Scum – “Bad Uncle” review

This is the 3rd EP from Denver based Russian-American emcee Scum. Emerging as the founder of the seminal horrorcore label Lyrikal Snuff Productionz, he’s gone on to release 14 albums & a couple EPs on his own, the last 3 full-lengths being in a trilogy called the Dyin’ World Chroniclez. But coming off S.O.S.’ debut album Blame Us last summer, the Gorefather’s teaming up with Chapter 17/Psychopathic Records in-house producer Devereaux for his 3rd EP.

The title track is an orchestral trap opener to the EP talking about hearing about a party that he wasn’t even invited to whereas “Way 2 Foul” by S.O.S. recaptures the chemistry of Blame Us by jumping on top of an instrumental with a terrifying atmosphere to it detailing how disgusting or dirty both of them really are. “Lozt” works in some bells & hi-hats confronting those running they mouths that is until “Sick Puppy” featuring LSP alumni/C17’s latest signing Darby O’Trill wickedly promising that those who cross them will get fucked up over a booming trap beat.

“Beyond Salvation” works in some heavy horns & hi-hats warning not to fuck with him or even try to pull up on him prior to “The Selectaz” featuring Chapter 17 founder/Psychopathic recording artist Ouija Macc declare themselves as exactly that over a synth-laced trap beat. “Whatcha Gon’ Do?” nears the end of Scum’s best EP to date with suspenseful wicked shit banger & “Awld Goat” by M.M.M.F.D. comes through with an aggressive closer advising to stay away from old goats with new tricks.

It’s been over a decade since the Gorefather’s first EP Mr. Zipperface & the follow-up Grim Zipper is approaching the 10-year mark next spring, so it only makes sense to make Bad Uncle a charm because it’s easily the best of the 3 he’s dropped to date. Devereaux continues to elevate himself as one of the underground wicked shit scene’s most in-demand producers in recent memory, Scum lyrically is at some of his most grotesque in the best way possible & the features all perform on his caliber.

Score: 4.5/5

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The Doppelgangaz – “Went Left” review

The Doppelgangaz are an East Coast hip hop duo from Orange County, New York consisting of MCs/producers Matter ov Fact & EP. Within the last 15 years, they’ve gone on to make waves in the underground by dropping a total of 8 full-length albums as well as 7 EPs & 6 beat tapes. Standouts include their breakout sophomore effort Lone Sharks, the follow-up Hark, their 5th album Dopp Hopp the follow-up to that Aaaaggghh. But coming fresh off their 8th LP Black Cloak Lifestyle last winter, they’re going left on their 8th EP.

“Easy Street” is a g-funk opener to the EP looking to get everyone’s hands up in the air & recite a prayer from the 2 cloak players that stay representing Groggy Pack Entertainment whereas the title track delves further into the g-funk realm justifiably flexing that they really did turn left here considering their East Coast roots. “Cloakland” takes the spacious route with some heavy synthesizers & more g-funk influences during the hook welcoming you to the titular city, but then “Cloak Life” ends the EP with 1-last g-funk banger as both Matter ov Fact & EP themselves talk more about the Black Cloak Lifestyle they live.

Considering the title of Went Left, I went into it expecting to be a change of pace for the New York duo & sure enough: I was highly impressed with what they delivered on here. Quite possibly the riskiest EP in their whole entire catalog. Instrumentally, they ditch the traditional boom bal sound they became known for in favor of showing their love & appreciation for the west coast by recapturing what made g-funk so special 3 decades ago meshing that well with more vibrant lyrics.

Score: 4/5

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$uicideboy$ – “I No Longer Fear the Razor Guarding My Heel V” review

The $uicideboy$ are a revered duo from New Orleans, Louisiana consisting of Ruby da Cherry & $crim. Together, they’ve released a plethora of projects within the last decade whether it be the Kill Your$elf saga & Eternal Grey or even I WANNA DIE IN NEW ORLEANS & the Travis Barker-produced Live Fast, Die Whenever. The boy$‘ sophomore effort Long Term Effects of Suffering followed as did their last album Sing Me a Lullaby, My Sweet Temptation over the summer & are coming fresh off the Yin Yang Tapes tetralogy by saying fuck Grey Sheep III in favor of a new installment of their widely acclaimed I No Longer Fear the Razor Guarding My Heel series.

“Not Even Ghosts Are This Empty” starts the EP with a sample-based trap banger produced by $crim & Dynox of Internet Money Records talking about not being able to feel their faces no matter how hard it gets at times whereas “Finding Shelter In My Larynx” confessing that everything is black to them now over a more trillwave instrumental. “A Little Trauma Can Be Illuminating & I’m Shining Like the Sun” actually ends the EP by depressingly confessing that they still can’t sleep at night even though they playa.

The Yin Yang Tapes were ok even though I still go back to a couple cuts on there, but my expectations for I No Longer Fear the Razor Guarding My Heel Vwere very high the second it was announced & easily the best EP the boy$ have dropped all year. They take it back to the signature cloud rap sound of the predecessor & some emo subject matter on top of it

Score: 4/5

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Rick Hyde – “Lupara” review

Rick Hyde is a 34 year old emcee/producer from Buffalo, New York notable for being a flagship artist on Benny the Butcher’s very own MNRK Music Group imprint Black Soprano Family Records. His debut album Plates that came out at the very beginning of 2019 was pretty solid on top of 9 EPs & a sequel to his full-length debut, which the last we heard from him being the Stima EP that celebrated it’s 1-year anniversary this past. However, he’s now enlisting Chop-La-Rok & Rare Scrilla for a 10th EP.

“Rick Rhude” is a killer opener to the EP with it’s guitar passages & pianos promising that no one wants any of the smoke he’s bringing prior to “Eastside” featuring Elcamino works in a sample-based boom bap instrumental talking about another summer on the titular side of their respective hometown. “Weight Watchers” featuring Heem blends these keys & drums together advising not to come out unless you’re ready that is until “Change My High” comes through with a laidback weed smoker’s theme.

Fuego Base comes into the picture for the violin-infused “PTSD” cautioning not to speak of what you saw as this is a different type of law just before “1 Brick Minimum” featuring Benny the Butcher & Malik finds the trio aggressively getting in their hustler bags. “Knock Down” featuring Boldy James goes into a more alluring boom bap vibe calling out those who thought they were down, but then “Streets Ain’t the Same” featuring Benny sends off the EP as both of them emotionally talk about the streets being different these days.

B$F has undeniably been leaving a hot trail throughout 2023 whether it be Loveboat Luciano’s latest sophomore effort Parole or Fuego Base whom I mentioned earlier revealing himself to be the Biggest Since Camby. However, Lupara stands as my favorite project to come out of the Black Soprano Family camp as we reach more than halfway through the year. Ricky lets Chop-La-Rok & Rare Scrilla handle all the production paying tribute to the golden era so he can further cement his status as one of the strongest links on the label roster.

Score: 4/5

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Gibby Stites – “Off Air” review

This is a brand new self-produced EP from Millville, New Jersey emcee/producer Gibby Stites. Getting his start in the music industry nearly a decade ago, 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. Now I’ll admit that it’s been over a couple years since I’ve covered Gilberto’s music track-by-track & that’s nothing personal at all because I know there are some juggalos out there that give him flack, but my morbid curiosity about Off Air got the best of me to make the time to break it down. Especially considering his return behind the boards for the first time in a grip.

The intro is a chilling, 75 second boom bap opener with Gibby talking about doing it for fuck’s sake that is until “The Man” works in some strings as well as kicks & snares admitting that he feels like that motherfucker now. “Heartbreak Kid” shifts into more summery boom bap territory opening up about being the one they start shit with just before “Blueprint” has a more weepier atmosphere instrumentally acknowledging that he knows for a fact that he’s the one.

“Made Men” keeps the kicks & snares in tact with a bluesier loop shaking the money tree to rake it all in leading into “Goosebumpin’” switching it up with a groovy trap beat talking about how people be sayin’ they gon’ do something to him & not actually go through with it at all. “Labels” brings back the symphonic undertones calling out the music industry for trying to stick him & “Ocean” closes out the EP with a powerful ballad promising not to let anyone down.

So this is Gibby’s 3rd EP albeit 9th project overall on iLLViLLE & I’m gonna have to be honest by saying Off Air is undebatably the best he’s sounded since leaving Majik Ninja to go his own way. The production is primarily grounded in the traditional east coast boom bap sound with a couple exceptions & he continues to take a step further into demonstrating how much he’s grown artistically within the last 5 years.

Score: 4/5

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Ransom – “Deleted Scenes 2” review

This is the 9th EP from Jersey City wordsmith Ransom. Coming up as 1/2 of the short-lived duo A-Team alongside Hitchcock, he branched out on his own in 2008 following their disbandment beginning with his 2008 full-length debut Street Cinema & the Statik Selektah-produced sophomore effort The Proposal. But it’s been safe to say these last couple years have been his biggest so far whether it be the 5 EPs that he put out produced by Nicholas Craven, 7 based around the 7 deadly sins, Heavy’s the Head produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Rome Streetz collab album Coup de Grâce, or even his last couple albums Chaos is My Ladder or Director’s Cut 4. Now that the latter finally made it to DSPs earlier this month despite being released limitedly in May, it’s only right for Ran & Nicholas to whip up a Deleted Scenes sequel.

“American Made” opens the EP with a heavy soul sample talking about motherfuckers using their brains for the dumbest antics whereas “Arrival” takes the chipmunk soul route speaks on turning his messes into messages, considering that to be his arrival to the top of the game. The track “Body of Lies” blends some victorious horns & background vocals discussing a hustler’s remorse while the final song “Homefront” officially ties up the EP on a bluesier note talking about time being too precious to fall back. We’re then treated to a remix of “Deliver Us from Evil” from the previous Deleted Scenesthat’s on par with the original.

Craven & Ran have never missed whenever they connect for a body of work as DC4 further exemplified a couple months ago. Here we are at the end of July & they did it again with what I believe is amongst the strongest EPs that 2023 had given us. There ain’t no one like Ransom lyrically & Nicholas’ production is rooted in his signature drumless/chipmunk soul sound that we’ve all come to know & love. Basically the underground Nas & Hit-Boy right now.

Score: 4.5/5

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Ty Fontaine – “Yuheame” review

This is the 6th EP from Maryland recording artist Ty Fontaine. Breaking out in 2019 off the strength of his debut EP Waiting on Ascension, he would go on to follow this up with the full-length debut We Ain’t the Same alongside a couple of mixtapes & 3 more EPs, the previous being The Revive preluding a sequel to his Internet Money Records-backed debut mixtape Ascension & more recently Black Truck Life in the spring. Now that we’re halfway through summer, Ty’s enlisting SJR to ask if Yuheame.

“Epic Disco” is an electronic-tinged opener talking big things whereas “Ma Deserves ChaNayNay” gives off more of a psychedelic trap edge so he can single out everyone that’s called him crazy up to this point. “Soso” has a more cheerful sound to it instrumentally talking about how they tried to take his heart away but after the “Tyler’s Message #FreeTheSeals” interlude, “Macaroni Sounds” featuring Migo Lee dives into plugg territory putting it all on their granny’s kids.

Meanwhile, “Fleek” goes for a moodier atmosphere saying his squad on that shit if you want it just before “Magic Magic” goes into glossy trap territory asking why his bitch being extra & not to play with his paper. “Fast” featuring MultiPlayas blends these keys & hi-hats to detail exactly the way they be living now while “On Ya Head” pulls from dance music a bit addressing a love interest of his.

The song “C’mon” featuring Joony finds the 2 gives off a victorious flare to the instrumental pointing out the fact that the money ain’t ever gon’ leave them as opposed to the women that do while the penultimate track “On Timing…” dives into syrupy territory talking about still being on that time. “Beaming” though closes out the EP out on a profound note by addressing his ever-growing popularity.

However long it may be until we reach Ascension 2, I’m more than ok with Ty continuing to build anticipation for it by further experimenting with his versatility like he did only a few months back. The performances from the few features that he brings in are pretty mild but outside of that, but his knack for catchy songwriting remains untouched & SJR’s brings a whole new vibe behind the boards.

Score: 3.5/5

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che – “closed captions” review

che is a 16 year old recording artist from Atlanta, Georgia emerging as part of the 4ersona collective under the original moniker murkio before settling on cheRomani+ & later abbreviating it. But it wasn’t until more recently where he decided to build a solo catalog for himself by putting out the debut EP 3 over a year ago & followed it up this past February in the form of X, which was supposed to be the original version of his 3rd EP over here to my surprise. So with that in mind, I had to give the final product a listen almost 2 weeks since former MLW National Openweight Champion Alex Kane became the new MLW World Heavyweight Champion.

“blueberry bakwood” was a dope choice for the final single whether it be CXO’s trap production with undertones of both Chicago drill & plugg or che dedicating it to his personal favorite flavor of Backwoods blunt wraps whereas “sativa” works in a more atmospheric instrumental talking about the titular strain of marijuana although I’m more of a hybrids guy personally. The futuristically bombastic “fangs” flexing that he be toting heavy pistols & is able to tell who smokes wack shit, but then “????” gives off a more energetic sound talking about his lifestyle.

Moving on from there, “sol” blends some hi-hats & synthesizers telling his girl to slide through his spot on top of coming clean that he isn’t looking for closure prior to “canary” enhances the euphoric mood refusing to go out bad. The lead single “blac chyna” fuses trap with Chicago drill letting the drum off just before “sos” returns to an otherworldly vibe to the beat talking about his girl calling him papa & copping expensive Balencis.

The penultimate track “draco draco” gives off a more euphoric drill edge instrumentally acknowledging that he still be popping tags & wanting all his bread in the mail while the closer “frank ocean” produced by SOULJASPIRITS talks about not being with the bullshit & getting a foreign hoe some vetements over a wavy ass trap beat. The bonus cut “flip” officially caps off the EP with a synth-laced drill instrumental calling your hoe a dirty skank & going so cray.

Given that 3 was a solid beginning in che’s career & X started off the year by giving us a taste of what was to come, Closed Captions has cemented him as my personal favorite 4ersona member & he has more than enough room to grow artistically down the line. The trap production is cloudier with a hint of Chicago drill mixed in as opposed to some his previous works putting his life on wax by delivering some of his infectious performances of his career

Score: 4/5

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Estee Nack & Raz Fresco – “Gia…À La Carte” review

This is a brand new collaborative EP from Lynn, Massachusetts emcee/producer Estee Nack & Toronto, Ontario, Canada emcee/producer Raz Fresco. One getting his start as a member of the Tragic Allies & the other garnering my interest in 2011 when short-lived Odd Future member Ace Hashimoto formerly known as brandUn DeShay had him featured on “Why Bother?” off All Day DeShay: AM. But as the Nackman comes fresh off his Griselda Records debut & one of his best albums of his career Nacksaw Jim Duggan couple months ago, Raz is now teaming up with him & the hottest producer in Montréal, Québec right now Nicholas Craven to take us through Gia…À La Carte.

“Cinque Campi” kicks off the EP with a bare drumless loop as both of them are masterfully mackin’ prior to “Roll Up the Rim” incorporates some strings & crooning background vocals showing y’all some shit referencing WWE Hall of Famer, 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, the inaugural 6-time TNA World Champion, TNA X Division Champion & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Kurt Angle.

The song “Fleece” goes for a funkier groove getting the bread to bless those below them with crumbs whereas “Whirlwind works in some flutes talking about seeing his shadow on Groundhog’s Day yet pushing it because they’re fearless. Jimmie D, Mike Shabb & The 6th Letter all join Estee & Raz for the climactic 6-minute closer “Born King” discussing being born for greatness with Jimmie & Shabbo’s verses sticking out.

Both of these dudes have crossed paths with one another before on tracks like “God’s Better” or “Mad Scientist”, so to see them come together knocking out a whole EP after a whole meal at Gia Vin & Grill is something that fans of each artist would want to check out. Nicholas Craven’s production is rooted in his signature sound with both MCs taking their chemistry to a new level.

Score: 4/5

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Whyceg – “Cegular” review

Whyceg is a producer, audio engineer & recording artist from Atlanta, Georgia who properly introduced himself to the underground 13 months earlier off his inaugural extended play Grey Areas. His popularity had been growing within the last few months due to producing for the likes of Smokingskul as well as Lil Tony & 2sdxrt3all, the latter of whom dropped his 2nd EP Stop Holdin’ Nuts a month ago. The follow-up to Grey Areashowever had me more intrigued after looking at the credits & seeing beatsmiths I’ve been a fan of for a minute making their own contributions.

“Yung N***a” produced by n9ck & ReidMD of Vanguard Music Group boasts of having the ability to turn nerds in a dancers over a plugg instrumental whereas “Wit Me!” refuses to beef with peons because they don’t see shit. Nick Mira & Rio Leyva from Internet Money Records team up behind the boards for “Stuck” giving a fuck less of what the police think about him while “Lapped ‘Em” runs circles around his opponents over a Hariroc instrumental.

SOULJASPIRITS goes for a cloudier more vibe to the beat on “Bad Habit” admitting that he’s fallen out with so many people to the point where he doesn’t know who to trust anymore prior to “Double It” talking about pulling up with a black chopper & he isn’t referring to an Uber ride when he says that. “Hit Me Back” works in some rattling 808s so he can laugh at a dude who’s so broke that he can’t even go rack-for-rack with him while “Sippin’ Red” talks about the consumption of lean & staying in the field throwin’ racks like it’s a game of football.

The self-produced “Locked-N” starts Cegular’s last leg talking about being too tapped in for him to tap out & running it before he’d fall off while “Hungry Like” lets it be known that he can’t relate to anybody who ain’t making the same amount of money he is or isn’t hungry as he is. “Not on This Planet” rounds out the EP with an atmospheric outro talking about standing on business ever since he was young, having to wake up & get the bag every morning because he had it out the mud.

Between this & Grey Areas, I can confidently tell you that Whyceg comes off fully producing 2sdxrt3all’s breakout project earlier this summer to elevate himself as a rapper & putting it all into Cegular ensuring that it would become the greatest thing he’s ever made as a solo artist. The trap/plugg production is significantly more consistent than it’s predecessor was last summer, once again holding the microphone down all by himself for less than a half hour & delivering sharper performances.

Score: 4/5

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