Ketch P – “Out of Nowhere” review

This is the new surprise album from Inkster emcee Ketch P. Starting off as part of the quartet Street Justice, he eventually went solo & put out 3 mixtapes in the late 2000s. However, Ketch took a hiatus in 2013 & returned last fall by dropping the fantastic comeback tape Gift Certificate under Middle Finger Music. But almost 10 months since, he’s returning from the shadows with Out of Nowhere.

The “RKO” intro boasts about how Ketch made the album in a week over an upbeat boom bap instrumental from his Bad News Brown cohort Foul Mouth whereas the next song “9th Letter Flow” talks about being competitive on the mic over a Slum Village-inspired beat from Chanes. The track “My Addiction” talks about his flame over a classy instrumental from Simple Cuts while the song “Belle Isle Cookout” sees 2 Door Coupé getting together for a fun summertime bop. The track “Big Slick Energy” shows off his charisma over a boom bap instrumental with a faint sample while the song “Wildstyle” with A-Minus & King Bub Rock finds the 3 spitting some vicious battle bars over a fuzzy beat from Nolan the Ninja.

The track “Chugga Bounce” speaks on all the shit that’s happened to him in 2020 over a funky instrumental while the song “Get Money Organically” speaks for itself lyrically over a boom bap beat with a soothing loop. The track “Dazed Mind” spits pure pain over a meditatively jazzy beat while the song “Barry Sanders” with Rim sees the 2 getting rowdy over a dark beat from Blizzard. The closer “Legend Killers” then finds Bad News Brown hooking up with Bang Belushi, Jypsy & King Bub Rock to deliver that anti-radio rap over a trunk-knocking beat.

For a veteran, I think Ketch has only gotten better with time because this is neck-&-neck with Gift Certificate for his magnum opus His pen-game just keeps elevating nonchalantly & the production is as grimy as you’d expect from Middle Finger Music at this point.

Score: 4/5

Ethemadassassin – “Bear Handz 4: Dark Side of the Mountain” review

ETheMadAssassin is an MC from Greensboro, North Carolina who’s been on the rise in the underground for about over 15 years now. He just dropped the 3rd installment of his Bear Handz series at the beginning of last year but after doing a couple of features since then, E’s returning with a 4th installment produced entirely by Twelvebit.

After the “Jungle” intro, the first song “Discipline” finds E talking about how he came up differently than others over a nightly instrumental while the track “Stay Paid” of course spits about making money over a dreary beat. The song “Gunsmoke” shit-talks the lames who approach his turf over a spine-tingling instrumental & after the “Reasons” interlude, the track “Children of the Night” talks about being an insomniac over an uncanny boom bap beat.

The song “Don’t Mix Ya Dishes” talks about how life’s a bitch over a depressive instrumental & after the “100 Reasons” interlude, the track “Shots of Gin” talks about drinking over a fittingly intoxicating beat. The song “10” talks about being deep rooted over an ominous instrumental & then the album ends with “How Many”, where E ponders a few questions over an icy instrumental.

Overall, it’s a solid album. I can definitely hear Ethemadassassin‘s growth on here as the dude continues to rap his ass off harder than he ever has before & Twelvebit’s production is a nice fit as well.

Score: 3.5/5

Mitchell James – “Vintage” review

This is the brand new EP from Fort Collins, Colorado rapper Mitchell James. He just dropped an short project last winter called Further Notice & about 9 months later, he’s ready to follow it up with Vintage.

The EP starts off with the title track, where Mitch talks about not passing up his opportunity over a 9th Wonder-inspired boom bap beat. The next song “PB & J” with Honey Boy, Duke Shoota & Trav the Trigger sees the 4 getting romantic over an joyous instrumental & then the closer “Some Kind of Outro” looks back on his past along with discussing where he’s at over a trunk-knocking beat.

Not a bad EP in my opinion. The production is very colorful & this might be the most passionate that Mitch has ever sounded it. Curious to hear where he goes from here.

Score: 3.5/5

Substance810 – “Chess Pieces” review

This is the brand new EP from Port Huron emcee/producer Substance810. Fresh off his brand new album The Definition Of that came out earlier this summer & as we approach the fall, he’s teaming up with Chuck Chan for Chess Pieces.

The EP starts with “Checkmate”, where Substance810 talks about being the king of the chessboard over a soulful instrumental. The song “Lay Your King Down” with Lupus Dei sees the 2 showing off their wordplay abilities over a dismal boom bap beat while the track “Fischer vs. Spassky” with Deuce Hennessy & Guy Grams finds the 3 talking about how they perform in the same fashion as the titular chess match over a cold instrumental.

The song “Regal Rooks” with Chuck & Killy Shoot sees the 3 talking about how anything they breathe turns out to be sick over a steady beat while the penultimate track “Tactical Motifs” with Deuce Hennessy & General Back Pain finds the 3 going at wack rappers’ throats over an instrumental with a mesmerizing vocal sample. The EP finishes with “Time Clock”, which is easily the most introspective cut on the entire project backed by a Godly boom bap.

Man, Substance810 has really been on a roll this summer because I enjoy this just as much as I did The Definition Of. Chess fans are bound to get a kick out of the EP’s concept behind the game & Chuck Chan‘s production is on point as are the features.

Score: 4/5

Saigon – “777: The Resurrection” review

This is the 2nd EP from New York veteran Saigon. Despite being around for 20 years, it wouldn’t be until 2011 when he would make his full-length debut by dropping The Greatest Story Never Told under Suburban Noize Records. The album would spawn a sequel to fulfill his contract on Subnoize the following year & then a final installment on his own imprint Squid Ink Squad Records in 2014. However after a 6 year hiatus & a new deal with Strange Music’s new subsidiary It Goes Up Entertainment, Saigon is enlisting STREETRUNNER for 777: The Resurrection.

The EP starts off with an touching sequel to the 2006 loosie “Pain in My Life” whereas the next song “Promise Ring” is an empowering heart to heart conversation with Saigon’s daughter over a glamorous instrumental. The track “Bullets-19” talks about gun violence over a boom bap beat with a perfectly incorporated sample while the song “Spooky” speaks on the rap game over a nocturnal trap beat.

“The Motherfuckin’ Effect” with Kool G Rap sees the 2 showing off their rapping prowesses over a harmonious loop while the penultimate track “Lil B.I.G.” is wordplay galore over a beat that has a bit of a 9th Wonder feel to it. “The Middle Finger Song” disses to a wide range of people from Saigon’s father to Hot 97’s Ebro Darden backed by a soulful instrumental.

If you wanna hear an East Coast legend make a strong comeback, then you’re gonna love this as much as I do. Not only does Saigon sound refreshed, but the way he brings a unique perspective to all the problems we‘re facing in the world today. As for STREETRUNNER’s production, there are A LOT of soul samples on here & he incorporates them into each song very well.

Score: 4.5/5

The LOX – “L.O.X. (Living Off Xperience)” review

The LOX are a renown hip hop trio from Yonkers, New York consisting of Jadakiss, Styles P & Sheek Louch. They made their full-length debut at the beginning of 1998 by dropping Money, Power & Respect under Bad Boy Entertainment & would outdo themselves in 2000 with the Ruff Ryders-backed We Are the Streets. Last we heard from the 3 was in 2016 when they dropped their comeback effort Filthy America… It’s Beautiful under their own label D-Block Records with distribution from Roc Nation Records but as summer draws to a close, The LOX are getting back together for their 4th full-length album.

Things start off with “Gave It to ‘Em”, where the trio talk about hooking cats up over an galactic-sounding instrumental fromaraabMUZIK. The next song “Move” brags back & forth with one another bragging over a dreary trap beat from Scott Storch while the track “‘Bout Shit” with DMX sees the 4 talking about going all out over a Scram Jones beat with an alluring sample. The song “Testify” prays for their friends over a climactic instrumental while the track “Miss You” is of course a heartbreak anthem with a lush beat.

The song “Story” might be my favorite on the entire album as The LOX of course get into their storytelling bag over a somewhat funky Nottz beat while the track “Do to Me” gets back on the romance tip over a moody Scott Storch beat. The song “Come Back” talk about their return to the rap game over a somber instrumental from Statik Selektah while the track “Think of The LOX” with Westside Gunn & Benny the Butcher sees the 5 talking about being the best over an unsettling boom bap beat from Large Professor.

The song “My America” talks about how the trio are tired of the racism in our country over a boom bap beat with some melancholic background vocals while the track “Net Worth” gets materialistic over a bland instrumental. The tracks “Dirty Dirty” & “Commitment” are the last ones on the album that’re on the lovey dovey side of things, but they’re easily the most excruciating ones in the tracklist. The album finishes off with “Loyalty & Love”, where The LOX talk about brotherhood over a luxurious boom bap beat.

If you ask me, this is WAY better than Jadakiss’ latest album Ignatius. Could’ve done without the redundant & corny radio cuts, but you can definitely hear how much The LOX have grown together as a group throughout the past 26 years of their career. Especially on the more grimier joints on here.

Score: 3.5/5

(həd) p.e. – “Class of 2020” review

(həd) p.e. is a g-punk outfit from Huntington Beach, California masterminded by Jahred Gomes. From their first 2 albums under Jive to their first stint on Suburban Noize in the mid-2000s, these guys have truly been making a name for themselves for over 25 years whether that be their eclectic sound or the more political lyrics on their most recent output. They returned to Subnoize last year for their 11th album Stampede & to mark the 20th anniversary of their sophomore effort Broke this weekend, Jahred & company are celebrating with a sequel.

The album kicks off with “First Blood”, where Jahred angrily talks about how we’re all living in sin over some head-banging instrumentation. The next song “Watch It Burn” gets confrontational over some popping drums alongside a chugging guitar lead while the track “No Days Off” screams about putting his life on the line everyday & the soundscapes on here are electrifying. The song “Death Awaits” is sure to get the pits going whenever we can have live shows again from while the track “Last Call” is an enjoyable reggae/rock fusion.

The song “Ole Time Sake” is kind of a throwback to 80’s metal as the lyrics talk about being young at heart while the track “Greedy Girl” is a slow, melodic ballad expressing Jahred‘s affection for the titular character. The song “Nothing Lasts 4Ever (The Ballad of C19)” is an optimistic response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic while the penultimate track “We the People” gets on the political side of things & the hellish instrumentation are absolutely perfect. The closer “Overdue” has a depressive & confessional tone to it that I really enjoy, but the hook is a bit too robotic for me personally.

Even though the quartet seems to be self-aware that Stampede didn’t resonate with hardcore fans due to it’s heavy usage of auto-tune, this is a great return to form for them. Jahred Gomes’ vocals are still remarkably commanding & the sound on here is a refreshing callback to (həd) p.e.’s early work.

Score: 4/5

Flee Lord – “Loyalty & Trust 2” review

This is the 11th EP from Queensbridge emcee Flee Lord. Coming up as a protege of the late Prodigy, he eventually became a force to be reckoned with in the underground. But 2020 has proven to be Flee’s most prolific year yet, dropping a new project every month since February. And to make up for not dropping in January, he’s reuniting with 38 Spesh for a sequel to Loyalty & Trust before dropping Pray for the Evil 2 next week.

The EP kicks off with “5 on Us”, where Flee talks about doing it for his kids over a boom bap beat with menacing piano loop. The next song “Lords & Gods” with the late Fred the Godson sees the 2 talking about building an empire over an eerie instrumental while the track “2 Pics on My Gram” talks about how he isn’t gonna be missing anymore over a beat with some kids singing in the background. The song “Aunty” talks about cooking coke over an instrumental that sounds like something RZA would’ve made in the late-90’s while the track “Weird Time” talks about how “cats kill mice, but the dog kill cat” over a boom bap beat with an nice orchestral sample.

The song “Still Trapped” talks about how he thought he wanted out of the dope game over a bleak instrumental while the track “Motivate tha Real” is a touching dedication to Fred the Godson. The penultimate track with Che Noir is a fantastically cold-blooded sequel to “Both Views” off the original Loyalty & Death whereas the titular outro that finishes the EP off talks about how fucking with him will get your melon banged over a sorrowful boom bap beat.

Flee Lord has yet again come through with another stellar project. He continues to reveal himself as one of the most ferocious lyricists out of New York today with each passing month & 38 Spesh’s production on here compliment his gritty bars just as much as it did on the predecessor.

Score: 4/5

Nas – “King’s Disease” review

This is the 12th full-length album from Queensbridge icon Nas. A man who really doesn’t need an introduction at this point because of the fact that his first 2 albums illmatic & It Was Written are widely acknowledged as some of the greatest in hip hop history. Other high points in Escobar’s discography include stillmatic, The Lost Tapes, God’s Son & Life is Good. Then after a 6-year hiatus, Nas returned in 2018 with the Kanye West-produced NASIR & then with The Lost Tapes II last summer. Both which received polarizing responses, but I felt like they were fine additions to his catalogue. However after leaving Def Jam Recordings & to celebrate his newfound independence, Nas is teaming up with California producer Hit-Boy for King’s Disease.

Things start off with the title track, where Nas talks about how he’s gracefully aging over an angelic beat. The next song “Blue Benz” ponders the value & worth of the stuff we buy over a lavish instrumental co-produced by Rogét Chahayed while the track “Car #85” fondly reminisces on his younger days over a calming boom bap beat. The song “Ultra Black” is a full blown Black Lives Matter theme with an instrumental kin to Life is Good & even though I appreciate the call for more black CEOs on the track “27 Summers”, it just sounds unfinished to me.

The song “Replace Me” with Big Sean sees the 2 getting flirtatious over a lush beat while the track “‘Til the War is Won” with Lil Durk finds both of them talking about single mothers over an atmospheric instrumental. The song “All Bad” with Anderson .Paak sees the 2 talking about their significant others doing them dirty over a piano instrumental with a funky ass rhythm to it while “The Definition” dives into the meaning of the album’s title & I love the uplifting feel to the production.

The track “Full Circle” is an immaculate Firm reunion down to the eargasmic beat that G. Ry co-produced & the Dr. Dre outro while the song “10 Points” talks about the meaning of being a king over a jazzy beat & the drums just hit so hard, that they’re bound to blow some speakers out. “The Cure” has the most dynamic instrumental of the entire album as Nas pays tribute to Kobe Bryant & Nipsey Hu$$le, but then the closer “Spicy” with A$AP Ferg & Fivio Foreign finds the 3 bragging over a trap beat that has a bit of a luxurious feel to it.

Not only is this better than the last 2 albums Nas has put out, but I’ll even go as far to say that this is honestly what the 2008 untitled album should’ve been. Nas’ gets on his pro-black shit which is perfect given everything that’s been going on this year & Hit-Boy nails it behind on the boards.

Score: 4/5

Jehry Robinson – “20/20” review

Jehry Robinson is a 32 year old rapper, singer/songwriter & producer from Long Island, New York who came up in 2016 of his eponymous debut EP & the debut mixtape Pts. IV-VI few months later. His biggest breakthrough came around last Christmas after signing to Strange Music, establishing himself with the KC indie powerhouse by dropping his full-length debut in the middle of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic following a small handful of releases from the label’s artists & continuing to let more come down the pipe earlier this month.

The album kicks off with “Daylight”, where Jehry & Tech N9ne talk about being elites referencing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos over a woozy beat from MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7. The next song “Follow My Lead” with King Iso sees the 2 talking about being uncontrollable over a cavernous trap beat while the track “No Refunds” goes full-blown reggae to talk about making your time in this world count. The song “Earthquakes” vents about missing home over an tropical beat from Wyshmaster while the track “Daddy Issues” talks about being there for his niece over an acoustic instrumental.

The song “In My Feels” opens up about his inner demons over a smooth beat while the track “Reseverations” telling this person the possibility of staying with him over some more reggae production. The song “Mind Your Business” pretty much speaks for itself over a cavernous instrumental while the track “Impatient” talks about being just that over a dreary beat. The song “Gas in the Tank” talks about going up from here now that he has a record deal over an aggressive trap beat while the track “Walk Away” talks about how life’s amazing & the empowering feel of the production fits just great.

The song “Michael” is a tearjerking tribute to Jehry’s cousin of the same name who passed away of a drug overdose while the track “Closer to the Sun” is a playful summertime bop. The song “Torture” talks about feeling like he’s underwater over an infectiously rhythmic instrumental while the track “Ego” talks about remaining humble over a tropical instrumental. The song “Ritual” with Joey Cool sees the 2 talking about spreading love over a triumphant beat while the track “Lights” is a touching ballad that seems to be written towards Jehry’s incredible manager/wife Tara Ennis.

The song “Backburner” talks about how he’s falling into place over a jazzy instrumental while the track “Disagree” with Cozzy Sutra sees the 2 telling their significant others that they both have their own issues over a boom bap beat with a piano-loop. The closer “Foresight” talks about how everyone’s messing with him now due to his new record deal over some plinky pianos from Matt Phoenix & then there’s the bonus cut “Say Less”, where Jehry links up with Justina Valentine of Wild’n Out fame to clap back at their nonbelievers over a bouncy beat that has a bit of a modern West Coast feel to it.

Strange Music has been staying consistent for several years now whether it be their signings or constantly working on new projects & Jehry Robinson is definitely a good fit for the label. This album really does a good job at giving listeners a deeper look into his personality along with displaying how versatile he can be.

Score: 3.5/5