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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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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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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ScarLip – “Scarred B4 Fame” review

ScarLip is a 24 year old rapper & producer from Brooklyn, New York signing to Epic Records following the single “This is New York”. I on the other hand wasn’t introduced to her until she appeared on “Take ‘Em Out” off the Hip Hop 50, Vol. 2 EP that Swizz Beatz produced a couple years ago & began seeing the appeal in her music once “Blick” came out weeks after a couple of her fans were messaging me on social media last summer. To get THIS summer started, the Broken Child Entertainment founder’s preluding her debut album with a debut EP.

I didn’t mind “Pop That” featuring Lil Wayne as an intro bringing both of them together over a Rockwilder & Swizz Beatz instrumental to remind where you can find them if you need some weight whereas “Melanin” angrily talks about beefing with ghostwriters instead of other rappers. “Eastside” fuses trap & soul advising not to call her since she don’t need anyone leading into the mediocre New York drill collab “Fruity Pebbles” featuring TaTa.

“Could’ve Been Me” featuring Skilla Baby begins the final moments of Scarred B4 Fame with both of them keeping guns by their side asking what the plan is but after “Runaway Love” freestyles over the instrumental of the Ludacris track of the same name from Release Therapy, “Lord Please” sends off the EP fusing trap & gospel asking God to be easy on her.

Haven’t really consider myself the biggest fan of the New York drill scene other than the late Pop Smoke & right when I thought that subgenre was starting to fade out because nobody has really carried the torch since, hearing ScarLip for the past couple years had me hoping that she would capitalize on her potential with this EP & the results are mixed. I can certainly say the hunger’s there in her verses, although most of the guests’ performances & some of the instrumentals are 2 of the biggest criticisms I have with it.

Score: 2.5/5

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Dave East & Young Chris – “Fine Dining” review

Brand new collaborative EP between Harlem, New York emcee Dave East as well as Philadelphia, Pennsylvania emcee Young Chris. The latter of whom gained notoriety as part of the State Property subgroup Young Gunz & the other broke out by landing a spot in the iconic 2016 XXL Freshman Class almost a decade ago. Both of these guys have collaborated with each other a couple times in the past & only 4 months after the From the Dirt Records founder linked with Ransom on The Final Call, he & Chris are going out for some Fine Dining.

“Pablo & Gunner” was a great single in my opinion from the back-&-forth delivery both parties employ to the boom bap instrumental whereas “Gemstars & Baggies” fuses jazz & trap together so they can talk about wanting to catch Ws as a way of rebounding from all the Ls they’ve previously took. “Kiss the Sky” takes it back to the basement representing a city where the skinny ones ride leading into “Ain’t Adding Up” airs out everyone who ain’t doing the math.

Elcamino provides the hook on the smooth pop rap cut “She’s Choosing” talking about getting high with women & having them lay on their chests while “We Won’t Stop” gets on the soulful boom bap tip once again refusing to pump the brakes & keep putting it on for their home state. “10 Toes Down” finds the pair needing a gallon of water each since the rap game so dry & “Get That $” dustily finishes with both of them chasing the paper.

Dave’s really been stepping it up with the collaborative projects this year because if you come to find yourself enjoying Fine Dining more than The Final Call, I wouldn’t even complain since Young Chris’ pen has always been as sharp as Peedi Crakk’s probably would’ve gotten a solo album on Roc-A-Fella Records after Prince of the Roc had the label not imploded on itself due to Dame Dash’s ego. You get more versatile production pulling from boom bap, jazz rap, trap & pop rap as opposed to the drumless chipmunk soul direction of The Final Call & both of them hone in on their chemistry together.

Score: 3.5/5

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Samara Cyn – “Backroads” review

Samara Cyn is a 26 year old rapper & singer from Murfreesboro, Tennessee beginning her career in 2019 after writing her first song. However, it wasn’t until last fall where her debut EP The Drive Home began to turn heads and catch people’s attention because of the way she fused alternative hip hop with neo-soul. She’s been landing features on Ray Vaughn’s most recent mixtape The Good, The Bad, The $1 Menu preceding his beef with Joey Bada$$ the following month as well as the new ovrkast. album While the Iron’s Hot a few weeks ago, coming off the latter with her 2nd EP.

“Summer’s Turning” was a woozy intro finding herself sweating often because she feels like the jig is up whereas “Pop n Olive” featuring Sherwyn takes a cloudy boom bap approach instrumentally trading verses back-&-forth about killing people. “hardheaded” offers a funkier vibe to the beat confronting society in 2025 & after the cloudy yet relatable “Bad Brain” talks about facing the anxieties & distractions of life, “Brand New Teeth” featuring Smino wraps up the EP with both of them talking about delusional pressure.

Receiving co-signs from Doechii & even Lauryn Hill bringing her out on stage after she started her set late like always, Samara faces the parts of herself she’s been denying & confronting them well enough to make a Drive Home follow-up that makes her realize her potential even more than she did 8 months ago taking a path to success that’s been rarely traveled. She’s hungrier than she was back in October & if she keeps purifying the style that made her popular to begin with, her full-length studio debut will only leave a mark on the industry bigger than this moment.

Score: 4/5

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Dro Kenji – “The End of Nothing” review

Dro Kenji is a 22 year old rapper, singer/songwriter & producer from Summerville, South Carolina signing to both Internet Money Records & 10K Projects not even 365 days after he began making music. He has since put out 7 full-length studio LPs along with an EP & a mixtape, the latter of which being his most recent body of work coinciding with Valentine’s Day departing from the emo pop rap style he’s known for in favor of rage. 4 months later, he’s preluding his 8th album with his 2nd EP & the 2nd body of work from him in 2025.

“Pinnochio” kicks off The End of Nothing with a moody pop rap/trap intro wanting his bae at 2am & telling her how much she inspires him whereas “Tylenol” moodily talks about his drug addiction helping him. “Way Back in August” works in some acoustics from Census, Nico Baran & Niketaz asking why he & his ex keep crossing paths when his life’s goin’ the hardest while the woozy “Rude Girl” finds himself obsessed with that exact type of woman. Lastly, the acoustic trap closer “Unstoppable” caps off the EP by telling an ex who constantly lies to get away from him.

The stylistic departure of Love Kills left a handful of Dro Kenji’s fans divided on it but thankfully if you’re one of those people who missed hearing him over the emo rap sound he came up off of mixed with pop rap & trap, you’re most likely gonna come away from The End of Nothing looking at it is the most enjoyable thing he’s done since Wish You Were Here & it may even raise your expectations for his next album. Even if that tape was a passable experimentation from my perspective, it’s always great to hear artists get back to the basics of what got them this far in the game & he does it with ease.

Score: 3.5/5

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3200 Tre – “Spin the Block” review

This is the 13th EP from Lansing, Michigan rapper 3200 Tre. Introducing himself on wax during the fall of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic had completely shut the world down, he has since built up his last dozen EPs along with the full-length debut Michigan Music & of course the sophomore effort 30ville all during the first half of this ongoing decade. Signing to Rio da Yung O.G.’s very own EMPIRE Distribution imprint M.I.N.E. Entertainment last summer however, Tre’s ready to Spin the Block only a couple months since 30ville.

“Mindset” hooks up a piano-based Detroit trap instrumental referencing the Warner Bros.-owned Mortal Kombat franchise & talking about becoming his niece’s backup after her dad was tragically taken too soon whereas “No Attention” expresses his love for bustin’ bricks to serve crackheads. “1 Man Army” blends these keys & 808s together talking about the off topic shit he says being sidebars until “Sound of Love” flips some strings to detail his love for hearing CashApp notifications.

The song “Mix It Up” incorporates a Detroit trap beat with prominent bass & pianos occasional talking about his preference of standing on shit because he’s a grown ass man while “Bigger Goals” discusses the importance of making his kids rich because of his heart being broken as it already is. “Navy Seal” ends the EP by hopping over a bell-woven Detroit trap instrumental talking about liking fiends because they helped him change is life.

Not even a month after his latest album, 3200 Tre continues this personal comeback he’s been on since January with what could possibly be my favorite of the 4 projects he’s done since Rio made him a part of the M.I.N.E roster & serving as another example of why he’s one of the hardest working artists in the city today. He’s carrying the verses by himself rather than having a few guests with him, which I’m fine with since it makes more room for him to get wittier with the pen than he has previously.

Score: 3.5/5

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EsDeeKid – “Rebel” review

This is the debut extended play from Liverpool, Merseyside, England, United Kingdom rapper EsDeeKid. Making his debut on wax towards the backend 2023 on the Dualspines loosie “Altered”, he subsequently began to drop a slew of songs on his SoundCloud a few months later that would help him gain traction such as “Apathy” or “Palaces”. A great deal of the teasers building up towards Rebel have been considered to be his most celebrated material & had myself curious to hear if it would live up to the hype only 48 hours away from Nino Bryant becoming the new RPW British Cruiserweight Champion.

“4 Raws” featuring Timothée Chalamet on the remix combines hardcore hip hop, trap, Chicago drill, gangsta rap, cloud rap & wave talking about their own pasts whereas “Cali Man” featuring Rico Ace embraces the styles of jerk, gangsta rap & cloud rap discussing their preference of high quality weed. “Prague” works in some 808s to talk about leaving a show at the Czech Republic’s capital leading into “Dirty” expressing his love of sippin’ lean.

fakemink & Rico Ace appear on “LV Sandals” fusing jerk, cloud rap, gangsta rap & hardcore hip hop talking about hoes acting scandalous while “Panic” produced by Fimiguerrero explains that he won’t ever stop the racket since he’s always been a mad kid. Fimiguerrero himself gets his own solo track with “5am”, continuing the 2nd half blending jerk, cloud rap & rage referencing WWE Hall of Famer & former World Heavyweight Champion The Great Khali.

“Phantom” featuring Rico Ace reunites for a jerk, hardcore hip hop, dark plugg, cloud rap & gangsta rap single talking about being blacked out while “Mist” also featuring Rico Ace finds the 2 teaming up 1 last time for a cloudy jerk joint detailing their lifestyles. “Rottweiler” could most likely be my least favorite track here mostly because of its structuring while “Tartan” featuring Fimiguerrero references the current 17-time WWE world champion John Cena.

Jerk has been becoming hip hop’s next big subgenre within the past couple years characterized by taking elements of both plugg & the late 2000s jerk rap fad during my early middle school days, but Rebel has to be the greatest body of work I’ve heard done primarily using this new style for only being an EP on top of validating EsDeeKid’s increasing popularity across the world. He’s essentially flipping UK grime on its head through the added influences of both Playboi Carti & Yeat to the mix describing the debauchery in his life.

Score: 4/5

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