Flo Milli – “Fine Ho, Stay” review

Flo Milli is a 24 year old rapper & singer/songwriter from Mobile, Alabama who went viral in 2018 off her charismatic “Beef” freestyle. She then signed to RCA Records & put out her debut mixtape Ho, Why Is You Here? a couple summers later following by the full-length debut You Still Here, Ho? nearly 2 years later. So continuing the biyearly work cycle, it’s only right that she returns with a sophomore album since spring’s coming up.

To get us started, “Understand” acknowledges that she’s different from all these other women in the game over a Memphis style instrumental from Bugz Ronin whereas “New Me” featuring Anycia works in synthesizers & hi-hats thanks to Honorable C.N.O.T.E. talking about feeling like a brand new person. “Got the Juice” cautions that she’ll beef with you forever if you go at her first over a thunderous Kid Hazel beat, but then “Neva” featuring Monaleo refuses to conform with the help of Juicy J, Lex Luger & Purps providing a bit of a wealthy atmosphere.

“Never Lose Me” featuring Lil Yachty which I like more than the remix featuring Cardi B & SZA mixes pop rap with pluggnb, trap soul & even chipmunk soul affirming self-worth leading into “Toast” dabbling further into plugg courtesy of Cardo telling her ex to leave her alone. “Can’t Stay Mad” gets more melodic explaining she can put the bullshit behind when he loves her a certain way just before “Edible” featuring Gunna finds Bangladesh blending a guitar riff with hi-hats talking about how hard the sex be hitting.

Moving on with the 2nd half, “Lay Up” moodily makes it clear that that’s exactly what she wants to do while the minimal “Life Hack” produced by ATL Jacob refuses to let anyone play her & that she can’t be replaced. “Clap Sum” returns to put hoes in the ground accompanied by a monstrous Mike WiLL Made-It beat & after “Tell Me What You Want” goes for a bouncier vibe asking her lover what he needs from her, the final song “Not Sorry” talks about being unapologetic over another plugg instrumental.

From the moment I heard her “Beef” freestyle, I knew that Flo was talented & that it was going to flourish going into the current decade as one of the best females in the game. Sure enough: Fine Ho, Stay ends the 4-year trilogy with the most intimate installment of them all. A couple spotty features here & there, but we get expansive take on her lively sound & we find all of her alter-egos colliding together.

Score: 3.5/5

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Chyna Streetz – “From Hell to Chanel” review

This is the full-length debut album from Brooklyn emcee Chyna Streetz. Starting in the spring of 2018 off her debut EP Weird Girl Antics, she followed this up with 2 more EPs in the form of both Hourglass & more recently Visions respectively. That said: I knew that From Hell to Chanel had to be the next artistic evolution for Chyna compared to those early EPs. Especially considering the fact that SmokerMs Club Records in-house producer 183rd did the whole entire thing top to bottom.

“Chanel Boy” starts by mixing a flute with kicks & snares exclaiming that we done let the right one in whereas “Emerald City” goes for a cloudier atmosphere talking about those moving sloppily even when they’re the ones who be rolling the dice. “Sirens Lullaby” goes straight g-funk reminding everyone that’s listening of the fact she’s been had motion leading into Rome Streetz joining his wife Chyna on “Matrimony” richly talking about it still being hard to believe they found the plug.

Continuing from there, “Bernadine’s Rage” gives off a soulful boom bap vibe declaring herself to be a goddess just before “Dark Night of Soul” passionately looks to make the moment count for a minute straight & the beat enhances the ambitious mood quite a bit. “Entitled” has this crooning sample encouraging y’all to make your next move the best one, but then “888” hops over some strings as well as kicks & snares talking about being born to shine.

“One of One” goes into spacious boom bap turf breaking down her uniqueness while “Right Back” featuring Ox Omni blends kicks & snares with a climactic orchestral flip talking about sending shots right back where they came from. “Judas Kiss” concludes the LP by admitting she’ll never know if it was all worth it & that even know a few have done their names dirty, the roses are still growing.

The trilogy of EPs we’ve gotten from Chyna throughout the last 6 years have each shown artistic progression in her & From Hell to Chanel brings it full circle to the point where I could argue that it’s her most consistent body of work to date in my personal opinion. She’s grown as a songwriter & 183rd’s production is significantly more fluent than her previous material.

Score: 4/5

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Germ – “Every Dog Has It’s Day” review

Atlanta, Georgia rapper Germ finally releasing his full-length debut LP. Coming up in 2016 off his debut EP Bad Shit, this was followed up with a sequel tape Bootleg the next spring & the summer after that, he signed to G*59 Record$. He went on to release a couple more mixtapes & another EP, but has yet to release an official album up until Every Dog Has It’s Day coming off Ramirez’ latest EP From tha Guttah to tha Grave alongside $crim’s latest solo efforts Lonely Boy & Lonely Boy 2.

“Say No More” is a woodwind-infused trap opener produced by $crim 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 whereas “Graveyard Shift” working in these jazzy horns with hi-hats boasting the lifestyle that he’s living. “CC” hops over a rage beat from RXLVND so he can talk about needing space leading into “Lurkin’” hooking up another hypertrap instrumental calling out everyone who be afraid of him for being nervous.

The most annoying hook on the album has to be on “Sick Baby” despite the subject matter of being unable to feel his face due to inebriation, but then “Live From the Deep End” featuring Black Kray was an ok single shooting for a cloudier atmosphere taking everyone through the gutter. “Pulling Up” featuring the $uicideboy$ shows an unhinged side to the trio with an appropriately morbid atmosphere to the beat just before the stripped back “Currensy Hymn” talks about being a sight to see.

“Mud Diaries” goes into a synth-based direction flexing that his pockets be on chunky while “Off That Shit Again” featuring TiaCorine psychedelically talks about being unable to feel their faces since they’re under the influence. “ESPY” gives off a Memphis vibe instrumentally so he can ball hard while “The Green” happens to be another acoustic trap fusion stacking up his bread. “Tesla” featuring Lil Gnar wraps up the album by getting on some Big Bad Gnar Shit for the 1 time taking it’s name after the multinational automotive & clean energy company.

Bad Shit & Bootleg both capture Germ at his hungriest, but Every Dog Has It’s Day is a worthy debut LP from Beer Can Dan & the best thing he’s done on G*59 other than the trilogy of collab EPs with $B or even Kevlar Money Bags from last summer. He finally gets his most successful moment in life as the production expands beyond the trap/Memphis rap wheelhouse that the label is known for from rage to jazz & psychedelia.

Score: 3.5/5

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Bktherula – “LVL5 2” review

Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Bktherula returning with a sophomore LP & a sequel to her previous EP LVL5. Coming up 7 years back 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 & the previously mentioned LVL5. So over a year later, it makes total sense to put out the next installment.

“Code” is this rage-inducing opener admitting she hasn’t been in the studio in almost a week & it’s been taking a toll on her personally whereas “Nun” works in a cloudy trap instrumental asking why this person’s hitting her phone up when they ain’t even doing shit. “Tatti” brings some hypertrap undertones into the fold discussing self-confidence, empowerment & sexual liberation prior to “Boi” taking the spacious trap boasting that she kissed your favorite bitch.

Cash Cobain hooks Bk up with his signature sample drill on sound “Shakin’ It” bragging that she’s having it, making it & breaking it while the otherworldly “Just Make Sure” saves the drums for the last 30 seconds so she can demonstrate her range showing her singing chops for a couple minutes. “Wishuwasdacrew” gives me a quasi-industrial vibe airing out who was supposed to her down bitch, but then “Insane” produced by Ayelavish! vibrantly talks about going crazy with it.

“Crayon” expresses her desire for the lace front with the brown at the top & the teal at the bottom over a synth-trap beat just before “Woman” featuring J.I.D talks about exes backed by a high-pitched sample. “Feathers” keeps the industrial influences going flying to the top & losing the feathers of her wings in the process while “The Way” dabbles with alternative R&B once more telling her significant other how much she loves the way they light up the room. “Racks Up” ends the album by singing over a guitar about her pockets getting bigger.

The first installment had a relatable theme of tapping in with your spiritual side, but the follow-up portrays a significant evolution in her artistic & spiritual journey. It’s significantly more mature than what she’s released in the past by fearlessly conveying the message that there’s no such thing as being blacklisted/blackballed & you don’t have to follow the same blueprint as everyone else.

Score: 3.5/5

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Tierra Whack – “Worldwide Whack” review

Tierra Whack is a 28 year old rapper & singer/songwriter from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who broke in 2018 off the strength of her debut mixtape Whack World after signing to Interscope Records. She has since dropped a handful of singles along with a trilogy of EPs & even landing some very impressive feature placements, the most notable being “T.D. (Tokyo Drift)” off Lil Yachty’s 5th tape Lil Boat 3. So it only makes sense that she struck while the iron’s hot for her full-length debut studio album over a month after former 2-time AJPW三冠ヘビー級チャンピオン, 4-time AJPW世界タッグチャンピオン, MLW World Tag Team Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, NWA World Tag Team Champion, 2-time IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, 7-time IWGPタッグチャンピオン 2-time NEVER無差別級6人タッグチャンピオン, GHCヘビー級チャンピオン & GHCタッグチャンピオン小島聡 became a record 2-time MLW World Heavyweight Champion at SuperFight IV.

“Mood Swings” is a calming opener to the LP talking about trying new things due to Tierra mother being tired of how her mother is sick of her constant changes in mood whereas “Ms. Behave” takes the hip house route instrumentally basically refusing to act right referencing the Discovery Global-owned Discovery Channel’s annual weeklong programming block Shark Week. “Chanel Pit” fuses trap & pop rap talking about being the shit that you smell excelling more than Microsoft prior to the atmospheric “Numb” talking about being at the final stage of the numbness she’s felt since her youth.

On the other hand, “Burning Brains” gives off a subdued vibe to the beat although the biggest complaint I have with this track is that it feels underwritten that is until “Accessible” brings a sadder atmosphere to the table cutting ties with a romantic interest due to their accessibility. “Imaginary Friends” tropically talks about her friend Tony for almost 3 minutes just before the instrumental on “X” brings some industrial undertones advising to find someone better or else she will.

“Moovies” hops over synthesizers to ask her man to take her on adventures leading into the vulnerable “Difficult” talking about feeling stressed & deprived throwing a hint of optimism towards the end by saying you can’t let it get you down since we all have issues. “Shower Song” dabbles with synth-funk likening the shower to the stage, but then “Invitation” peppily talks about her style being so rare that it’s hard for her to describe.

The song “Snake Eyes” addresses everyone who views her as a threat over a piano-laced trap instrumental referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, the inaugural WWE Hardcore Champion, CWA World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Champion Mick Foley while the aptly nocturnal penultimate track “2 Night” talks about not paying the light bill this month in the midst of possibly dying that evening. “27 Club” fuses bedroom pop & alt-pop to link the concept of suicide to the titular term used for celebrities who’ve passed at 27.

Really if anything, Worldwide Whackserves as another reminder that T-Dizzle’s one of the most creative women in hip hop today & you get a glimpse of her at her most vulnerable in the process. The production teeters between pop rap & alternative R&B with additional elements of trap & alt-pop as she tackles themes of abandonment, depression, suicidal thoughts, uncertainty, lust & loneliness.

Score: 3.5/5

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Kembe X – “Sleep Paralysis” review

Chicago, Illinois emcee & Top Dawg Entertainment affiliate Kembe X returning for his 3rd full-length album produced by Sacramento duo Hippie Sabotage & his first in nearly 5 years. Getting his start over a decade ago with the debut EP Soundtrack II Armageddon & the debut mixtape Self Rule, his profile would continue to grow off the strength of the debut LP Talk Back as well as an eponymously titled 2nd EP & the sophomore effort I Was Depressed Until I Made This. He’s worked with the Saurer brothers a few times in the past, but they’re finally releasing Sleep Paralysis after working on it for a whole year.

“Fade the Sun” starts us off with a lively danceable opener telling anyone who wants a piece of him to get in line whereas “Pole Vaulting” hops over a trap instrumental to talk about being over the bullshit. “King” works in a more rubbery beat to remind y’all that he’s royalty around these parts prior to the synth-driven “Love Songs” taking a melodic approach talking about never seeing a king of romance that went wrong.

To end the first half, “Shallow” brings a cloudier vibe to the table wanting to be called a visionary who did it first when it’s all said & done while the atmospheric “Where Demons Come to Die” admitting he damn-near lost his soul & sacrificed his peace. “Kill Everything in the Way” declares himself as the new leader of the resistance over a slow boom bap beat just before the wavy “Rolling Stoned” featuring Isaiah Rashad talks about keeping it cold, fresh & clean.

One of my favorites on the album no question has to be “Start a Business” from the groovy instrumental to the motivational lyricism encouraging people to start up their own businesses since they can’t be employees for the middle man forever & finally, “Baby I’m Up” concludes Sleep Paralysis with a 7 & a half minute ode to his success after people tried to leave him for dead & drag his name through the mud.

TDE’s been slowly but surely allowing the biggest artists on their roster to release new music in recent years after making their fans wait forever, so it makes perfect sense for Kembe to make a comeback & one that new listeners will find themselves invested in. He’s exploring new sounds with the help of Hidden Sabotage & the subject matter is significantly more personal than his early stuff was.

Score: 4/5

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ST Spittin’ – “Risk & Reward” review

This is the 8th full-length studio LP from Oakland, California emcee ST Spittin. Emerging off his first few mixtapes Lighters & Ink Pens alongside 2nd Impression & Open Season, he would continue to expand his discography by putting out 3 albums The Morning Show, Action! & All in a Day’s Work followed by a trilogy of EPs Lucky 6, When the Ball Drops & Retrofitted ahead of the 4th LP, EP & mixtape Boom!, Don’t Judge Me & Footwrk respectively. We would later get a sequel to Boom! & Footwrk as his next 2 albums, Cool Water for the last one & Summer Madness being his 5th EP. However, I was interested in hearing Risk & Reward since Golden State Warriors deejay DJ D Sharp was behind the boards for the whole thing.

The title track is a jazzy trap opener to the album letting y’all it’s all about that whereas “Seat at the Table” shifts gears with it’s boom bap instrumental feeling like he’s moonwalking on the red carpet getting what everyone else wants. “Pesos” featuring Stunnaman02 goes for a cloudier vibe so both of them can talk about being unable to rest since they have cake to make, but then “God in the Room” featuring Dustin Sharpe & Mani Draper fuses some kicks & snares with strings admitting the Big G was at work when they wrote this.

“Profile Pics” brings a groovier flare to the beat talking about how it’s time to put in a new shift since he’s back on the job just before “Maximize” featuring HBK CJ & Khyenci dives into a pop rap direction advising to maximize your energy. “It’s Alright” featuring Ian Kelly incorporates twinkling piano chords trying to tell her that something’s better than nothing leading into the luxurious boom bap cut “Flashes” talking about seeing the greatness in him shining.

Champ Green & D. Bledsoe join ST on “Each One, Teach One” hopping over a symphonic sample admitting to buying a lot of time to spend more while “Wide Awoke” takes it back to the basement instrumentally flexing that he knows for a fact someone gets inspired whenever he’s on the mic. Lastly to finish the album, “What Ya Call That???” happens to be a soulful ode to the ones tellin’ ‘em how it is.

Over a decade into the game & ST. Spittin’ celebrated Steph Curry’s born day by putting out the most well-crafted body of work of his career so far. DJ D Sharp continues to reveal himself as one of the best beatsmiths in the Bay Area right now as his production here is varied in sound & we get a glimpse of the Oakland emcee at his rawest, most confident, playful & honest all in 1.

Score: 4/5

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Estee Nack – “Stone Temple Pyrex” review

Lynn, Massachusetts emcee/producer Estee Nack joining forces with Toronto producer Futurewave for his 11th proper full-length studio LP. Emerging as a member of the Tragic Allies, he also branched out on his own my senior year of high school off his Purpose-produced solo debut 14 Forms: The Book of Estee Nack & has since built a lengthy yet impressive discography for himself. Other highlights include the Sadhugold-produced Surfinongold.wav alongside it’s sequel The Order of the Golden Fleece, the Giallo Point-produced Papitas, his collab efforts with al.divino, the V Don-produced B.R.A.P. (Born Rewards & Penalties), the Griselda Records debut Nacksaw Jim Duggan & the Mike Shabb-produced Live at the Tabernackle. So considering the high quality of those last couple efforts, Stone Temple Pyrex had to be as equally great.

“Sunday Service” starts by blending jazz & boom bap talking about getting rich every Sunday whereas “Subtracktion” gets more grimier instrumentally to say right now’s a great time to have a great time. “Glaciusvsfulgore” featuring Rome Streetz brings the 2 Griselda signees together likening themselves to the titular Killer Instinct characters of the same name with the beat sounding reminiscent to Daringer, but then “Oscardelarenta” hooks up & an uncanny loop with kicks & snares talking about never doubting himself.

On the other hand, “&Bondizlyfe” goes drumless to detail the hustler lifestyle leading into “Blockwarz” featuring Daniel Son talking about the top spot forever being theirs over a crooning boom bap instrumental. “Weirdscience” flips another eerie sample so Estee can diss all the weaklings who want power just before “Datewifdef” references former 2-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel “Izzy” Adesanya.

“Cornchowder” featuring Raz Fresco incorporates a jazzy loop referring to their minds as weapons & letting it squeeze while “Wavydominicans” featuring ??? & BoriRock finds the trio over grim piano chords talking about a sinister presence. “Eddiebernays” featuring al.divino strips the drums once more making this shit complete while the final song “¡Sorpresa!” excluding the “Ogoscardelarenta” remix aggressively suggests to check the sign language.

This upcoming weekend will mark a whole year since B.R.A.P. (Born Rewards & Penalties) came out & the Nackman has already blessed us with his 3rd classic within the span of 365 days. The guest-list is briefer than Live at the Tabernackle’s was, Futurewave’s production is mainly rooted in the traditional boom bap sound with jazzy & drumless undertones mixed in & my favorite Tragic Allies member picks up where he left off 6 months ago lyrically.

Score: 4.5/5

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Frankie Goldie – “Vegas Winter: Jugg Motivation 101” review

Las Vegas, Nevada emcee Frankie Goldie of the Swamp Society collective & the duo Gloom Unit alongside Acetone Boogie releasing his full-length debut. For about a year & a half now, he’s been establishing himself as an artist within the underground wicked shit scene whether it be 7 solo singles or the Gloom Unit’s debut EP Come Heavy produced by Devereaux arriving on New Year’s Day to high reception from the juggalos. But after teasing Vegas Winter: Jugg Motivation 101 for next week, Frankie has decided to let Christmas come early.

After the “JM101” intro, the first song “CAKEWALK” begins with Devereaux who produced the entire LP working in strings along with bells & hi-hats talking about throwing money in the circle like it’s a seance whereas the lead single “RAWKZOFF” instrumentally gives me a bit of a Memphis rap vibe (i.e. One of my favorite groups Three 6 Mafia) coming to get his rocks off. “CODE BLACK” featuring Donnie Menace finds the 2 talking about being cold blooded killers over a morbid trap beat, but then “Rollie” exultantly lets y’all know it’s that time.

“CAVIAR DREAMS” featuring Darby O’Trill is a jazz/trap fusion getting that bloody money just before “BRIXINDASAFE” goes for a cloudier atmosphere refusing to behave since he stuck in his ways. “KATANA” featuring Kold-Blooded returns to a darker trap sound looking to slicing necks with the titular sword while “Lemon Drizzle” is a fun club banger about sippin’ dirty Gatorade without giving a fuck what a hater has to say. Another standout “BULLETPROOF COUPE” turns up the aggression mixing Faygo with Grey Goose & having the digiscale tippin’ on ‘em prior to the 6-minute “BIGMANEONDABLOCK” fusing trap, jazz rap & soul so he can count his digits.

Vegas Winter: Jugg Motivation 101 much like Come Heavy is living proof that the Swamp Society is a force to be reckoned with in the underground except JM101 will give you a better idea as to who Frankie is artistically & personally. He shows his influences from the Insane Clown Posse & Esham to the Triple 6 Mafia, Jeezy, Future & Lil Ugly Mane on top of Devereaux continuing to evolve as a producer throwing additional elements of jazz, soul & influences from the Memphis scene into his signature trap sound here.

Score: 4.5/5

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Jae Skeese – “Testament of the Times” review

Buffalo emcee Jae Skeese joining forces with Superior for his 4th full-length studio LP. Getting his start off the strength of his his debut mixtape W.A.C.K. (Women, Alcohol, Cash & Kicks) in the fall of 2010, it wasn’t until a decade later where he & 7xvethegeniusgained wide exposure as the very first signees to Conway the Machine’s very own EMPIRE Distribution imprint Drumwork Music Group. The Big Ghost Ltd.-produced 3rd EP Authenticity Check & the previous album Abolished Uncertainties both elevated Skeese’s popularity in the last couple years, so Testament of the Times can only amplify it.

To get us started, “Union 2’s” hops over a guitar-laced boom bap instrumental talking about being lowkey dangerous when that’s already been proven with the last 2 projects of his that I named near the end of the previous paragraph in my opinion whereas “In My Hands” has a jazzier approach aiming to stay focused. “Cement 4’s” works in some organs asking what y’all think he did this for since he been on one for life leading into the flute-tinged “2Cents” referring to real game as priceless.

“Cantonese Characters” featuring Rome Streetz & Ty Farris references current AEW manager, WWE Hall of Famer & former SMW Heavyweight Champion Jake “The Snake” Roberts prior to the luxurious keyboard embellishments on “Preguntas” talking about staying hungry & blessed. “Ksubi Tags” isn’t really much of an interlude rather it’s Jae over a sample-heavy boom bap beat feeling like a threat waking up, but then “Risk & Reward” draws inspiration from rap rock talking about having to work to get as nice as he is now.

O.T. the Real comes into the picture on “Sign of the Cross” somberly advises to let the problems accumulate while the delicately-produced “Broken Mirrors” talks about being in his head overthinking at times. “Mothers & Gods” clarifies that he’s never been anyone’s favorite except for his mom alongside the higher power over plainly piano chords until “Skycraper” concludes the LP on a drumless note continuing to put in the time & labor building from ground level.

The introspective story that Abolished Uncertainties told almost a year ago this month was a personal way for Jae to introduce himself to a wider audience, but I think I might prefer Testament of the Times more. Superior continues to stand as amongst the most interesting German producers in hip hop, the guest-list is tighter & Skeese here sets out to encourage everyone in taking themselves to new heights.

Score: 4.5/5

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