Chocc is a 25 year old singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, California notable for being the daughter of Long Beach icon, Death Row Records owner & WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg. She first made her appearance on wax with the “No Guns Allowed” single off her father’s 12th album Reincarnated foraying into pop reggae & after releasing 4 singles under her original moniker Cori B in the span of over a decade, she’s dropping her debut EP ahead of her dad’s 20th album Missionary produced by his mentor & Death Row co-founder Dr. Dre next weekend.
After the “Just Like You” intro, the first song “Did You Mean It” starts with a fun dance-pop opener whereas “Johnny Don’t Break My Heart” stands out as a favorite in my personal opinion stripping the drums completely going for a R&B vibe aesthetically & pulling it off. “Move” continues to show her artistic range by dabbling with a bit of pop rock while “Escape2Vegas” properly finishes the EP singing over an acoustic guitar about escaping to Las Vegas, Nevada.
The talent has always been there & I’ve noticed that myself personally when I first heard her on “No Guns Allowed” back during my sophomore year of high school, but fast-forward a decade later & her putting out a debut EP on Death Row now disturbed by gamma. is a welcoming introduction to her musically. The production bases itself around dance-pop, R&B, pop rock & singer/songwriter showcasing how much Chocc has grown in the last 12 years & giving a glimpse of her future in music.
This is the official proper full-length debut studio album from Montréal, Québec, Canada emcee Trapmat Savior. Emerging a couple years ago off his solo debut EP To Riches & Peace along with DozaTrap’s eponymous debut EP, he would later follow it up in September by releasing a couple more EPs Kirby & I Could Tell only a week apart. I however was unfamiliar with his music until a few weeks ago when it was announced that both Nicholas Craven & Mike Shabb were producing 1st Coming in it’s entirety since many probably know by now that I’ve been a fan of both those guys for a few years at this point.
“Had 2” is this drumless jazzy opener that Nicholas Craven laced flexing that he’s been a top dog for quite some time now whereas “Backpacking” hops over a bare soul sample talking about keeping it real & not backstabbing him. “30 Under 30” has more of a laidback approach assuring that he can’t be stopped from the dream he’s chasing while the classy boom bap joint “Batman” talks about everything coming naturally.
Meanwhile on “Scraping”, we have Trapmat over a vocal flip admitting he’s often been thinking of a certain individual in his life that he doesn’t speak to as he used to just before the soulful “December 26th” likening the first time he saw a brick to being magic. “Same Day” hooks up a heavenly Mike Shabb beat always making it back every time he took a risk, but then “Tags” strips the drums again to get those snakes out of his grass.
“Born 2 Win” maintains a soulfully drumless sound pushing towards the conclusion of his debut talking about being destined to catch Ws steadily while the song “Fair Game” is the official closer hops over pianos boasting that he’s ahead of everyone. The bonus track “LV” finishes the LP with a spacious backdrop & 808s brushing off a bitch being mad at him because of him never having to owe.
Not gonna beat around the bush by coming clean that I has never heard of Trapmat Savior up until 1st Coming was initially announced a couple weeks ago & if you’re in that same boat, you’re gonna want to peep it. Nicholas Craven & Mike Shabb’s production during the 27 minute listening experience clears his earlier material & the Montréal emcee levels up his pen-game significantly.
This is the 8th full-length studio LP from Haverstraw, New York emcee Pro Dillinger. A member of the Umbrella collective as well as 1/2 of The Steiner Brothers, he has released a total of 5 mixtapes along with his last 7 albums & even 7 EPs. Favorites include the Finn-produced debut Pray for My Prey, the Machacha-produced Dirt Don’t Hurt, his 3rd EP MOSFoul, the Sting vs. Flair collab EP with Mickey Diamond & the Steiner Brothers’ eponymous debut. Dirty Work celebrated it’s 1-year anniversary earlier this summer & the dirtiest of the Umbrella brought Sean Kelly back to handle production for Reasonable Dirt much like Forever Foul & more recently the Futurewave produced Dirtwave becoming his most acclaimed work to date. Keeping the latter in mind, both parties are now getting back together for a sequel.
“Heavy Heart” sets the tone with this cutthroat boom bap opener talking about how everyone else can’t ball with him & the rest of his squad whereas “Play the Game” works in more kicks & snare cautioning that the smoke’s gonna bide up. “Outside” featuring Shordie brings the pair together over an uncanny instrumental telling us what it’s like where both of them come from, but then “Stay Moving” passionately advises to keep it pushing.
Eto joins Pro Dillinger on “Honourable Activities” warns that your best friend could actually be your enemy in disguise & to never snooze while “New Sneakers” returns to the boom bap figuring out where to return the shots that were sent his way. “Mind My Business” somberly addresses those skating around the noise instead of not being there for it just before “Church Socks” featuring Bub Styles & Chubby God delivers a 3-minute hardcore joint.
“Bigger Picture” properly sets the tone of Dirtwave 2’s final moments hopping over this groovy beat to talk about the game being full of pussies this day in age calling the whole block broke since they ain’t chasing paper & “Pray 2 God” wraps it up with this drumlessly cloudy loop praying to the Man Above for him to bring Pro Dillinger’s enemies back because of the battery in his back at this point in his career.
Dirtwave last month surpassed everything that the Haverstraw lyricist had done in the past & the sequel as one would’ve anticipated going into it amplifies every single thing that made the predecessor so enjoyable whether it would be Futurewave’s superb production or the Umbrella’s dirtiest MC taking it up another notch with the pen for a half hour.
St. Louis, Missouri rapper, singer/songwriter & producer Smino finally dropping his 3rd full-length album. Emerging in the spring of 2017 off his impressive full-length debut blkswn & notable for being member of the Zoink Gang supergroup, this was followed up with his 2nd & 3rd mixtapes NØIR & She Already Decided ahead of signing with Motown Records following his departure from Interscope Records for his critically acclaimed sophomore effort Luv 4 Rent. Couple years later, Maybe in Nirvana is finally here.
After the intro, the first song “Dear Fren” lusciously starts by breaking down how different shit’s been for him whereas the funky “Ready Set Goku” produced by Kenny Beats stands out telling this chick that they might need to be alone since they don’t get along on top of going on a run as if he’s Jackie Joyner & her getting attached being a catastrophe in the making. The title track likens every day to a different style dabbling with plugg music instrumentally while the cloudy “Lee” talks his cuzzo keeping the Clipse with No Malice & that he’s been drinking.
“Tequan” featuring Raven Lenae gets together for a summery, acoustic pop rap joint advising to change your position while “NSYNC” goes for a generally laidback vibe altogether talking about being a gentleman who late night walks as if he’s a pimp. “Ms. Joyce” featuring Bun B brings a psychedelic trap flare to the table referencing WWE Hall of Famer, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion Rikishi while “Hoe-nouns” featuring Reggie feels more like a Reggie song featuring Smino since Reggie takes up a bulk of it, but then “Glo-Fi” tropically ends the album by cautioning that he can’t be burnt out.
Fulfilling his Motown contract in favor of building up his own 0 Fatigue Records imprint, Maybe in Nirvana serves as a reflective & experimental prequel to Luv 4 Rent tackling themes of love alongside loss & self-discovery whilst maintaining Smino’s signature innovative style. He furthermore expands his artistic limits by fusing profound lyricism with immersive soundscapes that reaffirm his evolution as a musician & becoming more blatantly honest regarding his emotions.
Real Psycho is a superduo consisting of Los Angeles, California emcee B-Real as well as Queens, New York emcee/producer Psycho Les. One of whom is notable for being the frontman of Cypress Hill & the other being 1/2 of The Beatnuts. After only collaborating with each other a couple times in the past off songs like “Fuck ‘Em If They Listenin’” & the Robosonic-produced “High Like”, they’re getting together for an official full-length debut album.
After the titular intro, the first song “Doin’ What You Never Did” starts with a jazzy boom bap instrumental talking about never falling off whereas “Laugh 2 Da Bank” hooks up this mind-altering beat for them to talk about puttin’ in the work that they do & eventually cashin’ out. “What We Came to Do” featuring Too $hort unites the trio for them to aptly tear the party up prior to “You Might Know Us” warning your arms will get broken if you touch them.
“Put That Work In” featuring Son Doobie finds all 3 of them linking up for 4 minutes talking about showing y’all how it be done while “Excuse Me” goes for a generally old school vibe to the beat making this joint feel like it was taken straight from a mixtape. “Once in a Lifetime” has a quirkier instrumental talking about how you’ve haven’t seen this freshness previously just before “This Goes Hard” featuring Big Twins & Demrick lets off hardcore lyricism in their own unique styles.
Reaching the conclusion, “Timbos” hooks you Eric Bobo’s signature percussion flexing that he be tiptoeing around in the titular brand of boots while “Lyrical Hammers” embraces a rap rock sound reminding us that they be hanging around henchmen. “Stay Calm” brings a psychedelic boom bap flare suggesting to relax as they spark the bong & “Kitty Kat” for a closer feels underwhelming tackling the theme of sex in an uneventful manner.
For all the hardcore Cypress Hill & Beatnuts fans, I have a pretty good feeling that you’re gonna come away from Real Psycho’s debut with an enjoyable side project from both veterans. Psycho Les hasn’t lost a step with his production game attesting to The Beatnuts being underappreciated behind the boards & his chemistry with B-Real on the mic flows very well during 45 & a half minute experience.
Teknology is an east coast hip hop duo consisting of Tek & Termanology. One of whom hails from Brooklyn, New York & the other coming straight outta Boston, Massachusetts. Collaborating with each other multiple times over the years from tracks like “Walk with Me” to “Nobody” & “T2”, they’re coming off an appearance on UFO Fev’s 8th album Strapped from this summer to deliver a full-length debut of their own to start 2024’s final month.
After the intro, the title track produced by Statik Selektah sets the tone of what’s to come with a boom bap cut introducing us to both underground veterans as an official unit whereas “Hustler’s Soul” featuring Freeway groovily talks about the hustler mindset they have. “Money Deposits” featuring Ea$y Money works in more kicks & snares from Cartune Beatz advising to put your hands up just before “The Connect” featuring Bun B, Lil’ Keke & Paul Wall dabbles with trap for a homage to the south.
“I Got What You Need” featuring UFO Fev & Wais P atmospherically calls out those who don’t really want smoke when they be fakin’ it for the bullshit they be pullin’ leading into “She’s Got a Thing for Me” featuring 5 Mics shows off a more sensual side to all 3 performers & even the Statik beat gives off a laidback approach. “Boom Bap or Die” featuring Flash is Hip Hop pays homage to the titular sound that Nottz whips up, but then “The Sun Will Shine” featuring Steele warns the convo ain’t happening if money ain’t involved.
Meanwhile on “The Game Ain’t the Same”, we have Teknology atmospherically talking about the fact shit done changed while “What They Want” morbidly asks these bitches what exactly they want from them. “Toe to Toe” goes jazz rap & delivers well-articulated hardcore lyricism while “No Stoppin’” talks about them not slowing down over a Dom Dirtee instrumental. “Been Around” featuring UFO Fev ends it all by reaffirming their legacy on top of a Sndtrak instrumental.
Soon as I first heard “UFO Teknology” off Strapped during the summer, I knew that both of east coast MCs would eventually come together for an official body of work sooner rather than later & they sure did deliver on it. The production’s consistent, the guests all match the duo’s energy & they elevate their chemistry even further outstandingly bouncing off of each other’s intensities.
This is the 2nd mixtape from Compton, California up-&-comer Siete7x. Breaking out in 2019 off his debut mixtape Ccut from a Blue Cloth in the summer & later the full-length debut Compton Soul Child that same winter, he returned last fall off the sophomore effort Long Live My Therapy & recently had a verse on “dodger blue” off Kendrick Lamar’s latest album GNX couple weeks ago. Keeping that same energy, he’s striking while the iron’s hot on Stucc in the Hole.
After the “3704” intro, the first song “Make It Out” starts the mixtape by hopping over a solemn trap instrumental to discuss making it out of the trenches whereas “Feelin’ Me” featuring Bino Rideaux” takes the synth-trap instrumental talking about letting him pick his girl’s brain. “Trynna Make Away” has a bit of a cloudy trap edge as he addresses needing a way just before “Dive In” featuring Kalan.FrFr produced by Blxst fuses pop rap & trap in an enjoyable fashion.
“Make It Right” brings an acoustic trap flare to the table as he does whatever he can to make it up to this woman that he’s been seeing leading into “Anybody” featuring Sietegang Yabbie talking about both of them not simply being any other dudes out here. “Tell Me What You Know” brings back a stripped-back trap vibe wanting this chick to come clean with him regarding everything she knows, but then “Keep Going” featuring Kalan.FrFr playfully talks about the checks being nonstop.
Lil Bean & Siete team up on “Auntie Baby” warns not to trust any of these lames out here since they stay cappin’ in their music while “Only 1” featuring Lefty Gunplay shows ‘em somethin’ when the beef cracks off. “Up Late” featuring AD finds them tryna touch $1M while “All My Life” featuring Wallie the Sensei talks those envying them because of the cash flow. “Who Can I?” featuring RJmrLA gets on more of a raunchier tip topically & “Real True Story” admitting it’s been hard for him to focus for a couple minutes.
Siete7x’s sophomore tape here comes off the biggest guest appearance of his career applying further pressure out in the streets of Compton telling his story along with hoping to become a leader in his community & uplift the youth. I very much appreciate the entire concept of everyone involved trying to make it out of the hole they’re stuck in, except the features take up roughly half of it with their performances being either hit or miss.
Boston, Massachusetts up-&-comer Rich Amiri returning for the final month of 2024 with his 3rd full-length studio album. Beginning to turn heads since the fall of 2021 off the strength of his debut EP Ethereal, the 4ersona member would go on to follow it up with 6 more EPs before signing to Internet Money Records & introducing himself to a wider audience on the aptly titled Evolution followed by the sophomore effort Ghetto Fabulous. He landed a spot in this year’s XXL Freshman Class over the summer & is now War Ready roughly 6 months later.
“Amiri Trendsetter” featuring OsamaSon finds the pair kickin’ things off with this psychedelic trap instrumental from Noah Mejia talkin’ about people bitin’ their styles & that life can’t be any better in 2025 whereas “Oh Myy” has a bit of a rage influence living life as if it’s a movie. “Don’t Make Me” hazily suggests that he can show y’all how to move & finesse thanks to Internet Money in-house producer Synthetic & venny just before “U Want That?” flexes that he’s at Maggianos with a baddie over a siren & hi-hats courtesy of Rio Leyva.
OsamaSon & Amiri link back up on the futuristic trap joint “I’m wit It” explaining that shit’s getting gnarly in addition to showing off their new sticks & everyone else’s glitching while “Touché” works in a hypertrap beat talking about bitches tryna fuck him for his paper being outta their minds. “Count My Bandz” with co-production from Taz Taylor triumphantly clarifies that the world don’t owe you shit, but then the hypnotic “That’s It” boasts his lifestyle.
“Hunchos” ends the first half of War Ready expressing his fear of telling a bitch that he loves her because he’ll feel completely stupid if she ends up cheating on him while “Same Old Me” samples “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” by Tame Impala to talk about those thinkin’ shit’s sweet being goners. “I’m Gone” admits that he doesn’t want to choose violence & he’ll dead any beef if they bring it to him over a rage-inducing instrumental while “Stormi Daniels” likens his girl to the titular pornstar.
Meanwhile on “Keep It Cool”, we have Amiri maintaining the hypertrap vibes saying y’all better keep it cool ’cause shit could get ugly at any point while the carefree “So Easy” talks about having his way. “Gutta Gutta” promises that he won’t ever switch on his Day 1s shell shocking people & leaving them wrapped up while “G23” turns the bass up staying focused off the adderrall.
“U Like?” reaches further towards the backend of War Ready turning the distortion up a bit addressing a mischievous bitch who doesn’t love him at all & actually wants to beef him coming to the apparent realization that he doesn’t think he can save himself anymore while “Day After Day” finishes the LP with a cavernous trap cut knowing he’s been making it look like a breeze as a result of doing it from the very beginning.
Starting the deluxe run with a bang, “Heavy Steps” that Toom of Vanguard Music Group helped laced asks how you saying you have a check when you can’t even afford your rent while the intergalactic trap cut “New Celine” talks about him refusing to cop a plea deal. “Ray Charles” happens to be the final bonus track of the 3, treating a bitch as if she’s the rhythm & blues icon not seeing shit alluding to his blindness when he was still here.
Many have criticized Amiri for having a supposed “lack of authenticity” & he pretty much takes the opportunity to silence those individuals by putting out an album that reinforces why he landed a spot the 2024 XXL Freshman Class nearly 6 months ago. Although he’s been experimenting with his music for a while now, he’s trying out more new sounds on here & it results in his most eclectic offering.
Pasco, Washington emcee, singer/songwriter & producer C. Ray releasing his 5th EP on Bandcamp without any warning. Notable for Twisted Insane signing him to Brainsick Muzik over a decade ago, he would go on to become one of the label’s biggest artists dropping a total of 8 full-length studio albums along with his last 4 EPs & a mixtape in almost 14 years. But with the 2-year anniversary of both Ray Day & Know0n3 approaching this upcoming spring, Ray Al Ghul has finally returned.
“Oblivion” begins with an apocalyptically self-produced instrumental clarifying that he doesn’t even speak without contemplating whereas “N.T.T.S. (No Time to Stop)” brings more of a general trap flare to the beat talking about how he don’t have time for slowing down. “In My Bag” works in some horns & hi-hats making way for him to get in his element for 3 & a half minutes ahead of “Here We Go” making it known not to fuck with him.
Meanwhile on “All That”, we have C. Ray expressing his dislike for everything being all cap over more trap production while “Hold Up” talks about never hanging with heroes & fighting to make it out a deep hole. “Bombay” pulls from reggae for a weed smoking anthem while “Halo” featuring Jag mixes g-funk & trap layin’ low whilst being in the clouds. “Watching” ends the EP with a hardcore boom bap heater reserving some of the hardest bars for last.
Light Born has quickly become my favorite full-length in C. Ray’s discography since he initially put it out a year & a half ago, but Ray Al Ghul maintains that high level of quality revealing itself as his best work since & his finest EP yet. His production pulls from boom bap to trap or even both g-funk & reggae music to lesser extents demonstrating his versatility as a performer with his flows & captivating lyrics.
GT is a 33 year old rapper from Detroit, Michigan who got his start at the beginning of 2018 by releasing the debut mixtape Relentless along with both his full-length debut Timeless & the sophomore effort Relentless during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. He would later follow these up with 2 more albums Call Me GT & Motion, his first EP Money Counter Music spawned his own label of the same name & the sequel became the 5th LP in his discography. GT’s previous album Owe It to Myself got mixed reception the summer prior & is returning with a month left in 2024 for his 2nd EP.
“I’m Straight” produced by Pooh Beatz is this cloudy opener assuring everyone he’s been doing good whereas “Get ‘Em Back” works in a rubbery bass-line & pianos talking about being the same despite being stressed. “Stay Low” cautions those coming in your life with bad intentions just before “Money, Power & Respect” stand sour from the Helluva instrumental to the boastful lyricism.
Landstrip Chip joins GT on “The Streets Dead” clarifying that both of them can break down how deep shit can get while “Prayed for It” heads for a sample-driven Detroit trap vibe speaking his dreams into existence & finally being fortunate enough to be in a place where he can finally live them out. “This Life of Sin” featuring Streetlord Juan ends the EP with 1 more Detroit trap cut calling themselves living legends.
Right when you thought that the Detroit trap star wasn’t gonna drop anything in 2024, he came in the game during the 4th quarter & dropped off an 18 minute EP reaching the same caliber as both Money Counter Music offerings along with Timeless in being essential listens for those new to his discography. The features are alright, but the productions sees some notable improvements & GT sounds focused ahead of whatever he’ll do next.
