Tag: Ahdasee Records

Stevie Stone – “No Blueprints” review

St. Louis, Missouri emcee Stevie Stone is back with his 8th studio LP. Garnering attention attention as one of the very last 2 artists to ever sign with Ruthless Records alongside Hopsin, both of their full-length debuts New Kid Comin’ & Gazing at the Moonlight received little to no promotion leading both artists to leave the crumbling label. Hopsin went on to form Funk Volume shortly after before closing shop in 2016 whereas Stevie signed to Strange Music in 2012. He eventually became one of the label’s flagship artists up until he left last spring to form his own label Ahdasee Records following his previous album Black Lion. It’s been over 3 years since Raising the Bar & had expectations of No Blueprints improving on its predecessor to become the best thing he’s done since leaving Strange & doing entrance music for the likes of former The Crash Pesocompleto Campeon, Evolve Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion Austin Theory as well as 5-time WWE tag team champions The Street Profits and former 2-time WWE Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE World Tag Team Champion, 2-time IWGPヘビー級王座, PWG World Champion, the inaugural ROH Pure Champion, former ROH World Tag Team Champion, 3-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, 4-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, 2-time TNA World Champion, the inaugural 6-time TNA X Division Champion, 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion & RPW British Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles.

“Big Steppa” opens with a dark trap instrumental suggesting to bundle up with him up in the function whereas “Booty Quake” moves forward with a decent strip club anthem produced by Wyshmaster. “In Too Deep” featuring Spaide R.I.P.P.E.R. finds the 2 teaming up for a trap/gangsta rap crossover talking about real ones being around them while “Like They Used To” featuring Swisher Sleep addresses the people who want to see them stop.

Ant Bomb makes the first of 3 appearances on “Rebels” talking about their rebellious tendencies leading into “Ferris Bueller” referencing former WWE United States Champion & NXT North American Champion Solo Sikoa. “2 the Sky” featuring Ant Bomb reunites for a cloudy weed smoker’s anthem prior to “Audience for 2” fusing trap & pop rap getting seductive lyrically.

“Merry Go” featuring Bacon the General & Spaide R.I.P.P.E.R. finds the trio talking about how they’d make bodies roll just before “When We Link” gets back on the pop rap/trap vibes. “Slow Down” featuring Rittz takes a more serious tone discussing losing their lives if they don’t pump the brakes while “Awake” takes a few minutes to get conscious. The title track ends Stevie’s return by passionately talking about there never being a plan.

All that I wanted out of No Blueprints was for it to be an improvement above Raising the Bar & that’s pretty much what I got, simultaneously making it the best of the 2 albums we’ve gotten from Stevie Stone since he started up Ahdasee Records. It represents where he’s at in his career currently from in-house producer MixedByBlitz’ production to the guests showcasing some of the artists he’s already signed besides Rittz.

Score: 3.5/5

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Stevie Stone – “Raising the Bar” review

This is the 7th full-length album from Missouri emcee Stevie Stone. Garnering attention attention as one of the very last 2 artists to ever sign with Ruthless Records alongside Hopsin, both of their full-length debuts New Kid Comin’ & Gazing at the Moonlight received little to no promotion leading both artists to leave the crumbling label. Hopsin went on to form Funk Volume shortly after before closing shop in 2016 whereas Stevie signed to Strange Music in 2012. He eventually became one of the label’s flagship artists up until he left last spring to form his own label Ahdasee Records following his previous album Black Lion. But to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of being fully independent, Stevie is back in full-effect for Raising the Bar.

“Hostile Stone” kicks off the album with a thunderous trap banger about putting his foot on these other rappers’ necks whereas “Raise the Bar” with Flawless Real Talk, JL, Locksmith, Spaide R.I.P.P.E.R. & Statik G finds the 6 on top of a Hellish beat flexing their lyrical prowesses. “Sincerly Smokin’” comes through with a cloudy weed-smoker’s theme, but then Daun P tags along for the sensual “Sex Flex Yes” which is probably my least favorite cut on the album. Meanwhile on “M.O.T.F. (Money on the Floor)”, we have Krizz Kaliko & Sage the Gemini joining Stevie for a decent party starter just before “Don’t Be Late” takes a more melodic route talking about how “this our song”.

“B.S.P. (Big Shit Poppin’)” returns into cloudy trap territory explaining that he makes this look easy, but then Daun P & Lyrikal TMG come into the picture for the gritty “Minding My Business” talking about how they don’t got time for fuckery. The penultimate track “East I-70” comes through by reflecting while driving down the titular highway & “Cold Revenge” ends the album with a piano ballad by dissing all the “friends” of his that betrayed him.

Being a fan of Stevie since my adolescence, I come away from Raising the Bar a little disappointed & torn by the final product. For this to be his 1st musical statement since leaving Strange Music, it’s overloaded with features & the production is merely passable. However, there’s no denying the husky lyricism that made him so prominent with the Snake & Bat during the previous decade.

Score: 2.5/5