Ill Tone – “The Outcome” review

Ill Tone is a producer from Buffalo, New York known for his collaborations amongst the iconic underground labels Griselda Records, Drumwork Music Group & Black Soprano Family Records. His resume beyond that whole realm further includes the likes of Krayzie Bone & Project Pat, signing to B$F to put out an official debut album of his own through the local indie enterprise staying increasingly consistent with the output a week after Duffel Bag Hottie put out his new EP Shut Down the Dance Floor by recording his vocals through a prison phone.

After the Westside Gunn intro, the first song “Impossible” by Conway the Machine along with Jae Skeese & Rome Streetz fuses rap rock & boom bap doing what others thought couldn’t be done whereas the title track by Benny the Butcher ruggedly talks about his flow being unmatched when it is. “Supper Immaculate” by AZ & Elcamino doesn’t disappoint with its name since both of them kill it over some magnificent sampling & “Pick a Side” by Conway after the Ghostface Killah interlude talks about being either with them or against them.

Following the “Journey” skit, Benny gets another solo cut with “36oz & a Mercedes” discusses not being as humble as everyone else backed by this crooning soul sample just before “Raw Cain” by Elcamino reflects on the way things used to be for him back then. “The Mood” by Flee Lord & Gully talks about them holding it down for several blocks even if they don’t rule the world leading into “I See” by Elcamino & Player K soulfully promising the player shit coming with them when their time comes.

“Supreme Balla” by Elcamino & Smoke DZA brings a jazzy boom bap vibe to the table as both of them admitting that these weak MCs out here be pissing them off acting like they the shit when they’re gonna call them as they see them while “Punctuality” by The Black Abstract, Chase Fetti & Jae Skeese maintains the jazzily dusty flare talking about missing your future if you dwell on the past. “B.T.L.” by Elcamino, O.T. the Real & Stove God Cook$ ends with pure lyrical pressure from all 3 of them with some fresh ass sampling behind them.

Starring the deluxe run, “My Side of the Story” by Rick Hyde & Sule unites the pair to talk about the blood, sweat & tears that’ve led them to glory & no longer being ignored while “Colosseum Rap” by Elcamino & Fuego Base explains that this is for the men trying to get the bread & not for the suckas. The final bonus track “Kenny Solomon” by Jae Skeese & YoungstaCTP gets on some mobster shit instrumentally bridging the gap.

Showcasing the distinct sound of B$F that has drawn acclaim from critics & fans alike, Ill Tone’s full-length debut studio LP will easily stand until December as one of if not the best producer album that has come out in 2025 because the hard-hitting verses from a near-flawless list of guests over the Buffalo beatsmith’s dynamic production balancing boom bap, drumless, chipmunk soul, jazz rap & rap rock remain consistently aggressive from start to finish.

Score: 4/5

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Duffel Bag Hottie – “Shut Down the Dance Floor” review

Buffalo, New York rapper Duffel Bag Hottie putting out his 2nd EP by rapping over a prison phone. Known as one of the earliest Black Soprano Family Records signees, he has dropped 3 full-lengths along with 5 mixtapes & an EP through the label. Ghost of Rick James stands out the most in his discography personally although I’d be remised if I didn’t mention the Max Julian includes essential tracks of their own & is surprisingly looking to Shut Down the Dance Floor.

The title track is a trap intro boasting that he’s still fly & getting an unexpected visitor from a female one day whereas “Live from USP Canaan” talks about being in the Pennsylvania high security penitentiary as we speak. “Feel that Pain” marks labelmate Fuego Base appearing as the only feature on the whole entire EP working in some sampling linking with Duff to flex they only be hitting the club when the stacks move while “Winter Time in NY” exuberantly talks about spending the coldest & darkest of the 4 temperate seasons in his home state.

“Story Time Duff” has a dope chipmunk soul vibe referencing 10-time WWE world champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion, United Football League (UFL) co-owner, TKO Group Holdings board of directors member, co-founder of $7 Productions who recently landed a partnership with The Walt Disney Company & the final boss of professional wrestling himself The Rock set to appear in Toronto tomorrow night to confront the current WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber XV & “Heats” ends by promising that he’ll keep us updated on what’s going on with him.

Now I have seen some criticism from people online regarding his vocals being recorded from the prison phone, but I look at it the same way the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard recorded his verse for “Conditioner” off the almighty Wu-Tang Clan’s 3rd album The W in the sense that he’s still capable of rapping as good as he did almost 7 & a half years ago. Would love to see him make another body of work on the caliber of consistency Ghost of Rick James had reached once he comes home.

Score: 3.5/5

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V Don – “Sent For” review

New York producer V Don curating his 3rd EP after signing to Black Soprano Family Records & Roc Nation Records. In the past 15 years, he has become one of the most in-demand producers that the underground has seen working with the likes of Willie the Kid to Ransom & Estee Nack in addition to his small handful of solo efforts including the debut album The Opiate & his last EP Better Than Money. The latter celebrated its 3-year anniversary earlier this month & is returning with Sent For.

“Mafia” by Eto is this gritty boom bap opener talking about never sitting in a spot if he could never landlord it whereas “Fortunate” by Hobx & WhoisBravy hooks up some strings along with kicks & snares to discuss staying putting in orders in order to maintain the baller mentality of theirs. “The Same Day” by Benny the Butcher & Conway the Machine finds the pair talking about goals coming together doing something to your soul leading into “Episode” by Lloyd Banks boasting that his life’s complete.

The song “Too Much” by Al-Doe & Willie the Kid reaches the backend of Sent For by going drumless suggesting you should take it if you like what you see from them while “Old Kemba” by BabyMaine & Ty da Dale returns to the boom bap talking about staying hands on with the work. “Know Me” by Elcamino & Sule closes V Don’s debut with B$F/Roc Nation with both MCs giving headshots as if they’re photographers & that you better act as if you know what the deal really is.

Whether it be the Deutsche Marks saga or B.R.A.P. (Born Rewards & Penalties) & the Chaos is My Ladder duology, V Don’s case in being one of underground hip hop’s most in-demand producers has already been made clear as day in the past 15 years & his Black Soprano Family/Roc Nation debut takes it a step further introducing himself to a wider audience. His signature hardcore boom bap sound remains the same & he recruits a mostly high tier list of performers to kill his beats.

Score: 4/5

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Elcamino – “Full Moon” review

This is the 18th EP from Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino. Blowing up in 2017 off his self-titled EPwith Griselda Records, his profile increasingly grew after being followed up by Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 along with dropped 2 studio albums & a few EPs the year after that. They Spit on Jesus proved to be a well received Black Soprano Family Records debut becoming the first Camino project that I had covered since On the 3rd Day & that much like No Weapon Formed Against Me was an improvement over some of the material we’ve gotten from him in recent memory. 6 months after having Real Bad Man produce The Game is the Game followed by Ill Tone recently producing Built for Cuban Links named after Raekwon’s iconic solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…produced by RZA, Meech started the final quarter of the year flexing his Millionaire status & is ending it with a look at a Full Moon.

“Who Braggin’?” awkwardly kicks things off by impersonating Future for whatever reason while “Legal Money” takes the atmospheric trap route instrumentally doing shit that no one else can compared to him. “Forever” works in some background vocals & hi-hats talking about being too valuable whereas “Real” featuring Duckman vibrantly flexes that they’re still clappin’ out here. “Dat’s My Bae” feels like another Future-inspired song & so does “Back Ballin’” except it’s more playful. “Everything He Knows” lavishly ends with promising that he’ll do this shit for life.

Not trying to make it to sound like that I’m hating on the guy because I’ve been listening to Elcamino ever since he first signed to Griselda almost 8 years ago & have given him his praise in the dozen of projects I’ve reviewed him in the past, but I’m kinda torn on this EP personally. He can very much sing as well as he can rap on trap production like he can on traditional east coast sounds, it’s that the heavy-Future influences can be a little off-putting to me.

Score: 2.5/5

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Sule – “Written on Wide’s Corner 2” review

This is the 9th EP from Englewood, New Jersey emcee Sule. Signing to Benny the Butcher’s very own Black Soprano Family Records at the end of 2022 after putting out 7 EPs over the course of a decade, he’s also notable for his guest verse on the Biggest Since Camby closing track “White Lives Matter” produced by Havoc formerly of Mobb Deep & of course the well received Black Soprano debut Written on Wide’s Corner earlier this spring. Fast forward to Election Day 2024, we’re being treated to a sequel.

“New Jersey State of Mind” is a boom bap opener, letting us know what it was like for him growing up in the titular state whereas “Trois Sopranois” featuring Benny the Butcher & Fuego Base finds the trio representing B$F to the fullest for a few minutes. “Victor Cruz” produced by STREETRUNNER offers a soulful trap flare referencing the WR for the New York Giants, but then “Cutz” featuring Flames Dot Malik gets the 2 together for an aggressive hardcore hip hop joint breaking generational curses.

To start the other half, “My Brother’s Keeper” soulfully talks being known for making promises instead of threats while “Sule Common Wealth” featuring Lo Pro works in more kicks & snares so they can refer to themselves as the same ones who ran it. “I Made You Wealthy” featuring Fuego Base maintains a boom bap flare addressing people who’ve betrayed them after making them rich & “The Crash Out Story” ends by teaching everyone to leave their valuables at the stash house.

Sule has quickly risen to become one of the best artists on the Black Soprano Family roster in the past 8 months & in contrast to Written on Wide’s Corner achieving his goal of making Englewood a landmark, the follow-up elevates that further. The production is a mix of boom bap & trap just like the predecessor was, a couple of the guests stick the landing performance-wise & the New Jersey artist himself continues to tell us what it’s like where he’s from.

Score: 4/5

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Benny the Butcher & 38 Spesh – “Stabbed & Shot 2” review

Here we have the 2nd collaborative LP between New York rappers Benny the Butcher & 38 Spesh. One comes straight outta Buffalo becoming 1/3 of the core Griselda Records trio & the other hails from Rochester. There was even a point in time where Benny was signed to TCF Music Group years before Griselda went on to take over the underground altogether & they’ve worked with each other numerous times over the course of their careers. 6 years later, they’re linking back up for a sequel to Stabbed & Shot.

After the “Still Better” intro, the first song “1st of April” produced by V Don starts with a dreary boom bap instrumental talking about being staples in their corners whereas “High Stakes” finds the 2 showing off their street ties maintaining a dark atmosphere to the beat. “Thruway Music 2” is a sequel to a highlight off the first Stabbed & Shot continuing where the predecessor left off prior to “Who Really the King?” talking about people acting like family when that isn’t an action word over strings, kicks & snares from Chup.

“Center Stage” heads for a soulful direction thanks to Harry Fraud reminding us that they actually be living that life just before the 2nd & final single “Brick Specials” comparing their lifestyles to that of a lit movie. The lead single “Jesus Arms” featuring Busta Rhymes was a step above the b-side from the Bink! beat to the mobster-themed lyrics, but then “Hometown Hero” talks about their statuses in Buffalo & Rochester respectively.

Dave East & Klass Murda join Benny & Spesh on “Bad Guy” pointing out the fact that some don’t show you love until you start catching Ws while “Money Counter” hooks up some sampling teaching us that jealous friends happen to be the most foolish in the circle. “Internal Affairs” featuring O.T. the Real brings the trio together over a raw Daringer instrumental bringing it hardcore while the STREETRUNNER-laced “Intent to Sell” gets back on the hustling tip.

The song “Coke Runs” featuring Ransom gets the encore of Stabbed & Shot 2 going by making it clear that you haven’t seen the impressive traits that they all share in the past while “Watchlist” gives off more of a jazzier vibe to the beat talking about making $100M requiring risk. The closer “Power” featuring Elcamino finishes the Stabbed & Shot sequel talking about power becoming the cause of separation in the room while “ICE” looks at both sides of the streets they played. The titular freestyle lastly shows a back-&-forth chemistry from them for 3 & a half minutes.

Much has changed in the interim in the past 6 years including the respective statures of Benny & Spesh as they have both grown, elevated & evolved. Stabbed & Shot 2 though has made it’s case in being the rare sequel that surpasses it’s predecessor with Benny returning to his roots by reconnecting with the TCF founder to go on another round of paper chasing shooting for a sound that can only come from experienced street hustlers.

Score: 4.5/5

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King Kong Bundyy – “Tales from Castle” review

This is the 3rd EP from Spring Valley, New York emcee King Kong Bundyy. Originally starting off under the moniker G-Field, he would put out 2 mixtapes Street Credibility & Bail Money before Benny the Butcher signed him to his ever-growing indie label Black Soprano Family Records for his 2019 debut EP Living Life Bundyy. A follow-up EP The Lost Files happened to be unearthed by B$F last Black Friday & now that the 1-year anniversary of the predecessor coming next month, Bundyy’s returning a week after the 4th quarter of 2024 began so he can tell some Tales from Castle.

After the “Heavyweight” intro, the “Where Was You At?“ remix featuring Funch the Camden Kid truly starts the EP with both artists over a piano-trap beat talking about almost giving up wanting to know where the homies were at their lowest whereas “Do or Die” featuring SuperChilly takes a cloudier approach instrumentally asking nothing more than trust. “Gotta Get Mine” works in a soulful boom bap beat to put his life on the line taking risks while “Mozart’s Keys” grittily talks staying in the trap since it doesn’t get boring. “Kan’t Sleep” ends the Tales from Castle soulfully discussing being unable to sleep these days.

Living Life Bundyy & The Lost Files are both good places to start for any B$F fan who has yet to familiarize themselves with King Kong Bundyy, but I’d recommend Tales from Castle since you get a better idea as to who he is & where he comes from in to addition to him artistically himself to a new level. Even if both of the features are ok, the Spring Valley artist gives the listeners a glimpse of the personal experiences that’s he’s had on Castle Avenue with the production healthily balancing the boom bap & trap sounds.

Score: 3.5/5

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Elcamino – “Millionaire” review

Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino staying busy with his 3rd EP of 2024 & the 17th of his discography overall. Blowing up in 2017 off his self-titled EP with Griselda Records, his profile increasingly grew after being followed up by Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 along with dropped 2 studio albums & a few EPs the year after that.. They Spit on Jesus proved to be a well received Black Soprano Family Records debut the first Camino project that I had covered since On the 3rd Day & that much like No Weapon Formed Against Me was an improvement over some of the material we’ve gotten from him in recent memory. 6 months after having Real Bad Man produce The Game is the Game followed by Ill Tone recently producing Built for Cuban Links named after Raekwon’s iconic solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…produced by RZA, Meech looking to start the final quarter of the year flexing his Millionaire status.

“Money Mayweather” featuring Estee Nack sets the tone of what’s to come with it’s luxurious boom bap instrumental & the lyrics tryna cause a head-on rainstorm whereas “Chill Lord” kinda gives off a psychedelically dusty vibe feeling more like an actual song rather than an interlude talking about your whole entire style being animated. “Paid in Full” featuring Estee Nack works in some vibraphone sampling mixed with kicks & snares admitting at least 10 people in the Griselda camp have become rich prior to “Gambino Family” featuring Estee Nack hopping over a classy beat looking to do big business.

Starting the final leg of the EP, “The Gold Elephant” returns to the boom bap with more of a soulful flare letting y’all know that this rap shit can do you right since he ended up eating after several years of negligence while the beat on “Maybach Muzik” most definitely feels inspired by Rick Ross allowing Elcamino to talk about having a hunger for more ever since he was a youngin’. “Wu Level” finishes Millionaire on a drumless note with it’s crooning sample & discussing not being structured to be mad at one’s personal decisions.

Camino’s been teasing Millionaire for the past 3 weeks or so & only a month after Built for Cuban Links, I do hear some improvement from him compared to the EP that he gave us back in September although I did very much enjoy it & could be my 2nd favorite EP of the 3 that we’ve gotten from him behind The Game is the Game. The production continues to balance boom bap & drumless so Elcamino can portray the gangsta lifestyle for only 16 minutes.

Score: 3.5/5

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Elcamino – “Built for Cuban Links” review

Here we have the 16th EP albeit his 2nd to be released this year from Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino. Blowing up in 2017 off his self-titled EP with Griselda Records, his profile increasingly grew after being followed up by Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 along with dropped 2 studio albums & a few EPs the year after that.. They Spit on Jesus proved to be a well received Black Soprano Family Records debut the first Camino project that I had covered since On the 3rd Day & that much like No Weapon Formed Against Me was an improvement over some of the material we’ve gotten from him in recent memory. 6 months after having Real Bad Manproduce The Game is the Game though, Ill Tone’s now producing Built for Cuban Links named after Raekwon’s iconic solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… produced by RZA.

Estee Nack joins Elcamino for the opener “Stash House Legends” starting Built for Cuban Links by reaffirming both of their statuses in the drug game over a bare soul sample whereas “Mill Prep” puts the drums in the equation promising to stay the same with or without money. “Estate” feels like a 73 second freestyle accompanied by a drumless instrumental while “Red Room” featuring Flames Dot Malik goes boom bap detailing the gangsta lifestyles they live.

“Gold Plated Benz Wagons” classily talks about being upper echelon just before “Cuban on Cuban” works in more kicks & snares flexing that hip hop got him iced up. “Zip Lock Olympics” luxuriously gets back on his hustler shit leading into the flute-tinged “God’s Favorite” declares he’s done doing & selling percs. The title track strips the drums again to talk about coming from a dark street & “I Knew” returns to the boom bap 1 more time winning standoffs instead of awards.

The Game is the Game still remains the best I’ve heard from Camino ever since signing to B$F, but Built for Cuban Links nonetheless finds him going on a 3-peat since I enjoyed it as much as I did They Spit on Jesus when he joined the label’s roster 11 months ago. Ill Tone obviously ain’t no Real Bad Man yet his takes on the boom bap/drumless sounds get elevated thanks to the stories Meechy tells in only 20 minutes.

Score: 3.5/5

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Benny the Butcher – “Buffalo Butch” review

This is the 8th EP from Buffalo, New York emcee Benny the Butcher. Being in the game for 2 decades already, it wouldn’t be until 2016 where he alongside his cousins Westside Gunn & Conway the Machine would take the culture by storm off projects like Tana Talk 3 & The Plugs I Met. Harry Fraud came in for a sequel to the latter following the mature Burden of Proof & finally, Tana Talk 4 took it back to the basement a couple years back. Coming off having Hit-Boy produce half of it & leaving the other half to The Alchemist produce his Def Jam Recordings debut & my album of the year so far Everybody Can’t Go, we’re now being treated to Buffalo Butch only a couple weeks after the previous EP Summertime Butch.

“Penny & Shaq” featuring 38 Spesh starts off the brief 3 track offering hopping over an extravagant beat comparing themselves to Orlando Magic veterans Penny Hardaway & Shaquille O’Neal whereas the For All the Dogs outtake “Buffalo” featuring Drake finds the pair linking up over a sample-driven instrumental from Boi-1da talking about the fact that it’s more when you earn it being iller than the illnesses haters be wishing on them. Lastly, the closer “Hard Way” featuring Fabolous officially rounds out Buffalo Butch on some boom bap shit letting it be known this fly shit ain’t cheap whatsoever.

We’ve only gotten 2 EPs from Benny this month & 3 projects from him in 2024 altogether if you include Everybody Can’t Go, but I still happen to prefer Summertime Butch only because it’s a little longer than Buffalo Butch although that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the 3 songs he dug up for us here. As opposed to the summer theme of the joint from 2 weeks ago, you only get 8 minutes worth of material shedding 16 minutes off the last one centering itself around Benny’s hometown mentality.

Score: 3.5/5

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