Mr. Cliffnote is a 42 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who came up in ‘06 off his eponymous debut mixtape. He would then form the duo Sidenotes with the homie B-Side a little bit after that & went on to drop the sophomore tape Path to Notification only a few summers back. But with his born day coming & going almost a month ago, Cliff is dropping a debut EP to warn listeners up for Path to Notification 2.
“Godspeed” is a soulful opener going at the throats of wack rappers whereas “The Dirty Bomb” goes into boom bap territory about letting you hear some crazy shit. “Hello Nurse” incorporates some vocals harmonies awkwardly trying to get sensual just before “The Melody” weaves in an organ talking about being given the strength he needs.
Meanwhile on “When We’re Together”, we have Cliff taking another jab at a love joint except this one’s much better down to the DJ Dez instrumental while the song “Visit the D” smoothly talks about a bitch coming to Detroit just to kick it with him even though I’m not too crazy about the hook. The penultimate track “Live On” goes back into boom bap territory to get optimistic & “Gunz” rounds it out with a trap banger about gun control.
Coming away from Note to Self, it’s a solid prelude to Path to Notification 2. The more romantic cuts are either hit or miss but when he’s on his battle rap shit or speaking on real life, it’s actually really compelling. I also think range of sounds throughout the production is a pretty nice touch as well.
Rev. Fang Gory is an MC from Detroit, Michigan who came up in 2007 off his full-length debut E’ville Dead. This was followed up with The Last Gryndhouse on the Left & A.A.S.K (Afro-American Serial Killer) throughout the previous decade but after a 5-year hiatus, he’s joined Sutter Kain’s independently owned Never So Deep Records & is enlisting him to fully produce a collaborative album between the 2.
After the “Violence” intro, the first song “Let That Bitch Die” is a rock/boom bap crossover to start off the album quenching for blood whereas “Black Nazi” provides some social commentary & the screams in the background of those dusty drums make it sound much more darker. Donnie Darko tags along for the confrontational “Tooth & Nail” weaving in a thrash metal sample in the background just before “Death Poll” comes in with an aggressive riot starter.
Meanwhile on “You’re My Vengence”, we have Black Sunday on top of some pianos calling out the cats biting leading into both of them sticking around for the trap banger “44” talking about being strapped at all times. The song “Death Comes in Many Forms” finds Naymez coming into the picture with Sutter for a pessimistic diss towards the bitch-made dudes out there while the penultimate track “The Killing” weaves in a chipmunk soul sample talking about a serial killer. The album ends with “Tales from the Kabbalah”, which is Fang Gory over a wailing guitar riff about being psycho.
For those who’re fans of both parties, I can argue that it’s some of their best work yet. I felt like the features were a little too much since it takes up about half the album, but the dude is on a whole ‘nother level lyrically as Sutter Kain. As for the production, he says true to his signature ghetto metal sound throughout which just absolutely stellar.
Limp Bizkit is an infamous rap metal band consisting of frontman Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, bassist Sam Rivers, guitarist Wes Borland & DJ Lethal on the turntables. $3 Bill, Y’all$ & Significant Other are both certified classics in their own rights, but Chocolate St★rfish & the Hot Dog Flavored Water kinda signaled the beginning of the end as I was 50/50 on it personally. Results May Vary would go on to rightfully become one of the worst albums ever made & even though The Undeniable Truth was a step in the right direction, Gold Cobra wasn’t it at all other than the Raekwon-featured bonus cut. But after a 10-year hiatus, Durst & the gang are returning for their 6th album.
“Out of Style” is an empowering opener produced by Purps responding to those who called the band washed up whereas “Dirty Rotten Bizkit” follows it up with an absolute headbanger about ripping shit up. “Dad Vibes” comes off a little cheesy to me even though I fucking love the hook leading into “Turn It Up, Bitch” working in a bass-line & drums to talk about how everyone needs some hardcore shit.
Meanwhile on “Don’t Change”, we have an acoustic ballad encouraging listeners to stay true to yourself just before the ghostly “You Bring Out the Worst in Me” addresses a lover of his. “Love the Hate” hilariously pokes fun at the backlash their post-Chocolate St★rfish output got, but then “Barnacle” is a bit more melodic telling the leeches to stay away from him despite being repetitively structured.
“Empty Hole” is another acoustic cut addressing an ex of his while the song “Pill Popper” serves as a badass shot at the corruption in the pharmaceutical industry. The penultimate track “Snacky Poo” almost has a boom bap quality to it spitting some battle raps & for a closer, “Goodbye” couldn’t have finished it off any better taking a poppier route talking about elevating his quality of life on down the road.
Given that I’m not too crazy about “Dad Vibes”, I didn’t really go into this album expecting very much. However, I’m surprised by how much I genuinely enjoyed it. I think the production is more refined compared to Results May Vary & Gold Cobra, but I really can’t get enough of how self-aware Fred Durst comes off through his songwriting & vocals.
This is the highly anticipated 16th full-length album from Detroit horrorcore duo, Juggalo Championship Wrestling founders & the longest reigning JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champions the Insane Clown Posse. Consisting of Violent J & Shaggy 2 Dope, but very few know that 3 other members came & went during the first 5 years of the group’s inception. Not only would The Duke of the Wicked & the Southside Strangla go on to create seminal wicked shit albums like The First 6, but they gained an extremely loyal fanbase in the process & their self-owned Psychopathic Records became an independent hip hop powerhouse as the label’s roster continued to grow. They dropped a prelude EP earlier this year called Yum Yum’s Lure to widespread backlash amongst the juggalos, so J & Shaggs decided to redo the whole album from scratch & drop it in time for the 28th annual Hallowicked show.
After the intro, the first song “Here Comes the Carnival” kicks off the album celebrating the titular mythology that ICP is known for over a feel good rap rock instrumental from Brian Kuma whereas “Wretched” follows it up with a morbid trap banger produced by Devereaux about Violent J being fucked up in the head. The wicked clowns later go back & forth with each other for the highlight “Clown Drippin’” basically putting their own spin on swag referencing former IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン as well as 10-time WWE world champion & former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, but then “Gangsta Code” reuses the beat Mike P. made for “Movin’ On” off of Boondox’ 4th album Abaddon talking about living & dying by the streets.
Meanwhile on “Queens”, we have the clowns delivering an ode to all the juggalettes out there over a mystical trap beat from Mythic Mindz just before “Panic Attack!!!” works in a guitar for J to talk about going off the walls mentally for 7 minutes. “Fuck Regret” creepily declares remorse as the Devil’s work, but then “Insomnia” takes a more cloudier route detailing J’s struggles with such as announced at the Gathering a couple months back.
“Heart & Soul” is a wack cover of the T’Pau joint of the same name while “The Drunk & The Addict” goes back to the trap direction with the help of Shaggytheairhead telling the story of ICP themselves being dependent on booze & drugs. “Don’t Touch that Flower” sees Str8jaket bringing in an acoustic guitar advising to be cautioned by the Yum Yum Flower while “Slap Nuts” is a more heavier cut talking about cats falling for their jokes.
I love how J uses “Bitch I’m Fine” as a chilling way of responding to those worried about his heart failure diagnosis while the song “Carnival of Lights” is a warm look at the camaraderie of the juggalo family. The penultimate track “Ain’t No Time” vulnerably addresses an ex of his over a guitar while “Something to See” ends the album on a sweeter note looking back on their careers up to this point from their music to their wrestling career since they’ve previously appeared in ECW, WWE, WCW, ROH & TNA on top of their JCW accolades.
Despite all the ups & downs we’ve experienced to get here, Yum Yum Bedlam has to be my 3rd favorite Joker’s Card in the 2nd Deck right behind Bang! Pow! Boom! & The Mighty Death Pop!. Sonically, it’s really cool to hear them fuse the rock elements from The Great Milenko & mixed them together with some of the more trap-flavored cuts from Fearless Fred Fury. Conceptually, the themes of loyalty are displayed with an incredibly unique & profound perception.
Megan Thee Stallion is a 26 year old rapper from Houston, Texas who rose to prominence in the spring of 2019 with the release of her debut mixtape Fever. I myself was very impressed with how it displayed Megan’s knack for catchy songwriting, dirty south/Memphis inspired production & a unique personality. Her popularity began to rapidly increase last year off her 3rd EP Suga & the full-length debut Good News but in light of Megan on the verge of graduating from Texas Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in health administration, she’s compiling together a bunch of old freestyles & some unreleased joints to celebrate.
“Tuned In” sets the compilation off with a bouncy Juicy J & OG Parker instrumental clapping back at those speaking ill of her name whereas “Megan Monday” takes a more rubbery approach rightfully flexing her spot as the illest female rapper in the mainstream (not the illest overall, don’t get it twisted). After the “Trippy” skit, “Southside Forever” eerily details her famous lifestyle just before “Outta Town” works in a xylophone & some snares telling people to call her Dr. Miami the way she bodies cats.
Meanwhile on “Megan’s Piano”, we get a fitting keyboard loop throughout with a bass-line on top of it & Megan talking about making moves in silence leading into the “VickeeLo & DinoBtw Skit”. Following this is the kinky “Eat It” with a bombastic Murda Beatz/FNZ instrumental & then Buddah Bless works in a chipmunk soul sample for “All of It” talking about wanting a scammer.
“Warning” thunderously cautions all the broke dudes out there while “Kitty Kat” almost takes a funkier approach & even though I appreciate the message behind it calling her haters pussies, the hook is annoying. After the “Tina Snow” interlude, “God’s Favorite” admirably weaves in a down-tuned guitar instrumental despite sounding underwritten & the DJ scratches throughout the grimy “Lemme See It” are really cool talking about being a female pimp.
I think the vocal sample throughout “Opposite Day” really enhances the energy of it saying she likes making bitches mad & “Freakend” gets back on the raunchy shit with a bit more moodier sound. “Bae Goals” is a touching dedication to her boyfriend Pardison Fontaine, but then “Pipe Up” melodically talks about both of them making their own paper & being in love.
The track “Bless the Booth” brings in an airy backdrop & a rubbery bass-line calling out those who see her as a threat while the final song on the comp “Thot Shit” is a decent little strip club banger. But to end the entire thing, “To Thee Hotties” comes through with a spoken word outro thanking all of her fans for sticking by her throughout all these years.
I still maintain my claims that Megan is the illest female rapper in the mainstream right now but truth be told, I wasn’t really expecting much from this compilation to begin with. Lo & behold: I’m kinda on the fence with it. I think the freestyles are a reminder of how lyrically skilled she is, but the outtakes have slightly more hits than misses.
Vocab Slick is a Bay Area veteran who emerged in 2003 off his full-length debut Lyrically Conscious, which was followed up a little over a decade later with the debut EP Something Slick and the sophomore album Issues & Episodes. Last we heard from him was in 2017 when he dropped his 2nd EP The Day After Yesterday but after taking a 4-year hiatus, he’s re-emerging with his 3rd full-length album.
After the “Opening Remarks” intro, the first song “A.O.M. (All On Me)” is a groovy opener to the album talking about bringing a new energy whereas “When I’m Here” with Equipto has a bit of a soulful flare to it expressing their desire to be shown love while they’re still alive. The late Baba Zumbi tags along for the quasi-funky “Stay Focused” speaking on never losing sight of the objective even in the hardest of times & after the “Kensho’s Intro”, the dude jumps on top of some organs for “Speak My Language” addressing those who don’t understand him.
Meanwhile on “What It Is”, we have a boom bap cut talking about running low on patience just before “Atonement” fuses with gospel with trap to soul search. “That Money” passionately details why he believes paper is the tool to feed people, but then “Moment Like This” with J.Lately cloudily reminds listeners that time is of the essence. The Grouch comes into the fold for the captivating “Find a Way” talking about how ain’t shit change for either one of them & after the “Reflection” interlude, Slick brings 4-Ize aboard in the form the dusty “Welcome Machines” showing off their lyrical prowesses.
After the “Translation” interlude, “Right Now” is a heartwarming motivational anthem while the song “1122” with Dela the Fella & San Quinn gets on the hyphy tip talking about their hustle. The penultimate track “Eyes Wide Open” talks about being stuck in the zone over an instrumental that has some jazzy undertones to it & “Take My Soul” tensely ends the album proclaiming you strip him of anything but.
Overall, I think this is a pretty solid comeback for Vocab & I’m really looking forward to see where he goes from here in the future. I love how explores a wide range of sounds throughout & his lyricism throughout is compellingly potent.
Babytron is a 21 year old rapper from Detroit, Michigan who came up just a few years ago as part of the trio ShittyBoyz along with his childhood friends Stanwill & TR Dee signing to Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records. Along the way, he’s also built up a solo career for himself as well as the side groups Lewis & Clark and the Dookie Brothers. The kid just dropped Luka Trončić on his birthday over the summer & with Halloween approaching this weekend, the Dog $hit Militia general will be celebrating by dropping a sequel to his debut tape Bin Reaper.
“Half-Blood Prince” kicks the tape off with Danny G sampling the Harry Potter theme getting on that gangsta shit whereas “Next Level” weaves in a soul sample talking about elevating. “Paul Bearer” named after the titular WWE Hall of Famer who managed both members of former 3-time WWE Tag Team Champions The Brothers of Destruction consisting of fellow WWE Hall of Famer Kane & The Undertaker individually works in a flute to get braggadocious, but then “Euro-Stepper” has a more minimalistic sound to it with him going at his competition.
Meanwhile on “Day in Ferndale”, we have Babytron displaying some intriguing storytelling despite its weak instrumental just before the bassy “007” talks about creeping up with the strap. “Pissed Off” has a bit of a early-2000’s era Dr. Dre influence to the production declaring himself as a 1-man army leading into Lil Yachty tagging along for “Turtle Pie” to show some amazing chemistry even though it’s criminally short giving Twist of Fates like former ECW World Heavyweight Champion, 11-time WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Cruiserweight Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, 2-time ΩCW Heavyweight Champion, 2-time ΩCW Tag Team Champion, 2-time TNA World Champion, HoG Tag Team Champion & ROH World Tag Team Champion Matt Hardy.
“Monkey D. Luffy” has a hypnotic vocal loop buried in the bass comparing himself to the 1 Piece character of the same name while the soulful “It Is What It Is” looks back on not having all the shit he has now. “Pink Runtz” resurrects the hi-nrg vibes of Luka Trončić calling himself the drip god & dissing those who say yes to hoes like future AEW World Champion, former 5-time WWE world champion, 2-time WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, IWGPジュニアタッグチャンピオン, GHCジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, 2-time PWG World Champion, ROH World Champion & ROH Pure Champion Bryan Danielson. The flutes on “Monsters & Mobsters” are a nice touch letting cats know beef with them ain’t the best decision whereas “On the Bible” shows off lyrically over an instrumental that sounds straight from a kung fu flick.
Krispylife Kidd comes into the picture for “Tag Team Champs” to deliver a more fleshed out version of “Turtle Pie” leading into the glossy yet romantic “Jesse Owens”. The late night cruiser “How?” calls out his haters as crackheads & the more mellow “Heart Break Kid” taking it’s title from the nickname of WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development, NXT Head of Creative, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, 4-time WWE world champion, 3-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 6-time WWE Tag Team Champion Shawn Michaels spills out some $1M thoughts.
I like how minimal yet detailed “Superstar” sounds addressing his rising fame just before the ShittyBoyz come together for the hi-NRG “Young Goats” talking about being future legends in the making buying rockets from SpaceX founded by Tesla CEO & Neuralink founder Elon Musk. “Blankman” grimly details living better days as of late & “Pimp My Ride” pays homage to the show that overshadowed Xzibit’s music career down to the sample.
“Green Lantern” takes a funkier approach dissing those faking the funk, but then Helluva provides a techno vibe for “Frankenstein”, which is about how Wockhardt got him moving slow including a bar referring to WWE Hall of Famer, 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, the inaugural 6-time TNA World Champion, TNA X Division Champion & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Kurt Angle.
The Everybody Hates Chris theme gets flipped during “Everybody Hates Tron” to throw in a bar referring to former IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン as well as 10-time WWE world champion & former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar while the bell-heavy “No Jumper” speaks on blowing weed on Adam22’s podcast of the same name. “Lavar Ball” with RTB MB is another flute-woven cut that Jakesand cooked up talking about turning the party up whenever they walk in & to finish the whole tape off, “Sith Lord” flips the iconic Darth Vader theme to basically call himself the rap game equivalent to that of one of the greatest villains ever.
Not a lot of sequel projects in hip hop can live up to the expectations set by the predecessor, but Bin Reaper 2: The 2nd Coming is a solid example of that. It’s a little long-winded running at 27 tracks total, but I genuinely think Babytron’s punchline game is one of the best in the current hip hop landscape & how he along with the rest of the ShittyBoyz break free from how repetitive Detroit trap can be.
Majik Ninja Entertainment is a Detroit based independent record label founded by Twiztid & their manager George Vlahakis in 2014, only 2 years after the demented duo’s departure from Psychopathic Records. However, they quickly built an empire or their own from bringing a few other PSY alumni along for the ride to help introduce G-Mo Skee & Alla Xul Elu to a much wider audience. The label’s first showcase comp Year of the Sword is easily the best one they’ve put out so far given the strength of the roster at the time, but that’s not to say Songs of Samhain wasn’t a respectable Halloween-themed EP. They just dropped an exclusive label comp at this year’s Attack of the Ninjas couple months ago & now with Halloween approaching this weekend, the crew is back together for a sequel to Songs of Samhain.
After the “I Shall Arrive” intro, the first song “Needle on the Record” by Twiztid is a demented boom bap opener about the haunted record player possessing their souls when they turn it on whereas “Go Out” by Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Boondox, Gibby Stites & Jamie Madrox takes a turn into rap rock territory spitting that hardcore shit. “Haunted Thoughts” by the House of Krazees heinously spills out the fucked up shit in their minds just before Blaze, Boondox & Jamie reunite for the slow yet victorious ballad “Sing It”.
Meanwhile on “Heavier Every Time”, we have the Venomous 5 reforming over an unsettling trap beat about how the world will never understand them leading right into the “Nursery Rhyme from a Different Time” interlude. The song “Paint the Town Red” sees HOK keeping it in trap turf getting murderous while the penultimate track “Halloween Treat” by Twiztid & Oh! The Horror is a rap rock cut displaying some goth romance poetry. The album ends with “Quarantine”, where V5 plead to be saved from the disease of living over some pianos & dusty drums.
Compared to the first Songs of Samhain & even the Attack of the Ninjas album, Songs of Samhain 2: Haunted Record Player to me is the best label comp MNE has put out since Year of the Sword. It sounds darker & I really admire that it’s a bit more conceptual than the predecessor did.
This is the brand new collaborative effort from Ransom & Rome Streetz. One is a TCF Music Group affiliate out of Jersey City & the other being a New Yorker who rightfully earned his spot as one of the latest signees to the hottest label in the world right now: Griselda Records. Both wordsmiths have come together in the past before like “Blackwater” & “Sage or Gunsmoke” off both their latest albums Heavy’s the Head & Razor’s Edge respectively, but have come together to take things to new heights in the form of Coup de Grâce.
“No Remorse” is a symphonic opener about them giving a fuck less whereas the boom bap-tinged “All I Know” speaks on moving a different kind of dope these days. “Rooftop Sermons” brings back the strings with the help of V Don declaring themselves as hood preachers just before “Claudine” with Che Noir vividly details the story of a drug fiend of the same name & eventually tying into the “Fairwells” interlude.
Meanwhile on the Lord Sear-produced “Pray for the Weak”, we have The Game joining Ransom & Rome to provide some rich food for the soul leading into them talking about making it out the mud for “Jet Fuel” with a keyboard instrumental from Animoss. The soul sample “Silent Murders” is entrancing with the duo rightfully boasting about how nice they are while the dusty “Dark Love” gets in their battle bag.
The penultimate track “Bandoleros” with Lou form Paradise & Tyrant weaves in a chilling sample from Nicholas Craven as the quartet compare themselves to that of bandits while l “Death Becomes Life” ends it all with some organ harmonies getting on that motivational tip.
Both of these dudes have been putting out their best work all year & you can absolutely add Coup de Grâce onto the list. They have a unique chemistry together, the production is gritty as expected & most importantly: it’s an absolute bar-fest from start to finish.
This is the debut EP from Detroit rapper & singer/songwriter Big Sean. Coming up as a protege of Chicago icon Kanye West & signing to his Def Jam Recordings imprint G.O.O.D. Music, he generated some buzz in the late 2000s by dropping the Finally Famous mixtape trilogy, but it wouldn’t be until 2011 when his profile significantly increased when Sean dropped a 4th installment as his full-length debut. This was followed up the next year with the highly acclaimed Detroit mixtape & then a sophomore album the year after that entitled Hall of Fame. However, his next 2 full-lengths Dark Sky Paradise & I Decided. were both mediocre in comparison to all those past efforts. Now the last time Big Sean dropped a project was in late 2017 with Double or Nothing which had INCREDIBLE production from Metro Boomin’ top to bottom, but Sean himself was SEVERELY lacking. He just fulfilled his G.O.O.D. contract last fall by dropping the surprisingly mature Detroit II & is re-enlisting Hit-Boy for What You Expect?, except he’s actually producing the whole thing rather than overseeing it.
“Chaos” is a shrilling yet triumphant opener co-produced by Rogét Chahayed about catching them Ws whereas “Into It” follows it up with an airy backdrop & some fast-paced snares boasting. “The One” appropriately samples the SWV joint “You’re the One” admitting he doesn’t know what it’s like for girls to not want him while the song “Loyal to a Fault” with Bryson Tiller & Lil Durk vibrantly speaks on betrayal. The penultimate track “Offense” with Babyface Ray & 42 Dugg finds the trio on their Detroit trap shit talking about being on top, but then “What a Life” ends the EP by picking up where the previous joint left off sonically & recapping on his life up to this point.
If you enjoy Detroit II like I did, then you’re gonna love What You Expect? just as much if not even more because dude is continuing to impress me more & more as of late. Sean’s songwriting is continuing to level up at an unbelievable rate & Hit-Boy’s production suits him like it did Nas on his last 2 albums.
