DaeMoney – “Slayer’s Coming” review

DaeMoney is a 22 year old rapper from Detroit, Michigan who also happens to be the nephew of one of the 2 biggest artists in the city right now Babyface Ray as well as member of the WRLD Tour Mafia collective. He dropped his debut mixtape Young Sexual Misconduct & his debut EP Slae Season, which was followed up last summer by his 2nd EP Rockstar Lifestyle & then his Slae Season 2 in the fall. Now in light of DaeMoney signing to EMPIRE Distribution recently, it’s only right for him to celebrate by delivering a 3rd EP.

“Level Up” is a futuristic opener co-produced by LulRose talking about Dae’s success whereas “Wayne Perry” takes a wavier approach bragging that no one can touch him. “Andrew Wiggins” continues to work in some more synths & hi-hats talking about being tired of detailing his lifestyle leading into “Losses & Lessons” taking a more introspective approach from the subject matter to the glossy production. The song “Lemon Cherry” shoots for a mellower vibe talking his shit with the penultimate track “Do More” fusing trap & rock to tackle the concept of more problems coming as you get richer, but then “Congratulations” ends the EP with a meditative ode to the self made.

For those of you who’re familiar with Babyface Ray & are looking to get into DaeMoney, then give Slayer’s Coming a listen because it has to be my favorite effort from Dae thus far. Much like Ray, his sound is completely different in comparison to some Detroit trap rappers sounding the same & speaks from the heart about his life profoundly.

Score: 3.5/5

ssgkobe – “RELAPSED” review

This is the 15th EP from Louisiana rapper ssgkobe. Emerging out of the SoundCloud scene just a few years back, it wasn’t until earlier last spring when he was featured on a bonus track off of BROCKHAMPTON’s final album to date ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE where I was introduced to him. His major label debut albeit 12th EP overall KO. that came out a couple months later wasn’t the best place to start diving into his discography at all, but I was genuinely intrigued by Night Before once I started listening to his earlier work. That being said: I went into RELAPSED hoping that ssgkobe would redeem himself.

“Hershey” is a rage-induced opener wanting to know what his purpose is whereas “Getcha” takes a symphonic trap route to start boasting. “Oh No!” goes into atmospheric territory reaching the epiphany that his bitch was a thot while the song “9” talking about walking around strapped over a misty trap instrumental. The penultimate track “Every Second” has a cavernous aesthetic to it brushing off those who’re bitter at his success & “Okay, What R U Saying?” ends the EP with kobe over a woozy instrumental calling out someone for capping.

Compared to KO., there’s no denying that Relapsed is like night & day in terms of quality. The production has improved sounding a bit more varied in comparison to the predecessor trying to reach an audience that doesn’t exist & I respect that ssgkobe’s wearing his heart on his sleeve a lot more this time around, but I’d love for U4EYA to be a melting pot of the new sounds he’s dabbling with now & his rage/plugg roots.

Score: 3.5/5

Roddy Ricch – “The Big 3” review

Roddy Ricch is a 23 year old rapper & singer/songwriter from Compton, California who came up in the fall of 2017 off his debut mixtape Feed tha Streets. He would follow it up with a sequel almost a year later & signed to Atlantic Records shortly after, who put out his full-length debut Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial the year after that to moderate reception. His sophomore effort Live Live Fast came out this past winter & even though a lot of people found it to be a disappointment, I personally consider it to be his best work yet. So given that, I was curious to hear this debut EP of his ahead of his upcoming 3rd mixtape Feed tha Streets III.

“Real Talk” is a solid introduction to the EP with it’s twangy trap production from DJ Mustard on top of Roddy’s lyricism touching on loyalty & brotherhood, but the penultimate track “Tootsie’s” has to easily be my least favorite of the 3 with it’s nondescript instrumental & bland braggadocio. I do however find “No Mop” to be a sensual conclusion from the misty trap beat from London on da Track to Roddy’s raunchy pen-game.

I know I’m in the minority for liking Live Life Fast more than most people, but I really hope Feed tha Streets III is better than The Big 3 because it’s an average appetizer before the main course. You got a great way to start it off, but then you get a miss & a mid closer. Hopefully the tape will be a moment of redemption for Roddy.

Score: 3/5

KanKan – “##B4W2G” review

This is the 20th EP from Dallas, Texas recording artist & producer KanKan. Emerging in 2019 as a member of the Slayworld collective as well as landing production credits for a wide range of artists from Summrs to even Little Pimp, he would also go on to drop an eponymous debut mixtape accompanied by 19 EPs & a full-length debut in that short amount of time. But to warm everyone up for his upcoming sophomore effort Way 2 Geeked, it’s only right for KanKan to give the fans ##B4W2G as a way to hold us over until then.

“14” starts off the EP with a electronic/trap fusion talking about how the pussies can’t hit his za whereas “don’t @ me” takes a more uptempo route calling out those who think they’re better than him. The song “see u” shoots for a more atmospheric sound talking about treating every day like it’s a holiday while the penultimate track “after me” works in a rage beat confessing that he’s been geeked all summer. “taxbracket” closes things out with a fun braggadocio banger.

##RR was an impressive debut album for KanKan & for him to give us this in preparation for Way 2 Geeked, I’m really looking forward to hearing him continuing to artistically expand on there. I think the production of each cut gives off it’s own vibe & Kan’s songwriting is only getting catchier.

Score: 3.5/5

Goz – “LEGENDARY” review

This is the 3rd EP from Nigerian born albeit Bakersfield raised emcee Goz. Coming up in 2017 off of Pre-SZN, he would go on to follow it up a couple years later with his last EP SZN 1: Gametime & has put out a handful of singles under his belt since then. But all of that has been leading up to Legendary over here, which is the first outing of his since 2019.

The title track sets off the EP with a horn-heavy trap instrumental talking about expectations not being a thing when you be who you are whereas “The Dream vs. The Odds” takes a more atmospheric approach with KXNG CROOKED tagging along acknowledging how hard it is to make it in hip hop. Ras Kass comes into the picture for song “Built Like That” to returning to trap territory talking about being the realest while the penultimate track “W.A.R. (We Always Ready)” with Planet Asia embraces a boom bap sound to look for the smoke. “Everywhere (The Comeback)” with Kurupt ends the EP on a triumphant note bragging about how far both of them have come.

Of the 3 EPs that GOZ has put out so far, LEGENDARY is absolutely my favorite one yet & I’d definitely recommend it to those who wanna get into him. He takes it back to basics as far as the lyricism goes, the features are all well picked out & things in the production department have stepped up as well.

Score: 4/5

Nvy Jonez LKR & D-Rell – “6 Piece” review

This is the 4th collaborative EP between New York emcees NVY JONEZ LKR & D-Rell. The later coming straight out of Harlem & the other hauling from Brooklyn. The pair started working together a couple years ago during the pandemic by kicking off a series of EPs called The Chicken Spot & releasing the first 3 installments all that summer. But after 2 years, they’re returning for a 6 Piece.

“4 KILLAZ” is a boom bap-tinged opener with RTPBoat joining NVY & D-Rell to talk about their gangsta mentalities whereas “I.D.F.W. (I Don’t Fuck With)” with Mugga Wall shoots for a grimmer aesthetic confessing they don’t associate with people who associate themselves with people they dislike. “Street Politics 2” is a stellar yet raw sequel to the joint on 2 Piece & a Biscuit getting to the nitty gritty while the song “By Any Means” talking about doing it for their legacies over a cold instrumental. The penultimate track “G.D.2.D. (Good Day 2 Die)” incorporates some dusty drums & pianos quenching for blood & “Survive” is a triumphant closer talking about the real lasting in the end.

Although it’s almost been 2 years since the last time these guys have put out an EP with each other, 6 Piece is definitely my favorite of The Chicken Spot series thus far & I think it’s a good place to start for those who’re new to their catalogues. The chemistry from both MCs is still going strong than it was back in 2020 & the production impressively blends elements of today’s sounds with the culture’s gritty roots.

Score: 3.5/5

Will Gates – “Procuring the Wicced” review

Will Gates is a 20 year old MC from Traverse City, Michigan who’s been catching my attention for the last year or so by dropping singles like “Juggalo Rage” or more recently “Clown Town”. However with the 1-year anniversary of his debut mixtape Trashboy passing a couple months ago, he’s returning by dropping his debut EP under his own label Trashboy Entertainment.

“Dedication” kicks off the EP with a hi-hat heavy tribute to his homie Ashton whereas “Undisputed” is a fresh ass ode to Detroit down the hyphy sound that some of the younger acts out here be bearing in the music. “Reppin’” takes it back to the trap route to talk about being underground just before the title track brings back the Detroit trap flavor of “Undisputed” to remind everyone he’s obtaining the wicked shit.

The track “Fuccin’ wit da Oppz” works in some pianos to so he can spit that gangsta shit while the final song “I Keep That Hachet on Me” is a keyboard, hi-hat infused juggalo anthem. “Gratitude” ends the album with a 2-minute spoken word cut giving shoutouts to all the people he’s grateful for including myself, which I’m very honored by.

If any of y’all still aren’t hip to Will yet, then I recommend you give Procuring the Wicced a listen because it’s my favorite body of work that he’s put out thus far. The sound of this EP is very refreshing considering that I don’t think I’ve ever heard many people or anyone really put a horrorcore spin on the Detroit trap style & he’s at his hungriest lyrically.

Score: 3.5/5

Conway the Machine – “What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed” review

This is the 11th EP from Buffalo emcee & entrepreneur Conway the Machine. Blowing up in late 2015 as part of the 3 OGs of Griselda Records alongside his brother Westside Gunn & their cousin Benny the Butcher. Ever since the trio have rose to prominence, they’ve had hip hop on lock by their constant work ethic balancing quality & quality as well as vividly detailing their lives in the streets on top of boom bap production kin to that of RZA & Havoc in their music. Con’s full-length debut From King to a God was my Album of the Year for 2020 & just dropped his Shady Records-backed sophomore effort God Don’t Make Mistakes back in February, which is the most personal he’s ever been. He just dropped Organized Grime 2 a few weeks ago & is reuniting with Big Ghost Ltd. for What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed.

“Salutations” is a grim opener talking about whacking motherfuckers whereas “It’s a Green Light works in a piano & a harp admitting that he’s more confident than ever. “Bodie Broadus” takes a richer albeit drumless route calling out those who waited until he blew up to reach out to him leading into Jae Skeese tagging along for bloodcurdling “In My Soul” talking about people wanting them gone. “Y.B.C.M. (Your Bitch Chose Me)” goes into more soulful territory saying they know the game just before “Why You Ain’t Move on Me?” eerily gets on his murder shit.

Meanwhile on “Sunday Sermon”, we have Conway reuniting with Jae Skeese to go back & forth with each other over yet another soul sample bragging about their legendary status while the song “Scared II Death” with Method Man is a ghoulish boom bap banger taking a shot at those who be afraid of them. The final song “Big Drum” comes through with yet another Drumwork posse cut except he’s showcasing damn new the full roster at this point & “Dog Food” ends the EP with an outro from the skit gawd himself Lukey Cage.

No One Mourns the Wicked & If It Bleeds It Can Be Killed have quickly become some of the best EPs that Con have put out yet, so I had very high hopes going into into What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed & I’m very satisfied with it. As raw as Organized Grime 2 was, the production from Big Ghost Ltd. is much spookier & Con’s lyricism remains unmatched in today’s hip hop climate.

Score: 4.5/5

Sheep Stu – Self-Titled review

Sheep Stu is a East Coast duo consisting of New York emcee Dres & Boston producer Stu Bangas. Both of whom have cemented themselves as legends in the game in their own rights, but have never worked with each other prior. However considering how incredibly consistent Stu has always been (especially in recent years) & as a fan of A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing, I was very much looking forward to this debut EP of theirs.

“Simple is an uncanny opener to the EP with Dres coming out to say he ain’t like these other motherfuckers whereas “Hate” fuses boom bap & rock together talking about what doesn’t help the hood rise. The title trackadvises everyone that nothing in the world will ever hit like the same thing over a trunk-knocking instrumental while the penultimate song “Killin’ It (For a Lil Bit)” returns to dustier territory with Dres talking about being a class act. A.G. then comes into the picture for the grimy closer “Walk About It”, where he & Sheep Stu describe the way they lay motherfuckers down.

Now if you ask me, this is the best that Dres has sounded in a long ass time & I really hope we get more stuff from them down the road. The passion is clearly there in his voice, he never lost a step lyrically & Stu gives him the best batch of beats that he’s received in a while.

SoFaygo – “B4PINK” review

SoFaygo is a 20 year old rapper from Cobb County, Georgia who has cemented himself as one of the biggest faces in the plugg/pluggnB & rage scenes. He’s gone on to drop a total of 10 EPs since 2015 & now in light of Travis Scott signing him to Cactus Jack Records early last year, SoFaygo is preluding his upcoming full-length debut Pink Heartz by dropping an 11th EP & to celebrate him earning a spot on the new XXL Freshman Class list that also came out today.

“Long Way” is an amazingly energetic opener produced by Nick Mira of Internet Money Records & BryceUnknwn talking about how far he’s come whereas “Count Me Out” takes a airier, trap route instrumental wise dismissing those who be doubting him. The song “Good Day” returns to a more cloudier approach confessing that he can’t stay in Atlanta anymore while the penultimate track “Fall” is him bragging about him being the shit over a hazy beat. “Got Damn!” ends the EP by venting out what’s been on his mind & the Bakkwoods/Rafmade instrumental on here has a futuristic flare to it that I really like.

My lil bro J$zpiech actually put me onto SoFaygo months before he signed to Cactus Jack & I really think he gave everyone a fun little prelude ahead of Pink Heartz. The production is alright, but I can’t deny that he has a knack for catchy songwriting & melodic performances. All that being said: I’ll be going into his upcoming full-length debut expecting it to be a pivotal moment in his career.

Score: 3.5/5