Gunna – “The Last Wun” review

College Park, Georgia rapper Gunna releasing his 5th studio LP. Beginning over a decade ago off his debut mixtape Hard Body, he would eventually catch the attention of local phenomenon Young Thug just 3 years later & would go on to sign to his 300 Entertainment imprint YSL Records. However it wasn’t until the release of his debut EP Drip or Drown & his 4th mixtape Drip Season 3 in late 2017 & early 2018 respectively where Gunna’s profile increased significantly. Drip or Drown 2 though was a mediocre full-length debut & W.U.N.N.A. (Wealthy Unapologetic N***a Naturally Authentic) wound up being one of the best trap albums of 2020, but the 4th & final installment of the Drip Season mixtape series aged like milk. A Gift & A Curse and One of Wun were both mediocre in their own ways & The Last Wun looks to officially complete his YSL/300 deal.

“many nights” was a derivative trap intro with a chill guitar melody talking about letting his hoe count up his racks millions of times whereas the cloudy “let that sink in” produced by Turbo explains that your shit doesn’t bend or break when you’ve built everything off faith. “just say dat” talks about singles becoming outdated with the continuously adapting state of the music industry leading into the half-baked pop rap joint “gp”.

NASH of Internet Money Records’ instrumental on “sakpase” stood out to me staying connected to the checks with pounds of cake leading into “at my purest” featuring Offset saving the best of 5 collaborations for the very beginning talking about their influence being valuable. “biting my game” accompanied by an acoustic trap instrumental vents over other artists jackin’ his style when nobody post-2022 has really done so while “prototype” responds to Thug tweeting for him to stop actin’ like they’re friends online.

“w.g.f.t. (we gettin’ fucked tonight)” featuring Burna Boy finds the pair uniting for a moody pop rap song breaking down sexual themes once again as does “forever be mine” featuring Wizkid, except both of them are talking about being one of a kind compared to the ex-boyfriends of the women they’re currently seeing. “again” works on some pianos & hi-hats expressing his desire to make love again while “endless” tries to insert himself into the “GOAT” convo when his post-prison material has been mid.

Nechie links up with Gunna for “i can’t feel my face”, which makes me appreciate “ADDYS” more comparison from the beat to the performances of both artists while “podcast” gets the 2nd half of The Last Wun going by talking about getting back up on his feet again after being down bad. “club house” simultaneously likens his bank account to a goldmine & wanting to be paid in full while “Satisfaction” featuring Asake ironically doesn’t feel very satisfying musically.

“fuck witcha boy” goes for a smoother trap vibe instrumentally talking about wanting to take a helicopter so he can fly out to Punta Cana while the generically atmospheric “on me” suggests that men shouldn’t be trusted, willing to take it a step further & putting it all on himself. “rare occasion” brings some refreshing synthesizers into the fold referencing the greatest QB of all-time & 7-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady while “made for this shit” talks about the days when he used to pray to reach the heights he has.

Meanwhile on “c.f.w.m. (can’t fuck with me)”, we have Gunna over a country trap hybrid flexing that he’s untouchable when his last couple duds & his falling out with Young Thug both proving otherwise while “what they thinking” tries to figure out what the bitches around him want & what other guys around him are thinking. “showed ‘em” kinda gives me deja vu of “Do Better” except it’s not as profound, except the amount of money he has doesn’t change him snitching.

“won’t stop” addresses the whole Alford plea situation from his perspective promising not to stop making music while “him all along” talks about steadily chasing his goals & staying strong with all the motions he’s been going through. “Got Damn” didn’t even make the final cut, but I’m glad it wasn’t included because it wasn’t even that memorable of a trap/pop rap single.

8 months ago when Lil Baby got divisive feedback for W.H.A.M. (Who Hard as Me?), I didn’t have any hopes left of The Last Wun outdoing that or It’s Only Me since the production department of Gunna’s music has been gradually declining in the last 26 months other than Turbo. And whatever’s next for him following the YSL deal ending, it’s difficult to tell whether or not he’ll make anything of Drip Season 3 or W.U.N.N.A. (Wealthy Unapologetic N***a Naturally Authentic)’s bar of quality ever again.

Score: 2/5

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

Champtown – “Rocker at Heart” review

Champtown is a 52 year old MC, producer, DJ, film director & teacher from Detroit, Michigan known for his involvement in establishing a myriad of the city’s hip hop artists from Kid Rockto the Insane Clown Posse & even Eminem. His first couple EPs Call Me Joker & Check It! in the early/mid 90s would prelude his 1999 debut Now or Never N***a!, returning in 2016 for the sophomore effort Racial Profilin’ & almost another decade to release his 3rd EP executive produced by Body Count frontman Ice-T.

The title track is a rap rock intro with a hook reminiscent of old school hard rock talking about politics being wack as fuck to him & I have to agree with him as someone who enjoyed the South Park season 27 premiere couple weeks earlier whereas “Burn” carries over the rap rock vibes for an interpolation of “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps, which I prefer far more than the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion as well as the 2-time WCW World Television Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion of the same name.

“Hasbulla” aggressively references the Russian social media personality who signed a 5-year promotion contract with the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings division UFC merely 12 months prior to them buying the WWE for $9.3B just before “We Dranking” moves forward with a rap rock song about consuming alcohol. “Jumpin’ for Eddie V” pays homage to the late Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen while “My Matrix” feels like an attempt at a throwback to 80s pop rock/synth-wave era.

Excluding the essential “What Color is Soul?” featuring Chaos Kid & Eminem taken from Now or Never N***a! reappearing to make it’s DSP debut, “W.A.G.D. (We All Gonna Die)” featuring Unko Jozee sends off the EP officially with a 6 minute outro remixing a rap rock with boom bap & trap talking about the color of one’s skin doesn’t matter because we’ll all meet our demise eventually with nothing to save you from it happening.

Only less than 10 days away from his performance at the 25th annual Gathering of the Juggalos or the Gathering of Legends, the Straight Jacket Records founder Champtown leans heavier towards a rap rock sound on Rocker at Heart compared to his previous material taking notes from The Rolling Stones of hip hop Public Enemy led by his mentor Chuck D to put his versatility front & center almost 4 decades in the game.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Homixide Gang – “Homixide Lifestyle 2” review

Homixide Beno! & Homixide Meechie known together as the Atlanta, Georgia duo the Homixide Gang releasing their 4th LP. Bringing to turn heads off their debut EP Snotty World to the point where trap trailblazer/rage pioneer Playboi Carti made them the 3rd act to sign to his Interscope Records imprint Opium Records following Ken Carson & Ken Destroy Lonely respectively, Homixide Lifestyle was a solid debut & Snot or Not wound up being a mixed bag of a sophomore effort. Their debut mixtape 5th AMNDMNT & their previous album I5U5WE5 were both received more favorably, looking to revisit the Homixide Lifestyle for a sequel.

“PC5” is a bombastic trap intro shows love to their homie Problem Child 5 presently incarcerated on murder charges whereas “Redrag” produced by Maaly Raw talks about shooting a lame in his face with the Glock. “1-800-555-OPIUM” blends trap & rock together so they can discuss the money callin’ them just before “Call in Me” links with Toom of Vanguard Music Group so they can compare themselves to walkie talkies being only a call away.

The way “Cherub Rock” by The Smashing Pumpkins was sampled on “5G” was pretty rad refusing to sell their souls while “PB&J” featuring Ken Carson finds the trio talking about their dangerous tendencies & trying to score as opposed to goaltending. “Soul-Fly” works in an unexpected soul sample to discuss their past leading into “Vice City” talking about having bitches go crazy over a Pi’erre Bourne beat.

“Frank Matthews” reflects over a Clayco & OPM BABI instrumental of wanting to become drug lords their whole entire lives while “Red Tails” references the greatest QB of all-time & 7-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. “Villain” conceptually dissects the Dark Knight quote “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain” prior to F1LTHY of Working on Dying sampling “Downtown” by SWV during the highlight “Facet!me”.

ATL Jacob hops behind the boards for “Johnny Cage” referencing the character from the Warner Bros.-owned Mortal Kombat franchise prior to Homixide Mali appearing for “Sober” so the trio can get loaded. “Breeze” has a more laidback approach than what Homixide normally does boasting that they have more stripes on their backs than referees while “Watch Out!” bombastically talks about needing to stay geeked up.

“Going On” heads for a trap metal direction instrumentally to flex the kinda shit that pops off around them while “Headtap” talks about slangin’ the sticks with no aim & leaving blood everywhere. “Free Agents” touches base regarding their lifestyle & after “Shopping Bags” talks about hitting the store with them since they got everything y’all need, “State Property” playfully sees the pair getting money hungry.

To start Homixide Lifestyle 2’s final leg, “$$$ Problems” talks about having no issues regarding their finances returning to a trap metal sound while ”Nun 2 It” assures their respective girlfriends that they’ll go global effective immediately. “Gvnganati” talks about the subject of loyalty remembering the late R5 Homixide & “Nintend0” wraps up the LP with both of them playing the gamble of life using all cash.

Aside from Carti unsurprisingly not clearing his “Chopshop” verse hence why it didn’t make the final cut & Destroy Lonely only doing a hook for “Shopping Bag” instead of a verse, the Homixide Gang’s successor to their debut has a more general hardcore hip hop approach instead of gangsta rap although it very much expands on it’s rage/trap metal production minus the industrial hip hop elements.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Percaso & Tezzus – “SØUFSIDE” review

Orlando, Florida rapper Percaso & Atlanta, Georgia rapper Tezzus teaming up for a new collaborative EP. One of whom I was recently introduced to this spring off his Fast Car Music mixtape & the other on The XA Tape during this past Super Bowl Weekend. Crossing paths on previous songs like “Brazy Brazy” or “Roll 1” & “NUN2SUM” during the course of this year, it was interesting for me to hear these guys taking their chemistry to newer heights on Søufside.

“LikeDaMoon” is a cloudy trap intro flexing the respective runs each one of them have been on as of late wanting to high off shrooms whereas “Hallelujah” claps back at the pussies who don’t know the game & talks about previously being broke to the point where they used to sleep on floors. “Hard Body” has a more menacing trap vibe to it taking the lyricism from the perspective of gangsters & “UnknownSlut” turns the 808s up high as Hell so they can talk about fiends calling their phones.

The self-produced “THØT HOE” featuring ShawtyRokk shows resentment against a woman who’s apparently ran through the whole gang while the rage-inducing “TexasDølla” talks about the fact they’ve been making money for a while outside where they havin’ racks the old way. “Skrt” featuring Diorvsyou finds the trio boasting that they’ll pull off stealing your bitches while “Brand New” featuring diamond* talks about cutting throats if they don’t get their paychecks.

“Gøat” also featuring diamond* has got to be my favorite collaboration of the 2 from the plugg instrumental to the lyrics wearing their success on their sleeves while “Wish U Well” featuring Diorvsyou wraps up our damn near 22 minute journey down the Søufside with all 3 of them talking about getting high to cope with their stresses & kicking women out of the hotels they’re staying at, wishing the best for them nevertheless

When it comes to the underground trap scene, Percaso & Tezzus have given us the best collab EP in that style since Glokk40Spaz & OsamaSon’s collab EP 3vil Reflection last spring. Taking cues from trap to rage & plugg throughout the production, 2 of the best southern hip hop up-&-comers flow well with one another & both guests towards the end going back-to-back regarding their performances.

Score: 4/5

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

prettifun – “Funhouse 2” review

In front of us is the 4th studio LP from Charlotte, North Carolina rapper & producer prettifun. Known for his membership with the 4ersona collective, he would go on to put out 3 full-lengths & 7 EPs in almost 3 years prior to Victor Victor Worldwide signing him last fall & appearing on the new Lucy Bedroque mixtape Unmusique. mikey’s last album Funhouse was greeted to the same warm welcoming reception Pretti got & looks to expand the palpability of Funhouse by making a sequel.

Outtatown’s welcomingly playful rage atmosphere of “My Name” couldn’t have been a more appropriate intro talking about having fun with the money he’s been making while “Kisses” gets in depth regarding him not having to prove shit to anyone. “Fuck with Ya” produced by Ginseng suggests to keep blowing up his phone since he had to cop a new one covered in dough posted up in your hood just before the rage/plugg crossover “Famous” advised not to act as if he’s a huge star.

“Digital Love” gives his props to the Daft Punk single of the same name talking about his relationship struggles leading into “Last Wish” remembering his late grandmother. “Sides” clears up the rumors of him & another 4ersona member che having beef with each other when they simply haven’t talked in some time while “Heartbreaker” ties back into “Digital Love”.

Ending the first half of Funhouse 2, the lo-fi rage single “Unfazed” talks about starting a trend as a result of the waves he’s been making while “Different” professes that he feels like nothing’s been the same recently stepping on muhfuckas without a camp. “Internet” talks about having no fear inside of him because he’s self-aware of his artistic potential while “Back” speaks on his money addiction & there being no way out of it.

“idk wtf” combines rage, hardcore hip hop & digicore so asking for his vision to be trusted while “Infinity” talks about the endless flows he has in his arsenal & being ahead of the curve compared to his peers. “Hi-Fi 2026” finishes prettifun’s major label debut by announcing Hi-Fi 2 coming out some point within the next 52 weeks, which has me hoping it’ll surpass it’s predecessor when it comes to quality.

Honoring prettifun’s 20th birthday this weekend, Funhouse 2 feels nothing like a “deluxe version” of its predecessor & more of an eager standalone continuation. The production feels complexly layered compared to the original Funhouse embracing it’s experimental rage sound heavier than he initially did last fall aside from the occasional pop rap, trap, plugg, hardcore hip hop & digicore detours peeling back the vulnerability layers of his confessional approach to songwriting.

Score: 4/5

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

Metro Boomin’ – “A Futuristic Summa” review

St. Louis producer, DJ & record executive Metro Boomin’ finally dropping off his highly anticipated 2nd mixtape. Gaining notoriety in the middle of the previous decade as one of the most in-demand beatsmiths in hip hop today, he’s gone on to produce some of the best trap projects of the decade in their entireties including Future’s 3rd album D.S. 2 (Dirty Sprite 2), Gucci Mane’s 53rd mixtape Droptopwop and the Offset/21 Savage collab tape Without Warning. It was until after Halloween 2018 when he put out his solo debut Not All Heroes Wear Capes & the 2022 sequel Heroes & Villains continued an ongoing trilogy by elevating his production game. A Futuristic Summa was announced earlier this month & we’re finally getting it weeks since the current 2-time World Heavyweight Champion Gunther retired WWE Hall of Famer, 4-time WWE world champion, WWE United States Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion Bill Goldberg at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLI followed by former AEW Women’s World Champion Blake Monroe betraying former 3-time TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace & another former TNA Knockouts World Champion Naomi becoming a 3-time WWE women’s world champion by ending イヨ・スカイ’s 2nd reign as a WWE women’s world champion at Evolution II.

“I Want It All” by J Money after the “Black Migo Forever” intro starts with a decent futuristic swag opener talking about his desire for everything nice whereas “They Wanna Have Fun” by Gucci Mane, Quez & Young Dro co-produced by Zaytoven homages the Cyndi Lauper single “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” with Quez’ verse in the middle being my least favorite of the 3. “Butterflies (Right Now)” by Roscoe Dash & Quavo goes for an Atlanta bass vibe so they can talk about doing the crime & time of killing pussy prior to “Take Me Thru Dere” by Quavo & YK Niece inferiorly continuing the themes of lust.

The colorful “Loose Screws” by Shad da God & Skooly blends pop rap & trap with the help of DK Spinz to discuss losing their mind if the baddies they’re seeing move in with them just before the first of 2 Young Dro solo cuts “Stealin’ All the Swag” cloudily talks about wanting his swagger back. “WTF Goin’” combines these pianos & hi-hats shrugging off the haters because they only add flavor to what he’s doing while “Issa Party” by Jose Guapo, Shad da God & Young Dro warmly talks about wanting hoes to hit their line to rock & move with them.

“Clap” has gotta be the most I’ve enjoyed a Waka Flocka Flame song in a minute putting his politics & that corny publicity stunt where he got “jumped” aside while the danceable “Slide” by Young Dro confesses he hasn’t been able to talk the same since meeting this woman he’s addressing. “My Lil Shit” by BunnaB, J Money & Meany throws it back to the ringtone era of late 2000s southern hip hop while “Still Turnt (Forever B$hot)” by Shad da God talks about still being lit to this very day.

J Money, Quavo & Waka Flocka Flame all link up on the synthesizer-woven “Drip BBQ” showing off their sauce as if they’re at a cookout while “I Go” by J Money holds the fort by himself to show off his wealthy possessions. “Make It Make Sense” by Rocko has a darker trap mood to it talking about shit being illogical if it it ain’t making any money while “I Like That” by Waka Flocka Flame & 2 Chainz despite Honorable C.N.O.T.E. producing it wasn’t too bad of a pop rap track.

“Birthday” by Metro Thuggin’ & Skooly uses a bunch of playful metaphors to speak about sex & confidence while “Don’t Stop Dancin’” by Lil Baby & Skooly talks about loving the way their partners dance. “U Deserve” by T.I. & Young Dro throws it back to Grand Hustle Records’ prime in the mid-late 2000s while “Overly Trimm” by Jose Guapo, Quavo, Shad da God, Skooly, Travis Porter & Young Dro made for a mild posse cut.

Future & 21 Savage deliver A Futuristic Summa’s smoothest moment “Partying & Drinking” talking about women who be acting like they’re single when having fun with their friends while “Jerry Curry (Love & Basketball” by Lil Baby & Yung L.A. references TKO Group Holdings co-founder Vince McMahon. The futuristic swag closer “I Need (Where U From)” by J Money, Lil Baby, Roscoe Dash & 2 Chainz sends off the tape with all 4 of them asking the women they’re dating about their sets.

Taking the aesthetics of early 2010s mainstream Atlanta hip hop & putting some modern touches on it, A Futuristic Summa will feel nostalgic to anyone like me who was in middle school when songs like “Lemonade” or “Hard in da Paint” were dominating the airwaves. Metro Boomin’s production easily sticks out as the best part of the whole thing diverting from trap to experiment with futuristic swag, plugg, Atlanta bass & contemporary R&B. However, the guests’ performances are more hit or miss compared to Heroes & Villains.

Score: 3/5

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

Action Figure 973 – “Dark Side of the Ring 3” review

Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973 releasing his 8th EP to coincide with SummerSlam XXXVIII this weekend. For a couple years already, his first 2 mixtapes followed by his last 7 EPs & the full-length studio debut DOOM Was Right merely 3 months ago giving flowers to one of my all-time personal favorite albums Madvillainy. Sam Rothskeem’s now producing the latest entry of the Dark Side of the Ring trilogy on the day of former BJW認定デスマッチヘビー級チャンピオン, 2-time BJW認定タッグチャンピオン, アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン, 2-time JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion & 3-time JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champion, Mad Man Pondo and XPW Women’s Champion Mickie Knuckles’ final match for Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) at Powder Keg.

“R.I.P. Sabu” appropriately opens with a tribute former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, FTW Champion, ECW World Television Champion, 3 time ECW World Tag Team Champion, JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, IWGPジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン & the longest reigning XPW World Heavyweight Champion whereas “Christopher Nowinski” references the former 2-time WWE Hardcore Champion himself.

Former AJPWオール・アジア・タッグチャンピオン, 世界ジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, KO-Dタッグチャンピオン, FMWインディペンデントワールド世界ジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, 2-time IWGPジュニアタッグチャンピオン & GHCジュニアヘビー級タッグチャンピオンタカみちのく and former 2-time WWE tag team champion Scotty 2 Hotty get references on “Rubber Match” as does former World Heavyweight Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & 10-time WWE tag team champion “Jey Uso” of YEETC and former 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time AEW World Champion, inaugural ROH Hall of Fame inductee, ROH World Champion & 2-time ROH World Tag Team Champion CM Punk.

“Southern Philly Nights” last but not least sends off the EP with a boom bap closer referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former 2-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time WCW World Television Champion, 3-time WCW World Tag Team Champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion Lex Luger appearing on Nitro created by WCW founder alongside WWE Hall of Famer, former WCW Hardcore Champion & Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) CFO Eric Bischoff during the Monday Night Wars.

Only less than a couple weeks since the current NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne became the new TNA Knockouts World Champion at Slammiversary XXI & hours after the oldest AEW TNT Champion Dustin Rhodes getting dethroned by Kyle Fletcher on this week’s episode of Collision, my favorite installment of Action Figure 973’s Dark Side of the Ring series come in the form of this most recent one remembering the man who former 3-time CZW Wired Champion, DDT極端なチャンピオン, 5-time アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン, 2-time GCW World Champion, 2-time GCW World Tag Team Champion & HoG Tag Team Champion Joey Janela retired this spring.

Score: 4/5

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

Debby Friday – “The Starrr of the Queen of Life” review

Nigerian born albeit Montréal, Québec, Canada raised rapper, singer/songwriter & producer Debby Friday now based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada returning for a sophomore effort. Introducing herself off her first few EPs Terror as well as Bitchpunk & Death Drive, she would catch the attention of Sub Pop Records & sign to the Seattle indie label in the spring of 2023 for her full-length debut Good Luck. Couple years later & The Starrr of the Queen of Life looks to shine as we begin a new month.

“1/17” was a great electropop, dance-pop, vocal trance, bubblegum bass, alt-pop & electro house intro showing a more playful side to herself whereas the electropop, dance-pop, vocal trance, bubblegum bass, alt-pop & dream trance single “All I Wanna Do is Party” sings about wanting to let loose. “In the Club” seductively finds herself tryna get her freak on pulling from the post-club scene a bit leading into the industrial hip hop/midtempo bass crossover “Lipsync”.

Debby switches it up for the alternative R&B-tinged “Alberta” singing about the feeling of uncertainty in a relationship just before “Higher” pleads for her lover to hold her close so she doesn’t panic. “P.P.P. (Pussy Pink Princess)” gets back on the industrial hip hop vibes talking about making everyone around her into believers but after the 808s & Heartbreak-inspired “Leave.”, the final single “Bet On Me” conveys the message of intuition & raw self-belief over a atmospheric drum & bass/alt-pop beat while “Darker the Better” finishes Debby’s 2nd LP with a dance-pop ode to getting fucked up.

29 months since her electro-industrial heavy debut, Debby Friday following the sound of her own voice has resulted in her most kaleidoscopic work ever. The production here appeals more prominently to art pop, electropop, dance-pop & alt-pop with secondary influences of bubblegum bass, alternative r&b, hyperpop, industrial hip hop, deconstructed club, vocal trance, electro house, dream trance, midtempo bass, electroclash, EBM, acid techno and atmospheric drum & bass defining what it is to be a “starrr” using her own terms.

Score: 3.5/5

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

$uicideboy$ – “Thy Kingdom Come” review

This is the 5th studio LP from New Orleans, Louisiana duo Ruby da Cherry & $crim a.k.a. the $uicideboy$. In over a decade, they have given a plethora of projects whether it be the Kill Your$elf saga & Eternal Grey or even I WANNA DIE IN NEW ORLEANS & the Travis Barker-produced Live Fast, Die Whenever. The sophomore effort Long Term Effects of Suffering would follow as did Sing Me a Lullaby, My Sweet Temptation a few summers ago, most recently entering a New World Depression only 14 months back & coming off solo detours this spring for the boy$’ return on Thy Kingdom Come.

“Count Your Blessings” samples “Hot Razor” so they can flex on every single opponent after betting their lives on becoming successful whereas the bounce-influenced “Napoleon” talks about the 7th Ward. “Oh, What a Wretched Man I Am!” finds themselves feeling lucky to still be here going for a Memphis direction instrumentally while “Full of Grace (I Refuse to Tend My Own Grave)” produced by $crim & G*59 Record$ in-house producer Dynox talks about feeling emptier than their own graves.

Reaching the halfway point, “Chainbreaker” works in some synthesizers & hi-hats to speak on bitches always trippin’ over real ones while “Now & at the Hour of Our Death” featuring BONES combines hardcore hip hop, trap, Memphis rap, horrorcore, cloud rap & phonk looks to tear shit down. The lead single “Self Inflicted” throws it back to the Long Term Effects of Suffering era while “Grey+Grey+Grey” promises to see the end before you’ll see the end of them.

Night Lovell joins his mentors for “Carried Away” talking about getting overly enthusiastic because they’re sinnin’ & dedicating itself to those listening who’re experiencing some sort of pain in their lives right now just before “Monochromatic” finishes Thy Kingdom Come with an emo rap flare to it talking about feeling all alone on this road they’re heading down every single time they so happen to blink their eyes.

Bridging the $uicideboy$’ underground roots & their continuously evolving musical palate together, Thy Kingdom Come simultaneously celebrates where Ruby & $crim came from & sends a warning of what’s still to come. The production eclectically blends hardcore hip hop, trap, Memphis rap, horrorcore, cloud rap, phonk, bounce & emo rap putting their range on full display without losing any steam & maintaining the potent nihilism that made them popular. Even if they’re lyrically sticking to their bread & butter.

Score: 4/5

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

Babytron – “Luka Trončić 2” review

This is the 11th mixtape from Detroit emcee Babytron. Coming up as a member of the 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 an 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 until signing with EMPIRE Distribution later that same month & Bin Reaper 2: The 2nd Coming that same fall. Bin Reaper 3 ended the trilogy with a 2-disc effort, the bootleg Style EP wound up being disappointing, the full-length LP 6 made up for it as did his previous mixtape Megatron 2. His collab mixtape Mario & Luigi with Certified Trapper wasn’t all that great either & Tronicles was cool, cooking up a Luka Trončić sequel originally set for his born day couple months ago.

“Luka Magic” starts by showing love to his inner circle homaging the real Luka Dončić over a Detroit trap instrumental whereas the “Michigander” single referencing WWE Hall of Famer Muhammad Ali talks about being proud of his identity. “77” flexes his ties with the Dog $hit Militia harking back to the Detroit techno days with a modern twist while “Ex 2 (BM)” featuring Rio da Yung O.G. expresses hope of their ex-girlfriends getting into a scuffle with fighters from the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings division UFC.

The “Mukbang” trend gets used as a double-edged metaphor crudely discussing luxurious dining & once “Shithead” talks about his desire of becoming a billionaire reminding these dumb fucks who he is, “Cheat Code 3” produced by Pi’erre Bourne divides itself in 2 halves referencing the late WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Intercontinental Champion, 3-time WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion & 2-time WCW World Television Champion “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

WWE Hall of Famer, 7-time WWE world champion, 7-time WWE tag team champion, WWE Hardcore Champion & current Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) booker The Undertaker gets referenced at the start of “Chase the Money” featuring G Herbo following his confrontation with the current TNA World Champion Trick Williams a few days back just before “Dark Knight” talks about a body getting caught without a trace of it being left. The 4th installment of the “PunchGod” saga puts Babytron’s unique punchlines in the forefront leading into “2-Man” featuring VonOff1700 referencing WWE Hall of Famers D-Generation X.

Reaching the halfway point of the tape, “Retro Tron” responds to the crowd that wants him to make music reminiscent of his older material while “Sirloin” includes a witty bar about former WWE Champion, 8-time WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, the inaugural & record-tying 3-time AEW TNT Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, IWGP USヘビー級チャンピオン, ROH World Champion & ROH World 6-Man Tag Team Champion Cody Rhodes. “Caveman” shows off his punchlines again including 1 at the end popularized by the late Big L while “Belt Town” talks about figuring out what’s next.

“End-Zone” featuring NoCap will satisfy any hip hop head who loves sports due to the heavy amount of wordplay shouting out the late Junior Seau or Ben Roethlisberger while “Drugs, $ex & Murder” talks about the gangsta lifestyle maintaining the Detroit sound in the process. “BumpStockBoyz” moves on from there explaining that people would kill for his lifestyle while “Bol-Bol” reunites with Danny G to talk about the blunt caving your chest after a fat rip.

Certified Trapper, Luh Tyler, Trapland Pat & 1900Rugrat all join Tron for the underwhelming “Spring Break” dropping off brief verses albeit the best gets saved for last while “Demigod” talks about losing count of the times that he’s been counted out. “Whiteboy” references the current 17-time WWE world champion John Cena ahead of his title defense at SummerSlam XXXVIII this weekend & “Final Level” ends with switching the instrumental during each verse placing Jakesand first.

Tronicles had it’s share of standout moments for being bloated as it was, but the original Luka Trončić could potentially be my favorite Babytron tape & the sequel here recaptures that same energy now that Luka Dončić himself was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier this spring. Despite only a couple of the guests standing out to me, Tron’s memorable punchlines & the production make Luka Trončić 2 worth your 73 minutes.

Score: 4/5

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