Detroit, Michigan emcee Mickey Diamond wasting no time to get the 4th quarter going with his 19th studio LP. Emerging at the beginning of this decade off the strength of his debut EP Bangkok Dangerous, the dude has since gone on to turn quite a few heads in the underground by building up the impressive discography for himself with his previous 18 albums alongside 8 EPs & a mixtape. Since 2022 however, Mickey has been consistent putting out some of the best material of his career thus far. This includes the Gucci Ghost series produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Ral Duke-produced Oroku Saki EP, the Sadhugold-produced Death Threat$ album, the Camoflauge Monk-produced Capital Gains album, the outstanding Oroku Saki sequel Super Shredder & Gucci Gambinos. A new trilogy called The Wolf, The Sheep & The Goat comprised of Wolf Tickets as well as Black Sheep & Blood of the Lamb has spanned across the last 10 months & B.I.L.L.Y. officially ends the saga with an epilogue.
The title track opens up shop with a boom bap intro talking about anyone going against him losing their lives right then & there whereas “Missed Calls II” comes through with a sequel to the highlight off Wolf Tickets. “That’s Diamond” goes for more of a rap rock/boom bap vibe instrumentally so he can tell us what type of guy he is leading into “Higher Steaks” featuring Cise Greeny finds the pair talking about doing this shit legitimately.
“Pat Sayjack” moves on from there with this gritty piano-inflicted beat talking about knocking the heads off your favorite rappers because they’re pussy while the irate yet rugged “D.A.R.E.” confronts these bum ass dudes asking what they want from him. “Lamb Chops” takes a more soulful yet jazzier approach to the instrumental talking about the life of a hustler just before “Goat Cheese” heads for a lavish boom bap direction musically, explaining that money doesn’t make a man.
As for “Invisible Enemies”, we have Diamond talking about his style being too addicting to shake off & people pretending to be authentic when that isn’t the case while “U-Tang Forever” featuring Method Man links up over a crooning beat flexing that they close rappers instead of opening for them. “Ocean Prime” drearily talks about being the friend one can call whenever times get tough while “Statute of Limitations” discusses always playing in the field instead of getting sidelined.
“William” kicks off the other half talking about being the greatest on some eerie boom bap shit while the symphonically raw “Takin’ Respect” cautions not to ever step against him & not finding anyone else who can carry the weight he does. “To Whom It May Concern” talks about still being the same as he was when he began making music despite having over a dozen full-lengths under his belt already while “7 Day Theory” boast the fact everything he writes turns out ill.
Crimeapple appears during the tense “Servin’ & Swervin’” getting in their mafioso bag together pushing dope while “Forbidden Fruit” blends some keys mixed with kicks & snares to talk about him searching for the hidden truth back when he was a kid. “Hallelujah (Amen)” featuring Big Trip kinda has a funkier instrumental combining themes of religion & the gangsta life to it while “School House Rock” ruggedly talks about the realest always selling.
“Goldie Mack” winds down the final act of B.I.L.L.Y. addressing a bitch who introduced herself to him as a lame & wanting her to give him another chance while “X’s & O’s” talks about not being afraid to spend a lot of money considering it’s forever coming & going. “Wire Tap” though wraps up the album alongside The Wolf, The Sheep & The Goat saga altogether with the 3rd & final chapter of the “Missed Calls” trilogy pleading to stop hitting his line in a sketchy manner.
Big Ghost Ltd. has helped Mickey Diamond craft some of his most personal & thoughtful material of his career this past year whether he’s pouring out his heart, reopening wounds, provoking thoughts, looking back at some his own mistakes, challenging the norms of society or making serious conversations with both his loved ones & God. B.I.L.L.Y. closes the book on The Wolf, The Sheep & The Goat story once & for all in the form of a 2-part postscript simultaneously celebrating most of the 7 deadly sins when they’re not glorifying sex, drugs & money since all of it played their own roles in making America what it is presently.
Score: 4.5/5
Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!
