fakemink is a 21 year old recording artist & producer from Basildon, Essex, England, United Kingdom who introduced himself in 2021 off his debut EP Dog Heater. He would go on to drop 7 more extended plays in 90,900, Real Hospitality, London’s Saviour, Wild One, Furever, Disco Biscuit & Galaxy Pavillion Club until getting co-signs from music’s biggest names like André 3000 & Clipse. “Music & Me” would also become one of my favorite singles of 2025, preluding his full-length debut Terrified by telling the story of The Boy Who Cried Terrified.
“Blow the Speaker” gets the ball rollin’ talking about turning the bass up to the highest volume it can go over a cloudy jerk instrumental whereas the self-produced “Young Millionaire” psychedelically compares himself to Lil Wayne after seeing an increase of wealth. “Dumb” might be the only song I dislike, going for a more rage-inducing vibe talking about loving it when baddies act stupid just before the adrenaline rushing “Mr. Chow” chaotically discusses working in his sleep.
We get more crossovers between cloud rap & jerk music throughout “The Mercer” flexing that he’s greater than everyone who’s washed up at this point in their careers while “Milk & Honey” talks about being aware of those wanting him to fall off when that isn’t gonna be the case anytime soon. “fml” samples “IGOR’S THEME” by Tyler, The Creator & “Rival Dealer” by Burial to end The Boy Who Cried Terrified feeling like he’s simultaneously losing it mentally & reaching his peak.
Known for taking an experimentally cloudier approach to the jerk subgenre of hip hop with a bit of a pop rap twist to it, fakemink comes off some of the biggest stamps of approval he’s ever received or other hits like “Under Your Skin” & “Easter Pink” giving us exceptionally brief dosages of what we can expect out of Terrified next month landing behind the likes of London’s Savior as well as Wild One & Furever amongst his greatest extended plays. The production also explores elements of lowend to a lesser degree, justifying his status amongst the most creative trap artists to look out for.
Pretty sure this has to be the 21st EP from Buffalo, New York emcee & singer Elcamino. Blowing up almost a decade ago off his self-titled EP with Griselda Records, his profile increasingly grew after being followed up by Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 along with dropped 2 studio albums & a few EPs the year after that. They Spit on Jesus proved to be a well received Black Soprano Family Records debut becoming the first Camino project that I had covered since On the 3rd Day & that much like No Weapon Formed Against Me was an improvement over some of the material we’ve gotten from him in recent memory. 6 months after having Real Bad Man produce The Game is the Game followed by Ill Tone producing Built for Cuban Links named after Raekwon’s iconic solo debut Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… produced by RZA in addition to flexing his Millionaire status & Full Moon showing a heavy Future influence. Martyr’s Prayer III produced by 38 Spesh made for a gratifying conclusion to the beloved trilogy as did Mino, recruiting Ill Tone to produce God is Love
An uncredited feature pops up during the backend of the intro “L.L.D. (Long Live Dumpin’)” ruggedly dismissing anybody who ain’t fuckin’ with their music whereas the drumless, chipmunk soul-infused “Crazzzy” talks about being the last real ones left. “Hip Hop” continues the sampling of soul music working in some kicks & snares advising to move smarter & slicker leading into “Nose Ring” combining elements of rap rock & boom bap talking about wanting the whole pie instead of 1/2 of it.
“12-11” begins the 2nd half referencing my favorite show of all-time Breaking Bad on amc whom Mike Santana took the TNA World Championship back from Frankie Kazarian in Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling’s critically panned debut for the network last weekend while “Fuck wit Me” brings back the drumless chipmunk soul vibes promising anyone daring to mess with him they’ll level up. “Amazing” strips the drums once more giving out Hot Ones until the cops come & “Friend Indeed” finishes by talking about being the best in the game.
Ill Tone & Elcamino have already proven themselves to have a substantial chemistry during the latter’s tenure with B$F, so I had no problem with them linking back up during God is Love & I still came away from it enjoying although not as much as Mino almost 4 months prior. Ill Tone’s production maintains the grittiness his 46% share of Mino’s beats & putting the uncredited guest appearance on the intro aside, I gotta give it up to Meech for having much lesser features than the biggest opus of his career so far.
Brand new EP & the 1st of an ongoing 12-part series from Flint, Michigan emcee/producer Jon Connor. Someone who’s steadily been holding it down for the last 2 decades including The Calling, Vinnie Chase & S.O.S. trilogies along with the Best in the World saga paying homage to some of Jon’s influences, Salvation, While You Were Sleeping & Unconscious State. He was even signed to Aftermath Entertainment for 6 years before departing after Vehicle City wound up being shelved, coming off Food for the Soul & 24 produced by KLC of the No Limit Records in-house production team Beats by the Pound to have Smitti Boi produce I.
“Pray” opens up with a gospel sample talking about everyone around him wanting smoke because they don’t have any money & advising them to speak with God whereas “Holy Holy” goes for a trap vibe instrumentally asking the Lord to bless the child who can hold his own. “The System” takes the boom bap route admitting he didn’t think he needed to find support to keep the real alive while “Drowning in Chaos” featuring Jarren Benton finds the 2 talking about mental stress.
Emilio Rojas & MRK SX join Jon on “Hello from Miami” starting the 2nd half soulfully asking the bartender to not treat them like beginners when both of them have been catching Ws of their own for over a decade just before “Live Your Truth” passionately thanks the Man above for all the lessons He gave him during his younger days. “The People’s Anthem” winds down I’s final minutes talking about doing this music shit for the youth & the closer wishes everyone a “Happy New Year”, wishing prosperity & growth to his loved ones.
At the release party for Foul Mouth’s solo debut Everybody Goes Crazy Once a couple months ago, Jon Connor had told me roughly a half hour prior to his set he would be releasing a new project every month over over the course of 2026 & I marks an exciting beginning to the rest of this series we’re gonna watch play out until next winter. Smitti Boi’s production needless to say distances itself from the dirty south sounds of 24’s & the subject matter’s more spiritual than that previous LP’s was the previous summer.
Atlanta, Georgia recording artist Hardrock resolving his ongoing label issues with his 8th extended play. Getting his start over in 2021 off his debut EP Y.N.S. (Young N***a Shit), he would continue to build up anticipation by delivering 5 more EPs ahead of the commercial debut LP Next! & the breakout sophomore effort 808 Speaker Knockerz. The latter of which contains some of his best tracks to date like “H.Y.L.M.N.? (How You Like Me Now)”, “Madonna”, “New WRLD” & “Luigi Mansion”. 1of1 matched the caliber of it’s predecessor, his Victor Victor Worldwide/Republic Records debut My Gift to You was a solid prelude to Slimyfella despite the latter dividing fans last summer & he’s ready to go Off the Planet.
“UFO” begins with a playful plugg intro talking about shooting down clowns like they’re doors & giving 0 fucks whereas “Mayday” produced by Cade atmospherically discusses him bossing up & getting a raise financially. “Money Dance” gives off a range-inducing vibe figuring out how much he can stack up inside his bag while “Hndrxx” goes back to a pluggier vibe staying dripped no matter what. “Lurkin’” cloudily speaks of his lifestyle once again & the hypertrap-tinged “Diditagain” concludes Off the Planet talking about fucking up the spot.
It’s hard to tell whether or not Hardrock’s planning to drop a new album later on in 2026, but what I can say is that I enjoyed Off the Planet a bit more than Slimyfella almost 8 months ago. I can’t make any complaints regarding the production or his performances, although I give him all the props in the world for not overloading the backend of it with filler like he did the previous summer & it makes me confident his next LP won’t make that same mistake whenever he’s ready to put it out.
Here we have the 3rd EP from up-&-coming Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rapper & producer of Nigerian descent iyrus. Emerging in the summer of 2024 after doing an On the Radar freestyle, he would later introduce himself more properly last spring off his debut EP Resurgence & followed it up 8 months afterwards with his previous EP I. A couple months later, he’s looking to continue where he left off less than a couple weeks from Thanksgiving, the east coast trap rapper looks to pick up right where he left off preluding a debut album with II.
“2hollis” is a rage-inducing intro talking about tucking a switch inside his jeans similarly to the Chicago underground sensation of the same name whereas “Everyday” thunderously flexes that he runs up bags on a daily basis. The self-produced “I Luv Botched Bodies” talks about stealing women so he can get his rocks off & after the hypertrap-tinged “Butt Naked Nasty” continues to address themes of lust, “Lead da Way” reaches the halfway point cashing checks at Dolce & Gabbana.
Continuing the 2nd leg of II, the song “S.I.S.” (See I’m Saying)” energetically talks about making waves as well as changing the game while “Habibi” shits all over DDG & Blueface’s latest single they dropped the weekend earlier. “Das Strange” has a pluggier atmosphere to it trying to figure out how many bitches he could fit inside his Range Rover just before the closer “Erd Tee” talks about dressing a woman he’s known since childhood who sees the vision now that both of them have grown up.
So far throughout this whole trilogy of extended plays, II expands beyond the predecessor 8 week ago & it wouldn’t surprise me if iyrus was eventually signed to Lil Uzi Vert’s newly founded Cor(e) imprint soon as he gains enough traction within the next year or so. The trap, rage, plugg & cloud rap production’s starting to become increasingly more detailed & he makes his best case so far in terms of why he should be mentioned amongst the greatest to come from the City of Brotherly Love.
Hartford, Connecticut emcee Fuego Base kicking off 2026 with his 3rd extended play. Getting his start a few years ago off his debut EP Tell My Momma Imma Rapper, he would continue to build up his catalog by going on to drop another EP called Tell My Momma Imma Rapper Still & the Say Dat mixtape trilogy prior to Buffalo’s very own Benny the Butcher signed Fuego to Black Soprano Family Records. However, the Biggest Since Camby wants to Tell My Momma I’m Still a Rapper.
“I’m Still a Rapper” begins with a symphonically hardcore instrumental asking why he isn’t considered to be amongst people’s favorites whereas the trap-inflicted “Wish ‘Em Well” sends a message to anyone who hates him. “Another One” goes for a boom bap vibe talking about grinding all winter while the rap rock flavored “Doctorate” speaking of dealing with itchy fiends. “Black Sopranos” featuring Brillo & produced by Swizz Beatz finds the 2 decently repping B$F while “She Wanna” ends in the form of this soulful boom bap crossover themed around love.
It’ll already be 3 whole years since Fuego Base became the Biggest Since Camby in April & coming off Say Dat 4: Proof of What God Do a couple months ago, he continues another series of projects that he started prior to him getting his label deal & Tell My Momma I’m Still a Rapper gets ready for a sophomore effort. There are much lesser guest appearances compared to that previously mentioned tape, but the production & Fuego handling almost all the vocal performances are enough to make for some exciting moments to hold fans off until the next album.
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with the 11th EP from Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973. For a while at this point, his first couple mixtapes followed by his last 10 EPs & the full-length debut DOOM Was Right almost 8 months ago giving flowers to one of my all-time personal favorite albums Madvillainy have each established himself as a promisingly skilled luchador who so happens to rap. The Most Interesting Man in the World got with Machacha for his sophomore effort in October, coming off last week’s Lucha Libre for the Soul sequel Lucha Libra for Christmas to air out some Luchador Body Odor.
The title track after the “Vaginal Monologue” intro begins with a drumlessly jazzy opener referencing 3-time WWE women’s world champions & WWE Hall of Famers The Bella Twins alongside the late former WWE United States Champion & 2-time WWE tag team champion Chris Kanyon whereas “Gorgeous Gino” featuring Apito Goiez works in a bare chipmunk soul sample honoring the late WCCW performer Gino Hernandez & includes a bar referring to WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart during Act-Lo’s verse.
“Cashmere Coat” soulfully homages the late 3-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, NWA National Heavyweight Champion, WWE Hall of Famer, WWE United States Champion, 2-time WCW World Tag Team Champion & 3-time WCW World Television Champion Dusty Rhodes and the oldest AEW World Tag Team Champion, former 2-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, TNA Hall of Famer, 4-time TNA World Champion, TNA World Tag Team Champion, 8-time WCW world champion, WCW World Television Champion, 3-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, WWE Hall of Famer & 2-time WWE United States Champion Sting.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)’s flagship program iMPACT! set to make it’s amc debut in a couple weeks gets shouted out near the end of “Veteran’s Locker Room” talking about only a select few having the capability of making waves while “Le Lutteur Et La Rose” featuring Ali De Leon references the late WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Women’s Champion & 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion Chyna as well as WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Women’s Champion & WWE Cruiserweight Champion Alundra Blayze and the late WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 4-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 2-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, 2-time ECW World Television Champion & AAA Mundial Parejas Campeon Eddie Guerrero.
“Lorenzo Castro” carries over the drumless chipmunk soul vibes speaking of him feeling like 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion & NWA World Tag Team Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin on top of wanting to sell out MSG like the late 3-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion, WCW World Television Champion, 3-time WCW World Tag Team Champion & WWE Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff did while “Sinner’s Prayer” featuring Tree Mason acknowledges the disgraced former IWGPジュニアヘビー級王座, 2-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 5-time WWE United States Champion, 7-time WWE tag team champion & 3-time WCW World Television Champion Chris Benoit.
Former 10-time WWE world champion & UFC Heavyweight Champion in both TKO Group Holdings divisions & former IWGPヘビー級王座 Brock Lesnar gets referenced right at the beginning of the chipmunk soul outro “All Gas No Breaks” as does his wife in former WWE Women’s Champion Sable followed by the oldest WWE Speed Champion & former 4-time WWE tag team champion Chad Gable and former DEFY Tag Team Champion, HoG Heavyweight Champion, the longest reigning MLW World Heavyweight Champion, MLW National Openweight Champion, WWE United States Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion Jacob Fatu. Can’t forget the nod to 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 either.
The current 新日本プロレス President, former 8-time IWGPヘビー級王座, 2-time IWGPインターコンチネンタル王座, 3-time IWGP USヘビー級王座, 新日本プロレス世界TV王座, 3-time IWGPタッグ王座, NEVER無差別級王座, NEVER無差別級6人タッグ王座, GHCタッグ王座, CMLL Mundial Parejas Campeon, CMLL Mundial Trios Campeon & RPW British Heavyweight Champion 棚橋弘至 being retired by the current AEW International Champion オカダ・カズチカ at Wrestle Kingdom 20 is one of my most anticipated bouts this weekend along with the current IWGP世界ヘビー級王座 竹下 幸之介 facing the current IWGPグローバルなヘビー級王座 辻 陽太. In preparation, Action Figure 973 surprises us with an EP’s worth of tracks filled with decent guests & witty lyricism accompanied by slickly soulful production.
Here is the 16th EP from Athens, Georgia up-&-comer Babystaydown. Someone who’s had over a dozen extended plays under his belt already including PL Top Recruits, 1,350, Drugz Sex & Money and it’s sequel, 17, Genesis, his Cegular Records/Sony Music debut Hate da Way Um Livin, Saint, Pain Before Pleasure, Chief 13, Aimai, I.L.M.F. (I Love My Friends), ##Kool ##Kat & the Lost Files duology. However, his full-length debut Born Anew this spring maintained the same level as all 8 of his EPs on Cegular in terms of propelling his status in the underground & the same can be said regarding the sophomore effort Art of War a couple months ago, telling us I.B.S.D.W.M.P. (I Been Still Dealing With My Pain) after him & labelmate Pradabagshawty fell out with each other last month.
“Bigger” kicks it all off with a cloudy trap instrumental produced by Whyceg talking about his payroll becoming a lot larger whereas “Sedated” atmospherically speaks of a woman doing him crazy placing him on the blocklist. “Pill Type” goes for a pluggier vibe confessing to never feeling right whenever he took opioids prior to Traiqo shifting “Like I Know” towards an exuberant trap direction talking about him promising he’d give a bitch the entire world.
Starting the 2nd act, “Pain” tells us of him having some shit going on with his heart which he likes to call suffering just before “Idk You” talks about those trying to copy him not having any longevity approaching the final half of this decade. “Slime Examination” has another standout beat courtesy of Ayelavish! promising the world he won’t ever let the game change him & “Drug Addiction” sends off the EP reuniting with his mentor Whyceg for 1 last time explaining he can’t give a hoe all his love because she’ll most likely hit the clubs immediately.
Cegular Records has put a lot of great effort into proving why both Babystaydown & Pradabagshawty have become amongst the most exciting new plugg artists in 2025 from Red Flags & Roses to Art of War so it sucks a collab project probably won’t come to fruition, but it is what it is & I.B.S.D.W.M.P. (I Been Still Dealing With My Pain) finishes the Sony Music imprint’s biggest year strongly. We get more of an introspective approach to Babystaydown’s songwriting & there’s a similar consistency between the production here & its predecessor couple months earlier.
Compton, California emcee, songwriter & producer Jason Martin celebrating Christmas Eve with his 6th EP. Originally known under the moniker Problem, he would go on to release over a dozen mixtapes as well as 4 full-length studio albums & his last 5 EPs. I can’t forget to mention both collaborative efforts DJ Quik, the first being Rosecrans back in 2017 & the follow-up Chupacabra days before Kendrick Lamar’s now historic 1-off Pop Out concert at the Kia Forum. Mike & Keys would be enlisted to produce Repack alongside A Hit Dog Gon Holla & Mafia Cafe, further celebrating the 10-year anniversary of O.T. (Outta Town) to detail A Lonely Winter.
The self-produced intro “Stop Playin’ with Me” featuring co-production from Mike & Keys instrumentally reminds me of something Scott Storch would’ve made in the 2000s sending a clear message to a toxic bitch whereas “Queen Latifah” after the “Home Alone with Precious” skit blends nervous & Mobb music together talking about how living single got this woman living bad. To conclude the 1st half however, we have Jason letting Candice Boyd shine on the mic for the a capella R&B tune “Think About Me”.
“Santa or Nah” kicks off the 3rd quarter going for a drumless chipmunk soul vibe working in a crooning sample finding himself caught between facts & feelings leading into the gospel-influenced “OK (R.I.P.)” promising on his mother’s grave that everything’s gonna be alright, remembering loved ones who left sooner than expected. “Suspect” soulfully talks about looking in the mirror daily ready for showtime while “If You Need That” finishes A Lonely Winter not wanting beef with a dumbass or anything negative that comes with ‘em.
I have to agree with the homie Westside Bear a.k.a. BelowTheHipHop for recently saying that Jason Martin’s last couple of extended plays A Hit Dog Gon Holla & Mafia Cafe are being slept-on by a majority of heads because they both prove he doesn’t need to rely on a heavy list of guests to make an enjoyable listening experience. That said: A Lonely Winter differs from it’s predecessors by enlisting a feature or 2 to join him in taking listeners on a journey to explore the stresses some go through during the holiday season regardless if it’s past or present.
Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973 celebrating the holiday season a couple days early with his 10th EP. For a while at this point, Act-Lo’s first 2 mixtapes followed by his last 9 EPs & the full-length debut DOOM Was Right merely 7 months ago giving flowers to one of my all-time personal favorite albums Madvillainy have each established himself as a promisingly skilled luchador who so happens to rap. It’s almost been a few months since The Most Interesting Man in the World got with Machacha for his sophomore effort & is ready to spit game on Lucha Libra for Christmas over a week after former PWG World Champion, record-tying 2-time World Heavyweight Champion & the longest reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther retired former 17-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, 5-time WWE United States Champion & 4-time WWE tag team champion John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLII.
After the intro, “Noche Buena” begins with this drumless chipmunk soul opener referencing WWE Hall of Famer & 4-time WWE tag team champion Chief Jay Strongbow whereas “DOOM’s Xmas Special on [adult swim]” works in a piano so he can take a second to address Westside Gunn & the WWE’s ongoing beef. “Christmas Coal” soulfully refers to the anaconda vice submission hold that was popularized by 8-time WWE world champion CM Punk while “Turbo Man” talks about being chased like he’s the fictional Jingle All the Way superhero starring WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Wrestling on Christmas” continues the sampling shouting out the late WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE United States Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion Rick Rude near the end just before “Bad Santas” featuring Lord Juco compares themselves to the main characters of the titular holiday comedy crime film. “Batman Smells” featuring Malcolm Sef references WWE Hall of Famer & 2-time WWE women’s world champion Nikki Bella at the backend of it but prior to the “Yule Log” outro, the final song “Chinese Turkey” featuring Hound caps it all off with a drumless outro talking about not grinding this hard to stay the same.
Coming off the Thank God for Fania beat tape on Black Friday last month, Action Figure 973 gets back on the mic & links back up with Circa ‘97 for a holiday-themed sequel to Lucha Libre for the Soul roughly 48 hours away from solstice itself. Certainly a treat for those looking forward to those watching Carmelo Hayes ending Илья́ Драгунов‘s reign as WWE United States Champion this weekend or the longest reigning AEW World Champion MJF getting payback on Samoa Joe by defeating the current 2-time titleholder at World’s End III.
Legends Will Never Die 