$uicideboy$ – “Long Term Effects of Suffering” review

The $uicideboy$ are a duo from New Orleans, Louisiana consisting of Ruby da Cherry & $crim. They’ve released a plethora of projects within the last 7 years like the Kill Your$elf saga, Eternal Gray, the debut album I WANNA DIE IN NEW ORLEANS & the Travis Barker/produced Live Fast, Die Whenever EP. The boy$’ last project together Stop Staring at the Shadows came out last Valentine’s Day & now for Friday the 13th, they’re reuniting for a sophomore effort.

“Degeneration in the Key of A Minor” is a mind-altering opener comparing Earth to Hell whereas “If Self-Destruction was an Olympic Event, I’d be Tonya Harding” ghostly reflects on their career up to this point. “Life is a Stream~” is a guitar/trap ballad about wasting your life & drug abuse just before “5 Grand at 8 to 1” brings in some jazzy undertones comparing & contrasting their lives then & now.

Meanwhile on “WE ENVY NOTHING IN THE WORLD”, we have the boy$ coming through with an abrasive riot starter leading into them
somberly comin’ straight out of the dark for “Lighting the Flames of My Own Personal Hell”. They once again speak on addiction while shit-talking at the same time on the dreary “New Profile Pic” prior to the duo calling out those who tell them what to think for the devilish “Bleach”.

“Forget It” is a spacey breakup theme whereas “Avalon” spookily talk about being dons. The song “Materialism as a Means to an End” nocturnally speaks on being full of hate while the penultimate track “Ugliest” rounds out the trilogy “Ugly” started 6 years back. “The Number You Have Dialed is Not in Service” ends things by somberly telling fans to keep marching when life gets hard.

I really enjoyed the singles leading up to this album & as a whole, Long Term Effects of SUFFERING didn’t let me down at all. I admire how the boy$ challenge themselves to new sounds & opening up on their lives within the last few years.

Score: 4/5

Benny the Butcher – “Pyrex Picasso” review

This is the 6th EP from Buffalo emcee Benny the Butcher. Getting his start in 2004 off his debut mixtape Tana Talk, it wasn’t until 2018 when he dropped his Daringer/Alchemist-produced debut album Tana Talk 3 under his cousin Westside Gunn’s independent powerhouse Griselda Records. This was followed up with The Plugs I Met & the Hit-Boy-produced Burden of Proof but just 5 months after teaming up with Harry Fraud for The Plugs I Met II, the butcher is now proclaiming himself as the Pyrex Picasso.

After the “1st Name Basis” intro, “Flood the Block” is a bit of a celebratory kickstarter talking about drugs & clocking dollars whereas “PWRDRL” with Elcamino has a bit of a rock feel getting on their mafioso shit. The title track with Conway the Machine works in some keyboards & dusty drums talking about getting rich just before Elcamino returns with Rick Hyde for the symphonic “‘73”, saying their competitors will never be them. “The Iron Curtain” works in some haunting organs spitting that street gospel & the closer “Fly with Me” with Conway the Machine has a soulful vibe talking about being hustlers.

It’s no secret this dude has been working hard on the Tana Talk 4 double album for a while now & I think Pyrex Picasso serves as a fresh lil’ appetizer before the main course despite being recorded 3 years back. Chop La Rok & Rare Scilla do their thing behind the boards for The Butcher to let his flashy lyricism come in to play as it usually does.

Score: 3.5/5

Boldy James – “Bo Jackson” review

This is the 4th full-length album from Detroit emcee Boldy James. Breaking out in 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set), he would land a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records for a little while before getting locked up. Uncle Al would help get Boldy’s name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China at the beginning of last year. This was followed up with the Sterling Toles-produced Manger on McNichols which was as equally fantastic, but the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was. But with the 1-year anniversary of that project coming up this weekend, it’s only right for Boldy to reenlist Alchemist for Bo Jackson.

“Double Hockey Sticks” starts out with a haunting boom bap instrumental getting on his pyrex shit, but then has a hazy switch up talking about beating a case. The next song “Turpentine” has a more chipmunk soul vibe speaking on hard times whereas “Brickmile to Montana” with Benny the Butcher serves as a rugged sequel to “Scrape the Bowl”. The pianos on “E.P.M.D. (Everybody Plotting My Demise)” are eerie as fuck with Boldy calling out those who want to see him fail just before declaring that nobody is cut from his cloth for the airy “Steel Wool”.

Meanwhile on “Photographic Memories”, we have Earl Sweatshirt & Roc Marciano jump on top of a vocal loop saying they never forget faces leading into the demented storytelling “Speed Trap” provides. He later talks about taking the pot & going gold for the piano-laced “Diamond Dallas”, but then “Flight Risk” puts heavy reverb on the sample getting in his mafioso bag.

“Illegal Seizure & Search” gets back on the soulful tip talking about 5-0 whereas “Fake Flowers” with Curren$y & Freddie Gibbs viciously calls out those who be faking the funk with them. The song “3rd Person” has a more rock feel to it pondering how many times you can get away with murder while the penultimate track “First 48” is a cold blooded freestyle going on for 3 minutes. Then there’s “Drug Zone”, which ends the album with Boldy comparing himself to such.

If you happen to like Bo Jackson more than M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set) or even The Price of Tea in China, I wouldn’t be mad at it at all because this is the 3rd damn near perfect album they’ve done together. Boldy’s raw lyricism never fails to amuse me & the production is much better than The Versace Tape although I do respect Jay Versace.

Score: 4.5/5

Chavo – “Chavo’s World 2” review

This is the sophomore album from Atlanta, Georgia raper Chavo. Breaking out a few years ago as a protege of Pi’erre Bourne, he would go on to become a flagship artist on the South Carolina superstar’s Interscope Records imprint Sosshouse Records. His first 2 mixtapes Hood Luva & Mixed Emotions both received positive feedback amongst listeners, but Chavo’s profile began to increase when his Pi’erre-produced full-length debut Chavo’s World came out last fall. And with a little over a month left with summer, he & his mentor are reuniting for the sequel Chavo’s World 2.

“Tweets” is an uptempo opener about putting a bitch in the air like a pterodactyl whereas “Packs” works in some heavy bass to get confrontational. His sister Coi LeRay tags along to say they ain’t the same no more for the luxurious piano ballad “American Deli” just before spaciously comparing his gun to that of a “Rari”.

Meanwhile on “Hennessy”, we get a psychedelic party stater leading into Pi’erre jumping on the mic with Chavo for the moody “Ryuk” talking about a woman living her best life as a youth. The “Had a Feeling” remix is pretty much the same as the OG except it has a new Pi’erre verse, but then “Paris” has a cloudier vibe talking about wanting to go back to the titular city in France.

“Messy” serves as a euphoric lust tune & much like the “Had a Feeling” remix, the “Michigan” remix is the same as the OG except Babyface Ray pops up to spit a new verse. The penultimate track “That’s It” brings in some keys saying he wants to help everyone but he’s not Superman, but then the closer “Mission Impossible” futuristically keeps it playa.

Even though I personally prefer the original Chavo’s World, this isn’t too far off for a sequel album. I like how he brought in some features to break up the monotony of the predecessor & his MC/producer chemistry with Pi’erre is like no other.

Score: 3.5/5

Autumn! – “Not Much Longer” review

This is the 15th EP from Louisiana rapper/producer Autumn!. Within the last 3 years, the kid has become a household name in the plugg scene off projects ranging from the ##RETRIBUTION series to the full-length debut Ils Verront last fall. He just dropped Golden Child a couple months back & that’s probably his most introspective work to date so given that, I was definitely curious to hear where he would go on Not Much Longer.

“Incase!” is a minimal yet rowdy opener talking about doing “rich n***a shit” whereas “Dancin’ with the Stars!” goes into cloudier territory with him flexing. “WANTS!” sounds like something out of an old school video game talking about a girl whose heart he broke still texting him just before the woozy albeit self-explanatory “F.T.S.! (FUCK THAT SHIT!)”. The penultimate track “VICTORIOUS!” celebrates his dubs on top of a bass-heavy instrumental & then “MURCIELAGO!” atmospherically tells his naysayers to get out of his life.

I was hoping we were getting Golden Child 2 because I have a tendency to enjoy music that personal, but nonetheless I’m happy with Not Much Longer. I like the more braggadocious tone of the lyricism & the way he makes pluggier beats remains unmatched.

Score: 3.5/5

BBKnight – “Knight Awakens” review

BBKnight is a 24 year old rapper from Las Vegas, Nevada getting his start in the spring of 2018 by dropping his debut EP Knight’s Hive. This was followed up with 4 more EPs but after dropping the debut mixtape Beautiful Boy at the beginning of the year, it’s only right for him to returning with a 6th EP ahead of his 25th birthday that’s coming up this weekend.

“Permanent” starts things off by talking about how this life is forever with a synth-induced trap instrumental whereas “Rick Owens” is a short yet entrancing tribute to the clothing company of the same name. The retro video game sample throughout “On the Flo” is pretty cool as he boasts about himself leading into the catchy party starter “Codeine Sippin’”. The penultimate track “Tired of Yo Shit!” aggressively gets on his shit-talking bag & then “Sap’d Out” is a cloudy finisher talking about not letting these lames around him.

Of all the projects BBKnight has dropped so far, Knight Awakens could very well be my favorite of the handful & I can only see him growing going further. The production is hypnotic as fuck & his performances are at their catchiest as is the songwriting.

Score: 3.5/5

Politicize – “Riot” review

Politicize is a 38 year old MC/producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who came up in 2014 off his debut mixtape Codename: Assassin. This was followed up the next fall with the Jason Porter-produced Grimy tape & now after a 6-year hiatus, he’s re-emerging from the shadows with his very first full-length album with some very notable features.

The intro starts things off with a synth-laced instrumental striving for victory whereas “Jelosy” almost has a bit of a trap metal flare going at the throat of a nonessential character acting famous. “Kill Karen” with Scum then gets in their wicked shit bag with a shrilling beat, but then the Blind Fury-assisted “Fury & Enlightenment” gets into battle rap mode with a tension-building instrumental. Shaggy 2 Dope comes into picture for the trap banger “We Do It” speaking on the crazy shit they do just before the keyboard-infused “Make a Nightmare” with Kung Fu Vampire gets back on the horrorcore tip.

“Anxiety” eerily addresses his mental health struggles & despite the skeletal production on “Night Walkers”, I do enjoy the dark verses from Politicize & Mastamind. The penultimate track “Ring of Fire” is an electro-trap fused moshpit starter & finally, Shoto Khan tags along for the theatrical closer “Cartel King” proclaiming they won’t die slow.

In comparison to his early mixtapes, I think it’s safe to say that Riot is a significant improvement in terms of both production & lyricism. However, there are a few cuts in here where his flow is blatantly similar to Ouija Macc’s & it can be pretty distracting.

Score: 3.5/5

Marv Won – “Rabbits Can’t Shoot” review

This is the 2nd EP from Detroit emcee/producer Marv Won. Coming up as a part of the world famous Fat Killahz, he has gone on to become well respected in the battle circuit & has released a total of 4 solo albums, with the latest being Sooner Than Later this past winter. But out of nowhere, Marv has decided to drop Rabbits Can’t Shoot on Bandcamp for 24 hours only just to see who really fucks. with him.

The title track at the very start of the EP has a soulful boom bap instrumental criticizing the saying “ain’t no fun when the rabbit got the gun” whereas “E.A.R. (Everybody A Rapper)” is a grimy shot at wack emcees. Clemmye, Guilty Simpson & Ty Farris tag along for the cold blooded “Harmony Korine” leading into him proclaiming that he speaks in “Divinity” accompanied by an angelic beat.

The harmonious “Raise a Glass” calls out those praying on his downfall & still being here while the penultimate track “Spin the Block” works in a soul sample talking about getting money for all intensive purposes. The closer “Like My Daddy” with Ro Spit is a beautiful piano ballad looking back on their childhoods.

For a surprise release, Rabbits Can’t Shoot absolutely delivers. Marv gets a lot off his chest through the pen, almost all the features come correct & I still maintain his production is the best it’s ever sounded after all these years in the game.

Score: 4/5

Homeboy Sandman – “anjelitu” review

Homeboy Sandman is a 40 year old MC from Queens, New York who came to my attention when he dropped his 4th album albeit his Stones Throw Records debut 1st of a Living Breed almost 9 years ago at this point. The dude would go on to drop 3 more full-lengths & 7 EPs with them before jumping ship to Mello Music Group in 2019. His first album on the label Dusty was alright, but the Quelle Chris-produced Don’t Feed the Monster. that came out last October was much better. But after forming the duo Lice with local wordsmith Aesop Rock & dropping 3 EPs together, we’re actually getting a change of pace as Sandman’s letting Aes produced his 8th EP from front to back.

“Go Hard” is a charismatic opener about being in beast mode with some guitar licks whereas “West Coast” is a g-funk banger with references to “Hail Mary” & “Hand on the Pump”. Meanwhile on “F.Y.I. (For Your Information)”, we go into a bit of a rock direction for Sandman to talk about how he’s still dope after a decade just before continuing to bust into a more speedier flow on “Cow’s Milk” & the beat on here is kin to 70’s exploitation films. The penultimate track “No Beef” is a powerful vegetarianism anthem & the closer “Lice, Lice Baby” works in a piano instrumental possibly preluding Lice 4.

I think Anjelitu has to be my favorite project that Sandman has dropped under MMG so far, although I do enjoy the vulnerability of Don’t Feed the Monster. It’s really interesting to hear him put his own spin on the whole yin/yang concept in Ancient Chinese philosophy & it just goes to show that we don’t talk about Aes’ production skills as much as his massive vocabulary.

Score: 4/5

Bang Belushi – “Belushi on Ghawd” review

Bang Belushi is a 43 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan emerging as as 1/4 of the world famous Fat Killahz. However, it wouldn’t be until 2011 when the veteran branched out solo by releasing his debut EP The Bridgecard. This was followed up with help yourself. in 2017, but then he signed to Middle Finger Music & put out his Foul Mouth-produced debut album The Adventures of Bang Belushi at the tail-end of the following year. The pair reunited for Rudy back in March & now Bango is enlisting Wavy da Ghawd for his 3rd full-length outing right here.

The intro kicks things off with grimy instrumental & with him saying you’ll go crazy hearing this whereas “Barz” works in a fresh reggae sample to flex his lyrical prowess. “Radio Flow” has some great horn loops to get on his fly shit just before J-Classic & Marv Won come into the picture on the flute heavy “New Pac” saying they feelin’ like the iconic MC of the same name.

Meanwhile with “Run Shit”, we go into more orchestral territory for Bango proclaiming he’s taking over the rap game leading into “$1” working in an organ-heavy instrumental. “Knuckle Up” with Ketch P & Rim is of course a gully moshpit starter whereas “Here We Go” enlists Kain Cole to ominously get on the battle tip.

The song “Shoe Game Crazy” is a slick ode to Bang’s documented love for sneakers while the penultimate track “Hardcore” with Pro Dillinger finds the 2 calling out those puttin’ on a front over a funky beat. “Lights, Camera Action” then serves as a touching closer with it’s string samples & the reflective lyrics.

Didn’t expect Bango to put out a follow-up this quickly, but I’m glad he did because I enjoyed this almost as much as his first 2 albums. He sounds focused, the songwriting is as witty as ever & Wavy’s production is a good fit given the fact that a good portion of Middle Finger Music’s output goes for that New York boom bap sound.

Score: 3.5/5