Paris Texas – “They Left Me with a Gun” review

This is the 5th EP from Compton, California experimental hip hop duo Paris Texas. Consisting of Louie Pastel & Felix. These guys started to become popular several years ago after their first few EPs I’ll Get My Revenge in Hell alongside Boy Anonymous & Red Hand Akimbo. Their debut album Mid Air garnered co-signs from Ye formerly known as Kanye West & Tyler, The Creator with the latter having them open on his ongoing Chromakopia Tour. Their previous EP They Left Me with the Sword came out last weekend & are quickly putting out They Left Me with a Gun as a successor.

“Superstar” breaks the door off the hinges with this rap rock intro talking about the way they be living now that they’re becoming famous whereas “Twin Geeker” kinda gives me a Gorillaz vibe instrumentally talking about having everything you don’t because of you going idle. “Stripper Song” blends rap rock, post-punk revival & synth-punk for a refreshing strip club joint while “mudbone” maintains a synth-punk/hip hop vibe. “H A L O” asks to be let in out of desperateness & “No Strings” refuses to go back to their previous selves.

Keeping a prominently hardcore west coast hip hop vibe to the table, they completely ditch the trap undertones that were shown during the EP these guys put out last weekend so they can keep the experimental details in the picture & putting a bigger emphasis on the rap rock influences that made them so popular making up for it not being as prominent a week ago in addition to both synth-punk & post-punk revival.

Score: 4/5

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

Babystaydown – “Chief 13” review

Here is the 10th EP from Athens, Georgia rapper Babystaydown. Somebody who’s spent the last couple years on SoundCloud with all 9 of his previous EPs 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. Exactly a week after Pradabagshawty’s brand new EP B What You B, the Cegular crew isn’t wasting any time to drop Chief 13.

“Flyest & Highest” begins by flexing that he’s the dopest & the most stoned out of everyone in his vicinity over a cloudy trap instrumental whereas the pluggier “Perfect Timing” produced by Whyceg & SOULJASPIRITS talks about sending muhfuckas to the sky. “You Don’t Relate” cloudily asks how the fuck someone gonna push down since leaving’s forbidden while “Green Like Neon” featuring Pradabagshawty proves why we need a collab project from them.

Starting the 2nd half of Chief 13, we have Babystaydown going off the top for 2 & a half minutes during the synth-woven “Sun Up” talking about balling in a party with a Glock on him while “It’s Alright” suggests that one better keep their fight instead of going out sad. “Dirt Work” talks about being unconfident even after taking all the drugs he’s been on & “Need You Around” closes with him telling a woman how badly he desires to have her by his side.

Ever since Babystaydown signed to Cegular Records last fall, Whyceg has really done an outstanding job elevating him & Pradabagshawty because they’re already climbing the ranks in terms of becoming one of the most interesting plugg labels out currently. Things in the production department having been progressively strengthening for the Athens artist these past 5 months, which Chief 13 further exemplifies & the hungry gangsta lyrics.

Score: 4/5

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

Paradime – “L” review

This is the 2nd EP from Detroit emcee, producer, DJ & hype man Paradime. Discovered by WWE Hall of Famer Kid Rock in 1996 signing to Bobby’s very own Top Dog Records, he eventually made his full-length debut few years later with Paragraphs & the sophomore effort Vices in the fall of 2001 would go on to become his most celebrated body of work yet. Following 11 Steps Down & Spill at Will however, Dime returned by signing to Mello Music Group for his acclaimed 5th album Period. & is back again a year & a half later on L.

After the intro, the first song “Come Back” produced by Middle Finger Music in-house producer Blizzard jumps over this boom bap instrumental returning after he keeps leaving whereas “Whadda Life” soulfully looks back on the 5 decades of life he’s experienced. “So Long” chops up a soul sample thanks to Alpha Howse signee Astray paining him he never got to say goodbye to those who can’t be with us today while “The Sound of Music” enlists Cadillac Dale on the mic with him & Charlie Beans behind the boards to show y’all where the truth lives. “Old” ruggedly claps back at him being too old for this rap shit & “Deja Vu” has a reoccurring dream dabbling with trap.

Celebrating his 50th birthday back in November, the Detroit veteran comes off the most mature LP of his discography introducing himself as part of the Mello Music Group roster continuing to give us the grown man lyricism that was so prominent throughout Period. & getting even more personal than he did over a year ago already, except this time he reflects on his life experiences in the past 5 decades & further succeeding in his comeback mission as amongst the most underrated in the Motor City hip hop scene.

Score: 4/5

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

Elcamino – “Martyr’s Prayer III” review

Here we have the 19th EP from Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino. Blowing up in 2017 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 recently 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. 2 months later, he & 38 Spesh are back for Martyr’s Prayer III.

“Last Prayer” aggressively starts the Martyr’s Prayer trilogy chapter talking about everyone knowing the deal with him richer than a muhfucka whereas “Hustler Highway” reflects on being stuck in the streets all night as a way of getting by. “Animal Life” keeps it boom bap instrumentally to talk about rightfully earning his stripes staying on the grind his whole life while the drumless “Once in a While” seeing bitches acting like they know him & dudes acting like they homies.

Moving on from there, “Offend You” looks back on when he used to take the bus to get around town & now taking the Benz while “Mossberg Pump” aggressively talks about keeping the shotty on him standing on top of the hill staying in the hood. “Mobile Phone” featuring Benny the Butcher discusses making money feeling right to him while “JPay” talks about meeting him on the block with the AK over horns. “Shirley” soulfully shows off the long-ass sticks they carry & the closer “Babygirl” shows a romantic side to him.

Full Moon was easily the most daring EP that Elcamino has ever made & I appreciate him for taking the risks he did for it even though the music wasn’t for me personally, but Martyr’s Prayer III completes one of my favorite trilogies in his whole catalog with an entry that embodies everything that made it so memorable whether it be 38 Spesh’s consistent production reverting back to his signature sound as opposed to Full Moon’s trap-heavy direction & Camino himself giving better performances.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Paris Texas – “They Left Me with the Sword” review

Paris Texas is an experimental hip hop duo from Compton, California consisting of Louie Pastel & Felix. These guys started to become popular several years ago after their first few EPs I’ll Get My Revenge in Hell alongside Boy Anonymous & Red Hand Akimbo. Their debut album Mid Air garnered co-signs from Ye formerly known as Kanye West & Tyler, The Creator with the latter having them open on his ongoing Chromakopia Tour. Looking to capitalize on the tour, the duo’s dropping off their 4th EP.

After the “Sword” intro, the first song “Dogma 25” is this synth-trap opener ripping off the tops as it they’re the Fairly OddParents character Juandicimo Magnifico whereas “Red Eyes & Blue Hearts” works in a guitar to talk about the journey only beginning & not thinking right. “Tantrum” brings a rattling trap flare to the table responding to those who got them pissed off & after the Boyz II Men interlude, “Holy Spinal Fluid” produced by Kenny Beats vibrantly finds them looking to ante up.

“infinyte” was a great single fusing rap rock, west coast hip hop, spoken word, breakbeat & post-punk promising that shit won’t ever stop while “El Camino” hooks up a prominent bass-line laughing off all the dipshits who thought they wouldn’t make it to the position they’re currently in at this point in their careers applying heavy auto-tune on the hook charmingly breaking down the generational hunger burning within them.

Really ever since I’ll Get My Revenge in Hell almost 7 years ago, Paris Texas have earned comparisons to alternative rap groups like the recently disbanded Death Grips & clipping. who I’ve covered previously resulting in They Left Me with the Sword suggesting that they’re equally inspired by The Cool Kids when you really think about them channeling their retro-futuristic minimalism on a few cuts venturing further out of the rap rock/experimental hip hop realm that made a name for themselves.

Score: 4/5

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

RJ Payne – “The 3-Piece” review

Here we have the 13th EP New York emcee & revered battle rapper RJ Payne formerly known as Reign Man. Building up an extensive solo catalogue for himself with 23 mixtapes as well as well as his last dozen EPs & 4 full-length albums, Benny the Butcher even signed RJ to Black Soprano Family Records for a brief period of time & putting out some of best material like Leatherface & Square Root of a Kilo under Benny’s ever-growing indie label of his own. My Life’z a Movie produced by Stu Bangas quickly became my favorite LP in RJ’s discography & Enemy Soil Entertainment in-house producer C-Lance went on a trip with him to The Barbershop, looking to continue the acclaim by having Erick Sermon produce a 3-Piece.

After the “Warning” intro, the first song “Right Cross” featuring Erick Sermon himself is a boom bap opener with both of them dropping hardcore lyricism together for a little over 2 & a half minutes while “The Hook” suggests that everyone else should get on his level of penmanship & I’d have to agree with him on it. “The Uppercut” is a soulful closer to the EP talking about everyone else being unable to match him lyrically & being a businessman as opposed to simply an MC with true skill.

For only a 4-track EP running at a little over 8 & a half minutes, there’s quite a lot to unpack from it & continues the prolific run of output that RJ’s been on for the past couple of years or so. The Green Eyed Bandit fresh off producing the highlight “Don’t U Miss” off his protege Redman’s comeback album Muddy Waters 2 a couple months ago in a Christmas Eve miracle to give the Reign Man a few beats showcasing his signature style & for him to let off lyrical pressure in that short amount of time.

Score: 4.5/5

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

Brigid Bites – “Hot Honey” review

Here is the 3rd EP from Davenport, Iowa rapper & dancer Brigid Bites. Creating the juggalette burlesque troupe in 2017 called Juggalesque, they’ve have since become a drawing attraction at the Gathering since then with her eventually joining Chapter 17 Records CEO/Psychopathic Records recording artist Ouija Macc on stage quite a few times since. However, she made a pretty solid introduction into the music world with Hatchet Girl & Pumpkin Spice respectively. Coinciding with Juggalo Weekend wrapping up, she’s returning by serving Hot Honey almost 2 years since Hatchet Girl.

The title track made for a hip house intro talking about having what you need & others not handling her spicy heat whereas the rage-inducing “Reap Wut U Sow” featuring Kasuke finds the pair reminding us of karma’s legitimacy. “My Money” expresses the love she has for her bread & the affection money has for her while “Loved 2 Death” somberly tells her younger self she’ll fly one day. “Beat ‘Em” finally ends with a sample of the Riddle Box intro tackling the idiom “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em”.

Those wanting to get into Brigid Bites’ music are gonna wanna listen to Hatchet Girl & Pumpkin Spice since I still feel like both of them musically present her to us in peak form but nevertheless, it’s still exciting to hear the Daughter of the Wicked Shit coming back with a body of work after doing a couple guest appearances & releasing a single or 2 only a year earlier. Production-wise, the trap/electronic sounds of Hot Honey’s predecessors are being recaptured & she’s hooking the underground up with the flavor they need.

Score: 3.5/5

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

Pradabagshawty – “B What You B” review

Columbia, South Carolina born albeit Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Pradabagshawty releasing his 5th EP. Introducing himself in the spring of 2023 off Bloxk Addiktion, his popularity within the plugg subgenre of trap continued to grow last year by putting out 3 more EPs in 1 Love as well as his Cegular Records/Sony Music debut 10 Freak Ho’s & most recently Forever & After a few months back. That said: I personally wasn’t too familiar with him up until the beginning of this week gearing up for B What You B.

“Gfreak” starts with a plugg instrumental telling a hoe to not get offended after he passed on sleeping with her whereas “Brew Love” featuring yotti finds the 2 talking about their romantic interests having love for the alcohol. “Black N’ White” encourages everyone to watch the magic he can do with the stick he’s carrying that is until “Outta State” featuring Baby Auto & imsomarcus talks about them slammin’ along with them refusing to do half a pill & even airing out those who be cappin’

To get the EP’s other half going, “Tinder Date” hits the streets so hard where his whole entire body began shaking while “Cash Cow” talks about getting active from the east to the south. “P Wit Ha” maintains a plugg vibe discussing the fuck shit that comes across his line while “Heart 2 Heart” produced by WhyCeg talks about a woman wanting to have his son for the money. “AR Inna Trenchcoat” finishes the EP with a 9 Vicious solo song since Prada does the hook, which I don’t mind since I like Young Thug’s nephew artistically.

Really since catching up to Pradabagshawty’s music, Forever & After quickly became my favorite EP of his going into B What You B & the actual finished product right in front of us recaptures every quality that made it’s predecessor a standout in his discography & an exciting artist in the plugg scene to keep an eye on going forward. The production’s a more consistent than both its predecessors were & Prada’s nack for catchy songwriting reveals itself much like he did 10 months ago.

Score: 4/5

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

Skaiwater – “#mia” review

Skaiwater is a 24 year old rapper & producer from Nottingham, East Midlands, England, United Kingdom who began in 2019 off their debut EP After God Fear Eve. The 4ersona member would go on to put out 3 more EPs along with a mixtape & a couple of full-length studio LPs, the most notable being their sophomore effort #Gigi from last summer under GoodTalk Records & Capitol Records fully realizing on the potential that was shown on their earlier material. 7 months later, Skai’s looking to prelude their 3rd album with their 5th EP.

The intro “pop” brings together trap, pop rap, alternative R&B, rage, pluggnb & industrial hip hop telling their bae that they’ve been hustlin’ extra hard for her as of late whereas “feral” talks about being the one to find a reason to run away. “by the moon” expresses the fear of losing the woman they’ve seeing currently just before “wolf” featuring Rada talks about a chick who hasn’t slept in 4 days falling in love with the drugs they doing not even knowing either of their names.

“You don’t feel the same.” reaffirms the love they still has for this woman & suggesting she must think they’re a clown when they’re far from it just before “maria” addresses an individual with that very name wanting to own their heart. “ur song” is a tribute to their soulmate loving her for the way she is just before “manicinamerica” ends the the EP by confessing they’re far from sober wanting to hold Mia in their bleeding arms & asking if they can be a home to their partner.

Young Skai managed to push themself artistically back in June & they prelude the next LP in their disposal with what’s definitely the most I’ve enjoyed an EP from them. The production takes the UK hip hop sound & fuses it with pop rap, plugg, jerk, electropop, trap, alternative R&B, rage, pluggnb & industrial hip hop once more leveling up their pen-game like Skai did previously.

Score: 3.5/5

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

LaRussell – “Rent Paid” review

Vallejo, California emcee & the leader of the Good Compenny collective LaRussell linking up with Surf Club Inc. founder Hit-Boy once again to put out his 27th EP & the sequel to Rent Due. For the past 7 years, the man originally known under the moniker Tota has been steadily hustlin’ in the west coast underground by putting out over 2 dozen EPs along with 3 full-length albums & 7 mixtapes as of me writing this. The 1-year anniversary of Rent Due happens to be next weekend, so Hit-Boy’s getting back with him on Rent Due.

Lefty Gunplay joins LaRussell on the intro “I Thought I Told Y’all” to tell everyone listening that they can get it on their own & do everything in their raps over a west coast trap instrumental whereas “Let Me Know Sum” featuring E-40, Mistah F.A.B. & Richie Rich puts it down for both Vallejo & Oakland respectively. “Rollin’” featuring Malachi cloudily talks about shit being bigger than a moment to both of them, but then “50 Broke N****s” shows confidence of him not being one of the 50 broke people that’s in the room.

“Oprah” goes for a morbid trap atmosphere wanting to know who’s stopping everyone from being interviews from the OWN network majorily owned by Discovery Global while “Life of a Star” featuring Tierra doing a spoken word bit talks about how things been since his popularity is growing. “Mass Appeal” featuring Malachi & Michael Prince suggests they should’ve signed to Nas’ label of the same name while “Sacrifices” talks the things he had to give up to get to where he is today. “Leeches” featuring Malachi lastly ends the EP by discussing burning those type of people since you can’t fuck off them.

The mixed reception of Rent Due & Rent Paid are both pretty surprisingly to me since I enjoyed his features on DJ Drama’s 6th album I’m Really Like That, E-40’s previous album Rule of Thumb, Courtney Bell’s sophomore effort Microdose & Tech N9ne’s most recent Collabos joint C.o.S.M. (Class of Strange Music). The successor of Rent Due itself, I like more than the previous one whether it be the guests or Hit-Boy’s production & LaRussell’s own performances.

Score: 4/5

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