Tinashe – “Quantum Baby” review

Lexington, Kentucky singer/songwriter, dancer & actress Tinashe returning a year after her critically acclaimed 3rd EP BB/Ang3l to release a 4th EP. Breaking out over a decade ago off her first 3 mixtapes In Case We Die as well as Reverie & more specifically Black Water, her RCA Records-backed debut Aquarius was as well received as the latter although her debut EP Amethyst was moderately received & the 4th tape Nightride was seen as an improvement. She would later depart RCA following a mid sophomore effort Joyride going independent on both Songs for You & 333 respectively to better reception again. Looking to continue the momentum, she’s setting out to make Quantum Baby her 2nd consecutive classic EP.

“No Stimulation” starts with a stripped-back sound looking for the truth or in this case love whereas “Getting No Sleep” blends Jersey club & alternative R&B so she can sing about doing overtime. “Thirsty” goes for a delicate trap vibe instrumentally singing that she doesn’t wanna leave her man in a hurry while “Red Flags” strips the drums completely asking a bad boy to show her who he really is.

To start the 2nd half of the EP, the song “Cross That Line” addresses someone who could be the love of her life working some cloudy trap influences into the beat leading into the 2-parter “When I Get You Alone” promising her man she’ll take it nice & slow. “No Broke Boys” has a catchier feeling altogether telling the broke men to hit the bricks & “Nasty” finishes Quantum Baby asking if anyone will match her freak.

Hoping fans will enter her personal universe & rediscover her at the most fundamental & molecular level, the 2nd installment of the EP trilogy in comparison to the 1st entry really focuses more on getting to know Tinashe a little bit deeper continuing to wear the artistic/creative freedom that RCA wouldn’t grant her on her sleeve harder & allowing her full potential to further reveal itself.

Score: 4/5

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Ilajide – “Tape Delay” review

Detroit, Michigan emcee/producer Ilajide formerly of the Clear Soul Forces enlisting Seattle producer Def D to produce his 7th EP in its entirety. In addition to his last 6 EPs, he also a couple beat tapes & 4 full-length albums under his belt. It’s been over 3 years since I covered Code 200 & that was the finest solo LP of his entire career, but Tape Delay had me anticipating it as much if not more.

“Trippin’” is a cloudy boom bap opener to the EP talking about being the coach running the scrimmages now out in Los Angeles whereas “Live from Jump” works in more kicks & snares to make it clear that money is class & he’s taking notes. “More Bling” has this old school flare instrumentally talking about needing more expensive, ostentatious clothing/jewelry just before the funky “Scam Jam” featuring Boog Brown looking at each day as another scam for them to get paid.

To finish the first half of Tape Delay, “Back Up” keeps the funk for a party jam while the beat on “Send ‘Em In” pulls inspiration from J Dilla so Ilajide can talk about counting money in his office. “Don’t Touch My Hair” has a jazzy boom bap flare coming fresh out the salon leading into the groovy “Did What You Do?” saying he’ll do it again. After a “Back Up” remix, the final song “Dippin’” ends the EP by reminding that the players know what he be talkin’ ‘bout.

I’ve been a fan of Def D for over a decade when 33⅓ was released in the summer of 2013 following my sophomore year of high school, so for him to produce an entire EP for Ilajide was very exciting for me & it so happens to be the best EP in the former Clear Soul Forces member’s discography on top of joining Code #200 for some of his strongest solo material. Def D’s production is versatile whether it be pulling from boom bap, jazz rap, funk music, old school hip hop & cloud rap allowing the Detroit emcee to focus on rippin’ these beats to shreds for roughly 25 minutes.

Score: 4/5

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Durkalini – “Church & Surf” review

This is the 2nd EP from Roanoke, Alabama rapper Durkalini. Introducing himself in the trap scene over a year ago off his last EP 4000 Degrees, he continued to push himself in the forefront by releasing a couple mixtapes Pyro the Pastor & Pilgrimage last fall. After taking a 9-month break, lini’s taking us to Church & Surf teaming up with the remaining producer members of the Surf Gang collective so they can help make it the most well-rounded offering in his discography

“Freaks Out” produced by Evilgiane, Eera & even Goner right before he departed the Surf Gang only recently starts the sermon on some plugg shit talking about being out all night when the freaks come out whereas “Rather Be Safe 2” works in an orchestral backdrop & hi-hats thanks to Harrison preferring to be safe than sorry. “Green Card” brings the plugg vibes back asking where the fuck your card is again while “Objection” has a fuzzier trap flare to talk about every day being the weekend.

The cloudier aesthetics of “Soho” are a nice touch referencing the titular shopping destination in New York south of Houston Street in Manhattan leading into Giane & Graham Perez providing “Alligator” with an atmospheric sound feeling like it’s a holy matrimony the way Durkalini be married to this shit. “Bottega Boots” has more of a rich trap groove flexing the designer footwear copped from Bottega Veneta, but then “Damn Huh” hooks up an organ & hi-hats knowing he gon’ race the pigs.

“Guinness” pushes towards the encore of Church & Surf talking about being unable to buy new guns since he’s a bandit, staying on the corner although he can’t give no directions, not stopping at red lights since he already got a ticket anyway & the fact that they don’t teach us shit in school still tryna give people in the streets a sentence while “Cartier Wires” finishes the EP on a peppy cloud rap note boasting that his pockets are loaded & broke bitches being the very last thing he’s thinking about.

Surf Gang’s been on a crazy production team run since Pasto Flocco, Polo Perks, Moh Baretta & pretty much all the other former vocalists in the crew departed to focus on their solo careers and Church & Surf joins Matt Ox’s 4th EP OXygen as the best of the 5 EPs they’ve laced in the last 10 months. The production’s more consistent than lini’s past material & the Alabama up-&-comer lets new listeners in as to who he is.

Score: 4/5

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Ameer Vann – “WOOF” review

Here we have the 3rd EP from Houston, Texas rapper Ameer Vann. Coming up as one of the original members of the now defunct BROCKHAMPTON collective, he played a key-role in their 2017 SATURATION trilogy in until getting kicked out of the boyband for sexual misconduct allegations the following year. Ameer’s removal from the boyband was a decision that is still polarizing by many, but Emmanuel was treated to mixed reception & Ameerlyn’s debut EP Slime in the Ice Machine was a tad bit better. Woof however peaked my interest, especially in light of BROCKHAMPTON’s dissolvement in 2022.

To get us started, “Listen” jumps over a symphonic trap instrumental to call himself a living messiah whereas “In the Building” aggressively talks about feelin’ himself at the spot & his trap being for everything must go clearance over pianos & hi-hats. “Yeah” dabbles with rage beats standing on business & setting out to change the game much like the SATURATION trilogy did while “Good Boy” goes drumless breaking everything he touches albeit staying optimistic that he’ll be fine.

“Medicine” has these impressive jazz influences throughout the beat talking about the shadows in the dark always following him just before “Gemini” starts with a drumless first half ahead of a dirty south switch-up always getting back up when he slips & falls poppin’ the trunk “Moving Slow” further embraces the chopped & screwed influences discussing cough medicine prior to the delicate trap joint “Shawty” serves as a dedication to his girl.

Nearing the encore of Woof, the song “Choosing” hooks up a slowed down soul sample with hi-hats dying by the second to live for the moment & the final track “Genesis” prior to the g-funk outro finishes up the EP officially by mixing trap & blues letting the world know that he found his peace in the darkest of places & that his connection with infinity cannot be cloned in any way shape or form.

Even if I thought Emmanuel had better production, Woof is still a good 21 minute EP & makes me hope that Ameer continues to further improve himself from here because I like Ameer’s first solo effort since BROCKHAMPTON dissolved more than Slime in the Machine. The production ranges from trap to rage, drumless, jazz rap, g-funk, blues music, soul music, a hint of orchestral music or chopped & screwed allowing the SATURATION trilogy poster boy to tell us where he’s at currently.

Score: 3/5

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Benny the Butcher – “Summertime Butch” review

Buffalo, New York emcee Benny the Butcher putting out his 7th EP full of summer anthems. Being in the game for 2 decades already, it wouldn’t be until 2016 where he alongside his cousins Westside Gunn & Conway the Machine would take the culture by storm off projects like Tana Talk 3 & The Plugs I Met. Harry Fraud came in for a sequel to the latter following the mature Burden of Proof & finally, Tana Talk 4 took it back to the basement a couple years back. Coming off having Hit-Boy produce half of it & leaving the other half to The Alchemist produce his Def Jam Recordings debut & my album of the year so far Everybody Can’t Go, we’re now being treated to Summertime Butch.

“1 Verse Butch” starts us off with the Butcher over a piano/boom bap hybrid speaking that slick, street, intellectual drug shit whereas the soulfully dusty “The Most” talks about making it out of the hood alive & taking a lot for him for that to even happen. After the “Sundress & Sandle Season” interlude, “Knightfall” keeps the kicks & snares in tact advising not to let any static stop your business & the only single “Summer ‘24” gives off a symphonic boom bap flare instrumentally looking to shut the block down.

My favorite track here “Kitchen Table” hops over a smooth Harry Fraud beat continuing to discuss the dope game & after the “Peachtree” interlude, “The Blue Building” brings the soul vibes back in the fold mixed with hi-hats from STREETRUNNER playing more than simply a distributor role. “The Warehouse 3” featuring Elcamino, Fuego Base & Rick Hyde is this guitar-laced successor to both “Warehouse” tracks off Fuego’s debut Biggest Since Camby & “Higher” luxuriously ends the EP taking y’all to a greater level.

Everybody Can’t Go still remains my album of the year so far 8 months later & yet, Summertime Butch still stands out on its own going for a completely different vibe than the Def Jam debut did at the very beginning of 2024 telling us the biggest lesson Benny’s learned. The balance between boom bap & trap remains prevalent, he’s simply giving us 24 minutes & 8 songs for you to enjoy with only little time left of summer itself.

Score: 3.5/5

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Zukenee – “Guillotine” review

Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Zukenee following up his debut Player Slayer with a 4th EP. 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 until Player Slayer came this spring. Interestingly enough, Cade’s being brought in to produce Guillotine.

“Dungeon Detour” has a quirky trap feeling to get us started warning that the roundabout route to the dungeon has begun & to prepare for imminent battle whereas the vibrant “Dragons” talks about catching plays & running shit now. “Village” comes through with a rubbery dedication for all the slayers out there while “Trap Candle” flexes that he got money bustin’ out both of his pockets.

Meanwhile on “Checkmate”, Zukenee aggressively explains to u that you have to choose between the 2 sides of life being a boy or a slayer just before the synth-trap crossover “Warplay” declaring that he’s ready for war. “Bend” has an acoustic trap quality to it reworking a brick & a bitch, but then the rage-inducing “Trimlewinsky” balls hard. The trippy “Por Favor” warns he might fuck around & rinse you leading into “Blow Up” ending the EP by keeping the Glock hot.

If you weren’t feeling Player Slayer when it was first given to us over 4 months ago like a couple people were, you might find yourself enjoying Guillotine more & that for me personally has quickly established itself as the crown jewel of Zukenee’s discography. Cade’s takes him to a brand new level in a consistent fashion & the medieval theme during the 19 minute run stays pretty consistent.

Score: 4/5

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Ramirez – “The Warlock & The Gorilla” review

San Francisco, California emcee Ramirez following up From tha Guttah to tha Grave by surprise releasing The Warlock & The Gorilla as his 12th EP. Coming up in 2014 as a longtime affiliate of the $uicideboy$, he would go on to co-found to the New Orleans-based indie label G*59 Record$ with them & build himself as an artist by dropping 8 mixtapes, his last 10 EPs & 4 full-lengths in the span of nearly a decade. Tha Playa$ Manual was his best LP yet with it’s g-funk production from Rocci & The Tragedy of a Clown was a good comeback from a year & a half ago, From tha Guttah to tha Grave back in March was good & this new one had me especially intrigued since he said it was to hold us off until his upcoming 5th album Tha Playa$ Manual II.

After the titular intro, the first song “Stackin’ Ends” featuring Soulzay has a slick Memphis vibe instrumentally to officially begin letting us know that’s exactly what both of them be doing whereas the cloudy trap banger “Carti Frames” continues forward talking about cold blooded pimpin’ going through his veins. “Window” featuring Shakewell has an eerier atmosphere to beat almost like it’s something out of a horror flick flexing their gangsta ties & “The Depths” hellishly talks about looking to blast someone in the deepest pits with the shotty.

“Crocodile Skin” builds the concept around the infamous “interior crocodile alligator” line from King Chip of The Almighty GloryUS blending a soul sample with hi-hats while the jazz/trap hybrid on “Medusa Packs” blew me away getting returning to his pimpin’ shit. “Casket Dreamz” featuring Pouya talks only having their brothers over a solemn trap instrumental leading into the west coast-flavored “International Waters” featuring Jay Worthy find the 2 gettin’ fly. “It Ain’t My Fault” featuring Shakewell lastly ends with a homage to Silkk the Shocker’s biggest hit.

In what would turn out to be Ramirez’ final release on G*59, The Warlock & The Gorilla surpasses From tha Guttah to tha Grave as the best of the 2 EPs that he’s put out this year alone. Stronger feature list, the production expanding beyond from trap as well as g-funk, the Memphis scene, cloud rap & jazz rap & the Lil Homewrecker delivering performances that go considerably harder.

Score: 3.5/5

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Claas – “In My Head” review

This is the 4th EP from Arlington, Texas emcee Claas. For about 2 decades, this guy’s been steadily putting in work for the underground whether it be on it his own or as a member of groups like The Underground Avengers as well as VLNC & the Caarnivorz. He teased his previous LP albeit 3 with Lyrikal Snuff Productionz by dropping a trilogy of EPs leading up to it much like Strange Music used to do in 2019/2020 right before the COVID pandemic, culminating in This is Revenge being released in full 2 & a half years ago. He has since decided to take listeners In My Head over a month after UGA’s 3rd & final album Oblivion & 3 weeks since former AAA Mega Campeon, AAA Mundial Parejas Campeon, AEW International Champion, AEW World Tag Team Champion, AEW World Trios Champion, HoG Tag Team Champion, MLW World Tag Team Champion, PWG World Tag Team Champion, ROH World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Tag Team Champion Rey Fénix had his final AEW match in Claas’ city.

The title track has a morbid trap atmosphere to get the 3 song, 11 minute offering started demonically talks about demons following him with no end in sight while “In This Box” drearily acknowledges death at the door encouraging to let him in. “A Part of Me” ends the EP with a guitar & hi-hats talking about searching, but being unable to find.

Very much outside his norm, what we have is a culmination of the roughest stretch in Claas’ life dealing with everything that has happened over a 2 year span & finding a way to put all that into words. He tells a story of himself battling the thoughts in my head & finally coming to grips with the biggest tragedy in his life happening, slowing falling into the depths of dark thoughts in his head.

Score: 3.5/5

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Gibby Stites – “Echo Chamber” review

I believe this is the 12th EP from Millville, New Jersey emcee/producer Gibby Stites. Starting in the music industry over a decade ago off his first 2 mixtapes Gillmatic & Broke n Local, he wouldn’t catch my attention until performing a set during Netfest On Your Couch during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. Later that fall, he signed to Majik Ninja Entertainment & I had the honor of interviewing him shortly after the deal was made public. The 13th Wonder pretty much showcased Gibby to the juggalos as Jamie Madrox’ protégé & Welcome to iLLViLLE several months later took listeners through exactly where he comes from, but decided not to renew his MNE contract to form his own label iLLViLLE Worldwide shortly after. Off Air from last summer marked his return behind the boards after 5 years & is so far my favorite thing he’s done since leaving Majik Ninja & Pariah earlier this year was centered around mental health, but is getting back with Charlie Beans to take us to the Echo Chamber.

“Wrapped Up” hops over a cutthroat boom bap beat to get us started kicking that iLL shit whereas “Work Ethic” keeps the kicks & snares in tact talking about his grind. “So Alone” featuring Charlie Beans himself finds the 2 sharing the mic together pointing out the loneliness that everyone’s been feeling these days just before the cavernous boom bap title tracks talks about being unable to hear a word.

Paradime joins Gibby for “Commotion” aggressively looking to both of their plans in motion leading into “Twist of Fate” throwing it back to the 90s instrumentally letting y’all know he’s chillin’ like he should be asking what’s good with you. “Durban Poison” psychedelically lets the listeners know exactly what type of shit he smokes & “To Whom It May Concern” ends the EP unbottling all the pain inside.

In comparison to STiLL iLL roughly 2 & a half years ago by now, Echo Chamber shows a significant amount of maturity from both Gibby Stites & Charlie Beans since each of them went through a lot of personal matters individually during the making of this & they channeled every single one of those hardships into a motivating 27 minute EP for the illvillains.

Score: 3.5/5

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Ja’king the Divine – “Children of the Scorned” review

Brooklyn, New York emcee Ja’king the Divine retuning a year & a half after his 3rd album Parables of the Sower with his 5th EP. Introducing himself off his first 3 EPs Growing Pains as well as The Marvelous R7ght Wrist & Pray for New York, his last one Paint Chips came in April 2021 & he released his full-length debut Delusions of Grandeur 4 months later. The sophomore effort 手术: Black Sun Tzu the next summer would receive significant acclaim giving him wider exposure within the underground, raising the stakes for Children of the Scorned.

“Minstrel Show” is a soulful boom bap kickstarter talking about this shit being as different as it is whereas “Negro Spiritual” continues the soul sampling thrown in with kicks & snares refusing to lose or give up. “Aim at the Embassy” gives off a tenser boom bap vibe flexing that he’ll disgrace the American flag for the sole purpose of choking a skinhead & “A Shape of Things to Come” hops over another soul sample talking about change on the rise.

Moving on from there, “Idiom” warns over strings that he’ll decapitate anyone who tempers with his crown while “Public Enemy” strips the drums completely talking about striking the eardrums with a death note & warning that he’ll sign treaties to blow your whole vicinity. “Ward of the State” soulfully cautioning that we’re nearing the end while “Bambi Redd” jazzily demonstrates how word made a powerful man. After the “Youngnturnt” interlude, “Killer’s of the Flower Moon” ends with a flute asking what’s an artist with no torch or soul.

Children of the Scorned on the contrary to 手术: Black Sun Tzu speaks directly towards the black diaspora & the angst among the youth culture in America. He details some of his own battles with love, trust, alienation, self deprivation, discipline, addiction, frustration with our culture & the wavering will to carry on the weight of the world as a black man with trauma in a scathing society backed by production that balances boom bap & drumless including samples of both jazz & soul music.

Score: 4/5

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