DJ Paul – “Goat of All Goats” review

This is the 9th solo LP from Memphis, Tennessee rapper, producer, DJ, entrepreneur & record executive DJ Paul. The co-founder of the Three 6 Mafia alongside Juicy J, he would eventually carve a path of his own in the early 2000s with Underground Vol. 16: For da Summa followed by Scale-A-Ton & A Person of Interest. Then came Master of Evil under Psychopathic Records on Devil’s Night 2015, which is my personal favorite of his a decade later. Year of the 6 & Year of the 6, Pt. 2 through Slumerican Records were both enjoyable too although the Power, Pleasure & Painful Things EP was overloaded with skits. 6 years later, the Goat of all Goats is back.

After the “Goat Welcomes You” intro, the self-produced opener “Straight Out the Jets” talking about having extra homies looking after his other extra of friends in every city whereas “I Beat the Odds” speaks of overcoming every obstacle in his life. “Throw Some Money” featuring the Seed of 6 & Too $hort finds the quartet teaming up for a playful strip club anthem while “Find Out” featuring Freddie Gibbs talks about shooting faces off anyone who dares to fuck with them.

“Stupid Ass Bitch” featuring the late Lord Infamous & Snow Tha Product continues Memphis vibes so all 3 of them dismantle all of these dumb hoes leading into “12 at Night” talking about his rims being so black, that one would presume it’s the evening already. “Bad Motherfucker” featuring the Seed of 6 reunites the trio so they can discuss having motion in the streets while “I’m From the M” represents his hometown to the fullest, talking about the fact that it’s hard ever safe around those parts.

Lyfe Jennings joins Paul on “Free My Dog” calling for each of their friends who’re currently behind bars to come back home while “She Gone Up” featuring Duke Deuce & the Seed of 6 decently talks about hoes throwing it back for a couple of thugs. “Fading” featuring Lord Infamous comes at the throats of all these pussies & the line at the end of the latter’s verse accepting his death might send chills down your spine, but then “Popped Out of a Slingshot” featuring RiFF RAFF reaches the halfway point getting boastful over a trap instrumental.

“Wellness Check” kicks off the 3rd quarter to checkup on his haters who’re constantly dying for attention while “From the Bottom of the Bottom” feels a lot like an interlude considering how heavy “Robbers” by the late Koopsta Knicca is being sampled. “3 the Hardest Way” featuring Yelawolf & Young Buck co-produced by TWhy flips “Knock tha Black Off Yo Ass” for a southern hardcore hip hop banger while “Uhaulin” shifts it’s appeal back to the clubs so all the women listening can shake ass & hit the poles.

Akon & Krayzie Bone both appear for “We Made It”talking about the amount of people who didn’t think either of them would have their own individually established legacies while “Came from Nothing”featuring Krayzie Bone & the Seed of 6 describes going from rags to riches. “Drugs in Me on Cielo Drive” featuring Lil Wyte talks about both of them being under the influence of recreational drugs hence why they’re moving slow while “Munyun” featuring Jucee Froot observes the amount of individuals who claim to have bread when they don’t.

“Every City Got Gangstas” featuring Lil Wyte reunites both Hypnotize Camp Posse members 1 more time pondering if one’s running the streets or their mouths while the final song “OMG!” by Yelawolf & Young Buck preceding a spoken word outro finishes the album with Paul taking a backseat vocally, let both of his guests spit a cutthroat verse of their own sampling “Murder (Killin’ Spree)” by Tommy Wright III talking about each of them being born to raise Hell & not giving up on anything.

Power, Pleasure & Painful Things still has some of DJ Paul’s greatest material in recent memory despite all of the excessive intermissions & Goat of all Goats reintroduces himself by making a statement regarding his longevity & the lasting impact the rest of the Three 6 Mafia has had on hip hop culture 3 decades since Mystic Stylez became the Memphis scene’s groundbreaking masterpiece. He’s still got it behind the boards & on the mic, furthermore amassing a list of local newcomers & his most notable collaborators who mostly stick the landing.

Score: 3.5/5

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Yelawolf – “Slumafia” review

This is the 6th EP from Alabama rapper, singer/songwriter, fashion designer & entrepreneur Yelawolf. Coming up in 2005 off the mediocre debut album Creekwater, it wouldn’t be until 5 years later when Catfish Billy caught the mainstream’s attention off the strength of his 4th mixtape Trunk Muzik before signing to Shady Records in 2011. After dropping a total of 4 albums under the Eminem-owned Interscope Records imprint, he fulfilled his contract just a couple years ago to focus on Slumerican Records & dropped his 6th full-length effort Ghetto Cowboy a little over 8 months later. But to continue his streak of dropping a project every week for this entire month, Yelawolf is hooking back up with longtime collaborator DJ Paul for Slumafia.

“Trans Am” is a gritty opener co-produced by TWhy spitting about going from the gutter to being rich over some hi-hats & plinky keys, but then Paul jumps on the next cut “Tote the Bag” to charismatically boast on top of a shadowy instrumental. The track “Lucchese” is a devilishly-produced killer anthem that I would’ve enjoyed more without the Badd Wolf feature referencing 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 16-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, 6-time WWE United States Champion, 6-time WWE tag team champion & 9-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair whereas “Still the Man” bigs himself up & the beat on here is probably the darkest on the entire EP.

Meanwhile, “Don’t Need a Cup” serves as a slowed-down ode to his Creekwater whiskey brand & even though I understand that the title track is meant to be a Slumerican/Three 6 crossover, the only features that captivated me were Gangsta Boo & the Seed of 6 because Big Henri’s verse was ok & BRAY’s was hands down the weakest. “Super Geek” is a bass-heavy crowd mover about only giving a fuck once in his life & “Head Banger” is an explosive closer that sounds like it could’ve been on Yelawolf Blacksheep. I mean PRETTY SHY’s verse at the start is uneventful, but Caskey kills his in the middle.

Of all of the projects Yelawolf has dropped in 2021, I’d have to say Slumafia is my favorite thus far. Paul’s signature sound is always great to hear & it definitely brings some of the best out of Catfish Billy, but my biggest problem that I had with TURQUOiSE TORNADO makes it’s way onto here: the features.

Score: 3.5/5

DJ Paul – “Power, Pleasure & Painful Things” review

DJ Paul is a 42 year old MC, producer, DJ, songwriter & entrepreneur from Memphis, Tennessee known for co-founding the seminal Three 6 Mafia with Juicy J. He made his solo debut in 2002 with Underground 16: For da Summa but for the past decade, Paul’s has delivered a total of 7 more albums through his Scale-A-Ton Entertainment record label including his 2015 magnum opus Master of Evil with the help of Psychopathic Records or the Year of the 6 duology in conjunction with Slumerican the following year. However after spending the last year & a half producing & doing features, he’s returning with his debut EP.

After the “Journey Begins” intro, we go into the song “Creepin’”. Where Paul teams up with Wifisfuneral viciously brag over a chaotic trap beat. Then after the “Life Figured Out” interlude, the song “Easy Way” with Yelawolf & the Seed of 6 sees the 4 vividly describing life in the gutter over a dark beat. After the “Cleaner Way” interlude, the song “Came Up” with Rob Vicious co-produced by TWhy is a mediocre anthem about making money. Especially with the tedious “me so horny” hook.

After the “No More Small Time” interlude, the song “Real Money” with Beanie Sigel is pretty much a sequel to the last joint except it’s way more tolerable & off the wall. After the “Life Got Real” interlude, the final song “They Beefin’” is a menacing diss towards people who choosin’ sides. Then the EP finishes off with the “Gettin’ Caught Up” skit & a spoken word outro.

While it’s not bad, it could’ve been a lot better in my opinion considering how overlooked DJ Paul has always been compared to Juicy J. Paul pretty much sticks to his guns both lyrically & sonically, but the interludes before every song are highly annoying. Nonetheless, still a neck-breaking prelude of something bigger to come.

Score: 3/5