The Alchemist – “Flying High 2” review

Beverly Hills producer, DJ & rapper The Alchemist coming off his born day over a week ago by dropping his 11th EP & a sequel to the last one Flying High. 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 to even Eminem. But after producing Faith is a Rock for MIKE & Wiki alongside the best album of 2023 Voir Dire by Earl Sweatshirt, it should be known that Uncle Al’s still Flying High.

“Turkish Link” is a full-fledged solo cut to start the EP with Alchemist himself over a jazzy instrumental boasting lyrically whereas “Phil Drummond” featuring Conway the Machine finds the 2 on top of a a murky boom bap beat talking about their current statuses. “Vertigo” featuring Action Bronson takes a groovier approach musically looking to dismantle shot while “Royal Hand” happens to be the grimy, long-awaited reunion of Gangrene after 8 years & they both sound like they never even took a hiatus to begin with. The closer “Paint Different” featuring Curren$y finishes things with 1 last jazz rap cut belittling their competition.

Unlike the last Flying High, we have one of my top 10 producers showcasing his skills on the mic more often in comparison which shouldn’t surprise people since he started out with the late James Caan’s son as a duo of MCs, but a lot of performances on his his producer work are left to the guests & he gels well with them over his own production rooted in his signature hardcore albeit jazzy boom bap sound. Heard he & Hit-Boy are doing an album à la Champion Sound by Jaylib, which is VERY interesting considering “Slipping Into Darkness”.

Score: 4/5

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Jaysin the Sin God – “Palm Trees ‘n Post Offices” review

Jaysin the Sin God is a 30 year old emcee who came to my attention as a signee to DJ Clay’s very own Armed Robbery Entertainment. He’s also dropped 13 mixtapes & a couple EPs over the course of his career up to this point whether it be The Process series paying homage to Lil Wayne’s timeless Dedication series or his 2nd EP The Legend of Joe Dirt. But just in time for the Hallowicked season, Jaysin’s bringing along Chapter 17/Psychopathic Records in-house producer Shaggytheairhead to help make Palm Trees ‘n Post Offices the best thing that he’s ever done.

“Stoner Trap” is a piano trap opener wanting to be made aware if your trap is jumping from midnight to afternoon whereas the single “Black Air Forces” works in more keys & hi-hats talking about hitting a lick in the whip until torching it later on. “Teamwork” gives off a bassier trap flare to it looking to keep it g until he’s dead & gone that is until the tropical “Jalopy” talks about enjoying himself & being independent. “Bigger Loads” flexes that his trap is faster than adderall over another piano trap crossover & “Trappin’” rounds out the EP by giving off a psychedelic edge telling the story of a trapper.

Lo & behold: Palm Trees ‘n Post Offices will quickly go down as a crown jewel of Jaysin’s discography & the best EP of his career thus far. C17/PSY’s very own Shaggytheairhead cooks up some incredibly consistent production throughout the appropriately 17 minute run & Jaysin’s hardcore performances go well with it mixed in. If juggalos have yet to give this guy a chance, start with Palm Trees ‘n Post Offices.

Score: 4/5

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che – “Crueger” review

Atlanta, Georgia teenage up-&-comer che celebrating Halloween by dropping his 4th EP. Starting as a member 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 Closed Captions over the summer which was a solid introduction to who he is artistically & personally. However after dropping 2 singles earlier this month, he’s quickly following up his last EP in the form of Crueger.

“Ok Den” is a futuristic trap opener to the EP produced by CXO flexing that he has fat racks like Pumba whereas “Sayso” likens himself to a demon to his girl with a new Moncler coat for the season over a rage beat. “Busan” mixes elements of pop rap & trap melodically speaking on themes of romance just before the atmospheric “Batman” talks about feeling like the titular DC superhero. To start the 2nd half of the EP, “Gah Damn” dives headfirst back into hypertrap territory threatening that you don’t wanna play games with che since he’ll wet your block up leading into the pluggy “Right Now” singing about his trap falling off so she wants him over quickly. “That’s My Type” gives off a playful atmosphere describing his kind of woman while the dreamy “Badu” comparing his new chick to the neo-soul icon. The closer “Call Me” ends Crueger with 1-last rage beat telling his significant other to call him back.

If anyone came away from Closer Captions impressed as I was earlier this summer, then I’m sure that Crueger would fit well in your Halloween playlist this season. There’s more of a rage influence to the production compared to our introduction to che only a few months ago being based around trap & Chicago drill, but the plugg undertones were quite noticeable & he’s more inspired by Chief Keef. Also, cheRomani himself as a performer is continuing to improve & that goes for his catchy songwriting too.

Score: 3.5/5

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Nnutthowze – “Siqnaling the Siqly” review

The Nnutthowze is a trio from Kansas City, Missouri consisting of Phlaque the Grimstress, Tech N9ne & Zkeircrow. Formed by the future Strange Music founder 3 decades ago already, their only full-length LP to date Welcome to My Asylum would go on to become incredibly pivotal in the development of Tech’s image & rap style that would carry him to success. But after reforming once the pandemic started to clear up, the 6688846993 is officially making their Halloween to be Siqnaling the Siqly as their debut EP.

After the “Enter Nnutthowze Soiree” intro, the first song “The Siqnal” starts off the EP with a trap/rock crossover dedicated to all of those who have been outcasted whereas “Wanna See Me Fall” featuring X-Raided finds the quartet over a darker instrumental talking about how people wanna see you fail. “Wind Me Up” featuring King Iso morbidly cautions that they’ll get ghostly if you approach them just before “Death Tries Like an F5” addresses mass killings over a trap metal beat.

“Glitch Up” takes a cloudier boom bap route sending a message to those they be hearing doing fuck with them leading into the quirky but still eerie “What Happened to You?” talking about being at a loss for words after noticing an off-putting occurrence. After the “Whispers in the Dark” skit & prior to the “Enter the Clergy of Crays” outro, the final song “We’re Home” featuring Seuss Mace joins Tech N9ne & Zkeircrow providing music for the soul over an atmospheric trap instrumental.

I generally enjoyed their reunion cuts on Tech’s latest couple albums & 30 years after the Nnutthowze’s debut album, they outdo themselves on a 10 track EP preluding their sophomore album Clergy of Crays. The production is better than it was on Welcome to My Asylum, the chemistry between all 3 members is still strong & solid feature choices on top of it.

Score: 4/5

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Ameerlyn – “Slime in the Ice Machine” review

Ameerlyn is a duo consisting of Houston, Texas emcee Ameer Vann as well as Ghanan-American recording artist Merlyn Wood, both of whom you may remember as original members of the now defunct BROCKHAMPTON collective with Ameer being featured on the cover of their highly acclaimed SATURATION trilogy before being kicked out in 2018 due to sexual misconduct allegations & Merlyn being known for his Ol’ Dirty Bastard-like aura during his time in the best boy band since 1 Direction. Now it’s almost been a year since BROCKHAMPTON’s disbandment but only a week until Kevin Abstract puts out his 5th solo effort Blanket, I didn’t expect Blacksmith Recordings to sign Ameerlyn for their debut EP.

“Swisher” is an atmospherically bouncy opener to the EP with both of them delivering some energetically hardcore bars in their own characteristic manners whereas “Smog Check” goes for a cheery boom bap flare instrumentally talking about the lives they’ve made off this music shit. “On Everything” has a vibrant trap tone so both of them can ball like the playoffs just before “Okay” jumps on top of hi-hats humorously dropping more braggadocio.

Meanwhile, “Hit” goes for a moodier trap sound to get in their romance bags leading into the quickly produced “Freaks” talking about the weirdos coming out once the sun goes down. “Bling Bling” goes for an alien-esque sound to the beat continuing to boast, but then “Love’s a Scandal” shoots for a groovier aesthetic comparing love to some sort of wrongdoing.

The penultimate track “Song 2” draws near the end of Ameerlyn’s first EP together incorporates this mellow ass guitar lead getting on the more introspective side of things lyrically (especially Ameer) & as for the closer, “Ride” appropriately pays homage their Houston roots chopped & screwed style considering that BROCKHAMPTON originated in San Marcos.

As surprised as I was like other BROCKHAMPTON fans to hear Ameerlyn reuniting considering the allegations against Ameer & the highlight “DEARLY DEPARTED” off GINGER, I also had my curiosity about Slime in the Ice Machine & I wound up enjoying it as a fun little subgroup project. Merlyn & Ameer still match each other’s intensity as they always have been able to do so in the past with decent production also.

Score: 3.5/5

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Elcamino – “Martyr’s Prayer II” review

Buffalo emcee & singer Elcamino back with his 15th EP. Blowing up in 2017 off his self-titled EPwith Griselda Records, his profile increasingly grew after being followed up by Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 gradually building up a solid discography for himself along the way. But coming off a well received Black Soprano Family Records debut They Spit on Jesus earlier this month, Camino’s gonna keep it rolling by linking back up with 38 Speshfor a Martyr’s Prayer sequel.

“Streets Don’t Love Us” is minimally-produced opener explaining to everyone why he feels that the streets really don’t have love for him & his crew at all whereas “You Made It” gives off a warmer boom bap groove to it talking about celebrating success. “Kill Switch” delves further into his hardcore bag detailing that the best way to kill ‘em is by fucking their while “Weighing Options” somberly talks about another body dropping with each day. “Dope Talk” obviously spits that drug shit over some pianos & “No Drums” happens to be an appropriately drumless closer discussing his acquired tastes.

As much as I still like They Spit on Jesus for a B$F debut, Camino’s never missed over Spesh beats & it really doesn’t come as a surprise to me that I would view Martyr’s Prayer II as the best 2023 offering in the Buffalo recording artist’s discography. Spesh’s production is a slight cut above what we heard from Elcamino’s latest LP at the beginning of the month & the dude has some of his strongest performances in a while.

Score: 4/5

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BBY GOYARD – “Spirit” review

This is the 22nd EP from Maryland recording artist BBY GOYARD. Getting his start in 2016 off You Had Me At Hello, he would go on to take over the plugg scene by putting out his last 21 EPs & 4 mixtapes. But coming off his debut full-length LP Loreseeker over the summer fully produced by DJ Smokey. However with only 4 days left until Halloween, it makes sense for GOYARD to drop off a 7-track offering to get people in the Spirit.

“New Earth” opens up shop with an adrenaline pumping trap instrumental with GOYARD getting boastful lyrically whereas “Shadowban” takes an industrial route to the best talking about being in MTL with empty bottles & that he loves to cast spells. “Myth” shoots for a haunting trap atmosphere showing off his wealth & looking to raise the stakes that is until “Black Magic Voodoo Diamonds” talks about the only thing he knows for certain is that he rocks with a band like The Used over a plugg beat.

The song “CursedLife” fuses elements of rage & Chicago drill so he can discuss how he lives with being cursed just before “Falls Count Anywhere” gives off a triumphant edge to the beat flexing that his whole fit costed him a mortgage. “Vowel Ritual” officially wraps up Spirit by asking what it’s exactly like in the Chamber of Secrets & the instrumental GOYARD hops on top of has a bit of a chaotic flare to it.

Lil Shannon has always been my personal favorite member of the Nitemare collective as proven & he continues to cement that as the case ahead of the spookiest time of the year because Spirit is certain to aptly get you into the Halloween mood. The production’s more trap-based with some undertones of Chicago drill & plugg thrown in unlike the sonic variety of Loreseeker balancing his playfulness with the occult in a healthy dosage.

Score: 3.5/5

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Brigid Bites – “Pumpkin Spice” review

This is the 2nd 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 or the Juggalos 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 this past spring with her last EP Hatchet Girl, she’s returning in time for Hallowicked to put out Pumpkin Spice.

The title track produced by Elevated Focusion formerly known as Jonny Rythmns gives off an electronic vibe instrumentally as she talks about the titular spice mix making you feel incredibly alive whereas “Batshit Love” works in some synthesizers expressing her to desire to be insanely toxic. “D.O.T.W.S. (Daughter Of The Wicked Shit)” gives off an eerier trap flare to the beat declaring herself to be exactly that & “Stay Forever” is a groovy choice of a closer describing a carnival full of dead ghosts.

Hatchet Girl to me is still a solid gateway as to who Brigid is both personally & artistically, but I honestly think that she outdid herself a bit on here. The production mostly handled by Elevated Focusion is on caliber with the last EP as I feel like he continues to bring the best out of the Iowan Juggalesque founder so she can provide the soundtrack to the best time of the year.

Score: 4/5

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RJ Payne – “The Barbershop” review

New York emcee & revered battle rapper RJ Payne formerly known as Reign Man back with his 9th EP. Building up an extensive solo catalogue for himself with 23 mixtapes as well as well as his last 7 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. However, My Life’z a Movie produced by Stu Bangas quickly became my favorite LP in RJ’s discography celebrating it’s 1-year anniversary last weekend & to come off the moderately well received P.A. Dre-produced sequel last month, Enemy Soil Entertainment in-house producer C-Lance is teaming up with the Reign Man for a trip to The Barbershop.

After the “Barberchair” intro, the first song “Uninspired” explains his reasons for inspiration being at a low currently over a luxurious boom bap instrumental whereas “Already Rich” works in some glamorous keys talking about being rich spiritually. “Man Child” gives off a somber vibe musically coming to teach & rebuild the love, but then the piano-driven “The Ghost of Kevin Samuels” gives his flowers to the late controversial internet personality going on to say that we need to look into the mirror & get our shit together.

“Losing My Religion” has a crooning soul vibe to it telling y’all to consider him to be a hoodlum with a mission while “Slave Food” cautioning those who’ll use food as a weapon as he’s been noticing it since the recession. But until the “Barberchair” outro, the final song “Conspiracy Theories” prays that every day will get better being well aware of what the government’s hiding over some kicks, snares & an luscious backdrop.

If My Life’z a Movie is RJ’s best album, then there’s no question in my mind that The Barbershop will stand the test of time as my favorite EP of his because I went into it expecting it to be an LP but they still delivered on the same caliber as that Stu Bangas-produced album. Conceptually, RJ takes the listeners through a trip experience feeling as if you’re at an actual barbershop & the score that C-Lance cooks up is incredibly consistent.

Score: 4.5/5

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Meechy Darko – “Doses” review

Brooklyn emcee Meechy Darko is returning with a brand new EP of solo material. Starting as 1/3 of the trio Flatbush ZOMBiES with his childhood friends Zombie Juice & Erick the Architect, they would go on to release a couple mixtapes & albums together throughout the previous decade all to critical acclaim before focusing on solo careers since their debut EP now, more than ɘver… came out a few summers back. Meech was the first up at bat with a full-length executive produced by Dot da Genius last summer called Gothic Luxury which es solid in it’s own right, but is looking to hold fans off until an upcoming sophomore effort with Doses.

“This is Doses” starts off the EP by promising to never overdose over a cloudy trap instrumental whereas “360° Resurrection” keeps things atmospheric stripping the hi-hats talking about trippin’ with drugs all in his system. “Falling…” gives off a psychedelic vibe instrumentally explaining that the good keeps dyin’ younger & all these evil motherfuckers continuing to live just before “No, Thyself (Paranoia)” featuring Nyck Caution finds the 2 over a drumless loop talking about how they know the message once the acid hits & Nyck hooking dude up with what could possibly be my favorite guest appearance on the project personally.

“The Slaughter” details calling Meechy’s grandma clutchin’ on the Bible over a jazzy ass beat leading into “HELLalujah” talking about being unable to serve money & God over an excellently crafted trap instrumental from Kirk Knight. “LASTNITE (Confessions of a Pussyholic)” featuring Anthony Flammia goes for a tranquil vibe thanks to Erick the Architect tackling the themes of sex while “That, I Could Live Wit” woozily talks about being different following his father’s passing. “TheWorldAlreadyEnded.” though happens to be a piano-driven closer burning money in the apocalypse.

I still prefer Gothic Luxury by a hair but regardless, Doses holds off finely until Meech is ready to unleash his sophomore effort into the world presumably another year from now. Yes the production on that previous LP is a bit stronger, it’s that the honesty Meechy showed throughout the predecessor which made it so enjoyable makes its way over here

Score: 3.5/5

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