Giffy Pluggo – “Luxury Manifesto” review

Chicago, Illinois emcee & ATIP Records founder Giffy Pluggo dropping his 3rd EP ahead of the Douda reissue. Emerging a couple years ago off his debut mixtape Paid Leave & it’s sequel last summer, he put out an expanded version of his debut album Los Pluggos several months ago followed by Pluggo’s Birthday & Douda respectively. The latter mostly produced by Myles becoming the most beloved entry in his discography thus far, coming back after a few months for a Luxury Manifesto.

The title track produced by Scott Storch will arguably surpass “Casino” in being his biggest hit from the exuberantly cloudy instrumental to the lyrics about having the winning head whereas “Long Distance” featuring Global blends cloud rap & jazz rap taking on more romantic topics. “Livin’ Life” brings a soulful trap vibe to the table expressing gratitude for being in his current position until “Smoke & Stack” featuring BSF Tone 066 pleas for their homies who took risks to come home from the penitentiaries.

Shifting focus away from the conceptual Douda this spring letting the world inside of Giffy Pluggo’s personal life, Luxury Manifesto turns the pressure up for the midwestern Black Soprano Family affiliate to state his aims of fortune ditching the predecessor’s balancing between boom bap & trap in terms of production opting in favor of ditching that traditional east coast sound in favor cloud rap along with jazz rap & chipmunk soul.

Score: 3/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Weiland – “Fall from Grace (When is Enough, Enough?)” review

Tampa, Florida rapper, singer/songwriter, producer & audio engineer Weiland releasing his 2nd EP of the year & the 4th in his discography altogether. Coming up almost a decade ago off his debut EP Insomnia, his first couple mixtapes Packrunner & Grimey Life resulted in Victor Victor Worldwide signing him for the synthpop inspired Vices to high acclaim. You Can’t Climb the Mountain in N.Y. came out a couple months ago to warm reception & Fall from Grace looks to up the ante.

“Crash” was a 55 second synthpop, hypnagogic pop & coldwave intro suggesting not to blame self justice when we live in this world whereas “The Man Who Last the War” could be my favorite on the EP singing about heartbreak. “Let’s Go to Bed” feels reminiscent to some 80s new wave synthpop with a more lo-fi approach to it while “She’s Got a Gun” ahead of “The Lovefix Purpose” outro finds himself having nowhere to run from a woman who didn’t mean to claim her love.

Fall from Grace carries over almost every sound that we heard throughout You Can’t Climb the Mountain in N.Y. except for the neo-psychedelic undertones taking a darker turn regarding the songwriting portraying himself as an individual trying to make sure everything in his life is in order & searching for purpose in the disorderly conduct. People have all felt lost, tired or broken at a point or 2 in their lives & those themes can heavily relate to many of us continuing to find a reason to move forward.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Brothers of Chaos – Self-Titled review

The Brothers of Chaos are a west coast horrorcore duo from California consisting of San Jose emcee Chuckklez as well as Simi Valley singer/songwriter, rapper, producer, bassist, guitarist, audio engineer & music manager Freakshow. We recently got Chuckklez’ sophomore effort debut Horrors from the Unstable produced by DJ Ill Sprite this past winter, although it marked his debut for Lyrikal Snuff Productionz. However, he’s secured a separate label deal for him & Freakshow to properly introduce themselves to the Gore Hop universe with a debut EP in preparation of an upcoming tour run.

“Chaos” produced by Freakshow begins with a wicked rap rock intro talking about playing with an evil seance whereas “Sick Minds Think Alike” takes the boom bap route thanks to Zombie Aristocrats looking to leave corpses rotting in the sun. “Sonz of Darkness” samples “Fear No Evil” by Gimisum Family & Hollow Poynt displaying a back-&-forth chemistry while “STFU” featuring Bloody Ruckus sends a message to those who don’t know when to shut up. “Wanna Play a Game” references the Saw franchise & “Wicked Days” featuring Madopelli finishes with a west coast horrorcore heater that M.A.D. laced himself.

Chuckklez has already told The Gorefather himself Scum that he’d rather be a solo artist, but he wouldn’t mind being a part of a group depending on the person or people & how connected he is to them. The inaugural extended play from the Brothers of Chaos gives the underground wicked shit scene a glimpse of his magical chemistry with Freakshow, which has me hoping they’ll do an entire album down the line honing in on the standout beats now that the San Jose artist has been having more fun with his partner-in-rhyme than being by himself.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Yves! – “R.O.T.Y. (Rookie of the Year)” review

Houston, Texas rapper Yves! releasing his 15th EP a month succeeding the prelude. In almost 3 years, the last dozen of EPs under his name have all caught the attention of underground trap whether it be the Om. series & the Avarice. series or 4DaKash & Welcome to the Palace. Marking his 4th EP of 2025 alone, R.O.T.Y. (Rookie of the Year) looks to expand on what he went for on B4 R.O.T.Y. (Rookie of the Year) merely 4 weeks ago by serving up the main event with some notable production credits.

“1 of 1.” starts with a cloudy pop rap trap intro clocking at 115 seconds telling his girl to get her hands on her knees whereas the tropical “3am Thoughts.” talks about what goes through his mind in the early hours of the day. “Love.” produced by Cxdy of Internet Money Records giving props to Destroy Lonely’s last album Love Lasts Forever leading into the rage inducing “Sexy.” talking about his chick loving his vibe.

Cxdy gets back behind the boards for “Giuseppe.” referencing the Italian luxury footwear & fashion designer Giuseppe Zanotti just before “Drunk in Luv.” experiments with trap, rap rock & pop rap asking what happened between him & this woman whose final words to him were “replace me” prior to getting drunk in the car. Rio Leyva & Vendr cook up the playfully cloud rap/trap outro “10s.” wanting to know why this person he needs by his side hasn’t been around.

Looking to take over the game, R.O.T.Y. (Rookie of the Year) feels unlike anything else Yves! has done previously achieving his desire of making waves artistically. The production has a little bit of something for everybody from rage to hyperpop, cloud rap, experimental hip hop, trap, pop rap & rap rock taking a more serious approach to his delivery & songwriting on top of it in the midst of his booming popularity.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

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

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

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

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

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

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

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

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

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

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

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 WME Group 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

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!