Bukshot – “Antagonist” review

Louisville, Kentucky emcee & Mobstyle Music founder Bukshot subtly dropping his 10th studio LP. From his lengthy solo discography to the groups & duos that’s formed with some of the biggest names that the underground has to offer, there’s no question that dude’s been putting it down for the culture for a grip at this point. Double Dragon had reunited a couple months ago for their sophomore effort Big Trouble with Double Dragon heavily inspired by the movie Big Trouble in Little China & is finally releasing Antagonist exactly 6 months to the day as Boondox’ most recent EP Black Winter.

After the “Villadictorian” intro, the first song “Bad Guy” produced by none other than MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 opens with a trap beat talking about being a villain whereas “I Was There” featuring Ill Bill goes for boom bap vibe to discuss never being afraid of the outcome & buckin’ at opps at every opportunity. “No More Fight” keeps it in the basement instrumentally finding his mind drifting further as time goes on leading into “Martyrs” bringing a doomsday atmosphere talking about handling business.

“All I See is Red” featuring Str8jaket likens themselves to the inaugural IWGPヘビー級王座, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer & Real American Beer founder Hulk Hogan alongside fellow WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff in light of their new promotion Real American Freestyle (RAF) Wrestling holding it’s first show in a couple months just before “Darkest Night” dastardly talks about wanting to see the sun rise.

Jamie Madrox joins Buk on the cavernous trap single “Tear It Off” to talk about being in a standoff & burning the whole place down because their enemies don’t wanna stand tall while “My Woods, My Rules” after the “Hanzel & Gredel” skit morbidly portrays himself as a serial killer riding in a cabin in the forests. “Turbulence” featuring the Lune Squad & Str8jaket unites the quartet over some hellish background vocals talking about being living nightmares while “Chess” checkmates every last one of these heretics.

“Heel Song” after the titular skit references former 3-time CWA Tag Team Champion, WCW World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 10-time WWE tag team champion, 2-time WCW World Television Champion, 2-time IWGPタッグ王座 & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Scott Steiner while “Clocks” featuring Jarren Benton & Stevie Stone asks why everyone’s so foul. “Walk in My Shoes” promises to raise Hell whether he wins or loses while “Proceed with Caution” talks about doing God’s work.

Rittz appears for “Deserted” feeling like they don’t deserve to be left behind yet it’s worth it because they both live beautiful lives while “Bottom Feeders” talks about upgrading his hustle. “Dramacyde” completely dismantles all these so called influencers that we come across all over social media while “Rule My World” featuring Apathy talks about concocting ways of conquering the globe.

“Lovely” faces the concept of self-remorse head-on while “Get It Done” featuring Joey Cool explains that it doesn’t matter how you do your job as long as everything’s completed somehow someway. “Merciless” admits that he’s been in a weird mental place as of late showing absolutely no mercy & after the “Magnum Opus” skit, “Are You Still Down?” talks about people being there for you 1 day & gone the next.

Meanwhile on “Slaughterous” featuring Timbo, we have the father-son duo getting together to unload a full clip at everyone who be spewing bullshit regarding them while “It Ain’t the Same” talks about holding on to memories of a person who isn’t here with him anymore. “Pressure” suggests to shake yesterday off like a bad habit since we’re living for today while “Enough” talks about our families needing us now more than ever.

“Man Down” featuring Chris Webby & Slaine advises to stand your ground instead of running since people will stab you in the back if you’re not watching it while “Wide Awake” talks about being unable to sleep as a result of the thoughts racing through his head. “Loyalty” colorfully explains what allegiance means to him while “Free” featuring Matt Phoenix talks about never letting anyone else steal your shine.

After the “Say Bye to the Bad Guy” interlude, the penultimate track “Summer Vibes” featuring Str8jaket & Wrekonize nears the end of Antagonist with a ballad that thematically revolves around them getting fucked up during the warmest time of the year while “Nuisance” by The Horde featuring 9 Millz by grittily talking about refusing to fuck with any & all dimwits.

For a triple disc offering Antagonist has gotta be the the most I’ve enjoyed a Bukshot solo project in a while. Maybe even surpassing Weirdo as my new favorite of his. 7’s production on this one balances boom bap & trap as opposed to his recent output with Buk focusing more on the latter subgenre with the Mobstyle founder showing a villainous side to himself.

Score: 4.5/5

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Double Dragon – “Big Trouble with Double Dragon” review

This is the sophomore effort from underground superduo Double Dragon. Consisting of Louisville, Kentucky emcee & Mobstyle Music founder Bukshot as well as San Jose, California goth hop pioneer Kung Fu Vampire respectively, these guys made their eponymous debut as a unit in the beginning of 2021 taking their chemistry to new heights after making a name for themselves individually for the past few decades & collaborating with one another on several instances. 3 years later, they’re reforming to break down the Big Trouble with Double Dragon.

After the “Dragons of the Black Pool” intro, the first song “Big Trouble” produced by MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 works in a Chinese sample & elements of horrorcore getting pleasure of tasting blood whereas “Ruthless” ominously talked about the ruthlessness of the duo that has been absent for 4 long years. “Out the Mud” featuring C-Mob reflects making it after coming from absolutely nothing just before “Creatures” talks about leaving the Double Dragon imprint in your forehead when it’s all said & done.

“Nemesis Me” hooks up a prominent vocal sample during the hook breaking down the concept of being your own worst enemy leading into “Mushroom Clouds” talking about having a blast & turning the speakers all the way up loud. “Gods of War” featuring Str8jaket dabbles with trap metal letting it be known we’re in the middle of the apocalypse while “Lurkers” talks about Double Dragon being creators & advising to respect the shooter.

As for “In the Void”, we have Bukshot & Kung Fu Vampire wickedly discussing the clouds turning black & hearing white noise until “Where the Pieces Fit” brings Buk Norris at the altar looking for forgiveness figuring put the placements of these metaphorical puzzle pieces. “Sun Don’t Shine” featuring Gorilla Voltage brings both duos together to bring karma on your doorstep, but then “Cooler in a Coffin” suggests one would look better off dead.

“Never Say Die” hooks up these pianos & bells throughout that I find to be pretty infectious asking to be taken back during the days of Saturday morning cartoons during the 1980s & the Golden Era of the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings division WWE coming off WrestleMania XLI with John Cena defeating Cody Rhodes to surpass Ric Flair as a 17-time WWE world champion & the current TNA World Champion Joe Hendry being 14-time WWE world champion Randy Orton’s mystery opponent.

The song “Black Smoke” warns where those who’ll be disrespecting the Double Dragon will be taken & the closer “Stranger Things” featuring Joey Cool wraps up the final moments of Big Trouble with Double Dragon by homaging the hit Netflix sci-fi, horror, drama, mystery & coming-of-age series created by The Duffer Brothers currently finishing & gearing up the release of its upcoming 5th & final season at some point later on in the year.

When you look at the fact that both members of Double Dragon grew up in the 80s, it only makes sense for them to do a sophomore effort inspired by the film Big Trouble with Little China because the listening experience will be enhanced for anyone who’s seen that movie. Any huge fan of 1980s pop culture & hidden Easter eggs can say it does a little extra for you if you familiarize yourself with the movie on top of 7’s quality production & the chemistry feeling tighter.

Score: 4/5

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Kung Fu Vampire – “Blackheart Machine” review

Kung Fu Vampire is a 36 year old MC from San Jose, California who began breakdancing 3 decades ago & taught himself how to rap & sing while playing drums & bass as a hobby. He then began to make his presence in the underground felt by releasing his full-length debut Blood Bath Beyond in the fall of 2003, which would be followed up 5 years later by signing a 2-album deal with Mad Insanity Records for the sophomore effort Dead Sexy & eventually Love Bites. The Kung Fu Vampire returned after 3 & a half years in the form of Look Alive & again a few summers afterwards with his previous full-length Come Dawn after founding his own label Ultra Violet Entertainment. The last we heard from KFV however was the self-titled debut from Double Dragon & is finally unleashing his 6th album.

“Sugar” is a futuristic opener produced by Charlie Beans making it clear that he just wants to bite something sweet whereas the title track has a more cheerful tone to it talking about how he used to be happy. “How I’m Livin’” dives into trap turf courtesy of MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 trying not to change & advising to stay up out his way, but then “Gimme Skull” takes fellatio to a whole new level down to the electro-tinged instrumental.

Continuing with “5am”, we have the Kung Fu Vampire over a dubstep beat getting wild early as fuck in the morning leading into A-Wax tagging along for the guitar-tinged “Neck & Neck” as they talk about their significant others bagging killers. “Fur Sure” boasts that he ain’t got shit to prove at this point over a robotic instrumental just before “These Days” continues to draw from dance music talking about taking what he wants & running.

“Bigger Than Rap” makes it clear that they started a trend over a clinky trap beat until “Torment” with Trizz sees the 2 joining forces for a morbid wicked shit banger. The song “Eddie Money” returns to an EDM-inspired groove needing tickets to paradise while the penultimate track “Expired” talks about nothing being left but revenge & vedetta over another dancy beat. The closer “No More Bad Days” though ties everything up to an optimistic look at brighter days ahead.

Look Alive & Come Dawn have both ranked themselves high as amongst the best bodies of work throughout KFV’s discography with Blackheart Machine joining them rather quickly. The production that Action Paxton mostly handles is rather versatile pulling from EDM to trap & rock as opposed to the heavy 80s influence throughout the predecessor as the San Jose horrorcore veteran delivers amongst his fiery performances to date with a couple dope guest verses by his side.

Score: 4/5

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Bukshot – “When Hell Freezes” review

This is the 18th EP from Louisville, Kentucky emcee & Mobstyle Music founder Bukshot. From his lengthy solo discography to the group & duos that’s formed with some of the biggest names that the underground has to offer, there’s no question that dude’s been putting it down for the culture for a grip at this point. He just dropped the ferocious Never Safe last spring prior to his appearances at Astronomicon around that same time & is now seeing fit to put When Hell Freezes up on DSPs in light of Friday the 13th.

After the “Kafkaesque” intro, the title track truly opens up the EP with a cinematically haunting instrumental courtesy of MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 airing out those who want him out of the game prior to the almighty Alla Xul Elu & Lo Key tagging along for the apocalyptic trap banger “Rise Up” talking about running this shit from underneath. Stevie Stone fresh off making an entrance theme for former NXT North American Champion Solo Sikoa of the WWE’s most dominant faction The Bloodline comes into the picture for the cavernous “We Was” looks back to the days on the block while the song “Chant” with the Super Famous Fun Time Guys sees the trio over some kicks & snares talking about having these ways of crushing their dreams. The penultimate track “Death Dance” with the Lune Squad has a more morbid trap flare to it confessing they see their skeletons dancing & the Godsynth-produced “Beat ‘Em Up” ends with The Underground Avengers reuniting alongside Zitro for a fight anthem.

Mobstyle have been rightfully experiencing a rise in popularity within the underground wicked shit scene within the last 3 years & if this is how Buk’s gonna ring in 2023, then it only increases my anticipation for what Mobstyle has coming down the pipe such as Cabal’s sophomore album The Bottomless Pit & of course The Horde’s eponymous debut. The production’s knocking, nearly every feature comes correct & Buk sounds as ruthless as before.

Score: 4/5

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Double Dragon – Self-Titled review

Double Dragon is a newly formed hip hop duo consisting of Bukshot & Kung Fu Vampire. One of whom hails from Louisville, Kentucky & the other comes straight outta San Jose, California. Both these guys have collaborated with one another a couple of times throughout the years, but they’re joining forces & taking things to the next level by dropping a full-length debut together after they’ve been teasing it ever since 2019 to the delight of fans in the underground wicked shit scene who enjoy their respective styles.

After the “Rise of the Pranja” intro, the first song “Buk-Fu” finds the duo asking how people gon’ react when they come through over a malicious 7 instrumental with this incredible g-funk synth-line throughout while the next track “Ain’t the One” tells the listener not to play with them over a trap beat laced with this plinky keyboard melody. The song “Torn Apart” talks about over an instrumental backed by some Omen-like background vocals while the track “Non-Believers” with Boondox sees the 3 talking about losing their way over a spine-tingling trap beat.

The song “Nice” talks about taking flight over a cacophonous Godsynth instrumental while the treacle “Don’t Get Beat Up” talks about rappers feuding over nothing on top of an icy trap beat from Young Wicked. The song “Easy Target” with Rittz finds the trio talking about how they ain’t hard to find over a Kung Fu Vampire instrumental fusing elements of country as well as trap & rock while the title track talks about being the ones they fear over somewhat quirky yet abrasive beat. Then there’s the bonus cut “Tyrants”, where Double Dragon speak on not being with all the bullshit over a macabre instrumental.

This has been one of the underground’s most anticipated albums of 2021 & the final product makes it well worth waiting almost 2 years because you can really tell Bukshot & Kung Fu Vampire took their time to really hone in on a natural chemistry on top of some top notch production.

Score: 4/5