King Iso – “iLLdren” review

This is the 6th full-length album from Nebraska emcee/producer King Iso. Coming up as a protege of San Diego chopper Twisted Insane, he would only drop first 2 albums & The Insanity Plea & Autophobia under Brainsick Muzik. Shortly after, they fell out & it prompted Iso to put out his next album DeMenTia independently in 2018. However, I was thrilled to see him sign with Strange Music the following spring & his debut on the Kansas City powerhouse World War Me has quickly become one of the label’s best albums ever. Get Well Soon & 8 P.M. Med Call both went on to be well received too, so it makes since to have Iso cap off Strange’s 2023 run by putting out iLLdren during the final weekend of the month.

After the “Welcome to iLLdren” intro, the first song “Feel” featuring Tech N9ne co-produced by Matt Phoenix works in some twangy guitar passages & hi-hats talking about how he wasn’t even a teen yet until he started puffing on that green whereas the title track talking about forming a society of outcasts over a dreary trap instrumental. “Stoned” blends a cinematic loop & hi-hats explaining that his father was never there for him, but then “CPS” featuring X-Raided gives off an eerie trap vibe talking about how murder was all they saw growing up.

“Voices” featuring Redro reflects the first time he could start hearing voices in his head over some hellish guitars & hi-hats just before “Midwest Baby” featuring Snake Lucci is an acoustic trap ballad ending the Baby Blues talking about growing up in their hometown of Omaha. “T.F.O.G. (Town Full Of Ghosts)” starts the Teen Trauma section of the album morbidly reps his set while the haunting trap hybrid “Young” talks about feeling like Pac.

Meanwhile, the suspenseful piano chords mixed with the hi-hats on “Teen Suicide” detailing the leading cause of death today leading into the grunge rap “Nightmare” praying that he’ll wake up from the suffering one day. “Holes” featuring Taebo tha Truth finds the 2 taking it back & keeping it current at the same time over a rowdy trap beat while “Run Away” gives off a smoother vibe talking about running from his problems.

“P.T.P.A. (Party The Pain Away)” featuring Tinywiings goes into trillwave vibe for a fun club banger & Iso showing off plenty of charisma. Especially the “Face Off” reference during the first verse as much I still don’t like The Rock’s verse on there respectfully. “Love Me” ends the 2nd leg of the LP with a pillowy trap vibe telling y’all to prove it that you love him prior to the Adult Adversaries starting off to a heartfelt tribute to “My Kids”.

Being born with Asperger’s syndrome myself, hearing songs like “Way You Are” is absolutely inspiring hearing King Iso paying tribute to one of his children that’s on the spectrum while the piano-trap “Step Daddy” pays homage to 2 individuals that he loves so much. “Attack of the Clones” featuring C-Mob has these killer synth-organs on top of hi-hats calling out biters & “Dear Mama” ends the album with a warm tribute to his mother that he reconciled with earlier this year.

Since 2019, there is no question in my mind that this dude has become the best artist on Strange Music other than Tech himself for the way he addresses topics that aren’t covered too often in hip hop today like mental health. But in comparison to Get Well Soon, iLLdren is easily Iso’s most introspective work to date. He takes us through chapters of his entire lifetime & beyond with some eclectic trap production & tight features near-flawlessly.

Score: 4.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Domo Genesis – “What You Don’t Get?!” review

This is the 3rd full-length LP from Inglewood emcee & songwriter Domo Genesis. Starting in mid-2009 as a member of the now defunct Odd Future collective, he’s gone on to give us 2 studio albums accompanied by 4 mixtapes & 4 EPs within the last dozen years, my personal favorites of which being his debut mixtape Rolling Papers, The Alchemist-produced 3rd mixtape No Idols, the Evidence-produced debut EP Aren’t U Glad You’re U? & even Doms’ last full-length Intros, Outros & Interludes. That being said, hearing Graymatter being brought in behind the boards throughout the duration of What You Don’t Get?! undoubtedly had me interested.

“Adonis” is a drumless flute-tinged opener addressing those who wonder if Domo still got it with the pen whereas “Plank Walk” taking the smoother route instrumentally simply looking to get a gage on it. “Stankwater” gives off a nocturnal flare to the beat explaining there ain’t no other option but to get it done where he’s from leading into the calming title track explaining that everything’s what it seems.

Moving on from there, the bluesy “Details” explains that he’s seen enough not to believe bullshit since he doesn’t listen to a lot of what he hears personally just before “Rick Fox” featuring 3WaySlim finds the 2 over a jazzy beat asking if they ready or not. “This 2 Shall Pass” featuring Remy Banks soulfully keeps the money on the body & the music, but then “I See U Doing U” featuring Fly Anakin chops up another soul sample talking about being out here doing your thug thizzle.

“Gifted Creatures” continues the 2nd leg of the album admitting that he has some stories that he’ll eventually take to his grave in the future while “Halfprice” gives off a kick-back feeling to the beat explaining he always keeps his enemies close only to be certain. The heavenly aural Bend” explaining that y’all must be crazy to him while the 2-part “2 Be Continued / Taking My Time” declaring to be majestic when you see it.

Pushing near the end of the LP, the penultimate track “PrettyUgly” soothingly talks about doing things that he resents even though they could never knock him off his pivot & “Until U Understand” closes out What You Don’t Get!? on a heartfelt note explaining exactly how he finds this shit to be a luxury.

Intros, Outros & Interludes still has to be my favorite LP that Doms has put out yet. That being said: I feel like anyone who enjoyed that previous album as much as I did will also come away from What You Don’t Get?! liking it too. Graymatter continuing to prove himself as a force to be reckoned with in the underground by cooking up tight production & Domo kicking it over them.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Ameerlyn – “Slime in the Ice Machine” review

Ameerlyn is a duo consisting of Houston, Texas emcee Ameer Vann as well as Ghanan-American recording artist Merlyn Wood, both of whom you may remember as original members of the now defunct BROCKHAMPTON collective with Ameer being featured on the cover of their highly acclaimed SATURATION trilogy before being kicked out in 2018 due to sexual misconduct allegations & Merlyn being known for his Ol’ Dirty Bastard-like aura during his time in the best boy band since 1 Direction. Now it’s almost been a year since BROCKHAMPTON’s disbandment but only a week until Kevin Abstract puts out his 5th solo effort Blanket, I didn’t expect Blacksmith Recordings to sign Ameerlyn for their debut EP.

“Swisher” is an atmospherically bouncy opener to the EP with both of them delivering some energetically hardcore bars in their own characteristic manners whereas “Smog Check” goes for a cheery boom bap flare instrumentally talking about the lives they’ve made off this music shit. “On Everything” has a vibrant trap tone so both of them can ball like the playoffs just before “Okay” jumps on top of hi-hats humorously dropping more braggadocio.

Meanwhile, “Hit” goes for a moodier trap sound to get in their romance bags leading into the quickly produced “Freaks” talking about the weirdos coming out once the sun goes down. “Bling Bling” goes for an alien-esque sound to the beat continuing to boast, but then “Love’s a Scandal” shoots for a groovier aesthetic comparing love to some sort of wrongdoing.

The penultimate track “Song 2” draws near the end of Ameerlyn’s first EP together incorporates this mellow ass guitar lead getting on the more introspective side of things lyrically (especially Ameer) & as for the closer, “Ride” appropriately pays homage their Houston roots chopped & screwed style considering that BROCKHAMPTON originated in San Marcos.

As surprised as I was like other BROCKHAMPTON fans to hear Ameerlyn reuniting considering the allegations against Ameer & the highlight “DEARLY DEPARTED” off GINGER, I also had my curiosity about Slime in the Ice Machine & I wound up enjoying it as a fun little subgroup project. Merlyn & Ameer still match each other’s intensity as they always have been able to do so in the past with decent production also.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Elcamino – “Martyr’s Prayer II” review

Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino back with his 15th EP. Blowing up in 2017 off his self-titled EPwith Griselda Records, his profile increasingly grew after being followed up by Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 gradually building up a solid discography for himself along the way. But coming off a well received Black Soprano Family Records debut They Spit on Jesus earlier this month, Camino’s gonna keep it rolling by linking back up with 38 Speshfor a Martyr’s Prayer sequel.

“Streets Don’t Love Us” is minimally-produced opener explaining to everyone why he feels that the streets really don’t have love for him & his crew at all whereas “You Made It” gives off a warmer boom bap groove to it talking about celebrating success. “Kill Switch” delves further into his hardcore bag detailing that the best way to kill ‘em is by fucking their while “Weighing Options” somberly talks about another body dropping with each day. “Dope Talk” obviously spits that drug shit over some pianos & “No Drums” happens to be an appropriately drumless closer discussing his acquired tastes.

As much as I still like They Spit on Jesus for a B$F debut, Camino’s never missed over Spesh beats & it really doesn’t come as a surprise to me that I would view Martyr’s Prayer II as the best 2023 offering in the Buffalo recording artist’s discography. Spesh’s production is a slight cut above what we heard from Elcamino’s latest LP at the beginning of the month & the dude has some of his strongest performances in a while.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Babytron – “Megatron 2” review

This is the 9th mixtape from Detroit emcee Babytron. Coming up as a member of the trio ShittyBoyz along with his childhood friends Stanwill & TR Dee signing to Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records, he also branched out on impressive solo career for himself as well as the side groups Lewis & Clark and the Dookie Brothers. But the last couple years was probably his biggest yet landing interviews ranging from No Jumper to even Rolling Stone following the release of Luka Trončić a couple summers prior to signing with EMPIRE Distribution later that same month & then Bin Reaper 2: The 2nd Coming that same fall. But now coming off Bin Reaper 3 as well as the bootleg Style EP & the full-length LP 6, we’re being treated to a sequel to Megatron.

“Beyond Turnt 2” hops on top of some pianos & hi-hats for a sequel to one of my favorite tracks off the original Megatron saying it’s time to kick in the door whereas “#Certified” talks about being legit over an ignorant trap instrumental. “Murder Mitten” goes into hyphy territory reminding y’all exactly where the fuck he’s from keeping cameras with him like WWE Hall of Famer, 4-time WWE world champion, WWE United States Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion Bill Goldberg prior to “IRL” featuring BLP Kosher going back & forth with one another accompanied by a booming trap beat turning muhfuckas into WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion & 17-time WWE Hardcore Champion JBL.

Tron charismatically boasts that how his cup look, you think he bled in it on “Let’s Get It!” over strings & hi-hats leading into “Streetball” explaining to his girl that there ain’t no rules in the titular game over a rubbery Danny G & Jakesand beat. “Bop It!” featuring Drego & Beno experiments with a lowend sound telling the bitches to let them see that shit they doin’ all on TikTok, but then “Stutter Flow” experiments with a stuttering rap flow over a Detroit trap instrumental.

“Yo Mamma” by Lewis & Clark pulls off a back-&-forth delivery style better than “IRL” unsurprisingly since Babytron & Stanwill both come off so natural with a smooth backdrop & hi-hats leading into the bouncy “Down, Up!” talking about how it’s time to pick up a blick for him. “Kai Cenat / Old Days” featuring Luh Tyler is a decent 2-parter with dynamic & an average chemistry compared to “Yo Mamma” despite the subject matter of being rich now ain’t nothing like being broke back then just before “XXX” puts in extra hours over a tropical beat.

Meanwhile, the line at the start of “Deez Nuts!” asking why you rockin’ fake Bape in the midst of shopping off of Alibaba had me laughing congratulating someone for playing himself & the instrumental would fit snugly fine in a club while “Work!” ends the first half of Megatron 2by flexing that he grinds’ like he’s Rob Dyrdek himself over a spacey trap beat. GT & Cash Kidd join Tron so they can compare themselves to the “90’s Bulls” over a dark instrumental while “Ice Cream” featuring Certified Trapper, RiFF RAFF, Soulja Boy & YN Jay is actually a cool 3-minute cypher that I don’t mind other than Certified Trapper’s parts.

“Tutorial” shows off that he beat the game while everyone else is just learning how to play spitting out promethazine as if he’s former ECW World Television Champion, 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 3-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, WWE United States Champion, CZW World Heavyweight Champion, MLW World Middleweight Champion, 2-time BJWジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, 2-time BJW認定タッグチャンピオン & CMLL Mundial Peso Semicompleto Campeon 田尻 over pianos & hi-hats while the synthesizer heavy “Trick or Treat?” explains exactly how he ended up going from Chris Rock to Ray Romano in his life.

“Red Ring of Death” sticks to the Detroit trap guns making a clever reference to what happens when 1 or more components of the Xbox 360 have failed while the piano-trap hybrid “WHATS FUNNY? (HAHA)” talks about hoes being nothing to brag over hitting bitches with the finisher of inaugural AEW World Champion, former ECW World Television Champion, IWGPインターコンチネンタルチャンピオン, ROH World Champion, WCW World Television Champion, 6-time WWE world champion, 7-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 4-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, record-holding 9-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion & WWE Hardcore Champion Chris Jericho.

Babyfxce E’s contribution to the 2-part “241” doesn’t really do it for me even though Tron himself & the beat-switch themselves are just fine while “$1M” talks about waiting on his 10th payment & referencing former 2-time アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン & the final WWE Cruiserweight Champion Hornswoggle hoping on top of more keys & hi-hats. “Coney Island” featuring AK Bandamont, BandGang Javar, Glockboyz Teejaee, KrispyLife Kidd, Los & Nutty and Nuk is a mediocre Detroit trap posse cut while with Krispylife & Babytron standing out the most while the bell-infused “Ain’t They?” by the Dookie Brothers picks up the pace wanting them to be shown more since it ain’t enough.

“Yakuza” featuring Fordio, J1Hunnit, MJPaid, Prince Jefe & ScrumbleMan reps the Dog $hit Militia for 3 minutes giving off a bassier quality musically while the song “Thumb War” vibrantly likens USDs, Euros, Yen, IDM to exactly that. The penultimate track “AYEE!” shoots for a grimmer approach saying you’d think he’d be making Kool-Aid playing with his father Mr. Sadistic who happens to be the frontman of former Psychopathic Records rap metal outfit Motown Rage & “I Imagine” wraps up Megatron 2 by paying tribute to his late homie $cam.

Although Style wasn’t all that good to me, 6 still stands as an impressive debut full-length album from the best member of the ShittyBoyz & we got a sequel to the tape that he dropped right before he made it onto the previous XXL Freshman Class list. Feature list is iffy, but the production is grounded in his signature Detroit trap sound dabbling with lowend a bit more & Tron himself improving himself compared to the last couple outings from him.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Brigid Bites – “Pumpkin Spice” review

This is the 2nd EP from Davenport, Iowa rapper & dancer Brigid Bites. Creating the juggalette burlesque troupe in 2017 called Juggalesque, they’ve have since become a drawing attraction at the Gathering or the Juggalos since then with her eventually joining Chapter 17 Records CEO/Psychopathic Records recording artist Ouija Macc on stage quite a few times since. However she made a pretty solid introduction into the music world this past spring with her last EP Hatchet Girl, she’s returning in time for Hallowicked to put out Pumpkin Spice.

The title track produced by Elevated Focusion formerly known as Jonny Rythmns gives off an electronic vibe instrumentally as she talks about the titular spice mix making you feel incredibly alive whereas “Batshit Love” works in some synthesizers expressing her to desire to be insanely toxic. “D.O.T.W.S. (Daughter Of The Wicked Shit)” gives off an eerier trap flare to the beat declaring herself to be exactly that & “Stay Forever” is a groovy choice of a closer describing a carnival full of dead ghosts.

Hatchet Girl to me is still a solid gateway as to who Brigid is both personally & artistically, but I honestly think that she outdid herself a bit on here. The production mostly handled by Elevated Focusion is on caliber with the last EP as I feel like he continues to bring the best out of the Iowan Juggalesque founder so she can provide the soundtrack to the best time of the year.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

City Girls – “R.A.W. (Real Ass Whores)” review

The City Girls are a duo from Miami, Florida consisting of Yung Miami & JT. Both of whom have put out 2 full-lengths & a mixtape under Quality Control Music throughout the past 6 years to mixed reception. JT would go on to become Lil Uzi Vert’s girlfriend with Yung Miami having a child with Southside & recently breaking up with Puff Daddy a.k.a. P. Diddy or Diddy at the beginning of 2023. Nonetheless, the singles they’ve releasing leading up to their 3rd & final LP have actually been some of their best songs ever namely the improved production choices that their previous material lacked.

After the intro, the first song “Piñata” is a industrial no melody trap opener produced by Southsidetalking about how their significant others wanna hit it whereas “Static” featuring Lil Durk works in some pianos & hi-hats thanks to Tay Keith telling dirty bitches not to worry about them at all. “No Bars” by JT fuses hyphy with crunk & mobb music kickin’ it off top solo dolo just before “Line Up” pulls from ratchet music getting raunchy of course.

“Show Me the Money” gives me a bit of a Miami bass vibe instrumentally talking about the dollars leading into the pop rap ballad “Emotions” featuring Muni Long pleading not to let them fall in love for nothing when it’s all said & done. “Fancy Ass Bitch” featuring Juicy J samples “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You)” by UGK & OutKast showing off how fancy both of them are, but then “Good Love”featuring Usher draws inspiration from Atlanta bass detailing being freaked in the city.

The “Drop It Like It’s Hot” sample throughout the pointlessly minute & a half “Work for It” is ok even though the braggadocious lyrics are cool while “I Need a Thug” picks things back up from the bounce undertones that 30 Roc cooks up to the “I Need Love” interpolation looking to get with thugs. “Flashy” featuring Kim Petras dabbles with nu disco describing their ostentatious lifestyles while “Wigs” is a decent ode to the amount of wigs they own.

“Face Down” finds Mike WiLL Made-It cooking up an off-the-wall beat blending hyphy & ratchet music so Miami & JT look to be slutted out while the rubbery “What You Want” produced by Hitmaka & OG Parker talking about their lovers always getting them what they want. “Tonight” goes for a futuristic approach looking to do it all night while “Survive” hooks up a soul sample & hi-hats getting more personal. To close the album however, “Fuck the D to the A” ends things with a Detroit trap instrumental from Helluva bringing it hardcore.

You know I’ve never been big into the City Girls’ past material, but I gotta say that R.A.W. (Real Ass Whores) lived up to my expectations as the most well-crafted body of work in their discography. It’s refreshing to hear their production choices being stepped up with a variety of different sounds, the feature-list is tight & both of them delivering solid performances of their own. Pretty good note to end on for them as they embark on their solo careers.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Anarchy – “My Mind” review | アナーキー – 「マイ・マインド」レビュー

Anarchy is a 42 year old MC from Kyoto, Japan getting his start in 2006 off his full-length debut Rob the World followed by Dream & Drama and Diggin’ Anarchy respectively. Following his debut mixtape D.G.K.A. (Dirty Ghetto King Anarchy) alongside his next couple LPs New Yankee & The King, it wasn’t until Anarchy’s very first EP Noise Cancel celebrating it’s 2-year anniversary of the summer being the last time we heard from him. But for his 2nd EP, we’re being treated to Statik Selektah producing the whole thing.

アナーキーは日本の京都出身の42歳のMCで、2006年にフルレングスデビューのロブ・ザ・ワールドから始まり、ドリーム&ドラマとディギン・アナーキーがそれぞれスタートしました。彼のデビューミックステープD.G.K.A.に続いて（ダーティ・ゲットー・キング・アナーキー）彼の次のカップルのLP「ニュー・ヤンキー」と「ザ・キング」と並んで、アナーキーの最初のEP「ノイズ・キャンセル」は、夏の2周年を祝うまで、彼からの最後の連絡がありました。しかし、彼の2枚目のEPでは、スタティック・セレクタが全体を制作しています。

“Light Up” sets the tone of what’s to come by weaving a rock-inspired boom bap instrumental into the fold so Anarchy can kick some flows in Japanese rockin’ it with Statik once more from start to finish whereas “Reach featuring C.O.S.A. finds the 2 over a cloudy backdrop with kicks & snares talking about the city of dreams. “Brooklyn” pushes near the end of the EP keeps it dusty with a heavenly sample flip paying homage to the titular city in Kings County, New York & “Pass the Mic” ending My Mind on a warm boom bap note encouraging to have the microphone given to him.

「ライトアップ」は、ロックにインスパイアされたブームバップインストゥルメンタルを折り目に織り込むことで、来るべきもののトーンを設定します。アナーキーは、最初から最後までスタティックで日本のロックのいくつかの流れを蹴ることができますが、「C.O.S.A.をフィーチャーしたリーチは、夢の街について話しているキックとスネアで曇った背景の上に2を見つけます。「ブルックリン」は、ニューヨーク州キングス郡の名目上の都市に敬意を表する天国のサンプルフリップでほこりを払い、「マイクを渡す」は、彼にマイクを与えることを奨励する暖かいブームバップノートで私の心を終わらせます。

Although Nujabes & the Teriyaki Boyz have always stood as my favorite acts within the Japanese hip hop scene throughout my life, Anarchy’s been putting it down for nearly 2 decades & this new EP with Statik Selektah has to be one of the best I’ve heard this year. Statik’s boom bap production matched with Anarchy’s improved performances compared to Noise Cancel makes a great introduction to anyone who hasn’t heard of him in America.

しかしヌジャベスと照り焼きボーイズは、私の人生を通して日本のヒップホップシーンの中で私のお気に入りの行為として常に立ってきました、アナーキーは20年近くそれを置いてきました&スタティック・セレクタとこの新しいEPは、私が今年聞いた中で最高のものの1つでなければなりません。スタティックのブームバッププロダクションは、ノイズキャンセリングと比較してアナーキーの改善されたパフォーマンスと一致し、アメリカで彼のことを聞いたことのない人に素晴らしい紹介になります。

Score: 4/5

スコア: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

毎週最高の音楽レビューのために、インスタグラムで@legendswill_never_dieとツイッターで@LegendsllLiveOnに追いつく!

H.A.R.D. – “Prosper” review

Hardcore super-duo H.A.R.D. returning for their 3rd full-length LP. Consisting of Joell Ortiz & KXNG CROOKED, both of whom have had notorious label issues at the start of their careers, but would go on to see success as members of the supergroup Slaughterhouse along with Royce da 5’9” & Joe Budden from the late 2000s up until the mid-2010s. The quartet had quietly disbanded in 2016 after Joe’s retirement from making music even though it wasn’t confirmed until 2 years later, but the other 3 members have been keeping themselves busy ever since. H.A.R.D. introduced themselves a couple months after the pandemic hit with an incredible eponymous debut EP along with 2 full-lengths last year: The Rise & Fall of Slaughterhouse and Harbor City. But coming off JFKLAX, they’re now looking to Prosper.

“The Tale of 2 Cities” is a groovy boom bap opener talking about coming from Brooklyn & Long Beach respectively whereas “Still” smoothly makes it known that both parties are out here grinding. “Dodgers 2” works in a sample, kicks & snares for a sequel to “Dodgers” off their latest EP just before & “War Outside” blends these strings with hi-hats to describing the harsh realities of the streets.

Moving on from there, “Sunroof” hooks up this alluring vocal chops from The Heatmakerz explaining why be so calm in the booth leading into the soulful title track as Crook & Yaowa come from a more introspective side of things looking live on & live long. “Wife Her (Snipe Her)” groovily gets romantic promising that no man could compete with them while “W.I.F.E.” blends these jazzy horns & crooning samples talking about having no one to grow with ‘cause they don’t know shit.

“Black Tie Affair” continues to push towards the end of the Housing Authority Rap District’s 3rd album returning to the boom bap boasting their top dog mentalities sipping champagne & lighting a cigar up until the soulful “No More” ends the album no longer staying humble paying homage to “Back in the Day” by Ahmed during the hook.

Harbor City & JFKLAX are still both enjoyable projects, but I know both of these guys can put out another body of work that’s on par with self-titled or Rise & Fall of Slaughterhouse because they continue to show it a year & a half later. They’re both veterans & still have chemistry that’s no question, I just think they need more consistent production much like how Signature was better than Autograph itself.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Slump6s – “Exodus” review

Sophomore full-length LP from 18 year old Rochester up-&-comer Slump6s. Ever since the pandemic, he’s built a name for himself in the rage/drill scenes by releasing a total of 10 EPs & a debut album up to this point. However, he’s returning over a year later after Genesis by taking us through his Exodus.

The intro is a futuristic trap opener dropping braggadocio whereas “Habits” featuring Dvertigo finds the 2 keeps things cloudy so both of them can talk about how every day is a new mannerism to them. “Sex” takes a more atmospheric approach instrumentally from CXO & che struggling with the problem of too many hoes to pick from as far as the one he wants to smash, but then the riot-inducing “Often” talks about falling in love with the crosshairs & hanging with the dogs.

“Solid” blends these finger snaps & a UFO-like backdrop keeping it exactly that just before “Tags” hooks up these synths & hi-hats to talk about how he didn’t come this far for no reason. “YSL” wavily detailing a chick that wants all of him & debating on whether or not he should go for the kill leading into quasi-quirky “Frontline” talking about turning up in the AM.

Meanwhile, “Karma” spaciously acknowledges that destiny be watching everything he does prior to “Nicki” shooting for a playful sound comparing this hoe that he with to Nicki Minaj herself. “Flu” featuring OsamaSon is a favorite of mine as both of them energetically boast while the cavernous “Issey” talking about going global.

“Gotchu” nears the end of the LP by singing with heavy auto-tune over an electronic beat & the closer “Amore” rounds out the album by vigorously talking about being the king of the hill. The booming bonus cut “$$$” however truly saves things for last telling a bitch straight up that she doesn’t have a clue of exactly what the fuck he’s been on.

Genesis & even some of the features that I’ve heard Slump on up to this point have shown me that there is in fact potential in him even though that & his EPs are more moderately received compared to his debut tape Origin, but I think we get a look from him on a new level with this sophomore effort. The production’s better & he’s displaying his versatility more.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!