Boldy James – “Across the Tracks” review

Detroit veteran Boldy James linking up with Conductor Williams for his 7th EP. Breaking out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). He would later go on to land a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records for a little while before getting locked up but once Boldy came home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China. This was followed up with the Sterling Toles-produced Manger on McNichols which was as equally fantastic, but the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was. Bo Jackson though would become his most critically acclaimed work to date & Super Tecmo Bo was almost as great for an EP. Fair Exchange No Robbery produced by Nicholas Craven also became an essential until Penalty of Leadership surpassed it & Mr. 10-08 produced by Futurewave is up there too, so hearing that Conductor was producing Across the Tracks sounded as thrilling of an idea on paper.

“Terms & Services” starts off with a soulful boom bap beat talking about the first brick he ever touched being the worst one whereas “All Madden” featuring Bo Jack goes for a cloudier approach instrumentally referring to themselves as the real apex predators. “Flying Trapeze Act” brings back the soul samples flexing the way his youngin’ be catching bodies leading into “The Ol’ Switcharoo” unsettlingly talking about the all-nighters giving him vertigo.

Meanwhile on “Undisputed”, we have Conductor dabbling with more of a trap sound so Boldy can remind everyone he got the right mix just before “Lamp Shade” goes drumless talking about them coming to confiscate his onions sooner than later. “St. Juliana” soulfully moves on from there staying 2 commas in & 7 figures strong, but then “Permission” featuring Double D keeps the sampling going talking about needing the ok from them to make the hit.

“Offwhite Lumberjack” nears the conclusion of Across the Tracks on some lo-fi rap rock shit acknowledging that he’s been fucked up in the head ever since they took Tonya from him later referencing the late アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン, TNA World Tag Team Champion, WCW World Television Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 7-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, 4-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall prior to “Stamps in the Middle” wrapping up the EP jumping on top of victorious horns talking grey squares keeping the stamps dead in the middle of them & comparing the Cuban on his neck to that of a whole trophy made out of diamonds.

Boldy already dropped a top 10 album of 2024 in Penalty of Leadership right when it began & now he’s concluded the first half of the year by putting out an EP that’s as highly enjoyable. His lyricism is rawer than the previous LP’s personal themes & Conductor Williams’ spot as one of the most in-demand producers in hip hop today as well as the standout member of Griselda’s in-house production trio The Heartbreakers is reaffirmed demonstrating his range more.

Score: 4.5/5

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Boldy James – “Penalty of Leadership” review

This is the 8th proper full-length LP from Detroit veteran Boldy James. Breaking out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). He would later go on to land a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records for a little while before getting locked up but once Boldy came home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China. This was followed up with the Sterling Toles-produced Manger on McNichols which was as equally fantastic, but the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was. Bo Jackson though would become his most critically acclaimed work to date & Super Tecmo Bo was almost as great for an EP. The last I covered Boldy’s music was in 2022 for the well regarded Fair Exchange No Robbery produced by Nicholas Craven & Mr. 10-08 produced by Futurewave respectively. However in light of teasing Penalty of Leadership with Craven over the last couple months, we’re getting it at long last to ring in the new year.

“Formal Invite” is a soulful opener to the album assuring that every wish will be granted whereas “Jack Frost” works in another high-pitched vocal sample talking about being quick to rip the tag off after money being put on your head. “Evil Genius” goes into more synth-heavy direction wishing all the bros were here with him in this moment just before “Murderous Tendencies” says it all conceptually with yet another soul flip.

Continuing from there, “No Pun Intended” shifts into chipmunk soul territory so Bo Jack can talk about feeling like Thanos prior to the lead single “Brand New Chanel Kicks” going drumless making it clear that “this drug zone shit is so for real”. “Straight As” brings back the soulful vibes boasting that he been on his game time shit, but then “Soccer Mom” shooting for a calmer approach instrumentally talking about the 227 Concreatures being the ones.

“Early Worms Get Birds” featuring Double D might be the weakest on the album despite the boom bap production & Boldy’s lyrics declaring to be a new sheriff in town in addition to the references of former IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン as well as 10-time WWE world champion & former UFC Heavyweight Champion of both TKO Group Holdings divisions Brock Lesnar & WWE Hall of Famer Junkyard Dog while the chipmunk soul-inflicted penultimate track “Speedy Recovery” advises to sit back & take notes. “All My Tokens” closes Penalty of Leadership by jumping over guitars looking to stack his tokens up.

Fair Exchange No Robbery is one of Boldy’s strongest LPs ever, so I was more excited for this considering that it was literally the very first album that he ever recorded after being released from the hospital due to the car crash he was in & did it ever. He’s pretty much saying what’s on his mind after going through a life-threatening experience & Craven’s sample-heavy production is a step above the last one he did with the Detroit icon.

Score: 4.5/5

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Boldy James – “Mr. 10-08” review

Boldy James is a 39 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who broke out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). He would later go on to land a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records for a little while before getting locked up but once Boldy came home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China at the beginning of last year. This was followed up with the Sterling Toles-produced Manger on McNichols which was as equally fantastic, but the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was. Bo Jackson though would become his most critically acclaimed work to date & Super Tecmo Bo was almost as great for an EP. But not even a month after linking up with Montréal, Québec, Canada beatsmith Nicholas Craven for the well regarded Fair Exchange No Robbery, he’s enlisting Toroto, Ontario producer Futurewave for his 6th album.

“The Whole Hundro” is a drumless yet groovy opener with Boldy talking what he’s gonna do if someone goes against the grain whereas “Mortermir Milestone” takes a more jazzy boom bap route coming clean that he’s still on the corner rocking them Sawyers. “Smacked” has a more ghostly atmosphere to it talking about the hustler life just before the synth-laced “Dormin’s” gets back on that 1 shit & I think 2100 Bagz did a pretty solid job with the hook here.

However on “My Double Trigger”, we have Futurewave working in a chipmunk soul sample for Boldy to talk about blasting any motherfucker who’s dumb enough to run up on him leading into the drumless yet dark “Disco Fever” talking about having tricky moves. “Could Be Worse” though has a more glossy yet slicker sound talking about putting a little bit of the dope in a bag & a purse, but then “Flag on the Play” has a more calmer vibe sonically advising to stand down ‘cause that bag’s on the way.

The guitar licks throughout the penultimate track “Jam Master J” are an infectious touch to the instrumental as he intricately talks about being the King of Rock & referred to as the Jam Master with “Indivisible” closing the album with a shimmery boom bap beat that switches up into a soulful loop during the 2nd half praying to God to ensure that these streets don’t eat him alive.

It hasn’t even been a little over a month since [Fair Exchange No Robbery quickly became amongst the greatest bodies of work that Boldy has ever put out thus far & here we are at the beginning of November with him dropping another classic that’s just as amazing if not better. Much like that previous album, here you got a skilled MC from the 313 continuing to tell tales of his crime life with one of few best producers in Canada right now masterfully resurrecting the boom bap style that the predecessor respectfully lacked in.

Score: 4.5/5

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Boldy James – “Fair Exchange, No Robbery” review

This is the 5th full-length album from Detroit emcee Boldy James. Breaking out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). He would later go on to land a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records for a little while before getting locked up but once Boldy came home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China. This was followed up with the Sterling Toles-produced Manger on McNichols which was equally fantastic, but the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was. Bo Jackson though would become his most critically acclaimed work to date & Super Tecmo Bo was almost as great for an EP, so I was thrilled when it was announced that Montréal, Québec, Canada’s own Nicholas Craven was fully producing Fair Exchange, No Robbery right here.

“Straight & Tall” is a jazzy yet soulful opener to the album spitting the memoirs of an orphan whereas “Stuck in Traffic” works in a 70’s soul sample to get in his storytelling bag vividly talking about getting them bricks going.“Scrabble” has more drumless territory with Boldy spitting some braggadocio, but then “Town & Country” keeps the drumless vibes going with it’s twangy yet ghostly piano-laced loop looking back on the life of crime.

Gue Wop has the only feature on this album on the groovy “0 Tre 9” welcoming Boldy back home from when he got out of prison in December 2019 prior to the pandemic just before “Monterey Jack” has a more western influence to the beat threatening anyone who dares to step up to him. “Designer Drugs” goes full blown jazz rap spitting that mafioso shit leading into the guitar/keyboard-laced “6 Toes” repping his people. The penultimate track “You Ain’t a Menace” brings back to the soul samples calling out someone whom Boldy doesn’t consider to be a threat to him & “Power Nap” closes out the album with a chipmunk soul talking about being under the influence.

Considering that both of these guys are of the biggest names in the respective Detroit/Canadian hip hop scenes right now, it was only a matter of time they joined forces for an album & it’s one of Boldy’s best yet. Lyrically, I feel like has a more of an autobiographical concept throughout & highly respect him for doing that with Nicholas Craven continuing to cement himself as of the best producers in the game right now with his remarkable drumless/chipmunk soul production.

Score: 4.5/5

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Boldy James – “Super Tecmo Bo” review

Boldy James is a 39 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who broke out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist-produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). He would later go on to land a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records for a little while before getting locked up but once Boldy came home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China at the beginning of last year. This was followed up with the Sterling Toles-produced Manger on McNichols which was as equally fantastic, but the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was. He & Alchemist just dropped Bo Jackson to widespread acclaim over the summer, but are returning together out of the blue for Boldy’s 4th EP.

“Level Tipping Scales” sets it off well by spitting that pyrex shit on top of an atmospheric instrumental whereas “No Laughing Matter” follows it up by warning listeners that the drug dealer life ain’t no joke & the upbeat production is just fly as fuck to me. “Hot Water Tank” has these cool little whistles throughout the beat as well as how it details the gangsta mentality even though ICECOLDBISHOP’s verse is wack as fuck, but then “Bumps & Bruises” takes things into jazz territory & it’s nice to hear him getting more insightful through his lyrics.

Meanwhile on “Great Adventures”, we have Boldy on top of a silky yet drumless beat vividly detailing getting the gang tied up just before “Moth in the Flame” talks about being true to the game & the theatrical production enhances the seriousness of it very well. The song “300 Fences” compares his Concreatures crew to that of the infamous Black Mafia Family on top of an apprehensive instrumental while the penultimate track “Guilt” incorporates in some weepy strings talking about someone not being built for this life. “Francois” then ends the album with a gritty dedication to the thugs out there.

Bo Jackson has quickly become the best work of Boldy’s career in my personal opinion & for them to follow it up as quickly as they did, Super Tecmo Bo is very close to being on that same caliber. I respect that they toned it down on the features even though I wasn’t feeling the only one on the EP at all, but both parties continue to bring the best out of one another both lyrically & sonically.

Score: 4/5

Boldy James – “Bo Jackson” review

This is the 4th full-length album from Detroit emcee Boldy James. Breaking out in 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set), he would land a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records for a little while before getting locked up. Uncle Al would help get Boldy’s name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China at the beginning of last year. This was followed up with the Sterling Toles-produced Manger on McNichols which was as equally fantastic, but the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was. But with the 1-year anniversary of that project coming up this weekend, it’s only right for Boldy to reenlist Alchemist for Bo Jackson.

“Double Hockey Sticks” starts out with a haunting boom bap instrumental getting on his pyrex shit, but then has a hazy switch up talking about beating a case. The next song “Turpentine” has a more chipmunk soul vibe speaking on hard times whereas “Brickmile to Montana” with Benny the Butcher serves as a rugged sequel to “Scrape the Bowl”. The pianos on “E.P.M.D. (Everybody Plotting My Demise)” are eerie as fuck with Boldy calling out those who want to see him fail just before declaring that nobody is cut from his cloth for the airy “Steel Wool”.

Meanwhile on “Photographic Memories”, we have Earl Sweatshirt & Roc Marciano jump on top of a vocal loop saying they never forget faces leading into the demented storytelling “Speed Trap” provides. He later talks about taking the pot & going gold for the piano-laced “Diamond Dallas”, but then “Flight Risk” puts heavy reverb on the sample getting in his mafioso bag.

“Illegal Seizure & Search” gets back on the soulful tip talking about 5-0 whereas “Fake Flowers” with Curren$y & Freddie Gibbs viciously calls out those who be faking the funk with them. The song “3rd Person” has a more rock feel to it pondering how many times you can get away with murder while the penultimate track “First 48” is a cold blooded freestyle going on for 3 minutes. Then there’s “Drug Zone”, which ends the album with Boldy comparing himself to such.

If you happen to like Bo Jackson more than M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set) or even The Price of Tea in China, I wouldn’t be mad at it at all because this is the 3rd damn near perfect album they’ve done together. Boldy’s raw lyricism never fails to amuse me & the production is much better than The Versace Tape although I do respect Jay Versace.

Score: 4.5/5

Boldy James – “The Versace Tape” review

Boldy James is a 38 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who I first caught wind of with his Alchemist produced 2013 debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). The critical acclaim of which that album received would land him a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records, but Boldy unfortunately got incarcerated sometime after. Upon being released, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there by dropping the Boldface EP last winter & The Price of Tea in China just this past February. Both of which where also widely praised & even resulted in a new deal with Buffalo powerhouse Griselda Records. To mark his debut with the label, Boldy has enlisted Jay Versace for his 4th EP.

After the “Pony Down” intro, the first song “Maria” talks about going from selling drugs to where he is now over a jazzy beat while the track “Nu Wave” talks about cooking up over a soulful instrumental. The song “Cartier” with Elcamino sees the 2 talking about having footwork over a rich piano loop while the track “Brick van Excel” talks about how it is in the streets will test you over an euphoric beat.

The song “Long Live Julio” looks back on his younger days over an old school sample while the track “Monte Cristo” talks about whippin’ it up over another vintage loop. The song “Cardinal Sin” talks about being from the east side of Detroit over a slow instrumental while the penultimate track “Bentayga” talks about “pitchin’ like Verlander” over a delicate sample. The EP finishes with “Roxycontin”, where Boldy & Westside Gunn talk about being tied up in the dope game over an angelic instrumental.

Not as good as The Price of Tea in China, but still a good follow up. Jay Versace’s drumless production goes over well with Boldy James’ gritty street imagery. However, I wish it was longer than just 20 minutes. Nonetheless, Boldy shows himself as a fine edition to the Griselda roster.

Score: 3.5/5

Boldy James – “The Price of Tea in China” review

This is the long-awaited sophomore album from Detroit emcee Boldy James. A man who rose to fame with his Alchemist produced 2013 debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). This resulted in a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records, but unfortunately Boldy got locked up for a while. He eventually made his comeback a few years ago with his House of Blues mixtape & now after reuniting with the Uncle Al on his Boldface EP a couple months ago, they’re back again with The Price of Tea in China.

The album kicks off with “Carruth”, where Boldy reminisces on his past over some piano chords & a chilling vocal sample in the background. The next song “Giant Slide” gets mafiosio over a boom bap beat laced with these eerie whistling noises while the track “Surf & Turf” with Vince Staples sees the 2 talking about being overlords backed by this intoxicating instrumental. The song “Run-Ins” talks about being chased by the cops over a repetitive vocal sample that fits in flawlessly, but then it switches into a grimy ass beat leading into the track “Scrape the Bowl” with Benny the Butcher as the 2 talk about smuggling coke to their respective hometowns. The song “Pinto” talks about being rich from the drug game over a beat with these luscious string sections while the track “Slow Roll” finds Boldy flexing over an intimidating instrumental.

The song “S.N.O.R.T.” essentially gets back on the coke tip alongside Freddie Gibbs over a gritty beat then the track “Grey October” with Evidence sees the 2 pouring their hearts out over a psychedelic instrumental. The song “Mustard” has a funereal feel to it that I really like despite being way too short while the penultimate track “Speed Demon” talks about criminal activity over a boom bap beat with some nice horn samples. Then there’s the closer “Phone Bill”, which is about going from broke to rich over a calming beat.

For a comeback album, it’s damn near perfect to the point where it almost feels like Boldy never left. His pen game is still razor sharp as it was on the debut & Alchemist continues to provide him with brilliant musical soundscapes that help bring his bars to life.

Score: 4.5/5

Boldy James – “Boldface” review

Boldy James is a 36 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who blew up on the scene with his Alchemist produced 2013 debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). He then landed a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records, but sadly went to prison for a while. Boldy eventually made his comeback a couple years ago with his House of Blues mixtape & now it seems like he’s trying to rekindle the flame with Uncle Al on his 3rd EP.

It all starts off with “Ill Advised”, where Boldy gets mafioso over a symphonic instrumental. The next song “Method of Madness” continues the lyrical themes of the previous cut over a grimy trap beat while the track “Summer Nights” gets reflective over an instrumental with a harmonious sample. The song “Dinavolino” with The Cool Kids gets homicidal over an intimidating instrumental & even though the closer “My 1st Offense” recalls the first time he got popped over a funky beat, it’s way too short.

If this is just an appetizer for a main course, then I’m all for it. Boldy sounds like he never even left really whereas The Alchemist’s production still fits his gritty pen-game like a glove. Would love to see them make another album together because even though this only runs it 15 minutes, they still recapture what made M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set) so great in that short amount of time.

Score: 4/5