Valid – “Peach Brandy” review

This is the 3rd full-length solo LP from Detroit emcee Valid. Introducing himself properly in 2015 with Reach High, he would follow it up in 2019 getting more personal on the sophomore effort Mihajlo which I personally would recommend to anyone as the best place to start for anyone who wants to get up on Valid’s music & eventually the Plum Brandy EP only 9 months later. He would go on to make an entrance theme for the current WWE NXT Champion Ethan Page during his AEW run, later forming Bill & Isiah with Stretch Money over a year ago & putting out an acclaimed eponymous debut. Only 5 months since his debut mixtape The Bronko Tape, we’re now being treated to Peach Brandy as the main course.

“Peach Killer” is a classy boom bap opener to the album talking about letting the cosmos control his destiny whereas “There He Is” works in pianos along with more kicks & snares referring to himself as the motherfucker that those doubted most. “1 of a Kind” kinda has a jazzier boom bap quality to the beat so he can talk about the life he living ain’t like anything else just before “Places” hooks up a solemn sample setting out to reinvent in the renaissance city.

Bill & Isiah link back up for “9 to 5” hopping over a vocal flip to brag that it be looking like they selling dope when their music careers are taking off in actuality leading into the celebratory “May 6” talking about how his circle wasn’t even supposed to make it & engaging in a gangsta ass tradition. “Never Question” goes into pop rap territory tackling themes of romance, but then “The One Who Decides” brings some strings in the picture & some of his most captivating storytelling yet.

“Plush” featuring Boog Brown gives off a more playful tone aesthetically encouraging everyone to put ‘em up high while “Sci-Non-Fi” turns the jazz influences back up confessing that he feels like he’s in a weird place making it look like he in space. “Cigareta” featuring Jon Connor & Philmore Greene returns to the boom bap reminiscing as they smoke up remembering those who can’t be here while “Stara Škola” featuring BARS, Frenkie, Ghet, LD Pistolero, Random & Struka comes through with a Serbian hip hop posse cut.

Starting the encore of Peach Brandy, the song “Nirdala” groovily talks about everyone chasing cash & success in the the midst of the never-ending battle between good & evil while the penultimate track “This Day” blends vibraphones along with kicks & snares trying to stay optimistic even when he isn’t in the best place mentally. “Graycious” lastly ends the LP with a bit of a west coast homage from the funky instrumental to the Zapp-inspired background vocals feeling gracious.

In case you didn’t know, everything that made Plum Brandy the heartfelt EP in Valid’s discography showcasing his Serbian roots with a heavy amount of ex-Yugoslavian samples makes it’s way onto Peach Brandy & even taking it a step further than the predecessor a month before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The concept of his Serbian heritage is being re-explored in a bigger, full-length capacity allowing himself & the producers to do more with the cards that’re dealt in comparison to The Bronko Tape’s raw homage to Bronko Lubich.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Big B – “Wellness Check” review

Everyone’s favorite Las Vegas, Nevada hooligan Big B is back for his 8th LP. Starting out as the frontman for 187, he would go on to join OPM following the demise of 187 & become a household name for the infamous California powerhouse Suburban Noize Records just a couple years later. His first 3 solo albums High Class White Trash, White Trash Renegade & More to Hate would become some of my favorite releases that the label has ever put out. Last we heard from B was during the pandemic when he dropped his comeback album Welcome to the Club & since reuniting with Michael Bradford on Members Only roughly 16 months ago, it’s only right for a Wellness Check.

After the titular intro, the first song “Time” is a fun boom bap opener to the Vegas Hooligan’s first full-length in 4 talking about life moving as fast as it is whereas the lead single “Sidecar” featuring G. Love, Peachole & Special Sauce goes reggae-pop embracing the boundless journey of life & extends the invitation to like-minded souls to partake in joy & fulfillment. “Loser” takes the pop rap route aesthetically explaining that someone’s gotta lose in order for someone else to win prior to the stripped-back “Further” talking about being unsure as to where he’s going & that it can’t be like last time.

“Broke AF” featuring the Common Kings dabbles into pop punk territory explaining that it really isn’t that much of a crime to enjoy yourself every once & a while leading into the electronic dance/hip hop hybrid “Fuck You” revolves itself around a breakup being done with a woman who wasn’t by his side giving him nothing but broken promises. “Slow Down” featuring The Aggrolites & The Debonaires assures over horns that they ain’t got time for nobody’s bullshit whatsoever just before the rap rock joint “F.2.T.F. (Foot 2 the Floor)” talks about doing the best with the cards he was dealt.

Peachole returns for the upbeat track inspired “Shinjuku Hotel” providing a dedication for his people rather than his peers while the summery “Drugs & Alcohol” reminds y’all exactly how he feels about both of those things. “2 Choices” featuring Merkules was a fun, party-starting choice of a 2nd single explaining that there’s no time for excuses since the bullshit will be useless in the end while “Fallin’” dabbling with trap acknowledging that he’s said he’ll never change, but he just might have to.

“Sparks” nears the end of the Wellness Check mixing hip hop & reggae explaining that everything will be ok & not wanting to see this person run away tonight sticking by their sides putting in as much effort to making it right as possible while the final single “Pretend” featuring Killer Mike embraces rap rock once again telling people to live their lives as much as they can due to the fact that some really don’t know what happens when we’re not here anymore. “Simple Song” concludes B’s first album in 4 years throwing it back to the Welcome to the Club having a duct-taped broken heart & a 5th of whiskey when it falls apart.

Surrounded by organic inspiration, Big B lets the world who knows him as a recording artist that he’s doing great & for those who wrote him off, he’s here again to say a few things & celebrate where he is now. Not only does it serve as a multi-dimensional narrative about B’s current station in life intentionally crafting a hodgepodge of musical styles dipping into realms of hip hop, punk, acoustic songwriting, ska & harkens to a signature SoCal sound that simultaneously evokes a sense of ease, nostalgia & forward motion.

Score: 3.5/5

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

DJ Mustard – “Faith of a Mustard Seed” review

DJ Mustard is a 34 year old producer, DJ, songwriter, record executive & rapper from Los Angeles, California known for being a pioneer of the ratchet music scene. He sure enough embarked on a solo career almost a decade ago by releasing 10 Summers through Roc Nation Records & Republic Records, both of whom would also put out the sophomore effort Cold Summer. Mustard later departed following the mixed reception that his first couple LPs to form his own label 10 Summers Records & enlisted Interscope Records to distribute the more well-received Perfect 10 & considering that he produced one of the biggest singles of the year “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar a few months ago, it raised the anticipation for his 4th album higher.

“Show Me the Way” by Kirk Franklin is a gospel opener advising not letting anything take your faith in God from you whereas “Up Now” by the BlueBucksClan, Lil Yachty & 42 Dugg works in synths & hi-hats to talk about making it out of the trenches. “Pressured Up” by ScHoolboy Q & Vince Staples with co-production from Terrace Martin gives off a bit of a futuristic mobb vibe for those looking to let loose during ghetto parties, but then “One of Them Ones” by Quavo & Rob49 hops over a violin-laced trap beat so both of them get boastful.

Meanwhile on “Parking Lot”, we have Travis Scott on some soulful trap shit talking about being as hard as Scott La Rock leading into “A Song for Mom” by Ty$ following the “7 to 7” skit for an R&B jam dedicated to all the mothers out in the world. “Worth a Heartbreak” by A Boogie wit da Hoodie & Blxst returns for a symphonic trap flare to the beat discussing that they both deserve nothing less than real just before the lavish “Truth Is” by Roddy Ricch rides through the night with his high beams ons.

“Mines” by Future melodically refuses to share his partner with anyone else taking her on vacation while “1 Bad Decision” by Ella Mai & Roddy Ricch crosses over pop rap & R&B firing rounds to the point where 911 has to be called. “Yak’s Prayer” by Kodak Black is this soulful/trap hybrid talking about the streets scarring people while the laidback “Ghetto” by Lil Durk & Young Thug talks about the being hood nearly every day of the week. “Pray for Me” ends Faith of a Mustard Seed with DJ Mustard himself giving a jab at rapping for 10 whole minutes.

15 years in the game & numerous hits under his belt spanning present day, what DJ Mustard has given us in Faith of a Mustard Seed has become an inspiring & deeply personal project that encapsulates his growth & dedication since. His sound being the ratchet scene has certainly expanded in that span of time from pop rap to R&B, gospel music, soul music, trap, orchestral music & mobb music allowing a consistent guest list to handle the performances up until the closer.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Trizz – “Cavi En Cursive” review

This is the 6th full-length LP from Los Angeles, California emcee Trizz. Picked up a microphone at the age of 9, it wasn’t until his late teens where he properly introduced himself to a wider audience in the form of his debut mixtape Suicide with No Note followed by New West & The Right to Bear Arms before being taken under the wing of Sacramento horrorcore veteran Brotha Lynch Hung by signing to Madesicc Muzicc for a brief period of time. He would later go on to drop 5 more tapes, 5 full-lengths, 5 EPs, 5 collab projects with Chuuwee, 1 with Flashy B, another with Sahtyre & another with Ouija Macc all within the last decade. Much like the critically acclaimed Baseline Cavi, he & former Strange Music in-house producer MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 are sticking together for Cavi En Cursive.

“Calligraphy” starts up the Baseline Cavi sequel on some jazzy boom bap shit talking about seeing the road clear as day before even mapping it whereas “Baseline” featuring T.F takes the eerier route instrumentally reminding everyone that both of them be running shit in the west coast. “Givin’ It Up” goes full-blown g-funk to talk about how he feels like soaking it all in or livin’ it up, but then “Alpine” hooks the kicks & snares up again to portray the gangsta lifestyle.

Pomona Drey & Traffic join Trizz for the funky, boom bap hybrid “Curb Service” serving music to the fiends like crack addicts leading into the smooth “Figure 8z” talking about cruisin’ down Baseline bangin’ his own music in the whip. “Type Shit” featuring 2-11 emphasizes a darker atmosphere further keeping the kicks & snares in tact talking about the shit they be on just before “Broken En 2” samples “Walk on By” by the late Isaac Hayes assuring he’s still getting it even though he ain’t rich.

“Arrogant” switches gears into trap territory with some g-funk undertones so he can talk about wearing his arrogance with pride starts the 2nd leg of Cavi En Cursive while “Moonlight” jumps over drumless jazz loop expressing how good it feels to be high in the sky. “Cream” featuring Blu returns to the boom bap once again to be all about the bread like the almighty Wu-Tang Clan while “O & a Half” featuring Flee Lord breaks down the lives they live on top of a mellow beat.

Brotha Lynch Hung reconnects with his protégé for “Truth Sells” brings the kicks & snares back as both of them talk about their imperfections having to study & learn the game while the syrupy “Fighting Temptations” details the depression that he goes through time to time. “Free Fall” nears the end of the LP with another jazzy boom bap instrumental looking to mediate since he be overthinking & “Die for Something” featuring T.F soulfully closes Cavi En Cursive trying to get money & profiting.

It’s already to the point now where I can say that Baseline Cavi has already cemented itself as my favorite album that Trizz has put out & the sequel here is almost as great from top to bottom. Even if it has a bit more features than the predecessor did couple years back, 7’s production has a heavier west coast vibe in the midst of demonstrating his range from boom bap & trap to drumless & jazz rap excellently suiting Trizz’ west coast gangsta lyricism no differently than last time.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Ouija Macc – “Darcc Planet” review

Las Vegas emcee Ouija Macc has returned a year after Detritus for his 4th LP. Breaking out in the fall of 2017 after the Insane Clown Posse signed him to Psychopathic Records shortly after putting out his debut EP Trashfire independently, Ouija has since proven himself as the hatchet’s biggest solo act dropping his last 3 full-lengths, 2 greatest hits compilations, 8 mixtapes & 4 EPs all in the span of nearly 7 years. He even started his own label Chapter 17 Records & made the big homie HEXXX the first signee to putting out his first 2 classic west coast wicked shit albums Demon Season & Tales of a Cursed G before amicably fulfilling all contractual obligations with the Psychopathic subsidiary last fall. Darby O’Trill is now the only C17 artist other than Ouija, teaming up with each other back in April for the excellent collab effort Anemoia few months ago. Now that he near-perfectly completed the Elements series on Stalewind during the Gathering of Dreams, it’s finally time for the Darcc Planet to ascend 6 months following Corruptus & performing at a JCW Lunacy taping a couple months ago.

After the “Signal Interruption Event” intro, the first song “Psychocidal” starts off with a murky trap instrumental from Devereaux detailing the psycho sick mentality that Ouija posses whereas “Macc Mode” steals from the rich & kills a pig for them cuffs at the wrist further embracing a morbid atmosphere. “Labiaplasty” works in some bells & hi-hats explaining that all the killers know they ain’t coming back, but then the rubbery “Baton” produced by Shaggytheairhead talks about the type psycho shit that Chapter 17 & Psychopathic are on.

“Sin City” brings a misty trap flare to the beat reminding everyone exactly where he came from just before “Boomshaka” serves as a uniquely crafted sequel to “Chicken Huntin’” & that brings a huge smile to my face since the Slaughterhouse remix of which ranks amongst the greatest ICP songs of all-time. “Last Laugh” embraces a manic trap direction instrumentally wanting to know who they laughin’ at exactly while “Sun Don’t Shine” ends the first half on some emo rap shit talking about life getting dark.

To start Darcc Planet’s other leg, “Juggular Vein” gives the juggalos & the underground in general music to be buried by while the 5 & a half minute “For the Tombstone (When I Go)” serves as one of the most chilling moments here & one of the best Ouija songs ever sounding like he conceived it as a parting open letter for when day comes where he’s no longer with us. “Murder Dance” infernally admits that C17 ain’t for everyone & Psychopathic being the set while “Moonlit Dungeon” morbidly talks about the hatchet forever choppin’.

“Butternuts” hauntingly welcomes listeners to the dead side while “Tropicana Ave” mixes a guitar & hi-hats talking about being fucked up to the point where he ain’t looking down. “My Luv (Sometimes)” experiments with rage beats making the pack flip & running the bag up while the cloudy “Prophet Paint” declaring the wicked clown paint as prophetic. “Deincarnation” depressingly end the album with a guitar/trap fusion hoping this his last life.

Beginning the deluxe run, “Dead Bitches” murkily talks about runnin’ through 34 dead hoes while “Gotta Have It” goes for a bouncier trap approach keeping the hatchet on his hip for the static & being an addict. “Poltergas” turns the trap metal influences up again talking about something controlling him while the morbidly atmospheric “Meht kcuF” gives the middle finger to everyone who’s been hating on him since becoming the biggest solo artist ICP ever signed.

“Talk It Now” fuses a sample & hi-hats continuing to go at the throats of everyone dismissing C17 while the cloudier “Murder Everything” sets out to literally slaughter everyone & everything in his path. “What’s Up” is another bell/trap joint making sure the club is burnt down & shot up by the time he pulls up & the final bonus track “Losing My Mind” ahead of the “Forbidden Signal Event” outro tells the story of a naked man shot dead on a Saturday because he was gnawing off another man’s face.

Stalewind for the past couple years has quickly become my favorite LP of the 4 that Ouija has dropped & Darcc Planet sure enough reaches the same caliber that the final installment of the Elements series reached at the Gathering of Dreams. As the title suggests, it’s the darkest material that the C17 CEO has ever conceived on his own since branching out on solo in 2017 & you can hear how much he’s artistically grown since.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Childish Gambino – “Bando Stone & the New World” review

California actor, writer, rapper, comedian, singer, DJ, director, producer & former FX hit series Atlanta creator Donald Glover or Childish Gambino finally following up Atavista with his 5th & final full-length LP. In only 2 decades, he’s also put out a couple EPs & 7 mixtapes in addition to all his other albums. The 2 that stand out the most are the sophomore effort Because the Internet released on my 17th birthday & the 2016 follow-up “Awaken, My Love” pulling heavy influence from the Parliament-Funkadelic collective. 3.15.20 was randomly released during the beginning of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in an unfinished state only to be finalized & reissued as Atavista recently, which most people including myself decided they’d rather wait for Bando Stone & the New World.

“H3@RT$ W3RE M3@NT T0 F7¥” featuring Amaarae is a self-produced industrial hip hop opener dissing those who did him greasy & still being on whereas the lead single “Lithonia” works in elements of alternative rock, pop rock, post-grunge, art rock & glam rock telling the story of Cody LeRae. “Survive” featuring Chlöe is a beautiful hip hop/neo-soul crossover tryna save their lives since summer’s always coming leading into “Steps Beach” singing over a stripped back instrumental from Steve Lacy talking about wanting to walk the beach on a Saturday.

Amaarae & Flo Milli join Gambino to the trap joint “Talk My Shit” so all 3 of them can boast on the lyrical side of things just before “Got to Be” turns the industrial influences all the way back up talking about 2020 being his time. “Real Love” takes a electropop/dance-pop route to the beat hoping that everyone listening gets to feel genuine love at some point in their lives, but then “In the Night” featuring Amaarae & Jorja Smith fuses alternative R&B with alté as well as gqom & alt-pop singing about needing each other at night.

“Yoshinoya” concludes the first half of Bando Stone & the New World with a 2-parter showing a bit of a Ye formerly known as Kanye West influence sticking around similarly to the titular Japanese multinational fast food chain while “Can You Feel Me?” featuring Legend Glover is a heartwarming moment on the album where father & son singing together referencing the alphabet in every verse. The 8-minute rollercoaster ride “No Excuses” goes neo-soul singing about receiving cold love while “Cruisin’” featuring Yeat produced by DJ Dahi, Ludwig Göransson, Michael Uzowuru & Donald himself brings a synth-trap vibe to the table living their dreams since this dreamin’ ain’t enough.

Meanwhile on the atmospheric “We Are God”, we have Gambino singing about being inseparable flying through the dark while “Running Around” featuring Fousheé blends soul & rock going crazy during the weekend. The track “Dadvocate” goes for another stripped back approach tackling fatherhood & after the “Happy Survival” interlude, “A Place Where Love Goes” concludes the Childish Gambino chapter of Donald’s life with 1 more EDM joint going wherever love does.

In contrast to a lot of artists saying they’re gonna retire from music & later coming back, it really does feel like the end of Childish Gambino since it’s not fun for him anymore & what a way for him to go out. We get a concept album revolving around a singer named Bando Stone stumbling into a post-apocalyptic world before teaming up with a woman & her son to fight prehistoric creatures & try to escape from an unexplained phenomenon that seems to delete “chunks” of the world blending experimental hip hop, neo-soul, psychedelic soul, neo-psychedelia, rock music, electronic dance music, alternative R&B, alté, gqom & alt-pop.

Score: 4.5/5

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

JT – “City Cinderella” review

JT is a 31 year old rapper from Miami, Florida who rose to mainstream attention in 2017 as 1/2 of the City Girls with Yung Miami. They put out 3 full-length albums & a mixtape together under Quality Control Music, disbanding after R.A.W. (Real Ass Whores)completely wiped everything else they did in the past & an actually good note for them to end on. Even if both parties think it underperformed due to poor management & bad timing. It still makes sense that the duo split off after it was announced they were featured on “Dade County Dreaming” off Camila Cabello’s latest Geffen/Interscope debut C,XOXO since their solo careers have already been getting more attention as it is & Lil Uzi Vert’s partner since 2019 seems to be stepping up to the plate first.

Take a Daytrip get JT’s official solo debut rolling by cooking up a gospel trap instrumental on the standout opener “Hope” explaining that she’s still the same bitch & ain’t shit changed after the City Girls’ breakup whereas “Brick Talk” has more an hypnotizing flare to the beat talking about the drug game. “Oh” vibrantly tells all the hoes how they want it & that her time is finally here prior to “Servin’” working in some pianos & hi-hats telling y’all to look at how she be working it.

“D.O.D. (Dance on the Dick)” goes for a Middle Eastern groove instrumentally thanks to Cubeatz talking about how she’s never ran away from some good sex just before “Lemon Pepper” featuring Stunna Girl returns to the piano trap route allowing both of them to show out. “Swang” samples “Stay a Little While, Child” by Loose Ends telling everyone who has a problem with her to swing on her if they cross paths leading into “90s Baby” produced by Buddah Bless talking about being born in early December of 1992 which I can relate to since I myself was born 4 years after.

OG Parker, G. Ry & Rogét Chahayed bring some synthesizers & hi-hats to the table on another favorite track “Uncle Al” providing an anthem that all the bad bitches can vibe to in the midst of partying while “Sideways” fuses Detroit trap & mobb music talking about the fact that she isn’t as friendly as it seems. “Okay” featuring Jeezy on the remix blends crunk & bop assuring they’re both doing better these days, but then “JT Coming” jumps over a vigorous beat to talk about being in the gym doin’ squats in her YeezyPods which is awesome since I myself have a pair & they’re comfortable as Hell.

The song “All Stars” featuring one of the biggest up-&-comers in the cloud rap scene Clip nears the end of City Cinderella embracing the latter’s sound with the help of none other than Clams Casino since he’s generally known for that expressing their love for high fashion while the penultimate track “Red Flowers” flexes about scamming a bitch near Trump Towers in New York over horns. Last but not least, “Star of the Show” ends the LP going chipmunk soul talking about the fake hoes hating & the real bitches loving it.

If City Cinderella proves anything to me, it’s that the torch for fly girls everywhere is still being carried even though the City Girls as a duo are no more. The album provides listeners with insights into how JT became the artist that she is presently with flows that reflect the influence of some of the South’s biggest personalities from one of the big 3 trap pioneers Gucci Mane to Miami’s very own Rick Ross & prominent trap production backing her with additional elements of Detroit trap, mobb music, crunk, bop, cloud rap & chipmunk soul.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Astray – “Made It Out Alive” review

This is the 5th full-length LP from Detroit emcee/producer Astray. Making a name for himself at the beginning of the current millennium off a self-titled debut, he continued to follow this up with Hungry as well as Who’s Coming with Me? & my personal favorite Daydreaming at a Green Light. From there, local veteran Eminem signed him to his Interscope Records imprint Shady Records for a publishing deal up until his official departure earlier on in the year. Whitney Peyton launched her own indie label Alpha Howse after leaving Suburban Noize Records a while back & after making him one of the first 2 signees, Astray’s happy as anyone he Made It Out Alive.

“Avalanche” is a self-produced boom bap opener advising to put your eyes where they can see to put on a show for you whereas the title track has a grimier tone working in more kicks & snares expressing his gratitude for still being here today. “1 Eye Open” gives off a desponding boom bap vibe instrumentally talking about a keeping with 1 eye closed & the other open prior to “Kimbo Slice” ruggedly likening himself to the late MMA figure who fought in the both Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) & temporarily in the UFC division of the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings

Meanwhile on “Pack of Wolves”, we have the entire Alpha Howse roster coming together for a raw posse cut showcasing what they’re capable of just before “Cut Throat” returns to the boom bap thanks to Pig Pen talking about being here with a vengeance. “Breaking the Law” featuring Willy Northpole & Bag of Tricks Cat experiments with cloudy trap looking to commit some crimes leading into “Art of War” hooks the kicks & snares back up bringing it hardcore. “Lift the Sorrow” featuring Blumoon ends the album speaking from the heart about gun violence.

Being someone that’s been following Astray since the Shady publishing deal, it makes me happy to see Whitney expanding her new indie label & Made It Out Alive certainly makes the case for the Alpha Howse label growing stronger on top of looking forward to Willy Northpole’s upcoming Alpha Howse debut Broadway Theatre next month. The production’s mostly boom bap centered & the Detroit emcee expresses his gratitude for still being here today.

Score: 4/5

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

Freeway – “The Stimulus Package 2” review

Philadelphia emcee Freeway returning after 6 years for his 8th full-length LP. A longtime friend of Beanie Sigel, he subsequently became a member of State Property & signed to Roc-A-Fella Records/Def Jam Recordings after appearing on “1-900-Hustler” off The Dynasty: Roc La Familia. His own solo debut Philadelphia Freeway became a classic of its own mostly produced by Just Blaze, Bink! & Ye formerly known as Kanye West eventually taking 4 years off to later return on the 2007 sophomore effort Free at Last departing the imploding Roc-A-Fella not too long afterwards. Philadelphia Freeway 2 was a mediocre sequel to his debut & the Rhymesayers Entertainment- backed The Stimulus Package produced by Jake One saw itself as a return to form. Babygrande Records helped put out to Diamond in the Ruff & Free Will to moderate reception until Roc Nation Records interestingly enough signing Freeway for Think Free following a kidney transplant. The Stimulus Package 2 on the contrary had me highly anticipating it living up to its predecessor & his first 2 major label efforts since I enjoy the initial Stimulus Package as much as the latter couple.

Conway the Machine joins Freeway for the jazzy opener “Time” coming clean that it’s been quite a while since we’ve last heard from Free whereas “Philly” featuring Peedi Crakk works in a soul sample so both of them can talk about their hometown. “My Own” featuring Sauce Walka continues the sampling of soul music calling themselves different individuals in a pitiful game leading into “Keep Winning” featuring Black Thought uniting the pair over a dusty instrumental catching Ws.

“Price of Fame” soulfully talks about what the cost of success for him was just before “Lord Forgive Me” sets out to stay on his grind & to let the 9 off if anyone crosses him or the squad. “Freezer” mixes strings with kicks & snares talking about getting his nickname for the fact that he’s been cold for 20 winters at this point in his career, but then the horn-infused “Ringin’” featuring Jadakiss talks about the street life being illusion & that they took a better way out.

Meanwhile on “Heartbreaker”, we have Freeway somberly describing himself as the king of breaking hearts while the summery sample throughout “Nothin’ They Can Do” fits perfectly for him to deliver some east coast Benz music. “Crystals & Keys” featuring Scholito soulfully portrays the life of chandeliers & grand pianos while “Bearded Legend” hooks up a gospel flip addressing those who wanna see him drown. “Surgery” featuring Symba nears the conclusion of The Stimulus Package 2 providing an anthem for the hurting hearts that is until the official closer represents the children of the Roc-A-Fella “Family Tree”.

His output in the last 14 years for me personally have generally come across as average & as I expected, The Stimulus Package 2 has to be the most I’ve enjoyed an album from Free since the predecessor joining that & both his Roc-A-Fella offerings as the most essential standouts in his discography. Jake One’s production here is more consistent than the last 3 that the Philly Freezer gave us & lyrically, the State Property member remains focused in reminding the culture of his legacy.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Rich the Kid – “Life’s a Gamble” review

Rich the Kid is a 31 year old rapper & songwriter from College Park, Georgia notable for being the founder of Rich Forever Music. Following the debut mixtape Been About the Benjamins, he would catch the attention of the local Quality Control Music & signed a distribution deal with them for his next 6 tapes. The World is Yours along with it’s sequel distributed by Interscope Records were both mediocre in their own rights & the Republic Records-backed Boss Man was his worst album yet. His opening verse on the hit single “Carnival” ended up being more enjoyable than I thought it would & now that Rich Forever Music signed a new distribution deal with gamma., Rich is finally releasing his 4th album independently executively produced by ¥$.

The intro starts off hopping over a trap instrumental with the sound of a clock ticking refusing to pause whereas “Gimme a Second” featuring Peso Pluma & produced by DJ Durel links the pair together so they can flex. “Not in the Mood” featuring Offset takes a bouncier route instrumentally dissing everyone out of the loop leading into “New Chanel” going off-the-cuff for about a minute & a half explaining that he’s a big dog that can never be belittled.

“Upside Down” featuring French Montana darkly finds the 2 looking to flip the club off it’s axis while the hyphy joint “Back Then” talking about never feeling like he’s actually make it out & them thinking he was cappin’ in the early days until all the success came. “Louie Coat” featuring Chief Keef kinda has this uncanny atmosphere that Murda Beatz provides showing off their new coats from Louis Vuitton, but then the d.a. got that dope piano-driven “Band Man” continues to boast his wealth.

BIA joins Rich for the exuberant trap cut “Like Yoga” to talk about making a scene like Doja Cat out here just before the cloudy “Hold On” asks how one would doubt him with all the plaques that he has on the wall giving them racks to riches. “Tell Me” featuring Young Adz continues to emphasize on atmosphere asking who else got the hood trappin’ than them while the “Gimme a Second” remix has a simpler beat from Ye formerly known as Kanye West, The Legendary Traxster & Digital Nas in addition to a new ¥$ verse.

“Keep It Exclusive” featuring Quavo woozily tells the listeners not to sleep on the gang while the synth-heavy “Sometimes” admits that he has moments where he would rather want to be himself instead of a rapper. “No Mileage” somberly talks about being unable to trust anyone while “Plain Jane” featuring Ye comes straight from the DONDA 2 sessions boasting their wealth once more. “Rocking & Rolling” ends the album hopping over another cloudy instrumental that Supah Mario cooked up saying he can’t be stopped.

Other than “New Freezer” or “Carnival”, I’ve never really been a fan of Rich the Kid myself since all 3 of his previous albums (more specifically Boss Man) have proven how much of a nonessential character & Life’s a Gamble makes a slight cut above everything he’s done as his best full-length yet albeit not by much. Some of the features punch under their weight, the production’s just ok & Rich himself as performer doesn’t excite me as he did on 2 of the biggest singles of his career.

Score: 1.5/5

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