Tag: Duffel Bag Hottie

Duffel Bag Hottie – “Could Be Worse” review

This is the 4th studio LP from Buffalo, New York rapper Duffel Bag Hottie. Known as one of the earliest Black Soprano Family Records signees, he’s dropped his last 3 full-lengths along with 5 mixtapes & a couple EPs through the label. Ghost of Rick James stands out the most in his discography personally although I’d be remised if I didn’t mention all 3 entries of the Max Julian trilogy each include essential tracks of their own. Shut Down the Dance Floor made his return in late February over a prison phone & over 6 months later, he’s still applying pressure suggesting it Could Be Worse.

“Reminisce” hops back on the phone over a sample-woven trap instrumental to talk about not doing this music shit for the fame although he’s confident that he’ll become rich once he finally comes home whereas “Hottie & 3s” goes for a boom bap vibe explaining that money’s important than anything all because it feeds his family.

We get a sequel to “Story Time Duff” talking about being in his own lane compared to Tory Lanez & I can’t really blame him for saying that because I’d much rather listen to prison Hottie than Peterson, which quickly became one of 2025’s worst albums only a week after Duffel Bag Hottie’s previous EP at the start of the year.

“You & Me Against the World” blends chipmunk soul & trap to talk about his real ones holding him down from behind prison walls leading into “315 Newburgh” talking about getting your bag stolen if one ever comes around his parts. “Niggas Duckin Jail Calls” airs out those ignoring Duffel’s calls when he’s able to dial up those he cares for while “We Miss You Prodigy” remembers the late Bandana P of the infamous Mobb Deep.

The song “Rere Love” continues the soulful trap hybrids flexing that he never needed features from anyone while “Miss Me with That” featuring K Pistol finds the pair brushing off any & all bullshit. “71 Redrum” featuring Jae Skeese contains my favorite guest appearance of the 2 talking about Duffel still smiling through the pain while “Free VV” rounds out the album maintaining hopeful of trying to make it out for his babies.

Responding to the criticism of Shut Down the Dance Floor several months earlier, Duffel Bag Hottie’s point about how things Could Be Worse still ring true since he’s fortunately still with us albeit incarcerated. The production’s a lot similar to that previous EP we got 24 hours prior to 17-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena turning heel on the current 2-time WWE Champion Cody Rhodes & the prison phone verses Duffel spits are still more entertaining than Tory Lanez’ new album.

Score: 3.5/5

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Duffel Bag Hottie – “Shut Down the Dance Floor” review

Buffalo, New York rapper Duffel Bag Hottie putting out his 2nd EP by rapping over a prison phone. Known as one of the earliest Black Soprano Family Records signees, he has dropped 3 full-lengths along with 5 mixtapes & an EP through the label. Ghost of Rick James stands out the most in his discography personally although I’d be remised if I didn’t mention the Max Julian includes essential tracks of their own & is surprisingly looking to Shut Down the Dance Floor.

The title track is a trap intro boasting that he’s still fly & getting an unexpected visitor from a female one day whereas “Live from USP Canaan” talks about being in the Pennsylvania high security penitentiary as we speak. “Feel that Pain” marks labelmate Fuego Base appearing as the only feature on the whole entire EP working in some sampling linking with Duff to flex they only be hitting the club when the stacks move while “Winter Time in NY” exuberantly talks about spending the coldest & darkest of the 4 temperate seasons in his home state. 

“Story Time Duff” has a dope chipmunk soul vibe referencing 10-time WWE world champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion, United Football League (UFL) co-owner, TKO Group Holdings board of directors member, co-founder of $7 Productions who recently landed a partnership with The Walt Disney Company & the final boss of professional wrestling himself The Rock set to appear in Toronto tomorrow night to confront the current WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Elimination Chamber XV & “Heats” ends by promising that he’ll keep us updated on what’s going on with him.

Now I have seen some criticism from people online regarding his vocals being recorded from the prison phone, but I look at it the same way the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard recorded his verse for “Conditioner” off the almighty Wu-Tang Clan’s 3rd album The W in the sense that he’s still capable of rapping as good as he did almost 7 & a half years ago. Would love to see him make another body of work on the caliber of consistency Ghost of Rick James had reached once he comes home.

Score: 3.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!