Sk8star – “Pale Fever” review

Atlanta, Georgia recording artist Sk8star with his 7th EP & the 3rd of this year. Getting his footing in the spring of 2021 off Superstar Status, he would go on to follow it up last year with both the B4NWØ EP & his debut mixtape New World Ørder respectively. The latter being my introduction to Sk8’s music after my lil brody UnreleasedSnip put me on, with songs like “Standin’ on Business” & “YSL Flow” being the standouts for me personally. Following his 3rd EP Mogul along with rebel at the beginning of 2023 & whole new meaning that same spring, Sk8 addressed the Rebel in the Room & continues the Rebelution by putting out Pale Fever.

“Pale Face” produced by Richie Souf blends trap & electronic together talking about being a Designer Junkie whereas “Confused” works in some pianos, organs & hi-hats to get so high that he’s unable to think clearly. “Rugby” gives off a bit of a luxury trap vibe talking about shit on the verge of getting ugly prior to 1300SAINT joining Sk8 on “Achoo” incorporating pianos & hi-hats to trade verses with one another.

Nosaint of Vanguard Music Group produces the highlight “Tycoon” feeling like he’s a magnate & spreading no hate towards anybody stickin’ to the plan of fuckin’ up these checks coming his way leading into “Fein” cloudy talking about dealing with his face to get to the place you want to go. “ForMyRealOnes” lastly rounds out Pale Feverwith a dedication to those who’ve been by his side through it all.

Couldn’t tell you exactly how many EPs we’re gonna be getting until Sk8star decides to put out his debut album Designer Junkie, but it’s quite impressive that most of Pale Fever channels the energy of “Sex” for almost 17 minutes. The detailed production mostly handled by Richie Souf captivates on the 2 bangers he produced a few months ago carrying it out on a majority of it’s successor & Sk8 lyrically gives a taste of what’s to come on his upcoming debut.

Score: 4/5

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The Doppelgangaz – “Still Left” review

This is the 12th EP from Orange County, New York duo The Doppelgangaz. Consisting of MCs/producers Matter ov Fact & EP, they’ve gone on to make waves in the underground by dropping a total of 8 full-length albums as well as 11 EPs & 6 beat tapes. Standouts include their breakout sophomore effort Lone Sharks, the follow-up Hark, their 5th album Dopp Hopp, Aaaaggghh, Black Cloak Lifestyle & Went Left. Been almost a couple years since the latter embarking on a west coast sound as opposed to their roots & they’ve decided to hit us with a sequel to it.

After the “JO VM” intro, the title track was a g-funk opener showing their love for the sunshine state once again whereas “All in Your Mind” works in a piano/boom bap instrumental talking about taking it all in stride. “Do It Like We” brings the funk influences back in the fold boasting that nobody can do shit on their level while “Would’ve Had a Hit” is a g-funk heavy stoner’s ballad. “Too Too Much” caps it all off with 1 final g-funk joint to play when you’re out in the weekends.

Continuing the G Pack saga in the 23 months since they initially Went Left, The Doppelgangaz once again shift away from the traditional boom bap style of the Groggy Pack Entertainment founders’ home turf in favor of drawing inspiration from the west coast scene once again embracing the g-funk production with ease & carrying over the original’s playful subject matter.

Score: 4/5

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Tha God Fahim – “The Dumplorian” review

Atlanta, Georgia emcee/producer Tha God Fahim recruiting Mr. Skip to produce his 63rd EP. Starting as an affiliate of Griselda Records & being 1/3 of the Dump Gawds alongside Mach-Hommy & Your Old Droog, we also can’t ignore the massive discography that he’s managed to build for himself, some of the standouts include Breaking Through tha Van Allen Belts & Dump Assassins. He’s been putting out amongst his best material in the past few years like the Camoflauge Monk-produced Dark Shogunn Assassin, the Nature Sounds-backed Iron Bull, the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King series, the Oh No-produced Berserko, the Mike Shabb-produced Dump Gawd: Rhyme Pays, Tha Supreme Hoarder of All Pristine Wealth, Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga produced by Cookin’ Soul & Machine Gun Vocabulary produced by Cartune Beatz. I don’t even have to mention the Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap saga since the season finale’s coming soon, becoming The Dumplorian this 4th of July.

“No Limit” was a funky choice of an intro advising to stop if you can’t find the rhythm whereas “Mayor” fuses chipmunk soul & boom bap dividing everything into proportions so the whole family can eat. “Temptations” has a lavishly drumless vibe to the beat talking about being afraid of staying the same while “Duck Season” shifts over into chipmunk soul turf again having too many reasons to be killing this many mics.

Continuing the lo-fi sampling, “Giant” talks about being an outcast for pretty much his whole life referencing the Nintendo-owned Super Smash Bros. franchise leading into “Dump Gawd Theme Music” jazzily flexing that his rhyme massacres tend to occur without any reasoning. “Bueller” featuring Mr. Skip himself closes the EP with a remix to their first ever collaboration that Skip breathed new life into.

The Lethal Weapon trilogy has primarily been serving as breathers in the midst of the Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap series & I can say the same with what Fahim does here on top of that. Mr. Skip approaches his production here like he’s a score using murky loops, soulful grit & cinematic energy front to back leaning towards that raw lo-fi aesthetic without sacrificing the musicality or message.

Score: 3.5/5

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Doggystyleeee – “Split Personality” review

This is the 5th EP from San Bernardino, California emcee Doggystyleeee. Coming up in the fall of 2019 off his full-length debut Into Somethin’, he would go on to put out his last 4 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 back 6 months later to detail his Split Personality.

“Product of the Westside” blends g-funk & boom bap together for the intro talking about being made by the west coast whereas “Outside” gives off a bit of a nervous vibe suggesting not to fuck around before he hits the store 20 deep. “Blue Bandana” gets back in his g-funk bag to talk about his time in the streets being a part of the Crips leading into “Go Dumb” featuring Zoe Osama carries the g-funk vibes over for a mild collab.

Getting the 2nd half underway, “I’m the Shit” brings some pianos in the fold for him to brag & clarify that he doesn’t fuck around while “Myself” smoothly talks about making it on own capable of doing things without anyone else’s help. “I Can’t” cooks up 1 more g-funk banger advising bitches shouldn’t be around since they’ll fuck bodies on the other side & “Sinner’s Reflection” ends with by talking about being surrounded by death, pain & suicide.

Wouldn’t have thought we’d get another EP with him & AC3Beats, but I still welcome it because the latter has had a hand inside making some of the most vital music in Doggystyleeee’s career & they whipped another brief project where they continue to elevate each other from the production displaying old & new sounds or the San Bernardino lyricist opening up in regards to having 2 different sides of himself.

Score: 4/5

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1300SAINT – “4” review

Atlanta, Georgia recording artist 1300SAINT dropping his 2nd EP only 48 hours in preparation for 9 Vicious’ upcoming 3rd album For Nothing. Known for staying out of the box with a versatile sound & style drawing in listeners from all walks of life painting pictures of all colors & shapes to create a true experience for his audience, the heavy 808 based instrumentals he lays his smooth vocals over on his full-length debut Noir makes you feel every song a little more than usual & lead to Young Thug signing him to YSL not too long after he came home last Halloween. All Hail marked his debut for the label & Saint Season a couple months later was a tight homage to his mentor, delivering a 4 pack coinciding the announcement of Saint having a verse on UY SCUTI.

“Charli XCX” opens the EP by giving a nod to the new Hardrock album Slimyfella even if I felt that it was more average compared to some of his previous stuff while “Life Jacket” talks about possibly drowning in the pussy & having a lot of clientele. “Pay for It” produced by 406ahmad could’ve had a longer verse although the bar at the end “Hopped in the double R & I call KanKan” was fire, but “Foreign Shit” featuring Yung Kayo & 9 Vicious finishes with the trio talking about their desire for foreign materials.

Only a couple EPs & an LP under his belt within 9 months of being under Thug’s wing 1300 shuts down those feeling like he’s fallen off by putting out mid all year by cooking up a couple dope trap songs where he’s by himself & then a couple collaborations with the very person YSL signed after him where a labelmate who’s been around since the beginning of this current decade joins them to reflect their respective eras coming together. Looking to be an interesting summer for the Young Stoner Life crew.

Score: 3.5/5

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72 Reezy – “Drop $hit Militia” review

72 Reezy is a 29 year old underground trap musician, model & influencer from Detroit, Michigan beginning to record music when he was only 6 & has become distinct in Detroit trap for his numerous flows. Garnering the attention of the city’s biggest groups in recent memory the ShittyBoyz, he would go on to become a member of their Dog $hit Militia collective signed to Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records & looks to drop his debut EP only a month alongside Beannskii’s sophomore effort Green Bean following MJPAID & Fordi’s own debut albums Paid Ponzi & Fordi Milligrams respectively.

“Thousandaire” hops over an ominous instrumental with some 808s flexing his bank account status being in the thousands whereas “GettinAtGang” talks about what he does whenever he’s not getting the paper. “Trenches News” featuring YBN Lil Bro fuses Detroit trap & dirty south bringing to you live from their hoods prior to “Cookin’ wit’ Kya” talking about people taking pictures with the same money.

To keep things rollin’, “Next Subject” goes for a psychedelic Detroit trap vibe boasting that he’s been getting money all his life with God as his witness while “Rack for Rack” featuring Babytron & Beannskii brings the D$M trio together trying to figure out who’s squad got the most bread stacked up. “Wish I Would” claps back at critics saying he sounds too much like Tron when they’re family & “3272” featuring 3200 Tre introduces us to a potential duo we could hear more of down the road.

“JBL” produced by Danny G lastly finishes up Drop $hit Militia by referencing the WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion & 17-time WWE Hardcore Champion himself recently appearing in the Endeavor owned TKO Group Holdings division WWE’s newly acquired Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) subsidiary a few weeks ago.

There hasn’t really been a whole lot of music at this point from 72 where I could judge him, but Drop $hit Militia in being his first EP will come off as simply inoffensive to those familiar with the Detroit trap style & a good introduction to the Dog $hit Militia member. Production feels like something you’d hear on a Babytron project in the most polite way imaginable, only 1 guest misses the landing & Reezy feels ready to take over the game with his squad.

Score: 3.5/5

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Big Herk – “Y’all Musta Forgot” review

Detroit, Michigan veteran Big Herk surprise-releasing a brand new EP. Known as a member of Rock Bottom, he would depart the group to form his own label Got’cha Back Entertainment following his full-length debut Guilty as Charged as well as the Still Guilty & Play Time’s Over mixtapes later on. He returned a decade after Guilty as Charged to drop his sophomore effort Overdose, coming back a dozen years later to make the streets remember who he is in case Y’all Musta Forgot.

“They Don’t Know” was a personal Detroit trap intro with a soulful hook talking about us having no idea what he’s been through in the past couple decades whereas “The Way That It Goes” produced by Helluva sticks out as my favorite track breaking down the hardships that come with the game. “Kenya” heavily samples “Brenda’s Got a Baby” by 2Pac to tell the story of a woman going by that name who ends up dead just before “Wut U Thought” featuring Devious leaves anyone who wants to fuck with them lined in chalk.

To begin the final leg of Y’all Musta Forgot, the song “Alright” chops up a soul sample to spin the block on a beautiful day staying optimistic of everything working itself out leading into J-Nutty linking with Herk on “Da Plug” fuses Detroit trap & synth-funk together so both parties can reflect on their days in the streets slangin’ dope. “Hold On” featuring Baby Herk, Knine Millie & Young Herk finishes the EP with the a family affair promising that you can live your dreams too as long as you keep it together.

Best remembered for collaborations with the likes of Slum Village to Obie Trice & Esham, the Got’cha Back Entertainment founder makes a comeback improving on the modern Detroit trap sound that Big Herk went for on Overdose compared to his older solo material & of course everything he put out during the Rock Bottom days. A noteworthy detail regarding the closer is that Herk has a collab tape coming out with his son this fall called The Bloodline, coinciding with Solo Sikoa dethroning Jacob Fatu to become the new WWE United States Champion this past weekend.

Score: 3.5/5

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King Combs – “Never Stop” review

King Combs is a 27 year old rapper & singer/songwriter from New York notable for the being the son of disgraced Bad Boy Entertainment founder, Sean John founder, Cîroc brand ambassador, Revolt founder & music industry mogul Puff Daddy a.k.a. P. Diddy or Diddy and the late Kim Porter. His debut mixtape 90’s Baby as well as his first couple EPs Cyncerely, C3 & C3 were all released either moderately or negatively, but Ye formerly known as Kanye West has decided to solely produce C3’s newest EP in the midst of Diddy’s ongoing trial coming to a close.

“Lonely Roads Still Go to Sunshine” produced by Ye, The Legendary Traxster & Mario Winans was teased on Twitter way back in March & one that Ye’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian had every right being mad at over their daughter North West appearing on the bridge regardless off The Hobbit’s weird relationship with a Tesla robot now whereas “Kim” remembers his mother over a chipmunk soul instrumental.

Ye actually appears on “People Like Me” chopping up a soul sample & throwing some hi-hats over it so he & King Combs can talk about needing people like them when one of them is a self-professed Nazi, but then “Diddy Free” unsurprisingly survived the In a Perfect World sessions by making it’s way onto this EP & King Combs not doing the beat any better than the man who made it did himself.

The song “Repeat Me” heavily builds itself around a slowed down sample of “Slauson Ave” by Karri subtly saying that this is his way of doing house compared compared to what Drake went with on Honestly, Nevermind ruined by the poor pop rap lyrics while “The List” makes it even worse with the “suck a n***a cock ’til I’m cockless” line. Finally, the closing track “Souls” butchers a chipmunk soul instrumental with repetitively annoying pop rap bars.

For all the hate Nasir for being rushed, at least an off-beat Nas was a far more interesting MC on there how King Combs sounds on Never Stop. I’ll play devil’s advocate & give him credit for actually writes his own lyrics unlike his father’s storied history with ghostwriters, although him getting the same treatment as everyone involved in the 2018 Wyoming sessions feels like a downgrade when you think of Ye’s production being wasted this way.

Score: 1.5/5

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FlyG – “MENNBLVCK” review

FlyG is a 40 year old MC of Nigerian descent based out of the Washington metropolitan area properly introducing himself to the underground last spring off his debut EP Soulful Journey. He just had SPCL_CHRCTRS fully produce his previous EP Serenade Symphony at the end of February, looking to enlist rising French producer Drega33 for his 3rd EP coming off RJ Payne’s most recent EP Triangle D’Or & who could forget the Lethal Weapon trilogy of EPs that Tha God Fahim has been dumpin’ to serve as a breather for his ongoing Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap saga?

“FRNCHCNNXN” hooks up a drumless chipmunk soul instrumental referring to this moment as the final bout with no referee in sight whereas “J@DED” chops up another vocal sample talking about No Limit Records founder Master P being his favorite hustler growing up. “POWERSTONE” takes a jazzier route instrumentally to talk about kickin’ his rhymes until the final hour of his life runs out until “DIVINE ENERGY CH@RGE” talks about those running their franchises worse than Dan Snyder.

Reaching the halfway point, “RXGHTEOUS LXRD” gets back on the chipmunk soul tip keeping the party pumpin’ sans Joe Budden while “REMAIN HE@LTHY” soulfully talks about the winning streak he’s been on. “ACTIV@TED” jazzily reflects on going from looking at the stars to owning many cars after paying the cost to be the boss leading into “DOUBLE DR@GON” figuring out the price of living in tranquility. “I’m Leaving” appropriately finishes with G bouncing out after witnessing a failed attempt it getting it right.

Of the 3 EPs in the FlyG canon & a 4th one produced by SPCL_CHRCTRS called HRLM Heat coming out soon following some delays, I’m fairly confident in MENNBLVCK satisfying fans of the Lethal Weapon trilogy & Triangle D’Or who’re simultaneously looking for a new artist to broaden their musical horizons. The largely drumless sound that Drega33 became known for on the original Lethal Weapon a few months ago & that previously mentioned EP from the Reign Man carries itself over to the flyest’s direction to unleash his hunger.

Score: 4/5

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Chetta – “Mix with Poison” review

This is the 22nd EP from New Orleans, Louisiana emcee/producer Chetta. Starting out a decade ago with his debut mixtape Nino White, this was followed up with 18 EPs as well as 11 more tapes & a full-length debut, but gained significant attention off his G*59 Record$ debut Been Here Forever a couple summers back. Falling Off went on to be an equally dope prelude to the previous album Playboy, which also maintained the level of consistency as those previous projects since signing to G*59 as did Sick Bitch. $crim of the $uicideboy$ produced Sacrifice & Sabotage last spring & is back 7 months after Can’t Replace Me to release Mix with Poison.

“I Guess This is Where I’m Supposed to Apologize” was a self-produced rage intro co-produced by Dynox talking about never folding whereas “Sobe” keeps things in the hypertrap lane to discuss his old self being dead. “Fail on My Own” pulls inspiration from the Memphis scene being too high to give a fuck just before “Come Down Feel the Love” enraging airs out a how’s true intentions with him. “Flat Earth” finally closes Mix with Poison getting on his emo rap shit falling into Hell & hanging on until he feels numb.

Earlier this week, it was announced by G*59 that the first artist they ever signed Ramirez was departing to focus on starting his new label Velvet Note Records & Mix with Poison carries forward a new era for the independent southern hip hop/trap powerhouse by whipping up an EP ahead of their annual Grey Day Tour starting 6 weeks from now by writing & fully producing 5 new songs that I prefer more than Can’t Replace Me.

Score: 4/5

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