Boondox – “Cryptodirt” review

Boondox is a 43 year old MC from Covington, Georgia who first came onto the scene in the Early 2000s as Turncoat Dirty. He then changed his moniker after signing to Psychopathic Records from 2005 & remained with them until 2015. Eventually he would join Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2016 & is still on the label to this very day. However, he & MNE are teaming up with Mobstyle Music for his 5th EP.

After the titular intro, the first song “Good Night” is a cold blooded opener getting murderous on top of some baleful keyboards throughout whereas “Time” goes into a more trap direction saying it maintains him. “Wait for Death” heavy-heartedly opens up about suicide just before the penultimate track “187” goes back into trap territory quenching for blood once more. “The Code” finishes the EP off with an energetic Southern Hustlas Inc. reunion as the trio enlist Bukshot to slaughter those who disrespect them.

I enjoyed Dirty Days of Night, but I’d have to say to Cryptodirt is a superior follow-up just by a small margin. Boondox is at his best when he’s on his gangsta shit as proven during his Psychopathic Rydas days a little over a decade ago & 7 literally never disappoints behind the boards.

Score: 4/5

Blu & Mickey Factz – “The Narrative” review

This is a brand new collaborative EP between underground veterans Blu & Mickey Factz. One hails from the City of Angels & the other coming out of the City of Dreams. The pair have worked with one another countless times in the last decade & they were even apart of the 2009 XXL Freshman Class together, but are teaming up for The Narrative produced entirely by Nottz.

“Stay Down” starts things out with a soulful tribute to those who stuck with them up to this day whereas “Freedom” with Kota the Friend talks about what the title means to them on top of some synths & heavenly background vocals. “Roll Up” an eerie boom bap cut up about how rough 2020 was just before Asher Roth tags along for the churchy “Reign” saying they’re taking the through. The penultimate track “1” with Fashawn continues the gospel-influenced production saying they’re one with the moon & stars, but then the Sy Ari da Kid-assisted closer “Dark Souls” is a melancholic piano ballad talking about someone abusing their power.

If you’re a longtime fan of either one of these guys like I am, then you’re gonna love this EP because this was exactly what I expected from it & I mean that in a good way. Both emcees do a great job at bouncing off each other, Nottz’ traditional production is a great addition & almost every feature rips it up on their own right.

Score: 4/5

7xvethegenius – “Thy Will Be Done” review

7xvethegenius is a 31 year old MC from Buffalo, New York breaking out a couple years ago off her debut EP The Calm Before & the full-length album 7xve is Love. This was followed up with the Self 7xve EP & then this past winter, she & Jae Skeese both became the first artists that Conway the Machine would sign to his newly formed Drumwork Music Group. Now since 7xve’s sophomore album albeit Drumwork debut Death of Deuce on the way, she’s preluding it by dropping her 3rd EP.

“Tunechi” is a trap-flavored opener produced by Chup with 7xve & Armani Caesar telling motherfuckers to ask about them whereas “Payback” has an atmospheric boom bap tone thanks to EYEKETYSON speaking on her family. “Roses” goes into jazz territory addressing her lover just before “Marching” returns to that trap sound talking her shit.

The song “Psalm” with Jae Skeese takes it back into jazz turf with the help of Camoflauge Monk saying they out their lives on wax while the penultimate track “If I” with Heem meditatively tells the good they can be anything. Finally, the closer “Bailey Ave” luxuriously pays homage to the street that she came up from.

I feel like this chick has only been getting better within the last 8 months or so. Everything from 7xve’s songwriting to the production choices have improved significantly in comparison to her previous efforts. At this rate, Death of Deuce could very well be her best work yet.

Score: 3.5/5

UnderRated – “Room to Grow” review

UnderRated is a 40 year old MC/producer from Arcata, California notable for formerly being 1/2 of the revered Humboldt County duo Potluck. Ever since their disbandment at the beginning of 2017, he & 1 Ton have been focusing on their solo careers even though neither one of them have dropped an official project up to this point. However, it looks like UnderRated is finally preluding his Suburban Noize Records-backed solo debut Growing’s Always Good by premiering an EP on his YouTube channel.

“U Don’t Want It” is a piano trap ballad calling out those who try bringing the smoke to him whereas “Bow to Your Sensei” hypnotically shows you where he’s at right now. “Uppercut” meditatively gets on his weed shit just before the flute-tinged “All I Need” expressing his desire for love. The penultimate track “L.F.G. (Let’s Fucking Go)” has a more trap metal vibe talking about getting lit & to finish it off, we’re treated to a sequel to “What’s Your Purpose?” off the first Potluck album Humboldt County High.

I really think fans will enjoy Room to Grow as much as the Potluck shit, because UnderRated’s just snapping lyrically throughout it’s 17 minute run-time & it’s cool to hear him bringing outside producers into the fold. If he keeps it up, Growing’s Always Good will absolutely be worth the wait.

Score: 3.5/5

Benny the Butcher – “Pyrex Picasso” review

This is the 6th EP from Buffalo emcee Benny the Butcher. Getting his start in 2004 off his debut mixtape Tana Talk, it wasn’t until 2018 when he dropped his Daringer/Alchemist-produced debut album Tana Talk 3 under his cousin Westside Gunn’s independent powerhouse Griselda Records. This was followed up with The Plugs I Met & the Hit-Boy-produced Burden of Proof but just 5 months after teaming up with Harry Fraud for The Plugs I Met II, the butcher is now proclaiming himself as the Pyrex Picasso.

After the “1st Name Basis” intro, “Flood the Block” is a bit of a celebratory kickstarter talking about drugs & clocking dollars whereas “PWRDRL” with Elcamino has a bit of a rock feel getting on their mafioso shit. The title track with Conway the Machine works in some keyboards & dusty drums talking about getting rich just before Elcamino returns with Rick Hyde for the symphonic “‘73”, saying their competitors will never be them. “The Iron Curtain” works in some haunting organs spitting that street gospel & the closer “Fly with Me” with Conway the Machine has a soulful vibe talking about being hustlers.

It’s no secret this dude has been working hard on the Tana Talk 4 double album for a while now & I think Pyrex Picasso serves as a fresh lil’ appetizer before the main course despite being recorded 3 years back. Chop La Rok & Rare Scilla do their thing behind the boards for The Butcher to let his flashy lyricism come in to play as it usually does.

Score: 3.5/5

Boom Bap Project – “Return Flight” review

The Boom Bap Project are a trio from Seattle, Washington consisting of Destro, Karim & DJ Tre. They’re also apart of the Oldominion collective, dropping their full-length debut Circumstance Dictates only 2 decades back & then the Rhymesayers-backed sophomore effort Reprogram to even more critical acclaim 4 years later. Last time we heard the crew together was in 2007 with The Countdown, but have decided to reunite from their long hiatus for a debut EP.

“Been So Long” is a lush opener talking about their hiatus whereas “Don’t Follow Me Down” enlists Wordsworth to talk about being steady on their own with a harp loop throughout. “Deion Sanders” goes into more chilled out territory talking about the golden era just before saying they’ll always kill it on the rugged “Rain or Shine”.

The song “Hagler vs. Hearns” showcases their chemistry proclaiming their music as the real shit with a woozy instrumental while the penultimate track “Achilles” has a bit of a soulful feel to it showing them they way they do shit. “Ink Drips” then finishes off the EP with an emotional piano ballad.

I’ve been a fan of these cats since the Rhymesayers days, so to hear them come back albeit in a short capacity makes me happy as Hell. The production stays true to their name all these years later & in terms of chemistry, they haven’t lost a single step.

Score: 3.5/5

Fat Joe – “What Would Big Do?” review

Fat Joe is a 50 year old MC, songwriter & actor from The Bronx, New York who came up as a member of D.I.T.C. & the Terror Squad. His first 3 albums Represent, J.O.E. (Jealous Ones Envy) & Don Cartagena are considered by many to be the best in his discography. However, much of his output since then has been either hit or miss from the underrated The Elephant in the Room to the horrendous J.O.S.E. 2 (Jealous Ones Still Envy 2). Last we heard from him was in late 2019 when he & Dre dropped their collab effort Family Ties, but is now returning with a brand new EP produced by Cool & Dre.

The intro has a soulful vibe instrumentally with Joe flexing whereas “Michael” is a luscious romance anthem. “Honey” vibrantly talks about hustling just before he & Dre reunite for the fly shit that “Diamonds” delivers on top of a fucking Prince sample. “Demon Girl” serves as a spacious bad bitch theme, but then “Africa” with Lil Yachty bastardizes the iconic Toto song of the same name.

The song “Babyface” compares his sex game to Verzuz despite the sensual beat while
the penultimate track “Back Outside” with Remy Ma serves as a funky ass shaker. The closer “Sunshine (The Light)” then samples both Rihanna & Luther Vandross saying that his girl is everything to him.

I still stand on what I said earlier about Fat Joe’s discography in the last 20 years being hit or miss, but What Would Big Do? isn’t bad. Cool & Dre do a good job for the most part at flipping the classics as Joe gets on his grown man shit.

Score: 3.5/5

Autumn! – “Not Much Longer” review

This is the 15th EP from Louisiana rapper/producer Autumn!. Within the last 3 years, the kid has become a household name in the plugg scene off projects ranging from the ##RETRIBUTION series to the full-length debut Ils Verront last fall. He just dropped Golden Child a couple months back & that’s probably his most introspective work to date so given that, I was definitely curious to hear where he would go on Not Much Longer.

“Incase!” is a minimal yet rowdy opener talking about doing “rich n***a shit” whereas “Dancin’ with the Stars!” goes into cloudier territory with him flexing. “WANTS!” sounds like something out of an old school video game talking about a girl whose heart he broke still texting him just before the woozy albeit self-explanatory “F.T.S.! (FUCK THAT SHIT!)”. The penultimate track “VICTORIOUS!” celebrates his dubs on top of a bass-heavy instrumental & then “MURCIELAGO!” atmospherically tells his naysayers to get out of his life.

I was hoping we were getting Golden Child 2 because I have a tendency to enjoy music that personal, but nonetheless I’m happy with Not Much Longer. I like the more braggadocious tone of the lyricism & the way he makes pluggier beats remains unmatched.

Score: 3.5/5

BBKnight – “Knight Awakens” review

BBKnight is a 24 year old rapper from Las Vegas, Nevada getting his start in the spring of 2018 by dropping his debut EP Knight’s Hive. This was followed up with 4 more EPs but after dropping the debut mixtape Beautiful Boy at the beginning of the year, it’s only right for him to returning with a 6th EP ahead of his 25th birthday that’s coming up this weekend.

“Permanent” starts things off by talking about how this life is forever with a synth-induced trap instrumental whereas “Rick Owens” is a short yet entrancing tribute to the clothing company of the same name. The retro video game sample throughout “On the Flo” is pretty cool as he boasts about himself leading into the catchy party starter “Codeine Sippin’”. The penultimate track “Tired of Yo Shit!” aggressively gets on his shit-talking bag & then “Sap’d Out” is a cloudy finisher talking about not letting these lames around him.

Of all the projects BBKnight has dropped so far, Knight Awakens could very well be my favorite of the handful & I can only see him growing going further. The production is hypnotic as fuck & his performances are at their catchiest as is the songwriting.

Score: 3.5/5

Homeboy Sandman – “anjelitu” review

Homeboy Sandman is a 40 year old MC from Queens, New York who came to my attention when he dropped his 4th album albeit his Stones Throw Records debut 1st of a Living Breed almost 9 years ago at this point. The dude would go on to drop 3 more full-lengths & 7 EPs with them before jumping ship to Mello Music Group in 2019. His first album on the label Dusty was alright, but the Quelle Chris-produced Don’t Feed the Monster. that came out last October was much better. But after forming the duo Lice with local wordsmith Aesop Rock & dropping 3 EPs together, we’re actually getting a change of pace as Sandman’s letting Aes produced his 8th EP from front to back.

“Go Hard” is a charismatic opener about being in beast mode with some guitar licks whereas “West Coast” is a g-funk banger with references to “Hail Mary” & “Hand on the Pump”. Meanwhile on “F.Y.I. (For Your Information)”, we go into a bit of a rock direction for Sandman to talk about how he’s still dope after a decade just before continuing to bust into a more speedier flow on “Cow’s Milk” & the beat on here is kin to 70’s exploitation films. The penultimate track “No Beef” is a powerful vegetarianism anthem & the closer “Lice, Lice Baby” works in a piano instrumental possibly preluding Lice 4.

I think Anjelitu has to be my favorite project that Sandman has dropped under MMG so far, although I do enjoy the vulnerability of Don’t Feed the Monster. It’s really interesting to hear him put his own spin on the whole yin/yang concept in Ancient Chinese philosophy & it just goes to show that we don’t talk about Aes’ production skills as much as his massive vocabulary.

Score: 4/5