Tag: Badluck

Mission: Infect – “epideM:Ic” review

This is the 7th studio LP from underground hip hop collective Mission: Infect consisting of Lo Key, Badluck, Dubbs, Fia Fawn, KruX 1, Madd Maxxx, Malaria, St. Sinna & 0. They’ve released their previous 6 full-lengths together in the span of nearly 2 decades including the Chemical Threats tetralogy, XterM:Ination & Asphyxiation with quite a few other members finding success on their own as solo artists in the wicked shit scene. Returning in 2024 with their arM:Igeddon extended play, they’re returning in time for an epideM:Ic.

After the “Incoming Transmission” intro, we get a sequel to “Throw ‘Em Up” off the 2nd installment of the Criminal Threats series performed by Lo Key & Badluck whereas “Body Drop” aggressively talks about the crew slaughtering all opponents over a boom bap instrumental. “Bring the Noise” explains that this is basically chemical warfare to Neon Sermon & Dubbs rather than another song while “Call 2 Arms” lets both Lo Key & Dubbs blow off some lyrical steam for a few minutes.

“Bullets & Spraypaint” starts the 2nd half talking about LOKE & Fia Fawn’s only purpose here being to infest the brains of those listening leading into “Soldiers of Death” explains the voices in their heads telling them to kill all enemies. “Contagion” after the “Message from Grey” skit takes a more conscious approach topically over an apocalyptic beat & once “Blackout” brings the revolution live from the frontlines, the outro “Starting Over” provides an anthem for the rebellious to grab their gas masks & march to.

Originally slated to come out a year earlier, Lo Key ended up temporarily scrapping epideM:Ic for due to the lack of involvement from all the other Mission: Infect generals & I’m surprisingly overjoyed that he was able to get 6 others who’ve been around since Day 1 to be apart of the final product alongside the 2 newest additions to the crew. They’ve even jokingly said the album probably doesn’t have anything to do with the ongoing hantavirus situation & not only does M:I lyrically turn brains into black cherry slurpees, but them hinting at recruiting more artists to join & more output collectively seems like a promising beginning of making up for being inactive for long periods of time.

Score: 4/5

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Mission: Infect – “arM:Igeddon” review

Mission: Infect are an underground collective consisting of Lo Key, Badluck, Dubbs, DurtE, Grewsum, Madd Maxxx, Malaria, Mumm Ra, St. Sinna, Tha Wikid One & 0. They’ve released 6 full-lengths together in the span of nearly 2 decades including the Chemical Threats tetralogy, XterM:Ination & Asphyxiation with quite a few other members finding success on their own as solo artists in the wicked shit scene. However after 7 years of silence as a unit, the crew are getting back together for their first EP.

“Pathogen” featuring Grewsum, Lo Key, Madd Maxxx & Tha Wikid One is this hardcore trap opener putting their gas masks on whereas “Guns Up” featuring Badluck, Grewsum & Lo Key kinda draws from electronic dance music instrumentally talking about rallying up the soldiers. All 3 emcees stick around for “Old Man Flow” working in kicks & snares to drop battle bars just before “Load ‘Em Up” featuring DurtE, Lo Key, Madd Maxxx & Tha Wikid One finds the quartet over a dark trap beat talking about taking ‘em down.

Badluck, Grewsum & Lo Key get back together for “Get Ya Mask On” returns to the boom bap going door-to-door to get their blast on leading into “Fire Back” featuring Dubbs, Lo Key & Malaria keeps it raw talking about rightfully being veterans decapitating heads again. “Welcome Home” featuring Badluck, Grewsum, Malaria, Mumm Ra, St. Sinna & 0 concludes the EP with everyone over kicks, snares & electronic-toned synths acknowledging that the underground missed them as a unit.

This is the 2nd longest gap between releases for Mission: Infect since Chemical Threats 3 & 4 both came out 8 years after Asphyxiation since everyone’s been focusing on further establishing themselves as solo artists. That said: arM:Igeddon still proves the collective hasn’t gone anywhere after all this time. The production is varied in sound whether it be horrorcore, trap, boom bap, hardcore hip hop or electronica/electronic dance music & everyone sounds happy to be reunited.

Score: 4/5

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