Action Figure 973 – “The Most Interesting Man in the World” review

Danish producer Machacha fully producing the official sophomore effort of Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973. For a while at this point, Act-Lo’s first 2 mixtapes followed by 9 EPs & the full-length debut DOOM Was Right merely 5 months ago giving flowers to one of my all-time personal favorite albums Madvillainy have all established himself as a promisingly skilled luchador who so happens to rap. It’s almost been a couple months since he taught us some Ring Psychology & is making his case in being The Most Interesting Man in the World.

“2 Ships Passing at Night” after the intro works in some drumless sampling to talk about his next move leaving people shook whereas “Here Comes the Money” featuring Pinnland Empire references former WWE Hardcore Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion Shane McMahon. “You Can’t Teach That” hooks up a piano talking about his shit being high level art while “Twin Towers” featuring Andre DeSaint gives a nod to the former WWE tag team of the same name consisting of former WWE United States Champion 1 Man Gang alongside the late WWE Hall of Famer, 4-time WWE Hardcore Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion Big Boss Man.

AEW commentator, former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, the inaugural 2-time FTW Champion, 2-time ECW World Television Champion, 3-time WWE Hardcore Champion & 4-time WWE tag team champion Taz gets sampled at the very beginning of “Non-Title Match” leading into “Toys “R” Us” referencing former GCW World Champion, NWA World Jr. Heavyweight Champion, 2-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, PWG Tag Team Champion, ROH World Champion, ROH World Tag Team Champion, TNA World Tag Team Champion & TNA X Division Champion Homicide.

“Omar’s Cafe” featuring Shvmire starts the final leg of The Most Interesting Man in the World needing love & money playing with a chip on his shoulder while “Meadowlands Horse Races” featuring Heartbreak Julio & Jalen Frazier references 6-time WWE world champion Seth Rollins set to face the current 2-time WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel VII next weekend. “Lincoln Theater” finishes the LP by thanking God for helping him get out of the sunken place he was in for a while.

In preparation for the inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champions & current 4-time TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz looking to defeat DarkState for their 10th WWE tag team championship at Tuesday’s upcoming NXTNA Showdown or former HoG Heavyweight Champion Mike Santana ending Trick Williams’ reign as TNA World Champion & the current TNA Knockouts World Champion Kelani Jordan retaining her title against the current HoG Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell at Bound for Glory XXI, the finest producer in Denmark produces another exhilarating entry to start the final quarter of Action Figure 973’s most prolific year.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Action Figure 973 – “Ring Psychology” review

Yes we have another EP & the 9th altogether from Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973. For a couple years already, his first 2 mixtapes followed by his last 8 EPs & the full-length studio debut DOOM Was Right merely 3 months ago giving flowers to one of my all-time personal favorite albums Madvillainy. The 3rd entry of the Dark Side of the Ring literally came out a couple weeks ago & is once more stepping in the squared circle to teach some Ring Psychology couple weeks succeeding former IWGPヘビー級王座 as well as a 10-time WWE world champion & former UFC Heavyweight Champion in both TKO Group Holdings divisions Brock Lesnar costing John Cena his record-breaking 17th WWE world championship reign at SummerSlam XXXVIII in favor of the now current & 2-time WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

“10 Bell Salute” commences with a reference to the current AEW tbs Champion, CMLL Mundial Femenil Campeon & RPW British Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné whereas “Ode to O-Solo” gives his flowers to a local battle rapper of the same name. “Execution” works in an orchestral sample to namedrop Adam Copeland, which I found to be noteworthy considered his & Christian Cage’s tag team reunion on AEW Dynamite the other day following The Patriarchy’s implosion leading into the drumless “Forever on the Griz” talking about doing a lot by himself.

Former アイアンマンヘビーメタル級王座, 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, TNA Hall of Famer, WWE United States Champion 5-time WWE tag team champion & 26-time WWE Hardcore Champion Raven gets referenced on “‘95 Raven” as does former 2-time ECW World Television Champion, 4-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE tag team champion Dean Malenko during “Dean Malenko in WCW”. Last but not least, “WrestleMania Sunday” ends with him aggressively taking shots at the uncultured.

Less than 10 days away from Brodido consisting of The Crash’s longest reigning Pesocompleto Campeon in Bandido currently in his 2nd ROH World Championship reign & former AEW World Trios Champion Brody King known for his Abolish ICE shirts at Gland Slam VI dethroning The Hurt Syndicate’s reign as AEW World Tag Team Champions or record-tying 2-time IWGP 世界ヘビー級王座 & The Mighty Don’t Kneel leader Zack Sabre Jr. defending his title against AEW Collision commentator Nigel McGuinness at Forbidden Door V, the underground’s new favorite luchador other than the Super Famous Fun Time Guys continues the most prolific year musically by dropping off a 15 minute EP filled with the raw boom bap production & hardcore lyrics filled with professional wrestling Easter eggs he’s become beloved for.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Action Figure 973 – “Dark Side of the Ring 3” review

Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973 releasing his 8th EP to coincide with SummerSlam XXXVIII this weekend. For a couple years already, his first 2 mixtapes followed by his last 7 EPs & the full-length studio debut DOOM Was Right merely 3 months ago giving flowers to one of my all-time personal favorite albums Madvillainy. Sam Rothskeem’s now producing the latest entry of the Dark Side of the Ring trilogy on the day of former BJW認定デスマッチヘビー級王座, 2-time BJW認定タッグ王座, アイアンマンヘビーメタル級王座, 2-time JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion & 3-time JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champion, Mad Man Pondo and XPW Women’s Champion Mickie Knuckles’ final match for Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) at Powder Keg.

“R.I.P. Sabu” appropriately opens with a tribute former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, FTW Champion, ECW World Television Champion, 3 time ECW World Tag Team Champion, JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, IWGPジュニアヘビー級王座 & the longest reigning XPW World Heavyweight Champion whereas “Christopher Nowinski” references the former 2-time WWE Hardcore Champion himself.

Former AJPWオール・アジア・タッグ王座, 世界ジュニアヘビー級王座, KO-Dタッグ王座, FMWインディペンデントワールド世界ジュニアヘビー級王座, 2-time IWGPジュニアタッグ王座 & GHCジュニアヘビー級タッグ王座タカみちのく and former 2-time WWE tag team champion Scotty 2 Hotty get references on “Rubber Match” as does former World Heavyweight Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & 10-time WWE tag team champion “Jey Uso” of YEETC and former 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time AEW World Champion, inaugural ROH Hall of Fame inductee, ROH World Champion & 2-time ROH World Tag Team Champion CM Punk.

“Southern Philly Nights” last but not least sends off the EP with a boom bap closer referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former 2-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time WCW World Television Champion, 3-time WCW World Tag Team Champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion Lex Luger appearing on Nitro created by WCW founder alongside WWE Hall of Famer, former WCW Hardcore Champion & Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) CFO Eric Bischoff during the Monday Night Wars.

Only less than a couple weeks since the current NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne became the new TNA Knockouts World Champion at Slammiversary XXI & hours after the oldest AEW TNT Champion Dustin Rhodes getting dethroned by Kyle Fletcher on this week’s episode of Collision, my favorite installment of Action Figure 973’s Dark Side of the Ring series come in the form of this most recent one remembering the man who former 3-time CZW Wired Champion, DDT極端な王座, 5-time アイアンマンヘビーメタル級王座, 2-time GCW World Champion, 2-time GCW World Tag Team Champion & HoG Tag Team Champion Joey Janela retired this spring.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Action Figure 973 – “DOOM Was Right” review

This is the full-length debut studio album from Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973. Somebody whose growing discography comprised of a couple mixtapes & 7 EPs has been steadily making waves in the underground for a few years already, most notably Dark Side of the Ring & it’s sequel. Signing to Bars Over B.S. Records not too long ago, he’s paying tribute to one of my all-time favorites MF DOOM throughout the duration of DOOM Was Right.

WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE world champion, 3-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 9-time WWE tag team champion, 8-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, The Crash’s inaugural Pesocompleto Campeon & アイアンマンヘビーメタル級王座 Rey Mysterio gets referenced on the intro “Take Me to Your Leader” as does former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, FTW Champion, ECW World Television Champion, 3 time ECW World Tag Team Champion, JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, IWGPジュニアヘビー級王座 & the longest reigning XPW World Heavyweight Champion Sabu.

“Operation: Doomsday” gives off a jazzier boom bap direction instrumentally referencing former 2-time CWA Heavyweight Champion, 2-time CWA World Tag Team Champion, 2-time SMW Heavyweight Champion & WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler alongside WWE Hall of Famer & AEW’s senior advisor Jim Ross but after “Echelon” dustily talks about not being on the same time as these other lames, the uncannily slow “Nanlib” references 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 16-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, 6-time WWE United States Champion, 6-time WWE tag team champion & 9-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair.

The infamous fingerpoke of doom spot between the inaugural IWGPヘビー級王座, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, Real American Beer founder & Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) co-founder Hulk Hogan and 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 5-time WWE world champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & TNA World Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash gets referenced on “Nanlib” leading into the soulful “Puerto Rican Wrestling” talking about his rich history.

“Mmm…Food” strips the drums completely so he can talk about going into business for himself while “Madvillainy” featuring Vega7 the Ronin references both the inaugural WWE Universal Champion, former 2-time NXT Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, 3-time IWGPジュニアヘビー級王座, 6-time IWGPジュニアタッグ王座 & RPW British Cruiserweight Champion Finn Bálor as well as former 3-time WWE tag team champions The Rock ‘n’ Sock Connection & former 3-time WWE Hardcore Champion Maven.

Bloo Azul joins Action Figure on “Rae’s Killa Tape” referencing former 14-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & WWE United States Champion Randy Orton alongside WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Schwarzenegger while EricTheRed13 gets his own drumless track with “DOOM Tattoo”. The song “Romantic Comedy” chops up a soul sample to talk about the happiness in his brain prior to “Latin Porn in the 90’s” finishing up by telling us what this woman he’s currently seeing makes him feel.

Coinciding with the current 17-time WWE world champion John Cena’s first defense of his final reign at Backlash XX tomorrow, Action Figure takes a good 35 minutes of DOOM Was Right to show his appreciation for the late Viktor Vaughn’s philosophy of presenting music for what it really is & the luchador’s dexterity gets fully realized in the process. His boom bap production is at it’s most detailed since the UFO Over City Music & the heavy wrestling nods are enough to satisfy Griselda fans who haven’t been too big on their most recent output.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Action Figure 973 – “Dark Side of the Ring 2” review

Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973 continuing the Dark Side of the Ring saga with his 7th EP. Somebody whose growing discography comprised of 2 mixtapes & 6 EPs has been steadily making waves in the underground for a few years already, most notably his last EP almost a couple months ago titled after the Vice docuseries of the same name. In the midst of the show’s ongoing 6th season, a sequel to Dark Side of the Ring has arrived following WrestleMania XLI weekend.

“Raw is Act-Lo” opens with an eerie boom bap instrumental referencing the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings division WWE’s flagship program on Netflix whereas “Big Poppa Dump” references former 3-time CWA World Tag Team Champion, 2-time IWGPタッグ王座, 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion, WWE Hall of Famer, WCW World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time WCW World Television Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 9-time WWE tag team champion.

The finisher of current 3-time TNA World Tag Team Champion & inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champion Matt Hardy of The Hardy Boyz’ gets likened to Act-Lo’s work ethic on “Jordan Cement 3’s” leading into former SMW World Tag Team Champion, SMW United States Jr. Heavyweight Champion, 6-time WWE Hardcore Champion & WWE tag team champion “Al Snow” formerly married to the first of 4 women to win the WWE Hardcore Championship Cynthia Lynch getting a drumless homage of his own.

“Sunday Night Heat” featuring Young Reese Dude chops up a soul sample referencing 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion & NWA World Tag Team Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin just before ”Jaida Parker” gives his flowers to the NXT superstar who competed in a fatal 4 way at Stand & Deliver V against Jordynne Grace, ジュリア & the retaining NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer.

The song “Workhorse Champion” references the late アイアンマンヘビーメタル級王座, TNA World Tag Team Champion, WCW World Television Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 7-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, 4-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall while “Color the Old Fashioned Way” finishes with bars about the current 13-time WWE tag team champions The New Day fresh off dethroning former 3-time WWE tag team champions The War Raiders.

Ahead of the actual show’s next set to be focused around the late CWA World Heavyweight Champion
as well as WWE Hall of Famer & former WWE Champion “Superstar” Billy Graham tomorrow, Dark Side of the Ring 2 finds Action Figure 973 stepping back in the squared circle once more dropping lyrical suplexes as if he’s former IWGPヘビー級王座 as well as a 10-time WWE world champion & former UFC Heavyweight Champion in both TKO Group Holdings divisions Brock Lesnar.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Action Figure 973 – “Dark Side of the Ring” review

This is the 6th EP from Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973. Somebody whose growing discography comprised of 2 mixtapes & 5 EPs has been steadily making waves in the underground for a few years already, gearing up for the hit Vice docuseries Dark Side of the Ring’s upcoming 6th season at the end of the month 48 hours succeeding John Cena’s shocking heel turn attacking the current WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber XV this past weekend.

“Villain Eyes” sets it all off with an uncanny boom bap instrumental talking about the way he sees the game whereas “Rap is Crap” gives a nod to The West Texas Rednecks from WCW’s dying days led by the late WWE Hall of Famer, former 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion Curt Hennig and calling the game cornier than WrestleMania IX.

WWE Hall of Famer Gene Okerlund gets referenced on the jazzily drumless “Laughing at Your” just before “Mook vs. Arty” references both the late 3-time ECW World Tag Team Champion & SMW Tag Team Champion New Jack and WWE Hall of Famer, 7-time WWE world champion, 7-time WWE tag team champion & WWE Hardcore Champion The Undertaker.

“Skip the Pleasantries” goes for a jazzier direction instrumentally talking about being stronger than record 10-time WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat just before “Jack Veneno vs. Carlos Colón” acknowledges the former NWA Worlds’s Heavyweight Champion & WWE Hall of Famer of the same name respectively. “Are You Not Entertained?” sends off the EP with a boom bap outro talking about his presence drawing results.

Focusing on topics like former ECW World Tag Team Champion Eddie Gilbert & WWE Hall of Famer The Sheik to name a couple this spring regarding the show itself, the Dark Side of the Ring EP musically takes the love Action Figure 973 has had for the professional wrestling business throughout his career & incorporates it significantly heavier into his music with a hardcore boom bap project turning up the amount of nods to it’s long & rich history.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Action Figure 973 – “JxllyB & Blunts” review

Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973 reuniting with Queens, New York producer Wulverine for his 5th EP. Introducing himself off the UFO Over City Music beat tape followed by a couple solo mixtapes & the last 4 EPs he’s put out, I should further mention that the beatsmith from Act-Lo’s neighboring state has fully produced Luchadors Going Platinum Was Destined to Come & it’s sequel Luchadors Going Diamond Was Destined to Come the previous year respectively.

“Outside” opens with a reference to both the inaugural IWGPヘビー級王座, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, Real American Beer founder, Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) co-founder & known racist Hulk Hogan and former 7-time WWE world champion, 3-time WWE tag team champion, 5-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart whereas “Fuck Bill Goldberg” featuring Ricky Mapes & the homie 100GrandRoyce disses the WWE Hall of Famer, former 4-time WWE world champion, WWE United States Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion of the same name.

Book$ joins Action Figure 973 for “Coke & a Smile” to reference former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, TNA Hall of Famer, WWE United States Champion 5-time WWE tag team champion & 26-time WWE Hardcore Champion Raven’s former valet Beulah McGillicutty taking piledrivers from her husband in former 2-time アイアンマンヘビーメタル級王座, 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, 3-time ECW World Tag Team Champion, TNA Digital Media Champion & 14-time WWE Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer.

“Mets vs. Sox” featuring Chyna Baejing strips the drums so both of them can talk about treating hip hop as if it’s a martial art & after the “Smoke Break” skit, the final song “1 Night in Sue” officially wraps up JxllyB & Blunts with a drumless guitar instrumental putting the Belleville luchador’s storytelling abilities on full display breaking down an encounter he had with a woman of the same name & admitting that he hasn’t been getting out much as of late because of him spending time in the studio continuing the everlasting hustle.

As a 90’s baby who got into professional wrestling during the Ruthless Aggression Era a little over 2 decades ago already & a hip hop head for as long as I can remember, Action Figure 973’s potential as a lyricist is undeniably bright & compared to the last couple EPs that he had Wulverine fully produce for him, JxllyB & Blunts leaves me torn with slightly more highs & lows. I don’t mind the boom bap/drumless production or Act-Lo’s lyricism, but the guests’ performances don’t really do the same aside from 100GrandRoyce.

Score: 3/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!