TDF – “Culture” review

TDF is a 21 year old producer from Minnesota who emerged in 2020 off his debut EP TDF & Friends and the sequel marking his full-length debut studio LP. He later followed it up with next EP EP Patient 0 as well as the sophomore effort I Love You & the final entry of the TDF & Friends trilogy, I Love You later spawning a 2nd & a 3rd installment with Religion bridging both sequels. It’s been a while since Blueprint & love4you, shaping his 9th album in front of us to be his biggest one ever.

“need some more” by Okaymar is this cloudy trap intro talking about his neck floodin’ & this bitch giving him throat whereas “been too long” by Omgkeon continues the trillwave vibes flexing that he’s stronger than ever after going through some pain. “still my patna” by ATL Smook goes for more of a plugg direction instrumentally to talk about the scammers, trappers & robbers he knows leasing into “attached” by Jojo discussing a woman who he feels can change his life.

Spoof get his own song with “bankroll” promising on his whole entire squad that he’s gonna be the one who’ll snatch your chain, but then “1 for me” by NYM Riz gets back on the plugg tip telling the specific woman he has in mind that she’s his soulmate. “numb” by Jssr samples “Novacane” by Frank Ocean nothing away from the way these good drugs got him feeling while “stamped” by 1oneam talks about already being official.

“ghetto symphony” by ohsxnta maintains a plugg edge to the beat boasting that he’s come a long way & having too much swag just before “bands gone” by Jojo, omgkeon & Spoof unites the trio on top of this crazy Angry Birds flip getting high to hide the emotions. “rave” by BenjiCold continues to bare a plugg influence talking about balling out & liking to dance with his girl while “water” by Dom Corleo warns people to stop flexing as if they meant something.

Thr33 & wildkarduno link up on the 2-parter “out of kontrol / paparazzi” telling the fuck boys they’re gonna be shot on sight along with coming out the mud as if they were pigs while “cassava leaf” by Thr33 holds the fort down by himself talking about the money being green & preaching over the instrumental. “yo lane” by wildkarduno discusses the plug being late shooting like the Los Angeles Clippers & “bta” by Smokingskul sticks out since it recaptures the dark plugg energy of what makes this duo gel greatly.

“used to be” by Smokingskul & wildkarduno delves further deep into the evil plugg sound feeling like Facebook founder & Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg as well as calling for Luigi Mangione’s freedom since they consider him a real one while “Fried” by Okaymar tones down the darkness in favor of a general plugg flare cautions that’s exactly what will happen if you even try to run up on him while “what you said” by Okaymar & 1oneam talks about not hearing what you say since they smoke loud.

Pasto Flocco delivers another standout performance with “swervo” cloudily breaking down the streets being cold & a woman wanting to kick it with him prior to “late night drinks” & face card” showcasing both Okaymar & 1oneam’s chemistry for the final time. “make it work” by ohsxnta remains optimistic of his music career sorting itself out in his favor & the closer “hope you know” by 1oneam advises that success is the loudest response to those who ever doubted you.

Skul was one of the first dark plugg artists that I got into when I started listening to the subgenre & TDF has laced some of his most popular songs, which was a reason why I gave Culture a listen & it sure enough is his most enjoyable solo effort in his discography. His production centered around plugg, dark plugg, cloud rap & trap is some of the strongest that he’s crafted with the varied list of underground trap performers laying down their unique styles stronger than previously.

Score: 4/5

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Da Flyy Hooligan – “Culture.” review

London, England, United Kingdom emcee Da Flyy Hooligan having Birmingham, West Midlands veteran Sonnyjim produce his 8th EP. Dropping the sophomore effort Ray Winstone following the 2010 debut Devil May Cry as well as his 2nd extended play F.Y.L.P.M. (Fucc Ya Life Praise Mine) succeeding Verbal Swardz & lastly S.C.U.M. (Supreme Cut Untouched Magnificence) in 2017 respectively, he would go on to follow it up with 7 more EPs including a sequel to F.Y.L.P.M. (Fucc Ya Life Praise Mine) along with Flyyghost’s eponymous debut, the Micall Parknsun-produced Ben Kingsley & the Beat Junkies-produced There’s Hooli & There’s Everyone Else. His 7th album Blacc Kenzou arrived a few months ago, but Culture. was destined to happen eventually.

“Feedback” combines some kicks & snares with synthesizers to get the ball rollin’ encouraging the world to peep the artifacts whereas “Warned” flips “Suite in C” by McDonald & Giles so he can quote prophecies describing various apocalyptic stages. “Receptive” blends soul & jazz to talk about being open-minded towards humanity just before “Ozwald Boateng” seeks to persevere without help over a delicate yet opulent instrumental even if his health gets sacrificed.

After the “Hooli Smoovie” interlude, “Kief” begins the 2nd half of Culture with a seductive ode to lust while “Fast” goes for a drumless direction talking about him fiendin’ for this romantic interest whom Iron Braydz can’t seem to get off his mind. “Opposites” featuring Sonnyjim himself finds the pair over a summery beat to spit some luxurious rhymes together & the outro “Retribution” spends the EP’s final minutes triumphantly talks about the miracle of him still standing tall.

Blacc Kenzou was similarly to F.O.M.A. (Flat of Modern Arts) in that both of them have songs that I like, but wouldn’t consider them amongst my favorites amongst Da Flyy Hooligan’s discography. That said: Culture. joins There’s Hooli & There’s Everyone Else to become my 2nd favorite project Lamarrie Esquire’s dropped in 2024 revealing a different side to him by exploring profound themes with refined lyrical precision over Sonnyjim’s smoothly innovative production.

Score: 4/5

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