This is the brand new collaborative EP between Buffalo recording artists Conway the Machine & Jae Skeese. One being Westside Gunn’s brother & Benny the Butcher’s cousin with the other becoming the first to sign to La Maquina’s very own EMPIRE Distribution imprint Drumwork Music Group a couple years back. Both of them have worked with one another a handful of times since, but are joining forces to deliver Pain Provided Profit ahead of Con’s upcoming 3rd album Won’t He Do It at the end of the month & & Jae prepping his sophomore album albeit Drumwork debut Abolished Uncertainties after coming off his critically acclaimed 3rd EP Authenticity Check last spring.
“Cocaine Paste” is a bluesy opener produced by Graymatter detailing the way Drumwork be landsliding whereas “Metallic 5’s” takes a more rawer approach from the boom bap instrumental referring themselves as 2 of the illest at large. “Stefon Diggs 2” dives into jazzier turf explaining that their story is motivation leading into “Le Chop” displaying a killer back & forth chemistry between the 2 talking about how they gon’ ride for their freedom over some keys, kicks & snares.
The song “Immaculate Reception” is essentially a Jae Skeese solo cut keeping things in boom bap turf acknowledging that they watch his current position in the game while the penultimate track “Promise” is a more inspiring ballad from the beat to the lyrics about grinding for the paper. “Food” with Goosebytheway, SK da King & 7xvethegenius however ends things with a ruthless posse cut advising to get out their way.
Every time we’ve heard Con & Jae on the same song together, it’s always been nothing but pure heat & that’s exactly what I expected going into this EP right here. Lo & behold: It’s most certainly worth the listen for any hardcore Griselda fan like myself to the point where my anticipation for both Won’t He Do It & Abolished Uncertainties have increased as well. The production is hard yet rich as the student & teacher ping off each other as wonderfully as I could’ve imagined. The Drumwork takeover has officially begun & I’m all for it.
Kutt Calhoun is a 46 year old MC & business executive from Kansas City, Missouri who came up as a hype man for Tech N9ne & amongst the first to sign to Strange Music alongside Krizz Kaliko. He ended up dropping 4 albums & 2 EPs with the local independent powerhouse before starting his very own EMPIRE Distribution imprint Black Gold Entertainment named after his classic Strange victory lap. The only 2 projects he’s given us on his own so far are his last EP Kuttin’ Loose & his 5th album Persona Non Grata: Truth Be Told, but is returning after a nearly 4 year hiatus in the form of his 4th EP.
“I’m Back” is a fun way to set it all off from the dirty south-inspired beat to the lyrics telling the world of his return in the rap game whereas “Let ‘Em Know” takes the eerie trap route talking about there being a time & place for literally everything. The song “Been So Long” works in some hi-hats & spooky backdrop encouraging to walk down with him to see if you can truly feel the pain he’s lived while the penultimate track “Therapy” creepily declares that he ain’t slowing down anytime soon. “Last One Left” though is a great sendoff to the EP whether it be the piano trap instrumental that DJ Pain 1 whips up or Kutt’s lyrics about being the last of a dying breed.
Dude’s discography has always been consistent from the early days as a Strange Music household name to even the 2 offerings he’s given us since carving his own path, so I had no reason to have any worries going into Residue & it sure enough wound up being a solid comeback for Kutt. You can genuinely tell that he sounds passionate to be spittin’ again & the production is more consistent than the last album was.
This is the full-length debut from Detroit up-&-comer DaeMoney. Coming up as the nephew of one of the 2 biggest artists in the city right now Babyface Ray as well as a member of the WRLD Tour Mafia collective, he broke out on his own by dropping his debut mixtape Young Sexual Misconduct & his debut EP Slae Season accompanied by his 2nd EP Rockstar Lifestyle & then his previous tape Slae Season 2. But after signing to EMPIRE Distribution this past summer & celebrating in the form of his last EP Slayer’s Coming fully produced by Trees shortly after, Dae’s back in action for the final installment of the Slae Season trilogy.
“Overtime & Overgrind” is a cavernous, west coast flavored trap opener talking about how hip hop has saved him & that he’s the freshest motherfucker that you know whereas “Make ‘Em Say Ugh!” takes a more futuristic route courtesy of Trees giving his flowers to the Colonel of the Motherfuckin’ Tank himself Master P. “No Suits” blends some strings & pianos with hi-hats touching on a groupie asking him what happened to WTM Scoob & if she can get a WRLD Tour tattoo on her breasts, but then “Charles Barkley” turns into cloudier territory talking about showing people time & time again that he’s the one.
Rafa comes into the picture for the highlight track “Letter to Self” with it’s luxurious trap production & them dropping some truly motivational gems on the lyrical end that I think would resonate with the average listener leading into the psychedelic “Keep Hustlin’” obviously talking about the never-ending grind. Babyface Ray joins his nephew for “Basket” to get on their Detroit trap gangsta shit thanks to LulRose just before “Again?” confesses that he’s relapsed on lean tossing a muhfucka off the top rope like WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, the inaugural WWE Hardcore Champion, CWA World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Champion Mick Foley the Hardcore Legend with some hi-hats, claps, occasional bells & a woozy loop.
“So Toxic” is a symphonic trap cut produced by Carlo Anthony clapping back at a groupie hoe prior to LUCKI & Veeze joining Dae for the cloudy “Who is That?” with Face on the hook as the trio talk about murdering everything & the titular question being exactly the ones they want everyone asking. The song “Slaeski Montana” is another highlight for me from the slick trap beat to the lyrics comparing himself to Tony Montana from the iconic film Scarface while the penultimate track “I Love It Here” has a more ethereal approach describing his current position in life. “Pop Star” closes the album out with a rock-trap crossover that Carlo hooked up declaring himself to be a rockstar.
Although I had previously stated last summer that Slayer’s Coming had to be my favorite body of work of Dae’s thus far, he really took it to a whole new level on the concluding chapter of the Slae Season trilogy. The production is more versatile, he assembles his biggest feature-list to date with all of them gelling well & the songwriting is a heartfelt reflection of his past along with his spot today as one of the biggest artists in the city.
This is the 8th mixtape from Detroit emcee Babytron. Coming up as a member of the trio ShittyBoyz along with his childhood friends Stanwill & TR Dee signing to Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records, he also branched out on impressive solo career for himself as well as the side groups Lewis & Clark and the Dookie Brothers. But the last couple years was probably his biggest yet landing interviews ranging from No Jumper to even Rolling Stone following the release of Luka Trončić a couple summers prior to signing with EMPIRE Distribution later that same month & then Bin Reaper 2: The 2nd Coming that same fall. But now coming off Megatron last spring & a spot in the 2022 XXL Freshman Class a couple months later, he’s dropping the other half of the final installment of the Bin Reaper trilogy.
“Forever $cams” is a suspenseful hyphy opener with Tron talking about never stopping whereas “Next Level 2” works in multiple beat switches as he welcomes everyone to the next chapter. “Michigan Ave” has a bit of a catchy groove or rhythm to the instrumental advising to meet him on the titular road, but then “#FREEUNKY” comes through with a more uncanny sound courtesy of Detroit trap veteran Helluva shouting out his uncle that’s currently incarcerated.
Meanwhile on “Gimme Dat”, we have Lil Yachty coming into the picture with Babytron for an explosively raw trap hit as they talk about popping out that cut prior to “CatDog” with Babyface Ray finds 2 of the best rappers in Detroit at the moment calling out those who be talking shit online & backing down in person over some triumphant Bay Area inspired production. Cordae tags along for the mellow “Beetleborgs” getting on some category 5 type shit leading into “Mr. Hanky” referring to himself as the shit over a trap instrumental with a menacing loop.
“Remote Control” finds Tron doing his thing with some beat switches sampling shows ranging from Kenan & Kel to Samurai Jack just before “R.I.P. Hutch” with Rico Nasty & Remble has more vibrant tone to it as the trio deliver a party anthem. “Mike Amiri Monster” is a 2-parter with a piano-trap crossover during the first half & some background vocals for the other referring to himself as such while “Golden Child” mixes some hi-hats & saxes talking about feeling like an Egyptian with all the ice he is referencing former UFC BMF Champion Justin Gaethje.
Following that, “Euphoria 2” has a more dramatic approach in terms of sound reminding that tomorrow’s price isn’t the same as today’s whatsoever while “Sunday School” produced by Danny G & Jakesand samples Resident Evil 2 calling out another for having the sauce yet it’s far from marinated. “Dirty Draco” with KanKan keeps the pianos in tact as both artists speak on sipping Faygo & staying strapped while Certified Trapper’s feature on “Zap Zone” is one of the weakest on the tape despite the whistling loop & the claps within the beat & the lyrics talking about having a game to win.
“Ricky Henderson” compares his lil brodie to that of the titular baseball player accompanied by a wavy trap instrumental while “Waffle House” by the ShittyBoyz, Drego & Beno, RMC Mike, Babyfxce E, J1Hunnit & Prince Jefe is a decent 3 & a half minute Detroit posse cut. “Mainstream Tron 2” has a cloudy aesthetic to it talking about how it’s all rah-rah with the yacht & the Glock.
As for “100 OVR”, the beat blends these strings & bells as Babytron explains that his crew still sin because all dogs go to heaven as well as referencing former 3-time WWE world champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 9-time WWE tag team champion, 8 time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン & The Crash’s inaugural Mundial Pesocompleto Campeon Rey Mysterio while “Za Morant” returns to a more atmospheric vibe talking about him balling. “You Would’ve Thought” with DaBoii pulls from nu disco as they both flaunt their success to those who didn’t believe in them while “Animorph” gives off a more saddening feel expressing the pain of watching someone he once respected turning into a snake.
The instrumental throughout the “2 Ea$y” is more horn-laced talking about being the early birdie while the penultimate track “Tronalation 28:27” is a synth/hyphy crossover as Tron confesses that he can’t trust what some fraud has to say to him. “I Can’t Call It” with $camaurion closes out the tape admitting that they don’t know what they be on these days with a thumping bass-line, some chords & hi-hats.
Although I’d still say that Old Testament is my favorite between both parts of the Bin Reaper finale, that’s not to say New Testament isn’t worth the time of anyone who’s been following him up to this beat Other than it being a little longer than it should’ve, the 2 things that really wowed me the most about it was the fact that the feature-list is more consistent in comparison to Babytron’s past efforts & the insane punchlines that he endlessly comes up with
This is the 9th EP from Ukrainian-American emcee Your Old Droog. Catching my attention when he dropped his self-titled debut. many actually first thought he was an alter ego of Nas given that their voices are somewhat similar. He eventually became a legend in his own right off later projects such as Packs as well as It Wasn’t Even Close, TIME & the Nicholas Craven-produced YOD Wave. The 3 EPs he’s given us since YOD Stewart, Yodney Dangerfield & The Yodfather weren’t as great in my opinion yet most certainly had their highlights at the same time. So just when I assumed the predecessor was gonna be Droog’s last of 2022, dude’s making me eat my own words by dropping The Shining less than 2 weeks before Christmas.
“Fresh Direct” is an ominous boom bap opener with Droog acknowledging that there ain’t a rapper that he’s not sonnin’ whereas “Brinks Truck” takes a jazzier route to spit the illest shit that he can think of. “We on the Tarmac” has a more spacious vibe talking about not worrying about a thing & being where the stars at prior to TCF Music Group’s very own Che Noir tagging along for the sample based “Room 237” referencing the titular room in the fictional Overlook Hotel from the classic Stanley Kubrick film that the EP is named after. The song “Redrum” with Rock & Tha God Fahim finds the trio over some dusty production to get murderous while the penultimate track “Here’s Johnny” weaves a flute-tinged boom bap beat in talking about catching him where the dough at. “The Hedge Maze” however ends the EP with a ghostly Sadhugold instrumental & Droog looking back on all his fake friends as he freezes to death.
Before I wrap things up here, I just wanna sincerely apologize for jumping the gun & assuming that The Yodfather was gonna be the final offering from Droog before the year ends. Now that’s out of the way, The Shining is absolutely a cut above the last 3 EPs dude has put out. It’s more conceptual as one of the most prominent MCs in the underground today uniquely retells the titularly classic Stephen King tale & it’s cool to see Wino Willy get more shine by producing a bulk of it. Here’s to the impending masterpiece of a Droogie Otis full-length debut in 2023!
Babyface Ray is a 31 year old rapper, songwriter & actor from Detroit, Michigan who emerged in 2014 by joining the Team Eastside collective. He has since gone on to drop 5 mixtapes as well as 5 EPs & a well received full-length debut within the last 6-7 years before turning heads worldwide & becoming one of the 2 biggest up-&-comers in the city next to Babytron, both of whom eventually landed spots in this year’s XXL Freshman Class over the summer. But Face is looking to end 2022 the way he started it by dropping a sophomore effort.
“Waves on Every Chain” is a lavish Detroit trap opener with Face dropping some braggadocio whereas “Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy” with Lil Durk is an off the wall banger coming through with some more menacing lyricism. “Rap Politics” has a more futuristic quality to the instrumental as Face talks about being a hustler goin’ corporate just before “Nice Guy” has a gloomier vibe courtesy of Pooh Beatz confessing that he’s tired of always trying to be generous.
Continuing from there with “Brand New Benz”, we have Face over some rattling hi-hats & bells showing off his new ride leading into the spacious “Vonnie” getting more personal this time around lyrically. Blxst comes into the picture for the R&B/trap duet “Spend It” talking about going on shopping sprees, but then “Bitch Wyd?” weaves some incredible background vocals thanks to Sledgren throwing in a bar referring to 16-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena.
“Crazy World” brings a more atmospheric approach to the table showing what he had draw down while “Massacre” has a more darker tone to it down to Face & Doe Boy talking about all the real ones in the building to stand the fuck up. The harp through “Masterpiece” is amazingly powerful as he flexes his left wrist while “Wavy Gang Immortal” with King Hendrick$ & Samuel Shabazz finds the trio over some hi-hats & eerily croooning vocals talking about learning from your favorites.
“Code + Love Me Some More” is a well sequenced 2-parter as Face gets on the more romantic side on the mic while “Spill My Cup” somberly admits that he’s been sensing hate from people that he genuinely cares about. The song “Corner Suite” is more synth-heavy sound to boast while the penultimate track “Hallelujah” with GMO Stax has a more suspenseful feel to it talking about staying in motion. “Famous” though delivers a piano/trap closer opening up on where he’s at in his life at this point.
I’ll admit that I had my bit of doubt going into this album & I personally prefer Face more, but I gotta say that I came away from Mob to be a fine sophomore effort. The features are kind of hit or miss yet one of the 2 best artists in the 313 right now above Babytron succeeds in Face’s goal to further establish himself with his more personal lyrics & the production continuing to expand on a diverse range of sounds.
This is the debut EP from Brooklyn emcee, songwriter, producer & actor Busta Rhymes. Coming up as a member of the Leaders of the New School, he would go on to turn heads in the spring of ‘92 off the strength of his verse on “Scenario” off of A Tribe Called Quest’s iconic sophomore album The Low End Theory. The dragon would see greater success as a solo artist with full-lengths like The Coming, When Disaster Strikes…, E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front, Anarchy, Genesis & The Big Bang. However when E.L.E. 2 (Extinction Level Event 2): The Wrath of God dropped a couple Devil’s Nights back, it would find Busta returning to form considering the mixed to subpar reception of B.O.M.B.S. (Back On My Bullshit & the Cash Money Records-backed Year of the Dragon. But to warm everyone up for his upcoming 11th album, Busta’s coming together with The Fuse is Lit.
“Break This Bitch Up” kicks off the album with a Middle Eastern instrumental from Swizz Beatz talking about how he can’t be stopped whereas “Slap” is a vintage boom bap cut produced by Marley Marl as Big Daddy Kane & Conway the Machine come into the picture to spit some hardcore bars tremendously. The song “Hot Sex, Pt. 2” has a more electronic quality to it courtesy of Aftermath Entertainment in-house producer Focus… with the lyrical themes being reminiscent of the Tribe Called Quest joint “Hot Sex” while the penultimate track “Bulletproof Skin” with Skillibeng is a decent dancehall/hip hop crossover. “Run It Up” though is a jazzy closer with Busta showing motherfuckers how it’s done.
E.L.E. 2 was an incredible return to form for the Dragon & for him to give us this as of way of holding people off until the next full-length, I wouldn’t say it’s as great but the high points on this EP are most definitely worth your time. The overall sound of it is eclectic from boom bap to dancehall & jazz rap with Busta remaining to be strong with the pen.
Your Old Droog is a Ukrainian-American underground MC who caught my attention when he dropped his self-titled debut. Many actually first thought he was an alter ego of Nas given that their voices are somewhat similar, but eventually became a legend in his own right off later projects such as Packs as well as It Wasn’t Even Close, TIME & more recently the Nicholas Craven-produced YOD Wave that dropped this past spring. YOD Stewart & Yodney Dangerfield both weren’t as great in my opinion, but certainly had it’s highlights at the same time & had interest in his 8th EP over here which I don’t mind in light of him going on Twitter saying he’ll drop a 6-track EP the next time someone complains to him about another 7-track EP.
The “WW3” freestyle kicks off things off with a drumless soul loop & Droog talking about wanting to get this money before the world ends whereas the Tony Touch freestyle works in a flute courtesy of Sadhugold calling himself the rap Leo DiCaprio. The David Bowie freestyle jumps on top of some impressive vocal chops throughout to talk about being on the road to victory just before “Francis Ford Coppola” comes through with a jazzy boom bap sound thanks to K-Nite 13 expressing his plan to achieve the impossible.
Droogie-La” by Droogie Otis is most definitely my favorite song on the EP from Madlib once again putting his unique ear for samples on display to Droog’s hardcore lyricism while “Zubin Mehta” starts off in drumless chipmunk soul territory talking about standing out in the pack like Lil B. The Munchos freestyle returns to a jazzier sound warning that your homie don’t want the fade kin to song endings with the 3rd & final installment of “90 from the Line” ending the EP in abstract boom bap fashion.
If this is the last EP we’re getting from him in 2022, then I’d say it’s a solid conclusion to the 4 that we got. The production’s just as decent as the last 2 were, but Droog most definitely has one of the best pen-games in the underground today & he definitely makes it a point to remind everyone that here. Whether it’s an EP or an album next year, I’’m always looking forward to hearing new music from him.
Babytron is a 22 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who came up as a member of the trio ShittyBoyz along with his childhood friends Stanwill & TR Dee signing to Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records. He also branched out on impressive solo career for himself as well as the side groups Lewis & Clark and the Dookie Brothers, but it seems like last year was probably his biggest year yet landing interviews ranging from No Jumper to even Rolling Stone following the release of Luka Trončić last summer prior to signing with EMPIRE Distribution later that same month & then Bin Reaper 2: The 2nd Coming last fall. But now coming off Megatron this past spring & a spot in the 2022 XXL Freshman Class a couple months later, he’s ending the Bin Reaper trilogy in the form of his 7th mixtape.
“Genesis 1:1” opens the tape with Babytron reflecting on his life within the last 5 years over a trap instrumental with some bells whereas “Top 2 Not 2” taking a more futuristic yet triumphant turn with the help of Jakesand talking about being flier than a martian. “Myspace” dives into an airier direction acknowledging that he been had a status hearing voices as if he’s 14-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & WWE United States Champion Randy Orton leading into “Silly Me”, which works in some synthesizers & a sample of the Tag Team hit “Whoomp! (There It Is)” talking about sliding in that Dawn until it’s dusk.
Continuing with “Wake the Fuck Up”, we have Tron bursting the bubbles of everyone who thought they were up with the beat flipping “Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell just before Dougie B tags along for the string/trap-laced “Drake & Josh” talking about pulling out the strap out his BAPE & putting these goofies in their place. “‘15-‘16 Curry” returns a more synth-woven sound comparing himself to Stephen Curry during the mid-2010s, but then “8th Wonder of the World” has a more darker approach in sound declaring himself as such comparing the Dookie Brothers to former 11-time WWE Tag Team Champions, 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champions, ROH World Tag Team Champions, HOG World Tag Team Champions & ΩCW Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz.
Icewear Vezzo comes into the picture for the Helluva-produced “Can You Swim?” to call out those who be burning a lot of bridges like it ain’t shit while “Awful Lot Yeah” talking about been heavy on the lean as of late even though the Enrgy beat is just ok. “1 Side of Things” blends electro/hyphy together saying he’s gonna bounce back from a tape flopping by scamming while “Rage Quit” produced by Danny G is a well-sequenced 2-parter with a beat switch during the last 47 seconds talking about making his competition give up if they check the scoreboard.
The song “Dog $hit Militia Cypher 2” by the ShittyBoyz, the recently departed $camaurion, JuSleaze, MJPaid, ScrumbleMan, Fordio, J3 & Donnie Bands is a decent little gangsta posse cut with some robotic trap production while the penultimate track “AirTron” makes a shit-ton of basketball references down to the producer sampling the Kurtis Blow single paying tribute to his favorite sport. “365 Day Grind” however finishes the tape wonderfully with a dedication to the never-ending hustle & a reference to former AJPWオール・アジア・タッグチャンピオン, 世界ジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, KO-Dタッグチャンピオン, FMWインディペンデントワールド世界ジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, 2-time IWGPジュニアタッグチャンピオン, GHCジュニアヘビー級タッグチャンピオン & current 新日本プロレス Jr. Heavyweight タカみちのく.
Now if Babytron is in fact closing the book on the Bin Reaper trilogy here, then I think it’s one that fans will certainly be satisfied with. I’m glad he didn’t overload the tracklisting like with his last couple tapes as he spits some incredibly witty punchlines accompanied by production with some more pluggier undertones than a lot of the stuff he’s given us in the past.
This is the 11th mixtape from Buffalo emcee, songwriter & entrepreneur Westside Gunn. Whether it running one of the hottest hip hop labels in recent memory to his first 2 full-lengths FLYGOD & Supreme Blientele, he truly has proven his legend status & that he’s to be a force to be reckoned with all in only the span of 7 years. just put out his last tape PEACE FLYGOD over the summer & with in tradition to the Halloween season, West is dropping the true conclusion of the decade long Hitler Wears Hermes mixtape series after originally dropping the 8th & 9th installments last fall.
Doe Boy tags along for the trap opener “FLYGOD Jr.” produced by West’s son hence the title after the intro to spit some gangsta-laced braggadocio whereas “Super Kick Party” works in a sample-based boom bap instrumental courtesy of Conductor Williams taking it’s name after the finisher of AEW EVPs, former 2-time AEW World Tag Team Champions, the inaugural AEW World Trios Champions, 2-time ROH World Tag Team Champions, 2-time ROH World 6-Man Tag Team Champions, HoG Tag Team Champions, AAA Parejas Campeons, 2-time IWGPタッグチャンピオン, 7-time IWGPジュニアタッグチャンピオン, 3-time NEVER無差別級6人タッグチャンピオン & 4-time PWG World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks.
A$AP Rocky & Stove God Cook$ both come into the picture for the uncanny yet dusty “Shootouts in Soho” getting on their hustler shit including a bar referring to WWE Hall of Famer Mr. T, but then Black Star tags along for the heavily soulful “Peppas” to blend their conscious styles with Westside’s boasting including a reference to former 2-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones & him using an excerpt of his appearance on the Discovery Global-owned TNT series AEW Rampage last month for the outro is the ultimate flex.
Meanwhile on “Nigo Louis”, we have West over a drumless yet groovy beat with a guitar talking about hitting shit in broad daylight leading into the Rome Streetz-assisted “BDP” spitting that fly gangsta shit hitting harder than UFC Hall of Famer, the inaugural UFC Women’s Batnamweight Champion, former WWE Women’s Champion & the current WWE Women’s World Champion in her 2nd reign Ronda Rousey accompanied by a crooning boom bap instrumental. The Margo Guryan flip from Swizz Beatz throughout “Science Class” with Busta Rhymes, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon & Stovey is remarkable as the 5 talk about being the plug just before “God is Love” weaves a drumless sample into the fold prior to a beat switch during the last minute & a half as Estee Nack & Stove God talking about how they done made this work.
The song “Switches on Everything” with Run the Jewels has a jazzier sound to it thanks to Mike Shabb admitting the only way to get them to leave the crib while the penultimate track “Mac Don’t Stop” turns the jazz levels up to 11 with the help of Pete Rock including a bar referring to lucha libre popularized by the Lutteroth family-owned Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) & it’s rival promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) owned by the Peña–Roldán family. “Red Death” however ends the tape with an epically grimy 10-minute Griselda cut produced by none other than The Alchemist showcasing the unique styles of everyone who laid & killed their verses.
Now as solid was Hitler VIII & IX both were in their own rights, X to me is a great note to end the iconic Halloween mixtape series on in light of Ye formerly known as Kanye West’s antisemitic comments at the beginning of the month & I wanna thank West for all the memories that it’s given me along the way. It’s more focused than PEACE FLYGOD as expected, the features all compliment him in their own respective fashion & the production throughout is just absolutely stellar.
Legends Will Never Die 