Von Pea – “Putcha Weight on It” review

Brooklyn, New York emcee/producer Von Pea reuniting with The Other Guys for his 4th solo LP. Currently 1/2 of Tanya Morgan with Donwill, he would later embark on a solo career with 2007 debut mixtape Grand Vonye as well as it’s follow-up So Motivational: The Most Skullduggery of Mixtapes & the full-length debut Pea’s Gotta Have It. Right after the Duly Noted. EP was when Mighty Joe & Isaiahstarted working with Von however, producing the To: You EP along with the sophomore effort The Fiasco & the I’m Good Luv, Enjoy EP respectively. Last we heard from Von by himself was his previous album City for Sale & Duly Noted 2, running it back with The Other Guys suggesting to Putcha Weight on It.

“More Johnny” opens up with a boom bap instrumental explain it that his legendary status will continue to be spoken of even when he’s gone whereas “Roadblock” featuring Che Noir finds the pair talking about people clapping at barriers & trying to rap with Black Thought. The title track by Tanya Morgan featuring Skyzoo gives off a dusty jazz rap vibe coming in stronger than initially said while “Lights On” talking about phase 4 being the type of shit that keeps the power on.

Meanwhile on “Slide Off with Her Homie”, we have Von continuing to bring that old school boom bap style to the table telling us what he’ll do to a skeezer if she doesn’t see how dope he is until “Hains Point” heads for a jazzier direction once more spitting like they gave him some kind of bribe. “Knew It All” featuring Oddisee crosses over elements of jazz rap & boom bap responding to the people who act like they know everything just before “Love Over Like” soulfully talks about romance.

“Shown Up Me” begins Putcha Weight on It’s final moments by having the drums constantly fading in & out like ocean waves flexing that be doesn’t need more than 7 people whenever he makes an album leading into “Bway & Myrtle”talking about trying to get on during the off-season sampling an organ. “Root for the Villain” sends it all off with a funky outro remembering one of hip hop’s greatest lyricists & producers, which happen to be none other than the late MF DOOM.

The Fiasco up until this point has been my favorite Von Pea solo effort & to commemorate it’s 8-year anniversary passing yesterday, Putcha Weight on It improves from the divisive feedback I’m Good Luv, Enjoy received although I personally didn’t mind when it came 10 months succeeding the album that preceded City of Sale. He & The Other Guys liken their chemistry to the late King of Pop himself Michael Jackson & the revolutionary composer Quincy Jones linking back up after 7 whole years for a collection of jazzy boom bap hits.

Score: 4/5

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MAVI – “The Pilot” review

Here we have the 4th EP from Charlotte, North Carolina abstract lyricist MAVI. Emerging off his full-length debut Let the Sun Talk a day before his 20th birthday, he would go on to land a verse on “El Toro Combo Meal” off of Earl Sweatshirt’s 2nd EP Feet of Clay a month later as well as preluding the further well received Laughing So Hard It Hurts in the form of his previous EP End of the Earth. His 3rd album Shadowbox celebrated it’s 1-year anniversary this summer & The Pilotlooks to start the final week of November after signing to Loma Vista Recordings.

“Heavy Hand” is a lo-fi boom bap vibe to the beat talking about using his eyes because his heart’s somewhat like a blindfold whereas “Triple Nickel” featuring MIKE finds the 2 jazzily discussing pushing people far back when they see their dreams creeping up closely. “Silent Film” works in a psychedelic guitar riff getting honest regarding him never learning & not needing anyone to worry about him while “G-Annis” produced by Reuben Vincent references the current WWE Intercontinental Champion John Cena.

Kenny Mason joins MAVI on the drumless “Typewriter” warning that anyone comparing them to artists below them will have lost credibility because of it “31 Days” hooks up a vocal sample telling us he’s been sober for over a month now. “Denise Murrell” goes for a jazzier vibe once again with a flute heavy instrumental talking about his grandma calling him asking when he’s gonna stop making sad shit prior to Jay Versace incorporating some bare sampling for “Mender” telling this romantic interest that they’re gonna be together some day.

“Landgrab” featuring Earl Sweatshirt began The Pilot’s rollout with a drumless lead single trading consciously abstract bars back-&-forth with one another while the 2nd & final single “Potluck”featuring Smino blends trap, cloud rap & neo-soul talking about detractors hating all they want. “Jammers Anonymous” featuring Niontaydeserves a mention of it’s own whether it be the plugg/Philly jerk beat or both artists nailing it with the “Landgrab” delivery for a 2nd time.

Taking control of this new sobered up version of himself in a time of constant travel as well as growing exposure to the arts/design & alienation from home, MAVI introduces himself as part of the Loma Vista roster with a 26 & a half minute EP setting the stage of what we can expect out of his 4th album 1st in Flight next year. The production explores old & new sounds for him from boom bap to jazz rap, drumless, lo-fi hop, trap, cloud rap, neo-soul, plugg & Philly jerk bringing a tight list of guests on board for less that half of it to properly celebrate his sobriety.

Score: 4.5/5

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Tezzus – “##FilthyLikeMax” review

Atlanta, Georgia rapper Tezzus making his YSL Records debut with his 8th EP. Introducing himself with his first few EPs Hard2Kill as well as Hellraiser & Everyday’s Halløween, his debut mixtape Tezzus Khrist last holiday season would significantly elevate his profile locally as did the handful of appearances he made on The XA Tape earlier this year. He’s given us the Søufside collaborative EP with Percaso, Backrooms, King Phønk, I Phønk, U Phønk and Tezzy Pendergrass until Young Thug signed him following 9 Vicious’ departure due to him & Tezzus beefing. Nonetheless, getting ##FilthyLikeMax a couple days succeeding Savior was still a welcoming surprise.

“Animal 🐕‍🦺🐍🐲” starts with an industrial hip hop intro likening himself to a beast whereas “I’m Røyal 👑🤴🏿👑” goes for a rage-inducing vibe talking about his royalty status. “Bacccarat 💁‍♀️🛍️💝” featuring Skaiwater & 1300SAINT finds the trio buying out a while Chanel store over a hypertrap instrumental but once “Krøssed Ø Gang 🚂🚫🖤” featuring billi0n & ShawtyRokk angrily refuses to argue with peasants, “Life øf a Dølla 🕊️❤️‍🔥🕊️” finishes by remembering maxon over a rage beat.

Thug continuing to shift his focus towards rebuilding YSL Records ever since Uy Scuti polarized both critics & fans alike couldn’t have been a smarter move & ##FilthyLikeMax properly introducing himself to the label over 84 hours succeeding his labelmate’s greatest body of work the previous weekend. The production is more prominently centered around the rage subgenre of trap as opposed to Tezzy Pendergrass’ blatant pop rap influence as he & all 4 guests pay tribute to maxon a week after his death.

Score: 4/5

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Daz Dillinger – “Rowtation” review

This is the 23rd solo LP & 3rd of 2025 from Long Beach, California rapper, producer & songwriter Daz Dillinger. Some of his cousins include Brandy & her brother Ray J, WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg & the current AEW tbs Champion, CMLL Mundial Femenil Campeon, RPW British Women’s Champion and the new ROH Women’s World Television Champion Mercedes Moné. He eventually signed to Death Row Records & became an original in-house producer under the guidance of it’s co-founder Dr. Dre, forming Tha Dogg Pound with Kurupt not too long afterwards. Daz finally made his solo debut on ‘98 by putting out Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back on Death Row until departing rather quickly to put out 20 more albums of his own with almost 3 decades of experience in the game. Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 2 took it back to the essence of his debut earlier this summer and Retaliation, Revenge & Get Back 3 a couple months ago found some clarity regarding his complicated history with Tha Row. In preparation for Kurupt’s upcoming 7th album said to be fully produced by DJ Battlecat though, Dilly’s gonna make sure the west coast keeps him in Rowtation.

After the intro, “I’m Daz Dillinger” begins by properly reintroducing himself over a self-produced g-funk beat whereas “I’m a Dogg from Tha Dogg Pound” keeps that same vibe talking about coming up from the underground. The only single “DPGC” dabbles with trap maintaining the lowest prices ever when he touches the plug while “Indictment” soulfully looks for the line between the truth & divinity.

“Snitches” nears closer towards the end of Rowtation’s first half expressing his disdain for rats leading into “Fresh Outta Jail” talking about changing his fate now that he’s home from the penitentiary teaching the young shooters how to move right. “BangBang” once again takes the trap route instrumentally to spit that gangsta shit although I personally don’t care for the auto-tuned hook just before “Smokin’ on the Best” talks about the type of weed he stays puffin’.

As for “The Streets Will Miss You”, we have Daz reminiscing over a big homie of his who passed away while “When a Gangsta Loves a Woman” talks a out knowing when a G is lovestruck. “Superstition” fuses soul & g-funk speaking of chasing shadows regularly while “West Coast Legend” talks about his legacy over some synthesizers & hi-hats. The title track happens to be the actual song excluding the outro assuring that both coasts been known the deal with him.

Confirming in a recent interview with Da Inphamus Amadeuz that he’s no longer signed to Death Row as a solo artist because of him & Snoop getting into a catalog dispute, Daz Dillinger gears up to fully produce The LOX’s upcoming 5th full-length set to drop in 2026 by taking a more introspective approach conceptually for Rowtation exemplified with the inclusion of some of his family members throughout only hours following Mark Briscoe ending Kyle Fletcher’s reign as AEW TNT Champion & of course FTR defeating Brodido to become record 3-time AEW World Tag Team Champions & Samoa Joe becoming a 2-time AEW World Champion at Full Gear VII.

Score: 4/5

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Oneohtrix Point Never – “Tranquilizer” review

Oneohtrix Point Never is a 43 year old progressive electronic producer from Wayland, Massachusetts in the late 2000s off Betrayed in the Octagon, Zones Without People & Russian Mind. The latter 2 & Returnal proved in their own rights to be head & shoulders above his debut. Replica alongside the Warp Records debut R+7 & Garden of Delete all came during my time in high school & are still praised today amongst his most important material. Age Of was alright, but Magic Oneohtrix Point Never & Again made great improvements even if I’d rank both of them behind his early Warp output. His 11th album however has been said to be his most groundbreaking in a while & that made me want to hear it for myself to believe it.

The vapor ambient intro “For Residue” begins with a riff reminiscent of the Pink Floyd single “Welcome to the Machine” whereas “Bumpy” feels like a mix of the Replica & R+7 eras. “Lifeworld” masterfully blends utopian virtual, glitch, progressive electronic, plunderphonics, new age, tribal ambient, worldbeat & ambient techno together just before the lead single “Measuring Ruins” takes inspiration from ambient, progressive electronic, glitch, epic collage, space ambient & utopian virtual.

As for “Modern Lust”, we have OPN taking 5 minutes of our time to demonstrate the evolution of his production skills after almost 2 decades of making music leading into “Fear of Symmetry” taking it back to more of an ambient vibe generally & some sound collages. “Vestigel” carries the ambient elements over & throws hints of vapor in the mix along the way while “Cherry Blue” fuses ambient, progressive electronic, space ambient, glitch, post-minimalism & drone for the 2nd single.

“Bell Scanner” could be the only composition here I could do without feeling more like an 85 second interlude if anything while the 3rd single “D.I.S.” pulls from glitch, progressive electronic, IDM, dreampunk, trance, space ambient & epic collage respectively. The title track was an appropriately selected conclusion to the 3rd act dabbling with techno while “Storm Show” kicks off the 4th quarter with a cross between the ambient & new age genres.

To continue Tranquilizer’s final moments, “Petro” expands on the ambient new age direction of “Storm Show” with a bit of a vapor twist to it while “Rodl Glide” saves the best single of the 4 for last because of it’s intricately composed explorations of IDM, vaporwave, downtempo, progressive electronic, acid techno, ambient dub & trip hop. “Waterfalls” epically concludes the LP cooking up an outro presenting itself in the amalgamation of ambient, vapor, new age & sound collage.

Using an archive of 1990s sample libraries found on the Internet Archive prior to being deleted, I can tell you as a fan of Oneohtrix Point Never since my adolescence that Tranquilizer will have most fans walking away calling it his greatest musical statement in a decade. I could additionally debate the real possibility of it taking over R+7’s spot for his magnum opus due to the nostalgic progressive electronic production treading further beyond ambient, sound collage, glitch, vapor, utopian virtual, epic collage, new age, IDM, dreampunk, trance, space ambient, post-minimalism, drone, plunderphonics, tribal ambient, worldbeat, ambient techno, downtempo, acid techno, ambient dub & trip hop.

Score: 4.5/5

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Awich – “Okinawan Wuman” review | エイウィッチ – 「沖縄のウーマン」レビュー

Awich is a 38 year old rapper from Naha, Okinawa, Japan introducing herself almost 2 decades ago off her debut EP Inner Research & Asian Wish Child respectively. She returned in 2017 with the full-length debut 8, which she would follow up by putting out Beat & Heart as well as her sophomore effort Kujaku & Partition. Queendom was fine for what it was & United Queens was a decent prelude to The Union, enlisting one of my top 10 producers of all-time RZA from the almighty Wu-Tang Clan for her 5th studio LP.

After the “Lotus” introductory skit, the lead single “Butcher Shop” featuring A$AP Ferg sets it all off with a boom bap opener giving it to y’all as raw as desired whereas “Fear Us” featuring Joey Bada$$ & RZA after the “Kaiju of Okinawa” skit finds the trio coming together to talk about those afraid of the truth. “Wax On Wax Off” by A$AP Ferg & Lupe Fiasco samples “Jeans Blues” by Meiko Kaji referencing The Karate Kid but after the “Flexin’ in Shibuya” skit, “Shibuya Flex” featuring MIKE & 454 talks about them having to lose it all.

“Hold It Down” featuring Westside Gunn starts the 2nd half referencing the current AEW International Champion オカダ・カズチカ set to retire 新日本プロレス president 棚橋弘至 at レッスルキングダム20 while “A Woman Hung Up” talks about being the finest out of Okinawa with a dollar & a dream. “Ghosts of the East” takes the trap route instrumentally looking to haunt the world to their bones & prior to the “Full Circle” outro, the final song “Noble Lies” talks about the very thing that makes the world go around.

To make up for the Juice Crew’s reunion EP getting pushed back, Okinawan Wuman kinda reminds me of Anarchy’s 2nd EP My Mind produced by Statik Selektah celebrating it’s 2-year anniversary last month in the sense that both are fine examples of the traditional boom bap sound originating in New York refined for a Japanese emcee who’s been around for a couple of decades already. Not only that, but I can’t forget to mention the stellar guest list either.

Score: 4/5

スコア: 4/5

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Tha God Fahim – “Ultimate Rapper 5000 Guillotine” review

New EP & the 68th overall from Atlanta, Georgia emcee/producer Tha God Fahim. Starting as an affiliate of Griselda Records & being 1/3 of the Dump Gawds alongside Mach-Hommy & Your Old Droog, we also can’t ignore the massive discography that he’s managed to build for himself, some of the standouts include Breaking Through tha Van Allen Belts & Dump Assassins. He’s been putting out amongst his best material in the past few years like the Camoflauge Monk-produced Dark Shogunn Assassin, the Nature Sounds-backed Iron Bull, the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King series, the Oh No-produced Berserko, the Mike Shabb-produced Dump Gawd: Rhyme Pays, Tha Supreme Hoarder of All Pristine Wealth, Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga produced by Cookin’ Soul & Machine Gun Vocabulary produced by Cartune Beatz. Coming off a Slam Dump with Drega33 earlier this week, the Ultimate Rapper 5000 Guillotine has emerged.

“50 Lunch Numbers” proves to be a great taste of what to expect whether it be the self-produced boom bap beat or the sharp lyricism talking about how nobody can take his musical accomplishments away from him whereas “My Off Day” goes for a jazzier vibe working when he wasn’t scheduled to. “Miseducation” hooks up some dusty vibraphones recalling a lot of people he knew having guns before graduating high school while “Mic Clutchin’” brings back the jazz suggesting separation can be for the best sometimes.

Meanwhile on “Modern Marvel”, we have Fahim going for a lo-fi boom bap vibe breaking & building empires leading into “Reigning Victor” talking about his state of mind scarily being out of planetary. “Tha Coming of Shogunn” keeps things in the basement instrumentally comparing his discography to a library of knowledge just before “Tha Dump” talks about his imperviousness. “Illusions of tha Mind” shits on those who’re still hating over a guitar & “Mortal Wounds” featuring Jay NiCE ends by thanking God they’re true Gs.

The only time we really got to hear Tha God Fahim over his own production in 2025 was the 42% of Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 15 (Final Explosion) that he did all by himself & Ultimate Rapper Guillotine 5000 makes up for the last few installments of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap saga with the most I’ve enjoyed a project of his since Lethal Weapon 4. After spending the last 13 months sharpening his sword, he jumps back behind the board to prove that he hasn’t lost a step in that department.

Score: 4.5/5

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Jalen Frazier – “Eye of the Beholder” review

Here is the 5th EP from Detroit, Michigan emcee Jalen Frazier. Getting his footing in during the fall of 2020 off the strength of his debut EP Expressions of the Neglected, he would continue to turn heads in the local underground scene last summer with the follow-up God Bless My Chalice. His debut album The Drop produced by Foul Mouth & Ethics of War produced by godBLESSbeatz elevated himself from both of its predecessors, aiming for a 3-peat with Eye of the Beholder produced by Machacha.

“The Luz” opens up with a somber boom bap instrumental trying to make a profit overnight & aiming guns at nosy muhfuckas whereas “Dolphins” soulfully talks about emptying clips on whole entire regimes. “Tale of the Streets”works in a guitar mixed with kicks & snares masterfully showing off his storytelling abilities for 111 seconds while “God Forbid” talks about needing a ticket to hear these thoughts.

J-Classic joins Jalen on the song “Duffel Bag Written” winding up the 2nd half of Eye of the Beholder with a crazy Crash Bandicoot reference in light of Netflix producing an upcoming animated series based on the iconic franchise while “Conflict Resolution” hooks up a reversed sample shouting out all his homies locked down behind prison walls. “Political Theater” featuring Isaac Castor finishes with both of them talking about there being 2 sides of America.

A tribute to those who carry the weight of being authentic in the world full of imitators & searching for meaning amongst the misunderstood, Jalen Frazier continues to put out some of the most essential material of his whole entire career throughout Eye of the Beholder continuing to improve above All Love Until It’s Not roughly 8 months ago. Machacha’s production is on par with The Most Interesting Man in the World’s & each verse feels like a testimony.

Score: 4/5

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Haley Heynderickx & Max García Conover – “What of Our Nature” review

Portland, Oregon singer/songwriter Haley Heynderickx & Portland, Maine singer/songwriter Max García Conover reuniting for their 2nd collaborative project. Originally joining forces in the fall of 2018 for the final chapter of the Among Horses trilogy following Haley’s debut album I Need to Start a Garden, her sophomore effort Seed of a Seed celebrated it’s 1-year anniversary at the very beginning of the month & looks to recapture the late Woody Guthrie’s spirit from opposite corners of the country on What of Our Nature under Fat Possum Records.

“Song for Alicia” begins with a singer/songwriter intro telling the story of Alicia Rodríguez whilst further explaining that the Proud Boys & the Puerto Ricans are the only 2 groups convicted of American sedition. “Mr. Marketer” goes for a folkier vibe singing about Haley being told she was destined to grow a bold-hearted woman she thought she’d never know just before the stripped-back “Boars” feels optimistic of hipping through the cat grass living like the biggest little sluggers on the farm.

As for “Cowboying”, we have Haley & Max carrying the folky singer/songwriter sound over to sing about being unable to get these horses out of their heads & not being so sure as to what they want to eat while “In Bulosan’s Words” remembers the late Carlos Bulosan to end the 1st half. “This Morning, I’m Born Again” kicks off the 2nd leg with more acoustics singing that there’s only this emptiness against them while “Fluorescent Light” explains that the kind of lighting we’re living under is absorbing electromagnetic radiation.

“Buffalo, 1981” starts What of Our Nature’s final moments seeing about how this country hates the poor when that couldn’t be more relevant because of the whole SNAP benefits situation occurring during the new longest government shutdown while “To Each Their Dot” sings about humanity’s best interest being circular & simply making money off of us fighting the good fight. “Red River Dry” finishes by looking at Haley’s lineage like “Buffalo, 1981” did with Max’s.

Spending the last 12 months sharing creative ideas in the midst of reading Woody Gunthrie’s biographies & slowly exploring a patchwork of Americanism to see where their stories fit, Haley Heynderickx & Max García Conover find themselves with this collection of music Woody left behind channeling the union of spontaneity as well as sweetness & defiance that made him one of the most important figures in all of American folk music over guitars & percussion, carrying on his legacy with a singer/songwriter & indie folk LP that raises the stakes of their creative chemistry.

Score: 4/5

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Truth – “Nostalgia ThEraPy 2” review

Brand new EP from Queens, New York emcee Truth. Formerly of the trio Gods’Illa, he would start to build up a solo discography for himself the year after the group’s full-length debut Believe in Gods’Illa however with From Ashes to Kingdom Come. He later followed it up 3 years later by dropping the sophomore effort The Fight for Survival as well as For All Intents & Purposes. The latter of which was also produced by Da Beatminerz fully as was Nostalgia ThEraPy, running it back with DJ Evil D & Mr. Walt for a sequel.

“Painful Truth” set up shop with a gully boom bap instrumental suggesting to try fuckin’ with him in a battle just to see what would happen until “Want It Back” dustily talks about his desire for New York to take it back to it’s roots dismissing “mumble rap” when I feel like we’ve been past that phase for a grip already. “Redrum Seen” brings a murderous vibe from the beat to the relentless penmanship while “Cause for Concern” featuring Psycho Les & Tragedy Khadafi comes together for a lyrical onslaught.

The song “Done Did It” kicks off the 2nd half of Nostalgia ThEraPy 2 by having Truth hopping over some horns mixed with kicks & snares talking about doing this rap shit with ease while “Check It Out” unloads a couple of razor-sharp 16s with more authority than the MTA on top of an aggressive backdrop. “Get to It” featuring Royal Flush finishes the EP with both of them over a soul sample refusing to slow down until they get what’s owed to them.

Hungrier than ever, the 3rd dosage of potent east coast boom bap from Truth & Da Beatminerz continues the former Gods’illa member’s elevation as a solo artist that began nearly 4 years ago with For All Intents & Purposes alongside the original Nostalgia ThEraPy EP celebrating it’s 2-year anniversary in only a couple months. Everything regarding the latter being elevated throughout its follow-up from DJ Evil D & Mr. Walt’s production to the sharp lyricism.

Score: 4/5

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