Jalen Frazier – “Ethics of War” review

Detroit, Michigan emcee Jalen Frazier linking with Lord Mobb Music in-house producer godBLESSbeatz for his 4th EP. Getting his footing in during the fall of 2020 off the strength of his debut EP Expressions of the Neglected, he would continue to turn heads in the local underground scene last summer with the follow-up God Bless My Chalice. His debut album The Drop produced by Foul Mouth elevated himself from both of it’s predecessors & 15 months later, the Ethics of War are being laid out.

“Just War Theory” ominously begins the EP finding himself back in his essence after dealing with some losses whereas “Collateral Damage” featuring J-Classic brings a soulful boom bap vibe to the table bodying anyone who wants to step up to them in a battle. “On a Mission” swaps out the vocal sampling in favor of pianos suggesting you weigh your options before committing a robbery while “Infrared Nightmares” admits to giving a fuck less about a conviction.

The song “King’s Blood” featuring Liym Capital kicks off the Ethics of War’s final leg with both of them teaming up so they can make a few dollars to pay off some fees leading into “Manipulated Thoughts” ruggedly talks about making sure every single thing that he does wasn’t in vain. “Old Stainless” caps off the EP with a hardcore boom bap joint explaining his motivation is the green presidents as if it’s life or death for him.

Some of the production on both I Hope Your Pistol Don’t Jam… & even All Love Until It’s Not wasn’t hitting for me like it was on The Drop last spring, but Ethics of War more than makes up for it matching that debut LP on all fronts. godBLESSbeatz’ gritty boom bap sound matched with Jalen’s street bars fit just as fluidly as it did when he linked with Foul over a year ago, once again saving only a couple guest performances so he can step up his own pen game a week before summer.

Score: 4/5

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Action Figure 973 – “DOOM Was Right” review

This is the full-length debut studio album from Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973. Somebody whose growing discography comprised of a couple mixtapes & 7 EPs has been steadily making waves in the underground for a few years already, most notably Dark Side of the Ring & it’s sequel. Signing to Bars Over B.S. Records not too long ago, he’s paying tribute to one of my all-time favorites MF DOOM throughout the duration of DOOM Was Right.

WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE world champion, 3-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 9-time WWE tag team champion, 8-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, The Crash’s inaugural Pesocompleto Campeon & アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン Rey Mysterio gets referenced on the intro “Take Me to Your Leader” as does former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, FTW Champion, ECW World Television Champion, 3 time ECW World Tag Team Champion, JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, IWGPジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン & the longest reigning XPW World Heavyweight Champion Sabu.

“Operation: Doomsday” gives off a jazzier boom bap direction instrumentally referencing former 2-time CWA Heavyweight Champion, 2-time CWA World Tag Team Champion, 2-time SMW Heavyweight Champion & WWE Hall of Famer Jerry Lawler alongside WWE Hall of Famer & AEW’s senior advisor Jim Ross but after “Echelon” dustily talks about not being on the same time as these other lames, the uncannily slow “Nanlib” references 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 16-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, 6-time WWE United States Champion, 6-time WWE tag team champion & 9-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair.

The infamous fingerpoke of doom spot between the inaugural IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, Real American Beer founder & Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) co-founder Hulk Hogan and 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 5-time WWE world champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & TNA World Tag Team Champion Kevin Nash gets referenced on “Nanlib” leading into the soulful “Puerto Rican Wrestling” talking about his rich history.

“Mmm…Food” strips the drums completely so he can talk about going into business for himself while “Madvillainy” featuring Vega7 the Ronin references both the inaugural WWE Universal Champion, former 2-time NXT Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, 3-time IWGPジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, 6-time IWGPジュニアタッグチャンピオン & RPW British Cruiserweight Champion Finn Bálor as well as former 3-time WWE tag team champions The Rock ‘n’ Sock Connection & former 3-time WWE Hardcore Champion Maven.

Bloo Azul joins Action Figure on “Rae’s Killa Tape” referencing former 14-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & WWE United States Champion Randy Orton alongside WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Schwarzenegger while EricTheRed13 gets his own drumless track with “DOOM Tattoo”. The song “Romantic Comedy” chops up a soul sample to talk about the happiness in his brain prior to “Latin Porn in the 90’s” finishing up by telling us what this woman he’s currently seeing makes him feel.

Coinciding with the current 17-time WWE world champion John Cena’s first defense of his final reign at Backlash XX tomorrow, Action Figure takes a good 35 minutes of DOOM Was Right to show his appreciation for the late Viktor Vaughn’s philosophy of presenting music for what it really is & the luchador’s dexterity gets fully realized in the process. His boom bap production is at it’s most detailed since the UFO Over City Music & the heavy wrestling nods are enough to satisfy Griselda fans who haven’t been too big on their most recent output.

Score: 4/5

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Rim – “Corner Disciple” review

Brooklyn, New York emcee Rim teaming up with Vanderslice for his 6th LP. Notable for being 1/2 of Da Villins, he also embarked on a solo career in 2018 with his debut EP Ugandan Lunch Meat along with the debut album Dead on Arrival & the sophomore effort KeeP! It Ville. Couple more EPs Algorhythms & Poetic Substance preluded Phresh Waves, which was followed by 2 more EPs; M!nd State produced by Finn & later Verse Ability. Both installments of Rimbrandt were ok & $5 Holla was a little better, although Corner Disciple had more potential to be his best.

“Da Corner” intro by BRNGTN kinda has this drumless reggae flip that sticks out calling himself a drug game participant whereas “If It’s Hot” featuring Maffew Ragazino & Planet Asia gives off a jazzier boom bap edge kicking the bitch-made out since they were never needed & out of both guest verses, Asia’s stood out to me the most. “Stick to the Plan” works in these pianos taking jabs at those always complaining about something leading into “Daily Crimes” featuring Illa Ghee ominously walking the ghetto forest speaking orders.

We have Rim over this mobster-style beat on “Night Drives” talking about taking his whip out for a spin during the evenings while “Him Did It” ruggedly cautioning to check the signs before striking. “Hazul Story” returns to the boom bap showing off his storytelling abilities prior to “Bodega Apostles” featuring Aye Wun & Spit Gemz bringing the trio together discussing their prophets statuses in the street corners. “1 Day” breaks down the possible experiences one could have while “Faction of Action” featuring Lørd Skø & Rock ends with all 3 of them warning not to slip.

Only a little over 2 months since Stuyville put out their sophomore effort albeit 3rd body of work together overall Welcome to Stuyville produced by Camoflauge Monk & 38 Spesh to high acclaim amongst underground heads, the Pennsylvania veteran gets with the Brownsville lyricist for his most essential body of work. Rim’s songwriting is top notch & Vansleazy’s gritty yet well polished production only elevates it.

Score: 4.5/5

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Vega7 the Ronin – “The Ghost Orchid” review

Here we have the 5th studio LP from Queens, New York emcee Vega7 the Ronin. Emerging after enlisting Danish beatsmith Machacha to produce his debut EP The Lead Lined Wall, he would go on to land feature placement on the 5th & final entry of Ty Farris’ historic No Cosign Just Cocaine mixtape series & tap in with Superior for his debut Sleep’s the Cousin. I equally enjoyed the Body Bag Ben-produced Kawasaki Killers, reuniting with Machacha for The Ghost Orchid after a mixtape along with an EP & the previous album album Griotes of the 3rd Rail.

After the “Floating Secret” intro, the first song “Quoth the Raven” references 14-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & WWE United States Champion Randy Orton and WWE Hall of Famer, former 2-time WWE world champion, ECW World Television Champion, 6-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 4-time & the final WWE Hardcore Champion, TNA World Champion & TNA X Division Champion Rob Van Dam whereas the sample-driven “Toast the Spiritz” talks about hearing a ghost in his liver staying nice & stylized in the Karl Kanis with the gats.

“Paper Presidents” works in a guitar driven boom bap beat making it clear he only cares about family & the paper incorporating a bar referring to BJW認定デスマッチヘビー級チャンピオン & WWE Hall of Famer Abdullah the Butcher prior to bilingual “K.R.E.A.M.” featuring Trepac spits beat in both the English & Danish languages. “Ritual”, talks about being legitimate if he ever calls you his brother just before “Barefoot Contessa” references WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion & NWA World Tag Team Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin.

As for “Stained Glass Ghost”, we have Vega7 giving a middle finger to the pressure since he can bench & lift the weight up as if he’s a fitness trainer calling himself the demon in the church while “Hokage Mountain” featuring André DeSaint, Jamil Honesty & Shottie brings the quartet together over a rap rock instrumental to restore the feeling. “A Flower for Farewell” symphonically flexes his lyrics being a relic of the past while “The World’s Borough” featuring Book$ & Paddy Duke ahead of the “Anden Del” outro represents their stomping grounds Queens to the fullest.

3 years have already passed since The Lead Line Wall properly introduced the underground world to one of the best songwriters in the game today Vega7 the Ronin emerged with Denmark’s finest producer currently & they get back a week after the anniversary to see the growth in their chemistry since they last got together for a whole body of work. Machacha’s production stays prominently grounded in the traditional boom bap sound & Vega7’s lyricism blends elements of both hardcore & abstract hip hop.

Score: 4/5

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Josiah the Gift – “The Happening” review

This is the 7th full-length studio LP from Brooklyn, New York emcee Josiah the Gift. Emerging in the late 2010s by releasing his first 2 EPs Jack Johnson & Raw, he later broke out within the underground back in the summer of 2020 off his acclaimed debut album Iron Mic. His profile continued to elevate with the debut mixtape Remain Raw, the sophomore effort Mightier Than the Sword as well as the sequel, the True Cipher-produced TOGO, God’s Gracious, The Glorious Si’s eponymous debut & his previous album Lavish Language from last summer. Over 5 months later, Machacha’s being listed to fully produce The Happening.

“Jeux” featuring Vega7 the Ronin sets the tone of what’s to come with both of them over a drumless loop talking about the flowers they tried to water being hydrophobic whereas “Honor” featuring Willie the Kid taking the boom bap route showing off a savage psychiatry. “Guess Who” featuring Eddie Kaine reminds that they were the ones down with the drama & left in the end leading into “Thor” stripping the drums asking how you want it.

M.A.V. joins Josiah on “Royalties” returning to the boom bap talking about stacking up their dough & “Teflon” keeps it in the basement instrumentally showing us what his legend status has made out of. “The Lord is My Sheppard” aggressively makes it a mission for him to go hunting for dead meat while the flute-tinged “Heroes” talking about every single way that people could imagine a hero being refusing to get political in the process.

“When the Pen Hits” brings the woodwind-heavy boom bap sound back in the fold once again boasting his lyrical ability that’s been elevated, but then “The Reality” featuring Jamil Honesty talks about being prisoners feeling the conviction beforehand asking why they have to comprise themselves for their safety. “Trivial” finishes my new favorite Josiah project with him over a vocal sample turning shit into gold possibly only bodying your soul with his skills.

Familiarizing myself with the Gift of the Umbrella several years ago through several features he’s done, his first offering of 2025 & the Lavish Language follow-up surpasses his debut from 5 years ago as the strongest & most cohesive thing he’s ever done. Machacha’s production outstandingly balances drumless & boom bap on top of the well-assessed guest appearances leveling Josiah’s penmanship.

Score: 4.5/5

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Ty Farris – “Timing of a Tarantula” review

Detroit veteran & Bars Over B.S. Records founder Ty Farris dropping off a physical exclusive 4th EP a week before Thanksgiving. Originally going under the moniker T-Flame being featuring on a lot of projects throughout the mid-2000’s until the very end of the decade, it was at that point where he started to put out solo stuff at a prolific rate by dropping 11 mixtapes, 11 full-lengths & his last 3 EPs. Standouts include the Room 39 duology & the No Cosign Just Cocaine series, the Machacha-produced Malice at the Palace & the Graymatter produced Sounds That Never Left My Soul. He just put out Enigma with an Attitude over the summer & is back with the Timing of a Tarantula.

“Gawd Mode Activated” is this drumless rap rock opener giving y’all the pain, the glory & everything that comes with it whereas “Trendsetter” gives off a mafioso vibe instrumentally talking about mixing longevity & high quality in addition to those tryna copy him when he’s building a monopoly. “Glass Joes” has a cloudy boom bap flare expressing his only concern now being the cash flow while the sample-driven “Venom in My Veins” talks his visions of living in flames.

Flames Dot Malik joins Ty on the piano boom bap joint “8 Eyes on the Paper” tryna maintain with 1 foot in the game each as they try to get paid just before a personal favorite of mine “Eat What You Kill” produced by Denny LaFlare keeps it in the basement suggesting that those thinking they better than him be mixing PCP in their blunts. “Top Rank” featuring Estee Nack aggressively reaffirms both of their statuses as lyricists & “Web of Lies” protects what’s his refusing to get involved with a network of deceit.

“You Bleed, I Bleed” featuring Rome Streetz reaches the final moments of Timing of a Tarantula with both of them hopping on top this crooning, drumless beat from Apollo Brown letting y’all know that it doesn’t even have to be this hard at all & asking why you can’t even see their stars while the closer “Heart of a Champion” finishes the EP by keeping the soul sampling in tact 1 last time flexing that he can simply email himself if he needs a raise.

For anyone who happens to love the conceptual street hip hop like some of Ty Farris’ previous releases, you’re gonna love Timing a Tarantula without question & it really might be my new favorite EP in his discography. His imagery makes sharp comparisons to the aptly named Theraphosidae family of arthropods & Divine Crime reveals himself as a future A&R that’ll be a force to be reckoned with over production balancing boom bap & drumless.

Score: 4/5

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Jamil Honesty – “Shots from the Soviet” review

Staten Island, New York born albeit Baltimore, Maryland based emcee/producer Jamil Honesty linking up with Giallo Point for his 4th EP. Getting his footing in off the strength of his debut mixtape Verses, he would go on to build a name for himself but putting out 3 EPs & a full-length debut serving as a sequel to one of the EPs that Hobgoblin produced. Coming off the Harbor Kidz’ self-titled debut alongside the Krazyfingaz-produced The God Honest Truth or the Machacha-produced Give Us Our Daily Bread & the final installment of the Martyr Musik trilogy, Jamil’s firing Shots from the Soviet.

After the intro, the first song “Bolshevik Bullets” is this piano-driven boom bap opener comparing the bars to Russian strays whereas “The Hit” strips the drums completely talking about everyone in the streets knowing the name. After an interlude, “Double Barrel” featuring Substance810 hooks the kick & snares back up, spitting that gun talk while the solemn boom bap joint “DNA” talks getting your life in a cypher if you’re made for it.

“Makarov Murders” starts the final leg of the EP dropping bodies with the titular semi-automatic pistol that the Soviet Union has made their standard military sidearm for over 7 decades leading into “Gun Pen” grittily comparing his pen-game to that of a firearm, which is pretty accurate. The final song “No Evidence” prior to the outro ends the EP mixing some sampling with kicks & snares talking about leaving the murder scene clean.

After producing Big Trip’s most acclaimed EPs to date Honestly Filthy & it’s sequel, Jamil taps in one of the UK hip hop scene’s most prolific producers in recent memory to make an EP that surpasses the Martyr Musik trilogy as the most essential offering in his discography. I have no complaints regarding Giallo Point’s boom bap production during the 21 minute run nor is there any regarding Jamil’s performances.

Score: 4.5/5

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Big Trip – “Honestly Filthy 2” review

Detroit, Michigan emcee Big Trip reuniting with Jamil Honesty for his 4th EP. A member of The Umbrella collective, he introduced himself in 2021 off his first EP Bullet Tooth Tony followed by another one Crasseux & of course the full-length debut album Filth Be Thy Name. All of which showed the underground what Big Trip was capable of doing on his own, but Honestly Filthy would elevate him & the sequel here is shaping to maintain the classic caliber they reached over 4 months ago.

The piano-driven boom bap intro talking about everyone else being unable to come outside until they say so whereas “Wave Runners” featuring Jamil Honesty & Snotty finds the trio aggressively referring to themselves as trendsetters. “Kenny Lofton” takes the soulful boom bap route instrumentally to write pain with a golden glove prior to “Ice Wood” featuring Mvck Nyce paying homage to the late, great Blade Icewood.

“Clout Chasers” hops over a vocal sample observing a drought in real ones out here this day and age while “In the Filth We Trust” returns to the boom bap talking about getting it out the mud with no luck. “Gold Mouth” featuring Mickey Diamond maintains a dusty edge getting on their street shit together, but then the outro brings back the exact same beat as the intro so Trip can body it again talking about being destined to shine.

What made Honestly Filthy the best entry in Big Trip’s whole discography for me personally was the fact that it excellently refined everything that you’ve heard from him previously & the sequel here takes that to a whole new level. His hardcore lyricism & Jamil Honesty’s boom bap production from the predecessor carry their way onto the follow-up, except their chemistry is being elevated.

Score: 4.5/5

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Daniel Son – “Hare Brained Schemes” review

Here we have the 8th proper full-length solo LP from Toronto, Ontario, Canada emcee Daniel Son. A member of the Brown Bag Money collective, his profile began to rapidly increase in the underground off projects like the Giallo Point-produced debut mixtape The Gunners or the Futurewave-produced sophomore album Yenaldooshi. He just teamed up with Raz Fresco this spring for the spectacular collab album Northside paying homage to the roots of the Toronto hip hop scene & a few months after reuniting with Futurewave for the first time since Son Tzu & the Wav.God on Bushman Bodega over the summer, he & Finn are linking up for Hare Brained Schemes.

“Femoral” is this grungy boom bap opener talking about turning flesh into ice since he’s so cold & people wasting time like they have extra lives whereas “Missing Teeth” gives off a jazzier approach instrumentally applying pressure on everyone’s necks with their feet for deep pockets. “Capital Gains” featuring Pro Dillinger maintains a jazzy boom bap flare cautioning to recognize before they reck their lives, but then “Dance of the Drunken Mantis” briefly expresses his desire to be a Bush Doctor Millionaire.

As for “Clicqout Fountains”, we have Daniel hopping over a soulful beat boasting at the main pot to piss in was shitting on the competition leading into “Courtleigh Chemist” regularly talking about not changing shit if he were to do it all over again. “Chalk Brothers” featuring Lord Juco mixes the exuberant with the raw bodying shit together while “Iron Leash” featuring Family Gang Black finds the 2 grittily translating their pain into passion now that their music rocking overseas.

“Talon Claw” starts the final leg of the LP talking about cooking as if he was a French chef in the ‘60s while “Call Me” drumlessly reaffirms that he’ll go down as a legend when it’s all said & done saying it’s the dope everyone needs. “Sharing Needles” featuring Mooch returns to the boom bap catching the big sharks since neither one of them want to meet their demise struggling & “Fall Breeze” closes Hare Brained Schemes in the form of a dedication of those who have to stay home on the weekends because they can’t afford a sitter.

Dirty Dishes has always stood out to me as one of my favorite Daniel Son projects much like everything he & Futurewave have done with one another in the past, so that was more than enough to have me anticipating the follow up here & they sure as Hell delivered. Finn’s production here is some of the best that I’ve heard from him in a while, the features all match Daniel’s energy & the BBM standout himself lyrically keeps the same energy from the other 2 acclaimed projects I’ve covered from him this year.

Score: 4.5/5

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Planet Asia – “Trust the Chain II” review

Fresno, California veteran Planet Asia back with 38 Spesh to produce his 12th EP & a sequel to one is his best EPs in recent years Trust the Chain. Emerging as 1/2 of the duo Cali Agents, he would also go on to have a very successful solo career & has made a lengthy yet consistent discography for himself. This includes The Grand Opening, The Medicine, the DJ Muggs-produced Pain Language, Abrasions, the Apollo Brown-produced Anchovies & Sardines backed by Mello Music Group, the Evidence-produced Rule of 3rds & the Snowgoons-produced U.Z.I. (Universal Zeitgeist Intelligence). Now with the 1-year anniversary of Sardines approaching in a few weeks, Trust the Chain II is finally here.

“Checking Traps” sets the tone of what’s to come with a rich instrumental talking about the whole team out here getting fat whereas “Inertia” takes a cloudier route expressing his gratitude to be alive serving a purpose. “Crumble Cake” works in some pianos preparing everyone for the poisonous arrows that have yet to be unloaded, but then “BBQ” goes head-on boom bap talking about bringing out the drink & partying.

Starring the EP’s other half, “Players & Dons” has a blaxploitation flare to the beat telling us the difference between the 2 types of people while the sample-driven “Illuminati Money” by the General Monks featuring Klass Murda calls out everyone on their weirdo shit. “Upscale” featuring A Plus tha Kid & The Musalini brings a blusier vibe to the table refusing to do deals with bitches in the field & “Greatness” ends Trust the Chain II peacefully brushing off that he’s on some fake shit.

Of the small handful of projects that Asia has given us in the last 11 months, Trust the Chain II easily stands as his best of 2024 so far surpasses last month’s God’s Timing or even last weekend’s Mother & Gun as my personal favorite from the TCF camp. Spesh’s production is more consistent than some of the Fresno emcee’s output in these last 8 months, the features are toned down significantly & the dude himself sounds as focused as he was on the predecessor 5 years ago.

Score: 4.5/5

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