This is the brand new EP from Fort Collins, Colorado rapper Mitchell James. He just dropped an short project last winter called Further Notice & about 9 months later, he’s ready to follow it up with Vintage.
The EP starts off with the title track, where Mitch talks about not passing up his opportunity over a 9th Wonder-inspired boom bap beat. The next song “PB & J” with Honey Boy, Duke Shoota & Trav the Trigger sees the 4 getting romantic over an joyous instrumental & then the closer “Some Kind of Outro” looks back on his past along with discussing where he’s at over a trunk-knocking beat.
Not a bad EP in my opinion. The production is very colorful & this might be the most passionate that Mitch has ever sounded it. Curious to hear where he goes from here.
This is the brand new EP from Port Huron emcee/producer Substance810. Fresh off his brand new album The Definition Of that came out earlier this summer & as we approach the fall, he’s teaming up with Chuck Chan for Chess Pieces.
The EP starts with “Checkmate”, where Substance810 talks about being the king of the chessboard over a soulful instrumental. The song “Lay Your King Down” with Lupus Dei sees the 2 showing off their wordplay abilities over a dismal boom bap beat while the track “Fischer vs. Spassky” with Deuce Hennessy & Guy Grams finds the 3 talking about how they perform in the same fashion as the titular chess match over a cold instrumental.
The song “Regal Rooks” with Chuck & Killy Shoot sees the 3 talking about how anything they breathe turns out to be sick over a steady beat while the penultimate track “Tactical Motifs” with Deuce Hennessy & General Back Pain finds the 3 going at wack rappers’ throats over an instrumental with a mesmerizing vocal sample. The EP finishes with “Time Clock”, which is easily the most introspective cut on the entire project backed by a Godly boom bap.
Man, Substance810 has really been on a roll this summer because I enjoy this just as much as I did The Definition Of. Chess fans are bound to get a kick out of the EP’s concept behind the game & Chuck Chan‘s production is on point as are the features.
This is the 2nd EP from New York veteran Saigon. Despite being around for 20 years, it wouldn’t be until 2011 when he would make his full-length debut by dropping The Greatest Story Never Told under Suburban Noize Records. The album would spawn a sequel to fulfill his contract on Subnoize the following year & then a final installment on his own imprint Squid Ink Squad Records in 2014. However after a 6 year hiatus & a new deal with Strange Music’s new subsidiary It Goes Up Entertainment, Saigon is enlisting STREETRUNNER for 777: The Resurrection.
The EP starts off with an touching sequel to the 2006 loosie “Pain in My Life” whereas the next song “Promise Ring” is an empowering heart to heart conversation with Saigon’s daughter over a glamorous instrumental. The track “Bullets-19” talks about gun violence over a boom bap beat with a perfectly incorporated sample while the song “Spooky” speaks on the rap game over a nocturnal trap beat.
“The Motherfuckin’ Effect” with Kool G Rap sees the 2 showing off their rapping prowesses over a harmonious loop while the penultimate track “Lil B.I.G.” is wordplay galore over a beat that has a bit of a 9th Wonder feel to it. “The Middle Finger Song” disses to a wide range of people from Saigon’s father to Hot 97’s Ebro Darden backed by a soulful instrumental.
If you wanna hear an East Coast legend make a strong comeback, then you’re gonna love this as much as I do. Not only does Saigon sound refreshed, but the way he brings a unique perspective to all the problems we‘re facing in the world today. As for STREETRUNNER’s production, there are A LOT of soul samples on here & he incorporates them into each song very well.
This is the 11th EP from Queensbridge emcee Flee Lord. Coming up as a protege of the late Prodigy, he eventually became a force to be reckoned with in the underground. But 2020 has proven to be Flee’s most prolific year yet, dropping a new project every month since February. And to make up for not dropping in January, he’s reuniting with 38 Spesh for a sequel to Loyalty & Trust before dropping Pray for the Evil 2 next week.
The EP kicks off with “5 on Us”, where Flee talks about doing it for his kids over a boom bap beat with menacing piano loop. The next song “Lords & Gods” with the late Fred the Godson sees the 2 talking about building an empire over an eerie instrumental while the track “2 Pics on My Gram” talks about how he isn’t gonna be missing anymore over a beat with some kids singing in the background. The song “Aunty” talks about cooking coke over an instrumental that sounds like something RZA would’ve made in the late-90’s while the track “Weird Time” talks about how “cats kill mice, but the dog kill cat” over a boom bap beat with an nice orchestral sample.
The song “Still Trapped” talks about how he thought he wanted out of the dope game over a bleak instrumental while the track “Motivate tha Real” is a touching dedication to Fred the Godson. The penultimate track with Che Noir is a fantastically cold-blooded sequel to “Both Views” off the original Loyalty & Death whereas the titular outro that finishes the EP off talks about how fucking with him will get your melon banged over a sorrowful boom bap beat.
Flee Lord has yet again come through with another stellar project. He continues to reveal himself as one of the most ferocious lyricists out of New York today with each passing month & 38 Spesh’s production on here compliment his gritty bars just as much as it did on the predecessor.
This is the 7th EP from the ever-hardworking Kansas City veteran Tech N9ne. He’s fresh off his 22nd full-length ENTERFEAR that just dropped back in April & it turns out so much material was recorded for that particular album, that N9na has seen fit to release some of those cuts in the first of 2 EPs.
After the “Heist” skit, the first song “ENTERFEARENCE” talks about feeling disoriented over a groggy beat from MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 whereas the track right after “Bitch Slap” with Corey Taylor, GreatDaeg & Hopsin sees the 4 talking about hitting anyone who tries to harm their personal spaces over a trap metal beat. After the “Report” skit, the song “I Don’t Give a Pho” talks about not caring for bullshit over an eerie trap beat while the penultimate track “Inside” talks about giving himself a pick-me-up over an unexpected boom bap instrumental that works pretty fantastically. The EP finishes with “Specter”, where Tech talks about being a ghost over a melancholic beat from N4.
Personally, I think I might enjoy this EP a bit more than the album itself. As dark as ENTERFEAR was, most of these cuts should’ve made it onto that album because they would play into it much more solidly than the weaker cuts on there. Can’t wait for FEAR EXODUS at the end of the year.
Donnie Darko is an emcee from New Jersey most known for his extensive collaborations with New York producer, DJ & occasional Black Sunday partner-in-rhyme Sutter Kain. They just dropped a fantastic EP back in April called Before the World Got to Us & here we are 4 months later with a sequel project.
The album kicks off with “Tesla”, where Donnie talks about being a veteran over a hard hitting beat taking it’s name after the multinational automotive & clean energy company. The next song “Dark Noise” talks about how dope he is over a dark boom bap beat while the track “Trigger Music, Pt. 2” of course talks about guns over a beat with an alluring vocal sample. The song “Dark Sounds” talks about his opponents not being built the same as him over an apocalyptic instrumental while the track “Winter Music, Pt. 5” gets violent over a suspenseful boom bap beat.
The song “Death Merchants, Pt. 2” is a bloodthirsty horrorcore posse cut while the track “Dark Moments” with Appollo Valdez sees the 2 coming with the battle bars over a boom bap beat with some choir vocals in the background. The song “Dark Voices” talks about how he’s just doing his thing over an instrumental with a chilling loop while the penultimate track “Death by High Noon” with Danny DieRich & Mike Sanders sees the 3 talking about murder over a boom bap beat with some synths. The closer “Going Through the Motions Pt. 3” with McNastee then finds the 2 talking about what’s on their minds over a bleak instrumental.
As much as I really enjoyed Before the World Got to Us, this new EP is a cut above it. Donnie Darko & Sutter Kain continue to display their ever-so-natural chemistry as their respective lyricism & production on here is a lot darker than it was on the EP we heard just 4 months ago.
Boldy James is a 38 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who I first caught wind of with his Alchemist produced 2013 debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). The critical acclaim of which that album received would land him a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records, but Boldy unfortunately got incarcerated sometime after. Upon being released, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there by dropping the Boldface EP last winter & The Price of Tea in China just this past February. Both of which where also widely praised & even resulted in a new deal with Buffalo powerhouse Griselda Records. To mark his debut with the label, Boldy has enlisted Jay Versace for his 4th EP.
After the “Pony Down” intro, the first song “Maria” talks about going from selling drugs to where he is now over a jazzy beat while the track “Nu Wave” talks about cooking up over a soulful instrumental. The song “Cartier” with Elcamino sees the 2 talking about having footwork over a rich piano loop while the track “Brick van Excel” talks about how it is in the streets will test you over an euphoric beat.
The song “Long Live Julio” looks back on his younger days over an old school sample while the track “Monte Cristo” talks about whippin’ it up over another vintage loop. The song “Cardinal Sin” talks about being from the east side of Detroit over a slow instrumental while the penultimate track “Bentayga” talks about “pitchin’ like Verlander” over a delicate sample. The EP finishes with “Roxycontin”, where Boldy & Westside Gunn talk about being tied up in the dope game over an angelic instrumental.
Not as good as The Price of Tea in China, but still a good follow up. Jay Versace’s drumless production goes over well with Boldy James’ gritty street imagery. However, I wish it was longer than just 20 minutes. Nonetheless, Boldy shows himself as a fine edition to the Griselda roster.
ReadyRockDee is an MC from Bridgeport, Connecticut most known as a founding member of the group Rowdy City. He just dropped a live album not too long ago & already, here we are with the man’s debut EP.
The EP starts off with “Still I Rise”, where ReadyRockDee talks about how nothing can slow him down over a boom bap beat. “The Chosen One” talks about how he has so many blessings over a rich instrumental while the song “What I Got to Lose” talks about being the truth over a triumphant beat. The penultimate track “What You Reppin’” with Teezy Money sees the 2 showing love to their respective hometowns of NY & CT over an aggressive instrumental whereas the closer “Lit & Dangerous” talks about being just that over an airy beat.
I personally thought this was a dope EP & would love to hear a full-length from ReadyRockDee at some point in the future. His presence on the mic is more ferocious than it’s ever been & the soundscapes on here suit him well.
Black Soprano Family Records is a Buffalo, New York-based independent record label founded in 2016 by Benny the Butcher of Griselda fame. Their roster has significantly grown throughout the years with the likes of Duffel Bag Hottie, Rick Hyde, Loveboat Luciano, Joneszy & even battle rap icon RJ Payne. The label just inked a distribution deal with E1 Music a couple months back & are releasing a DJ Drama-hosted collective effort to celebrate.
The EP kicks off with “Quarantine”, where Benny the Butcher promises his homies currently locked up that he’ll be rich when they come home over a violin-inflicted boom bap beat from Chup. The next song “Grams in the Water” by Benny, Loveboat Luciano & Rick Hyde of course talks about pushing coke over a dreary instrumental while “Da Mob” finds Benny, Heem & Rick talking about the crew being impeccable over a grimy beat from DJ Shay.
The track “In Love with the Streets” by Heem & Jonesy talks about what makes the hood so special over a boom bap beat with an alluring vocal sample while the song “Rick & Fonz” is a Rick Hyde solo cut about how he can’t go broke again over some synthesizers & some twinkling keyboards. The track “Paulie & Vito” by Heem & Rick goes at those who disrespect their names while the song “Valarie” is a Heem solo joint about what it was like growing up in Buffalo over a dark beat. The closer “It’s Over” by Heem, Rick & Benny then talks about wealth over a soulful Don Cannon instrumental.
Not a bad showcase effort from the Black Soprano Family. I was expecting it to be a little bit longer than just 8 tracks & 27 minutes, but everyone on the label stands out in their own way & does a fine job of giving the listeners what they’re capable of doing.
Flee Lord is a 36 year old emcee from Queens, New York & one of the hardest working people in hip hop today. Dude dropped a total of 5 projects last year & since this past February, he’s been putting one out every single month with the previous being Alter Ego Fleeigo Delgado. To kick off the 2nd half of this run, Flee is starting to bring the big guns out by enlisting the revered Pete Rock for his 10th EP.
The intro starts out with Lord talking how he’s living in the danger zone over a menacing instrumental & then the song right after “Stuck on a Grip” talks about his plan to become rich over a boom bap beat with a whimsical loop. The track “Surfin’ wit a K” talks about how he never caps over a forlorn instrumental while the song “24 Hollows” proclaims himself as a top dog over a rugged instrumental. The track “Different Options” talks about how he’s gonna always bring it home whether it be going independent or major over a ghostly instrumental while the song “Retired from the Sniffy” is a short yet killer freestyle backed by a boom bap beat with a dope ass piano loop.
The track “Job Done” talks about how he’s still moving in the hood over a slow instrumental while the song “Mini Mac on the Fridge” talks about he be spitting facts over a jazzy beat. The penultimate track “Givin’ Ya my View” is essentially his opinion on the George Floyd protests with a dismal instrumental & then the EP finishes off with the outro, where Flee Lord starts bragging about where he’s at today on top of a Bollywood-influenced beat.
This guy’s been one of my favorite NY spitters for about a year now, but he really outdid himself on this one because this is his best body of work yet in my personal opinion. Lord keeps taking his pen game to a higher level & Pete Rock completely knocks it out of the ballpark on the boards.
Legends Will Never Die 