Limp Bizkit – “Still Sucks” review

Limp Bizkit is an infamous rap metal band consisting of frontman Fred Durst, drummer John Otto, bassist Sam Rivers, guitarist Wes Borland & DJ Lethal on the turntables. $3 Bill, Y’all$ & Significant Other are both certified classics in their own rights, but Chocolate St★rfish & the Hot Dog Flavored Water kinda signaled the beginning of the end as I was 50/50 on it personally. Results May Vary would go on to rightfully become one of the worst albums ever made & even though The Undeniable Truth was a step in the right direction, Gold Cobra wasn’t it at all other than the Raekwon-featured bonus cut. But after a 10-year hiatus, Durst & the gang are returning for their 6th album.

“Out of Style” is an empowering opener produced by Purps responding to those who called the band washed up whereas “Dirty Rotten Bizkit” follows it up with an absolute headbanger about ripping shit up. “Dad Vibes” comes off a little cheesy to me even though I fucking love the hook leading into “Turn It Up, Bitch” working in a bass-line & drums to talk about how everyone needs some hardcore shit.

Meanwhile on “Don’t Change”, we have an acoustic ballad encouraging listeners to stay true to yourself just before the ghostly “You Bring Out the Worst in Me” addresses a lover of his. “Love the Hate” hilariously pokes fun at the backlash their post-Chocolate St★rfish output got, but then “Barnacle” is a bit more melodic telling the leeches to stay away from him despite being repetitively structured.

“Empty Hole” is another acoustic cut addressing an ex of his while the song “Pill Popper” serves as a badass shot at the corruption in the pharmaceutical industry. The penultimate track “Snacky Poo” almost has a boom bap quality to it spitting some battle raps & for a closer, “Goodbye” couldn’t have finished it off any better taking a poppier route talking about elevating his quality of life on down the road.

Given that I’m not too crazy about “Dad Vibes”, I didn’t really go into this album expecting very much. However, I’m surprised by how much I genuinely enjoyed it. I think the production is more refined compared to Results May Vary & Gold Cobra, but I really can’t get enough of how self-aware Fred Durst comes off through his songwriting & vocals.

Score: 3.5/5

Rev. Fang Gory & Sutter Kain – “Violence Solves Everything” review

Rev. Fang Gory is an MC from Detroit, Michigan who came up in 2007 off his full-length debut E’ville Dead. This was followed up with The Last Gryndhouse on the Left & A.A.S.K (Afro-American Serial Killer) throughout the previous decade but after a 5-year hiatus, he’s joined Sutter Kain’s independently owned Never So Deep Records & is enlisting him to fully produce a collaborative album between the 2.

After the “Violence” intro, the first song “Let That Bitch Die” is a rock/boom bap crossover to start off the album quenching for blood whereas “Black Nazi” provides some social commentary & the screams in the background of those dusty drums make it sound much more darker. Donnie Darko tags along for the confrontational “Tooth & Nail” weaving in a thrash metal sample in the background just before “Death Poll” comes in with an aggressive riot starter.

Meanwhile on “You’re My Vengence”, we have Black Sunday on top of some pianos calling out the cats biting leading into both of them sticking around for the trap banger “44” talking about being strapped at all times. The song “Death Comes in Many Forms” finds Naymez coming into the picture with Sutter for a pessimistic diss towards the bitch-made dudes out there while the penultimate track “The Killing” weaves in a chipmunk soul sample talking about a serial killer. The album ends with “Tales from the Kabbalah”, which is Fang Gory over a wailing guitar riff about being psycho.

For those who’re fans of both parties, I can argue that it’s some of their best work yet. I felt like the features were a little too much since it takes up about half the album, but the dude is on a whole ‘nother level lyrically as Sutter Kain. As for the production, he says true to his signature ghetto metal sound throughout which just absolutely stellar.

Score: 3.5/5

Megan Thee Stallion – “Something for thee Hotties: From thee Archives” review

Megan Thee Stallion is a 26 year old rapper from Houston, Texas who rose to prominence in the spring of 2019 with the release of her debut mixtape Fever. I myself was very impressed with how it displayed Megan’s knack for catchy songwriting, dirty south/Memphis inspired production & a unique personality. Her popularity began to rapidly increase last year off her 3rd EP Suga & the full-length debut Good News but in light of Megan on the verge of graduating from Texas Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in health administration, she’s compiling together a bunch of old freestyles & some unreleased joints to celebrate.

“Tuned In” sets the compilation off with a bouncy Juicy J & OG Parker instrumental clapping back at those speaking ill of her name whereas “Megan Monday” takes a more rubbery approach rightfully flexing her spot as the illest female rapper in the mainstream (not the illest overall, don’t get it twisted). After the “Trippy” skit, “Southside Forever” eerily details her famous lifestyle just before “Outta Town” works in a xylophone & some snares telling people to call her Dr. Miami the way she bodies cats.

Meanwhile on “Megan’s Piano”, we get a fitting keyboard loop throughout with a bass-line on top of it & Megan talking about making moves in silence leading into the “VickeeLo & DinoBtw Skit”. Following this is the kinky “Eat It” with a bombastic Murda Beatz/FNZ instrumental & then Buddah Bless works in a chipmunk soul sample for “All of It” talking about wanting a scammer.

“Warning” thunderously cautions all the broke dudes out there while “Kitty Kat” almost takes a funkier approach & even though I appreciate the message behind it calling her haters pussies, the hook is annoying. After the “Tina Snow” interlude, “God’s Favorite” admirably weaves in a down-tuned guitar instrumental despite sounding underwritten & the DJ scratches throughout the grimy “Lemme See It” are really cool talking about being a female pimp.

I think the vocal sample throughout “Opposite Day” really enhances the energy of it saying she likes making bitches mad & “Freakend” gets back on the raunchy shit with a bit more moodier sound. “Bae Goals” is a touching dedication to her boyfriend Pardison Fontaine, but then “Pipe Up” melodically talks about both of them making their own paper & being in love.

The track “Bless the Booth” brings in an airy backdrop & a rubbery bass-line calling out those who see her as a threat while the final song on the comp “Thot Shit” is a decent little strip club banger. But to end the entire thing, “To Thee Hotties” comes through with a spoken word outro thanking all of her fans for sticking by her throughout all these years.

I still maintain my claims that Megan is the illest female rapper in the mainstream right now but truth be told, I wasn’t really expecting much from this compilation to begin with. Lo & behold: I’m kinda on the fence with it. I think the freestyles are a reminder of how lyrically skilled she is, but the outtakes have slightly more hits than misses.

Score: 3/5

Ransom & Rome Streetz – “Coup de Grâce” review

This is the brand new collaborative effort from Ransom & Rome Streetz. One is a TCF Music Group affiliate out of Jersey City & the other being a New Yorker who rightfully earned his spot as one of the latest signees to the hottest label in the world right now: Griselda Records. Both wordsmiths have come together in the past before like “Blackwater” & “Sage or Gunsmoke” off both their latest albums Heavy’s the Head & Razor’s Edge respectively, but have come together to take things to new heights in the form of Coup de Grâce.

“No Remorse” is a symphonic opener about them giving a fuck less whereas the boom bap-tinged “All I Know” speaks on moving a different kind of dope these days. “Rooftop Sermons” brings back the strings with the help of V Don declaring themselves as hood preachers just before “Claudine” with Che Noir vividly details the story of a drug fiend of the same name & eventually tying into the “Fairwells” interlude.

Meanwhile on the Lord Sear-produced “Pray for the Weak”, we have The Game joining Ransom & Rome to provide some rich food for the soul leading into them talking about making it out the mud for “Jet Fuel” with a keyboard instrumental from Animoss. The soul sample “Silent Murders” is entrancing with the duo rightfully boasting about how nice they are while the dusty “Dark Love” gets in their battle bag.

The penultimate track “Bandoleros” with Lou form Paradise & Tyrant weaves in a chilling sample from Nicholas Craven as the quartet compare themselves to that of bandits while l “Death Becomes Life” ends it all with some organ harmonies getting on that motivational tip.

Both of these dudes have been putting out their best work all year & you can absolutely add Coup de Grâce onto the list. They have a unique chemistry together, the production is gritty as expected & most importantly: it’s an absolute bar-fest from start to finish.

Score: 4.5/5

Majik Ninja Entertainment – “Songs of Samhain 2: Haunted Record Player” review

Majik Ninja Entertainment is a Detroit based independent record label founded by Twiztid & their manager George Vlahakis in 2014, only 2 years after the demented duo’s departure from Psychopathic Records. However, they quickly built an empire or their own from bringing a few other PSY alumni along for the ride to help introduce G-Mo Skee & Alla Xul Elu to a much wider audience. The label’s first showcase comp Year of the Sword is easily the best one they’ve put out so far given the strength of the roster at the time, but that’s not to say Songs of Samhain wasn’t a respectable Halloween-themed EP. They just dropped an exclusive label comp at this year’s Attack of the Ninjas couple months ago & now with Halloween approaching this weekend, the crew is back together for a sequel to Songs of Samhain.

After the “I Shall Arrive” intro, the first song “Needle on the Record” by Twiztid is a demented boom bap opener about the haunted record player possessing their souls when they turn it on whereas “Go Out” by Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Boondox, Gibby Stites & Jamie Madrox takes a turn into rap rock territory spitting that hardcore shit. “Haunted Thoughts” by the House of Krazees heinously spills out the fucked up shit in their minds just before Blaze, Boondox & Jamie reunite for the slow yet victorious ballad “Sing It”.

Meanwhile on “Heavier Every Time”, we have the Venomous 5 reforming over an unsettling trap beat about how the world will never understand them leading right into the “Nursery Rhyme from a Different Time” interlude. The song “Paint the Town Red” sees HOK keeping it in trap turf getting murderous while the penultimate track “Halloween Treat” by Twiztid & Oh! The Horror is a rap rock cut displaying some goth romance poetry. The album ends with “Quarantine”, where V5 plead to be saved from the disease of living over some pianos & dusty drums.

Compared to the first Songs of Samhain & even the Attack of the Ninjas album, Songs of Samhain 2: Haunted Record Player to me is the best label comp MNE has put out since Year of the Sword. It sounds darker & I really admire that it’s a bit more conceptual than the predecessor did.

Score: 3.5/5

Vocab Slick – “Language” review

Vocab Slick is a Bay Area veteran who emerged in 2003 off his full-length debut Lyrically Conscious, which was followed up a little over a decade later with the debut EP Something Slick and the sophomore album Issues & Episodes. Last we heard from him was in 2017 when he dropped his 2nd EP The Day After Yesterday but after taking a 4-year hiatus, he’s re-emerging with his 3rd full-length album.

After the “Opening Remarks” intro, the first song “A.O.M. (All On Me)” is a groovy opener to the album talking about bringing a new energy whereas “When I’m Here” with Equipto has a bit of a soulful flare to it expressing their desire to be shown love while they’re still alive. The late Baba Zumbi tags along for the quasi-funky “Stay Focused” speaking on never losing sight of the objective even in the hardest of times & after the “Kensho’s Intro”, the dude jumps on top of some organs for “Speak My Language” addressing those who don’t understand him.

Meanwhile on “What It Is”, we have a boom bap cut talking about running low on patience just before “Atonement” fuses with gospel with trap to soul search. “That Money” passionately details why he believes paper is the tool to feed people, but then “Moment Like This” with J.Lately cloudily reminds listeners that time is of the essence. The Grouch comes into the fold for the captivating “Find a Way” talking about how ain’t shit change for either one of them & after the “Reflection” interlude, Slick brings 4-Ize aboard in the form the dusty “Welcome Machines” showing off their lyrical prowesses.

After the “Translation” interlude, “Right Now” is a heartwarming motivational anthem while the song “1122” with Dela the Fella & San Quinn gets on the hyphy tip talking about their hustle. The penultimate track “Eyes Wide Open” talks about being stuck in the zone over an instrumental that has some jazzy undertones to it & “Take My Soul” tensely ends the album proclaiming you strip him of anything but.

Overall, I think this is a pretty solid comeback for Vocab & I’m really looking forward to see where he goes from here in the future. I love how explores a wide range of sounds throughout & his lyricism throughout is compellingly potent.

Score: 3.5/5

Omar R.A.P.P.$. – “Holding My Composure” review

Omar R.A.P.P.$. is an up-&-coming MC from Chicago, Illinois who’s been dropping a handful of singles for a little over a year now. However, all of that has been building up to his full-length debut over here showing the world what he’s capable of on the mic.

“Fake the Real” kicks off the album on a jazzy note talking about how he can’t do such thing & after “The Call” skit, “Make It Out” takes a more somber route talking about drowning in the henny. J. Adair tags along for “Dreams” working in a more colorful instrumental saying they’re just trying to make it here just before the title track goes into soulful territory with some hi-hats talking about holding his composure despite everything going on his life.

Meanwhile on “Boa”, we have Omar over some more trap production with a crooning vocal sample chasing a milli leading into UTP Jamma coming into the picture for “H.G.A.” talking about being about the money over a melodic instrumental. “Realign” goes into a more vintage direction in terms of sound encouraging to make your life better but after the “My Time” skit, the final song “My Time” throws some strings in the mix talking about how he’s up next & “Your Glory” ends the album with a skit.

For this to be his first album, he definitely proved me that he has potential & I’d recommend keeping an eye out of this cat in the future. The features are just ok, but I think production is very eclectic in terms of overall sound & the hunger in his voice is just undeniable in my personal opinion.

Score: 3.5/5

JPEGMAFIA – “LP!” review

This is the 4th full-length album from Baltimore emcee, singer & producer JPEGMAFIA. Breaking out 2016 with the release of his full-length debut Black Ben Carson, it wouldn’t be until the man’s next 2 albums Veteran & All My Heroes are Cornballs where he would reveal himself as one of the most creative minds in hip hop today. He dropped a bunch of singles last year & compiled them onto an 8-track EP but after putting out a follow-up with almost all newly recorded material under Republic Records back in February, he’s celebrating his born day with LP!.

“TRUST!” is a short yet glimmering opener to the album talking about self-love whereas “DIRTY” takes a more cloudier route talking his shit. “NEMO!” has a minimal, glitchy vibe going at those who think they know him leading into “END CREDITS!” sampling “Monomyth” by Animals as Leaders referencing current AEW manager Don Callis.

Meanwhile on “WHAT KIND OF RAPPIN’ IS THIS?”, we have Peggy on top of a lush almost boom bappy instrumental calling out someone biting him just before “THOT’S PRAYER!” almost has a bit of a BROCKHAMPTON influence to it sonically confessing that loneliness is killing him inside. “ARE U HAPPY?” eerily ponders about the people around him & the way his life is going, but then “REBOUND!” works in some horns basically saying bitches ain’t shit.

“OG!” speaks on taking the game back on top of a booming beat while “DAM! DAM! DAM!” has a more groovier sound talking about how he has to “keep swimmin’ ’til that muhfuckin’ ship leaves”. Following this is “SICK, NERVOUS & BROKE!” serving as an aggressive trap banger taking shots at his haters whereas “😘” brings in some synths to get romantic.

After the “NICE!” interlude, the penultimate track “BMT!” vibrantly insults his competition & “THE GHOST OF RANKING DREAD!” ends the album on a pillowy yet melodic tone talking about how he can’t keep up with these girls. Then the online version contains 3 bonus cuts from EP! which I still love, but didn’t need to be on here.

Now if you go to the Bandcamp version, there are 3 newly recorded bonus tracks that couldn’t make it onto streaming due to sample clearances. “HAZARD DUTY PAY!” is unquestionably the best hip hop single I’ve heard all year sampling Anita Baker dissing the industry. After that, “GOD DON’T LIKE UGLY” works in a soul sample comparing him to Beyoncé & his competition to Michelle Williams. “💯” terrifically pays homage to the chopped & screwed movement based in Houston just before “Untitled” incorporates some dreary piano chords continuing to challenge anyone to step up to him & wanting to be buried with former アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン, TNA World Tag Team Champion, WCW World Television Champion, WWE United States Champion, 7-time WCW World Tag Team Champions, 4-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall additionally referencing former CZW Iron Man Champion, 3-time PWG World Champion, 3-time PWG World Tag Team Champion, ROH World Champion, ROH World Tag Team Champion, NXT Champion, WWE Universal Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 3-time WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens.

Peggy is one of the most unpredictable artists in the game right now & I definitely find LP! to be more consistent than EP2! In contrast to the more mainstream sound of that previous project, I’m happy he realized he didn’t need to try to appeal to a radio friendly market that doesn’t exist & returns to his experimental roots. Also, the 3 bonus songs on the “offline” version make it significantly better than the 3 bonus cuts on the “online” version that were already familiar with.

Score: 4.5/5

Bktherula – “Love Black” review

Bktherula is a 19 year old recording artist from Atlanta, Georgia who first started making music in 2017 as a pop/R&B singer. She eventually broke out a couple summers back in the plugg scene after dropping the single “Tweakin’ Together produced by my lil homie Premiere Maxx, which later appeared on her debut mixtape Love Santana at the beginning of last year. This resulted in her signing to Warner Records & with the 1-year anniversary of her sophomore tape Nirvana approaching this weekend, BK is celebrating in the form of her very 1st full-length album.

“LET’S GET IT” is a moody opener celebrating her newfound success whereas “INCREDIBLE” despite it’s brevity finds her flexing with so much aggression in her delivery & a shrilling Digital Nas beat. “SANTANNY!” serves as an ignorant anthem for her alter ego, but then “THROUGH 2 U” is a blatant Whole Lotta Red rip-off talking about being fed up with a lil bitch that belong to the streets.

Meanwhile on “PLACEMENT”, we have Matt Ox tagging along for whatever reason to bombastically clap back at their critics just before “HIT ME” brings in a Supah Mario instrumental kin to a retro video game telling those who want the sauce not to bug her. “GOD’S PLAN” lively talks about how “n****s ain’t cool at all with gyro, but then “ADVANCED” brings in a cacophonous beat to declare her skills as such.

“HIDE YOUR HOE” keeps the vibrance going saying it’s on when she steps in while the euphoric “WATCH ME” that MexikoDro laced takes a look at her glow up. “YE HO” almost has a bit of a Neptunes influence to RXLVND’s instrumental saying she “ain’t finished this” whereas “CROWN” speaks on her taking over the rap game & the bass is just off the wall.

Following this, “ARE WE DONE?” feels like a 2-minute Eternal Atake & I can’t blame Trgc for that bite while the song “SHE CHOSE ME” briefly yet vibrantly details a woman selecting “everything that give her ass a stack”. The penultimate track “NAH” has a bit of a quirky sound with the help of Evilgiane talking about how “I ain’t your bitch” & the closer “IDK WHAT TO TELL YOU” has a psychedelic Mac DeMarco beat of all fucking people speaking on someone she felt she tried to make bigger.

BK to me is one of the most interesting artists in the plugg scene right now & Love Black really does a solid job at solidifying that. She has a unique voice, she has a catchy delivery & I feel like she’s started to refine her production choices a lil bit.

Score: 3.5/5

Ross from Friends – “Tread” review

Colchester, Essex, England, United Kingdom producer & DJ Felix Weatherall a.k.a. Ross from Friends back for his sophomore effort. Someone who started off in 2013 with his debut extended play David Crane’s Amazing Tennis followed by Alex Brown, You’ll Understand, Don’t Sleep, There Are Snakes, The Outsiders & Aphelion prior to Flying Lotus signing him to Brainfeeder Records distributed by Ninja Tune. His full-length debut Family Portrait made some big improvements over his earlier material & it seems like he’s outdone himself again with Tread.

“The Daisy” begins with a future garage lead single containing additional elements of IDM as well as 2-step & ambient house whereas “Love Divide” blends UK garage, outsider house, ambient trance, Euro house & UK funky for a mellower & more atmospheric single. “Revellers” spends the next 7 minutes showing an Aphex Twin influence although he interestingly puts his own spin on it leading into “A Brand New Start” feeling like a cross between Burial & one of my top 10 producers of all-time Madlib.

We have Felix taking inspiration from Boards of Canada on “XXX Olympaid” & it makes me feel a bit nostalgic considering that they haven’t done anything in almost a decade at this point just before “Grub” takes it back to the future garage sound, further carrying Burial’s torch. “Splatter/Splatter” comes across as a fusion between Aphex Twin & someone you’d hear off of Burial’s eponymous debut while “Morning Sun in a Dusty Room” takes a more ambient approach instrumentally.

“Run” gets the last leg of Tread going taking some characteristics out of the early 2000s trance playbook & hints of deadmau5 with the 2nd half of it hitting harder than the 1st while “Life in a Mind” fuses future garage & UK garage for a composition that starts energizing & ends bittersweetly. The 33 second outro “Thresho_1.1” however should’ve been merged with the final song “Thresho_1.1”, which is a 4 minute IDM closer with an Aphex Twin & Boards of Canada twist to it.

Dialing up the intricate & emotive qualities of his production style, Ross from Friends pushes himself further by composing an LP that I can say is the riskiest yet most adventurous thing he’s ever made almost a decade since his career began. His production’s more future garage flavored than outsider house although Tread carries that sound over to a lesser extent along with ambient, downtempo, IDM, 2-step, ambient house, UK garage, ambient trance, Euro house & UK funky.

Score: 4/5