Curren$y – “For Motivational Use Only” review

Curren$y is a 42 year old rapper, songwriter & record executive from New Orleans, Lousiana that first got his start with No Limit Records in 2002. He would then hop over to Young Money Entertainment & Cash Money Records in 2006, but eventually branched out in 2008 with his own label Jet Life Recordings. The man has since made a name for himself by dropping a handful of projects every single year with my favorites including the Harry Fraud-produced Cigarette Boats, the Alchemist-produced Covert Coup, the prominently Ski Beatz produced Pilot Talk series, The Carrollton Heist, the Lex Luger produced Motivational Speech, the Statik Selektah-produced Gran Turismo & more recently Continuance to name a small handful. But coming off his 19th & 20th albums Spring Clean 2 produced by Fuse before last summer got underway & even a sequel to The Drive In Theatre that same Black Friday weekend, Spitta’s celebrating his born day by having So So Def Recordings founder Jermaine Dupri behind the boards for his 27th EP & the first in a new trilogy together.

“SoSo Jets” opens up the EP by talking about repping the underground as well as how the industry couldn’t change Andretti & the fact that his career has thrived since over some synthesizers, hi-hats & frequent JD adlibs whereas “Essence Fest” has a more traditional bounce vibe to it as he declares himself to be a Chevy on chrome & taking one of the hoes home. “Never Enough” follows that up with an inspiring trap banger about defeat not being an option & going from nothing to something until 2 Chainz tags along for the synth-funk inspired “Off the Lot” to not stop for a bitch.

The song “Screens Fallin” dives into boom bap turf acknowledging that he never said he runs Nawlins yet holds it down for them while the penultimate track “Never Fall Off” with T.I. is a groovy trap cut about never slippin’ with. Fortune 500” though returns to the boom bap 1 last time so he can let everyone in as to where he is in his life now with his paper being up, poppin’ champagne as if he won the championship & even his own son knowing the difference between the startup house & a mansion.

When I first heard that Dupri was gonna be the one handling the beats for this new Curren$y EP, it really had my interest considering how well established he is in the worlds of pop rap & contemporary R&B. We’ve also only seen him land a feature or production credit on occasion for over a decade or so, with the last time that I can recall him predominantly producing a project being Dondria’s full-length debut Dondria vs. Phatfffat nearly a dozen years ago back when she was on So So Def with him mentoring her. But the first installment of the For Motivation Use Only trilogy is a solid way to kick things off & has me intrigued to hear how the rest of the series pans out. Spitta’s subject matter absolutely lives up to his name as JD proves he hasn’t lost a step by resurrecting his signature production style.

Score: 3.5/5

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Twiztid – “Echoes from Dimension X” review

Twiztid is a hip hop/rock duo from Detroit, Michigan consisting of Jamie Madrox & Monoxide. Both of whom originally started out as part of the House of Krazees alongside childhood friend The R.O.C. in 1992 before their initial disbandment 5 years later. Almost immediately after, the Insane Clown Posse took Jamie & Mono under their wings by signing them to Psychopathic Records as the demented duo they’re known as today. They would become the label’s 2nd biggest act being their mentors off projects like Mostasteless, Freek Show, Mirror Mirror, The Green Book, W.I.C.K.E.D. (Wish I Could Kill Every Day & Abominationz. Shortly after the latter was released, Twiztid left Psychopathic to form Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2014. Since then they’ve released 7 albums & 7 EPs on their own label, my favorites of which being /ˌrevəˈlāSH⁽ᵊ⁾n/ & even their last full-length Glyph that they dropped over the fall. But as Jamie & Mono hit the road with Static X for their Rise of the Machine Tour, the Astronomicon founders are celebrating by surprise dropping their 15th EP fully produced by Stir Crazy.

“I’m Dead Now” is fascinatingly morbid way to set things off as Twiztid hops on top of a piano/boom bap instrumental vividly portraying themselves as if they were actually deceased while the song “Chops & Sweeps the Leg” delves deeper into a more uncanny vibe sonically as the Multiple Man & the Monoxide Child talk about taking the advice from the millions & millions who’ve told them not to take shit for granted ever again with. The penultimate track “A Demon” has this raw, grungy guitar lead throughout to discuss enough being enough & truthfully feeling stuck in this Hell they’re trying to leave prior to “Slip/Trip” finishing the EP with a trap/rock crossover continuing to spit the wicked shit as a reminder to those who like to lie to themselves that they turned their back on juggalos.

Mirror Mirror has always been my favorite EP from the demented duo, but Echoes from Dimension X is already creepin’ up with Electric Lettuce as the best EPs that they’ve dropped since leaving PSY to start MNE. Stir Crazy’s production is interestingly detailed ranging from the opener kinda throwing it back to the boom bap Mostasteless days to preluding their upcoming album Welcome to Your Funeral with Zeuss by refining the predominantly rock-oriented direction Unlikely Prescription took during it’s 2nd half in the form of blending the rap rock qualities of both Mutant & Generation Nightmare with their horrorcore roots. At this rate, Planet Z’s bound to give us a wicked shit rap rock classic & the best rock album Twiztid has ever done.

Score: 4/5

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Tyler, The Creator – “The Estate Sale” review

This is the 2nd EP from Ladera Heights MC, singer/songwriter, producer, actor, visual artist, designer & comedian Tyler, The Creator. Blowing up about 15 years ago as the de facto leader of Odd Future, his evolution both artistically & personally since the collective’s disbandment in 2015 has truly been amongst the most fascinating ones I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime going from the bratty edginess of Bastard & Goblin to the undeniable maturity & versatility shown on Flower Boy & IGOR. Even Tyler’s last album Call Me If You Get Lost happened to be his best lyrically & as he gears up for his next one this summer continuing the 2-year schedule that he started on, he’s giving fans a collection of outtakes from the CMIYLG outtakes in the form of The Estate Sale.

After the “EVERYTHING MUST GO” intro, the first song “STUNTMAN” with Vince Staples is an energetic trap banger to the EP as they pay homage to “Swagger International” by Pharrell essentially whereas “WHAT A DAY” has a more colorful tone to it thanks to Madlib as Tyler talks about being your biggest cheerleader. WANG$AP reunites for the synth-laced “WHARF TALK” discussing getting lost together with their significant others just before “DOGTOOTH” is a jazzy, dirty south/neo-soul hybrid expresses Tyler’s desire for a woman that he can satisfy. The song “HEAVEN TO ME” details what his version of the pearly gates is over a boom bap instrumental while the penultimate track “BOYFRIEND, GIRLFRIEND” with YG is a funky pop rap ode to love. “SORRY NOT SORRY” however ends the EP with a bare sample of “He Made You Mine” by Brighter Side of Darkness wavering between apologizing both sarcastically & genuinely.

Given the ending of the closer’s music video where the authentic Tyler kills off all his past eras, it’s clear that he’s getting ready to drop his 7th album this summer & I think The Estate Sale is an excitingly short offering that’ll keep everyone satisfied until then. Tyler’s production plays into the mix of styles that Call Me If You Get Lost revealed to have sonically & his still bringing his A-game with the pen. Here’s to the new chapter from hip hop’s most beloved unique personalities in just a few months.

Score: 4/5

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Royce da 5’9” – “The Heaven Experience” review

This is the 3rd EP from Detroit emcee, songwriter & producer Royce da 5’9”. Most notable for being 1/2 of Bad Meets Ǝvil with local sensation Eminem, his mark as one of the city’s illest lyricists has already been made along the way. Especially with releases such as Death is Certain, Street Hop, Success is Certain, Layers & Book of Ryan. Also can’t forget to mention his work with longtime collaborator DJ Premier as the MC/producer duo PRhyme or with the now defunct quartet of all-star wordsmiths that was once Slaughterhouse. But with his previous album The Allegory turning 3 last month, Nickel’s returning in the form of The Heaven Experience.

“Signs” is a Godly trap opener produced by STREETRUNNER dedicating this to those who fuck with him for real whereas “Out the Barrell” works in a sitar-laced instrumental from DJ Pain 1 with hi-hats cautioning those who haven’t been out here long enough to test him. “Look at This” has a more rugged sound thanks to the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League remembering his uncle Joe while the song “Grown Ass Man” classily makes it clear that he’s about his family. The penultimate track “Royce & Reggie” featuring Redman finds the 2 lyricists over a soulful boom bap beat acting a fool in cyphers to the dislike of others & “Ion Wanna” featuring Courtney Bell sends off the EP with a somber ballad about what goes around comes around.

If this just to prelude listeners for his upcoming 9th album much like how Tabernacle: Trust the Shooter held everyone over until Layers dropped shortly after, then I think people should be more than satisfied with it. I like how Nickel took a backseat on the production by bringing in some established vets to take care of things in that department as one of the best lyricists in the D continues to elevate himself higher & higher in the ranks.

Score: 4/5

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Big B – “Members Only” review

This is the debut EP from everyone’s favorite Las Vegas, Nevada hooligan Big B. Starting out as the frontman for 187, he would go on to join OPM following the demise of 187 & become a household name for the infamous California powerhouse Suburban Noize Records just a couple years later. His first 3 solo albums High Class White Trash, White Trash Renegade & More to Hate would become some of my favorite releases that the label has ever put out. Last we heard from B was during the pandemic when he dropped his comeback album Welcome to the Club only a day after the 7 year anniversary of Fool’s Gold & is reuniting with Michael Bradford on Members Only.

“Too Young to Die Old” is a country-infused opener with B talking about his mind being in his prime as his body declines whereas “Summertime Sunshine” is a more acoustic ballad encouraging to get reckless & party all night long. The song “Killers” melodically details the protection that he has around him while the penultimate track “Here I Am” has a more rock & roll groove to it talking about being as heartbroken as he is. “Clean Hands” though ends things by delving further into rock turf admitting everyone’s hands around his part are dirty.

If anyone enjoyed Welcome to the Club for the more mature direction it took on all fronts, Members Onlycertainly expands on that to a tee & every single fans who’s already in the Felons Club by now should give it a listen. Big B’s songwriting is cohesive, he clearly sounds focused through his performances & Michael Bradford continues to be the perfect guy to bring the best out of his new country style with the production is as potently organic as it was 3 years back.

Score: 3.5/5

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Tha God Fahim – “Berserko” review

Tha God Fahim is a 26 year old MC/producer from Atlanta, Georgia notable for his affiliation with Griselda Records as well as being 1/3 of the Dump Gawds alongside Mach-Hommy & Your Old Droog. We also can’t ignore the massive discography that he’s managed to build for himself, some of the standouts include Breaking Through tha Van Allen Belts & Dump Assassins. But coming off 4 EPs in the last 3 months with my favorites of the quartet personally being the Camoflauge Monk-produced Dark Shogunn Assassin as well as the Nature Sounds-backed Iron Bull & the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King 4 that literally just fucking came out last week, Fahim’s enlisting Oxnard veteran Oh No behind the boards for his 42nd EP in it’s entirety.

“Da Coldest” is a calmly laced opener with the Dump Gawd talking about being unable to see the game holding him back whereas “Faithful” works in some horns to ask why try if you ain’t even giving your all into it. Droog comes into the picture for the crooning “Cobbler” talking about being the ones that supply the product leading into “Tha Haunted” taking a creepier approach in sound to say those who think can fuck with him got it twisted & all he wants to do is run it up counting bands

Jay NiCe tags along for “Axe Pain” brings back the horns as they advise it’s better to be a moving target than simply a sitting duck just before “Bladepoint” talks about his exact line of business & playing to win it all. “Art Official” weaves a bare soul loop into the fold as he makes it clear that he ain’t here to play games with cats & to tighten up, but then “Grind Hard” follows it up with a mellow ode to the hustle.

The song “Megachad Rap” goes full-blown boom bap continuing to flex his greatness while the penultimate track “I Show I Prove” returns to drumless territory as he cashes out. “Nightmares” on the other hand truly ends the EP by talking about watching his back because of how petty some people truly are & that he’ll never retire from this music shit over some chilling vocals & synths.

I know I just said a week ago that Shot Clock King 4 is the best EP that Fahim has dropped in 2023 so far, but there’s no question in my mind that Berserko is on the same caliber. And if he’s continuing to drop EPs every month for the rest of the year like how Flee Lord & Papoose both did respectively, then I’m excited to hear what he has to offer next month. His determination is still clear as day & it’s refreshing to hear Oh No production start to finish not only considering it’s been 3 years since A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night dropped, but also how equally as talented as he is compared to his older brother.

Score: 4.5/5

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Sparkz – “Overload” review

Manchester, England, United Kingdom emcee/producer Sparkz dropping his 4th extended play under High Focus Records. A member of the LEVELZ collective & co-fronting The Mouse Outfit, he would later make appearances on projects like Verb T’s 8th album Good Evening & Pitch 92’s debut EP Lost in Space until Fliptrix signed Sparkz to his historic Hove, East Sussex underground imprint dropping Overload following the Angle trilogy of EPs in preparation of his own debut album.

“Buzzin’” kicks it all off with self-produced boom bap intro reminiscent of Yasiin Bey or A Tribe Called Quest talking about doing his thing whereas the 2nd & final single “Mean It” doesn’t shy away of keeping it sincere with his words. The title track & lead single blends boom bap with grime putting his lyrical proficiency in the limelight & after “Kidda” goes a little hardcore pulling shit out the basement to show audiences what the deal is, “Quit” blends wonky & boom bap to end the EP suggesting people to give up whatever they’re trying for.

Testifying to the years Sparkz has spent honing his wide range of talents from the mic to behind the boards, his inaugural solo release brings the heat with this 5-pack of unforgettable bangers that’re guaranteed to brighten up even the dreariest of places. High Focus brings him on board the label’s roster giving him a new sense of creative freedom, exemplified by his production sounding a bit wonkier unlike everything he’s done previously matched with the buoyant flows & sharp penmanship.

Score: 4/5

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Tha God Fahim – “Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King 4” review

This is the 41st EP from Atlanta, Georgia emcee/producer Tha God Fahim. Coming up as an affiliate of Griselda Records alongside Mach-Hommy & Your Old Droog, he’s also built up an incredibly vast discography with a couple of standouts being Breaking Through tha Van Allen Belts & Dump Assassins. Now the last time I covered Fahim’s work was when he dropped his 19th full-length album 6 Ring Champ & the final installment of the Shot Clock King trilogy of EPs produced by Nicholas Craven shortly after last spring. But coming off of 3 EPs since 2023 started with Dark Shogunn Assassin & Iron Bull being my favorites so far, Fahim & Craven are back together for a 4th installment in the Shot Clock King saga.

Jay NiCE’s appearance on the opener “Area of Effect” is the only feature on the EP as he & Fahim jump on top of a soulful boom bap instrumental referring to themselves as heavy dumpers boasting how terrific they are prior to “Nice to Know” going into drumless turf as he puts up points as much as Carmelo Anthony does. The sample on “Damage Over Time” is fascinatingly delicate with Fahim going out for revenge while the song “Defense” has a bit of a psychedelic rock route talking about being unable to give or let up. The penultimate track “Mentally Prepared” has a catchy vocal loop touching on nonstop dominance & “Work Hard Play Hard” is a crooning boom bap closer paying tribute to those who came before him & continuing the glory.

I still enjoy Dark Shogunn Assassin & Iron Bull as much as I do when both of those EPs dropped not too long ago, but the Shot Clock King series is amongst Fahim’s strongest work & the latest installment here sure enough has quickly become my favorite project that he’s given us this year as of me reviewing this. Nicholas Craven’s production is more prominently drumless much like the first installment & the way the Dump Gawd lyrically continues to float on top of these bare sample flips is as fresh as always.

Score: 4.5/5

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Acetone Boogie – “Rayamiento” review

Brand new EP from Tucson, Arizona emcee Acetone Boogie. Emerging from the depths of the Dark Carnival a decade ago this spring off his full-length debut studio Karma Circus, the summer of 2017 saw the release of his sophomore effort The Divine Trickster & has since joined the Swamp Society collective forming the Gloom Unit with fellow Swamp Society member Frankie Goldie. So keeping that in mind, it makes sense for Chapter 17/Psychopathic Records in-house producer Devereaux to fully produce Rayamiento.

After the titular intro, “Carousel Spinners” opens with an occult trap instrumental suggests not to be looking his way since he be posted up with the criminals whereas “Oya’s Betrayal” featuring .strife talks about getting cracked in the mosh pit & not wanting problems with either one of them. “Witch Blood” featuring Darby O’Trill gets on some wicked cloudy trap shit asking if you’d die for them while “Spinesnappin’” aggressively takes a couple minutes to find himself breakin’ backs.

“Hitta Licc” starts the final leg of Rayamiento bringing some chaotic trap vibes into the fold with lyrics from a gangster’s perspective & after “All My Heroes Are Dead” featuring Jvztizzo gives off a murky trap atmosphere to the beat referring to themselves as outcasts when that’s what being a juggalo has always been about, “Been Been Wicket Shit” featuring Darby O’Trill closes the EP with both of them channeling Acetone’s southwest phonk style calling to put your middle fingers high.

There were always hints of potential on both of Acetone Boogie’s previous LPs, but Rayamiento elevates himself artistically & has made itself comfortable in being the greatest thing he’s ever done in this decade long career. Devereaux’ production on here is a vast improvement compared to the Tucson artist’s earlier albums & the guests are far stronger than they were during The Divine Trickster, giving Ace the opportunity to step up his pen & that’s what he sure as Hell did.

Score: 4.5/5

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Westside Boogie – “Live at the Novo” review

Westside Boogie is a 33 year old MC from Compton, California who broke out onto the scene in 2014 with his debut mixtape Thirst 48. He would go on to follow it up with The Reachexactly a year later as well as Thirst 48 II the year after that before catching the attention of Detroit icon Eminem & signing to his Interscope Records imprint Shady Records in late 2017. His full-length debut Everything’s for Sale at the beginning of 2019 was a solid way to introduce himself to a wider audience & the sophomore effort More Black Superheroes did it’s job encouraging the world to embrace their powers, but is returning 9 months later in the form of his debut EP.

“Cold as Love” is a spacious trap opener with Superblood Boog talks about being in his head & pondering why one feels so safe yet shady can’t save him after invading his space while the penultimate track “Tell Me” works in a chipmunk soul sample & some hi-hats so Anthony can describe all the things that he wants to be told such as never hearing any kind of sucka shit again or how to fix the hood if he ain’t never in the hood. “Mood” on the other end sends off the EP with Ratchet Boog over a piano trap instrumental dropping some braggadocio for dat azz.

Everything’s for Sale gave a wider audience a good look as to who he really is & the concept of More Black Superheroes is still compelling to this day in my book but if Live at the Novo is only a prelude for his upcoming 3rd album, then I think it’s a solid offering to keep listeners satisfied until then. He delves more into himself lyrically whilst introducing his 2 alter-egos & the trap undertones of his 2 full-lengths are more prominent here than they were in the past.

Score: 3.5/5