Truth – “Nostalgia ThEraPy 2” review

Brand new EP from Queens, New York emcee Truth. Formerly of the trio Gods’Illa, he would start to build up a solo discography for himself the year after the group’s full-length debut Believe in Gods’Illa however with From Ashes to Kingdom Come. He later followed it up 3 years later by dropping the sophomore effort The Fight for Survival as well as For All Intents & Purposes. The latter of which was also produced by Da Beatminerz fully as was Nostalgia ThEraPy, running it back with DJ Evil D & Mr. Walt for a sequel.

“Painful Truth” set up shop with a gully boom bap instrumental suggesting to try fuckin’ with him in a battle just to see what would happen until “Want It Back” dustily talks about his desire for New York to take it back to it’s roots dismissing “mumble rap” when I feel like we’ve been past that phase for a grip already. “Redrum Seen” brings a murderous vibe from the beat to the relentless penmanship while “Cause for Concern” featuring Psycho Les & Tragedy Khadafi comes together for a lyrical onslaught.

The song “Done Did It” kicks off the 2nd half of Nostalgia ThEraPy 2 by having Truth hopping over some horns mixed with kicks & snares talking about doing this rap shit with ease while “Check It Out” unloads a couple of razor-sharp 16s with more authority than the MTA on top of an aggressive backdrop. “Get to It” featuring Royal Flush finishes the EP with both of them over a soul sample refusing to slow down until they get what’s owed to them.

Hungrier than ever, the 3rd dosage of potent east coast boom bap from Truth & Da Beatminerz continues the former Gods’illa member’s elevation as a solo artist that began nearly 4 years ago with For All Intents & Purposes alongside the original Nostalgia ThEraPy EP celebrating it’s 2-year anniversary in only a couple months. Everything regarding the latter being elevated throughout its follow-up from DJ Evil D & Mr. Walt’s production to the sharp lyricism.

Score: 4/5

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Apathy – “Mom & Dad” review

In front of us is the 10th studio LP from Connecticut underground MC/producer Apathy. Emerging only 2 decades back as a member of the Demigodz & the Army of the Pharaohs collectives founded by Open Mic & Vinnie Paz respectively, he was also signed to Atlantic Records at one point even though he eventually left due to creative differences. Since then The Alien Tongue has built up quite the solo discography on his own, with my favorites being Honkey Kong! as well as The Widow’s Son or more recently Where the River Meets the Sea & King of Gods. No Second fully produced by Stu Bangas. Connecticut Casual 2 mostly produced by Playa Haze was a highly worthy successor to Connecticut Casual last spring, getting ready for the summer by remembering his Mom & Dad.

“The Great Flood” featuring Little Vic & Suave-Ski recalls a series of severe floods that affected various regions of the U.S. roughly 4 decades ago whereas “Shore Life” keeps the trio together for a self-produced boom bap joint reminiscing on what it was like for them growing up in the east coast. “Put the Money in a Bag” featuring Little Vic produced by Playa Haze finds the pair sticking together so they can talk about hustling to the point of exhaustion just before “All Good” soulfully suggests you holla at him if you need anything.

Slaine of La Coka Nostra appears on “Blue Collar Scholar” to talk about the kind of art they make in a world built on lies over a sample-driven boom bap instrumental while the title track goes drumless referring to the President & First Lady of the U.S. during a bulk of the 80s as his parents. “Vintage Canvas” slickly cracks the code without having to go into practice mode, but then “Old Lyme Like Old Times” featuring Ryu gives off a laidback approach to the beat talking about letting the champagne blast off.

“Summer at the Shore” chops up a soul sample so he can confess that he’s getting sick of getting his fingers dirty from counting money & sleeping with his wife in high fashion declaring themselves as slaves of consumerism while “1 Crown” returns to the boom bap wanting to know the possibility of people who’ve never been great relating to what he’s saying. “Lee Harv” featuring a verse & production from Little Vic sees the 2 warning you’ll get shot in front of the world as if it’s JFK’s assassination & “Whalers” wraps it all up with some woodwinds using the same scale they use to weigh the whales with.

Coalmine Records has teamed with Anchors Up Records formerly Dirty Version Records to uncover Ap’s biggest memory growing up in the 80s, which was during Ronald Reagan’s presidency because he feels as if he was raised by the actor turned politician & his widow even though neither one of them were related to him. Meshing the nostalgia of the very decade that raised The Alien Tongue & socio-political commentary, the underground veteran takes it up a notch with the personal topics going from expanding on the state that made him last spring to reflecting on the Reagan administration’s impact on his life felt to this day.

Score: 4/5

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Queen Herawin – “Awaken the Sleeping Giant” review

New York emcee Queen Herawin returning ahead of her solo debut Metamorphosis turning 10 this spring with a sophomore effort. A member of the Juggaknots, she eventually went on to drop an EP after her debut The Space Between Things & appeared on Vinnie Paz’ 5th album as above so below only a month away from the world changing forever because of the pandemic. However after some recent singles, she’s teamed with Coalmine Records to help distribute Awaken the Sleeping Giant.

“Focus” is this spacious boom bap intro exploring the idea of resetting perspective until the aperture is properly set & allowing you to see things from a much more clearer perspective whereas “Anger” talks about time feeling like a ticking bomb to her occasionally through genuine angst. “Gluttony” featuring Breeze Brewin’ works in this crazy gospel sample venting that their people feel like straight meat sometimes just before “Denial” featuring Illa Ghee & Pretty Bulli finds the trio on a blink away from savagery.

Open Mike Eagle joins Herawin on the synth-heavy “Shame” delivering a relentless verbal onslaught over some additional organs leading into “Anxiety” produced by J. Depina somberly opening up about her struggles with the universal plague of anxiety & showing how her lyrical craft becomes her remedy. “Power” featuring Ke Turner hits y’all spiritual sound codes on top of these pianos & strings while “Arrogant” featuring Poison Pen ruggedly takes charge thanks to Johnny Slash.

“Love” featuring Aaqil Ali continues to go for a darker sound portraying 2 romantic partners wonderfully referencing to one another as their favorite monsters, but then “Manifest” featuring Apathy & Mickey Factz concludes the Sleeping Giant being awoken with them showcasing their elite style of lyricism each of them are known for in the underground & Supastition showing off some crazy sampling with the guitar flip he has to offer.

A whole entire decade after her solo debut, the Queen of the Juggaknots returns with a musical memoir of waking up to your true self, to your inherent power, embracing it & celebrating the entirety of who you are with a cathartic blend of stunning tales of her own personal growth addressing issues that she wanted to bring more awareness to with raw speaker-shaking production & consistent performances amongst the guests.

Score: 4/5

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Wildcard – “The Zodiac Project” review

California emcee Wildcard linking up with C-Lance for his 8th studio LP. Coming up in 2007 off the debut Dark Night of the Soul, he would go on to build up an impressive discography for himself from there whether it be The Odyssey & The War or even his last couple efforts Shadow Work & Change in Cabin Pressure. Last summer’s Western Promises resulted in one of his finest albums of his entire career yet & is now looking to up the ante by dropping The Zodiac Project.

“Aries World” opens up with a horn-heavy boom bap instrumental referring to a bunch of rats on meth as being Disney on Ice while “Taurus Jacket” maintains the sonic vibes of the predecessor talking about what he spent his 1st rap check on. “The Gemini Dance” featuring Kail Problems fuses rock & trap discussing themes of romance just before “Cancer Circle” featuring BARZ! finds the 2 talking about pushing until the wheels fall.

Apathy joins Wildcard for “Leo Lounge” returning to the boom bap promising that everyone’s getting clapped as if it’s gonorrhea leading into the soulful “Virgo Lane” apologizing for causing pain when he was selfish to the core. “Libra Season” featuring Dead Poet Devil hooks up a gospel sample to talk about going through it all while “The Scorpio Element” goes rap rock acknowledging that the hardest thing for him to do is change.

“Sagittarius Soul” has these prominent organs mixed with kicks & snares for a dedication to his mother while “The Capricorn Game” featuring A-Wax finds the 2 linking up & talking about their trigger fingers getting cold. “Aquarius Blue” shifts gears back in trap territory encouraging to drown out the voices in your head, but then “A Pisces Tomorrow” featuring Endr Won introspectively wants those who’re not in their lives anymore that they love them if they were here.

Pizzo comes into the picture on the song “Summer Snow” dropping hardcore lyricism on top of this crooning boom bap instrumental while “Brutal Blue” featuring B-Guy Griffin blends some hi-hats with melodic background vocals talking about the wild & lawless lifestyles that they live. “All Above the Above” ends The Zodiac Project with 1 more soulful boom bap joint pouring heart in his music only providing y’all with his side of the story.

C-Lance has become one of the best underground producers within the last 15 years & for anyone who loves the tracks that he’s done with Wildcard up to this point, you’re gonna love The Zodiac Project equally if not a tad bit more than the Western Promises he made almost a year & a half ago. The concept if you couldn’t tell is built around the zodiac signs & C-Lance’s diverse production carries over the consistency of the predecessor.

Score: 4/5

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BP Infinite – “Kill or Be Killed” review

This is a brand new producer album from Amityville, New York beatsmith BP Infinite. In the last 19 years or so, he’s found himself working with underground veterans from K-Rino to Diabolic, Ill Bill, the Black Market Militia & Uncle Murda. His first producer album Timeless Music was released in the fall of 2017 followed by an EP called The Supreme 7, so I was interested in hearing Kill or Be Killed since the list of performers compared to the last couple solo efforts looked grander & jam packed on paper.

After the “Tournament of Champions” intro, the title track by RJ Payne & Skyzoo sets the tone with its organ/boom bap instrumental explaining that you either kill or be killed in this game called life whereas “Street Vengeance” by Nature & Tragedy Khadafi has a mafioso flare to the beat getting in their hardcore bag lyrically. “We Out of Here” by Elucid & Gudda Vell soulfully unites the pair flexing that they runnin’ on their last legs prior to “They Know Who It Is” by E-Class & Nature keeping the soul samples in tact comparing themselves to Steph & Klay or Kobe & Shaq.

“Kill Squad” by Redman gives one of the hardest performances on the album over horns although my biggest complaint is that it’s a shorter than I imagined just before the vocal sampling returns on “Love & War” by Bub Rock, Eddie Kaine & J. Arrr talking about wanting to see their brothers ballin’ & keeping it 100 being law to them. “Raise Your Glass” by Bunchy Cartier, Shabaam Sahdeeq & 9th Prince strips the drums to make a toast while “Can’t Fuck with Me” by Mooch & Tragedy Khadafi ruggedly talks life being different for them now.

Gudda Vell & the Intelligent Hoodlum express their desire of being great on “No Replay” further marking a return to the boom bap, but then “The End” by E Murda & Shots hops over a crooning sample to make money & put others in their place. “Screwface” by Dunbar has a suspenseful vibe instrumentally putting the listeners in his shoes while “Deep in My Heart” by Cory Gunz, eLZhi & Tragedy Khadafi hooks up a gospel flip flexing their lyrical prowesses.

“I Survived” by Eddie Kaine & Shots further pushes towards the end of the LP going chipmunk soul looking to stay high where they reside witnessing someone pass away in front of them at 16 & “Listen Up, Pt. II” by Bunchy Cartier & Pillz wraps up by working in pianos clarifying that the only thing on their minds is the money both of them stay stackin’ up.

Kill or Be Killed is the hip hop equivalent of a roundhouse kick to the face from both the beatsmith & his incredible cast of collaborators, almost like the movie Bloodsport with a tournament of diverse & unique talent. To make all of it possible, BP spent 18 months of fleshed out all the production that he thought specifically matched the artists he wanted to work with & it’s finally paid off.

Score: 3.5/5

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Dillon – “What We Have Done” review

Atlanta, Georgia based emcee, producer & engineer Dillon is back with his 7th full-length album. Coming up under the original moniker Intellekt, he would properly introduce himself in ‘07 with his debut mixtape Uncut & enlist Paten Locke for the debut Studies in Hunger a couple years later. Dillon would go on to follow this up with a sophomore effort Food Chain alongside On Their Way & The Tails of Lobsterdamus respectively. Coming off the J57-produced ‘83 Kids & unearthing some Uncut Gems with Diamond D of D.I.T.C. behind the boards, Batsauce is now returning to show What We Have Done.

After the titular intro, the first song “Mind Made” is an 100 second boom bap opener telling people to get off the internet whereas “Quiet as a Library” works in some vibraphones along with kicks & snares to talk about crews rolling up sleeves if a false move is made. “Eddie Farah” jazzily discusses having to find a way to bring the bag in prior to “Make History” grandly talking about continuing to do exactly that nearly 2 decades in the game.

“Cannonball” featuring Grand Puba brings the pair together for a fun ballad that the party people can get themselves loose with just before “Banana Peels” ruggedly declares that any problem with him is a vendetta of it’s own. “Accolades” featuring Jay Myztroh & Reef the Lost Cauze soulfully talks about making sacrifices to have Heaven now, but then “Wakin’ Up Hungry” featuring Headkrack ends the first half on some rugged hardcore shit.

To start the other leg, “Goin’ Viral” dreamily talks about coming from an era where the internet was all dial-up while “Ready on the Left” featuring Kool Keith sees the 2 over boom bap production boasting their wordplay. After the titular interlude, the trippy “Watercolors” featuring Quelle Chris shows y’all what both of their minds be sounding like while “Speak Easy” strips the drums to promise he’ll keep doing this until he can’t no more.

“Isiah Thomas” tells the story of Dillon meeting the titular Detroit Pistons player known during the Bad Boys era which I find really cool as someone from Detroit himself while “Rock Bottom” psychedelically talks about those wanting to watch him to slip up & fall. “Yoga Flame” concludes the LP groovily explaining that he was looking for a sign as opposed to seeking for love.

Over 6 years since Batsauce produced On Their Way, its successor What We Have Done lives up to the standards set by both ’83 Kids & Uncut Gems. In contrast to the latter serving as a willingness to run around the world together, they return for an open invitation to experience the trials & tribulations alongside the small wins & the big losses of being aging independent artists in an increasingly cut-throat world for music makers.

Score: 4/5

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ST Spittin’ – “Risk & Reward” review

This is the 8th full-length studio LP from Oakland, California emcee ST Spittin. Emerging off his first few mixtapes Lighters & Ink Pens alongside 2nd Impression & Open Season, he would continue to expand his discography by putting out 3 albums The Morning Show, Action! & All in a Day’s Work followed by a trilogy of EPs Lucky 6, When the Ball Drops & Retrofitted ahead of the 4th LP, EP & mixtape Boom!, Don’t Judge Me & Footwrk respectively. We would later get a sequel to Boom! & Footwrk as his next 2 albums, Cool Water for the last one & Summer Madness being his 5th EP. However, I was interested in hearing Risk & Reward since Golden State Warriors deejay DJ D Sharp was behind the boards for the whole thing.

The title track is a jazzy trap opener to the album letting y’all it’s all about that whereas “Seat at the Table” shifts gears with it’s boom bap instrumental feeling like he’s moonwalking on the red carpet getting what everyone else wants. “Pesos” featuring Stunnaman02 goes for a cloudier vibe so both of them can talk about being unable to rest since they have cake to make, but then “God in the Room” featuring Dustin Sharpe & Mani Draper fuses some kicks & snares with strings admitting the Big G was at work when they wrote this.

“Profile Pics” brings a groovier flare to the beat talking about how it’s time to put in a new shift since he’s back on the job just before “Maximize” featuring HBK CJ & Khyenci dives into a pop rap direction advising to maximize your energy. “It’s Alright” featuring Ian Kelly incorporates twinkling piano chords trying to tell her that something’s better than nothing leading into the luxurious boom bap cut “Flashes” talking about seeing the greatness in him shining.

Champ Green & D. Bledsoe join ST on “Each One, Teach One” hopping over a symphonic sample admitting to buying a lot of time to spend more while “Wide Awoke” takes it back to the basement instrumentally flexing that he knows for a fact someone gets inspired whenever he’s on the mic. Lastly to finish the album, “What Ya Call That???” happens to be a soulful ode to the ones tellin’ ‘em how it is.

Over a decade into the game & ST. Spittin’ celebrated Steph Curry’s born day by putting out the most well-crafted body of work of his career so far. DJ D Sharp continues to reveal himself as one of the best beatsmiths in the Bay Area right now as his production here is varied in sound & we get a glimpse of the Oakland emcee at his rawest, most confident, playful & honest all in 1.

Score: 4/5

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Truth – “Nostalgia ThEraPy” review

Queens emcee Truth formerly of the trio Gods’Illa teaming up with Da Beatminerz for his solo debut EP. The year after the group’s full-length debut Believe in Gods’Illa however, he would start to build up a solo discography for himself with From Ashes to Kingdom Come. He then followed it up 3 years later by dropping the sophomore effort The Fight for Survival as well as For All Intents & Purposes. The latter of which was also produced by Da Beatminerz fully & was not only my personal introduction to Truth’s music, but one that I found myself enjoying more than his previous work too. So with that in mind, I was sure I was gong to enjoy Nostalgia ThEraPy as much if not more than that previous LP.

“Truth Is” really sets the tone of what‘s to come by laying battle bars down over dusty boom bap production whereas “Lock & Load” works in an eerie loop with kicks & snares aiming for the kill. “Spit It” featuring Al Skratch & Kurious finds the trio over a bloodcurdling boom bap beat encouraging to speak your thoughts just before “Here & Now” brings in the horns boasting that he’ll tear down any stage anywhere.

To start the 2nd leg of the EP, “Da Beatminerz Sound” has to be my personal favorite track off the whole thing as Truth reminds that him matched with Mr. Walt & DJ Evil D is a deadly combo on top of this raw ass instrumental that they’re known for prior to “Won By One’s Will” taking the symphonic route telling y’all to kneel down to the pharaoh. “Queens Carnivores” featuring Royal Flush begins the encore with this bluesy sample repping their stomping grounds & “Calling” ties everything up with a soulful flip by getting busy.

Even as a 9-song EP running at 27 & only 3 features, Da Beatminerz continue to bring the best out of Truth because this is another pretty impressive body of work from them. It’s like a warm dish of hip hop comfort food that just so happens to incorporate some new herbs & spices courtesy of the chefs involved, all by design as Truth continues to evolve lyrically over the traditional east coast boom bap sound.

Score: 4/5

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Team Demo – “It’s a Demo” review

Team Demo is a DMV-based production crew consisting of DJ Dialtone, J. Cosell & Mr. Wise. They’ve produced for the likes of 50 Cent, Tha Alkaholiks & even the late Sean Price to only name a few. They just compiled a collection of previously released tracks earlier this year, but are now coming together for a full-length producer album of original material with Wais P on most of it. Kinda like how Ghostface Killah was prominently featured on Raekwon’s solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… & vice versa on Ironman.

“Quest Love Bounce” featuring Planet Asia & Skyzoo is a cinematic boom bap opener chockfull of hardcore lyricism whereas “Extras in the Pot” featuring Rome Streetz finds the 2 over some pianos, kicks & snares getting in their drug dealing bags. “5% Tint” featuring Che Noir & Hus Kingpin takes a soulful approach instrumentally wanting to take the lives of a couple opps leading into “Camera Flash” featuring Illa Ghee & Method Man finds the trio eerily talking about how you can pose like the flash of a camera itself.

Meanwhile, “Creep” featuring Montage Øne & MC Eiht gives off more of a minimal west coast sound as all 3 lyricists spit that g shit just before “Odee” featuring Termanology talks about running through the streets with it & a suspenseful boom bap beat. “Poli with the Plug” featuring Kingpen Slim & Vado ominously gets back on their hustler shit while “Do You Believe?” featuring Sauce Money angrily looks to make believers out of those who aren’t already.

“What You Don’t See” featuring Lil’ Fame & NEMS draws near the end of the LP dustily declaring that the things you don’t see is what you get turning the tables on “What You See is What You Get” by Xzibit prior to “Hallelujah” featuring The Bad Seed, Planet Asia & Ras Kass truly tying things up here with a gospel sample & a guitar so everyone is able to let off rapid fire bars in their own distinctive fashions for nearly 4 minutes.

If anyone enjoyed the joint “Crime Wave” off of 50’s final Shady/Aftermath album Before I Self Destruct that celebrated it’s 14 year anniversary last month, then you’re gonna want to check out Team Demo’s official debut. The production is raw paying homage to both the east & west coast which makes sense considering the list of guests that they bring along with them for the ride is generally consistent.

Score: 3.5/5

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Roga Raph – “We’ll See” review

This is the 2nd EP from New York emcee/producer Roga Raph. Getting his start in the spring of 2015 off his full-length debut Visionary Shift, he would go on to follow this up in the form of his next couple albums Nostalgiks & Current-Space respectively. Raph even put out his very first EP Passing Momentsover a couple years ago & is looking to return by coming from an introspective approach on We’ll See.

“dontwannarun” has an aggressively psychedelic trap instrumental to set off the EP admitting having the desire to not run away from the problems anymore whereas “SeeingThru” works in some pianos this time around looking to trick them real good. “Up & Away” goes for a more chopped & screwed vibe paying homage it’s origins in Houston just before “LevelUp” pulls inspiration from jazz music with the beat talking about his elevation.

The song “Peace” shoots for a sample-based sound pleading for freedom of any disturbance whatsoever that is until the luscious boom bap joint “So It Seems” sheds light on the various illusions that blind us from experiencing life in its truest form. The title track ends the EP focusing on the subject of sacrifice & a wavier flare instrumentally.

If anyone reading this enjoys artists like Fly Anakin alongside Maxo or even CJ Fly from the Pro Era, then you’re gonna want to give Roga a shot because We’ll See has to be the strongest project throughout all 3 LPs & the couplet of EPs that he’s given us in the span of almost a decade at this point. The self-production is the catchiest batch he’s ever cooked up on top of him profoundly hoping that it’ll get listeners thinking about their own lives.

Score: 4/5

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