Jason Martin – “A Hit Dog Gonna Holla” review

Compton, California emcee, songwriter & producer Jason Martin reuniting with Mike & Keys for his 4th EP. Originally known as Problem, he would go on to release over a dozen mixtapes as well as 4 full-length studio albums & a couple 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. Almost a whole year since Repack, they’re reuniting so A Hit Dog Gon Holla.

After the “Guns & Sandwiches” intro, “Let Me Roll My J” chops up a soul sample talking about looking to party until the sunrise whereas “Things You Learn While on the Grind” soulfully reflects on what he’s learned since hustling. “Docusign” gives off a drumless chipmunk soul vibe talking about not tripping over any obstacles while “Flu Game Jordan” continues to strip the drums so he can progress through extortion.

“We Know the Truth” continued with a hazy boom bap route talking about hearing nonstop cap spewing out these muhfuckas mouths while “Tee’d” drumlessly reminds us that everything comes with a fee instead of simply being granted to us. “Laugh Now Laugh Later” talks about how everybody be lying but after the “Goofy” skit, “Thang’s Just Ain’t the Same for Gangsters” calls back to “The Watcher”by Dr. Dre & sends off the EP being “Above the Noise”.

There was a lot of mixed reception towards the Repack last fall because of all the features on it & I’m pretty sure Jason Martin heard those criticisms since he takes up all of A Hit Dog’s Gonna Holla’s vocal performances by himself & results in an extended play that I prefer a lot more than the last 1 we got from him. Mike & Keys’ production returns to a traditional west coast sound coming off Tony Shhnow’s 8th album Self Portrait last month & Jason singlehandedly silences those who thought he had become reliant towards guests.

Score: 4.5/5

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Rafa – “Lil Dogshit” review

Detroit, Michigan rapper Rafa commemorating 3 years of his eponymous mixtape by surprise-releasing his 5th EP. Coming up as a member of the WRLD Tour Mafia a few years ago, he would also begin a solo career of his own starting on Thanksgiving 2020 with his debut EP Not for Household Use & followed it up earlier this year in the form his debut tape Dog$hit & Ammunition. Self-titled was a pivotal point in his career & Good Girls Don’t Exist from last spring was a superior EP. R.A.F.A. (Rockstars Are Fucking Awesome) broke down the meaning of his moniker & Madman got a little more reckless, making me curious as to what Lil Dogshit was gonna become.

“More of Us” has a cloudy Detroit trap vibe to it for an intro talking about leveling up on fuckboys & not trusting anyone out here whereas “Left on a Lick” promises to continue repping WRLD Tour in the afterlife. “Heat” produced by WTM Miles returns to a cloudier Detroit sound to talk about seeing through every single one of these pussies while “Uncle Sam” kicks the hoes out of the studio to focus more during sessions.

As for “Hate Me Too”, we have Rafa pointing out how weird it is for this bitch to be hanging out with the opps lately just before the cloudy Detroit trap crossover “Godzilla” talks about piling money to the ceiling these days. “Randy Savage” references the late WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE world champion & WWE Intercontinental Champion of the same name while “Rick Jeans Zip Weird” criticizes the zippers of Rick Owens jeans.

“We Ok” starts the final leg of Lil Dogshit with an eerier Detroit sound talking about shooting anyone who crosses the line with him while “<3 WTM CSB” cloudily suggests that just because you’re on a run at the moment doesn’t mean you have to stop stacking your bread up. “Paradise” keeps things cloudy instrumentally talking about not wanting any co-signs & “Still Tour” ends the EP by brushing off the desire of wanting to make amends with a couple people he fell out with.

Tough to say if I’d put Lil Dogshit above R.A.F.A. (Rockstars Are Fucking Awesome) because that & self-titled are both my personal favorite entries in Rafa’s solo discography, but what I can tell you is that I enjoyed it more than Madman only 5 months earlier. The production carries over the cloud rap/Detroit sound fusions that the previous EP emphasized this spring & making it a point for 22 minutes that nobody spittin’ like him.

Score: 4/5

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Doggystyleeee – “Music with Substance” review

San Bernardino, California emcee Doggystyleeee reemerging for his 6th EP. Coming up 6 years ago off his full-length debut Into Somethin’, he would go on to put out his last 5 EPs as well as 5 mixtapes & a couple more albums garnering interest to the point where WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg almost signed him to Death Row Records not too long after purchasing the label from MNRK Music Group to revive it. Blame It on My Crippin’ produced by AC3Beats was a tight way to start off his 2025 & is whipping up Music with Substance following a breakdown of his Split Personality.

“Money Motivated” samples “Foe tha Love of $” by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony featuring Eazy-E talking about the bread keeping him inspired whereas “Men Shouldn’t Cry” tells the story of a strong man who went through Hell & back to tie up the first half properly. “In My Bag” starts the 2nd half of the keeping money in his thoughts giving off a modern g-funk vibe while “2004 Flow” throws it back to the crunk days. “Energized” works in sampling to keep his 9 by his side while the closer takes the final 4 minutes & 20 seconds to get “A Few Questions” off his mind.

AC3Beats could very well be my personal favorite producer Doggystyleeee’s worked with because their chemistry is so distinctive, but I do appreciate him giving Peso Talks a chance to shine behind the boards since Music with Substance’s production acceptably meshes modern & classic west coast sounds taking a significantly meaningful approach to the songwriting capturing the gangsta themes that made the San Bernardino lyricist so popular near the end of the previous decade.

Score: 4/5

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ApolloRed1 – “ApolloRed1 vs. the World” review

Atlanta, Georgia rapper ApolloRed1 preluding his debut mixtape with his 3rd EP. Starting out a year ago off his full-length debut The Summer I Turned Red along with his first couple EPs Villain & Vamp Diary, his last EP Tantrum in March was enough to have his cousin Playboi Carti make him the newest member of the Opium Records roster & dropping a Midnight Blassic this spring. In preparation for his debut mixtape Demon Heart Radio, he’s preluding it with ApolloRed1 vs. the World.

“No Running” is a rage-inducing opener produced by Clayco talking about having whole rounds for their opps whereas “Benz Muhfucka” featuring Protect with co-production from OPM BABI & n9ck finds the pair assuring you won’t catch them leaving the house strapped. “Riot” continues to rep the hypertrap influences thanks to Goxan for an ode to the New York stop of Opium’s upcoming Antagonist Tour while “Contraband” talks about putting it this shit on command over a 16yrold, Bakkwoods & Rafmade instrumental.

Meanwhile on “Loaded Diper”, we have ApolloRed1 over more rage beats to discuss him still poppin’ pills & hopping out the van leading into “ARP” talks about the rifle doing exactly what he tells it to do over an Ayelavish! beat. “Profit” uses a flow reminiscent to Future’s confessing to fucking up the financial gain just before “Bad Bitch Fetish” featuring 9 Vicious teases their upcoming collab tape YVLFN.

“10:03” starts the final leg of ApolloRed1 vs. the World by talking about not wasting his money at the Magic City strip club Jermaine Dupri named his comeback album from last month after prior to “headed2thesky” promising to put the world in his girl’s hands over a Trgc instrumental. “Vamp Language” featuring Destroy Lonely was the perfect choice of a last minute guest appearance as they get on top this Bugz Ronin beat to talk about speaking in vampire.

Putting a bigger emphasis on the Chicago drill & plugg styles than Midnight Blassic did earlier this spring, ApolloRed1 vs. the World might seem like a homage of Lil Uzi Vert’s greatest tape on the surface only to get a collection of trap & rage tracks that rival ApolloRed1’s inaugural release under Opium several months ago. The production expands on the artistic potential that began flourishing post-Tantrum giving more reasons to validate his signing.

Score: 4/5

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WTM Scoob – “Life’s the Baddest Bitch” review

No sign of Detroit, Michigan rapper WTM Scoob slowing down with his 4th EP of the week & his 12th overall. Formerly a member of the WRLD Tour Mafia, his solo career started in 2019 with his first few EPs Good Kid as well as When You Coming Home & A Beautiful Drug. Couple more EPs Euphoric Effects & Don’t Be Proud came out ahead of his acclaimed debut album I Went to Plu2o, which was later followed by his first couple mixtapes Scoob & Sydney Tour the World and Unreleased Wav alongside Big Heart Small World. I’ll Neva Sell My Soul alongside Yellow Willow & Sydney have all dropped this week, explaining why Life is the Baddest Bitch.

“2 Brothers” works in a flute sample & some 808s talking about having a way to make it out the streets alive whereas “Finger Bowls” replies to those asking where he’s been by answering “in another Benz” bringing a more boisterous vibe. “Let’s Do It” hold up some pianos & hi-hats being down to break bread & shop all day but once “I Got New Money Go Get Sum” flexes his fresh loaf over a cloudy trap instrumental, “Photo” finishes with a Detroit sound outro talking about his life being ferocious.

Sydney remains my favorite extended play of the small handful WTM Scoob has released on SoundCloud this week, but Life is the Baddest Bitch would be a close 2nd without hesitation. Nolo 2000’s production sticks out amongst some of the finest batch of beats compared to it’s predecessors meshing the Detroit sound, cloud rap, trap & some instrument samples for Scoob to warm up for a release party he’s playing in less than 3 weeks as a birthday gift to fans.

Score: 4/5

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WTM Scoob – “Sydney” review

Already got the 11th EP from Detroit, Michigan rapper WTM Scoob. Formerly a member of the WRLD Tour Mafia, his solo career started in 2019 with his first few EPs Good Kid as well as When You Coming Home & A Beautiful Drug. Couple more EPs Euphoric Effects & Don’t Be Proud came out ahead of his acclaimed debut album I Went to Plu2o, which was later followed by his first couple mixtapes Scoob & Sydney Tour the World and Unreleased Wav alongside Big Heart Small World. Yellow Willow dropped literally an hour ago & he’s already turning up the pressure with Sydney.

“WYA? I Wanna See U RN!” opens with a cloudy, 108 seconds trap intro talking about wanting to see his lover while the pluggy “U Know U Important to Me” reminds her of how much she means to him. “Girl Ask God 4 Forgiveness” quirkily advises the woman he’s addressing to seek redemption from the higher power & “mo ho’s than santa :(“ talks about having too many hoes.

For those of you who loved the way WTM Scoob heavily embraced the cloud rap/plugg styles all over Peach Wolf almost a year ago, it’s highly plausible that you’re gonna enjoy Sydney the most out of all 3 extended plays we’ve gotten from him these past 60 hours. Production-wise, it’s a lot similar to the previously mentioned EP from last Thanksgiving & the subject matter has a stronger focus around love.

Score: 4/5

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WTM Scoob – “Yellow Willow” review

Another day & another EP from Detroit, Michigan rapper WTM Scoob marking the 10th in his discography. Formerly a member of the WRLD Tour Mafia, his solo career started in 2019 with his first few EPs Good Kid as well as When You Coming Home & A Beautiful Drug. Couple more EPs Euphoric Effects & Don’t Be Proud came out ahead of his acclaimed debut album I Went to Plu2o, which was later followed by his first couple mixtapes Scoob & Sydney Tour the World and Unreleased Wav alongside Big Heart Small World. I covered Peach Wolf around Thanksgiving time last year & 10 months later, Yellow Willow has arrived in time for fall.

“Grimace Shake” was a tropical choice of an intro talking about chopping it up with God to wash away all of his sins while “She Called Me Weird About a Year Ago” takes 39 seconds to recall a woman referring to him as a weirdo 12 months ago. “Tom Izzo” references the iconic Michigan State Spartans basketball coach of the same name over a reversed sample & “Fly Ass Kid Puffing w/ an Angel” experiments with sample drill for almost a minute talks about smoking weed with messengers of God.

Only 48 hours since I’ll Never Sell My Soul dropped, WTM Scoob celebrates the fall by releasing an extended play that’s almost 10 minutes shorter than the predecessor from the end of the weekend coming close to the LP he dropped the summer. The production’s a bit more experimental than I had expected since most of his music’s catered to the Detroit sound, but he nevertheless uses the salix lutea as a briefly enjoyable metaphor for vitality.

Score: 3.5/5

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Detroit Ché – “Chizzy” review

This is the 2nd EP from Detroit, Michigan rapper, singer/songwriter, producer, actress, model & creative director Detroit Ché. Releasing her debut single “Talk My Shit” over a decade ago, she released her debut EP Chénges in the summer of 2017 & returned last spring with a new single followed by another one couple months later. Both of which make the final cut of Chizzy, which has been getting co-signs from local veteran Miz Korona currently working on her forthcoming EP Travel in Peace dedicated to her mother.

After the intro, the self-produced “Lambo (Go Get It)” is a Detroit trap opener with some bells & pianos talking about nobody doing it like here whereas “Hugsz” takes an eerier approach instrumentally chilling in the corner where the love at dissing the frauds. “Hit Different (Money Phone)” sticks to the Detroit sound advising against calling the phone she uses to make money with back & after the “Mama Chizzy” interlude, “Super Ché” reaches the halfway point of the EP talking about charging up.

“Toobi” starts the 2nd act of the EP with a cutthroat Detroit trap beat cautioning that her crew don’t know how to act just before “1234567 (Too Feddy)” talks about people asking her suspicious questions. “Detroit Chizzy” blends strings & 808s to show the city who the real boss is while “Koi” asks why would she stop when she has more to say. “Pretty from the D” closes Chizzy by talking about not being anything like these other bitches rapping.

It’s been 8 years since Detroit Ché had to make some Chénges in her life & her comeback effort Chizzy stylistically adapts to the Detroit sound as opposed to the mellowness of that debut EP. It’s similar to what Boldy James did with Hommage earlier this spring in terms of a seasoned local MC proving that they can do what they best over that incarnation of trap & succeeding to end the 3rd quarter of the year.

Score: 4/5

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jev. – “LONERWRLD 2” review

Ontario, Canada emcee jev. returning 15 months since his full-length debut to release his 4th EP. Introducing himself off The Color Grey. as well as LONERWRLD & The Samurai’s Monologue., he received his biggest breakthrough yet last summer off the studio LP when angels cry. emphasizing the jazzy boom bap portions of his style ditching the underlying trap influences throughout a portion of his early material. Preparing for 2nd album, we’re getting a sequel to LONERWRLD.

“Annie.” featuring Hillari soulfully opens the EP with both of them rapping about a violent kind of love while “I Love You, jev.” spits acid over a boom bap instrumental. “Jamaican Cuisine.” produced by Conductor Williams of the Griselda Records in-house production trio The Heartbreakers is my favorite track here getting automatic with the flow while “Megatron.” goes for an industrial hip hop going at the asses of his competition.

The song “God, My Big Homie.” begins the final leg of LONERWRLD 2 talking about the Lord above being a good friend to him over the course of his entire life while “Runitup.” admits that something in his cups causing his words to slur a little. “Truth.” finishes the extended play with sampling soul music throwing some kicks & snares into the picture going on a mission for the team.

Assuming that we’ll get jev.’s sophomore effort in 2026, the continuation of LONERWRLD slickly takes both sounds that it’s predecessor employed couple years ago this month & substitutes the consciously abstract lyricism for secondary influences of neo-soul & trap in addition to experimenting with newer flows that he successfully tries out.

Score: 4/5

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WTM Scoob – “I’ll Neva Sell My Soul” review

Detroit, Michigan rapper WTM Scoob is back with his 9th EP. Formerly a member of the WRLD Tour Mafia, his solo career started in 2019 with his first few EPs Good Kid as well as When You Coming Home & A Beautiful Drug. Couple more EPs Euphoric Effects & Don’t Be Proud came out ahead of his acclaimed debut album I Went to Plu2o, which was later followed by his first couple mixtapes Scoob & Sydney Tour the World and Unreleased Wav alongside his last EP Big Heart Small World. Didn’t get the chance to cover his sophomore effort Peace of Me this summer, but the concept of I’ll Neva Sell My Soul grabbed me almost immediately.

“Lean” starts with an intro borrowing from the dirty south a bit talking about sippin’ codeine whereas “Scoob Fame” talks about these pussies & hoes being unable to take shit from him. “Kount Up” hazily advises against fixing shit for these lames since they’ve been broke all of his life leading into the “Feel the Love (Bristol Heartbreak)” instrumental interlude.

The song “Training Day” begins the final act of I’ll Neva Sell My Soul with a cloudy trap beat talking about how if it ain’t 1 thing, it’s another while “U” opens up regarding his blowup & having too much to lose. “Scoobyness” finishes the EP by talking about the habits he picked up from growing up in the habitat that he was raised in with his cup being so dark, he could be a black activist.

For an 18 minute EP recorded in 2020 sometime prior to WRLD Tour’s debut mixtape WRLD Tour Mafia or Die the succeeding summer, it would’ve felt fully complete if WTM Scoob had rapped on “Feel the Love (Bristol Heartbreak)” but either way he digs up a small handful of gems made around a time when the world was completely shut down making a promise on wax that he won’t ever sell out.

Score: 3.5/5

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