NEMS – “America’s Sweetheart” review

Brooklyn, New York emcee NEMS celebrating Valentine’s Day by putting together his 5th studio LP. Coming up in the battle rap circuit, he would go on to have a brief stint with Psycho+Logical-Records in the late 2000’s before dropping the debut Prezident’s Day under Creative Juices Music back in 2010. This was followed up almost 9 years later when he & JAZZSOON teamed up for the damn near flawless Gorilla Monsoon, but the follow-up Congo received more mixed results despite it’s highlights like “Wow” & “Cousins”. Paul Rosenberg signed the Mayor of Coney Island to Goliath Records & Virgin Music in the summer of 2023 for his Scram Jones-produced Goliath debut Rise of the Silverback which I liked more than Congo, building further anticipation ahead of America’s Sweetheart.

Following the “America’s Intro”, the first song “Go Fat Boy” produced by Cartune Beatz was a fun hardcore hip hop & boom bap lead single warning that your face will get cut quickly if you talk shit to him whereas “CTE” keeps it in the basement courtesy of Vinny Idol to get on his battle rap shit lyrically. “My Side” featuring Millyz finds the 2 dabbling with trap a bit stealing your bitch while “2 Live & Die in NY” featuring Leeky Bandz maintains a trap vibe thanks to Statik Selektah talking about his home state.

“Gunther” not to be confused with the current World Heavyweight Champion, the longest reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion & former PWG World Champion whose Imperium tag partner in former 2-time NXT Tag Team Champion Ludwig Kaiser is dating the current WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton returns to the boom bap airing out his grievances towards a woman who holds genuine hatred towards him just before the 2-parter “Coney Island” represents the part of Brooklyn that made him who he is today. “Light the Room” hooks up some organs maintaining a dusty edge once again belittling everyone who wants to step up to him, but then “God’s Hands” shows an inspirational side to the Fuck Ya Lyfe general talking about everything being God’s plans & not yours.

Tony Touch joins NEMS on the horn-infused “Afuera” aggressively making it clear that absolutely no one wants smoke with either of them while “Amouna” talks about trying to get right & everything in him died. “Big Shot” brings a trap flare back to the table flexing his newfound popularity in recent years & “Viral” featuring Dios Moreno ends America’s Sweetheart promising to keep winning whether others like it or not.

After the “America’s Reintroduction” skit, “Son Shines” starts the deluxe run with a Shortfyuz instrumental talking about the rain clearing up whenever he steps out during a rainy day while “Zoo” reminds everyone where he comes from over more horns. “Count It Out” talks about it taking a while for him to get his foot through the door over a Ron Browz beat & the final bonus track “Go Realer” dustily suggests you do your research.

A year & a half after signing to a major label, the Mayor of Coney Island reinforces his status by cooking up an album that showcases his gritty lyricism & charismatic storytelling paired with his signature humor & wit even if I think the production on the predecessor was more consistent. The same can be said about the guests even though I can appreciate him bringing on a lesser amount than he did last time.

Score: 3.5/5

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Pasto Flocco – “Rebirth” review

Queens, New York rapper Pasto Flocco returning after a 2 year hiatus for his 8th EP. Coming up as an associate of Lil Tecca, he’s seen quite the success off his own once branching out on his own by dropping his first 2 albums March Madness & Dreams 2 Reality along with a debut mixtape Surf to Kill (SGBSTK) as a member of the Surf Gang collective. Pasto rang in 2022 by dropping sophomore tape R.O.A.M. (Rich Off A Mic) under his newly founded Ghetto Luxury Entertainment & continued to build upon the sample drill sound on March Madness 2 & Walking Glitch. The Way Lyfe Goes was a solid mix of all kinds of sounds & is returning for a Rebirth following up Flocc4President.

“My Aura” is this cloudy trap intro produced by Swervo of Vanguard Music Group talking about the chick that’s seeing him feeling the vibes he gives off generally whereas “Nick Cannon (Wylin’ Out)” works in some synthesizers to flex that he still gets these hoes going crazy even after his sabbatical. “D Rose” maintains a synth-heavy sound comparing himself to the Windy City Assassin who retired after the previous NBA season, but then “Mentally Stable” talks about stepping away to get right.

Moving on from there, “Off the Grid” goes for a plugg vibe refusing to go for 2nd place while “Jimmy Butler (Sean John)” makes a bold nod to disgraced Bad Boy Entertainment founder Puff Daddy a.k.a. P. Diddy or Diddy & that he feels like the Golden State Warriors player. “Hot Like Summer” has these fabulous synthesizers showing off his stunner status leading into “Keep It 100” calling for everyone to be legit around him.

“Accident Prone” starts the encore of Pasto’s first body of work in 2 years with a colorful plugg track talking about a clumsy woman trying to get with him & basically telling her to back the fuck up from him that is until the official closer “Lobotomy” finishes off the EP with these psychedelic synths talking about having too much on his mind calling out every fuck boy copying him these past couple years when he stepped away.

The Surf Gang nowadays is mostly known for their run as a production team since a lot of their vocalist members have departed the collective & for Pasto’s comeback effort, quite possibly my favorite member of the collective departs from the sample drill sound that was prominent on his most recent material in favor of plugg rapping as if he never even had to take a step back.

Score: 4/5

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Josiah the Gift – “The Happening” review

This is the 7th full-length studio LP from Brooklyn, New York emcee Josiah the Gift. Emerging in the late 2010s by releasing his first 2 EPs Jack Johnson & Raw, he later broke out within the underground back in the summer of 2020 off his acclaimed debut album Iron Mic. His profile continued to elevate with the debut mixtape Remain Raw, the sophomore effort Mightier Than the Sword as well as the sequel, the True Cipher-produced TOGO, God’s Gracious, The Glorious Si’s eponymous debut & his previous album Lavish Language from last summer. Over 5 months later, Machacha’s being listed to fully produce The Happening.

“Jeux” featuring Vega7 the Ronin sets the tone of what’s to come with both of them over a drumless loop talking about the flowers they tried to water being hydrophobic whereas “Honor” featuring Willie the Kid taking the boom bap route showing off a savage psychiatry. “Guess Who” featuring Eddie Kaine reminds that they were the ones down with the drama & left in the end leading into “Thor” stripping the drums asking how you want it.

M.A.V. joins Josiah on “Royalties” returning to the boom bap talking about stacking up their dough & “Teflon” keeps it in the basement instrumentally showing us what his legend status has made out of. “The Lord is My Sheppard” aggressively makes it a mission for him to go hunting for dead meat while the flute-tinged “Heroes” talking about every single way that people could imagine a hero being refusing to get political in the process.

“When the Pen Hits” brings the woodwind-heavy boom bap sound back in the fold once again boasting his lyrical ability that’s been elevated, but then “The Reality” featuring Jamil Honesty talks about being prisoners feeling the conviction beforehand asking why they have to comprise themselves for their safety. “Trivial” finishes my new favorite Josiah project with him over a vocal sample turning shit into gold possibly only bodying your soul with his skills.

Familiarizing myself with the Gift of the Umbrella several years ago through several features he’s done, his first offering of 2025 & the Lavish Language follow-up surpasses his debut from 5 years ago as the strongest & most cohesive thing he’s ever done. Machacha’s production outstandingly balances drumless & boom bap on top of the well-assessed guest appearances leveling Josiah’s penmanship.

Score: 4.5/5

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D. Savage – “We Love D. Savage” review

D. Savage is a 28 year old rapper & songwriter from Los Angeles, California who signed to Victor Victor Worldwide & Capitol Records for his debut EP D Phoenix & the full-length debut Trust No One shortly after his debut mixtape Born a Savage dropped. The sophomore effort BPL marked his debut for EMPIRE Distribution & with the 2-year anniversary of Mafia Musik approaching in a few days following this ongoing weekend, D.’s dropping his 4th studio album to coincide with Valentine’s Day.

“Kick ‘Em Out” starts the album with a plugg instrumental talking about hoes not wanting him back then & all of the sudden wanting him now that he’s becoming a popular artist whereas “Woozy” turns the cloudiness up so he can get fucked up off the lean he poured up. “2025” flexes that he got all the hoes he wants without it even mattering ahead of “Slow Rise” talking about refusing to slow down.

The intoxicating atmosphere of “Like Me” is fitting telling this woman he sees running around that she won’t find anyone else on his level out here leading into “Been a Joint” featuring 310babii finds the pair talking about building an EMPIRE a lot like the label D. Savage is signed to. “How Many Grams?” wants to know the exact amount of weed that was put into the blunt prior to it being rolled while “Palm of My Hand” asking why the fuck everyone soft as they are nowadays.

“Donut” featuring Dave Blunts brings the 2 together wanting to have fun & the killas by their side going up with them just before “inthej” featuring the streamer who finally got DJ Akademiks cancelled PlaqueBoyMax addresses every single person who wants to see them down & failing. “Geek’d Up” featuring Ty$ pours up the lean high enough where it’ll knock them out, but then “Until I Fall” boasts being as wealthy one of the greatest boxers of all-time & Mayweather Promotions founder Floyd Mayweather.

As for “Sin4thewin”, the conclusion of We Love D. Savage draws even closer getting back on his bullshit carrying a machete on him taking his meds to calm his ass down “Fr!ed” rounds out the LP by talking about being back in his bag grindin’ on the road & geeking up with 100 other rich homies outside with him as well as promising to kick the asses of anyone he catches speaking ill of him.

Given that I’ve never reviewed D. Savage up until now, I was first introduced to him when D Phoenix came out & felt that he was a good fit for Victor Victor until his departure. We Love D. Savage as far as his EMPIRE output goes stands as my new favorite compared to his last couple offerings. It’s produced better, the guest-list is tight & he returns after almost 2 years to deliver some of the most enjoyable performances I’ve heard from him in a while.

Score: 3.5/5

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Action Figure 973 – “JxllyB & Blunts” review

Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973 reuniting with Queens, New York producer Wulverine for his 5th EP. Introducing himself off the UFO Over City Music beat tape followed by a couple solo mixtapes & the last 4 EPs he’s put out, I should further mention that the beatsmith from Act-Lo’s neighboring state has fully produced Luchadors Going Platinum Was Destined to Come & it’s sequel Luchadors Going Diamond Was Destined to Come the previous year respectively.

“Outside” opens with a reference to both the inaugural IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, Real American Beer founder, Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) co-founder & known racist Hulk Hogan and former 7-time WWE world champion, 3-time WWE tag team champion, 5-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart whereas “Fuck Bill Goldberg” featuring Ricky Mapes & the homie 100GrandRoyce disses the WWE Hall of Famer, former 4-time WWE world champion, WWE United States Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion of the same name.

Book$ joins Action Figure 973 for “Coke & a Smile” to reference former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, TNA Hall of Famer, WWE United States Champion 5-time WWE tag team champion & 39-time WWE Hardcore Champion Raven’s former valet Beulah McGillicutty taking piledrivers from her husband in former 2-time アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン, 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, 3-time ECW World Tag Team Champion, TNA Digital Media Champion & 14-time WWE Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer.

“Mets vs. Sox” featuring Chyna Baejing strips the drums so both of them can talk about treating hip hop as if it’s a martial art & after the “Smoke Break” skit, the final song “1 Night in Sue” officially wraps up JxllyB & Blunts with a drumless guitar instrumental putting the Belleville luchador’s storytelling abilities on full display breaking down an encounter he had with a woman of the same name & admitting that he hasn’t been getting out much as of late because of him spending time in the studio continuing the everlasting hustle.

As a 90’s baby who got into professional wrestling during the Ruthless Aggression Era a little over 2 decades ago already & a hip hop head for as long as I can remember, Action Figure 973’s potential as a lyricist is undeniably bright & compared to the last couple EPs that he had Wulverine fully produce for him, JxllyB & Blunts leaves me torn with slightly more highs & lows. I don’t mind the boom bap/drumless production or Act-Lo’s lyricism, but the guests’ performances don’t really do the same aside from 100GrandRoyce.

Score: 3/5

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Fat Ray – “Food From the Gods” review

Detroit, Michigan veteran Fat Ray returning after 4 years for his 4th album. A member of the trio B.R. Gunna alongside Black Milk & Young RJ, he would eventually go solo in 2008 by dropping the criminally slept-on The Set Up, but it wouldn’t be until a full decade later when it was followed with both The Lunch Room mixtape & then his sophomore effort Perseus. Santa Barbara proved to be the strongest since his debut & he’s taking it back to where it all began on Food From the Gods.

After the “From the Gods” intro, the first song “Elderberry” starts with a trippy boom bap instrumental wanting to know how to sow & reap whereas “Talcum” psychedelically talks about having that powder. “Cane” featuring Guilty Simpson works in a guitar sample to warn that you’ll get popped for playin’ with them, but then “Just Say No” featuring Danny Brown fuses jazz rap & drumless together cautioning that this ain’t chess.

“Double It” continues the sampling boasting that he’s been doubling up while “Franky Lymon” featuring Bruiser Wolf atmospherically talks about who these hoes think they are. “El Hongo (The Mushroom)” explains that you either fight or fly heading for a rap rock vibe just before the orchestral “Stash” talks about cashing ruling. The final song “Gotta Know” ahead of the “Daily Bread” outro charismatically shows off his brilliance to finish his best album since his debut.

Over 15 years after Black Milk helped cook up Ray’s acclaimed debut, they get back together for a successor that show’s how much both of them have grown since then. Granted that Food From the Gods can be quirky sometimes, it’s mostly a grimey sonic ride through the streets of the Motor City with raw tales told through the lens of the ever so sharp & witty standout of the Bruiser Brigade crew.

Score: 4.5/5

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Diorvsyou – “Untitled EP.9” review

This is the 3rd EP from Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Diorvsyou. Coming up in 2021 off his debut EP Scoreboard, it wasn’t until I saw him open up for southsidesilhouette in Brooklyn the following November where I was personally introduced to his music & I was actually impressed with his set. The next EP w.t.f.i.dvy? (who the fuck is diorvsyou?) marked a bigger breakthrough for him artistically & returned up from the Ashes almost a year since Diorvsrxlvnd’s eponymous debut. That said, he’s dropping off Untitled EP.9 a couple days ahead of Valentine’s Day weekend.

“Ronda Rousey” with Cxdy of Internet Money Records & Vanguard Music Group opens with a cloudy ode to the UFC Hall of Famer, the inaugural UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, 3-time WWE women’s world champion & WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion from both TKO Group Holdings divisions whereas “Allclear” talks about seeing everything. “BBeep” works in some rage influences cashing out leading into “KTA” talking about wanting to body everyone in his path.

As for “WYA” produced by 406ahmad, we have Dior referencing current AEW World Tag Team Champion Bobby Lashley of The Hurt Syndicate after taking the belts from the previous titleholders in former GCW Tag Team Champions & HoG Tag Team Champions Private Party while “Talmbout” featuring Sk8star brings the pair together to talk about exactly how fly they get. “Freshman” boasts that he takes risk daily trying to get high enough to see heaven itself on the daily & “decarnin balmain” ends by showing fondness of Christophe Decarnin’s time as Balmain’s creative director.

He recently made a handful of standout appearances on The XA Tape that the Xavier Anthony clothing brand put out last weekend even if one of the executive producers incorrectly accused me of using AI on my review on it because I’ve never used AI to write any of the music I’ve covered & Dior gears up for an upcoming sophomore effort teasing 16 minutes of the modern trap sounds he’s become known for.

Score: 3.5/5

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Coi Leray – “What Happened to Forever?” review

Here we have the 6th EP from New Jersey rapper & singer Coi Leray. Growing up as the younger brother of Sosshouse Records signee Chavo & the daughter of Benzino, she began to carve a path of her own with her debut mixtape Everythingcoz along with her first 2 EPs Everythingcoz 2 & Now or Never even though they were mediocre to me personally. She then signed to Uptown Records after being relaunched by Republic Records & put out her major label debut Trendsetter not too long after which had a few of her strongest tracks yet, but the bad mostly outweighed the good & the same applied to Coi considering “Self Love” off the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack could be my favorite song of hers yet. Lemon Cars produced by Mike WiLL Made-It under Island Records was her most acclaimed body of work yet & his moving over to Epic Records wanting to know What Happened to Forever?.

“Keep It” was a decent pop rap intro airing out Trippie Redd for cheating on her not too long after her pregnancy with his child was announced whereas “Leave You Alone” tells Trippie not to lie to her because it cuts too deep. “I Hate Your Friends” is my favorite track here from the CashMoneyAP instrumental to the lyrics expressing the genuine hatred she holds against her baby daddy’s homies while “U Too” professes to being fucked up & “Lick Back” concludes the EP talking about getting into her bag again.

Lemon Cars made me more optimistic regarding Coi’s ability to craft a consistent body of work & for her Epic debut, she whips up a mediocre EP built around the sounds of both pop rap & alternative R&B channeling the frustrating betrayal that she felt after Trippie Redd was stupid enough to get her pregnant a little over a month prior. The concepts are there & so is the anger, my biggest issue is the production falling flat significantly harder than her last one did.

Score: 2.5/5

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G-Mo Skee – “The Toast Tape” review

Richmond, California lyricist G-Mo Skee remembering his dog Toast on the 1-year anniversary of his death with his 4th EP. Emerging as a member of the trio Stampede & later the Inf Gang. He would drop 2 official mixtapes Got Filth & Got Filth II: The Great Adventures of G-Mo independently before Twiztid signed him to Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2016. His full-length debut My Filthy Spirit Bomb coming out that same winter to significant acclaim, but I personally think G’s sophomore effort Chaly & the Filth Factory is his best work so far because of it’s incredible concept & the instrumentals accompanying it (mostly handled by former Strange Music in-house producer MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7). The Filth Element commemorated his 30th birthday by proving that he didn’t need MNE, returning to The Dojo for 8 Bit Filth II: Hero Hunter & Filth City produced by Stu Bangas. Ahead of Huckleberry Filth however, The Toast Tape gives a taste of what to expect from it as Astronomicon approaches in a couple months.

“The Story of Toast” talks about the untimely death of his dog Toast turning him into a whole new person over a lo-fi boom bap instrumental whereas “Ghost Dog” samples the “Song of Healing from The Legend of Zelda games Majora’s Mask & Twilight Princess telling Toast his sprit lives on in his heart & mind. “Slide 4 Toast” flips Twinrova’s theme from the iconic Ocarina in Time game getting in his gangsta rap bag looking for smoke & sliding for his beloved dog, but then “The Gates” ends the EP opening up about sneaking off to cry & mourn Toast’s passing a month after his death.

G-Mo is known to be a huge fan of The Legend of Zelda franchise & sampled video games numerous times on both installments of the 8 Bit Filth series of EPs, but I actually enjoy The Toast Tape more than either entries in the 8 Bit Filth saga since the lyrics in only 14 minutes recaps the past year since Toast was taken way too soon remembering & mourning his best friend only days after his 10th birthday. Huckleberry Filth is said to be G at his most personal & if anything, The Toast Tape is only an appetizer.

Score: 4.5/5

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Yuno Miles – “YNX” review

Yuno Miles is a comedy rapper who’s been making waves online throughout this current decade by dropping off a dozen EPs, with the most acclaimed of the bunch being Knock Knock It’s Santa Bitch & Yuno History. Unfortunately the self-professed Nazi himself Ye formerly known as Kanye West currently in the midst of his grossest Twitter meltdown ever as of yesterday named Yuno as the only rapper he listens to & this shoutout inspired him enough to the point where he’s droppin’ YNX to start Super Bowl Weekend following his appearance on the “Bomb”’remix off ¥$’ sophomore effort Vultures 2.

“Hop Steps” begins the EP with some finger-snaps & Yuno admitting he can’t dance although he’ll hit the titular move whereas “Break Something” featuring BRBLuhTim finds the 2 talking about their music giving off that exact vibe. “Side Chick” is this cloudy pop rap cut dedicated to the woman he’s seeing in the midst of his ongoing relationship prior to “In My Zone” referencing 16-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena fresh off putting over former WWE Intercontinental Champion & 10-time WWE tag team champion Jey Uso at last weekend’s Royal Rumble XXXVIII.

Ayekeem joins Yuno Miles on “IDGAF” freestyling over the classic Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz joint with Mystikal & one of my favorite Krayzie Bone verses regardless if I find myself enjoying Yuno’s parts the most in my respectful opinion while “Oh Naw” goes for a rage vibe to talk about them being on my dick like the belt on his waist. “Poured Up” featuring Ayekeem reunites the 2 for the EP’s final moments so both of them can take the time to talk about remember being played showing a diverse side to them dabbling with pop rock.

Not too sure if it’ll surprise some people that I appreciate comedic music acts like Milo Murphy’s Law star “Weird Al” Yankovic or Wheeler Walker Jr., but one of my top 10 producers of all-time naming Yuno as the only rapper he listens to is ironic since he posted “‘08 Obama” off the new Coast Contra EP In Case You Forgot on his IG story 48 hours before his embarrassing self-destruction calling out disgraced Tesla CEO, SpaceX founder, Neuralink founder & Twitter owner Elon Musk for “stealing my Nazi swag” at the inauguration couple weeks ago resulting in me never wanting to buy a Tesla ever again. Either way, it’s a decent EP.

Score: 3/5

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