Tag: DJ Fresh

Paul Wall – “The Tonite Show” review

West coast producer DJ Fresh tapping in with Houston, Texas emcee, DJ & businessman Paul Wall for the latter’s 16th studio LP. An affiliate of Swishahouse Entertaimment & a co-founder of The Color Changin’ Click, his sophomore effort albeit major label debut The People’s Champ propelled him as an H-Town veteran 2 decades ago & has since been steadily dropping music whether it be Bounce Backs Over Setbacks becoming the best album of his from the previous decade to the mixed reception of The Great Wall a year & a half ago. Once Upon a Grind dropped on my birthday weekend last winter making up for The Great Wall’s divisive feedback by homaging the city who made him the person he is presently & DJ Fresh has brought back The Tonite Show to make Paul the most recent guest.

“Wake Up” blends jazz rap & trap together so the Oiler Mobb Entertainment founder can talk about getting his mind right the second he gets up every single morning whereas “It’s Necessary” turns the jazz influences up even higher to discuss doing what’s obligated & his legendary grind. “Dedicated to the Game” gives off a west coast Mobb vibe with a hint of trap talking about his loyalty to this shit leading into the piano-driven “Husslin’ For Eons” boasting his hustle.

We get a bluesy guitar sample on “Same Ol’ P” talking about nothing changing with him a little over 2 decades into his career while “Drink 1st” fuses cloud rap & trap opting to take a sip from his cup before he heads out. “Blanton’s Tonite” takes a smoother approach instrumentally for an ode to my personal favorite alcoholic beverage bourbon whiskey while “Out Yo Mind” talks about the crowd who thinks he ain’t paid tweaking.

“Riding with the Top Down” whips up a breezy anthem for the California & H-Town to blast in their whips on a sunny day while “Money on My Mind” shifts his focus towards the bag. “Still Froze” hooks up some synthesizers to show off the watch on his wrist while “Get the Paper” talks about grinding to the utmost. “Whatchu Really Kno” concludes The Tonite Show with a dirty south outro advising to keep a clear vision.

Approximately a couple days following Wednesday’s season premiere of South Park on Comedy Central poking fun at the Paramount Skydance Corporation cancelling The Late Show in 2026 because of a joke Stephen Colbert made regarding his show’s parent company settling a $16M lawsuit, Paul Wall & DJ Fresh get together to make a highly successful attempt at capitalizing their chemistry 7 months ago & my favorite late career entry in Paul’s catalog.

Score: 4.5/5

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The Musalini – “Live & Let Die” review

California producer DJ Fresh teaming with New York emcee & Jamla Records recording artist The Musalinifor the latter’s 10th studio LP. Beginning to take the underground by storm since 2018 after dropping his debut mixtape Musalini Season, he went on to release 3 full-lengths & another tape before signing to TCF Music Group. Since then, he’s made himself home by dropping a few EPs & Return of the Oro in the early part of this decade. In God We Trust produced by 38 Spesh, The Don & Eye alongside its sequel fully produced 9th Wonder & Pure Izm produced by Khrysis have all quickly become his best material over the past 3 years. Mackaroni produced by Cookin’ Soul became my favorite of the 4 projects Mu$ put out last year & The Pierre Hotel was overloaded with features although the production was outstanding. Fast forward a few months, Live & Let Die is in front of us.

“Late Nite” works in some pianos only to break the door down with a cloudy boom bap instrumental telling his babygirl to live it up whereas “Moneyyyyyy” describes the affection he has for his ride or die. “Speeding” breaks down the explanation of him having more time than he does patience until “Player’s Ball” featuring Planet Asia & Silent Snipers finds the trio portraying themselves as pimps taking a funkier approach to the beat.

Izzy Hott joins Mu$ for “Double Life” advises everyone to know what you’re getting themselves into before they wind up getting themselves into it sampling soul music leading into “Good Game” going for a trap approach to talk about him giving her D is all he does. “Polo Scarf” brings a jazzy boom bap flare to the table always keeping it real & knowing what the agenda is, but then the soulful “Old Soul” talking about time costing money.

The title track featuring O Finess unites the 2 continuing the funkier vibes instrumentally reminding everyone of the way they be living while “Red Eye” calmingly talks about falling asleep on the plane that he boarded in his home state & woke up right when they landed over in the west coast. “Fly Zone” featuring John Dutch sees the pair calling themselves the flyest muhfuckas in the world & “Can’t Buy Love” featuring Silent Snipers ends by talking about not taking life for granted.

Taking a west coast producer & an east coast lyricist, Live & Let Die makes up for the disappointment I had towards The Pierre Hotel with a 33 & a half minute body of work that I think is Mu$’ most enjoyable since Mackaroni almost 14 months ago. He & DJ Fresh are basically paying homage to Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s 3rd & final album Live & Let Die where both regions take everything distinct of what makes their scenes special & flowing into each other seamlessly.

Score: 3.5/5

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