King Kong Bundyy – “Tales from Castle” review

This is the 3rd EP from Spring Valley, New York emcee King Kong Bundyy. Originally starting off under the moniker G-Field, he would put out 2 mixtapes Street Credibility & Bail Money before Benny the Butcher signed him to his ever-growing indie label Black Soprano Family Records for his 2019 debut EP Living Life Bundyy. A follow-up EP The Lost Files happened to be unearthed by B$F last Black Friday & now that the 1-year anniversary of the predecessor coming next month, Bundyy’s returning a week after the 4th quarter of 2024 began so he can tell some Tales from Castle.

After the “Heavyweight” intro, the “Where Was You At?“ remix featuring Funch the Camden Kid truly starts the EP with both artists over a piano-trap beat talking about almost giving up wanting to know where the homies were at their lowest whereas “Do or Die” featuring SuperChilly takes a cloudier approach instrumentally asking nothing more than trust. “Gotta Get Mine” works in a soulful boom bap beat to put his life on the line taking risks while “Mozart’s Keys” grittily talks staying in the trap since it doesn’t get boring. “Kan’t Sleep” ends the Tales from Castle soulfully discussing being unable to sleep these days.

Living Life Bundyy & The Lost Files are both good places to start for any B$F fan who has yet to familiarize themselves with King Kong Bundyy, but I’d recommend Tales from Castle since you get a better idea as to who he is & where he comes from in to addition to him artistically himself to a new level. Even if both of the features are ok, the Spring Valley artist gives the listeners a glimpse of the personal experiences that’s he’s had on Castle Avenue with the production healthily balancing the boom bap & trap sounds.

Score: 3.5/5

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DJ Chunk – “Soul Spill” review

DJ Chunk is 31 year old DJ & producer from Utah notable for being the tour DJ for Ouija Macc & an in-house producer for the Psychopathic Records subsidiary Chapter 17 Records. He even has a couple solo EPs under his belt in the form of the Vinyl Days duology & most notably did a collab EP with C17/PSY in-house producer Devereaux at the Gathering of Dreams called Another Day in Hell, which I was very favorable towards. But when his 3rd EP was announced last weekend, I wanted to give it a listen.

“Official Redrum” starts us off with the C17 DJ showing us his skills on the turntables over a trap instrumental from Deadboy Grim who did the entire EP whereas “City on Fire” provides a slower, more morbid atmosphere to the beat looking to burn the entire town to the ground. The instrumental on “Don’t Make Threats” has this cloudy trap vibe that I like to it a lot allowing DJ Chunk himself to continually kill it with the scratches while “Imma Break It” looking to break it down for the slow muhfuckas with solemn trap production & Chunk’s wheelz of steel. “Don’t Need Nobody Else” ends the EP on some mystical trap shit & impressively scratching vocal samples 1 more time.

I’ve already reviewed a handful of beat tapes in the past, but I’ve never actually covered a turntablism project before up until this point although I absolutely loved The X-Ecutioners. Now in regards to Soul Spill here, DJ Chunk is basically continuing what we’ve seen from him in the past on both Vinyl Days EPs showing off his dope techniques on the 1s & 2s in time for Hallowicked season with Deadboy Grim’s production here resulting in being on par with what Mythic Mindz consisting of Chapter 17/Psychopathic Records in-house producers Devereaux & Shaggytheairhead have laid out for him the past.

Score: 3.5/5

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CunninLynguists – “The Heartstring Theory” review

Lexington, Kentucky underground veterans the CunninLynguists returning 7 years after their 6th studio album Rose Azura Njano to drop a brand new EP of material through Old Soul Music. Consisting of Deacon the Villain as well as Natti & Kno, the trio have had several classics under their belt for over 2 decades including their full-length debut Will Rap for Food or more specifically their 3rd LP A Piece of Strange & the follow-up Dirty Acres. And with L’Orange’s newly formed indie label gradually growing in the past year or so, The Heartstring Theory was certain to be a welcoming debut for the trio.

“Forever” is synth-driven boom bap opener to the EP with the trio Finding Forever similarly to how Common did 17 years back whereas “When Your World Falls Apart” hooks up some jazz rap influences talking about doing what you can do it seems like everything’s starting to crash down on you acknowledging that it isn’t an easy thing got some. “Fading (Clock Struck 5)” starts the 2nd leg of the EP with a groovy instrumental finding them addressing their romantic interests & “Wasted (Cloud 92)” featuring Kelly Moonstone ends on the soulful boom bap tip talking about being really fucked up with their boos.

These guys have maintained a tightly stellar discography in the span of 24 years & even when they take 6-7 years off like they did when you look at the time gap between their last couple projects, they still keep giving great results. Kno’s production other than throwing some synthesizers in the equation to get the gears turning brings together elements of boom bap, jazz rap & soul music tackling themes of romance adding a hint of conscious in too.

Score: 4/5

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Stretch Money – “The Old Me” review

This is the 12th EP from Detroit, Michigan emcee Detroit, Michigan emcee Stretch Money. Emerging in the fall of 2006 off his full-length debut album Take Money to Make Money, he would go on to put out 3 more LPs with 25 Miles Per Hour as well as Locked In & Lil Daran from da Way Way. His output of EPs consists of The Villain, The Tribute, The Drunken Master, The Real Money, the Upper Echelon: Legend of the Silver Surfa duology, Giant, Eastside Lord & the previously mentioned 1984. Stretch also formed the duo Bill & Isiah with Valid, introducing themselves a year ago on their eponymous debut paying homage to the 80s in the process. Coming off To the West Coast…with Love & the other half of 1984 however, he’s taking it back to The Old Me.

“Big Daran” is this Detroit trap opener talking about fucking up the game for a minute now & calling it lightwork whereas “The Rapper” works in some sinister keys & 808s teaching y’all that you can get it too if you play your role & know your position. “Watch Me Get It” brings an eerie Detroit trap flare instrumentally to talk about these bitches sitting back & observing Stretch’s success continuing while “Blood, Sweat & Tears” atmospherically refuses to wait for his blessings to come. “Sadly Mistaken” maintains the Motor City’s unique take on trap music addressing themes of betrayal & lastly, “Not Them” spaciously ends the EP brushing off being anything like his competition.

To the West Coast…with Love earlier this spring was a short but great homage to the city of Los Angeles & as one would expect on The Old Me, we have Stretch Money taking it back to his roots to the point where I actually found myself enjoying this a lot more than the EP of his I previously covered a little over 5 months ago already. The west coast vibes from April within the production are completely thrown out the window in favor of the upbeat 808 percussion that makes Detroit trap stand out for 15 minutes, taking the opportunity to reflect on his past & mix it with where he’s at today.

Score: 4/5

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Elcamino – “Millionaire” review

Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino staying busy with his 3rd EP of 2024 & the 17th of his discography overall. 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 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, Meech looking to start the final quarter of the year flexing his Millionaire status.

“Money Mayweather” featuring Estee Nack sets the tone of what’s to come with it’s luxurious boom bap instrumental & the lyrics tryna cause a head-on rainstorm whereas “Chill Lord” kinda gives off a psychedelically dusty vibe feeling more like an actual song rather than an interlude talking about your whole entire style being animated. “Paid in Full” featuring Estee Nack works in some vibraphone sampling mixed with kicks & snares admitting at least 10 people in the Griselda camp have become rich prior to “Gambino Family” featuring Estee Nack hopping over a classy beat looking to do big business.

Starting the final leg of the EP, “The Gold Elephant” returns to the boom bap with more of a soulful flare letting y’all know that this rap shit can do you right since he ended up eating after several years of negligence while the beat on “Maybach Muzik” most definitely feels inspired by Rick Ross allowing Elcamino to talk about having a hunger for more ever since he was a youngin’. “Wu Level” finishes Millionaire on a drumless note with it’s crooning sample & discussing not being structured to be mad at one’s personal decisions.

Camino’s been teasing Millionaire for the past 3 weeks or so & only a month after Built for Cuban Links, I do hear some improvement from him compared to the EP that he gave us back in September although I did very much enjoy it & could be my 2nd favorite EP of the 3 that we’ve gotten from him behind The Game is the Game. The production continues to balance boom bap & drumless so Elcamino can portray the gangsta lifestyle for only 16 minutes.

Score: 3.5/5

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Ritchie with a T – “Quiet Warp Xpress” review

This is the debut solo EP from Phoenix, Arizona emcee Ritchie with a T. Emerging as 1/3 of Injury Reserve, the trio would release 3 mixtapes alongside a couple EPs & albums respectively until disbanding as a result of Stepa J. Groggs’ death. Ritchie & Parker Corey plan to continue to make music together as the duo By Storm introducing themselves the previous on the best single of 2023 in my opinion “Double Trio”. Triple Digits (112) was a great solo debut & Quiet Warp Xpress had me intrigued ahead of By Storm’s debut.

“Cc Me” is this sample drill opener assuring that he’s ready to roll since he been with it at this point in his career whereas the experimental “Toll” suggests to play your roll since shit’s been having a serious effect on him lately. “Binging”hooks up some distinctive sampling discussing getting back on his pesos while “How?!” featuring Niontay is taken from Ritchie’s debut from this spring. “Broke the Mold” featuring Feardorian himself gives their refreshing take on the Detroit trap scene & “All-Terrain” concludes the EP by working in these pianos & hi-hats talking about being in the future.

Triple Digits [112] still to me is a definitive moment for Ritchie with a T’s solo discography, but I still think what he brings to the table during the course of the Quiet Warp Xpress is more than enough to hold Injury Reserve fans off until the By Storm debut LP. Feardonian’s production pulls inspiration from cloud rap, sample drill, experimental hip hop & even a bit of lowend allowing Ritchie to giving everyone listening a glimpse of a period of time following the moment of speaking or writing regarded as still to come.

Score: 3.5/5

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Peezy – “Small Town Ghetto” review

Detroit, Michigan rapper Peezy coming off his sophomore full-length studio LP from last fall Ghetto to release his 2nd EP. A part of the Team Eastside collective about a little over decade ago, he would later go on to release about a dozen solo projects beginning with Mud Muzik in 2014 & subsequently became one of the most prominent figures that the Motor City’s distinct trap scene has to offer. I covered his 8th mixtape Free Rio in 2022 when he got out of prison back at the beginning of that year for racketeering, followed by his debut album Only Built 4 Diamond Links as well as the previously mentioned Ghetto & now Small Town Ghetto.

The opener “All Black Trucks” is a great way to kickoff the 8-track, 20 minute offering over a Detroit trap instrumental airing out everyone claiming the Eastside when they’re actually not from that part of town whatsoever whereas “Get It Going” talks about plugging the money counters up & bustin’ a brick open. “I’m Back Up” has a serious tone to the beat continuing the Motor City’s unique spin on trap music tackling his resurgence since coming home while “100” motivates that you can stack a Benjamin Franklin if you can stack an Alexander Hamilton.

“Same Type” featuring Payroll Giovanni brings a raw Detroit trap flare starting of the other half of Small Town Ghetto repping those who have similar characteristics as a person just before “You Know It Girl” vibrantly talks about the woman in his life being bad as Hell & that even she knows it. “For 6 Months” featuring G.T. gets his point across of him going back to basics whenever this rap shit starts to get slow & “Detox” featuring Lil Karty ends the EP by hooking up bells & 808s getting a piece of mind.

For this EP, Peezy takes proverbial aim at those purporting to live the lifestyle that he’s actually led keeping his deceptively casual delivery over quintessentially bumping beats that resulted in some of his biggest his & fan favorites due to frauds emerging in the wake of real ones when Detroit’s street rap sound grew in popularity beyond Michigan’s borders. 2/3rds of the features were enjoyable, the production improves from the sophomore effort & the Team Eastside member exposes the fakes.

Score: 3.5/5

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Scatz – “F.T.O.S. (Fuck the Other Side)” review

Flint, Michigan rapper Scatz with his 7th EP & his 2nd project since signing to M.I.N.E. Entertainment. Introducing himself Halloween 2022 with his debut EP Kyriee Krazy followed by the debut mixtape Yung N***a World, his next 5 EPs SharkLoto, Gift of Gab, Yung Dirty Bastard, The Biggest & Yung Dirty Bastard all the following year caught the attention of Rio da Yung O.G. & signed the 6 Ward Lord to M.I.N.E. behind bars. Almost 3 months later, Scatz is looking to apply further pressure by giving a finger & saying F.T.O.S. (Fuck the Other Side).

“Soul Searchin’” was a nearly 2 minute Detroit trap intro talking about riding around with 2 switches taking lives whereas “Free the Innocent” calls for those who’re incarcerated for crimes they never committed to come home over 808s & an airy backdrop. The title track heavily incorporates some bells to speak on the gangsta lifestyle he endures himself into until “Fully” reflects on being young & dumb tryna get a kill.

Moving on from there, “Go Dumb” comes out the gate by telling a bitch to prove her love for him when she told him only for the relationship to completely dissolve & his twin never missing with the glock prior to “W.B.Y.I. (What Bag You In?)” tryna figure out the deal with this guy runnin’ up tellin’ on others. “$50K” featuring Lil Nook marks the first of 2 collabs on the EP ruining a dark Detroit trap instrumental asking what your momma would do if she was sent that much.

“Topside on a Sunday” kicks off the final leg of F.T.O.S. (Fuck the Other Side) by telling people to question his legitimacy in the hood to know if he really drills anyone like that poppin’ 10s while “1 Click” pulls off some Mobb undertones talking about keeping no bitches around him. “Spike” featuring Ducko & PaidLife Zar closes the EP with 1 last Detroit trap collaboration that I like a little less than the other despite the piano-heavy beat.

6 War Lord was a complete step up from Scatz’ early EPs & mixtape sounding hungrier than he did compared to when he started out & that same hunger transitions onto F.T.O.S. (Fuck the Other Side). His production choices keep getting better & I preferred the guest list on the predecessor a few months ago, but the Flint native continues to feel right at home realizing Money Is Not Everything or Music Is Never Ending speaking of his upbringings.

Score: 3.5/5

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The Hoodies – “Nobody Bigger Than We” review

Ellenville, New York duo The Hoodies consisting of siblings E-Class & Young Poppa are back for their 3rd EP. These guys have been taking over the local underground scene for the past 6 years off the strength of their debut mixtape Blood Thicker followed by their first couples EPs both Where Should We Land & What Pressure Makes. However, their full-length debut studio album Hidden Gems entirely produced by Kid Capri last fall wound up becoming their most acclaimed body of work yet from both critics & fans for it’s take on the past & present New York hip hop sounds. And with its anniversary coming in a few weeks, they’re reminding everyone that Nobody Bigger Than We.

“Closer” is this sample drill opener with a chipmunk soul flare talking about being underrated, but still scoring just like the Cleveland Cavaliers whereas “Love Birds” continues with the soulful flips instrumentally flexing that they really Soulja Boy since they’ll pop out with the Draco in reference to the Big Draco nickname from the first rapper to do everything. “Despise Me” featuring their manager Ms. Tiff has a solemner approach atmospherically bouncing off one another on the mic collecting that money & “Not the Same” ends the EP sampling “All the Man That I Need” by Whitney Houston trying to teach the lessons of their predecessors.

I’m usually very selective when it comes to artists in the Brooklyn drill scene, but there’s no question that E-Class & Young Poppa are both skilled enough lyrically to do that style justice & that’s exactly what they do over the course of Nobody Bigger Than We. Granted that we already heard them dabble with this sound (case in point: “Top of N.Y.”), they embrace it a lot more here to the point where they’re also fusing it with elements of sample drill & chipmunk soul in a captivating fashion reaffirming their status as the biggest in Ellenville.

Score: 3.5/5

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The Alchemist – “The Genuine Articulate” review

Beverly Hills producer, DJ & rapper The Alchemist following up the Flying High EPs with his 12th EP. Beginning as 1/2 of the duo The Whooliganz in 1993 with Scott Caan, they would only disband a year later after recording a debut album that eventually got shelved & Scott went onto acting like his father. Mudfoot on other end quickly established himself as one of the greatest producers in hip hop history with a resume including ranging names from Mobb Deep & Eminem to Travis Scott & even Drake. Gangrene got back together this spring for Heads I Win, Tails You Lose & The Genuine Articulate is refusing to slow down.

“Ferraris in the Rain” featuring ScHoolboy Q is this jazzy, drumless opener with both of them asking for the rain to remove them from all the pain they’re going through in their lives whereas the first 3 Uncle Al solo joints “Something Light” delivers it hardcore over a futuristically rugged self-produced instrumental. “Minnesota Fats” featuring Action Bronson finds the pair over a rock sample pledging allegiance to the fellowship while “Scientology” featuring Havoc displays how hard-headed they are.

The penultimate Alchemist solo track “Everybody’s Favorite Uncle” strips the drums once more further elaborating on the Uncle Al nickname Earl Sweatshirt gave him a decade ago on Doris that is until “Diego Mardona” featuring Conway the Machine heinously talks about the scenery only getting intenser & darker. “Details” featuring Larry June hops on top of this bare soul sample boasting anyone can do this, but then “Seasons Change” was a remarkable Father’s Day single from this summer & the best closer imaginable.

On the contrary to a lot of Alchemist’s previous solo material that I’ve covered in the past, this is probably the most that I’ve heard him vocally since he’s performing on every single track including with the guests & I welcome that since he’s been ripping mics before he even became a top 10 producer of mine. He maintains his signature sound & holds his own weight lyrically with a cast of high-profile MCs.

Score: 4/5

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