Beast Coast – “Escape from New York” review

The Beast Coast are a New York hip hop collective consisting of Pro Era & Clockwork Indigo (the Flatbush ZOMBiES & The Underachievers). All 3 subgroups blew throughout the decade with the strengths of Joey Bada$$’ debut mixtape 1999, Flatbush’s sophomore tape BetterOffDead & The Underachievers’ sophomore album Evermore: The Art of Duality. Now after all these years of making names for themselves, they’re finally teaming up for their full-length debut as a collective.

The opener “It Ain’t Easy, It Ain’t Easy” by AK, CJ Fly, the Flatbush ZOMBiES & Nyck @ Knight talks about their rise to fame over a bland beat while the next track “Left Hand” by CJ, Clockwork Indigo, Joey Bada$$ & Nyck @ Knight takes a jab at their enemies over a druggy trap beat. The song “Problemz” by CJ, Erick the Architect, Nyck Caution, The Underachievers & Zombie Juice talks about their own issues over a mellow beat while the track “Far Away” by Erick Joey, Meechy Darko & Nyck @ Knight gets romantic over a mellow beat from Powers Pleasant. The song “Snow in the Stadium” by CJ, Erick, Joey, Issa Gold, Kirk Knight & Meechy talks about defeating the best over a cloudy trap beat while the track “Rubberband” sees Flatbush & Joey talks about making dough over a gloomy trap beat.

The song “Distance” by Erick, Issa & Joey talks about feeling free over some pretty keyboards & skittering snares while the track “Bones” by Clockwork Indigo & Nyck @ Knight gets confrontational over a perfectly fitting trap beat. The song “Puke” by AK, Erick, Joey, Meechy & Nyck looks back at when they were broke over some somber piano chords while the track “Desperado” by Joey, Kirk & the 2 Dead Boyz get at their haters over some hi-hats & an ominous acoustic guitar lead. The song “1 More Round” by Erick, Joey, Meechy & Nyck is a headache inducing alcohol anthem with a buttery instrumental while the penultimate track “Coast/Clear” by Flatbush, Issa, Joey & Nyck @ Knight is a horrifically executed friendship ode. The closer “Last Choir” by AK, Erick, Meechy & Nyck @ Knight then talks about being blessed to have made it in the rap game over a joyous instrumental.

While we’ve waited a long time for it, it’s pretty decent. Everyone all sounds great collectively & I love how they didn’t bring on any features as a way of showing that, but the production could’ve been better.

Score: 3/5

Flatbush ZOMBiES – “Vacation in Hell” review

A little over 2 years after the release of their debut album 3001: A Laced Odyssey, Beast Coast subgroup Flatbush ZOMBiES are finally returning with their sophomore full-length album. The album starts off with “HELL-O”, where they talk about how they came up & how they’re moving on with their newfound fame over an eerie beat. The next song “Chunky” sees Erick Arc Elliott & Zombie Juice talking about standing for something over a & leading the youth over a settle trap instrumental from Erick while the track “Vacation” with Joey Bada$$ is a fun celebratory anthem about making it while the track M. Bison talks about winning over a decent trap beat.

The song “Headstone” is filled with creative references to some of the trio’s influences over a gritty instrumental & while “Big Shrimp” talks about sex over a banging Kirk Knight beat, the hook is just alright. The song “Leather Symphony” with A$AP 12vy gets braggadocious over some piano keys & handclaps referencing 16-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena along with WWE Hall of Famers The 4 Horsemen while the track “Reel Girls” with Bun B gets sexual over some prominent drums.

The track “Facts” with Jadakiss is filled with battle bars over some keys & punchy drums while the song “Ask Courtney” is a reminder that love hurts over an atmospheric trap beat. The track “Crown” is about real music winning & their destinies over a druggy beat with a faint organ while the song “Proxies” gets ambitious over some creepy choir vocals. The track “U&I” sees the trio getting introspective over a smooth instrumental while “The Goddess” talks about the type of ladies they’re into including a reference to 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 over a laid-back boom bap beat.

The track “Trapped” is a beautiful love tune with a mellow acoustic guitar while the song “Best American” gets conscious over an atmospheric instrumental. The song “Misunderstood” is about self-destruction over a twangy guitar & hard hitting drums while the penultimate track “YouAreMySunshine” is a Meechy Darko solo cut that pays homage to the late A$AP Mob founder A$AP Yams over some somber keyboards. The album finishes with “The Glory”, where the trio get with Denzel Curry to tell you that they want you to succeed & the instrumental sets the tone perfectly.

While I was initially worried about the album being incosistent, the ZOMBiES proved me wrong at the end. The production is banging as always & their content on here is a lot stronger than before

Score: 4/5

Joey Bada$$ – “A.A.B.A. (All-AmeriKKKan Bada$$)” review

After releasing his full-length debut B4.DA.$$ on his 20th birthday just a couple years ago, Pro Era member Joey Bada$$ is returning with his sophomore album. The intro track “Good Morning AmeriKKKa” is basically a minute & a half taste of what is to come. The song is basically Joey saying he wants to “free your mind” over a smooth instrumental from DJ Khalil. The next song “For My People” is a dedication to those who want a peaceful life & the saxes on here are just beautiful. The track after that “Temptation” talks about racism & the way he talks about it very personal. Especially when he starts asking for God’s help.

The track “Land of the Free” came out on Joey’s 22nd birthday as well as the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration & the content of how AmeriKKKa is full of free loaders is still relevant now. The production is has a somber kinda funky vibe to it, too. The track “Devastated” sees Joey reminiscing about his pre-fame days & how patience was the key to his success over a spacey beat.

“Y U Don’t Love Me? (Miss AmeriKKKa)” sees Joey basically asking why the government hates minorities & the gloomy beat goes PERFECTLY with what he’s saying. The song “Rockabye Baby” talks about how the system can’t control them over some ominous keys & I actually think ScHoolboy Q out-rapped Joey on here.

The track “Ring the Alarm” talks about the “resurrection of real” hip hop & while the bridge from Meechy Darko was executed decently, I really love how Joey’s fellow Pro Era members Nyck @ Knight are trading lines with each other in the final verse. The song “Super Predator” with Styles P is basically a retaliation to the term with the same name, but the hook was kind of a turn off for me.

“Babylon” talks about Joey’s desires to move far away from AmeriKKKa as possible over some militant drums as well as some saddening saxes. The Chronixx bridge fits in well, also. The penultimate track “Legendary” with J. Cole talks about how legends only multiply & the beat from Statik Selektah is jazzy as Hell. I also love how Joey inadvertently shouts me out during the hook too, lol!

The album then closes out with “AmeriKKKan Idol”, where Joey’s simply saying “fuck you” to white supremacy & how the government’s trying to start a racial civil war over a somber guitar as well as some EXPLOSIVE drums. I also really love how the hook interpolates the classic Nas track “The World is Yours”.

While I like the production on Joey’s last album a lot more, I’d say the content on here is WAY more superior than B4.DA.$$‘. Not only is it Joey’s most political work to date, but I think it’s much needed for us right now (especially with the very recent Syria missile strikes that occurred just the day before the album came out)

Score: 4/5