Your Old Droog – “anything’s possible” review

48 hours following it’s announcement, Ukrainian-American lyricist Your Old Droog’s 10th EP is here. Breaking out through his self-titled debut, many actually first thought he was an alter ego of Nas given that their voices are somewhat similar. He eventually became a legend in his own right off later projects such as Packs as well as It Wasn’t Even Close, TIME & the Nicholas Craven-produced YOD Wave. The 4 last EPs he’s given us YOD Stewart, Yodney Dangerfield, The Yodfather & The Shining weren’t as great in my opinion yet most certainly had their highlights at the same time. Movie became a depiction of his life on wax & wants y’all to know anything‘s possible.

“Game 7” produced by Khrysis starts with a soul sample explaining that practice being the most important thing whereas “Confetti” featuring Count Bass D finds both of them talking about being willing & ready to feel the tiny pieces of streamers raining down. “No More” goes for a rap rock vibe admitting this shit doesn’t feel special anymore & after “Vanilla Fudge” flexes that not many can see him with the grammar, “Bronny” finishes by talking about having sons in the game already over a Kenny Segal instrumental.

Literally the only other time we’ve gotten to hear YOD in 2025 was his feature on “The Rose Bowl”off The High & Mighty’s reunion album Sound of Market, so it makes me happy he gave us a 12 minute extended play to hold fans off until Droogie Otis’ highly anticipated full-length debut. The production feels equally consistent as Movie’s was 17 months ago with the anything’s possible name playing a huge role conceptually.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

MAVI – “The Pilot” review

Here we have the 4th EP from Charlotte, North Carolina abstract lyricist MAVI. Emerging off his full-length debut Let the Sun Talk a day before his 20th birthday, he would go on to land a verse on “El Toro Combo Meal” off of Earl Sweatshirt’s 2nd EP Feet of Clay a month later as well as preluding the further well received Laughing So Hard It Hurts in the form of his previous EP End of the Earth. His 3rd album Shadowbox celebrated it’s 1-year anniversary this summer & The Pilotlooks to start the final week of November after signing to Loma Vista Recordings.

“Heavy Hand” is a lo-fi boom bap vibe to the beat talking about using his eyes because his heart’s somewhat like a blindfold whereas “Triple Nickel” featuring MIKE finds the 2 jazzily discussing pushing people far back when they see their dreams creeping up closely. “Silent Film” works in a psychedelic guitar riff getting honest regarding him never learning & not needing anyone to worry about him while “G-Annis” produced by Reuben Vincent references the current WWE Intercontinental Champion John Cena.

Kenny Mason joins MAVI on the drumless “Typewriter” warning that anyone comparing them to artists below them will have lost credibility because of it “31 Days” hooks up a vocal sample telling us he’s been sober for over a month now. “Denise Murrell” goes for a jazzier vibe once again with a flute heavy instrumental talking about his grandma calling him asking when he’s gonna stop making sad shit prior to Jay Versace incorporating some bare sampling for “Mender” telling this romantic interest that they’re gonna be together some day.

“Landgrab” featuring Earl Sweatshirt began The Pilot’s rollout with a drumless lead single trading consciously abstract bars back-&-forth with one another while the 2nd & final single “Potluck”featuring Smino blends trap, cloud rap & neo-soul talking about detractors hating all they want. “Jammers Anonymous” featuring Niontaydeserves a mention of it’s own whether it be the plugg/Philly jerk beat or both artists nailing it with the “Landgrab” delivery for a 2nd time.

Taking control of this new sobered up version of himself in a time of constant travel as well as growing exposure to the arts/design & alienation from home, MAVI introduces himself as part of the Loma Vista roster with a 26 & a half minute EP setting the stage of what we can expect out of his 4th album 1st in Flight next year. The production explores old & new sounds for him from boom bap to jazz rap, drumless, lo-fi hop, trap, cloud rap, neo-soul, plugg & Philly jerk bringing a tight list of guests on board for less that half of it to properly celebrate his sobriety.

Score: 4.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Tezzus – “##FilthyLikeMax” review

Atlanta, Georgia rapper Tezzus making his YSL Records debut with his 8th EP. Introducing himself with his first few EPs Hard2Kill as well as Hellraiser & Everyday’s Halløween, his debut mixtape Tezzus Khrist last holiday season would significantly elevate his profile locally as did the handful of appearances he made on The XA Tape earlier this year. He’s given us the Søufside collaborative EP with Percaso, Backrooms, King Phønk, I Phønk, U Phønk and Tezzy Pendergrass until Young Thug signed him following 9 Vicious’ departure due to him & Tezzus beefing. Nonetheless, getting ##FilthyLikeMax a couple days succeeding Savior was still a welcoming surprise.

“Animal 🐕‍🦺🐍🐲” starts with an industrial hip hop intro likening himself to a beast whereas “I’m Røyal 👑🤴🏿👑” goes for a rage-inducing vibe talking about his royalty status. “Bacccarat 💁‍♀️🛍️💝” featuring Skaiwater & 1300SAINT finds the trio buying out a while Chanel store over a hypertrap instrumental but once “Krøssed Ø Gang 🚂🚫🖤” featuring billi0n & ShawtyRokk angrily refuses to argue with peasants, “Life øf a Dølla 🕊️❤️‍🔥🕊️” finishes by remembering maxon over a rage beat.

Thug continuing to shift his focus towards rebuilding YSL Records ever since Uy Scuti polarized both critics & fans alike couldn’t have been a smarter move & ##FilthyLikeMax properly introducing himself to the label over 84 hours succeeding his labelmate’s greatest body of work the previous weekend. The production is more prominently centered around the rage subgenre of trap as opposed to Tezzy Pendergrass’ blatant pop rap influence as he & all 4 guests pay tribute to maxon a week after his death.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Tommy Richman – “Worlds Apart*” review

This is the 4th EP from Woodbridge, Virginia singer/songwriter & rapper Tommy Richman. Beginning to make music almost a decade ago by releasing his debut single “Ballin’ Stallin’” on SoundCloud & Spotify respectively, he would go on to put out 3 EPs including Paycheck as well as Alligator& The Rush. The latter of which caught the attention of Brent Faiyaz who in turn made Tommy the first signee to his newly formed ISO Supremacy imprint. Coyote marked his full-length debut 14 months ago & is following it up with Worlds Apart*.

“Stuck in My Head” was a fun g-funk intro singing about all the girls wanting them to be their man whereas “Amen!” instrumentally feels like a throwback to my favorite production duo of all time The Neptunes opting to focus on his vision even when things don’t feel right. “San Andreas”blends contemporary R&B with synth-funk & g-funk for an ode to the greatest Grand Theft Autogame ever while “West Coast” by mynameisntjmack & 03 Greedo unite for another Neptunes-inspired pop rap cut in which Giddy steals the show in this instance.

We get some prominent bongos on “What’s on Your Mind?” to kick off the 2nd half asking his lover what she’s thinking about at this very moment prior to “Actin’ Up” featuring Sexyy Red on the remix blending trap, pop rap, dirty south, contemporary R&B, hip hop soul & snap talking about cutting ties for what it is. “Bother Me” featuring Brent Faiyaz comes together for a duet admitting they were in their heads a week prior & “Mortal Sacrifice” ends by asking the woman he’s speaking to if she’s turning his wrongs into rights.

The “culture vulture” allegations surrounding Tommy Richman in the past year since he said he doesn’t make hip hop music around the time Coyote came out last is kinda silly to me because not only have both “$1M Baby” & “Devil is a Lie” revealed his artistic potential already, but he wasn’t entirely wrong when you take consideration of the fact that his music is more rooted in contemporary & alternative R&B with hints of hip hop soul & neo-soul. Worlds Apart* however makes for a decent extension of Tommy’s versatility fusing those 4 styles with g-funk, synth-funk, trap, pop rap, dirty south & snap ahead of a presumed sophomore effort in 2026.

Score: 3/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Truth – “Nostalgia ThEraPy 2” review

Brand new EP from Queens, New York emcee Truth. Formerly of the trio Gods’Illa, he would start to build up a solo discography for himself the year after the group’s full-length debut Believe in Gods’Illa however with From Ashes to Kingdom Come. He later followed it up 3 years later by dropping the sophomore effort The Fight for Survival as well as For All Intents & Purposes. The latter of which was also produced by Da Beatminerz fully as was Nostalgia ThEraPy, running it back with DJ Evil D & Mr. Walt for a sequel.

“Painful Truth” set up shop with a gully boom bap instrumental suggesting to try fuckin’ with him in a battle just to see what would happen until “Want It Back” dustily talks about his desire for New York to take it back to it’s roots dismissing “mumble rap” when I feel like we’ve been past that phase for a grip already. “Redrum Seen” brings a murderous vibe from the beat to the relentless penmanship while “Cause for Concern” featuring Psycho Les & Tragedy Khadafi comes together for a lyrical onslaught.

The song “Done Did It” kicks off the 2nd half of Nostalgia ThEraPy 2 by having Truth hopping over some horns mixed with kicks & snares talking about doing this rap shit with ease while “Check It Out” unloads a couple of razor-sharp 16s with more authority than the MTA on top of an aggressive backdrop. “Get to It” featuring Royal Flush finishes the EP with both of them over a soul sample refusing to slow down until they get what’s owed to them.

Hungrier than ever, the 3rd dosage of potent east coast boom bap from Truth & Da Beatminerz continues the former Gods’illa member’s elevation as a solo artist that began nearly 4 years ago with For All Intents & Purposes alongside the original Nostalgia ThEraPy EP celebrating it’s 2-year anniversary in only a couple months. Everything regarding the latter being elevated throughout its follow-up from DJ Evil D & Mr. Walt’s production to the sharp lyricism.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Jalen Frazier – “Eye of the Beholder” review

Here is the 5th EP from Detroit, Michigan emcee Jalen Frazier. Getting his footing in during the fall of 2020 off the strength of his debut EP Expressions of the Neglected, he would continue to turn heads in the local underground scene last summer with the follow-up God Bless My Chalice. His debut album The Drop produced by Foul Mouth & Ethics of War produced by godBLESSbeatz elevated himself from both of its predecessors, aiming for a 3-peat with Eye of the Beholder produced by Machacha.

“The Luz” opens up with a somber boom bap instrumental trying to make a profit overnight & aiming guns at nosy muhfuckas whereas “Dolphins” soulfully talks about emptying clips on whole entire regimes. “Tale of the Streets”works in a guitar mixed with kicks & snares masterfully showing off his storytelling abilities for 111 seconds while “God Forbid” talks about needing a ticket to hear these thoughts.

J-Classic joins Jalen on the song “Duffel Bag Written” winding up the 2nd half of Eye of the Beholder with a crazy Crash Bandicoot reference in light of Netflix producing an upcoming animated series based on the iconic franchise while “Conflict Resolution” hooks up a reversed sample shouting out all his homies locked down behind prison walls. “Political Theater” featuring Isaac Castor finishes with both of them talking about there being 2 sides of America.

A tribute to those who carry the weight of being authentic in the world full of imitators & searching for meaning amongst the misunderstood, Jalen Frazier continues to put out some of the most essential material of his whole entire career throughout Eye of the Beholder continuing to improve above All Love Until It’s Not roughly 8 months ago. Machacha’s production is on par with The Most Interesting Man in the World’s & each verse feels like a testimony.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Tha God Fahim – “Ultimate Rapper 5000 Guillotine” review

New EP & the 68th overall from Atlanta, Georgia emcee/producer Tha God Fahim. Starting as an affiliate of Griselda Records & 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. He’s been putting out amongst his best material in the past few years like the Camoflauge Monk-produced Dark Shogunn Assassin, the Nature Sounds-backed Iron Bull, the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King series, the Oh No-produced Berserko, the Mike Shabb-produced Dump Gawd: Rhyme Pays, Tha Supreme Hoarder of All Pristine Wealth, Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga produced by Cookin’ Soul & Machine Gun Vocabulary produced by Cartune Beatz. Coming off a Slam Dump with Drega33 earlier this week, the Ultimate Rapper 5000 Guillotine has emerged.

“50 Lunch Numbers” proves to be a great taste of what to expect whether it be the self-produced boom bap beat or the sharp lyricism talking about how nobody can take his musical accomplishments away from him whereas “My Off Day” goes for a jazzier vibe working when he wasn’t scheduled to. “Miseducation” hooks up some dusty vibraphones recalling a lot of people he knew having guns before graduating high school while “Mic Clutchin’” brings back the jazz suggesting separation can be for the best sometimes.

Meanwhile on “Modern Marvel”, we have Fahim going for a lo-fi boom bap vibe breaking & building empires leading into “Reigning Victor” talking about his state of mind scarily being out of planetary. “Tha Coming of Shogunn” keeps things in the basement instrumentally comparing his discography to a library of knowledge just before “Tha Dump” talks about his imperviousness. “Illusions of tha Mind” shits on those who’re still hating over a guitar & “Mortal Wounds” featuring Jay NiCE ends by thanking God they’re true Gs.

The only time we really got to hear Tha God Fahim over his own production in 2025 was the 42% of Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 15 (Final Explosion) that he did all by himself & Ultimate Rapper Guillotine 5000 makes up for the last few installments of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap saga with the most I’ve enjoyed a project of his since Lethal Weapon 4. After spending the last 13 months sharpening his sword, he jumps back behind the board to prove that he hasn’t lost a step in that department.

Score: 4.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Ransom – “The Uncomfortable Truth” review

Jersey City wordsmith Ransom dropping his 14th EP a week following its announcement. 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 the 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 entirely produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Rome Streetz collab album Coup de Grâce, Chaos is My Ladder, Director’s Cut 4 & Deleted Scenes 2. Lavish Misery produced by Harry Fraud was a step above Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child & MadeinTYO producing Smoke & Mirrors last summer was an exciting surprise, coming off The Reinvention produced by DJ Premier this past Halloween to confront The Uncomfortable Truth with Conductor Williams.

“Clairvoyance” ferociously breaks the gate down talking about his ability to perceive events in the future whereas “Blood Stains on Coliseum Floors” works in a crooning soul sample posing the question of why one would believe in faith when every single prophecy he’s familiar with has been ignored. The only single “Bomaye” drumlessly references the Rumble in the Jungle between George Foreman & WWE Hall of Famer Muhammad Ali just before “Temple Run” featuring J. Arrr talks about not reaching their full potentials.

To begin the 2nd half, “Late Replies” keeps chopping up the soul samples apologizing to the love of his life for responding to her calls & texts later than he normally does leading into “The Human Animal” talks about people trying to pass batons in the midst of racing death. “Flowers & Tombstones” featuring J. Arrr reunites the pair 1 last time over a drumless beat to place blossoms on these analytics’ gravesites while “Trigger or Trigga” soulfully ends the EP talking about people falling victim to trigger works.

Wouldn’t have expected The Uncomfortable Truth to drop so soon after The Reinvention almost 3 weeks earlier but unsurprisingly, it’s another one of the greatest extended plays throughout Ransom’s whole entire catalog. Conductor Williams’ production leans heavier towards the drumless side of things contrasting Preemo’s signature boom bap sound of The Reinvention on Halloween & the lyrics are more soul baring, bringing along J. Arrr for a couple appearances instead of holding it down by himself again.

Score: 4.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

Tha God Fahim – “Slam Dump” review

Atlanta, Georgia emcee/producer Tha God Fahim shaking things up a bit with his 67th EP. Starting as an affiliate of Griselda Records & 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. He’s been putting out amongst his best material in the past few years like the Camoflauge Monk-produced Dark Shogunn Assassin, the Nature Sounds-backed Iron Bull, the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King series, the Oh No-produced Berserko, the Mike Shabb-produced Dump Gawd: Rhyme Pays, Tha Supreme Hoarder of All Pristine Wealth, Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga produced by Cookin’ Soul & Machine Gun Vocabulary produced by Cartune Beatz. Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 19 on Halloween was technically his most recent solo effort until Slam Dump, starting a new series instead of doing a Lethal Weapon 5.

“Happily Ever After” jumps over a chipmunk soul instrumental talking about there being no happy endings when ever he closes a chapter whereas “All Buckets” chops up another sample cycling through an entire clip until he hears a click. The title track featuring Jay NiCE soulfully talks about this rap shit being easier than breathing prior to “Clean ‘Em Up” also featuring Jay NiCE winning championships without coaching.

Jay NiCE makes his 3rd & final appearance on “International Champs” talking about making sure your “gold” doesn’t turn out to be copper in reality while “1st Strike” make for some of the extended play’s craziest rhyme schemes continuing a legend’s story. “Professional Hits” incorporates more samples to talk about his words representing lightness & “Noble Lineage” concludes with a soulful outro explaining that trials are a part of the process.

Regardless of how long it’ll be until Dump Gawd: Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 21 & whether or not it’ll be another collaborative effort with Jay NiCE, I have to appreciate Tha God Fahim for doing a 180° although it wouldn’t surprise me if Lethal Weapon 5 does come to fruition within the next year. Drega33’s production ranks amongst his best as he & FlyG prepare for the MENNBLVCK sequel in less than a couple weeks & the lyricism maintains Hyperbolic Time Chamber Rap 19‘s caliber.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

ИF – “Fear” review

Gladwin, Michigan recording artist ИF dropping off his 3rd EP. Coming up 15 years ago off his debut mixtape Moments, he eventually signed to Capitol Records & made his full-length debut during my senior year of high school with Mansion. This was followed up with Therapy Session & Perception, the latter of which spawning his biggest hit “Let You Down”. Coming off The Search & Hope however, he’s decided to face Fear head-on as we reach the halfway point of November 2025.

The self-produced title track opens with him talking about his OCD being worse than ever and asking God, if this fire and his life was started by Him & after “Home” finds himself pretending this chick’s actually here leaving a voicemail and telling her to call him back, “Who I Was” featuring MGK brings 2 of the corniest artists together talking about everything they care for being burnt up in front of them.

“Gimme a Reason” talks about forgetting what the hustle & struggle was like despite the cosign from UFC fighter Michael Chandler while “Sorry” featuring James Arthur starts the final moments of Fear with both of them coming together for a pop rap crossover apologizing to exes for the way things ended with them & not trying to start any more issues than Necessary. “Washed Up” concludes the EP regressing to a more negative mindset that was seen prior to Hope.

Unfortunately as much as I really want to like ИF’s music, Fear merely faulters at an attempt to shift towards singer/songwriter with minor elements of conscious hip hop along with pop rap & folk pop. There’s not really a whole lot for me to complain about in regards to the production since it’s merely decent at best, it’s that some of the lyrics can be irritatingly corny & the flows aren’t really all that interesting to me either personally.

Score: 1.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!