Heem – “Bars & Noble 3” review

Buffalo, New York emcee Heem closing the Bars & Noble trilogy with his 4th LP. Catching my attention in 2020 after becoming of a protege of Benny the Butcher & signing to Black Soprano Family Records, he also made a few appearances on the label’s showcase EP prior to dropping his debut mixtape Long Story Short & a debut EP High Art. His debut album From the Cradle to the Game came in the spring of 2023, coming off the sequel to Bars & Noble earlier this year to complete the final chapter.

The title track opens up with a boom bap instrumental talking about leaving anyone running their mouths on stretchers whereas “Bonettis” featuring Illy Foo finds the 2 discussing times getting harder trying right some wrongs. “Buffalo to Bompton” featuring Figg Newton joins forces for a moderate east coast/west coast collaboration with a bit of a small g-funk influence just before “$20 Stones” gets on his hustler shit over a sample.

“Redrum” moves forward by showing off his murderous tendencies advising that people near him better run for their lives when he pulls up to the spot while “Menace to Society 2” conceptually picks up where the Long Story Short highlight left off. “Foot Steps” featuring Z Baby finds the 2 expressing their desire to get up & grind leading into “$1 & a Dream” featuring Jamal Gasol optimistically talking about their day coming.

Jae Skeese joins Heem on the song “Graceful” starting the final leg of Bars & Noble 3 with my what could most likely by my favorite feature of the 5 in my personal opinion anyways asking to pray for them while “Family Tree” talks about his upbringings sampling soul music. “Warring Ave 2” finishes the trilogy with another sequel to a Long Story Short standout telling us more stories of him growing up in that very street of his hometown.

The original Bars & Noble was a solid dedication to all of the people in his circle who’ve been around since Day 1 & it’s sequel this spring at him at his wisest, but Bars & Noble 3 compared to it’s predecessors feels like a mix of both at times although the list of guests & some of the production doesn’t interest me all that much. By no means am I saying it’s wack, I simply prefer the earlier installments above this most recent one & that’s that.

Score: 3/5

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Tha God Fahim – “Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 19” review

Isn’t too surprising the 66th EP from Atlanta, Georgia emcee/producer Tha God Fahim would arrive on Halloween. Starting as an affiliate of Griselda Records & 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. Lethal Weapon 4 produced by Drega33 was the last time we heard Fahim on his own, making Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 19 the first since the season 2 premiere to be a solo effort.

“Not Ez” featuring Jay NiCE cautions that going against them will only backfire over a chipmunk soul instrumental whereas “Take the High Road” also featuring Jay NiCE works in some pianos to talk about being the new rulers of the game. “Grimsong” featuring Jay NiCE references WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson’s coke addiction prior to “Enchanted” setting the tone for the rest of the EP talking about immature styles not being a fraction of his power.

The song “Hexproof” nears Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 19’s conclusion cautioning not to ignore the factual combat found when dissecting tracks while “Mill 2” soulfully talks about this ongoing saga only being the tip of the iceberg as far as he’s concerned. “How Does It Feel?” finishes the EP by using some sampling technique a 1 last time looking to make a great impression whenever hits the stage.

Not too surprised that Jay NiCE appears during the 1st half or so of Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 19, but I could definitely say that this is the most that I’ve enjoyed an entry from the series ever since season 2 began over 4 weeks earlier. The production is prominently more drumless than Tha God Fahim’s last couple collaborative extended plays with the NiCEst of Immobilaire making boom bap a secondary influence & getting more abstract lyrically.

Score: 3.5/5

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Ransom – “The Reinvention” review

Here is the highly awaited 13th EP from Jersey City wordsmith Ransom. Coming up as 1/2 of the short-lived duo A-Team alongside Hitchcock, he branched out on his own in 2008 following their disbandment beginning with the full-length debut Street Cinema & the Statik Selektah-produced sophomore effort The Proposal. But it’s been safe to say these last couple years have been his biggest so far whether it be the 5 EPs that he put out produced by Nicholas Craven or 7 based around the 7 deadly sins, Heavy’s the Head produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Rome Streetz collab album Coup de Grâce, Chaos is My Ladder, Director’s Cut 4 & Deleted Scenes 2. Lavish Misery produced by Harry Fraud was a step above Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child and MadeinTYO producing Smoke & Mirrors last summer was an exciting surprise, but The Reinvention produced by DJ Premier had me as excited The Coldest Profession almost 3 months earlier.

“Amazing Graces” begins with with a gritty piano instrumental talking about his style being so outstanding whereas “A Cut Above” works in some strings hoping that may the best man win lyrically. After the “Rap Radar” interlude, “Chaos is My Ladder” dustily welcomes anyone hoping to reach his level of lyricism while “Forgiveness” talks about going from broke to sipping champagne in Venice.

The song “Survivor’s Remorse” winds down the last few minutes of The Reinvention explaining that fake love always deceives along with the opinion of one not really trying to win if they’ve never taken a loss in their entire lives & the title track sends off the EP by advising those in attendance to prepare for his growth to he seen since they’re already stuck around to see the vengeance.

Representing a meeting of 2 master craftsmen whose fingerprints are woven into the DNA of hip-hop production & another who is recognized by peers & fans alike as one of the best pound-for-pound lyricists alive, The Reinvention showcases Ransom & DJ Premier joining forces to create a transformational musical experience that epitomizes the streetwise mentality realizing the journey’s just as important as the destination.

Score: 4.5/5

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Big L – “Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King” review

Big L was a 24 year old MC from Harlem, New York known for his freestyling abilities & having some of the greatest punchlines in hip hop history. Making his debut under Columbia Records in the spring of 1995 with Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, the Children of the Corn & D.I.T.C. member would go on to start up his own label Flamboyant Entertainment & almost signed to Roc-A-Fella Records until he was murdered in 1999. The next summer, Rawkus Records would distribute The Big Picture (1974-1999) for Flamboyant & it would be equally beloved as the only LP of his lifetime to this very day. 139 & Lenox came out independently and RBC Records distributed The Danger Zone, but Mass Appeal Records is giving him a proper sendoff with his 5th & officially final album executive produced by Royce da 5’9 & the 5th entry of the Legend Has It series.

“Harlem Universal” featuring Herb McGruff produced by G Koop starts with a soulfully funky beat representing their hometown whereas the only single “U Ain’t Gotta Chance” featuring Nas finds the 2 talking about nobody standing a chance against them in lyrical battle. The first half of “R.H.N. (Real Harlem N****s)” is taken from one of my favorite Children of the Corn songs “Harlem Nights”, but then “Fred Samuel Playground” featuring Method Man shouts out the location of L’s mural over a Conductor Williams instrumental.

After an interlude during the first 45 seconds of “Big Lee & Reg”, we’re treated to a brief verse from Errol Holden, the luxurious beat that Lord Finesse cooks up on “All Alone” sticks out in being amongst my favorite throughout the LP talking about looking for a place to call his own while “Forever” featuring Mac Miller bittersweetly unites 2 greats who were taken from us way too soon. There’s also the “7 Minute Freestyle” featuring JAY-Z, which is still her in today as one of the greatest freestyles in the history of hip hop.

Joe Budden only provides a spoken word intro to kick off the “Doo-Wop ‘99 Freestyle” making way for L Corleone to flow all over a beat that gives me a bit of a Halloween atmosphere but after the “Don & Satcha” skit, the “Stretch & Bobbito ‘98 Freestyle” angrily promises to take competitors out their misery while “Grants Tomb ‘97 (JazzMobile)” featuring BVNGS & Joey Bada$$ historically pairs the trio to talk about the need to get back on a roll.

“Live @ Rock N Will ‘92” starts the final leg sampling some pianos flexing that people are hiding in protective custody because he can’t be fucked with while “How Will Make It? (I Won’t)” gets remixed from the Return of the Devil’s Son compilation. After the “Don & Sacha @ Inwood Hill Park” outro, the bonus track “Put the Mic Down” featuring Fergie Baby & the late Party Arty finishes L’s coda with them over a Showbiz & Ron Browz instrumental.

Although I can’t say I’m not too surprised that there are some moments throughout Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King that I’ve already heard because neither Big L or Biggie a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. had the same work ethic 2Pac had, I did enjoy this better than I thought I would. Primarily since it does the Flamboyant Entertainment CEO’s memory & legacy better than some of these compilations we’ve been getting out of his camp for the last quarter of a century, which is all I asked & could’ve hoped.

Score: 3.5/5

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Westside Gunn – “Heels Have Eyes III” review

Buffalo, New York emcee, songwriter, entrepreneur, curator & professional wrestling promoter/booker Westside Gunn celebrating Halloween with the final chapter of the Heels Have Eyes trilogy. Proving his legend status & that he’s a force to be reckoned with all in nearly a decade whether it be running one of the hottest hip hop labels in recent memory to his first 2 full-lengths FLYGOD & Supreme Blientele. The success of the 4th Rope independent professional wrestling circuit has included 2-time RoW Heavyweight Champion Zilla Fatu becoming the inaugural 4th Rope Heavyweight Champion carrying on the legacy of his late father in former AJPW世界タッグ王座, FMWハードコアタッグチームチャンピオン and 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion Umaga as well as former 2-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion Real1 becoming the inaugural 4th Rope Flyweight Champion and even the current 4-time TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz becoming the inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champions, following up Heels Have Eyes II with Heels Have Eyes III instead of FLYGOD is an Awesome God III.

“Free Rolleys” featuring Benny the Butcher & produced by CG after an intro from former JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion Joshua Bishop begins with a boom bap instrumental & Benny dissing Freddie Gibbs whereas “Mankind” featuring Stove God Cook$ references WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, the inaugural WWE Hardcore Champion, CWA World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Champion Mick Foley over a soulful Daringer beat.

We have Westside Gunn over a boom bap instrumental with strings during “Eddie Bauer” shouting out the titular outdoor recreation brand just before “Tito Santana” featuring Rome Streetz gives their flowers to the WWE Hall of Famer, former ECW World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Tag Team Champion of the same name. The pianos Denny LaFlare works in during “Tiffany Blue” suit the Halloween timing & West lets off some insane rhyme schemes.

“R-Truth” salutes the former 2-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, 2-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, TNA World Tag Team Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Hardcore Champion & 2-time WWE tag team champion who recently made his foray into country music this summer while “Babas” gives off a lo-fi boom bap vibe instrumentally referencing WWE Hall of Famer, 2-time WWE Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion Bob Backlund.

After the “Grey St.” interlude, the final song “Gus Smacker” featuring Brother Tom Sos provides a taste of what’s to come from the latter’s upcoming debut album in 2026 teaming up over this jazzy beat talking about how some people need to be using common sense & an outro from former JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion Joshua Bishop is what officially ends the Heels Have Eyes trilogy tying things up the way he started it only 25 & a half minutes earlier.

The insert of the Heels Have Eyes III states that FLYGOD is an Awesome God III will be released “soon” & whether that be within the next couple months or sometime the following year, Westside Gunn carries on his tradition of celebrating Halloween concluding what he started during WrestleMania XLI weekend curating 25 & a half minutes of the mafioso rap he’s become celebrated for with the production going from boom bap to jazz rap & drumless.

Score: 4/5

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SABA – “C0FFEE!” review

Chicago, Illinois emcee/producer SABA celebrating Devil’s Night with a brand new EP. 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 coming off From the Private Collection produced by No I.D., he’s grabbing himself a cup of C0FFEE!.

“How Many X?” begins by asking all sorts of questions like the amount of times this woman had broken his heart or if she even wants give his love a chance & after the “don’t be long” interlude, “my bro” featuring Senite jazzily talks about charming a woman he fell for more than once. The self-produced “Looking for Parking” shows off his singing abilities hoping his girl ain’t tired after pulling up to her complex while “Today Years Old” talks about not being like others.

Starting the 2nd half, “high tides” discusses all the hues in his life get so bright for the moment just before “itachi” after the “supplier” interlude talks about trying to stay sane despite that not being so easy because of the turmoil unraveling in front of us these past 9 months. “TICTACTOE” lastly finishes the EP with him starting to miss phone calls & texts from a female he’s no longer on speaking terms with realizing that some shit is better off being let go of.

It doesn’t really surprise me that coming off the most beloved full-length of SABA’s career this spring, C0FFEE! would embrace an experimental sound & get more abstract with his songwriting. However even with all these interesting creative ideas floating around, I don’t find myself coming back to it as much as From the Private Collection because there are a few key moments where some of these tracks don’t feel fully fleshed out.

Score: 3/5

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Icewear Vezzo – “Purple Passion” review

Detroit trap veteran & Iced Up Records founder Icewear Vezzo celebrating his birthday weekend with a brand new mixtape. For over a decade now after appearing on the studded “Detroit vs. Everybody” remix, this dude has been making waves locally by releasing the Rich Off Pints trilogy of LPs & over a dozen tapes. The previous Paint the City hosted by DJ Drama preluded his Quality Control Music debut album Live from the 6, which had a sequel of it’s own & the Undefeated looks to discuss his Purple Passion.

“Regular” opens with a reference to 14-time WWE world champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 3-time WWE tag team champion & current the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings division’s CCO Triple H whereas “GMB” featuring GT finds the 2 entertainingly trading verses with one another for almost 3 minutes. “Tesla” produced by Danny G could be my favorite track here even though the clean energy automotive company’s CEO, Twitter owner since 2022, SpaceX founder & Neuralink founder is a Nazi while “Heavy Metal” smoothly pulls up prices with the devil out in the ghetto.

Finesse2tymes’ appearance on “Trophy Music” is actually ok as someone who isn’t really a fan of him & the name does a solid job at matching that same vibe down to the horns until “Party on the 6” talks about shutting 6 Mile down for a block party. “High Fashion” glamorously expresses his appreciation towards haute couture just before “Status” featuring 2 Chainz taps into the Detroit sound whilst using a sample to talk about both of them getting everything they dreamt of.

Beginning the final act of Purple Passion, we have Vezzo atmospherically satisfied he’s “Having My Way” with things in his life as of late while “Supreme” gives a nod to the influential New York streetwear brand of the same name. “I Be Knowing” winds down the mixtape’s last 7 minutes with more sampling techniques talking about him being aware of the difference a woman & a hoe while the soulful Detroit trap outro “Free” talks about still being himself despite all his flaws.

Purple Passion preludes the next era of Icewear Vezzo’s artistry coming 2026 delivers the unique kind of raw storytelling that made the Iced Up Records CEO well beloved in his hometown & eventually the trap spectrum. Not only would I consider this tape to be an improvement over Undefeated because he’s elevated his style for the past decade, but also it’s heavy themes revolving around the hard work & dedication it took for him to be in his current position.

Score: 4/5

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Dirtcore Music – “Overkill” review

This is the 2nd showcase compilation from Grand Rapids, Michigan independent record label Dirtcore Music founded by local rapper, singer/songwriter & producer Crossworm. The latter of whom was sole artist officially signed for its first 2 decades of existence until bringing Samson Samson whom he formed Bodies Below Sea Level with, Madd Maxxx, Mumm Ra, Sleep Lyrical, J Reno whom he formed Misery Coast with & Grounds all on board. Others such as Gavyn Gunn & Oblivia have spent a brief amount of time signed to Dirtcore with Gavyn’s debut EP Malevolent being a great start to his ongoing trilogy, celebrating Devil’s Night with Overkill.

Crossworm eerily starts with a self-produced intro “Halloween Sucks” talking about him spraying mace at anyone who knocks on his door whereas “The Veil” by J Reno takes the trap route instrumentally discussing the boundary between life & death. “Mask On” by Sleep Lyrical shows a bit of a Memphis influence being in the kitchen with evil eyes every Halloween while “Agree to Disappear” by Madd Maxxx speaks to his therapist on wax.

“CR4V3 M3” by Samson Samson embraces a funky industrial direction talking about a woman who’s yearning for him just before “The Old Man” by J Reno returns to the boom bap vividly describes a house usually skipped during trick-or-treating being the only 1 in town this year. “The Warning” by Mumm Ra aggressively asks if anyone wants smoke with him because he ain’t got shit to lost leading into “The Dead Can’t Die” by Crossworm industrially talking about the undead being immortal.

Misery Coast comes off their eponymous debut EP earlier this week with the dusty “Never Woulda Guessed” confessing they didn’t imagine themselves winding up 6 feet in the ground while the horrorcore/industrial “Scream” by Samson Samson talks about making innocent victims shriek when walking in the room. “Demon Me” by Madd Maxxx & Sleep Lyrical bodies a trap beat together feeling lost out their minds while the outro “Nobody” by Grounds sends off the compilation with a metal closer kin to his debut EP Walking into Tragedy.

Dirtcore last Christmas finished 2024 with Dirtcore Music by compiling a collection of songs that’ll get the average listener who hasn’t heard of with the label familiarized with who everyone is from an artistic standpoint & a little bit as people. As far as Overkill’s concerned, they’re switching it up by having the entire roster penning songs that celebrate Samhain through a mix of styles from horrorcore & industrial music to metal & a small dosage of spoken word.

Score: 4/5

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Klokwerk E – “Rent a Friend” review

This is the 4th EP from Columbus, Ohio horrorcore duo Klokwerk E. Consisting of Billy D & Kyle Kombs, they introduced themselves a couple years ago off their debut EP Will Boof 4 Rent & later the full-length debut The Emerald Tablets. These guys would also form the supergroup Mighty Morphin’ Wackness with the Super Famous Fun Time Guys over 14 months ago, dropping Santa Claus Fukked My Dog as well as an acclaimed sophomore effort Anubis & their previous EP Bukkake Mukbang Extravaganza this summer. In preparation for Hallowicked weekend however, Rent a Friend has been slowly revealing itself to be their most interesting extended play yet.

It’s only appropriate for the title track produced by Kyle Kombs to set the tone of things talking about making new best friends & looks to “Have Some Fun” after a long day over a trap instrumental. “Bad Influence” humorously asks if you’d ride & die for them but after the “What’s Your Name?” skit, the synth-funk inspired “Johnny Bravo” references the classic Discovery Global-owned Cartoon Network series of the same name.

After the “Do You Remember?” skit, the penultimate song “Homeboys” officially winds down on Rent a Friend with a chill ballad dedicated to chillin’ with some good friends & “Together” sends off the EP with one of the greatest Klokwerk E songs ever heartwarmingly telling everyone listening that they won’t ever be alone hoping some of us live life more, find love & that it gets people through whatever hardships they’re facing.

The 3rd project from Klokwerk E in 2025 feels like a forgotten VHS tape from another era offering a 1-on-1 friendship experience that you’ll never forget, rivaling Anubis for some of the Silver Boof Brothers’ greatest material & exemplifying their popularity in the underground. Kyle Kombs’ production has been continuously getting better as he & Billy conceptually engage in a late-night conversation full of joy, melancholy & grief.

Score: 4/5

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Jay NiCE & Tha God Fahim – “Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 18” review

48 hours later & the 4th collaborative EP between Atlanta, Georgia emcee Jay NiCE & the local Dump Gawd himself Tha God Fahim has arrived. Both of whom have worked with each other countless times in the past several years, teaming up for the collab album Strictly 4 My D.U.M.P.E.R.Z. during the spring of 2018 & the Bloodspiller EP almost 3 years ago. Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 12 produced by Nicholas Craven became their greatest joint offering yet & fresh off the 17th chapter this weekend, installment #18 is here.

“Better Days” opens with Fahim holding the mic down by himself over a calming boom bap instrumental getting on some mental health shit whereas the soulfully jazzy “Everyday” talks about doing this shit no matter what. Jay NiCE finally appears during “Lay Punishment” setting wack rappers on fire on top of a sample just before “Lands Trapped” lets their words echo through nature.

The song “Well Done” continues the 2nd half of Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 18talking about being eager to make an other bag drop while Tha God Fahim’s final solo joint “Soo True” discusses protecting your heart. “Gumbo” finishes the EP with both MCs teaming up 1 last time for a soulful outro including a reference to WWE Hall of Famer & the shortest reigning WWE Champion André the Giant.

Reserving my praise towards Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 12, the predecessor on Sunday wasn’t on par with the season 2 premiere or the 16th entry in saga & I can pretty much confirm that Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 17 fits in the same category. Jay NiCE’s contributions decreased from 71% to 57% but other than that, there isn’t really a whole lot to be said that hasn’t been sent already from their chemistry to the production.

Score: 3.5/5

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