Wyclef Jean – “Quantum Leap: Clef Notes” review

Wyclef Jean is a 56 year old rapper, singer/songwriter & producer from Newark, New Jersey by way of Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti who began his career as 1/3 of the Fugees. He has since spent the last 3 decades following their disbandment carving a path for himself as a solo artist dropping a couple of extended plays along with 8 full-length studio albums & 3 mixtapes. However, he’s ending the 1st half of 2026 dropping off his 3rd EP & the inaugural entry of the 7-part Quantum Leap series.

The self-produced intro “Memory Lane” takes it all the way back to the beginning reflecting on his career whereas “Boom Bap” featuring Rapsody finds the pair talking about forever being nostalgic. “Devil’s a Lie” featuring PRICE hits us with a 2-parter switching up the beat during the 2nd half of it so both artists can give all praises to Yahweh or God just before “Mr. October” featuring G Herbo finds the pair talking about envisioning a new acquisition, possibly making moves in real estate.

“Winter’s Coming” brings a summery guitar into the picture singing about his wishes of making all his wrongs disappear leading into the soulfully jazzy “G.B.T.C. (God Bless the Child)” featuring Lil Wayne discusses breaking the cycles of their respective family trees. The penultimate song “Gemini Man” explaining that the real eternally staying the same even if technology’s advancing & the outro “Freedom” concludes Quantum Leap: Clef Noteson a more melodic note, singing about playing his part.

Truthfully: I wasn’t so sure of how much I would enjoy Quantum Leap: Clef Notes considering the gap between that & The Carnival III: The Fall & Rise of a Refugee nearly a decade ago, but I do think it’s a solid beginning to this saga & have heard that future installments will be spanning across several genres from jazz to soul. Considering the latter, him kicking it all off with a prominently hip hop style was the right move to make & I look forward to the other 6 chapters.

Score: 3.5/5

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MexikoDro – “Stayed Down” review

This is the 5th extended play from Atlanta, Georgia producer & rapper MexikoDro. A member of the BeatPluggz, he would later embark on a solo career with Down Bad as well as De Mayo & Quatro respectively. In almost a decade he’s also produced tracks for the likes of Maxo Kream, Drake, Bktherula, Smokingskul, Tony Shhnow & Diorvsyou. His full-length debut Still Goin’ under Republic Records last November was widely praised as his finest material yet & Stayed Down looks to continue the momentum.

“Loser” begins with a cloudy trap beat talking about spending his free time these days trying to heal from past trauma whereas “Rest” gives off a dirty south vibe instrumentally explaining that he’s nothing like the rest. “Knuckle” works in some synthesizers talking about how he had to quit so much since he used to struggle just before “To Go” featuring Key Glock finds the pair speaking of picking up the phone whenever money calls them.

Meanwhile on “Down”, we have Dro looking back at the days when no one wanted to help him when he was at his lowest over a plugg beat leading into the triumphant “My Girl” featuring ManMan Savage talking about the women they’re dating being independent since they have their own shit. “Free Flight” admits that he’s been going through some mental health shit lately while “Letter” recalls when his mother used to write him back when he was incarcerated.

“Mail” wraps up the final moments of Stayed Down talking about going from being chased by the cops to going outside to check his mailbox while “Bacardi” describes not thinking the same ever since he made all the money he’s earned over a horn-inflicted trap instrumental. The closing track “Flat Shoals” spends the concluding 2 minutes of the EP talking about picking himself up from the dirt & this girl he’s seeing distancing herself from the Hart County area.

Ever since signing to a major label, MexikoDro has spent nearly 8 months further establishing himself as an artist than merely a producer & Stayed Down dethrones Down Bad to become my new favorite solo EP of his. I’d still love to hear him fully produce an entire body of work by himself, but I respect that he’s continuing to take a backseat in that field & specifically him bringing in a couple features to break up the predecessor’s monotony.

Score: 4/5

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Nduduzo Makhathini – “The Myth We Choose” review

Nduduzo Makhathini is a 42 year old pianist & philosopher from Umgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa who dropped his first 7 studio LPs through his own imprint Gundu Entertainment prior to the greatest jazz label of all-time Blue Note Records signing him for Modes of Communication: Letters From the Underworlds as well as In the Spirit of Ntu & uNomkhubulwane. All of which have elevated his spiritual afro-jazz sound & went into his 11th album expecting him to do the same.

“Kuzodlula” by Robin Fassie kicks things off with a vocal jazz intro encouraging everyone to relax for the reason of everything eventually passing whereas “Imvunge KaNtu” recruits bassist Dalisu Ndlazi & drummer Lukmil Pérez for a hard bop tribute to the Bantu philosophy. “Kwamabili” lets Lukmil take a backseat so Nduduzo & Dalisu can instrumentally shine together for a few minutes just before the 4th & final single “Unembeza” combines elements of gospel & South African music.

The 3rd single “Liyoze Line Nangakith” has flautist Shabaka Hutchings joining the pianist & bassist for a hymn to the blessings that accompany rain while “What People Say” by Nduduzo’s wife Omagugu takes the vocal jazz route once more mediating on the creation of myths. “Primordial Egg” enlists Ayanda Sikade on the cymbals for a rubato jam complimenting the keys & bass leading into “Ekuqaleni” reaching the halfway point with a composition themed around the Zulu creation using synths & a vocoder.

Muneyi takes the microphone for “Ḽiṅwalo ḽa Mubebi” embracing a vocal jazz vibe again describing fatherly love while “Umbono” brings guitarist Keenan Ahrends on board so Nduduzo himself can sing about our 6th senses. “Tethered” by Thando Zide succeeding the “Ḽiṅwalo ḽa Mubebi” reprise experiments with neo-soul pitting the inevitability of love against the inability to gauge our emotional entanglement when somebody’s deeply in love.

“Ongaphesheya” gets the 4th quarter of The Myth We Choose going by having these calming piano chords predominantly taking the spotlight with some bass licks from Dalisu backing them but after Black Coffee’s stunning remix of “What People Say” that I’d consider equal to the original & the “Kuzodlula” reprise, “Zimthilili” sends off the album by bringing Ayanda Sikade back on drums so Nduduzo can vocally perform 1 last time singing about love over hypnotically rich instrumentation.

All 3 of Nduduzo Makhathini’s previous full-lengths that he’s dropped under Blue Note Records over the course of this decade have individually elevated his spiritual jazz sound & although I’d consider In the Spirit of Ntu to be his magnum opus, The Myth We Choose wouldn’t be too far behind for a close 2nd. He’s challenging the world to examine our individual background taking further inspiration from afro-jazz, spiritual jazz, cape jazz, vocal jazz, hard bop & neo-soul with the help of his son Thingo even if I could’ve done without a couple of the reprises.

Score: 4/5

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FlyG – “MENNBLVCK III” review

Washington, D.C. emcee of Nigerian descent FlyG is back for his 10th EP. Properly introducing himself to the underground a couple years ago off his inaugural extended play Soulful Journey, SPCL_CHRCTRS would fully produce the next one Serenade Symphony at the end of last February & rising French producer Drega33 helped him turn more heads with MENNBLVCK a couple months later. MENNBLVCK II followed on Black Friday, reuniting with Drega so they can finally drop MENNBLVCK III coming off both Soundscape Cinema & FlyBlackmanExperience respectively.

“Du$ty Roads” opens with a funky homage to former 3-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, NWA National Heavyweight Champion, WWE Hall of Famer, WWE United States Champion, 2-time WCW World Tag Team Champion & 3-time WCW World Television Champion Dusty Rhodes whereas “F.T.$ho” takes a more soulfully approach instrumentally stripping the drums this time showing off his wordplay.

We get more soul samples coming our way on “B@rry Bonds at Luger $teaks” recalling a dining experience he had where they fucked up his order & he had to give them his business card leading into “Luxurious Abilitie$” embracing a drumless vibe once again talking about him learning that the pathways of success are narrow. After an interlude, “Eye$ Closed” gets the 2nd half of the EP going with more soulful atmosphere discussing how much times have changed.

“MENNBLVCK on “Bro@dway” nears closer towards the conclusion of the trilogy with a soulfully drumless talking about the large amount of free agents who’ve laid out the blueprint while “Keep Tryin’” discusses that it wasn’t ever hard for him to master the pen & a lover who gives him a hard time even when he’s washing dishes. “$un Mediation Methods” concludes MENNBLVCK III with a drumless closer talking about one having to develop their own tricks.

I’ve always considered both installments of the MENNBLVCK series to be some of FlyG’s greatest material & thankfully he’s already been confirmed that the series will keep going since he’s planning to drop MENNBLVCK 4EVER at some point during the 2nd half of 2026 because MENNBLVCK III carries over every satisfactory aspect of it’s predecessors from Drega33’s soulfully drumless production to the DMV artists’ songwriting.

Score: 4/5

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Downtown Boys – “Public Luxury” review

The Downtown Boys are a hardcore punk rock band from Providence, Rhode Island consisting of alto saxophonist Will Cioffi, guitarist Joey DeFrancesco, tenor saxophonist Emmett Fitzgerald, drummer Norlan Olivo, bassist Dan Schleifer & lead singer Victoria Ruiz. Making their eponymous full-length debut back in 2012, they went on to follow it up with the sophomore effort Full Communism as well as the Sub Pop Records debut Cost of Living. Almost a decade later, they’re returning for their 4th studio LP.

“No More Jodas” begins with an urgent lead single singing in Spanish about this person being the disaster Victoria wants prior to her stating that “The City Begins” where many assumed it would end over some punk rock riffs. The 3rd single “Sirena” uses a handful of metaphors to symbolize empowerment singing in Spanish once again dabbling with new wave just before the 4th & final “Yellow Sun” addresses Israel occupying Lebanon for the past couple years giving a shot at goth pop.

Meanwhile on “Viva La Rosa”, we have Victoria & Joey breathing new life into a song that was initially conceived during their Malportado Kids days take inspiration from skate punk leading into “Enemy Without” throwing the it back to the Downtown Boys’ earlier material stylistically. The 2nd single “You’re a Ghost” combines dance-punk & industrial rock so they can critique the rise of fascism in the United States while “Albuterol” treads the synth-punk waters singing about smoking in bed.

“Mi Concha” wraps up the final moments of Public Luxury with another Malportado Kids rendition singing about Victoria’s shell not being white enough for others amplifying the new wave elements while “Public Works” starts with some galloping punk riffs & commanding vocal performances preceding the synthesizers & even an occasional saxophone. The title track spends the album’s last couple minutes blending more synths with a piano for a delicately electronic outro.

Amplifying the primary post-punk influences of their 2017 debut for Sub Pop, the Downtown Boys make their return after 9 long years with the most expansive entry in the band’s entire catalog & definitely the strongest since getting signed. They also incorporate influences of hardcore punk, garage punk, art punk, dance-punk, industrial rock, new wave, synth-punk & skate punk to make some bilingual political commentary regarding the people having it all in the end.

Score: 4/5

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Wrekonize – “Edited for Reality” review

Here we have the long-awaited 5th studio LP from Miami, Florida emcee/producer Wrekonize. Starting out in the battle circuit, he eventually put out a total of 3 mixtapes throughout the 2000s until coming out with his full-length debut A Soiree for Skeptics in 2010. However, the following year when he signed to Strange Music as a solo artist & as a member of the group ¡MAYDAY! the following year. His 2013 sophomore effort The War Withinwould go onto receive critical acclaim & was followed up in 2017 with Into the Further. This fall will be 6 years since Pressure Point & he’s enlisted MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 to produce Edited for Reality.

After the “Ángel de la Guarda” intro, “Alpha (The Beginning)” made for a tense opener talking about him having to change his state of mind whereas “Ain’t Backing Down” encouraging people to find him if they’re looking for a fight. “Free Way” had a more laidback sound to it talking about living life freely prior to “Can’t Stay, I’m Gone” featuring Lex Bratcher joining forces so they can cavernously talk about their refusal of standing still.

“Snowfall” instrumentally shifts towards a predominant trap vibe confessing that his heart’s been getting colder by the second leading into “No Words” talking about being speechless at all the evil things this person he’s addressing has done. “You Should Get Slapped” by ¡MAYDAY! featuring Stunnaman02 & 1 Ton finds everybody enjoying the sun & staying out the way of bullshit just before “Cinder Blocks” featuring Stevie Stone talks about bracing for the fall when they land.

Continuing the 2nd half of Edited for Reality, we have Wrek taking a more melodic approach on “If Anything” singing that he’ll be there for this person whenever they need him while “For Peace” talks about not finding tranquility if one doesn’t actively seek for it. “Line in the Sand” lividly airs out his frustrations of potentially dying at the hands of a coward while “Twisted” hops over a boom bap beat talking about the state of the world.

“Planet Worth” winds down the last several minutes of the album speaking of living for the moment as a nobody on a rock full of superstars while the penultimate song “No One Else (Be Myself)” talks about wanting to be himself instead of another because he could give a fuck less what they have. The closing track “Perfection 2026” wraps up Edited for Reality explaining the realization that he’s come to regarding nobody completing the path of gaining perfection.

Containing every single he’s dropped since forming ¡MAYDAY! Music distributed by It Goes Up Entertainment & Strange Music with his ¡MAYDAY! bandmates a few years earlier, Edited for Reality egins this new chapter of Wrekonize’s career with a full-length that I’d have to put on the same pedestal as The War Within & Pressure Point. I could’ve done without a couple guests, but the chemistry between 7’s production & Wrek’s penmanship hasn’t changed.

Score: 4/5

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Naomi Sharon – “No Sleep in Paradise” review

This is the sophomore effort from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands singer/songwriter Naomi Sharon. Starting in 2018 with her debut single “Breeze”, she would go on to release 4 more singles until Toronto, Ontario, Canada superstar Drake signed her to OVO Sound for an impressive debut Obsidian giving a refreshing take on the way the label delivers alternative R&B going beyond that in favor of neo-soul, afrobeats, afro house, downtempo, sophisti-pop, deep house, ambient pop & smooth soul. Coming off The Only Love We Know however, she’s been getting No Sleep in Paradise.

“I Know” blends deep house & alternative R&B to kick things off singing about being built from broken time & stitched with 2nd chances whereas “Miss That” experiments with Afropiano admitting that she’ll miss the way her ex used to pull her in & kiss her back. “Weak” fuses alternative R&B with Afrobeats asking if this person even realizes that she’s hurting her while “Try” produced by KAYTRANADA & Jordan Ullman sings about having the whole night to reach the sun.

Moving on from there, “If You Wanted to You Would” brings the deep house elements back in the picture demanding to know why this person said they need her in their life just before the spacious “Starting Fires” encourages her partner not to hesitate with her heart. “Was It Ever Love?” finds herself questioning if her ex truly loved her since all he never showed that he sincerely cared while “Better Days” sings about her praying & waiting for things in her life to improve.

“Celebration” gets the 2nd half of No Sleep in Paradise going pleading to be drowned in the truth without any hesitation while “Pink City” sings about rivers & skies collide when stars surround you over a moody beat from Noel Cadastre. “Untitled” addresses an individual who waits & lets her bleed rather than chasing & pleading while “Half a Lie” sings about her always having to fake her peace along with desiring truth instead of perfection.

The song “Leaving” winds down the album’s final moments explaining to her partner that she can’t carry the weight of their paradise & getting out of their presiding town while “Light My Soul” sings for her lover to elevate her & kiss the fire in the middle of him lighting her soul over an Afropiano instrumental. The title track appropriately concludes No Sleep in Paradise confessing to her carrying love similarly to baggage she forgot to claim.

In only less than 3 years, Naomi Sharon has quickly risen above the ranks to become the most talented signee on the OVO roster & her 2nd album No Sleep in Paradise continues to validate that even if I’d put Obsidian above it. She might be the best songwriter on the label even if the neo-soul influences are being decreased compared to her last couple projects in favor of the production taking it’s inspiration from alternative R&B, alt-pop, sophisti-pop, Afropiano & deep house.

Score: 3.5/5

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Benny the Butcher – “The Plugs I Met 2.5” review

Buffalo, New York emcee Benny the Butcher preluding The Plugs I Met III with his 10th extended play. Being in the game for 2 decades already, it wouldn’t be until the previous one where he alongside his cousins Westside Gunn & Conway the Machine would take the culture by storm off projects like Tana Talk 3 & The Plugs I Met. Harry Fraud came in for a sequel to the latter following the mature Burden of Proof & finally, Tana Talk 4 took it back to the basement a few years back. Coming off the Summertime Butch duology & Excelsior however, The Plugs I Met 2.5 has come 48 hours succeeding its announcement.

“Rise & Fall” featuring Elcamino & 38 Spesh after “The Dog & The Wolf” intro hops over a soulful instrumental from Harry Fraud explaining that there’s a certain price of the game that we haven’t accept even if we don’t want to leading into “Big Difference” featuring Bruiser Wolf & Fuego Base produced by the late DJ Shay works in a symphonic boom bap beat so the trio can respond to all of the haters criticizing them for their recent acquisitions.

Daringer & Beat Butcha get behind the boards on “Once Upon a Time” to kick off the 2nd half of The Plugs I Met 2.5, replacing the strings with a more sinister backdrop explaining that every leader was a good soldier at a certain point in their lives just before “Talk Shows” featuring Raekwon reunites with Harry Fraud to discuss having no respect for those who buy their runs since they hustled to earn theirs. The closing track “Can’t Be Much” sends off the EP with a symphonic trap outro getting in his coke rap bag lyrically.

Many will presumably say that The Plugs I Met 2.5 is the best thing Benny the Butcher has made since Tana Talk 4 or Everybody Can’t Go, but I did enjoy it a lot more than Summertime Butch 2 almost a year earlier as much of a huge improvement it was over it’s predecessor & has me anticipating a forthcoming trilogy chapter. The production feels like a mix between both installments of The Plugs I Met series letting Harry Fraud handle most of it outside of Daringer & DJ Shay’s contributions, bringing a stellar guest list on board for all but 2 tracks excluding the intro to break down the mafioso life.

Score: 4.5/5

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Pz’ – “No Turnin’ Back” review

Yes, we finally have another extended play from Atlanta, Georgia rapper & fashion model Pz’. Emerging a couple years ago off the strength of his debut single “Sun”, he would eventually blow up last summer when “Hedis Bussin’” came out & has since collaborated with the likes of billi0n for his debut mixtape Revenge as well as the Uy Scuti Bøyz’ eponymous tape earlier this spring. B4NTB came out a few days ago & No Turnin’ Back has arrived after a 48 hour delay as promised.

“Never Gon’ Home” opens with a bassy intro explaining that it’s difficult for him to specifically say where he’s headed leading into “Live Strong” hazily talking about how he prayed for his success to come & all of his ØWay brethren playing their individual roles. “Dis Ain’t Right” speaks of being trained to kill along with smoking up all his weed because he can’t sleep at night while “Canes” talks about all this internet shit being a joke to him & coming from a city where all the artists are homegrown.

dragnutz makes the EP’s sole guest appearance on the synth-driven “No Ceilings” so they can discuss reaching new heights together just before “X Tape” talks about possibly changing this woman’s life after having sex. “Fête Feeling” experiments with Afrobeats observing that the woman he slept with has been acting strange around him & after “Claim to Fame” talks about constantly thinking of money, the outro “Maxfields” finishes up suggesting he might make a bag only to put it in his will afterwards.

No Turnin’ Back retains the similar trap & pop rap production that made B4NTB such an interesting prelude although there are more elements of rage being incorporated & a small dosage of Afrobeats towards the backend of it contrasting the previous EP’s futuristic swag undertones. Pz’ could potentially be the most versatile member of the ØWay collective the more I think of it & I already know his discography will only improve going forward.

Score: 3.5/5

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Boldy James – “Trapper’s Alley 3: Hell or High Water” review

Brand new mixtape & the 7th overall from Detroit, Michigan veteran Boldy James. Breaking out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set), there was a point where Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records had them on their roster for a little while before getting locked up. Once coming home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China. Manger on McNichols produced by Sterling Toles was as equally fantastic & the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was. Bo Jackson though would become his most critically acclaimed work to date & Super Tecmo Bo was almost as great for an EP. Fair Exchange No Robbery produced by Nicholas Craven, Penalty of Leadership, Mr. 10-08 produced by Futurewave, the Conductor Williams-produced Across the Tracks the Harry Fraud-produced The Bricktionary & the Carlo Anthony-produced Hidden in Plain Sight were all welcomed to warm reception additionally. Token of Appreciation produced by Chuck Strangers was much better than both Murder During Drug Traffic & Permanent Ink, the Antt Beatz produced Hommage left people divided although I didn’t mind it, although the V Don-produced Alphabet Highway along with the Killing Nothing sequel Conversational Pieces & Late to His Own Funeral were more positively received. Coming off his Roc Nation Records debut Criminally Attached, he & Craven are running it back for Trapper’s Alley 3: Hell or High Water.

The 2nd & final single “Summer’s Eve” kicks things off with a soul sample talking about seeing so many leave to the point where he no longer fears death whereas “Mama Maxine” featuring 218bojay keeps the drumless vibes going ensuring anyone who fucks with them will end up in the trauma unit. “My Last Try” blends chipmunk soul & boom bap talks about trying to put wings on a brick to make the glass fly prior to “Beautiful Snow” featuring Chip$ & Dave Hill getting in their coke rap bags.

“False Accusations” reaches the halfway point of the tape soulfully recalling a point in his life where he was incarcerated for a crime he didn’t even commit & once “Hamburger Helper” featuring Chip$ reunites the pair to kick off the 2nd leg opulently talking about counting up all the extra money they have laying around, “Powerhouse” featuring Chip$ & Lethalias Grain finds the trio asking if having green thumbs makes them gardeners & the cocaine hitting harder than powerpunches.

Wrapping up Trapper’s Alley 3: Hell or High Water’s final moments, the song “Grinding My Gears” soulfully talks about how he wouldn’t have ever imagined making a career out of his criminal experiences while “Don’t Tell Me (Trinidadian James)” flexes that his whole entire squad’s in the heavyweight division. The lead single “Death & Taxes” finishes up with this drumless gangsta rap outro explaining there being only 2 things in this world that we can’t escape.

Boldy James never disappoints whenever he locks in with Nicholas Craven for an entire project & that’s the main reason I’m usually very praiseful of their material, but I would necessarily put Trapper’s Alley 3: Hell or High Water on the same pedestal as Fair Exchange No Robbery & Penalty of Leadership or Late to My Own Funeral if you wanna include a more recent example. Craven’s drumlessly jazzy yet soulful production & Boldy’s gangsta/coke raps are like Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen although the guest list can be somewhat spotty.

Score: 3.5/5

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