Brand new EP from Atlanta, Georgia rapper 9 Vicious preluding his upcoming 4th album Emotions. Breaking out in 2024 off his debut single “U Fancy”, he would go on to further introduce himself on B4SA & the full-length debut Studio Addict helped him gain more exposure to the point where Young Thug signed him to YSL Records after B4TM dropped & Tumblr Music wasn’t that bad of a debut for the label other than “Clout Demons”. B4FN & For Nothing have both become the best things he’s made since the YSL deal, dropping off B4EM to end January.
“Raging Love” produced by 406ahmad begins telling all these pussies to stop faking shit leading into Patrick Garza sampling “Work” by Rihanna featuring Drake on “RiRi” referencing the greatest QB of all-time Tom Brady. I respect him trying to a 2-parter with “More Painting” although the overly sexual themes doesn’t cut it for me but after “4Real” talks about loving money more than hoes immediately after, the highly anticipated “Racks Blue” interpolates the Future joint of the same name on top of an R8 instrumental.
Kicking off the 3rd quarter, “Listen Up Jews” ranks amongst the most awkward songs this guy’s ever made talking about becoming Jewish because his girl’s Jewish using more beat switches & “Fuck O.G.s” splits itself in halves again continuing the tiring themes of sex. “24hrs” samples “Straight from the Heart” by Con Funk Shun talking about his life never being the same he gives “Free Smoke” to his opps with Nosaint of Vanguard Music Group behind the boards, “Anal” ends with 1 last 2-parter comparing himself to the late Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious.
Squashing his beef with Tezzus & diamond* last month after when Thug made them the newest additions to the YSL roster this previous holiday season, 9 Vicious as always warms the modern trap underground up for Emotions within the next month or so except I didn’t enjoy B4EM as much as I did B4FN & B4TM or even B4SA. I’d still say the production is still the strongest focal point this guy’s music has going for it feeling more dynamic than usual, I just feel like he isn’t saying anything I haven’t heard already.
Atlanta, Georgia rapper/producer Zukenee is back with his 7th extended play. Starting in the spring of 2021 off his debut EP Undiscovered, he would continue to make a name for himself in the underground by putting out a couple more EPs in Castle & Playful alongside the debut mixtape Stop Playing last summer. Subsequent exclusive singles like “OJAYS” & “Chest” would later become amongst his best singles since both of them were released in the span of a year & a half preceding Player Slayer. Guillotine, Birth of St. Slay, Slaytanic, Knight Shift & Eye Love U have all continued to elevate his profile & he’s ending the 1st month of 2026 to drop Zuminati.
“Bait” produced by Cade starts with a fun trap intro talking about not going on Twitter because of incels on there trying to get a rise out of him whereas “Glock Backshots” featuring Sk8star finds the 2 teaming up for a cloudy gangsta rap crossover. “Rich Nigga” goes for a dirty south vibe talking about sleeping with a woman who’s already in a relationship with someone wealthy leading into the rage-inducing “ATL” representing the city that made him who he is today.
The 75 second “Ear Bleed” assures he’ll smoke anyone who makes a bad first impression over some 808s while “Lokey” brings some synths & bells in the fold telling this hoe he’s been seeing to keep their relationship low profile. “Up My Geek” dismisses those waving white flags when there’s smoke when they’re yelling of fires but after the synth-trap crossover “Pyramid” talks about his intents of scheming, “Suicide Note” finishes up by boasting of the exoticness of the weed he’s smoking & the whip he pulls up to the spot driving in.
We only have to wait & see how many more projects Zukenee plans on giving us within these next 11 months because I do remember him confirming that he has something in the works called Zudo fully produced by Cardo, but Zuminat might be the weakest thing he’s done so far although I’d call it average with more highs than lows as opposed to falsely dismissing it as trash. Although his performances may not be the issue, the production sounds a bit samey compared to his earlier output disappointingly.
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 a few days after Jetset Rodeo became the new AEW World Trios Champions.
“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 hours away from ジュリア becoming a 2-time WWE Women’s United States Champion.
“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ジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, 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ヘビー級チャンピオン 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ヘビー級チャンピオン, 2-time IWGPインターコンチネンタルチャンピオン, 3-time IWGP USヘビー級チャンピオン, 新日本プロレス世界TVチャンピオン, 3-time IWGPタッグチャンピオン, NEVER無差別級チャンピオン, NEVER無差別級6人タッグチャンピオン, GHCタッグチャンピオン, 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ヘビー級チャンピオン 竹下 幸之介 facing the current IWGPグローバルなヘビー級チャンピオン 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.
Legends Will Never Die 