Jae Skeese – “Testament of the Times” review

Buffalo emcee Jae Skeese joining forces with Superior for his 4th full-length studio LP. Getting his start off the strength of his his debut mixtape W.A.C.K. (Women, Alcohol, Cash & Kicks) in the fall of 2010, it wasn’t until a decade later where he & 7xvethegeniusgained wide exposure as the very first signees to Conway the Machine’s very own EMPIRE Distribution imprint Drumwork Music Group. The Big Ghost Ltd.-produced 3rd EP Authenticity Check & the previous album Abolished Uncertainties both elevated Skeese’s popularity in the last couple years, so Testament of the Times can only amplify it.

To get us started, “Union 2’s” hops over a guitar-laced boom bap instrumental talking about being lowkey dangerous when that’s already been proven with the last 2 projects of his that I named near the end of the previous paragraph in my opinion whereas “In My Hands” has a jazzier approach aiming to stay focused. “Cement 4’s” works in some organs asking what y’all think he did this for since he been on one for life leading into the flute-tinged “2Cents” referring to real game as priceless.

“Cantonese Characters” featuring Rome Streetz & Ty Farris references current AEW manager, WWE Hall of Famer & former SMW Heavyweight Champion Jake “The Snake” Roberts prior to the luxurious keyboard embellishments on “Preguntas” talking about staying hungry & blessed. “Ksubi Tags” isn’t really much of an interlude rather it’s Jae over a sample-heavy boom bap beat feeling like a threat waking up, but then “Risk & Reward” draws inspiration from rap rock talking about having to work to get as nice as he is now.

O.T. the Real comes into the picture on “Sign of the Cross” somberly advises to let the problems accumulate while the delicately-produced “Broken Mirrors” talks about being in his head overthinking at times. “Mothers & Gods” clarifies that he’s never been anyone’s favorite except for his mom alongside the higher power over plainly piano chords until “Skycraper” concludes the LP on a drumless note continuing to put in the time & labor building from ground level.

The introspective story that Abolished Uncertainties told almost a year ago this month was a personal way for Jae to introduce himself to a wider audience, but I think I might prefer Testament of the Times more. Superior continues to stand as amongst the most interesting German producers in hip hop, the guest-list is tighter & Skeese here sets out to encourage everyone in taking themselves to new heights.

Score: 4.5/5

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Ramirez – “From tha Guttah to tha Grave” review

San Francisco, California emcee Ramirez back with his 11th EP. Coming up in 2014 as a longtime affiliate of the $uicideboy$, he would go on to co-found to the New Orleans-based indie label G*59 Record$ with them & build himself as an artist by dropping 8 mixtapes, his last 10 EPs & 4 full-lengths in the span of nearly a decade. Tha Playa$ Manual was his best LP yet with it’s g-funk production from Rocci & The Tragedy of a Clown was a good comeback from a year & a half ago, but is now taking us From tha Guttah to tha Grave.

“Beige Butter” featuring Le$ starts by hooking up this synth-lead with hi-hats swangin’ in their spaceships whereas “Rehabilitation” gives off a more psychedelic approach instrumentally except it hurts to say the Lil Homewrecker’s melodic vocals feel like they’re being drowned out in the mix. “Sleepin’ with the Fishes” takes the morbid trap route getting in his hardcore bag lyrically just before “Amphisbaena” featuring SXMPRA turns up the aggressiveness hitting licks together.

Meanwhile, “Warfare” has a glitchy trap vibe to the beat talking about having his victims brought to him out in the trenches leading into the heinous “Stick Up” letting the gunshots ring out. “Goodfellas” featuring SosMula chillingly asks if anyone wants the smoke with them but prior to the chopped & screwed version of “Rehabilitation” finishing the EP, the final song “In da Trunk” is a Memphis-infused closer pushing down the block.

After pretty much laying low last year, From tha Guttah to tha Grave happens to be a pretty solid return for RVMIRXZ & and. Maybe even the most I’ve enjoyed an EP from him since the Judgement Day trilogy. The production has some cool ideas pulling inspiration from the Memphis scene, chopped & screwed music, cloud rap, glitch hop, trap, psychedelia or hardcore hip hop boiling down the features to 3 as opposed to 5 previously continuing portray the experiences of gang life.

Score: 3.5/5

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Mission: Infect – “arM:Igeddon” review

Mission: Infect are an underground collective consisting of Lo Key, Badluck, Dubbs, DurtE, Grewsum, Madd Maxxx, Malaria, Mumm Ra, St. Sinna, Tha Wikid One & 0. They’ve released 6 full-lengths together in the span of nearly 2 decades including the Chemical Threats tetralogy, XterM:Ination & Asphyxiation with quite a few other members finding success on their own as solo artists in the wicked shit scene. However after 7 years of silence as a unit, the crew are getting back together for their first EP.

“Pathogen” featuring Grewsum, Lo Key, Madd Maxxx & Tha Wikid One is this hardcore trap opener putting their gas masks on whereas “Guns Up” featuring Badluck, Grewsum & Lo Key kinda draws from electronic dance music instrumentally talking about rallying up the soldiers. All 3 emcees stick around for “Old Man Flow” working in kicks & snares to drop battle bars just before “Load ‘Em Up” featuring DurtE, Lo Key, Madd Maxxx & Tha Wikid One finds the quartet over a dark trap beat talking about taking ‘em down.

Badluck, Grewsum & Lo Key get back together for “Get Ya Mask On” returns to the boom bap going door-to-door to get their blast on leading into “Fire Back” featuring Dubbs, Lo Key & Malaria keeps it raw talking about rightfully being veterans decapitating heads again. “Welcome Home” featuring Badluck, Grewsum, Malaria, Mumm Ra, St. Sinna & 0 concludes the EP with everyone over kicks, snares & electronic-toned synths acknowledging that the underground missed them as a unit.

This is the 2nd longest gap between releases for Mission: Infect since Chemical Threats 3 & 4 both came out 8 years after Asphyxiation since everyone’s been focusing on further establishing themselves as solo artists. That said: arM:Igeddon still proves the collective hasn’t gone anywhere after all this time. The production is varied in sound whether it be horrorcore, trap, boom bap, hardcore hip hop or electronica/electronic dance music & everyone sounds happy to be reunited.

Score: 4/5

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Bishop Nehru – “Kult Life: From Pain to Paintings” review

This is the 7th EP from New York emcee/producer Bishop Nehru. Starting out dropping a couple beat tapes before emerging in the underground off the solid debut mixtape Nehruvia, he profile would only begin to increase in 2014 by signing to Mass Appeal Records & form the duo NehruvianDOOM alongside the late MF DOOM & putting out an overlooked self-titled effort together that same fall. Bishy would leave Mass Appeal a couple years later to drop 2 full-lengths Elevators & My Disregarded Thoughts on his own, both of which I look at as some of the best shit he’s ever done. He would also drop 6 EPs & 5 more mixtapes but coming off the Mysteries of Initiation EP last fall, Nehru’s beginning the Kult Life series by going From Pain to Paintings.

“Rise” is a cavernous trap opener talking about being unable to focus on healing & going from the hero to the villain whereas “Through It All” shifts into sample-heavy boom bap territory setting out to let everyone hear what this gift he has is. “Hold It Down” works in more kicks & snares promising the world when it turns around, but then “Keep It a Bean” soulfully shows the difference between real & fake.

The sequel to “Abandoned” starting the 2nd half is cool since that was a favorite of mine off Heroin Addiction going for a Flying Lotus vibe kinda while “Forever” hooks up a vocal flip & hi-hats talking about being good for life. “Devil in New York” returns to the boom bap detailing his encounters with Satan in his neck of the woods that is until the cloudy “Fears” concludes the EP by confronting all that he’s afraid of.

Regardless of Chulo or more recently 4 the Noners from a couple weeks ago being recent examples of how hit or miss Nehru’s discography has become over time, From Pain to Paintings is a solid beginning to the Kult Life series & I’m curious to hear the future installments. Dioni$ gets a chance to show his influences as a producer & Bishy breaks down more personal subject matter.

Score: 3.5/5

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Eric the Red – “Painting da Town Red” review

Here we have the sophomore effort from Bristol, England, United Kingdom emcee Eric the Red. Known for being the brother of Illinformed & Real Life Drama Records co-founder Leaf Dog of The 4 Owls, he would also become 1/3 of the Creatures of Habit & 1/4 of NLP in addition to forming his own label Lost Scroll Records almost a decade ago. His compositional solo EP Basement Blues dropped in 2016 & the In My Element beat followed as did the Illinformed-produced debut album Caught Red Handed. Coming off Broken Ear Drum, he’s releasing Painting da Town Red under Illin’ for Meds Records almost a week after Jordan Breaks ended Leon Slater’s reign as RPW British Cruiserweight Champion.

“Need in Your Life” sets up shop with a jazzy boom bap instrumental reaffirming that his biggest goal is to be the highest man alive whereas “Same Day” featuring Jack Jetson works in some vibraphones suggesting they’re addicts for narcotics still carrying them in their pockets now. “DNA” featuring Leaf Dog finds the 2 siblings over a grungy boom bap beat talking about hip hop being in all 3 of the Leigh’s blood when that can’t be disputed while “Again & Again” jazzily flexes he’s on his grind again.

As for “Krylon”, we have Eric & Illinformed keeping it in the basement stylistically talking about how he’s still looking for a rooftop to climb on leading into “Day Shifting” ominously recalling him growing up around shoplifting. “Mind’s Gone” turns up the eeriness talking about the drugs filled a gap despite him losing his mind in the process while “Route 66” featuring Smellington Piff brings the pair together warns of the long way back from Hell’s gates.

“Danger” kicks off the final leg of Painting da Town Red darkly advising not to be a threat to your own health dismembering crews while “Lock & Key” featuring Crossbow T links up so they can cook up something monstrous although it’s not a favorite of mine personally. “Super Fiends” references the alter ego of the Warner Bros. subsidiary DC Entertainment-owned Batman franchise until “Switching the Keys” finishes up by flying to the future using a hoverboard & cutting snakes in the grass.

Broken Ear Drum certainly has a good share of moments that’re absolutely worth going back to, but Painting da Town Red joins the same ranks as Caught Red Handed in being amongst Eric the Red’s greatest solo material & simultaneously could become one of my favorite projects to come out of Illinformed’s own label named after his solo debut album. The latter’s jazzy boom bap production here is a lot stronger than Broken Ear Drum, the guest list is kept to a minimum & Eric lyrically continues to set himself apart from Leaf exceptionally.

Score: 4/5

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Ransom – “Lavish Misery” review

This is the 11th 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, 7 based around the 7 deadly sins, Heavy’s the Head produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Rome Streetz collab album Coup de Grâce, or even his last couple albums Chaos is My Ladder, Director’s Cut 4 & Deleted Scenes 2. But I knew Lavish Misery had to be a step above Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child especially with Harry Fraud on production top to bottom.

“Immaculate Conception” is a smooth ass opener to get things going talking about being a God born in human form whereas “Chain of Command” works in these rich piano chords, kicks & snares advising everyone to look at what y’all did to him. “Matchstick Men” takes the orchestral boom bap reminding you to leave the bullshit behind route leading into the soulful “Live from the Roxy” featuring Boldy James talking about staying to themselves because misery loves company.

Approaching the 2nd half of the EP, “The Losses” focuses on the Ws whilst ignoring the Ls bringing a groovier atmosphere instrumentally just before “Wilson Fisk” featuring 38 Spesh spaciously likening themselves to the Kingpin from the Marvel franchise. “Eye of the Storm” tackles the richness of his pain with some synthesizers backing him, but then “& 1” finishes Lavish Misery by ruggedly breaking down a long road to recovery.

Ransom has already been one of the most consistent MCs that hip hop has seen in recent memory, but he really did give us a classic EP as we begin to near the end of the first quarter of the new year. The features are kept to a minimum yet both of them maintain his level & Harry Fraud’s production is more consistent Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child last fall so the Jersey City vet can find exuberance in his distresses.

Score: 4.5/5

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Raz Fresco – “Bakin’ Soul” review

If I’m not mistaken, I believe this is the 15th proper full-length LP from Toronto emcee/producer Raz Fresco. Someone who I’ve been familiar with since high school whether it be some of his features or his own extensive discography including the Magneto Was Right mixtape series, the Futurewave-produced Gorgeous Polo Sportsmen album, the Nicholas Craven-produced Boulangerie album, the Cake beat tapes or more recently the Gia…À La Carte collab EP with Estee Nack from last summer. But with Cookin’ Soul coming off producing the acclaimed Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga for Tha God Fahim last month, Bakin’ Soul here seemed more than promising to me going into it.

“360°” starts with a lo-fi boom bap instrumental refusing to let the mean city take your smile whereas “The Pure” featuring Dano & Lil Supa takes a funkier approach talking about how all that frontin’ will leave you fucked up in the end. The drumlessly jazzy “Receipts” goes after the loot prior to Estee Nack & Lord Apex joining Raz on “Kodak Moment” bringing back the kicks & snares referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion & NWA World Tag Team Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin alongside WWE Hall of Famer, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion Rikishi.

Moving forward, “Snakes & Ladders” goes for a symphonic approach confessing he learned life for the first time after playing the titular game that is until “Keep on Pushing” featuring The Musalini returns to the boom bap making it all money when they spit. Life Lessons” gets introspective over a crooning sample with kicks & snares while “Regrets” featuring Tha God Fahim teaches the youth not to make the same mistakes that they did. “Marvelous Fabrics” reminds that the hood’s still starving even after giving favor to Ukraine, but then “No Cap” featuring Gritfall closes up shop with a cloudy beat calling out labels for paying ads selling backwards lifestyles.

I personally was introduced to Raz a little after I started my freshman year of high school hearing his feature on “Why Bother” off of Ace Hashimoto’s 5th mixtape All Day DeShay: AM since it’s no secret that I was an Odd Future kid during my adolescence & Bakin’ Soul most definitely stands as some of his best work primarily because of how organic the chemistry he has with Big Size feels.

Score: 4/5

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Tony Shhnow – “Out the Woods” review

Atlanta, Georgia rapper Tony Shhnow is back with his 7th full-length LP. Being introduced to his music after my younger brother J$zpiech showed me his 4th mixtape Black Billionaires Club & the song “Vet” off the full-length debut Da World’s Ours 3, he then continued to turn heads with his 8th mixtape Reflexions to critical acclaim last summer & I honestly wish I covered it considering that some of his best songs are on there like “Finessin’” or “Forgive Don’t Forget”. Love Streak showed a more sensual side to him after returning to his plugg roots on the BeatPluggz produced Plug Motivation & is aptly coming Out the Woods only hours since former 7-time IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン & NEVER無差別級6人タッグチャンピオンオカダ・カズチカ made his official AEW debut in the Shhnowman’s city.

After the “Intro to the Woods”, the first song “Cool Minute” is a glamorously mellow opener talking about being in the kitchen whereas “Don’t Slip” works in pianos & hi-hats going to a new level with this shit. “What We Doin’” gives off a classier approach, instrumentally asking his girl what the deal is now that they got a hotel room for the night, but then “99 Overall” featuring 1TakeJay talks about putting it on over crooning vocals & horns. 1TakeJay’s performances though don’t quite hold up to Tony’s.

After the “Adrenaline” skit, “Salute (Yes)” continues the trap beats with interesting samples boasting the way he’s living these days leading into “Animal Crossing” with my personal favorite feature of the 3 on the album 3AG Pilot bringing the rage thanks to Dylvinci painting images of the gangsta lifestyles they’ve experienced. “Her Favourite” sensually details all his woman’s favorite things just before “I’m Standing Right Here” hopping over synths & hi-hats talking about making money forever.

“Tryna See” gives me a psychedelic feeling continuing the themes of romance & after the “Lost” skit, “No Time Soon” brings in the horns talking about being the one. “Pool” featuring PNDRN takes it back to the plugg sound looking to be making moves while “Watch” has a peaceful trap atmosphere talking about how he’s the one calling shots.

After the “Guidance” skit, “RollAnotha1” keeps it trillwave bragging that he got a whole lotta Funyons while the title track is just an outro. The first of 2 bonus tracks though “Hustler” starts the encore of the LP with strings & hi-hats addressing those who’re misinformed prior to “Mind of da Crook” officially concluding Out the Woods jumping over synthesizers doing what it took.

This definitely isn’t one of my favorite Tony Shhnow projects or anything like that although I will say that I still enjoyed a pretty good amount of what we got here since he’s one of the most interesting hip hop artists in the underground today. I can do without the skits & a couple of the features, but it’s awesome to see him predominantly taking it back to his plugg sound & his ear-grabbing bars never fail to amuse.

Score: 3.5/5

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Sule – “Written on Wide’s Corner” review

Sule is a 29 year old emcee from Englewood, New Jersey whom Benny the Butcher signed to Black Soprano Family Records at the end of 2022 after putting out 7 EPs over the course of a decade. He’s also notable for his guest verse on the Biggest Since Camby closing track “White Lives Matter” produced by Havoc formerly of Mobb Deep, which was one of my favorites off that LP last spring. However, he’s releasing his first official body of work through B$F in the form of his 8th EP clocking in at 24 & a half minutes long as well as 9 tracks.

“Tommy Bundy” begins with a sample-laced boom bap instrumental from Nyckles & Harlem Zone who did the majority of the EP likening himself to the late DMX’s titular character in Hype Williams’ directional debut Belly whereas “Made for It” featuring Benny works in more kicks & snares with an symphonic flip asking if you were built for this shit if you got it but lost it. “Courtesy Inn” brings some pianos into the fold talking about his mother never having to worry ever again just before the jazzy “Jodie” tells the tragic story of the titular character.

Fuego Base & Inspectah Deck of the almighty Wu-Tang Clan comes into the picture for “Wu-Sopranos” returning to the boom bap bringing it to y’all raw lyrically, but then “Crown Vic” featuring The Hoodies finds the trio keeps it grimy flexing their powerhouse statuses. “If a Brick Could Talk” has an eerier boom bap atmosphere detailing the hustler lifestyle while “Y.N.G.A.W. (Young N****s Got a Wave)” makes a 180° with its trap beat & boisterous lyrics. “Marlo Scamfield” ends the EP with kicks, snares & a shimmery loop referencing the character from The Wire.

Black Soprano Family is constantly putting on their ever-growing roster & Written on Wide’s Corner completely takes Sule to a new level, as it’s by far the best thing he’s put out to date. I think the production here mostly grounded in the traditional boom bap sound with trap undertones is stronger compared to his previous material, it has a short yet solid guest list & the Englewood emcee sets out to make his hometown a landmark.

Score: 4/5

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ScHoolboy Q – “Blue Lips” review

THis is tHe 6tH full-lengtH LP from SoutH Los Angeles emcee ScHoolboy Q. Emerging at tHe beginning of tHe decade as 1/4 of Black Hippy, He released His first 2 albums Setbacks and Habits & Contradictions independently until making His major label debut witH Oxymoron turning 10 last month. THis would be followed up witH Blank Face LP a couple years later & CrasH Talk, tHe latter of wHicH is regarded as Q’s weakest & most commercial body of work. So after nearly 5 years, Blue Lips had to be tHe most excited I’ve been for a Top Dawg Entertainment project in recent memory after Kendrick Lamar’s final album witH tHe label Mr. Morale & tHe Big Steppers.

“Funny Guy” is a feel-good intro produced by Tae Beast of tHe TDE in-House production team Digi+PHonics encouraging to bring tHe dope, Hoes & money bag to tHe spot wHereas “Pop” featuring Rico Nasty dabbles witH rap rock a little courtesy of Beat ButcHa talking about tHe gang activities tHey’ve gotten tHemselves into. “THank god 4 me” tries to keep tHe peace instead of piecing bitcHes over Horns & Hi-Hats witH a cloudy switcH-up just before tHe drumless “Blueslides” profoundly pays tribute to Mac Miller.

Cardo’s production on “Yeern 101” Has some experimentally lowend undertones tHrougHout energetically running it off top leading into tHe minimalist “Love Birds” talking about mistreating tHe one He loves tHe most. “Movie” featuring AzCHike turns tHe bass up to 11 referring to tHemselves as badass kids mucH like Bruce Lee, but tHen “Cooties” fuses kicks & snares witH acoustics celebrating better living.

“oHio” featuring Freddie Gibbs ends tHe first Half of tHe album witH a dynamic 3-parter sHutting sHit down wHile “Foux” featuring Ab-Soul is tHe long-awaited 4tH installment of tHe “Druggys wit Hoes” series witH a psycHedelic flare to tHe beat. “First” gives off a cloudier vibe addressing a woman tHat Q was fuckin’ witH first wHile tHe DJ KHalil-laced “Nunu” promises to God tHat you’ll continue to Hear new music from Him instead of waiting 5 years again.

MeanwHile, “Back n Love” featuring Devyn Malik dives into nocturnal trap territory talking about falling in love witH tHis sHit again becoming tHe voice of 20,000 kids like WWE Hall of Famers D-Generation X wHile my favorite on the LP “Lost Times” Has tHat signature AlcHemist sound putting a finger in tHe air for tHe times He can’t get back. “Germany ‘86” Has a groovier tone instrumentally reminding tHat pain is a part of man wHile “Time Killers” futuristically talking about being a lone star.

“Pig Feet” cops down over a spacious trap beat mentioning tHe finisHing move of 10-time WWE world cHampion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental CHampion, 5-time WWE Tag Team CHampion, United Football League (UFL) co-owner, TKO Group Holdings board of directors member, $7 Productions co-founder & tHe final boss of professional wrestling THe Rock while “Smile” cHarismatically finisHes tHe album witH a 1-minute cut about swerving His old bitcH.

Q’s my 2nd favorite Black Hippy member beHind Kendrick but now tHat tHe latter departed TDE couple years ago to focus on pgLang, He Has to be my new favorite artist on tHe current roster & Blue Lips lived up to my expectations redeeming Himself from CrasH Talk last time we Heard from him. THe production mostly Handled by Tae Beast is less commercial tHan it was on tHat previous LP before tHe COVID-19 pandemic sHut tHe world down tHe following spring & Q also sounds more inspired.

Score: 4/5

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