Insane Clown Posse – “Yum Yum’s Lure” review

The Insane Clown Posse are a horrorcore duo, the founders of Juggalo Championship Wrestling & the longest reigning JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champions consisting of Violent J & Shaggy 2 Dope. There have been a total of 6 members in the group since its inception in 1989, but has been boiled down to J & Shaggy since the release of their 1992 debut album Carnival of Carnage. Together, they would create an empire whether it be subsequent albums like Riddle Box & The Great Milenko or expanding the self-owned Psychopathic Records as a force to be reckoned with in the underground by signing artists from Twiztid to more recently Ouija Macc. Now I wasn’t the biggest fan of ICP’s previous full-length album Fearless Fred Fury back in 2019 because I felt like it was rushed, however I do respect how angry it was. But as they gear up for the next joker’s card Yum Yum Bedlam, the wicked clowns are preluding it by dropping Yum Yum’s Lure on Juggalo Day.

After the “Bewitching” intro produced by 1 Man Kru of the Keepaz of the Krypt, the next song “Loyalty” finds J & Shaggy detailing what it means to be faithful over an ominous piano instrumental whereas the track “Afraid of Life” might be one of the worst ICP songs I’ve ever heard, as they talk about preferring to be a zombie phantom over a rock-flavored beat from Alien Ant Farm of all people.

The song “Smell of Rain” talks about women consuming them including a reference to 新日本プロレス founder, 3-time IWGPヘビー級チャンピオン, 10–time G1クライマックス winner, WWE Hall of Famer & unrecognized WWE Champion アントニオ猪木 over a happy go lucky instrumental from Shaggytheairhead while the track “Ding Ding Doll” tells the story of a boy who buys a cursed Ecuadorian pull string doll from the dark web & the doll comes to life to wreak terror over a pillowy beat over a pillowy beat.

The song “I’ve Had It Worse” talks about how life sucks for everyone over a skeletal trap instrumental from the homie Devereaux while the penultimate track “Candyman” is a solo Shaggy cut with some of his most cringey lyrics on top of a more playful Mike E. Clark beat. The EP ends with “Clownheads”, which is a bloated & redundant advertisement for their Clownhead Paintings.

Coming from a Detroiter who’s been down with the clown since I was in middle school, I think the House Party Peep Show EP is much better because this is just as bad as The Calm & Eye of the Storm. I think the production is decent, but the execution on a good portion of these songs are terrible in my personal opinion. Really hope these songs aren’t on Yum Yum Bedlam & hopefully that album isn’t as disappointing as the material we got on here.

Score: 1/5

JPEGMAFIA – “EP2!” review

JPEGMAFIA is a 31 year old rapper, singer & producer from Baltimore, Maryland who broke out in 2016 with the release of his full-length debut Black Ben Carson. However, wouldn’t be until the man’s next 2 albums Veteran at the beginning of 2018 & then All My Heroes are Cornballs the following year where he would earn respect across the board & reveal himself as one of the most creative minds in hip hop today. He dropped a bunch of singles last year & compiled them onto an 8-track EP. But after signing to Republic Records last month, Peggy has cooked up another EP albeit with almost all newly recorded material.

I have no idea why the EP starts off with “LAST DANCE!” as it originally appeared on EP! a couple months back, but it’s still a great song. After the “INTRO!”, the first actual song “FIX URSELF!” talks about being too real for this shit over a cold instrumental while the next track “KELTEC!” talks about not needing industry friends over a futuristic beat.

The song “THIS ONE’S FOR US!” gets combative over an atmospheric instrumental while the penultimate track “PANIC ROOM!” talks about suckas over a lush beat from James Blake. The EP finishes off with “FEED HER!”, where Peggy flexes over a cloudy instrumental.

I was curious to hear how this would sound given that Peggy’s on a major label now, but I enjoy it almost as much as EP!. Yeah he’s going into a more pop rap territory on here, but he makes it work by putting his own unique spin on that more melodic sound.

Score: 4/5

Insane Clown Posse – “ICP’s House Party Peep Show” review

This is brand new EP from Detroit horrorcore duo, Juggalo Championship Wrestling founders & the longest reigning JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champions the Insane Clown Posse. Consisting of Violent J & Shaggy 2 Dope, a lot of cats don’t know that 3 other members came & went during the first 5 years of the group’s inception. Not only would The Duke of the Wicked & the Southside Strangla go on to create seminal wicked shit albums like The First 6, but they gained an extremely loyal fanbase in the process & their self-owned Psychopathic Records became an independent hip hop powerhouse as the label’s roster continued to grow. They did a series of Paetron streams to commemorate what would’ve been the 27th annual Hallowicked show & to give back to everyone subscribed, the wicked clowns gifted them an exclusive 6-track EP.

The EP kicks off with “The Blob”, where Violent J tells the story of a killer blob from another galaxy over a dire beat from Devereaux. The next song “My Forehead” is literally J & Shaggy talking about how big Violent J’s forehead is over an old school instrumental from none other than Mike E. Clark while the track “Cartoon Goon” finds the duo going back & forth about an illustration that will seal your fate over a vilainous beat from Shaggytheairhead.

The song “Mighty Mote” sounds like a leftover from the Fearless Fred Fury sessions as J talks about a kid getting revenge on everyone from his step-dad to his school busdriver to the electronic/trap fused production while the penultimate track “The Ceremony” is a beautiful dedication to Shaggy, Billy Bill & Jumpsteady backed by an uplifting trap beat. The EP closes out with “Live Dead Forever”, which is easily the most wicked joint on the entire thing referencing the late Luke Perry only a month after his son Jack became the current AEW World Tag Team Champion.

For the 4 month wait, it was well worth it in my opinion. Violent J is still one of the greatest storytellers in hip hop history, Shaggy 2 Dope even though he only has very few verses on here is just as skilled & I do like how the production range from the touching “Medals” & the vintage “My Forehead” to the trap-flavored “Mighty Mote”. Safe to say it’s giving me hope for Yum Yum’s Lure next Wednesday as well as Yum Yum Bedlam later on in the year.

Score: 3.5/5

Rapper Big Pooh – “What Was Lost” review

Rapper Big Pooh is a 41 year old rapper from Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina who came up as a member of the seminal Little Brother alongside rapper/singer Phonte & producer 9th Wonder. However, he’s been building up quite a discography of his own since the man’s 2005 solo debut Sleepers. Last time we got a project from Big Pooh was in 2018 with the Focus…-produced RPM album but after taking a couple years off & to celebrate his birthday, he & Young RJ of Slum Village are unearthing an EP’s worth of joints they recorded together in the late 2000s.

“The Recipe” that starts the EP off spits about how he came to do rather than talk over a triumphant beat whereas the next song “Get It In” talks about going hard over a more rugged instrumental. The track “Money” with O-Dash & Frank Nitt finds the trio showing listeners how it is over a boom bap beat with some twinkling keyboard melodies while the song “Hello” gets on the lovey dovey side of things over a slow, enticing instrumental. The closer “Smile” pays tribute to his mother over a joyous beat.

Even though these joints were recorded a little over a decade ago, it sounds like they were all made recently. Rapper Big Pooh’s pen-game hasn’t changed a bit & Young RJ shows himself as one of the most underrated producers that the 313 has to offer.

Score: 3.5/5

Babyface Ray – “Unfuckwitable” review

Babyface Ray is a 30 year old rapper from Detroit, Michigan who came up in 2015 as a member of the Team Eastside collective. Since then he’s released 5 mixtapes, a collaborative effort with fellow Team Eastside colleague Peezy & 4 EPs. But with his birthday being the previous weekend & his profile ever-growing, Ray is celebrating by dropping a follow-up to For You in the form of a 5th EP ahead of a full-length debut.

The EP starts with “Real N****s Don’t Rap”, where Ray talks about his authenticity over a woozy trap beat. The next song “If You Know You Know” with Moneybagg Yo finds the duo talking about never trippin’ over a hyphy instrumental while the track “Tahoe” talks about live being good over an capacious FNZ beat. The song “Like Daisy Lane” gets braggadocious over a vigorous instrumental while the track “Allowance” with Kash Doll sees the 2 talking about bad bitches over a trap beat from Hit-Boy with some ghoulish bells. The penultimate track “Pink 10s” with EST G finds the duo on their gangsta shit over an instrumental with some prominent woodwinds & synths whereas the closer “Change You” talks about going up too fast over a tearjerking beat.

I’ve been paying attention to Babyface Ray for past few years now & this new EP is another reminder of his evolution. The production sounds more crisp in comparison to his previous efforts & his songwriting has gotten catchier. Can’t wait to hear what he has in store on an upcoming full-length.

Score: 3.5/5

Phora – “Heartbreak Hotel” review

Phora is a 26 year old rapper from Anaheim, California who broke out in 2017 off his debut album Yours Truly Forever. He just dropped his 6th mixtape With Love 2 back in November & now with Valentine’s Day coming up this weekend, he’s following it up by dropping his 2nd EP.

The EP starts with “colorblind”, where Phora talks about never leaving this woman’s side over a summery beat. The next song “Loaded Gun” talks about being lonely inside over a bare acoustic guitar while the track “I’m scared of falling in love” talks about living without a heart over a lethargic beat. The song “damaged inside” talks about how his life is better with his girl by his side over an acoustic-tinged boom bap instrumental while the track “room 427” talks about someone who only remembers the bad times with him over an acoustic guitar & some snares. “the art of letting go” talks about how he hopes his ex still smells him on her pillows over an derelict beat & then the closer “where do we go when there’s nothing left?” serves as a tribute to those who’re no longer with us & the vocal sample is actually really cool.

I can imagine some people getting down to this EP given how “sad” it is, but I did care for it at all unfortunately. The production is ok, but Phora doesn’t really do the emo rap subgenre any justice whatsoever as his lyrics come off too melodramatic & corny for a good portion of the time.

Score: 1.5/5

Smokepurpp – “Psycho (Legally Insane)” review

Smokepurpp is a 23 year old rapper from Miami, Florida who broke out in 2017 alongside his childhood friend Lil Pump. Shortly after the release of his debut EP Up Now Fuck Next, he caught the attention of Houston superstar Travis Scott & dropped his critically acclaimed debut mixtape Deadstar under Cactus Jack Records in a joint venture with the Interscope Records sub-label Alamo Records. This was followed up with a 3-Pack EP a couple months later as well as the Murda Beatz-produced Bless Yo Trap tape in 2018 & the Lost Planet EP in 2019, but then Purpp would leave Cactus Jack that same year to release the full-length debut Deadstar 2. Which was below average in comparison to that debut mixtape. His sophomore album Florida Jit from last summer turned out to be mediocre, as the only saving graces of it were Ronny J’s production & a couple of the features. But to move on from a tumultuous 2020 like almost all of us are doing at this point, Purpp is coming out of the woodwork by dropping his 3rd EP.

Things start off with “Prom Queen”, where Purpp talks about being trigger happy over a trap beat sampling “After Laughter (Comes Tears)” by Wendy Rene. The next song “We Outside” with Lil Mosey finds the duo talking about poppin’ out until the sun comes up over an instrumental that has a bit of a country flare to it while the track “200 Thou” produced by Ginseng talks about walkin’ through the mall with a bunch of cash on him over a comatose beat.

The song “Rockstar” talks about his new lifestyle over an instrumental that sounds like it was copied right out of the Pi’erre Bourne playbook while the penultimate track “What You Wanna Do?” gets on the murder tip over a fittingly grisly beat. The EP ends with “Tic Tac”, where Smokepurpp talks about fucking up the trap over a trap metal instrumental.

Coming from someone who enjoyed Deadstar & Bless Yo Trap quite a bit, I really didn’t care for this EP other than a couple joints. The production choices are very questionable for a good majority of it’s 13-minute runtime & lyrically, Smokepurpp is just painting himself into a corner at this point.

Score: 1.5/5

ReadyRockDee – “Flow God 4” review

This is the 4th EP from Bridgeport, Connecticut emcee ReadyRockDee. Coming up as a founding member of the group Rowdy City, he would branch solo last year by releasing 3 solo EPs & a collab album with a New York spitter by the name of Teezy Money. But to kick off his 2021, he’s cooked up a 4th installment of his Flow God series.

The opener “Block Pride” talks about having respect being put on his name over a boom bap beat with some Godzilla-like horns whereas the next song “Boom Shakalaka” with RJ Payne finds the 2 talking about leveling up their pen-game over a trap instrumental with some solemn bells.

The track “Best Dope on the Street” with Rick Hyde sees the 2 comparing to their music to drugs over a ghoulish beat while the song “Project Baby” with Sy da Ari Kid finds the 2 of course detailing what it was like being raised in the gutter over an instrumental kin to The Heatmakerz.

The penultimate track “Higher” with Mickey Factz sees the 2 getting on the motivational end over a heavenly beat & then the closer “Real as it Gets” talks about being true to yourself over an ataractic instrumental.

In comparison to the previous 3 installments of the Flow God series, I think this new one is the best of them all. ReadyRockDee’s lyricism has improved (not to say it wasn’t dope before), the features are on point for the most part & the production is some of the best he’s ever jumped on top of.

Score: 3.5/5

Rich the Kid – “Lucky 7” review

This is the debut EP from College Park, Georgia rapper Rich the Kid. Coming to my attention in 2018 off the viral single “New Freezer”, his popularity would eventually peak with his first 2 full-length albums The World is Yours & The World is Yours 2. He would leave Interscope Records shortly after & team up with Republic Records for his previous album Boss Man but since he’s completely independent as of this year, Rich the Kid is celebrating by dropping Lucky 7.

The EP kicks off with “Split”, where Rich gets materialistic over a bland instrumental. The next song “Laughin’” with DaBaby sees the 2 talks about getting hoes over a Medieval-sounding beat while the track “Money Machine” talks about not going broke again over a generic beat. The song “Boom Boom” with Lil Mosey finds the 2 talking about having shooters over an intoxicating instrumental with some heavy bass while the track “Right” rambles about nothing sex over an ethereal instrumental from DJ Spinz. The penultimate song “Nasty” with Flo Milli, Latto & Rubi Rose sees the 4 getting raunchy over a vibrant Buddah Bless beat then the closer “Too Blessed” with Unc & Phew finds the trio talking about their gratefulness over an woodwind-infused instrumental from DJ Durel.

I wasn’t expecting much from this new EP & unsuprisingly, I didn’t get a whole lot out of it at all. It’s overloaded with features, Rich the Kid’s lyrics are shallow as Hell & the production ranges from being mediocre to forgettable.

Score: 2/5

Vino La Mano – “Circle of Trust” review

Vino La Mano is a 33 year old MC from Corpus Christi, Texas who broke out a couple years ago after Benny the Butcher signed him to his E1 Music imprint Black Soprano Family Records. He’s released a total of 8 EPs since but to continue his hustle into 2021, Vino is staying on the grind by dropping a 9th EP.

The opener “Bill Lambert” has some dope mafioso lyrics throughout, but the production is just ok to me. The next song “Pair of Aces” talks about playing the hands he’s delt with over a grimy boom bap beat while the track “Mo Money” talks about the bread over a flute-tinged instrumental. The song “I’m Numb” gets on the introspective side of things over a boom bap beat with a psychedelic rock-flavored guitar throughout about while the penultimate track “Stretch the Cake” talks about being a different breed over an instrumental kin to Griselda‘s W.W.C.D. (What Would Chinegun Do?). The EP finishes off with “Gangsters Don’t Smile”, where Vino talks about how thugs don’t show happinness unless proven not guilty over a somber beat.

Overall, it’s a pretty solid EP. Some of the best bars Vino La Mano has ever written pop up on here whereas The Soul Monsters’ production does a decent job of honning in on that signature Griselda sound. If you’re a diehard BSF fan, then I recommend you give this EP a listen & I can’t wait to hear what he does on a full-length album down the road.

Score: 3.5/5