Eastside Ninjas – “The Return of the Lotus” review

This is the sophomore effort from Detroit, Michigan quartet the Eastside Ninjas comprised of Jamie Madrox, Monoxide, Blaze Ya Dead Homie & Anybody Killa. All 4 of whom broke out after the Insane Clown Posse signed them to Psychopathic Records in the late 90s/early 2000s, they would eventually form a Pact of the 4 following the formation of their own labels Majik Ninja Entertainment, Grundy Entertainment & Native World Inc. respectively. A Return of the Lotus was announced this summer & was highly skeptical because 2 of the most important petals being missing.

After the intro, “Shadow” produced by Fritz the Cat & Grady Finch combines trap & rock so they can spit the wicked shit talking about death still following them whereas “Eradicate” embraces a darker atmosphere instrumentally admitting to being no good. “Wolves” discusses being left to die only for them to survive an encounter with a pack of carnivorous mammals just before “All of My Words” continues from there finding the Ninjas pleading for the universe to lift this curse off their intestines.

“Resilience” reaching the midway point of the LP showing strength of spirit in their characters when being spoken down upon leading into “Mummified” turning the rap rock influences up so they talk about not being free as long as their corpses are hanging on. “Thoughts Lethal” keeps the guitars in tact breaking down their individually fatal minds while the only single “I Kill ‘Em Better” decently talks about the animalistic monster living within every single one of us.

The song “More Like Control” speaks of never giving up regardless of all the nonsense people would like to try sellin’ ‘em while the rap rock-tinged “Down 4 Life” poses the question of whether or not people would still support them after the situation with Majik Ninja’s ties to Psychopathic being severed almost a decade ago & as much as some would like to say yes, this album has caused reasonably more alienation than their 2020 attempt at reviving the Psychopathic Rydas. “Walking Disaster” spends the last 4 minutes talking about things not going their way with those they used to follow.

I really hope neither Twiztid or Drive-By take my criticisms of The Return of the Lotus personally because as someone who’s always stuck by them after leaving Psychopathic over a decade ago, this feels like an Eastside Ninjas sophomore effort that’s more wicked than the Pact of the 4 because it truly isn’t Dark Lotus without ICP hence why it could likely become the worst entry in MNE’s catalog. Outside of excluding Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) Commissioner Violent J & the shortest reigning JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion Shaggy 2 Dope’s crucial roles for obvious reasons or even the tolerable production, it’s simply no different than when D-Loc dropped that 25 to Life solo album under the Kottonmouth Kings name.

Score: 1.5/5

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Blaze Ya Dead Homie – “Dead Serious” review

Mt. Clemens, Michigan rapper Blaze Ya Dead Homie awakening from a 6 year slumber for his 8th studio LP. Originally 1/2 of the 2 Krazy Devils, the Insane Clown Posse eventually signed him to Psychopathic Records & his eponymous debut EP as well as his full-length debut 1 Less G n da Hood would become some of the hatchet’s most beloved material at the turn of the millennium. Colton Grundy: Tha Undying introduced us to his alter-ego & Clockwork Gray received the same praise as his earlier material, departing Psychopathic after the Mike E. Clark-produced Gang Rags to make the sequel Reborn the inaugural release for his childhood friends Twiztid’s label Majik Ninja Entertainment in tandem with his own imprint Grundy Entertainment. It’s already been a decade since The Casket Factory & coming off Cadaver on Devil’s Night 2020, he’s Dead Serious regarding a comeback.

After “That Dead Shit” intro, “Sunday Morning” produced by The R.O.C. opens up with Colton talking about having huge plans on top of this g-funk beat whereas “Grind” by Triple Threat embraces a trap vibe instrumentally discussing their hustle. “Lies” keeps the hi-hats rolling addressing an individual who he doesn’t want to associate himself with anymore leading into the final single “The Voice in My Head” awkwardly taking heavy inspiration from Jelly Roll thanks to Grady Finch.

“X’s on Eyes” continues from there descending deeper towards madness over a dark Fritz the Cat beat just before the title track returns to a trap sound sending a message towards people laughing & making jokes directed at him. “At Times” by Zodiac MPrint talks about a kinda love that can be occasionally cynical marking the only track Jamie Madrox doesn’t have a writing credit on & after “Bloody” gets murderous over a chaotic instrumental Native World Inc. in-house producer DJ Hazey made, we have Blaze demanding his respect on “All Hail” over a rap rock beat.

“Negative” has some cool gangsta rap themes regardless of the instrumental not blowing me away while “Farewell” talks about his desire of wanting to come back to life & attempts of contacting an individual from beyond the grave. “Spending Time” was another weak moment for me detailing a woman who’s constantly on his mind but once “Hell’s Coming” by Drive-By featuring Boondox cautions wrath upon everyone, “Armed & Dangerous” concludes with a gangsta rap/rap rock outro although I really enjoyed Stir Crazy’s remix of “No Tomorrow”.

Most ninjas I knew would say Cadaver ranks at the bottom of Blaze Ya Dead Homie’s catalog so to hear him call Dead Serious some of his favorite music he’s ever recorded had me hoping it be superior & I can thankfully confirm that to be the case although I’m still weary of the Eastside Ninjas’ upcoming sophomore effort The Return of the Lotus. The production certainly hits harder than it did during the COVID-19 pandemic when the world was locked down & Blaze makes it clear that his musical focus hasn’t changed a bit since the early days of his career despite the poppier cuts not being everyone’s cup of tea.

Score: 3.5/5

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Twiztid – “Herb n Legends” review

Detroit, Michigan’s demented duo & Astronomicon founders Twiztid hitting us with their 18th extended play. Consisting of Jamie Madrox & Monoxide, both of whom originally started out as part of the House of Krazees alongside childhood friend The R.O.C. in 1992 before their initial disbandment 5 years later. Almost immediately after, the Insane Clown Posse took Jamie & Mono under their wings by signing them to Psychopathic Records as who they’re known as today. They would become the label’s 2nd biggest act being their mentors off projects like Mostasteless, Freek Show, Mirror Mirror, The Green Book, W.I.C.K.E.D. (Wish I Could Kill Every Day) & Abominationz. Shortly after the latter was released, Twiztid left Psychopathic to form Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2014. Since then they’ve released 8 albums & 9 EPs on their own label, my favorites of which being /ˌrevəˈlāSH⁽ᵊ⁾n/ & even their last full-length Glyph. Their last full-length Welcome to Your Funeral produced by Rob Zombie’s engineer Zeuss was a superior Unlikely Prescription sequel & are unearthing the Herb n Legends.

After the intro, the opener “So Numb” sets things off talking about a feeling a fire burning inside of them whereas “My God” by Triple Threat describes a way they’ve never felt before. “Noid” featuring James Garcia or the artist formerly known as Young Wicked throws it back to the latter’s Axe Murder Boyz roots & “D.I.D.” ends the EP having both Triple Threat & Otis linking up to talk about smoking to escape the problems they face in the daily lives.

Conceptually inspired by a man disappearing in the forest of West Branch while getting away from friends only to be found 73 hours later carrying a 20 minute recording explaining where he had been & what had happened to him, Herb n Legends returns to Twiztid’s hip hop roots rather than continuing to expanding the rap/nu metal sounds of their previous full-length with a conceptual EP themed around their love of smoking kush with a horrorcore twizt.

Score: 4/5

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The R.O.C. – “No Direction” review

Detroit horrorcore veteran The R.O.C. finally back with his 4th LP. Getting his start as a member of the House of Krazees with Jamie Madrox & Monoxide, he later hooked up with Skrapz to put out 1 last album under the HOK name before starting a duo of their own called HaLFBrEEd when the Insane Clown Posse signed Twiztid to Psychopathic Records. Although they would only release 1 official full-length under the HaLFBrEEd name titled Kontamination, it would go on to become a horrorcore classic. Welcome to the Darkside came out under Psychopathic’s now defunct Hatchet House sub-label & dropped Digital Voodoo under Majik Ninja Entertainment almost a decade later. Last we heard from him was Monsters Ain’t Real in late 2019 & returns with No Direction.

After the “Space” intro, the self-produced “It Ain’t My Business” explosively marks his return advising that your lips will follow suit if one swallows their tongue whereas “My Fantasy” asks if he’s the only one this woman prefers & her reoccurring when he runs. “Best Decision” featuring Jamie Madrox finds the 2 linking up so they can voice what they consider to be the greatest choices they’ve never made over a groovy beat leading into “Around We Go” talking about getting up outta here right now.

Monoxide appears on “Superpower” so they can energetically discuss how being themselves is their extraordinary ability just before “I’m In Love With You” tries to put the right together to express his affection towards this person knowing exactly the way he feels. “Broadcast System” goes for a futuristic boom bap vibe talking about this being nowhere close to the end of his story prior to “2084” by Zodiac MPrint consciously issues the reminder that Big Brother’s watching us all.

“Finish Strong” nears the conclusion of No Direction hopping over a grim instrumental so he can talk about ending things on as great of a note as possible while “Bridges” leads towards a gospel influenced sound & taking a spiritual approach to his songwriting. The closing track “New You” finishes things up charismatically bringing nothing but good vibes to the table celebrating improved versions of themselves on top of a funky boom bap beat.

This guy is amongst the most underappreciated artists in all of Detroit & one of the greatest human beings I’ve ever met, so I had to pull up to the listening party last Friday afternoon at the Astronomicon 9 pre-party prior to meeting the current MLW World Heavyweight Champion Killer Kross & would put No Direction right behind Digital Voodoo as The R.O.C.’s 2nd best album since Welcome to the Darkside & Monsters Ain’t Real were both extended plays. All 3 of his Samhein Witch Killaz brethren body their verses & it’s amazing to hear how far he’s come since Rollin’ with Strength.

Score: 4/5

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