Snoop Dogg – “Iz It a Crime?” review

Here we have the 21st studio LP from Long Beach emcee, songwriter, media personality, actor, entrepreneur, record executive & WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg. His 1993 debut Doggystyle produced his mentor Dr. Dre is widely regarded as a west coast essential, but his output since has been hit or miss whether it be Tha Last Meal & Tha Blue Carpet Treatment almost reaching the same caliber of his debut or Da Game is to be Sold, Not to be Told & Bible of Love falling flat on their faces. He purchased Death Row Records from MNRK Music Group days ahead of the Super Bowl LVI halftime performance hence why he’s B.o.D.R. (Bacc on Death Row) since. Missionary last winter drew mixed reception because of some delusional fans expecting it to be another Doggystyle, coming off the Altar Call compilation to ask Iz It a Crime?

After the intro, the title track featuring October London on the hook samples “Is It a Crime?” by Sade asking how many out there are still living by the code whereas “Joy” crosses over soul & boom bap to talk about it being that time for him to fuck up the streets making a feast out of the crumbs he was given. “Unsung Heroes” works in some cool organ melodies responding to people criticizing him for his half hour DJ Snoopadelic set at the Crypto Ball in January when even I myself found that odd due to the video he shared on Instagram in 2017, but then “Sophisticated Crippin’” sampling Marvin Gaye courtesy of DJ Battlecat talking about his 3+ decade legacy.

“Can’t Wait” featuring LaRussell finds the pair linking up so they can get shit poppin’ together over a g-funk instrumental from Nottz just before “Can’t Get Enough” featuring Jane Handcock cooks up a smooth R&B & west coast hip hop duet portraying 2 lovers who’re quite obsessed with being in each other’s company. “Keep It Moving” brings the g-funk vibes back in the fold thanks to Rick Rock talking about never stop pushin’ leading into “Just the Way It Iz” featuring Wiz Khalifa teaming up on top of a moody Soopafly beat to not change shit in their lives.

Akeem Ali easily delivers the worst feature on the entire album during “You Want My All” kinda sounding like a Lil Wayne knockoff when I’m sure Uncle Snoop could’ve easily got Weezy himself on there if he wanted to while Charlie Bereal takes a shot at g-funk behind the boards on “What’s Hattnin’?” giving a shoutout to everyone who’s been with Tha Doggfather from the very jump. “Spot” reunites with Pharrell for a pop rap joint reminiscent of “Beautiful”or “Perfect” with a modern twist & “ShutYoBitchAssUp” disses Suge Knight.

“Cold Summer” switches it up with a synth-pop cut & the vocal performances predominantly sung by it’s own producer mR. pOrTeR formerly of D12 while “Snoop Will Make You Dance” returns to a g-funk direction for a good old fashioned west coast party anthem. “Life’s Journey” feels like a bit of a response to his daughter Chocc fresh off dropping her debut EP Journals to Johnny last winter & becoming a mother a few months ago while “Me N O.G. Snoop” featuring Sexyy Red still remaining one of the most polarizing, controversial & popular artists in hip hop today talks about their ties to the Crips & the Bloods respectively.

Getting the final leg of Iz It a Crime? started, “Let Me Love You” heads for a bit of a delicate boom bap approach instrumentally for a tribute to his wife of almost 3 decades Shante Taylor while “West Up” slides through with a g-funk love letter to the west coast asking why the fuck should he retire when the west justifiably dominated the previous year. “My Friend” featuring mR. pOrTeR unites both of them for a passionate remembrance of Snoop’s cousin Darryl Daniel passing away 10 months ago & “Live Life” ends by talking about his only advice being to love yourself getting what’s yours.

Uncle Snoop here’s trying to understand if it’s a felony for him to do the things he’s done, to take care of people, to love them & to be there for them due some of the things that he’s done & becoming speculation. My response to those questions is absolutely not, although many including myself found it hypocritical for him to post said IG video 8 years ago with the “Lavender 2” music video literally months later only to do that Crypto Ball DJ set. Iz It a Crime? top to bottom however feels reminiscent of B.o.D.R. (Bacc on Death Row) due to the way both albums feel heavily inspired by the older days in career from gangsta rap to boom bap, g-funk & pop rap.

Score: 3.5/5

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Weiland – “You Can’t Climb the Mountain in N.Y.” review

This is the 3rd EP from Tampa, Florida rapper, singer/songwriter, producer & audio engineer Weiland. Coming up almost a decade ago off his debut EP Insomnia, his first couple mixtapes Packrunner & Grimey Life resulted in Victor Victor Worldwide signing him for the synthpop inspired Vices to high acclaim. 3 long years later, he’s back with You Can’t Climb the Mountain in N.Y. ahead of him & Victor Victor alumni Summrs’ upcoming collab EP.

“Let You Go” featuring Summrs gives us a taste of what’s to come from the previously mentioned collaborative EP talking about being friend-zoned whereas “The Girl’s Not Mine” blends synthpop & dance-pop together to back off on rumors of a chick claiming he’s their boyfriend. “Promise” works in more synthesizers assuring that things won’t ever be the same going forward & the title track ends with Part Time relying heavier with the synths instrumentally asking if there’s anyone out there.

It’s already been a little over 3 years since Vices helped usher in an exciting new era of synthpop along with The Weeknd’s new trilogy of albums that already rivals his original mixtape trilogy & breaks free from Universal Music Group expanding on the sounds of his last album that marked a stylistic departure from his previous material & showcasing more coldwave influences to a lesser extent even if I prefer Hurry Up Tomorrow a bit more.

Score: 4.5/5

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PinkPantheress – “Fancy That” review

PinkPantheress is a 24 year old singer/songwriter & producer from Bath, Somerset, England, United Kingdom catching the eye of Elektra Records for her first couple EPs To Hell with It including at least 3 remixes I like more than the original versions & Take Me Home to high acclaim. Warner Records later brought her over to establish herself as a dominant force in modern alt-pop & contemporary R&B on her full-length debut Heaven Knows, teasing a sophomore effort with her 3rd EP.

“Illegal” begins the EP sampling “Dark & Long”by Underworld to delve into a relationship that she’s trying to keep on the low with the fear of being caught in mind by the public eye whereas the original version “Girl Like Me” excluding the KAYTRANADA remix samples “Romeo” by Basement Jaxx & Kele Le Roc during the hook talking about not being a fan of the way things are moving.“Tonight” goes for a dance-pop, bassline, speed garage & contemporary R&B direction flipping “Do You Know What I’m Seeing?” by Panic! At the Disco expressing a mature side to herself while “Stars” is pretty much a homage to “Starz in Their Eyes” by Just Jack.

After an intermission, “Noises” explains the feeling of uneasiness while being home alone making good use of a Nardo Wick sample as somebody who’s not a big fan of his own music just before “Nice to Know You” samples “Spiral” by William Orbit, Kenna & the Sugababes singing about being a mess. “Stateside” explores her growth as an artist with it’s use of breakbeat, dance-pop, nu skool breaks, breakstep, UK street soul & big beat explaining her dating life pretty much being only long distance relationships & “Romeo” sampling “Good Luck” by Basement Jaxx finishes likening her & her partner to Romeo & Juliet

Representing everything kitsch & UK-centric, PinkPantheress continues to break ground as one of the biggest popstars of this decade taking on board with what appealed to her during the recording process of Fancy That using dance-pop, UK garage, 2-step, contemporary R&B, alt-pop, breakbeat, nu skool breaks, breakstep, UK street soul, bassline & speed garage to make it feel like a statement is being made with the 9 track EP clocking at 20 & a half minutes.

Score: 4.5/5

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No Windows – “The Great Traitor” review

No Windows are an indie rock duo from Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom consisting of guitarist, bassist & drummer Morgan Morris alongside lead single Verity Slangen. Releasing their first 2 EPs No Windows & Fish Boy independently, they would land a deal with Fat Possum Records to take themselves to the next level on Point Nemo last spring & are back a little over a whole year later to do it again by putting out their 4th EP.

“Brown Bear” is this acoustic intro singing about feeling a lot clearer now than she did in the past whereas “Return” was a great indie rock lead acknowledging not hiding how they feel very well & their uncleanliness with the water being unclear as it already is. “Tricky” keeps it stripped back lyrically exploring the concepts of love & infatuation while “Sugarcoat” sings about being fucked from the start. “Old Chain Pier” is an indie rock ballad finding oneself at a stage in life no longer looking back in disgust & “Easter Island” acoustically wraps up the EP feeling worst in the mornings.

The Great Traitor expands No Windows’ sonic territory even further by leaving the more familiar indie traits behind in favour of lush, psychedelic arrangements that take their cues from 70s chamber pop & Jon Brion. Produced with Ali Chant, the recording process took them out of Morgan’s DIY bedroom set-up & into a studio where they had access to a breadth of instruments that allowed for more exploration across the EP’s 6 tracks marking a transitional period for the duo both as a band & as individuals.

Score: 3.5/5

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Kali Uchis – “Sincerely,” review

Alexandria, Virginia singer/songwriter Kali Uchis making her Capitol Records debut with her 5th studio LP. My introduction to her was my senior year of high school when Tyler, The Creator set to make his theatrical debut in the upcoming A24 Films sports adventure comedy-drama Marty Supreme with Timothée Chalamet this Christmas produced “Call Me” on her first EP Por Vida & isola†ion went on to become a stellar debut album. She even has a couple Latin pop projects under her belt with the Interscope Records-backed Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞ & her final Geffen Records offering Orquídeas, picking up where her Geffen debut Red Moon in Venus left off by basing Sincerely, on a life-altering event.

“Heaven’s a Home” from a songwriting standpoint brings everything full circle from when Hardstone Records founder & Cactus Jack Records signee Don Toliver got her pregnant with their son & her mom being diagnosed with lung cancer tragically passing away recently over delicate instrumentation whereas “Sugar! Honey! Love!” takes the psychedelic soul route singing about doing time for a crime she didn’t even commit. “Lose My Cool,” delivers a 2-parter addressing an individual who makes her lose her temper around them while “It’s Just Us” warmly assures that Don & her were meant to be in love.

The concept of love to a gun on “For: You” feels a lot like “A Boy is a Gun” off IGOR going for a synth-heavy sound leading into the self-produced “Silk Lingere,” finds her trying to figure how this person she knew falling for someone who turned out to be more complicated & flawed than expected . “Territorial” sings never being the type to want someone else’s man regardless of how reckless she may come off prior to Fall Apart,” wanting to know if Donny Womack would still love her with things get difficult & being in an eternal honeymoon with one another.

“All I Can Say” finds herself refusing to apologize for the kind of person she is because of everything belonging to her while “Daggers!” sings about hating the way this woman in her life is being treated by her man wishing that she could see herself the way at Kali sees her. “Angels All Around Me…” unravels a religious side to herself praying that the family she & Don Toliver have started stay peacefully protected while “Breeze” hooks up some choir vocals singing about the familiar emotions of fear & worrying hold absolutely no worth in our lives from what she’s learned.

The lead single “Sunshine & Rain” was one that brought together neo-soul, contemporary R&B psychedelic soul & bedroom pop staying devoted to Don through life’s ups & downs expressing her belief in karma & divine guidance while questioning society losing it’s way with me attributing that to this past election 6 months ago & “I.L.Y.S.M.I.H. (I Love You So Much It Hurts)” ends with a soft rock, pop soul, adult contemporary, brill building & psychedelic soul dedication to her son conceived only hours after she brought him into this world.

“Cry About It!” featuring Ravyn Lenae starts the deluxe run with a poppy, bilingual smooth soul single with a hint of brill building to it mocking Don’s ex-girlfriend while “Whispers of the Wind…” asks if he loves her with all of his heart. “Pretty Promises,” featuring Mariah the Scientist produced by benny blanco & Cashmere Cat finds the 2 pleading their partners to not break any promises to them & after “Cherry on Top” sings about finding a relationship where they can be their true selves, the final bonus track “All of the Good” finishes with 1 last tribute to her mom.

Kali’s official Capitol debut marks as her strongest since her debut 7 years ago facing the complexities of life head on trying to find joy in life despite the world falling apart in front of us, appreciating every moment & not taking life for granted expanding beyond contemporary R&B in favor of pop soul, smooth soul, neo-soul, psychedelic soul, bedroom pop, adult contemporary & brill building. Becoming a mother has easily resulted in her most existentially honest body of work & am curious as to the way her next Latin pop album goes.

Score: 4.5/5

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Rafa – “Madman” review

Here we have the 4th EP from Detroit rapper Rafa. Coming up as a member of the WRLD Tour Mafia a few years ago, he would also begin a solo career of his own starting on Thanksgiving 2020 with his debut EP Not for Household Use & followed it up earlier this year in the form his debut tape Dog$hit & Ammunition. The eponymous mixtape was a pivotal point in his career & Good Girls Don’t Exist from last spring was a superior EP, coming off R.A.F.A. (Rockstars Are Fucking Awesome) to take us on a journey through the mind of a Madman only 48 hours after Samoa Joe of the AEW World Trios Champions The Opps defeated former AEW World Trios Champion, 2-time CZW World Tag Team Champion, JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champion, PWG World Champion, RPW British Tag Team Champion, 2-time ROH World Champion, 2-time ROH World Tag Team Champion, WWE United States Champion & 7-time WWE tag team champion Claudio Castagnoli at the Masonic Temple for this week’s AEW Dynamite on the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned tbs.

“DOOM” is this horn-inflicted Detroit trap intro talking about all these muhfuckas lifestyles being incomparable to his whereas “Fuck What You Sayin’” goes for a cloudier approach instrumentally calling WRLD Tour the new Dipset & I can even complain. “Rick James” keeps it going talking about how we could see right through these haters while “Chrome Levi Denims” shows off the kind of jeans he’s wearing.

WTM Solid joins Rafa for “Dub Edition” continuing to bring a Detroit trap flare to the table discussing their lifestyles just before “How U Feel Twin” turns up the psychedelia so he can tell us exactly the way he feelin’ & giving a middle finger to anyone who wants to go up against his squad. “Dirty Faygos” atmospherically declares his love for mixing codeine with the local soda brand Faygo leading into “Ozzy” of course references Black Sabbath frontman & WWE Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne.

The song “Cornhuskers” kicks off the final leg of Madman by talking about being that muhfucka making plays & refusing to let anyone eat if they ain’t putting in the hustle while “What’s New?” suggests that an individual who went against him should stay where he’s already at since Rafa’s through with him at this point. The outro heavily builds itself around some synthesizers making it clear he’s rolling dice everyday without giving a fuck.

4 months since his full-length studio debut displaying his versatility through the usage of cloud rap alongside rap rock & rage, Rafa’s back portraying himself to be a Madman after initially opening the diaries a few months ago. The production carries over the trillwave & Detroit trap elements that were present throughout R.A.F.A. (Rockstars Are Fucking Awesome), except the rage & rap rock undertones are both being left out of the equation.

Score: 3.5/5

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Pradabagshawty – “Home Invasions” review

This is the debut mixtape from Columbia, South Carolina born albeit Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Pradabagshawty. Introducing himself in the spring of 2023 off Bloxk Addiktion, his popularity within the plugg subgenre of trap continued to grow last year by putting out 3 more EPs in 1 Love as well as his Cegular Records/Sony Music debut 10 Freak Ho’s of course debut Forever & After. His newest EP B What You B only 3 months after inking the Sony deal has quickly become the most popular entry of his catalog so far, returning a few months later to put out Home Invasions.

“She Tinder” kicks off the tape with a plugg instrumental from Dstarkel talking about being in love with his girl as much as he is with the kush whereas “Good Morning” continues to bring a mellow flare to the table referencing the greatest basketball player of all-time Michael Jordan. “Hands Up” feels more like a YounnMoh cut since Pradabag barely has any presence flexing over synthesizers about the bitch he just fucked while “Sweater Weather” refuses to snitch after landing in court unlike Akon.

As for “Hop Aht”, we have Pradabag over some quirky synth leads & hi-hats talking about popping out of the ride with the sticks on him leading into “Showered Up” keeps the plugg vibes going using the backdoor on any opp leaving them for death. “Lucky Charm” heads for a cloudier approach advising anyone who wants to fuck with him to go fuck themselves, but then “Duck” produced by WhyCeg talks about making people hide when he pulls out the Glock.

“3am Lobby” begins the final leg of the tape on a lo-fi trap note boasting that nobody’s doing it like him & riding around with guns on him while “Ruthless” talks about taking issue to people crossing over his squad showing them absolutely no mercy. ImSoMarcus takes up “Too Much” hanging with the slimes instead of lames & after “Shooting Star” lets off rounds at a cop car, “Do Re Mi” wraps it up letting the chopper sing some more.

Other than not being so sure why he takes a backseat in performing every time letting the features take up a good chunk of the tracks they’re on, Home Invasions takes Pradabagshawty even higher as an up-&-coming plugg artist maintaining the quality production of the EP that got me into him back in February breaking down more stories of his life being a gangsta trying to make it out of the trenches.

Score: 4/5

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Naomi Sharon – “The Only Love We Know” review

Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands singer/songwriter Naomi Sharon with a brand new EP. Starting in 2018 with her debut single “Breeze”, she would go on to release 4 more singles until Toronto, Ontario, Canada superstar Drake signed her to OVO Sound for an impressive debut Obsidian giving a refreshing take on the way the label delivers alternative R&B going beyond that in favor of neo-soul, afrobeats, afro house, downtempo, sophisti-pop, deep house, ambient pop & smooth soul. Year & half later, Naomi’s back to address The Only Love We Know.

“Bittersweet” is a passionate intro asking if her & her partner can simply be while “Can We Do This Over?” works in elements of smooth soul, sophisti-pop, downtempo, contemporary R&B & neo-soul asking for a redo since she doesn’t want closure. “Calm Waters” finds her wishing on a star pleading to be in the presence of her romantic interest again while “Soft Like Dawn” sings about things not feeling sane when you’re unsure & drifting away.

The song “Feels Like Home” portrays herself as a woman who deserves better despite sharing in her current relationship & the title track produced the EP’s executive producer Jordan Ullman of Majid Jordan closes out the transformative successor to Obsidian showing some gospel influences reflecting on the time she spent with her ex-husband Jamie Sun.

Aiming to exceed the high expectations her debut had set, Naomi easily clears the new Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR collab album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U and Roy Wood$’ most recent EP Dark Nights diving into the emotional complexity of moving on from experiences that no longer serve your happiness. Jordan’s honest chemistry with OVO’s First Lady crafts a solid base of intricate sophisti-pop, alternative R&B, downtempo, neo-soul & adult contemporary for a journey through the beautiful, the broken & everything in between.

Score: 3.5/5

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P-Rawb – “Time & Space” review

Brand new EP from New Jersey/Pennsylvania based MC P-Rawb. Getting his start in as 1/2 of The Jerzadelphians with Shane Great, the duo would put out Era of the Getback on Black Friday 2019 & P eventually linked up with London, England, United Kingdom producer Big O to have him handle all the beats on his solo debut The Complexity at the beginning of 2021. Obviously it’s been quite some time since we’ve last heard from the Jerzadelphian & hearing that he was getting back with Big O for Time & Space was destined to be something noteworthy.

After the “Follow My Lead” intro, the first song “Rise to the Top” takes it right to the basement boasting that he’s been swinging his sword over some prominent horns during the hook whereas “Hard Pressed” works in some synthesizers talking about live being a test filled with pain & stress. “Power Within (Searchin’)” featuring Fashawn finds the pair teaming up so they can discuss looking for a new dawn & “For the Gods” featuring L.O.U. & Rxlph ends with the trio talking about seeing y’all at the finishing line.

In honor of The Complexity celebrating its 4-year anniversary at the start of 2025, Time & Space reflects the journey P-Rawb & Big O have taken in both mentally & musically since the last time we’ve heard them together on wax by taking on a fresh sound & new perspective. You can really hear the growth between each of them whether it be Big O’s production skills evolving or the deeply personal topics P covers in the 18 minute duration.

Score: 4/5

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Lefty Gunplay – “Can’t Get Right” review

This is the 5th studio LP from Baldwin Park’s hottest artist currently Lefty Gunplay entirely produced by Compton, California emcee/producer Jason Martin formerly known as Problem. One of whom has been putting it down for the west coast for nearly 2 decades & the other has been blowing up since last summer later appearing on Kendrick Lamar’s 6th album GNX already 6 months ago. After putting out a few singles, Jason & Lefty are teaming up on Can’t Get Right.

“Lord Forgive Me” produced by Scott Storch & Jason fuses west coast trap & gospel music asking why these éses ain’t out yet here without no gun homaging the iconic Boogie Down Productions song “9mm Go Bang” during the hook whereas the title track produced by Mike & Keys and Sndtrak lets everyone know exactly how he got his stage name. “Scary Movie” takes a bit of a nervous vibe talking about the streets making him realizing. Shit out here ain’t as scary as he thought he would be just before “Gangsters Get Scared” featuring Cactus Jack Records’ newest signee Wallie the Sensei & YS talks bout even the realest of G’s taking on fear.

Meanwhile on “Heavens Above (My Angel)”, we have Lefty talking about being pussywhipped to the point where he’ll start listening good & he God sending him angels from above the pearly gates of Heaven to watch him & “Hotel Party” lives up to its name from its horn-heavy beat to the celebratory lyricism partying in his hotel room. “Menace” featuring The Game finds the 2 talking about they way both of them having become to being threats to the societies that raise them while “Cracks in the Ceilings” talks about sitting in the country jail counting the amount of cracks that’re present on the roof.

After the “Tales from the Schu” interlude, “123456” featuring RJmrLA turns the traffic music influences all way the up so both of them can talk about the hustle being hereditary while “1 Day at a Time” featuring Ty$ talks about every single one of us tryna figuring it out taking it day-by-day. “Grey Goose” featuring Kiing Khash & Osbe Chill unites the trio over a Terrace Martin beat trying to become billionaires while “Me, My Gun & You” featuring Storm DeBarge talks about it only those 3 things in the end. After the “It’s Time” interlude, the closer “Through the Fire” ends with a soulful flare claiming the rap game revolves around redemption.

My introduction to Lefty was his feature on Coyote’s breakout sophomore effort last summer L.Aliens & roughly 10 months later, Jason taps in with him to fully produce what could very well be the strongest body of work in his discography yet. The production is a lot stronger than what Lefty has put out previously & aside from a few guests not sticking the landing in terms of their performances, you can very much tell that he was locked in laser-focused by the way his pen has been sharpened.

Score: 4/5

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