WRLD Tour Mafia – “C.$.B. (Cross $tate Boys)” review

Detroit trap outfit the WRLD Tour Mafia consisting of Rafa, WTM Solid, WTM Miles, WTM Re, WTM Amex & WTM Bankroll celebrating the 2nd half of 2025 with a sophomore effort. Originally forming in 2019, they dropped their debut mixtape World Tour Mafia or Die a couple summers later followed by Tourmania the fall after that & the Mob Ties EP. Tourmania II marked DaeMoney’s final appearance as a member & Blood, Sweat, Tours began a new era for the Mafia’s remaining members. Spending the past 7 months on their solo endeavors, the C.$.B. (Cross $tate Boys) aren’t look to slow down.

“Money Counter” opens with Rafa & Solid teaming up over a Detroit trap instrumental to talk about picking up bags of money from Chalmers whereas “We the Best” introduces WTM Bankroll with both the same members from the previous cut to flex that they be living life flawlessly. “Back on My Grind” finds Bankroll dipping out so Milt & Solid can find themselves hustlin’ again following some time off leading into JayLuciano joining them for a decent collab about “Crossing States”.

Miles tags in for Solid on “Dodgin’ Federales” suggesting with Milt that you need to watch the way you’re moving if you got the opps on your tail just before Solid returns on “Postman” with Rafa taking about those shopping from the bottom shelves actin’ like dope men. “Hit the Road” works in a cloudy backdrop & 808s explaining that traveling has changed their lives for the better, but then “Scammer Trapper of the Year” featuring WB Nutty sees the trio sellin’ out the city without doing shows.

“WRLD Tour or Die” reps the squad for a couple minutes & laughs off the people tryin’ to cross paths with them not having a damn thing on their resumes while “Trim” featuring Speedy Caloso brings some bells in the fold talking about those locking done the 1st half of the game eventually slipping up. “Pick the Blunt Up” has a cloudier Detroit trap flare having money on the same line the bitches hit wanting to fuck them while “NBA Ballerz” calls for these pitiful bums to get jobs.

WTM Re makes his only appearance on the LP during “Chicken Tender” joining Rafa in favor of opting to make their entrance with the heaters giving fingers to nearby security while “Never Been” hooks up a sample & 808s talking about working for more made them become different to those they once knew. “Rocket Man” refers to themselves as fashion icons getting higher in terms of status & “Stephen A.” likens the hate they get to Stephen A. Smith of The Walt Disney Company division ESPN.

“No Means No” marks WTM Amex’s only appearance & Rafa checking in first taking it to the booth after shit in the streets started to get hot prior to “Bestfriends” referencing future WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE world champion & 4-time WWE Tag Team Champion Dave Bautista’s rendition of a power bomb once Bankroll’s final verse on the LP ends. “Slaughter” links Solid & Miles up to talk about there not being a day where they slack while “Nights Like This” by Rafa featuring Brooks & Samuel Shabazz kinda seems like a microwaved Madman leftover.

The song “Hot Boy” reunites Solid & Milt tying some wordplay together regarding the amount of paper on their table & the Cash Money Millionaires subgroup the Hot Boy$ while “Make a Difference” gets back on the synth-lenient Detroit trap crossovers talking about having significant impact on people or situations rather than attempting to save the whole world. “Cross Yo Fingers” closes the album with both MCs not giving a fuck & fearing nobody.

Becoming a fan of these guys in 2022 & seeing them perform live twice since, they’ve already joined Drego & Beno and the ShittyBoyz in becoming one of my favorite groups the Detroit trap subgenre has heard in recent memory & C.$.B. (Cross $tate Boys) returns over 7 months since Blood, Sweat, Tours to continue the new era they’ve been on since last summer. Given I wasn’t too crazy of the guests on this one, I still appreciate them refraining from having any on the predecessor shifting focus towards both Rafa & WTM Solid as performers.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Recognize Ali & Tragedy Khadafi – “The Past, The Present & The Future” review

New collaborative between Recognize Ali & Tragedy Khadafi. One of whom hails from Ghana breaking emerging out the underground in the past decade or so into veteran status & the other comes straight outta Queensbridge, New York as part of the Juice Crew collective. They’ve crossed paths on several instances with tracks like “Black Cocaine” or “Intelligent Hoodlums” & to hear that The Past, The Present & The Future were all colliding on the 4th of July made for an interesting kick off to the 2nd half of 2025 already.

“Will Be Free” breaks the door down with a drumless chipmunk soul instrumentally calling for their apparatuses to be checked whereas “Select Few” airs out all the corny ass people flooding the airwaves these days. “The Most Real” featuring Vinnie Paz produced by Hobgoblin made for an exciting hardcore single back in the fall of 2022 holding up now, but then “Loot Thirsty” finds the duo fiending for some money.

Trife Diesel joins Ali & Tragedy on “Black Coke” warning of their shooters laying everyone down like it’s Syria out in the east coast just before “Everything” chops up a vocal sample matched with kicks & snares talking about no survivors being left alive around their parts, not even the babies. “Cold” craves the taste of blood advising to get ready for the drama while “Gone Tomorrow” featuring Ransom jazzily plays in the kitchen until the food bubbles.

“Diplomats” gets the final leg goin’ sending missiles through your roof like it’s 9/11 while “Elevation” weaves a symphonic flip talking about their artistic altitude. “King Kong” hooks up some piano chords to say that they’re both in the hood with it while “Kuwait Regulate” featuring Flash sees the trio boasting their aggressive flows. “Old & New Legends” closes the album with both parties complimenting each other’s respective generations.

Originally planned to come out in 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic occurring a year beforehand had obviously caused both parties to hold off on joining forces for a full body of work & long awaited project will satisfy people who’ve been following either side or both. Hobgoblin producing half of it made for some of the strongest batch of tracks & it feels like they’re trying to see who can out-rap who.

Score: 4/5

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

Arrested Development – “Adult Contemporary Hip Hop” review

Arrested Development is an alternative hip hop outfit from Atlanta, Georgia consisting of dancer/choreographer Montsho Eshe, vocalist Tasha Larae, vocalist/dancer/choreographer Fareedah Aleem, vocalist 1 Love, guitarist JJ Boogie & frontman/producer Speech. Their 1992 debut 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life of… as well as their sophomore effort Zingalamaduni are widely considered to be the most important entries of their discography, putting out 10 LPs since then with the most recent being Bullets in the Chamber. A year & a half later, their 13th album has finally arrived to start the 2nd half of the year.

“Let’s Get On with It” was a jazzy, soulful boom bap intro produced by Configa calling for everyone to keep striving in their respective fields whereas “All I See is Melanin” kinda has a funkier vibe to the beat talking about melanin pride. “Live Forever” works in some orchestral elements for the instrumental suggesting that people need to be led while “My Job Ain’t Done” hooks up some jazzy horns from Speech explaining his mission is far from over.

We still get some jazz-inflicted brass on “Easy” representing a brand new style of hip hop music just before “Flowers” talks about being unable to help themselves from giving people black power energy. “Forward Ever” kinda has a funkier flare to the beat basing itself around the concept of continually progressing instead of moving backwards while “Pearls” keeps the vibes groovy pleading for the shell to open up & not being afraid.

“Pulsate” finishes up the 2nd quarter of Adult Contemporary Hip Hop with a delicately jazzy boom bap instrumental discussing our palpitations while “Baby Yes” chops up a chipmunk soul sample take on themes of love. “Original” brings a woodwind into the fold praising the lord & keeping the faith while “Mil Town Soldier” finds themselves charismatically riding around in a 1968 Chevrolet Nova.

Bee Taylor joins the crew for a jazzily dusty hardcore hip hop collab “Pack It Out” allowing them to speak on who got the magic & who doesn’t, but then ”Goal Dysmorphia” explains that the titular issue was exactly what happens when one goes through a metamorphosis. “Family” kinda has this lo-fi feel to the beat responding to those questioning who they are by saying they’re like relatives while “Stay Awake” soulfully talks about his dad teaching him not to be poor.

The song “Lifing” marks the beginning of the end regarding Adult Contemporary Hip Hop returning to the boom bap knowing that days can be completely different instantly while “Danger” looks to completely blow any & all competition out of their frame dismantling those whose pen game couldn’t hold up to Speech’s then or now. “Stardust” closes the full-length by atmospherically responding to the question of how they handle their fame.

Reflecting on freedom along with self-determination & the contradictions still woven into African American life this 4th of July, what Arrested Development achieves with Adult Contemporary Hip Hop feels similar to what Public Enemy on Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025 last weekend: Proving their relevance after decades in the game. The homage to the late Twan Mack takes on theme of melanin pride, the state of the world since this January, mortality, relationships, love, legacy & bar-for-bar energy elevated in part by soulful boom bap production.

Score: 4/5

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

Ramirez – “Tha Playa$ Manual II” review

Here is the 5th studio LP from San Francisco, California emcee Ramirez. Emerging as a longtime affiliate of the $uicideboy$, he would go on to co-found to the New Orleans-based indie label G*59 Record$ with them & build himself as an artist by dropping 8 mixtapes, his last dozen EPs & 4 full-lengths. Tha Playa$ Manual was his best LP yet with it’s g-funk production from Rocci & is looks to mark a new chapter with the sequel on his newly formed EMPIRE Distribution imprint Velvet Note Records over a week after G*59 announced his departure to go do his own thing.

After the “Velvet Note Lounge” skit, the first song “Hollow Tips” was a synth-funk intro & skittering hi-hats introducing y’all to his heater if you even try to make a move on him whereas the jazzy “Cut Throat Game” advises to get back up no matter how hard you fall. “Playas Need Love” fuses both g-funk & jazz to talk about that very subject in hand, but then the 2nd single “True Playas” suggests not to trip because fortune favored the strong putting a synth-heavy feel on the Mobb sound.

“I’m Not Yo Daddy” fuses trap & synth-funk together suggesting you come take a ride with him just before “Boulevard Nights” featuring Jason Joshua & Rocci matches a seducing instrumental that wears it’s jazz influences more during the 2nd half with all 3 of them sharing a melodic delivery. After the “Playing a Fool” skit, “Money Don’t Stop for You” jazzily sings of wanting nothing more to waste his time with a woman he’d fall for while “Shake Junt Hoes”proved to be a Memphis inspired final single.

Meanwhile on “Pushin’ on Some Paper”, we have the Lil Homewrecker talking about pimpin’ being second nature to him & making it look easy while the lead single “Chain Swangin’” turns the Mobb influences back up explaining that he’s still the same playa with a deadly weapon on him. “Scrapin’ tha Corner” throws back to the phonk undertones of Tha Playa$ Manual to talk about being on some larger shit while “Never Listen” offers invest in oneself as his best advice.

“Don’t Lose Hope” gets back on the g-funk/synth-funk crossovers wanting to hold his romantic interest tight because he wants her to know she’ll always be safe around him in any possible situation & “Cadillac Burnin’” featuring Rocci ahead of the “Goodbye & Goodnight” outro properly finishing Ramirez’ debut of Velvet Note with a captivating duet feeling reminiscent of something you’d hear during the 70s & I mean that as a compliment instead of implying any indication of it being outdated.

Tha Playa$ Manual has been regarded by many in the G*59 fandom to be the crown jewel of the label’s entire discography & I’d have to say it’s aged astonishingly well as a modern g-funk classic since it came out down the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. Tha Playa$ Manual II as a sequel raises his artistic stakes even higher than I would’ve thought. There are a few songs where he takes a break from delivering bars of the gangsta life to favor towards sung vocals with on top of the best production he’s had in a few years culminating in elements of g-funk, Memphis rap, pop rap, jazz rap, synth-funk & Mobb music.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Trae tha Truth – “Angel” review

Houston, Texas veteran Trae tha Truth celebrating his 45th birthday with his 17th studio LP. A member of the Screwed Up Click collective, he would go on to join the Guerilla Maab & ABN with over a dozen solo efforts under his belt. Stuck in Motion & Crowd Control were both received mixed-to-negatively in the past couple years, hoping of making up for the lackluster reception of his most recent outputs by channeling all the pain he’s endured onto Angel pushing it back from it’s initial May release.

The intro opens up with Trae singing his heart out over bare pianos of losing faith & needing a savior whereas “All This Time” passionately admits to feeling like the world around him wants him deleted. “Letter 2 Truth 2” brings a drumlessly cloudier vibe instrumentally speaking to his daughter until “Alright” featuring Lecrae blends some synths & gospel choir vocals for a religiously themed direction in terms of subject.

“Where Did You Go?” gives off a cloudy trap feeling addressing the people he wishes he could see for the last time just before “The Gathering” featuring Vory finds the 2 talking about feeling like they’ve been on the edge lately & other going as far to thinking they were finished. “Lord Know” speaks of everything he’s been going through in recent years being the type of shit to give you grey hairs leading into the gospel-trap crossover “Amen” talking about his being head down because he was praying.

Chance the Rapper joins Trae on “Thank You” turning the gospel influences up even higher giving their praises to God for everything he’s done for them while “Daddy Miss You” strips the drums & pens an open letter to his daughter on the road telling her how much he misses her. Kocky Ka makes for the weakest of the 2 guests on the “Alone” remix despite Lil Poppa’s verse being no issue, but then the acoustic trap fusion “Out Here” talks about people being a joke lately.

“I’m Human” pushes the 2nd leg further responding back to the people who’ve turned on him & suggesting some of it might have to do with his own mistakes he’s taking accountability for while “Reaching Arms” advises not to blow the only few chances you got at making it over a drumless gospel flip. “Bet on Me” radiates a sample-woven trap energy in terms of the beat talking about everything being heavy on him while “Ain’t tha Truth” featuring Hunxho asks what the deal is with the cap.

Dave East & Trae get together during “Down on Me” talking about needing to get better over a trap instrumental with sped-up sampling & after “All Luv” featuring Jeremih takes a trap soul route always standing up for something different, “Before I Die” atmospherically finds himself with the foot on the gas taking aim at the individuals who think they know what his eyes have seen.

“I’m In” laughs off those who think they’re bigger than the program & getting honest of this becoming his moment of revenge on ‘em while “S.4.T.W. (Struggle 4 the World)” suggests the idea of their hardships being for entertainment purposes only & to stand on business if it’s pressure. “Let It Go” caps off Angel with a drumless soul flip not needing the pain because he’s big alone along for you to wake up.

For at least several months, Trae tha Truth has been saying for the past several months that Restless could have competition for the #1 spot in his discography & I can completely understand what he meant by that since it’s far well conceived than his last couple dudes. Heavily inspired by his daughter & the journey they’ve taken together, it all made for the most deeply introspective he’s been in his almost 3 decade career.

Score: 4/5

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

Daddy-O – “East New York Stories” review

Daddy-O is a 64 year old MC & producer from New York City notable for being the frontman of the original hip hop band Stetsasonic with 6 solo albums under his belt. The group officially reunited last spring signing to SpitSLAM Records & putting out Here We Go Again to warm welcoming praise after over 3 decades of inactivity last spring, initially signing to the label for 1st Team & the 9th full-length LP under his own name kept my fingers crossed it would do the same since I enjoyed the predecessor.

“Keep Dat” featuring Lena Jackson produced by C-Doc pairs the 2 over a soul sample with horns advising not to bring that wack shit over their direction whereas “Cheating” takes a bit of a soulful boom bap direction instrumentally playing harps in the ghetto. “Gloves Off” continues the sampling mixed with kicks & snares looking to bring it to you without any ifs or maybes until “Small Ting” talks about the posers & savages over a reggae beat.

Meanwhile on “CounterAttack”, we have Daddy-O speaking on chillin’ at a Brownsville party during a Friday evening & shots ringing out leading into the self-produced “Off Dem” explains that he felt taking up hip hop as a career was far better than a bitter alternative. “The Pros 2” featuring Choclatt fuses trap & reggae for a collaboration dedicated to the Brooklyn borough while “Clap” tells of a story ending in gun violence.

“Here But Gone” counts down the final minutes of East New York Stories sampling the late great Curtis Mayfield to talk about needing to be warned beforehand if you don’t know him by now refusing to erase his roots because grew up as a trooper & “Raised by Wolves (Ask Cavario)” wraps up the half hour collection of experiences with a drumless string instrumental refusing to call it quits until he gets his respect.

Many a Daddy-O album thus far has left Stetsasonic finds divided like You Can Be a Daddy, But Never Daddy-O as well as From My Hood 2 U or G.O.A.T. Antidote & only a week since Public Enemy returned to a Bomb Squad sound on Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025, the East Coast pioneer takes us on a trip through the neighborhood he grew up in from the hoods to the hustlers to the pros & the MCs.

Score: 4/5

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

Bktherula – “Lucy” review

Finally got the 3rd studio album from Atlanta, Georgia rapper & singer/songwriter Bktherula. Beginning a decade ago as a pop/R&B singer, she eventually broke out in the plugg scene after dropping the single “Tweakin’ Together” produced by my lil homie Premiere Maxx off her debut mixtape Love Santana. This resulted in her signing to Warner Records, following it up with her sophomore tape Nirvana along with the full-length debut Love Black & LVL5. It’s been over a year since LVL5 2 & her label has finally decided now is the time for Lucy to be released.

“DropWhenIDrop” starts with an industrial instrumental flexing that she’s been working her ass off & being in it to win it whereas “LoveSexDreams” produced by Skaiwater talks about wanting to see someone when she said she wasn’t gonna fall in love. “BBGurlGoSlow” featuring Ty$ finds the 2 over a cloudy trap beat 9lives co-produced coming their way after dropping what they want & the lead single “adult swim” bears it’s name after the Discovery Global-owned Cartoon Network late night block, taking it a step further with the Robot Chicken influenced video.

After the “I Feel Like” skit, “Bleht” cooks up a futuristic trap instrumental for Bk to completely spaz out with her flow showing how hard she be going until “Delilah” gets in her petty bag a little looking to take down one of her exes. “Abstract” brings his heavy synthesizers into the fold singing for God to forgive her for her sins cutting them off for a peaceful outro, but then “Euphoria” featuring Joey Bada$$ & KayCyy gets together for well executed pop rap duet & Murda Beatz drawing influences from rock.

“DumbShit” marked the final single that was teased flexing that she’s living life fast letting us all know this is what sounds like whenever her detractors are going through Hell & some of the best adlibs of the LP pop up during “R.I.P. (Rest In Peace)” basically killing off her ego delving back in the rage style. “OCB” fuses hypertrap & pop rap talking about your hoe wanting to be with her instead of you while “PickUpThePhone” goes drumless to pleas for her partner to answer her call.

To kick off the 4th quarter, “No Contact” heavily relies on synths speaking of nightmares when images of her heart on cold pavement come to mind while “Big Feeling” gives off a warm trap feeling talking about having the instinct of others going to hate on her. The final song “LookAlive” ahead of the “I Know” outro properly ties up Lucy by telling her partner she doesn’t feel like she’s loving them right & being on her side whenever they come back.

Birthing a new era in her career, Lucy proves to be the most personal & genre-defying entry in Bk’s discography thus far elevating the potential that was realized when she first got signed several years ago. Once you get past both of the skits & a couple redundant moments during the backend of it, the general sound is more pop rap-driven than the LVL5 series was albeit the rage undertones remain breaking down the topics of ascension & creative awakening.

Score: 4/5

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

Jon Connor – “24” review

Flint, Michigan emcee/producer Jon Connor enlisting KLC of the No Limit Records in-house production team Beats by the Pound to produce his 7th studio LP. Someone who’s steadily been holding it down for the last 2 decades including The Calling, Vinnie Chase & S.O.S. trilogies along with the Best in the World series paying homage to some of Jon’s influences, Salvation, While You Were Sleeping & Unconscious State. He was even signed to Aftermath Entertainment for 6 years before departing after Vehicle City wound up being shelved, returning nearly 6 months since providing Food for the Soul to drop 24.

“1 Time” was an aggressive opener talking about it rappers who’ve got caught up in the clout & forgot to live life putting it up for the real ones whereas “Where You From?” featuring Lil Wyte finds the 2 linking up to tell us what it’s like in Flint & Memphis respectively. “Nothin’ Gon’ Change That” featuring Fiend & Mac throws it back to the No Limit days with it’s horn instrumental separating the real from the fake leading into the funky “Get Right” asking how you were poppin’ bottles if your money ain’t right.

We get a sequel to “Story to Tell” off S.O.S. II: The Road to Legendary produced by MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 recalling a time where he was 13 & KLC giving it a jazzier feel as opposed to the trap sound of the original while “Work” featuring DJ Paul finds the 2 linking up to talk about getting that money over some dirty south shit. “Kings & Queens” featuring Jay Allure reminds me of those collabs Mia X used to do for No Limit just before “Motivated” incorporates these pianos & strings to talk about always staying inspired even when he’s been knocked down.

“Wake Up, Go Hard” featuring Mr. Serv-On gets the final leg of 24 with a dirty south anthem in ode to the everlasting hustle while “The Biggest Flex” featuring Dee-1 gets together for a lead single tryin’ to figure out who you’re frontin’ for. “Black Magic” featuring Enjoy Melody hits us with more No Limit nostalgia reminiscent of Mercedes in this particular instance & “Story Time” closin’ down shop by telling a tale of tragedy ending in gunfire after the opps caught him by surprise.

It’s been no kept secret that Jon has always been heavily influenced by the late 90s run No Limit Records was so to have KLC fully produce an entire body of work from him could more than likely appeal to those who look back fondly during that time period where No Limit was popular enough to have their own faction in WCW when WWE was in the Attitude Era. All that aside: KLC’s production feels like a mix of old & new ideas with Jon’s dream since he was 14 finally coming to fruition as a full circle moment in his career.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Kevin Abstract – “blush” review

Here is the 6th solo LP from Corpus Christi rapper, singer/songwriter, producer & director Kevin Abstract. Making his debut over a decade ago in the form of MTV1987, he followed it up 2 years later with the fantastic American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story & rose to stardom as the de facto leader of the now defunct BROCKHAMPTON collective the year after. Both of Kevin’s solo efforts since then ARIZONA baby & The Family were solid although I liked the latter more for it’s chipmunk soul heavy sound. Blanket went for an indie rock direction to quietly end his RCA Records tenure joining X8 Music & Virgin Music, finally putting out blush after teasing it for months.

After the “Introduction” intro, the first song “H-Town” featuring Ameer Vann as well as Love Spells & SoGone SoFlexy finds the quartet over a boom bap instrumental thanking God they’re all still alive today prior to “Copy” featuring Love Spells & SoGone SoFlexy giving off a bit of a psychedelic rock vibe praying their lovers come running back to them & “Danny’s Track” by Danny Brown referencing the inaugural IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, 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.

“Yoko Ono” featuring Love Spells & Makana XO goes drumless with the help of Kiko Merley so the trio can ask what a classic is without a b-side or The Beatles without the late John Lennon’s widow whereas the chaotic “Nola” by Ameer Vann, Drigo, JPEGMAFIA & Love Spells produced by Quadeca references WWE Hall of Famer, 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, the inaugural 6-time TNA World Champion, TNA X Division Champion & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Kurt Angle.

Love Spells sticks with Kevin on the Glue outtake “Post Breakup Beauty” that Romil Hemnani co-produced looking back on a relationship that only lasted a mere 9 months & wanting to feel like as if they’re untouchable just before “97 Jag” featuring Love Spells once again finds the pair wishing they would’ve followed their instincts instead of crashing out. “Text Me” could very well be the only song without a guest verse singing over a Sekuo sample of recovering from a breakup for 2 years while “Geezer” marks the new superduo’s introduction with their own eponymous single built around pop rap, indie pop, bedroom pop & boom bap

“I Wasn’t There” by DERBY lets his indietronica/bedroom pop styles flourish for a couple minutes on their own & after the “blush” interlude, “Maroon” by Dominic Fike finds the other half of Geezer asking if his partners can remember a time where he made their face turn brownish-crimson. “Pop Out” by Ameer Vann, Drigo, E Bleu & Love Spells brings an experimental trap flare to the table talking about the bad bitches coming out now that it’s summer, but then “Girlfriend” by Drigo & surprisingly Dr. Dre’s daughter Truly Young links the 2 up talking about having each other.

Kevin jumps back on the mic for “Bloom” featuring Ameer Vann & Love Spells to cook up a melancholic trap cut wanting their lovers to know they’ve been waiting their whole entire lives for them to come in the picture while “Abandon Me” by Quadeca tries to figure out why the individual he has in mind stays by him instead of turning their back on him like everyone else in his life. “Red Light” featuring Ameer Vann ends blush with both BH alumni delivering a perfect fusion of pop rap, alternative R&B & neo-soul limiting their growth for the love of their lives.

“Everybody Plays to Win” featuring Ameer Vann & Love Spells starts the deluxe run asking how they can be forgiven & not fall astray while “Medicine” by Ameer Vann, Drigo & Love Spells links up the 3 over synths & hi-hats feeling like their partners were sent from heaven above. The title track featuring Love Spells talks about fiending for love & others not knowing what they’ve been on while “Fall” gets Kevin handling verses by himself over a cloudy trap beat getting to the bottom of as to why a former friend turned his back on him.

AJ, Ameer Vann, Devanmanleyy, Drigo & Love Spells all clique up during “Don’t Ever Ask No N***a for Some Change” talking about flags they ignore by choice while “Oath” by Ameer Vann & Love Spells rides around town with heaters in their pockets. “MenOnTheMoon” sticks out as another Kevin solo cut jazzily feeling like he’s the only one left of himself while “Moonlight” by Ameer Vann & Love Spells talking about being painted as demons since that’s the way they’re viewed.

“On My Son” reflects on the lessons Kevin’s learned taking another moment all by himself hoping to move the way his family did soon as he wakes up the final bonus track “T.W.N.D. (That’s What N****s Do” featuring Ameer Vann & Truly Young caps off the extra batch of music with them puttin’ these snakes in on their asses if they wanna spaz out getting this money backed by horns & a repetitive Memphis-like vocal flip.

2001 was the first album that I listened to start to finish growing up in the early 2000s so when I heard blush was gonna be Kevin’s answer to that, it immediately had my interest. The final product however has a tad more highs than flaws. I love that the production goes from hip hop to alternative R&B, neo-soul, drumless, experimental hip hop, alt-pop, indietronica, bedroom pop & pop rap in a cohesive manner although the lack of Kevin performances make it feel more like a compilation.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Pi’erre Bourne – “Made in Paris” review

South Carolina producer, rapper, songwriter & engineer Pi’erre Bourne finally making up for the 15-month delay of his 4th studio LP. Becoming one of the most in demand beatsmiths in hip hop today off Playboi Carti’s “Magnolia”, he’s also made a name for himself on the mic by dropping 10 mixtapes as well as a couple EPs & 3 full-length albums. Grails was a short yet highly favorable collection of Pi’erre’s most anticipated solo tracks & with the 2-year anniversary of that passing a couple months back, Interscope Records has at long last allows him to recount a trip to France he made in the form of Made in Paris.

Splitting the intro “Façade” into 2 different sections, the first “Inside” wishes his uncle who did the spoken word intro was still here to see him today & the other “Alone” remembers his late grandmother along with flexing that he has more Soss than Ragu. The warm synthesizers on “Le Vôtre” make for one of my personal favorite instrumentals on the whole entire album talking about 2 hoes never feeling right with him while “Bon Appétit” takes a pop rap turn wanting his partner to eat him alive.

“J.B.H. (Just Being Honest)” featuring Young Nudy pairs the 2 over a syrupy plugg beat feelin’ like people are still doubting them as artists leading into “La Loi, C’est La Loi” trying to tell this woman how much he misses her when she doesn’t wanna hear it over an accordion. “Bleu” hooks up these organs tackling the issue of not knowing he would leave a chick heartbroken after trying to save their love while “Temps de Chasse” talks about not wanting to fuck around with his life anymore & the grass not being as greener on the other side.

The 2nd & final single “Pop” opens up regarding the kind of relationships he’s had in the past blending pop rap & trap with cloud rap while “Retraite” combines the colorfully atmospheric Good Movie outtake “Kit Kat” with an original latter half “Playground” turning up the rage. “En été” digs up these fuzzy synthesizers flexing his gains not that he’s playing his cards right while “Rapunzel” recaptures the themes of lust once again.

“J’adore” addresses his current love life referencing WWE Hall of Famer, 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, the inaugural 6-time TNA World Champion, TNA X Division Champion & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Kurt Angle & “Toot It Up” might be my favorite song here only because of the plugg instrumental & NOT because of the Timbaland line due to his ongoing AI tomfoolery.

Reaching the final leg, “Violette” meshes these acoustics & quirky synths with one another making reference to Futurama in light of it’s upcoming 10th season on The Walt Disney Company-owned hulu later this summer until “Blocs” proved to be a fun pop rap/trap lead single talking about being on the block when he was younger. “L’amour” offers a bit of a pluggnb vibe speaking to a woman he seems completely dependent on & “Sait” promises to give his girl everything but a wedding ring.

Recharging from all the traveling & barely getting any sleep in part of making sure the visuals were presented in the best possible way he wanted, Made in Paris pushes Pi’erre back in the spotlight with the most vital album of his career & one that captures his growth more than Good Movie did. Inspired by a trip to Paris a year or 2 ago, he takes some ideas that he’s had going far back as 2019 or presently & uses them together resulting in the most consistent LP in his canon since The Life of Pi’erre 4 & The Life of Pi’erre 5.

Score: 4.5/5

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