records with her band The Sceneuntil fulfilling her contract in the form of her solo debut Stars Dance & signing to Interscope Records thereafter. Revival & Rare were as decent as everything else she’s done, except her 4th LP produced by her fiancé benny blanco got my best interest even if people are more upset with Selena for crying on camera because of people being deported instead of Ye formerly known as Kanye West fresh off leaking his own album BULLY openly calling himself a Nazi.

After the titular intro, the first song “Younger & Hotter Than Me” produced with FINNEAS details self-hatred for thinking an ex of her’s was different & wishing she never loved him after moving on to someone younger & prettier whereas “Call Me When You Break Up” featuring Gracie Abrams co-produced by Cashmere Cat & Dylan Brady blends pop rock, dance-pop, synthpop & indie pop offering support to a friend after a breakup. Ojos Tristes” featuring The Marías samples “El Muchacho de los Ojos Tristes” by Jeannette for a Latin pop duet describing a boy with sad eyes finally finding a reason, but then “Don’t Wanna Cry” sings about finding another hand to hold.

“Sunset Blvd” was my favorite single fusing synthpop, bedroom pop, alt-pop, chillsynth & hypnagogic pop recalling her first date with benny just before “Cowboy” featuring Glorilla on the remix gets a little raunchier topically revolving around the themes of intercourse. “Bluest Flame” written with Charli XCX suggests a contrast or an overcoming of a set standard by evoking an intense & powerful feeling wanting to go insane all night leading into “How Does it Feel to Be Forgotten?” expresses hope that one will get to heal 1 day & asking what it’s like having her forget the individual that she has in mind.

After the “Do You Wanna Be Perfect?” interlude, “You Said You Were Sorry” opens up about a dream she had where someone finally apologized to her & them forgiving each other while “I Can’t Get Enough” dabbles with moombahton except it feels more like a J Balvin song. “Don’t Take It Personally” addresses a friend of benny’s that he used to talk to every day & things not being the same since she came around while “Scared of Loving You” is a folk pop, singer/songwriter & indie folk outro telling her fiancé that she’s afraid of losing him.

“That’s When I’ll Care” starts the deluxe run with a Rare outtake indifferently responding to those who’re so consumed about her personal life while “Talk” interpolates “Never There” by Cake yearning to have benny’s arms around her. “Stained” is another leftover from the Rare sessions singing about the damage Selena’s exes have inflicted upon her & the final bonus track “Guess You Could Say I’m in Love” featuring Greg Gonzalez puts their feet down regarding the pain that comes with love.

Growing up watching Selena Gomez on Wizards of Waverly Place during my adolescence, I could never get into really any of The Scene’s output or her last 3 solo efforts since it simply wasn’t for me personally. I Said I Love You First…& You Said It Back however went above & beyond my expectations for it beginning her impending hiatus from making music to focus more on her acting career by chronicling her & benny’s love story from around the time they first met to,l falling in love & looking to what the future holds showing influences of pop rock, dance-pop, synthpop, indie pop, bedroom pop, alt-pop, chillsynth, hypnagogic pop, moombahton, folk pop, singer/songwriter & indie folk.

Score: 4/5

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Grounds – “Walking into Tragedy” review

Grounds is a singer/songwriter & multi-genre producer from Farmington, Missouri most well known for leading the alternative rock band It Comes in Waves. Finding his calling quickly during his adolescence, he was invited to front multiple local bands & even formed a hip hop duo which would go on to release 2 full-lengths. He eventually signed to Dirtcore Music last summer, which marked a pivotal moment in the label’s expansion into rock & metal music. Couple singles later, he’s putting out an EP of his own & is setting out to show Dirtcore’s versatility.

“Down in the Fire” is a nu-metal opener produced with Dirtcore founder Crossworm that really gives you a taste of what’s to come from the rest of the EP singing about not feeling alive whereas “Broken” continues the heavy instrumentation explaining that no one knows the Hell he’s been through. “Fractured” goes for an alt-rock vibe that I really enjoy unable to tell if it’s love or regret just before “The Little Things” passionately sings about no longer being afraid of what he’ll lose for speaking his truth. “Make Sure You Hurt” featuring Samson Samson ends the EP vengefully assuring those who cross them will be sorry.

Dirtcore Music is primarily known for their acts being within the underground hip hop realms other than Crossworm’s last album ANTI & Walking into Tragedy feels a lot like Zug Izland releasing their debut album Cracked Tiles under Psychopathic Records or Makenzie Nicole’s sophomore effort Mystic under Strange Music & the Dropout Kings’ sophomore effort Riot Music under Suburban Noize Records being a more recent example. What I’m saying is: Dirtcore lets the It Comes in Waves frontman drop a 5-track EP that I can see appeal to fans of LINKIN PARK, 3 Days Grace, 30 Seconds to Mars & Bullet for My Valentine.

Score: 4/5

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Seth Narley – “The American Dream: Son of a Dealer” review

This is the 8th EP from South Bronx, New York emcee Seth Narley. Dropping his debut EP 5am on Crosby in 2019, he would later follow it up by putting out the Trissland trilogy & drop 3 more EPs last year; Night at the Roxy, A Millbrook Story & S.A.L.Y. (Still Ain’t Lie Yet). Both the artwork & the name for The American Dream: Son of a Dealer caught my attention since it homages former 3-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, NWA National Heavyweight Champion, WWE Hall of Famer, WWE United States Champion, 2-time WCW World Tag Team Champion & 3-time WCW World Television Champion Dusty Rhodes.

“Club Eugene” after the “American Dream” intro is a drumless opener to talk about usually making fast money on a slow day while “Pelle Pelle Princess” works in a heavy piano instrumental asking who this dude get his style from since he clearly stole it. “Jolly Mo (High)” featuring S.W.A.N. finds the pair coming up short & getting a quarter for trying prior to “Dusty (Family)” finishing the EP properly by talking about recently being advised to keep it within the bloodline & chillin’ at the courtyard of the Marriott resort.

A little over a decade in the game & the former A$AP Mob affiliate known for his style being a mixture of former Bad Boy Entertainment artist & current It Is What It Is co-host Ma$e meeting Ye formerly known as Kanye West with wordplay inspired by the late Stack Bundles cooks up my favorite EP of his ever telling us what it was like for him being the Son of a Dealer homaging the late father of the current WWE Champion Cody Rhodes who’s also an 8-time WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, the inaugural & record-tying 3-time AEW TNT Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, IWGP USヘビー級チャンピオン ROH World Champion & ROH World 6-Man Tag Team Champion.

Score: 4/5

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Tha God Fahim – “Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 5” review

This is the 51st EP from Atlanta, Georgia emcee/producer Tha God Fahim. 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. That said: He’s been on a CRAZY ass run in 2023 with the standouts being 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, Dump Gawd: Rhyme Pays produced by Mike Shabb, Tha Supreme Hoarder of All Pristine Wealth. Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga produced by Cookin’ Soul & Machine Gun Vocabulary produced by Cartune Beatz. Continuing the Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap saga that later had a 2nd & 3rd installment, he’s returning 2 months after the predecessor for Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 5.

“Crimes Against Humanity” references the current UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis of the WME Group-owned TKO Group Holdings division over a spacious boom bap instrumental to get us started whereas “Hakai” soulfully talks about him meeting the requirements to become a titan. “Mass Gainer” keeps the chipmunk soul vibes going unable to put it any plainer than him continuing to gain mass while “Mirko” talks about so many people nowadays hiding their foul smells.

To kick off the other half, “Radioactive” keeps chopping up the soul samples always knowing that he was fortune’s favorite leading into “Remote Location” maintaining a chipmunk soul edge talking about how you can’t come back once you cross the line with him. “SSDG” makes a reference to WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion & 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior prior to “Wayne Towers” ending with a drumless closer dumpin’ like it’s a meteor shower.

These past 10 weeks staying locked in was really what Fahim needed after dropping the previous entries in the series all within the end of 2024 other than the 4th one coming out a little after a week into 2025 & I’m genuinely not trying to sound like a broken record here, but Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 5 could be the new best in the saga. Nicholas Craven’s brings an influx of samples to the table & the Dump Gawd goes fully automatic on the mic.

Score: 4.5/5

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Sk8star – “Rebelution” review

This is the 6th EP from Atlanta, Georgia recording artist Sk8star. Getting his footing in the spring of 2021 off Superstar Status, he would go on to follow it up a year later with both the B4NWØ EP & his debut mixtape New World Ørder respectively. The latter being my introduction to Sk8’s music after my lil brody UnreleasedSnip put me on, with songs like “Standin’ on Business” & “YSL Flow” being the standouts for me personally. Following his 3rd EP Mogul along with rebel at the beginning of 2023 & whole new meaning that same spring, Sk8 addressed the Rebel in the Room & the time has now come for a Rebelution.

“Backbone” starts off with a cool trap intro talking about everyone out here being scared simply because they’re losers whereas “On God” talks about people unable to ball with him if you can’t take no charge. “walk down” cloudily boasts that nobody can fuck with a vet like him with the help of Richie Souf until the plugg standout “sex” featuring Diorvsyou & Southsidesilhouette produced by Pi’erre Bourne elevates all 3 of them. “Fuck on a Fan” ends the EP talking about being in the trap & that muhfuckas jumping.

Even if Ye formerly known as Kanye West’s behavior in the past 5 weeks has been absolutely pissing me off, I’m not too surprised regarding him co-signing “sex” yesterday & I myself find to be an exciting moment as somebody who’s been following all 3 artists on there since 2022. As far as the rest of the EP, it’s a good way to prelude his upcoming full-length debut album Designer Junkie.

Score: 3.5/5

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SABA – “From the Private Collection” review

This is the 4th full-length studio LP from Chicago, Illinois emcee/producer SABA. The co-founder of the Pivot Gang collective a decade back, he broke out in the fall of 2016 off the solo debut Bucket List Project & the follow-up CARE FOR ME was where his potential would be put on a much more broader display. Few Good Things was a better version of Cordae’s sophomore effort From a Bird’s Eye View & after 3 years, he & No I.D. are finally unearthing tracks From the Private Collection.

“Every Painting Has a Price” soulfully kicks it all off talking about it being a lovely day for him to go out of his way & everything being good aside from shit getting ugly whereas “Breakdown” takes the jazzy trap route instrumentally asking his romantic partner what’s really going on. “Crash” gives off a calmer vibe to the beat talking about making time go fast together just before “Woes of the World” brings a trap flare back getting emotional to know what he knows.

The drums get stripped during “Stop Playing with Me” telling everyone that he ain’t wanna be fucked with leading into “Westside Bound 4” featuring MFnMelo jazzily talking about being unstoppable under any given circumstance. “head.rap” samples “No Time to Lose” by Madison McFerrin covering Saba’s hair & it’s continuous changes, but then “Acts 1.5” looks to fuck the street up referencing the baddest man on the planet & WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson.

After the “Reciprocity” interlude, “Stomping” boasts that he’s so smooth of a talker to the point where he could convince Jesus Christ to buy an NFT off him while the soulful trap hybrid “Big Picture” talks about considering the broader context, long-term implications & overall goals of a situation. “30secchop” featuring Jean Deaux & Joseph Chilliams finds the trio no longer walking with their heads low while “How to Impress God” delves into the complex relationship between earthly achievements & spiritual purpose.

“She Called It” featuring Frsh Waters nears the final moments From the Private Collection with both of them talking about Pivot being a collective that’s respected as a family refusing to break their balls & their word since those’re the only 2 things they got left while “a FEW songs” featuring Smino finishes with them assuring the listeners of it being ok l to change it all so beautifully, feeling the love & letting it go. The jazzy boom bap fusion “Back in Office” warns his competition to take caution & the other bonus track “Hue_Man_Nature” carries over the sounds of the predecessor putting a conscious spin on it.

SABA’s been teasing this for nearly 3 years now & because of the death of his uncle, the final product underwent a complete change of direction & could very well be the brightest collection of material of his whole career. Arguably surpassing Care for Me as the crown jewel of his discography. No I.D.’s versatile production goes from boom bap to jazz rap, trap, drumless & neo-soul remaining more consistent than Few Good Things providing a little bit of everything & refusing to misuse an opportunity like this coming with fully developed ideas.

Score: 4.5/5

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¡MAYDAY! – “Justus” review

Miami, Florida trio ¡MAYDAY! surprise-dropping their 9th studio LP albeit the first under their very own label ¡MAYDAY! Music distributed by It Goes Up Entertainment & Strange Music. Formed in 2003 by keyboardist/guitarist Plex Luthor & emcee Bernz, the duo released their self-titled debut in the fall of ‘06 before adding 4 more members into the fold: emcee/producer Wrekonize, bassist Gianni Ca$h, percussionist NonMS & drummer L.T. Hopkins in 2009. Together, they would begin to rock the underground off 2 EPs & their sophomore album Stuck on an Island. This would catch the attention of Kansas City veteran Tech N9ne, who signed the group to his independent powerhouse Strange Music in 2011. They would go on to cement themselves as a flagship act on the label’s roster off critically acclaimed projects like Take Me to Your Leader, Thrift Store Halos, Believers & Future Vintage. However since 2016, ¡MAYDAY! has maintained it’s current lineup consisting of Wrek, Bernz & NonMS. Their first album as a trio Search Party was a decent sequel to Stuck on an Island & the heavily reggae-influenced South of 5th was slightly better, but Minute to Midnight wound up to easily be ¡MAYDAY!’s best in 6 years. They have since remained tied to Strange by forming ¡MAYDAY! Music & signing a distribution deal with Strange Music co-founder Travis O’Guin’s own subsidiary It Goes Up Entertainment. Now as far of The Thinnest Line series, the independently released first installment is my favorite & the follow-up backed by Strange was simply decent. Minute to Midnight was a return to form for them & are returning a little over a year after The Thinnest Line III to drop Justus.

After the “Top of the World” intro, the first song “Just Us” produced by NonMS starts us off by asking what will happen when it’s only them left whereas “Black Lemonade” talks about refusing to ever ride the wave at any point in their career. “Unapologetic” reunites with Gianni Ca$h & Plex Luthor behind the boards to discuss their aptly mentioned mindset leading into the whistling “Acting Grown” talking about them simply acting grown & the inner child basically.

“Misinformed” goes for a bit of a melodic rap rock vibe observing coming down quicker than that of a middle just before the heavily melodic “Cold Shoulder” reunites with former Strange Music in-house producer MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 to sing about hoping one doesn’t forget now. “No One’s Around” gets back on on the rap rock tip telling everyone to turn up & get down, but then the acoustic “Silver Linings” featuring Mike SB finds them driving in the late night.

The song “Ain’t for Them” nears the conclusion of ¡MAYDAY!’s official It Goes Up debut responding to those saying that the group has been aging firing back by pointing out the mere fact of the world changing by each & every day that goes by while “I Don’t Wanna Know” featuring kaub decently brings a tropical flare to the table. “Ceilings” featuring Mike SB ends with them assuring that hard work does pay off in the long run.

All the singles we’ve dropped since starting ¡MAYDAY! Music as a fully independent venture has lead us to this moment & their debut under the It Goes Up/Strange distributed imprint retains everything that made the group so beloved within the underground scene to begin with the in-house production or Mike SB improving on his feature game & the versatility that they’ve always been known for whether it be rap rock cuts or the pop rap tracks.

Score: 4/5

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