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

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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

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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

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Action Figure 973 – “JxllyB & Blunts” review

Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973 reuniting with Queens, New York producer Wulverine for his 5th EP. Introducing himself off the UFO Over City Music beat tape followed by a couple solo mixtapes & the last 4 EPs he’s put out, I should further mention that the beatsmith from Act-Lo’s neighboring state has fully produced Luchadors Going Platinum Was Destined to Come & it’s sequel Luchadors Going Diamond Was Destined to Come the previous year respectively.

“Outside” opens with a reference to both the inaugural IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, Real American Beer founder, Real American Freestyle Wrestling (RAF) co-founder & known racist Hulk Hogan and former 7-time WWE world champion, 3-time WWE tag team champion, 5-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart whereas “Fuck Bill Goldberg” featuring Ricky Mapes & the homie 100GrandRoyce disses the WWE Hall of Famer, former 4-time WWE world champion, WWE United States Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion of the same name.

Book$ joins Action Figure 973 for “Coke & a Smile” to reference former 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champion, NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, TNA Hall of Famer, WWE United States Champion 5-time WWE tag team champion & 39-time WWE Hardcore Champion Raven’s former valet Beulah McGillicutty taking piledrivers from her husband in former 2-time アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン, 2-time ECW World Heavyweight Champion, 3-time ECW World Tag Team Champion, TNA Digital Media Champion & 14-time WWE Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer.

“Mets vs. Sox” featuring Chyna Baejing strips the drums so both of them can talk about treating hip hop as if it’s a martial art & after the “Smoke Break” skit, the final song “1 Night in Sue” officially wraps up JxllyB & Blunts with a drumless guitar instrumental putting the Belleville luchador’s storytelling abilities on full display breaking down an encounter he had with a woman of the same name & admitting that he hasn’t been getting out much as of late because of him spending time in the studio continuing the everlasting hustle.

As a 90’s baby who got into professional wrestling during the Ruthless Aggression Era a little over 2 decades ago already & a hip hop head for as long as I can remember, Action Figure 973’s potential as a lyricist is undeniably bright & compared to the last couple EPs that he had Wulverine fully produce for him, JxllyB & Blunts leaves me torn with slightly more highs & lows. I don’t mind the boom bap/drumless production or Act-Lo’s lyricism, but the guests’ performances don’t really do the same aside from 100GrandRoyce.

Score: 3/5

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Diorvsyou – “Untitled EP.9” review

This is the 3rd EP from Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer Diorvsyou. Coming up in 2021 off his debut EP Scoreboard, it wasn’t until I saw him open up for southsidesilhouette in Brooklyn the following November where I was personally introduced to his music & I was actually impressed with his set. The next EP w.t.f.i.dvy? (who the fuck is diorvsyou?) marked a bigger breakthrough for him artistically & returned up from the Ashes almost a year since Diorvsrxlvnd’s eponymous debut. That said, he’s dropping off Untitled EP.9 a couple days ahead of Valentine’s Day weekend.

“Ronda Rousey” with Cxdy of Internet Money Records & Vanguard Music Group opens with a cloudy ode to the UFC Hall of Famer, the inaugural UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion, 3-time WWE women’s world champion & WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion from both TKO Group Holdings divisions whereas “Allclear” talks about seeing everything. “BBeep” works in some rage influences cashing out leading into “KTA” talking about wanting to body everyone in his path.

As for “WYA” produced by 406ahmad, we have Dior referencing current AEW World Tag Team Champion Bobby Lashley of The Hurt Syndicate after taking the belts from the previous titleholders in former GCW Tag Team Champions & HoG Tag Team Champions Private Party while “Talmbout” featuring Sk8star brings the pair together to talk about exactly how fly they get. “Freshman” boasts that he takes risk daily trying to get high enough to see heaven itself on the daily & “decarnin balmain” ends by showing fondness of Christophe Decarnin’s time as Balmain’s creative director.

He recently made a handful of standout appearances on The XA Tape that the Xavier Anthony clothing brand put out last weekend even if one of the executive producers incorrectly accused me of using AI on my review on it because I’ve never used AI to write any of the music I’ve covered & Dior gears up for an upcoming sophomore effort teasing 16 minutes of the modern trap sounds he’s become known for.

Score: 3.5/5

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Coi Leray – “What Happened to Forever?” review

Here we have the 6th EP from New Jersey rapper & singer Coi Leray. Growing up as the younger brother of Sosshouse Records signee Chavo & the daughter of Benzino, she began to carve a path of her own with her debut mixtape Everythingcoz along with her first 2 EPs Everythingcoz 2 & Now or Never even though they were mediocre to me personally. She then signed to Uptown Records after being relaunched by Republic Records & put out her major label debut Trendsetter not too long after which had a few of her strongest tracks yet, but the bad mostly outweighed the good & the same applied to Coi considering “Self Love” off the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack could be my favorite song of hers yet. Lemon Cars produced by Mike WiLL Made-It under Island Records was her most acclaimed body of work yet & his moving over to Epic Records wanting to know What Happened to Forever?.

“Keep It” was a decent pop rap intro airing out Trippie Redd for cheating on her not too long after her pregnancy with his child was announced whereas “Leave You Alone” tells Trippie not to lie to her because it cuts too deep. “I Hate Your Friends” is my favorite track here from the CashMoneyAP instrumental to the lyrics expressing the genuine hatred she holds against her baby daddy’s homies while “U Too” professes to being fucked up & “Lick Back” concludes the EP talking about getting into her bag again.

Lemon Cars made me more optimistic regarding Coi’s ability to craft a consistent body of work & for her Epic debut, she whips up a mediocre EP built around the sounds of both pop rap & alternative R&B channeling the frustrating betrayal that she felt after Trippie Redd was stupid enough to get her pregnant a little over a month prior. The concepts are there & so is the anger, my biggest issue is the production falling flat significantly harder than her last one did.

Score: 2.5/5

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G-Mo Skee – “The Toast Tape” review

Richmond, California lyricist G-Mo Skee remembering his dog Toast on the 1-year anniversary of his death with his 4th EP. Emerging as a member of the trio Stampede & later the Inf Gang. He would drop 2 official mixtapes Got Filth & Got Filth II: The Great Adventures of G-Mo independently before Twiztid signed him to Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2016. His full-length debut My Filthy Spirit Bomb coming out that same winter to significant acclaim, but I personally think G’s sophomore effort Chaly & the Filth Factory is his best work so far because of it’s incredible concept & the instrumentals accompanying it (mostly handled by former Strange Music in-house producer MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7). The Filth Element commemorated his 30th birthday by proving that he didn’t need MNE, returning to The Dojo for 8 Bit Filth II: Hero Hunter & Filth City produced by Stu Bangas. Ahead of Huckleberry Filth however, The Toast Tape gives a taste of what to expect from it as Astronomicon approaches in a couple months.

“The Story of Toast” talks about the untimely death of his dog Toast turning him into a whole new person over a lo-fi boom bap instrumental whereas “Ghost Dog” samples the “Song of Healing from The Legend of Zelda games Majora’s Mask & Twilight Princess telling Toast his sprit lives on in his heart & mind. “Slide 4 Toast” flips Twinrova’s theme from the iconic Ocarina in Time game getting in his gangsta rap bag looking for smoke & sliding for his beloved dog, but then “The Gates” ends the EP opening up about sneaking off to cry & mourn Toast’s passing a month after his death.

G-Mo is known to be a huge fan of The Legend of Zelda franchise & sampled video games numerous times on both installments of the 8 Bit Filth series of EPs, but I actually enjoy The Toast Tape more than either entries in the 8 Bit Filth saga since the lyrics in only 14 minutes recaps the past year since Toast was taken way too soon remembering & mourning his best friend only days after his 10th birthday. Huckleberry Filth is said to be G at his most personal & if anything, The Toast Tape is only an appetizer.

Score: 4.5/5

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Yuno Miles – “YNX” review

Yuno Miles is a comedy rapper who’s been making waves online throughout this current decade by dropping off a dozen EPs, with the most acclaimed of the bunch being Knock Knock It’s Santa Bitch & Yuno History. Unfortunately the self-professed Nazi himself Ye formerly known as Kanye West currently in the midst of his grossest Twitter meltdown ever as of yesterday named Yuno as the only rapper he listens to & this shoutout inspired him enough to the point where he’s droppin’ YNX to start Super Bowl Weekend following his appearance on the “Bomb”’remix off ¥$’ sophomore effort Vultures 2.

“Hop Steps” begins the EP with some finger-snaps & Yuno admitting he can’t dance although he’ll hit the titular move whereas “Break Something” featuring BRBLuhTim finds the 2 talking about their music giving off that exact vibe. “Side Chick” is this cloudy pop rap cut dedicated to the woman he’s seeing in the midst of his ongoing relationship prior to “In My Zone” referencing 16-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena fresh off putting over former WWE Intercontinental Champion & 10-time WWE tag team champion Jey Uso at last weekend’s Royal Rumble XXXVIII.

Ayekeem joins Yuno Miles on “IDGAF” freestyling over the classic Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz joint with Mystikal & one of my favorite Krayzie Bone verses regardless if I find myself enjoying Yuno’s parts the most in my respectful opinion while “Oh Naw” goes for a rage vibe to talk about them being on my dick like the belt on his waist. “Poured Up” featuring Ayekeem reunites the 2 for the EP’s final moments so both of them can take the time to talk about remember being played showing a diverse side to them dabbling with pop rock.

Not too sure if it’ll surprise some people that I appreciate comedic music acts like Milo Murphy’s Law star “Weird Al” Yankovic or Wheeler Walker Jr., but one of my top 10 producers of all-time naming Yuno as the only rapper he listens to is ironic since he posted “‘08 Obama” off the new Coast Contra EP In Case You Forgot on his IG story 48 hours before his embarrassing self-destruction calling out disgraced Tesla CEO, SpaceX founder, Neuralink founder & Twitter owner Elon Musk for “stealing my Nazi swag” at the inauguration couple weeks ago resulting in me never wanting to buy a Tesla ever again. Either way, it’s a decent EP.

Score: 3/5

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Babytron – “Song Wars” review

Detroit, Michigan emcee Babytron preluding Luka Trončić 2 with his 5th EP. Coming up as a member of the ShittyBoyz along with his childhood friends Stanwill & TR Dee signing to Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records, he’s also built an impressive solo career for himself as well as the side groups Lewis & Clark and the Dookie Brothers. But the last couple years was probably his biggest yet landing interviews ranging from No Jumper to even Rolling Stone following the release of Luka Trončić until signing with EMPIRE Distribution later that same month & Bin Reaper 2: The 2nd Coming that same fall. Bin Reaper 3 ended the trilogy with a 2-disc effort, the bootleg Style EP wound up being disappointing, the full-length LP 6 made up for it as did his previous mixtape Megatron 2. His collab mixtape Mario & Luigi with Certified Trapper wasn’t all that great either & Tronicles was cool, whipping up 5 new tracks & compiling them into Song Wars.

“Xyla” was a decent Detroit trap intro with these bells & pianos talking about being immersed in the dangerous gangsta lifestyle & after “5 Star” finds himself feeling like he’s on Tattooine from The Walt Disney Company-owned Star Wars after consuming some psychedelic mushrooms, “Boogaloo (May God Be My Witness)” gets back on the gangsta tip lyrically.

16-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena gets referenced on my favorite track here “2025” produced by Danny G prior to “Killas, Juggers & Robbers” peacing up the Song Wars by talking about his preference of being the kidnapper instead of the hostage or a killer rather than getting popped.

Recorded for PlaqueBoyMax’s popular series on his Twitch channel where he invites rappers to compete against each other in a music competition & judged by a panel of guests, Song Wars still proves to be tolerable enough to satisfy fans of Babytron distinguishable punchlines until time for the sequel to my favorite tape in his catalog comes.

Score: 3.5/5

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9 Vicious – “B4TM” review

Atlanta, Georgia up-&-comer 9 Vicious gearing up for his upcoming sophomore effort Tumblr Music by releasing his 4th EP. Breaking out last summer off his debut single “U Fancy”, he would go on to further introduce himself on B4SA & the debut album Studio Addict helped him gain more exposure to the point where Young Thug has been trying to sign him to YSL Records since. Coming off both TM 1.5 & TM 2.9 from earlier in the month, the time has come for B4TM ahead of the main course later on in the year.

“R.I.P. Keed” kicks things off with a cloudy trap intro he, Jwade & Patrick Garza made together paying homage to the late Lil Keed whereas “Slime Bidness” boasts about making your hoe throwing it back for him keeping a stick & a mag on him over a 406ahmad beat. “Conversating” takes a soulful trap direction instrumentally addressing those who thought he was gay while “You Said” asks if this woman remembers if she told him she loved him. The outro produced by Taurus finishes the EP telling his life story.

Studio Addict was welcomed over a month ago to mixed reception although I could very much hear what 9 Vicious was capable of doing artistically & the prelude EP to his next LP here only provides 11 & a half minutes of what Tumblr Music has in store at a later date. The trap production gets refined here compared to both of his previous projects showing a hint of cloud rap thrown in the mix & he shows the world more of who he is lyrically.

Score: 3.5/5

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