Babystaydown – “Art of War” review

Athens, Georgia up-&-comer Babystaydown dropping off his sophomore effort 5 months since his full-length studio debut. Somebody who already has 15 EPs under his belt including Intrusion, PL Top Recruits, 1,350, Drugz Sex & Money and it’s sequel, 17, Genesis, his Cegular Records/Sony Music debut Hate da Way Um Livin, Pain Before Pleasure, Chief 13, Aimai, I.L.M.F. (I Love My Friends), ##Kool ##Kat & the Lost Files duology. However, his inaugural LP Born Anew this spring maintained the same level as all 3 of his extended plays on Cegular in terms of propelling his status in the underground & Art of War following his Red Flags & Roses appearance had me intrigued.

“Shoota” produced by Rafmade & SOULJASPIRITS opens by talking about pulling up to the spot with a bunch of gunmen surrounding him whereas “After All” pulls inspiration from Lil Uzi Vert & Lil Wayne suggesting to everyone around his premises to move the fuck out the way before he goes on a full rampage. “Switched My Tool” talks about having to swapping out the dot attached to his Glock because the firearm got too hot & spraying shit up without bluffin’ while “Cash Flow” promotes violence & money.

Whyceg jumps behind the boards for “Dead Wrong” cutting bitches off like fades leading “All Bad” talking about being rich as fuck along with quitting green lean to consume the purpler stuff over a cloudy Hariroc beat. “Don’t Fuck with T194” featuring Pradabagshawty finds the 2 labelmates teaming up so they can talk about not partaking in using acetaminophen or oxycodone hydrochloride leading into self-awareness settling in on “Luv Raging” knowing this bitch lying when she says she loves him.

“Goofy AF” featuring byarmyy joins forces over a Traiqo instrumental shrugging off all the lames who really ain’t be saying much of anything while “D.P.W.D. (Don’t Play Wit Dat)” talks about running up checks in his sleep & all of his hoes being freaks. “Babii Babii” embraces a pluggier vibe speaking of his life going brazy ever since he finally made it out of the pavement while “Lie” talks about saying whatever you want regarding him even if he & everyone else knows it’s false.

The song “Blumagic 15” begins Art of War’s final act with Babystaydown hopping over a plugg beat recalling being so high the night earlier to the point that he couldn’t see a thing & after “Same Faces” warns that if any of his friends wind up dead if they cross the line of betrayals, “Oh My Baby” finishes with an 112 second outro that mxrt4lity laced apologizing to a woman he’s no longer involved with romantically because him breaking her heart although he claims intention of doing so.

Hate da Way Um Livin marked a huge turning point in Babystaydown’s career as it seemed like the beginning of an artistic evolution further explored on Pain Before Pleasure, Chief 13, Aimai, I.L.M.F. (I Love My Friends), ##Kool ##Kat, both entries of the Lost Files series & Born Anew. Art of War brings that growth full circle joining B What You B & Home Invasions in becoming the most essential listening experiences in the Cegular Records catalog only a few months away from the 2 year anniversary of the plugg label’s founding.

Score: 4/5

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Pradabagshawty – “Red Flags & Roses” review

Columbia, South Carolina born albeit Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Pradabagshawty back with his 2nd mixtape. Introducing himself in the spring of 2023 off Bloxk Addiktion, his popularity within the plugg subgenre of trap continued to grow last year by putting out 3 more EPs in 1 Love as well as the Cegular Records/Sony Music debut 10 Freak Ho’s and of course Forever & After. His most recent extended play B What You B & the Home Invasions tape have both become his most popular musical statements so far, returning 5 months since the latter to drop Red Flags & Roses.

“Right 1” kicks off the tape by flexing over a cloudy trap instrumental from Whyceg that his Off-White fit got him feeling like the Pope whereas the pluggy “100 Months” talks about pulling dead people out the bank on the daily. “Good Times” brings some synths & hi-hats together to drop the dub the second he pulls up at the mall while “No Hulu” featuring ImSoMarcus talks about delusional women.

As for the Four3va co-produced “Bloodhound”, we have Pradabagshawty getting back on a plugg vibe to admit that he feels like he done lost his mind leading into the chilled out “Marni” produced by mxrt4lity & SOULJASPIRITS talking about lifestyle for a couple minutes. “Perky Nap” featuring Babystaydown finds the 2 speaking of the percocets knocking them out over a Dstarkel beat just before “Houdini” starts the 2nd half talking about doing too much drugs.

“Whoa” observes the handful of artists who’ve been biting his swag & riding his wave while he stays chopping shit up but once “Striker Box” featuring Ealuhri telling the hoes they can’t love them forever because of their hearts being frozen, Trgc has a standout beat of his own with the single “Raincoat” talks about blowing shit up since his Glock stays fully loaded keeping an ARP inside his coat whenever it’s pouring outside.

Nearing the end of Red Flags & Roses, “Figure It Aht” despite the plugg instrumental feels a lot more like a Baby Auto song since he’s handling the sole verse by himself talking about a bitch wanting to say with him for a while while “Ready 4 Love” defensibly talks about being on a newer level this whole entire year. “Hold Hand” finishes up the tape with a 2-parter & “From the Start” featuring Babystaydown starts the deluxe run talking about seeing the shots coming their way prior to hitting back.

“Judo” heads further down a pluggier direction explaining that things in his life have been more steadier than smoother while “Think He Slime” talks about an individual who‘s convinced himself that he’s part of the gang when he really ain’t. “Dat Fllaattt” featuring ImSoMarcus cloudily sees the pair getting materialistic while “Yaaan” talks about still being the same young muhfuckas. The self-produced “Franklin” takes inspiration from plugg again poppin’ out the block if he’s betrayed & the final bonus track “Help” ends with a confessional approach to songwriting.

5SOULJAS earlier this summer felt like a batch of mostly average leftovers from the Home Invasions sessions hence why I wasn’t that much in a hurry to break it down a few months ago with all due respect to SOULJASPIRITS especially since I prefer his sole contribution to Red Flags & Roses, but the newest entry in Pradabagshawty’s discography makes another example as to why he’s become one of the most interesting names in the plugg/gangsta rap styles to be paying attention to with stronger production & a similarly decent list of guests.

Score: 4/5

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Pradabagshawty – “Home Invasions” review

This is the debut mixtape from Columbia, South Carolina born albeit Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Pradabagshawty. Introducing himself in the spring of 2023 off Bloxk Addiktion, his popularity within the plugg subgenre of trap continued to grow last year by putting out 3 more EPs in 1 Love as well as his Cegular Records/Sony Music debut 10 Freak Ho’s of course debut Forever & After. His newest EP B What You B only 3 months after inking the Sony deal has quickly become the most popular entry of his catalog so far, returning a few months later to put out Home Invasions.

“She Tinder” kicks off the tape with a plugg instrumental from Dstarkel talking about being in love with his girl as much as he is with the kush whereas “Good Morning” continues to bring a mellow flare to the table referencing the greatest basketball player of all-time Michael Jordan. “Hands Up” feels more like a YounnMoh cut since Pradabag barely has any presence flexing over synthesizers about the bitch he just fucked while “Sweater Weather” refuses to snitch after landing in court unlike Akon.

As for “Hop Aht”, we have Pradabag over some quirky synth leads & hi-hats talking about popping out of the ride with the sticks on him leading into “Showered Up” keeps the plugg vibes going using the backdoor on any opp leaving them for death. “Lucky Charm” heads for a cloudier approach advising anyone who wants to fuck with him to go fuck themselves, but then “Duck” produced by WhyCeg talks about making people hide when he pulls out the Glock.

“3am Lobby” begins the final leg of the tape on a lo-fi trap note boasting that nobody’s doing it like him & riding around with guns on him while “Ruthless” talks about taking issue to people crossing over his squad showing them absolutely no mercy. ImSoMarcus takes up “Too Much” hanging with the slimes instead of lames & after “Shooting Star” lets off rounds at a cop car, “Do Re Mi” wraps it up letting the chopper sing some more.

Other than not being so sure why he takes a backseat in performing every time letting the features take up a good chunk of the tracks they’re on, Home Invasions takes Pradabagshawty even higher as an up-&-coming plugg artist maintaining the quality production of the EP that got me into him back in February breaking down more stories of his life being a gangsta trying to make it out of the trenches.

Score: 4/5

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Whyceg – “Cegregation” review

Atlanta, Georgia producer, audio engineer & recording artist Whyceg releasing his sophomore effort under his Sony Music imprint Cegular Records. Properly introducing himself to the underground in the summer of 2022 off his debut EP Grey Areas alongside the superior follow-up Cegular over a year later & of course the debut mixtape Yin & Yang a couple months later, his full-length studio debut Ceg Year would arrive in the previous February, signing both Babystaydown & Pradabagshawty to Cegular afterwards with each of them becoming successful in their own unique ways this past fall. Unlike their mentor’s previous solo efforts however, he chooses to take a backseat vocally approaching Cegregation & a list of guest performers to do what they do best over his production.

“Go Far” by 2sdxrt3all begins with a plugg intro talking about being disappointed by people tearing his heart in half whenever he shows them love whereas “Creep” by B6 decently blends gangsta rap lyrics & a dark plugg instrumental together for a passable single if you’re a fan of those styles. “In the Blind” by FBLMANNY talks about others hating to play a game they don’t want him to win leading into a personal favorite of mine “Old Lady Purse” by RRoxket co-produced by Goxan admitting to getting nervous around the feds.

Big Yavo gets a song of his own with the pluggy “Yay Ball” pulling out a stick & he’s not referring to chicken when he says that just before “Jetson” by Lil Tony fuses these trippy synthesizers & hi-hats shouting out one of the 2020s’ most popular trap beatsmiths: JetsonMade. “Dominoes” by Lazer Dim 700 & 2sdxrt3all finds the 2 teaming up for a dark plugg track cautioning to not choke if you don’t want smoke while “No Mental” by Yhapojj talks about giving a fuck less regarding his haters.

“IRL” by Lil Dre6o reaches the halfway point of Cegregation poking fun at people who be actin’ hard on the Meta Platforms-owned Instagram only to be scared shitless of him when running into each other while “Dead Ppl” by NDO D & Pradabagshawty kicks off the 2nd act on some dark plugg shit once again talking about smelling corpses near them, the latter having the strongest verse compared to the other. “Need Shells” by 3hard moves forward continuing to mesh themes of the gangsta lifestyle & plugg instrumentation looking to reload his guns with more ammo while “Claim You Rich” by Jripey takes jabs at anybody who says they’re wealthier than they really are.

Zone1eriic takes the mic during “Clock It” & once another highlight “Undercover” by Babystaydown takes 111 seconds so he can talk about the woman he’s seeing possibly being the one yet simultaneously feeling like he can’t trust her for whatever reason he’s still trying to figure out, 2sdxrt3all returns 1 last time so he can make a sequel to “Crazy Dxrt3all Flow” off his 2nd EP Stop Holdin’ Nuts that recaptures everything that made the original version of it so special.

“OhYeah” by Rx Yp uses a flow reminiscent of Lucki’s using the gat to make muhfuckas dance like it’s the music video to “Thriller” by the late King of Pop himself Michael Jackon while “TF You Goin’?” by luhbrod7 promises to never leave his Heat similarly to how LeBron James did. Ending the album on a high note, “Riches” by diamond* clarifies to his girlfriend that he handles mafia business making others go missing.

I’d recommend checking out the Cegular EP for those curious of Whyceg’s abilities as a rapper, but I’d still take it over Cegregation for the finest entry in his discography so far & it has me hoping I’ll enjoy the next time the CEO of Cegular Records decides to let other artists rock his signature plugg sound throughout the duration of an entire LP a lot more than the averageness of this. This guy’s amongst my favorites in the plugg/dark plugg subgenres of trap & he really has something special going for his imprint, my main criticism with the album’s that the guest-list feels inconsistent.

Score: 2.5/5

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Babystaydown – “Chief 13” review

Here is the 10th EP from Athens, Georgia rapper Babystaydown. Somebody who’s spent the last couple years on SoundCloud with all 9 of his previous EPs under his belt already including PL Top Recruits, 1,350, Drugz Sex & Money and it’s sequel, 17, Genesis, his Cegular Records/Sony Music debut Hate da Way Um Livin, Saint & Pain Before Pleasure. Exactly a week after Pradabagshawty’s brand new EP B What You B, the Cegular crew isn’t wasting any time to drop Chief 13.

“Flyest & Highest” begins by flexing that he’s the dopest & the most stoned out of everyone in his vicinity over a cloudy trap instrumental whereas the pluggier “Perfect Timing” produced by Whyceg & SOULJASPIRITS talks about sending muhfuckas to the sky. “You Don’t Relate” cloudily asks how the fuck someone gonna push down since leaving’s forbidden while “Green Like Neon” featuring Pradabagshawty proves why we need a collab project from them.

Starting the 2nd half of Chief 13, we have Babystaydown going off the top for 2 & a half minutes during the synth-woven “Sun Up” talking about balling in a party with a Glock on him while “It’s Alright” suggests that one better keep their fight instead of going out sad. “Dirt Work” talks about being unconfident even after taking all the drugs he’s been on & “Need You Around” closes with him telling a woman how badly he desires to have her by his side.

Ever since Babystaydown signed to Cegular Records last fall, Whyceg has really done an outstanding job elevating him & Pradabagshawty because they’re already climbing the ranks in terms of becoming one of the most interesting plugg labels out currently. Things in the production department having been progressively strengthening for the Athens artist these past 5 months, which Chief 13 further exemplifies & the hungry gangsta lyrics.

Score: 4/5

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Pradabagshawty – “B What You B” review

Columbia, South Carolina born albeit Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Pradabagshawty releasing his 5th EP. Introducing himself in the spring of 2023 off Bloxk Addiktion, his popularity within the plugg subgenre of trap continued to grow last year by putting out 3 more EPs in 1 Love as well as his Cegular Records/Sony Music debut 10 Freak Ho’s & most recently Forever & After a few months back. That said: I personally wasn’t too familiar with him up until the beginning of this week gearing up for B What You B.

“Gfreak” starts with a plugg instrumental telling a hoe to not get offended after he passed on sleeping with her whereas “Brew Love” featuring yotti finds the 2 talking about their romantic interests having love for the alcohol. “Black N’ White” encourages everyone to watch the magic he can do with the stick he’s carrying that is until “Outta State” featuring Baby Auto & imsomarcus talks about them slammin’ along with them refusing to do half a pill & even airing out those who be cappin’

To get the EP’s other half going, “Tinder Date” hits the streets so hard where his whole entire body began shaking while “Cash Cow” talks about getting active from the east to the south. “P Wit Ha” maintains a plugg vibe discussing the fuck shit that comes across his line while “Heart 2 Heart” produced by WhyCeg talks about a woman wanting to have his son for the money. “AR Inna Trenchcoat” finishes the EP with a 9 Vicious solo song since Prada does the hook, which I don’t mind since I like Young Thug’s nephew artistically.

Really since catching up to Pradabagshawty’s music, Forever & After quickly became my favorite EP of his going into B What You B & the actual finished product right in front of us recaptures every quality that made it’s predecessor a standout in his discography & an exciting artist in the plugg scene to keep an eye on going forward. The production’s a more consistent than both its predecessors were & Prada’s nack for catchy songwriting reveals itself much like he did 10 months ago.

Score: 4/5

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Babystaydown – “Pain Before Pleasure” review

Athens, Georgia recording artist Babystaydown back with his 8th EP & Cegular Records sophomore effort. Introducing himself off his debut EP PL Top Recruits as well as 1,350 and Drugz Sex & Money, the latter of which spawned a sequel of it’s own this spring succeeding 17 & preceding his final independent release Genesis later in the summer. Signing to Whyceg’s newly formed Sony Music imprint not too long ago, he’s coming off his debut for the label Hate da Way Um Livin’ a few months earlier by breaking down the Pain Before Pleasure.

“Real Rich” opens with a cloudy trap instrumental talking about getting to the money has become a daily routine for him whereas “Handstand” goes for a pluggier vibe to the beat feelin’ like Marilyn Manson for fuckin’ a female rockstar. “How I Feel” produced by mxrt4lity atmospherically lets the world in as to what’s been on his mind lately while the pluggy “No Choice” assures that anyone around him can leave if they really wanted to & that they’re not being held against their will.

Jripey appears for “Taylor Port” starting the 2nd half of the EP by teaming up over a plugg instrumental from Hariroc talking about being too bad for good women leading into my favorite track “Block List” finding himself getting blocked on the Meta Platforms-owned Instagram by a baddie who was topless the night prior with an Ayelavish! & SOULJASPIRITS beat backing him. “Birthday” flexes that this fine bitch has been tryna get with what he does & “Ignoto” finishes by talking about so high that he can’t even see the bottle.

There’s only a small handful of songs I could’ve done without, but Babystaydown nonetheless comes back a week succeeding Pradabagshawty’s last EP Forever & After to drop off another short collection of plugg/trap songs that almost reach the same pedestal as it’s predecessor a couple months earlier. Now that both of Cegular’s inaugural signings have both dropped more than 1 project since getting their respective deals, I’m fairly confident 2025 could push themselves further in the plugg subgenre of trap than they’ve already reached.

Score: 3.5/5

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Pradabagshawty – “Forever & After” review

Here’s the 4th EP from Columbia, South Carolina born albeit Atlanta, Georgia rapper Pradabagshawty. Introducing himself last summer off his debut EP Bloxk Addiktion, he would go on to follow it up with 1 Love & the Cegular Records debut 10 Freak Ho’s found Whyceg making him the 2nd artist to sign to his newly formed Sony Music imprint after Babystaydown. A couple months after his debut under the label Hate da Way Um Livin’, the pressure’s being applied with Forever & After.

The intro “Plate” clocks in at 108 seconds talking about loving paper more than hoes & staying on the block for days whereas “Living Room” doesn’t shy away from admitting that he pops an adderrall when he wakes up every single morning over a Hariroc beat referencing Eric André, host of the greatest talk show of all-time The Eric André Show that ran for 5 seasons on the Discovery Global owned Cartoon Network subsidiary [adult swim].

Babystaydown saves the best guest appearance of the 3 for “Clueless” offering a glimpse of their chemistry while “Sub 0” featuring Bakkdoeshawty references former 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time AEW World Champion, inaugural ROH Hall of Fame inductee, ROH World Champion & 2-time ROH World Tag Team Champion CM Punk over a Whyceg beat. “Tangled Up” takes a pluggier vibe instrumentally talking about getting caught up between 2 hoes while “Mary Jane” could probably be my favorite track personally being a stoner myself.

The song “U Cried” featuring ImSoMarcus & produced by SOULJASPIRITS begins the EP’s final leg with both of them reflecting on going from not having shit to being locked in but after “Green n Goin’” talks about not doing relationships because he’ll end up leaving a bitch if she happens to bore him over a piano instrumental from Wizardpem, the closing track “Rehab” finishes by admitting that he needs serious help with his addiction to drugs.

Bloxk Addiktion as well as 1 Love & 10 Freak Ho’seach had their own individual amount of standouts that captured Pradabagshawty’s potential in the plugg/gangsta rap scenes, but Forever & After surpasses 1 Love in becoming his greatest extended play yet & revealing that he a lot like Babystaydown are leading the charge regarding Cegular Records’ popularity increasing heading into the new year. Although I could’ve done without a couple guests, production is prominently centered around trap this time around with plugg still included as a minor influence & Prada’s pen further suffices.

Score: 4/5

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Babystaydown – “Hate da Way Um Livin’” review

This is the 7th EP albeit Cegular Records debut from Athens, Georgia recording artist Babystaydown. Introducing himself off his debut EP PL Top Recruits as well as 1,350 and Drugz Sex & Money, the latter of which spawned a sequel of it’s own this spring succeeding 17 & preceding his final independent release Genesis later in the summer. Signing to Whyceg’s newly formed Sony Music imprint not too long ago, he’s ready to artistically take himself to the next level on Hate da Way Um Livin’.

We get a bubbly plugg instrumental on the intro “Over It” promising his hoe that they’re gonna smash once he returns from the road whereas “FaceTime” brings a cloudier trap vibe to the beat talking about there being no cap in his raps unlike all these other clowns. “Hijack” gets geeked up for 134 seconds taking the plugg route instrumentally & after “Mink Coat” talks about his preference in freaky women, “M.I.A.” produced by Ayelavish! alongside SOULJASPIRITS & Whyceg ends the first half explaining that he’s living better.

“Deceiving” starts the backend of Hate da Way Um Livin’ with a minimally atmospheric beat talking about a woman that he feels like having mileage whilst being self-aware of the swindling advantage looks can have while “Creole” embraces a pluggnb direction talking about wearing ア・ベイシング・エイプ shirt & Ksubi jeans. “Doomed” yearns to give a bitch shrooms & take her to the room so he can smash her leading into the title track finishing with confidence that he’ll be ok.

All that hustling Babystaydown has done on SoundCloud these past 16 months have finally paid off not simply based off the fact that he’s signed now, but also because Hate da Way Um Livin’ surpasses every single one of his earlier extended plays as the greatest one of them all musically. The plugg production has elevated significantly since the Athens artist began & his gangsta-themed lyrics have gotten sharper.

Score: 4/5

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Pradabagshawty – “10 Freak Ho’s” review

This is the 3rd extended play, the 2nd of 2024 & Cegular Records debut from Columbia, South Carolina born albeit Atlanta, Georgia rapper Pradabagshawty. Introducing himself last summer off his debut EP Bloxk Addiktion, he would go on to follow it up with 1 Love a few months earlier until Whyceg signed him to his very own Sony Music imprint not too long afterwards alongside Babystaydown. Appropriately, the time has come for him make a wider introduction with 10 Freak Ho’s preluding Forever & After later this fall.

“Go Best Friend” featuring NDO D joins forces over a plugg instrumental talking about their hoes calling them their besties after fuckin’ & once “She Goin’” carries over the plugg vibes in a bubblier fashion getting higher than KiD CuDi, my favorite track here “Ball Me Back” produced by both Whyceg & SOULJASPIRITS reaches the halfway point talking about being fine with this woman getting passed around by the whole crew.

Starting the 2nd half, the song “At All” clarifies that he ain’t fuckin’ with any of these guys or bitches who stay smellin’ over an aquatic trap beat while “Fasting” locks back on with SOULJASPIRITS for another plugg banger talking about taking a break from going down on women. “B My Hoe” featuring ImSoMarcus finishes the EP in the form of this decent plugg outro desiring more money & asking the females around them if they could vibe with them whilst desiring to make more bags.

1 Love sticks out as the best EP we’ve gotten from Pradabagshawty in 2024 despite Bloxk Addiktion, but 10 Freak Ho’s gives the underground a gander at what this Cegular/Sony deal could do for him in the long run & it’s still very much an average listening experience justifying him getting a label deal. The trap & plugg production isn’t as interesting as it was 4 months earlier, with the lyricism focusing more on themes of love than his earlier stuff.

Score: 3/5

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