BVA – “The Dam Builder” review

This is the 3rd full-length LP from Glastonbury, Somerset, England, United Kingdom emcee BVA. Coming up as a member of The 4 Owls as well as Brothers of the Stone & the 3 Amigos, he’s also given us a couple albums & EPs of his own over the course of this past decade with the 2021 sophomore effort Lex Neville under his own label Real Life Drama Records & his first EP BVA MC standing out the most of the few solo efforts under his belt. However after learning that Leaf Dog was fully producing The Dam Builder after dropping When Sleeping Giants Wake a month ago, I went into it expecting to surpass everything BVA had done previously.

After the intro, the first song “Charge It to the Game” officially begins the album with a soulful boom bap instrumental talking about being heartless in the face yet the calmest in his lane whereas “New Days” featuring Verb T takes the jazzier route explaining that it ain’t ever same as older days. “Out Here” featuring Benny the Butcher & Leaf Dog returns to the boom bap so they can talk about being raised outside leading into Leaf sticking around on the mic for “8 Bit Tales” dustily telling freaky tales like Too $hort.

“Desire” brings a whimsical boom bap vibe to the beat talking about there still a fire even when it’s cold ahead of Leaf Dog returning inside the booth once again for the orchestral “Take It Easy” likening the instrumental hitting like a wake & bake. “Nice n Crispy” works in more kicks, snares & orchestra elements to say shit like this is what makes them say these type of days be some of the best just before “1 in the Ashtray” talking about getting stoned during the day pretty much as soon as he wakes up.

Meanwhile on “Flying Daggers”, we have BVA over more classical flavored boom bap production refusing to allow anyone to burst his bubble while the solemnly “Dreamer” talking about how it don’t cost shit to be nice & people having their heads up in the clouds rather than in their vices. “Lost” has a soulful boom bap flare instrumentally explaining that every one of us is lost looking for a way out while “Over the Edge” takes a second checking what he knows in his head over more kicks & snares.

“Couple Clues” luxuriously observes the humor in these kids being told they were special & reality cutting them like sharp metal as they grew up while the organ-laced “Curse of the Liquor” insightfully breaking down the cons of alcoholism. “Still Rowing” soulfully talks about your respect owing while “Mightier Than the Sword” mixed a crooning sample with kicks & snares likening himself to a beast in his lair calling the feeling home sweet home.

Ramson Badbonez joins BVA on “Hiding in Plain Sight” continuing the sampling of soul music cautioning not to trust the government, the lawmakers or pharmaceuticals while the track “The Medecine” featuring Leaf Dog brings back the strings throwing kicks & snares on top of them explaining that it was never about anything else. And prior to the outro, the final song “Always Something” featuring Leaf Dog ends the LP brushing bad things off like nothing over organs.

His last couple albums have been a tad bit overloaded with the guests, but BVA really tones it down for The Dam Builder resulting in living up to my expectations outdoing B.V.A. (Be Very Aware) under High Focus Records & Lex Neville in becoming my new favorite solo effort in his discography a couple months after the Grizzled Young Veterans became the new RPW British Tag Team Champions. Leaf Dog’s production fuses the raw drum patterns of the traditional boom bap sound with samples along with strings & organs so BVA provides some of his most focused performances.

Score: 4/5

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

Daniel Son & Raz Fresco – “Northside” review

Here we have a brand new collaborative LP between Toronto, Ontario, Canada emcees Daniel Son & Raz Fresco. The latter of whom I was introduced to during my freshman year of high school off the strength of his feature on former Odd Future member Ace Hashimoto’s 5th mixtape All Day DeShay: AM & the other coming to my radar at the tail-end of 2019 linking up with Futurewave for his classic sophomore effort Yenaldooshi. We’ve heard both these guys together on numerous occasions such as the songs “Dirty Dozens” & “Big Bird”, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that they’re turning things up a couple notches on Northside.

To get us started, “Ice Water” works in a sample with kicks & snares talking about how cold it is where they’re from going back & forth with one another whereas the title track serves as a dusty ode to all the lock-breakers & Glock bleeders from where people get even instead of getting old. “W.C.H.M.F. (Who Can’t Hear Must Feel)” incorporates a string sample explaining that somebody eventually gonna get burned wherever there’s smoke while “Lawyer Fees” soulfully makes some noise in the studio.

“Rusty” featuring Gritfall brings a groovier flare to the beat talking about trying to get rich, but then “Frostbite” goes into soulfully drumless turf referring to themselves as trailblazers where the path is empty. “Last Minute” returns to the boom bap so both of them can bring you a different flavor on some court-side shit just before “What’s the Mission?” comes through with an atmospheric albeit dusty vibe explaining that the mission both of them are on is to get paid.

Nearing the conclusion of Northside, the calmingly drumless penultimate track “Watch Ya Mouth” flips the iconic Jeru the Damaja single “Ya Playin’ Yaself” warning everyone near their vicinities to watch what comes out their mouths that is until “Forks on the Road” closes up shop returning to the boom bap using the titular metaphor to talk about being unsure which way to take & that they must keep going.

Physics of Filth & Bite the Bullet with Asun Eastwood have been my favorites from Daniel Son when it comes to collaboration projects with another MC & now Northside has surpassed them both on top of being my new favorite Raz Fresco collab effort. The sound that the latter goes for like wearing a northface jacket in a snowstorm in the sense that it’s but with a feeling of warmth on the inside, but they also pay homage to the deep hip hop roots in Toronto & add on to that legacy with another solid contribution of art that continues to push the culture forward.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Courtney Bell – “Microdose” review

Courtney Bell is a 29 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who got started in 2018 by releasing the full-length debut album 10 Commandments followed by the debut mixtape Poverty Stricken in the fall of 2020. As of lately though, he’s been taken under the mentorship of Royce da 5’9” & had an impressive guest appearance on Nickle’s 3rd EP The Heaven Experience about 15 months ago. They’re now looking to take it to the next level by not only helping Courtney land a MNRK Music Group contract, but even having Royce oversee the creation of his sophomore effort.

“For All We Know” starts us off with a cloudy instrumental talking about how this is Hell already & nobody might even be aware of it whereas “Westside” featuring Royce da 5’9” works in some ominous piano chords from The Alchemist so both of them can get in their hardcore bag lyrically. The title track has a summery trap flare to the beat flexing that he’s in his element on top of nobody being able to fuck with him, but then the heavenly “Issues” talks about being lost & life shit helping him figure it all out.

Meanwhile on “Feeling You”, we have Courtney portraying a sensual side to himself over smoother trap production while “Motion” brings a Detroit trap flare instrumentally flexing his hustle. Royce returns on the atmosphere bass-heavy “Banz” produced by Jake One to join his protege in calling out all the bitch ass n****s out there just before Nickel sticks around for the funky “Get ‘Em High” alongside LaRussell, Sol ChYld & Symba with Hit-Boy behind the boards so all 5 emcees can drop straight bars for 4 minutes representing 3 of the 4 regions within American hip hop (the midwest, the east coast & the west) & Sol ChYld making a dope reference to former 3-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, NWA National Heavyweight Champion, WWE Hall of Famer, WWE United States Champion, 2-time WCW World Tag Team Champion & 3-time WCW World Television Champion Dusty Rhodes.

“Swivel” hooks up some pianos, kicks & snares talking about keeping your head on the turn while “Bang” featuring Benny the Butcher & Royce da 5’9” brings the trio together for some rugged boom bap shit killing every rapper in their way. “Word II Conway” dustily asks what’s a soldier to a fraud & what’s the love if it’s lost while “Shit” pulls inspiration from trap again talking about what he be on. “Psalms 82” flips a gospel sample & throws some hi-hats in the mix to ring the alarm that is until the closer “Walk with Me” ends the album by soulfully talking about forfeiting if life’s a game.

To start the deluxe run, “100” featuring Icewear Vezzo gets back on the Detroit trap tip explaining that’s how much is in the safe while the somber “Late Night” talks about either finding his balance or simply coping. “Hebrews 13:6” featuring Skilla Baby contains the best Detroit trap beat on the album thanks to Helluva revolving around the titular Bible passage & the final bonus track “Brother’s Keeper” wraps up with pianos & hi-hats doing it for the ones who can’t believe they made it out the hood.

Being a lifelong Royce fan, I got put onto Courtney through his verse on “Ion Wanna” & my anticipation for Microdose was elevated after learning that Nickel was taking him under his wing. Lo & behold: His debut on MNRK marks his return after 4 years introducing himself to newer fans like myself & giving the people that’s already been following him an update as to what’s been going on in his life since. He presents a completely different perspective on music & his life altogether after taking that time off prioritizing his mental health & this LP will surely help others going forward.

Score: 4/5

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

Mach-Hommy – “#RichAxxHaitian” review

I believe this is the 6th proper full-length studio album from Newark, New Jersey wordsmith Mach-Hommy. Breaking out in 2017 when he dropped his sophomore album H.B.O. (Haitian Body Odor) under Griselda Records, he & Tha God Fahim fell out with them shortly after only to reconcile at the end of 2020 & then Mach returned to the label the following spring for the finest achievement in his discography thus far: Pray for Haiti. He then followed it up that same winter with Balens Cho & now only a couple years after the Triz Saga, the Haitian-American emcee is looking to commemorate Haitian Flag Day by releasing #RichAxxHaitian the day prior.

After the “(…)” intro, the first song “Antonomasia” featuring Roc Marciano starts with both MCs perfectly going back & forth with one another on some G shit over a drumless loop from Sadhugold whereas “Politickle” slickly admits to having a monkey on his back & that it’s rather a heavy one. “Sonje” has a bit of a mellower vibe to the beat produced by Georgia Anne Muldrow talking about flipping you like a kush bag out the mobile leading into “Padon” featuring Tha God Fahim keeps it dusty instrumental giving Raw cones since everyone wanted raps from him going to Hell & back with felons.

“Empty Spaces” featuring Your Old Droog strips the drums once again airing out everyone trying to spit the way they do except they’re tying ribbons at the wrong time & they be cutting them at the perfect end, but then “Sur le pont d’Avignon (Reparation 1)” brings a jazzier boom bap flare thanks to Conductor Williams talking about being a warrior rather than a killer. After the “Xerox Clat” interlude, “Gorgon Zoe Lan” hops over a bare sample on the verge of demonstrating a blowout just before “The Serpent & the Rainbow” keeps it drumless explaining how it’s gonna go from hereon.

Black Thought joins Mach on the piano-boom bap combination “Copy Cold” that Quelle Chris laced assuring that it’s all ok while the title track featuring 03 Greedo experiments with hip house & even pop rap thanks to KAYTRANADA detailing their luxuries. “Lon Lon” hooks up some woodwinds, kicks & snares wanting to be left alone & talking about Babylon ahead of the “Aux Bon Parfums” interlude.

“Same 24” featuring Big Cheeko these gorgeous piano chords throughout reminding that we all got the exact amount of time in our lives whether it be days or hours while “Guggenheim Jeune” ditches the drums again cautioning not to let them boys say it’s a wrap & that there’s more than 1 way to skin the cash. “Holy ____” wraps up #RichAxxHaitian on 1 more drumless cut talking about praising the lord attaching a gospel-inspired outro during it’s final moments.

Mach is no stranger to releasing music around Haitian Flag Day since he’s always worn his Haitian roots on his sleeve, but this has to be his strongest offering since Balens Cho about 2 & a half years ago. I’ve always wanted to rep for Haiti and the cultural and intellectual richness we’ve provided the world. You still get the drumless production & abstract lyricism he’s known for except he additionally ventures out into jazz rap, conscious hip hop, experimental hip hop, psychedelic rock, hip house & pop rap along the way.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Billie Eilish – “Hit Me Hard & Soft” review

Billie Eilish is a 22 year old singer/songwriter & actress from Los Angeles, California being the daughter of Maggie Baird & younger sister of her brother & producer FINNEAS. Signing to Interscope Records in 2016, her debut EP the next summer don’t smile at me was a solid electro-pop & alt-pop effort on top of her debut full-length When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? fusing the sounds of don’t smile at me with alternative R&B & the sophomore effort Happier Than Ever later primarily basing itself around alt-pop & contemporary R&B. The quality of her music has been steadily increasing with her last couple albums & that had me highly anticipating Hit Me Hard & Soft.

“Skinny” starts us off with atmospheric guitar-laced production talking about falling in love for the first time & pondering if she’s on her way out whereas “Lunch” makes a turn into groovy pop rock territory dedicating it to cunnilingus. “Chihiro” works in a funkier backdrop with some synthesizers asking if she’ll know what to say when she comes back around referencing her love for the 2001 animated masterpiece Spirited Away, but then “Birds of a Feather” ethereally talks about eternal love.

Moving on from there, “Wildflower” takes the stripped-back route instrumentally asking a woman that she often sees in the back of her mind if she crossed the line with her just before “The Greatest” keeps it primarily acoustic until crescending during the last minute & a half or so trying her best to keep her lover satisfied. The 2-part “L’amour de ma Vie” reflecting on a previous relationship she had starting calmly ahead of a dance-inspired 2nd half leading into “The Diner” incorporating heavier synthesizers talking about not being afraid of her since she’s what you need.

“Bittersuite” nears Hit Me Hard & Soft’s by giving us another 2-parter telling her partner she can’t fall in love with them no matter how badly she wants to & being left alone in her hotel suite feeling bitter hence the play on the word “bittersweet” while the closing “Blue” properly rounds out the LP with 1 final 2-part track trying to live black & white despite feeling down, confessing that she only sleeps 3 hours every night & proceeding to tell someone she doesn’t blame nor hate that she can’t save or change them.

To tie things up here, I pointed out Billie’s artistic progression with each project she’s given us in the last 7 years at the beginning of this review & this new album here takes deeming quality of her music to a brand new level. She feels much more like herself detailing who she was when she as opposed to the last couple LPs revolving around a different character. Billie even expands beyond her signature alt-pop sound whilst maintaining the additional elements of alternative R&B, indietronica & singer/songwriter by even dabbling with both indie folk & pop rock here & there.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Struggle Mike – “Honor” review

Struggle Mike is a 42 year old producer, curator, record executive & audio engineer from Buffalo, New York who introduced himself at the end of 2019 off the strength of his full-length debut Great Escape followed by Next Up as well as Wall & Progress. He eventually kept his consistency going on Ties & Struggles until signing to Black Soprano Family Records as an artist after becoming an A&R of theirs, who put out his previous couple albums IYKYK & IYDK last spring showing considerable improvements above his previous output. And with that in mind, I had a feeling the 9th LP in Mike’s could plausibly become my new favorite of his.

After the intro produced by DJ Benoit, the first song “Escobar” by Benny the Butcher & Heem brings them together over bongos from the late DJ Shay talking about feeling as if they stuck in the game whereas the title track by Lo Profile alongside Lucky 7 & Smoke Bulga goes boom bap to boast about getting bills like the Buffalo team. “Sleepless” by B.A.R.S. Murre, Eto & GoToMar$ hooks up solemn keys with kicks & snares seeing what type of man you are in daylight prior to “Body” by Jeru the Damaja, Lucky 7 & Planet Asia dustily reassures everyone how they do it all day everyday.

“Work” by Benny the Butcher, Chase Fetti& Rick Hyde keeps it boom bap talking about growing up in a society that’s already doomed within itself & after the titular interlude, “China October” by Boons & Heem mixes a Chinese sample with kicks & snares so they can get on their east-side grimy shit for a few minutes. “Gandolfini” by O.T. the Real & Rick Hyde gives me a bit of a bluesy vibe to the beat doing shit themselves when no one else would, but then “Quick” by Flames Dot Malik & Rick Hyde jumps over guitars to talk about being hustlers.

As the end of Honor draws closer, the penultimate track “Parasite” by Fuego Base & Rick Hyde goes drumless with both of them explaining everybody getting shot like they generous on top of still riding with guns since the rap game stays sketchy & even hiding from paranoia off the drugs that is until “Well I Do” by Heem & Sule ends the album returning to the boom bap for 1 more time going at the throats of the heartless that maintain a Tin Man posture & boasting about the whole Black Soprano label being cut from the same cloth.

For any B$F fan who slept-on the last couple LPs that Mike curated a year ago, you’re gonna wanna give Honor a listen since he pretty much elevates everything that made IYKYK & IYDK his finest curations thus far to a whole different level. We’re instrumentally treated to a prominent boom bap sound that a lot of the label’s artist bare with a hint of drumless, leaving most of the mic time in-house with the exception of a couple established veterans & a few collaborators from previous material.

Score: 4/5

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

Heem – “Bars & Noble” review

Here we have the sophomore full-length studio LP from Buffalo, New York emcee Heem. Catching my attention in 2020 after becoming of a protege of Benny the Butcher & signing to his MNRK Music Group imprint Black Soprano Family Records, he He also made a few appearances on the label’s showcase EP prior to dropping his debut mixtape Long Story Short & a debut EP High Art. And with his debut album From the Cradle to the Game celebrating its 1-year anniversary last weekend, it makes sense for him to follow it up by releasing Bars & Noble.

“46 Long” is a soulfully drumless beginning to the album fighting his demons with weed & Hennessy maintaining his chemistry with the killaz to whereas “Lanova’s” featuring Conway the Machine & Jae Skeese brings a jazzier boom bap flare to the table thanks to Scram Jones lethally going off top for 2 & a half minutes. “Super Gangsta” featuring Illy Foo makes a murkier turn within the instrumental talking about never backing down, but then “Pookie’s First Love” stripping the drums to profess that this crack shit got a hold of him.

Benny joins Da Steemer for “Billy Goat” hopping over a grand trap beat from Ill Tone to get back in action just before “1000 Watts” samples soul music yet again talking about doing this shit for the trenches & all the real ones that stay on the block. The title track makes a turn into eerie boom bap territory getting real with y’all leading into the dusty, hair-raising “R.N.S. (Real N***a Shit)” featuring Jay Worthy calling bluff on those who be cappin’ about the way they living.

“Life of a Gangsta” gets on his mob shit over a grim beat with kicks & snares while “The Oath” featuring Boldy James & produced by the late DJ Shay makes a soulful turn instrumentally vowing to never quit. The funky “7.62” breaks down exactly how dark & cloudy it is on his side while the piano-boom bap “1 Mic” talks about getting his mind right & his money up. “Me vs. Me” wraps things up with a soul sample dismissing any competition.

On the contrary to the idea of Heem hunkering down with a singular producer like Scram Jones or even DJ Green Lantern to fully produce an entire project for him which I think would be incredibly dope, Bars & Noble regardless stands as an enjoyable sophomore effort from the Black Soprano Family Steemer keeping the label’s continuous grind going. The production is primarily boom bap with some drumless & trap undertones, we have a brief yet mostly solid guest list & they help Heem give a dedication to the Day 1s.

Score: 3.5/5

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

The Inner Realmz – “Omnipotent” review

The Inner Realmz are a production duo from the Mojave desert of California consisting of Masta Cypher Devine & Goomson. Since the beginning of the current decade, they’ve been making waves in the west coast underground scene off their first 2 beat tapes SP 1000 and Build & Destroy followed by Low End Wizards as well as it’s sequel & Digital Chains. Goomson so happened to team up with Broke last summer for a collaborative beat tape Heavy Wreck displaying Broke’s talents behind the boards for Side A & of course Goomson on Side B except for Masta Cypher Devine doing the closer. I was however interested in their 6th beat tape since I personally found the cover art to be reminiscent of black metal music.

“Digest Culture” sets the tone of what’s to come with a 47 second spoken word intro accompanied by kicks & snares whereas “Cymatics” works in some pianos whilst keeping it dusty with the drum patterns. “Recognize Absence” mixes funk & boom bap together with a prominent flute also but after the “Therapeutics” skit, “Mighty Healthy” starts by weaving these summery guitar licks ahead of the kicks & snares coming in later on.

After the “Emulators” interlude blending spoken word & keys, “Pantheon” returns to the boom bap keeping the pianos untouched while “Neural Dust” gives off more of a hypnotically raw vibe generally. “Renowned” finishes the first half of the tape with some masterful pianism just before “Aspersion” adds the kicks & snares in the picture again that when I hear, I can’t help imagine a rainy day in Times Square or any other big city.

“Desirous” starts with a vocal intro from Guru from one of the greatest duos in the history of hip hop culture Gang Starr until we get another boom bap beat except the tone of the chords set off a somber atmosphere leading into “Radio Silence!” taking a darker, eerier turn aesthetically as the kicks & snares remain in tact. The keys on “Daily Commute” seem a tidbit peppier ahead of the downbeat/upbeat drums while “Back to Source” turns the jazz influences back up significantly.

After the “Imitators” skit, “Vesica Piscis” is another piano/boom bap crossover while “Ruggedness & Knowledge” has to be one of my favorites on the whole tape. Especially the 4-start count reminiscent of my favorite production duo of all-time The Neptunes, who unfortunately are at the opposite ends of one another over the trademark of the very name Pharrell & Chad Hugo are known as. Even the closing track “3rd Eye Spies” is a standout concluding Omnipotent aggressively.

Said it when I reviewed Stretch Money’s new EP To the West…with Love few weeks ago & I’ll say it again right now: Los Angeles will always be my 2nd homie since I myself am from Detroit & I gotta say that The Inner Realmz have a promising future as an unstoppable production duo in the underground. Each track masterfully selected and arranged jazz samples sends the brain on a mellow, trippy journey down memory lane with each hiss & crackle.

Score: 4/5

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

The Avett Brothers – Self-Titled review

Scott & Seth Avett aka The Avett Brothers are back for an eponymous 11th full-length studio album of material. Not only is it their first new music in 5 years since Closer Than Together, but it’s also their 6th under American Recordings & to be fully produced by the label’s founder Rick Rubin. Their 6th LP albeit major label debut I & Love & You turning 15 this fall is their crowning achievement in my opinion. The Carpenter as well as Magpie & the Dandelion also got some rotation during half of my high school years. And nevertheless of True Sadness & Closer Than Tougher being the weakest efforts that Seth & Scott have done with Rick, I was still interested in hearing what they’ve been up to after all this time.

“Never Apart” is a folk rock opener talking about not having to miss one another because nothing can separate them whereas “Lover of a Girl” kinda gives of a funk rock vibe finding meaning in the every day struggles of their life being over the romantic attraction they have to women. “Cheap Coffee” stands out as the best on the album working in some pianos & electric guitars singing about feel the warmth of their partners’ love light shining on them prior to the blissful “Forever Now” asking how long is now & expresses their desire to live forever now within.

Meanwhile on “Country Kid”, we have The Avett Brothers taking on the contemporary country sound as they discuss growing up in North Carolina leading into “Orion’s Belt” starring the 2nd half with a boring take on country pop. “2020 Regret” sings over pianos about never regretting any time they had with their previous romantic interests. “Same Broken Bones” has a delicate sound to it altogether as they discuss someone waiting for them & “We Are Loved” acoustically finishes by reminding that everyone is loved even when they’re lonely.

It would be amazing if Rick encouraged them step out of their comfort zone stylistically a little, but I’ll still take The Avett Brothers’ self-titled effort over their last couple albums. They respond to those saying they don’t know when to hold back by sticking to their signature sound giving the audience a glimpse of independently studied spirituality; questions & considerations in the interest of the divine unknowable seek the sacred in the commonplace reveling in the fun & surrender of what we cannot understand.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Peter Sparker – “Who We Are” review

This is the full-length studio debut from Atlanta, Georgia emcee Peter Sparker. Introducing himself on Devil’s Night 2020 through his debut EP Chillin’ in the Matrixx despite starting out in the ‘80s, he would later form the duo Sparkerdero with producer K. Dero afterwards & drop a debut album of their own Bubba Smith a few months later followed by the sophomore effort 2nd Round merely 4 months prior. He has since joined the rising Croydon, South London, England, United Kingdom underground label Hidden Hobby Records & looks to make his debut by having Paisley, Scotland producer STS soundtrack Who We Are.

“Hi” jazzily begins by talking about using his God given talents to the highest abilities imaginable whereas “Stop & Look” takes a more laidback approach instrumentally explaining that nobody’s better than us because they’re wealthier. “Speak to Me” takes the cavernous boom bap route explaining that he still strives to make people feel like he’s amazing when most already do just before “Mr. Winter” talks about being the reason why his city has snow days.

HellzYeah joins Peter on “Sharks” discussing that they always get things done right because each of them always do it correctly leading into “Bars Over Bullshit” pensively talking about prioritizing lyricism above nonsense. “Bone Collector” brings back the jazz rap vibes for 90 seconds boasting how insane the bars he comes up with inside his head truly are just before “Shrapnel” hooks up a funky bassline to talk about doing this shit for almost 3 decades.

“Pathological Rhymer” starts the 2nd half eating STS’ beats like he’s serving whole entire meals while “Time Bandits” featuring PrevMarco finds the 2 talking about time eternally slipping to the future since we all should know that waits for no man. “Something We Do” breaks down the differences between hip hop culture & rap music, dismissing the false notion of of artists thinking they’re living this shit simply because they’re rapping now while “Backspin” dedicates the next 68 seconds to all the b-boys.

WWE Hall of Famer, the shortest reigning WWE Champion & former WWE Tag Team Champion André the Giant gets referenced on “The Brakes” talking about only dealing with the best of the best while “This is the Way…” declares himself to be the weapon needed to correct the perception of an MC’s essence. “Revolution” sends off the LP with a minute long outro talking about still providing Edutainment despite not being KRS-One & nobody having the ability of altering the way he spits.

Chillin’ in the Matrixx was the only actual entry in Peter Sparker’s solo catalog up to this point for me to judge his music upon excluding both of Sparkerdero’s full-lengths, but I can definitely say Who We Are surpasses that previous EP he released during the COVID-19 pandemic & proves to be a great international signing for Hidden Hobby Records from STS’ boom bap production to Peter’s wordplay simultaneously opening up to this new era of authentic lyricists whilst throwing it back to hip hop’s early days.

Score: 4/5