Dolenz – “Electric Fence” review

This is the 3rd EP from London, England, United Kingdom producer Dolenz. Introducing himself in off his debut EP Evesdrop during the fall of 2017, he would go on to follow it up with a moderately received debut album Lingua Franca exploring halftime as well as IDM & glitch hop. His last EP Golden Spike came out almost 7 months ago when the entire world was under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, signing to Potent Funk Records & making his debut for the label with Electric Fence.

“Jody Banks” after the intro begins with this ominous boom bap instrumental whereas “Wankers” embraces an experimental vibe heavily building itself around synthesizers for a little over 3 minutes. “Blak Helicopter” by Dabbla talks about feeing like a battle rapper without having anyone to battle while “Howzer” returns to a more compositional approach continuing the experimentations. After a skit, the titular beat goes for a psychedelic 1 last time & the closer performed by Black Josh talks about how “Nasty” he’s been.

This & Golden Spike both remind me of Pitch 92’s debut EP Lost in Space in terms of all 3 projects spending a bulk of the time capturing each producer’s talents behind the boards other than a couple moments where an MC takes the microphone to do what they do best although Electric Fence could be Dolenz’ most deeply personal collection of solo material thus far. Mixing 90s music & media with forward-thinking, electronic production, he flips his 90s schooldays into 4 compositions & 2 hip hop tracks that cohesively feels like a ripped collage of childhood nostalgia.

Score: 3.5/5

Flawless2k – “Blackout” review

Flawless2k is an MC from Atlanta, Georgia who has been making music ever since getting out of the U.S. Army in 2017. He’s dropped a handful of singles since then, but it’s all been leading right up to his debut EP over here. The EP kicks off with “Hundun”, where Flawless2k talks about running up them checks over an airy trap instrumental.

The next song “Mind Set” talks about living in the fast life over a nondescript beat whereas the track “Ole School” talks about his whip over a lavish beat. The song “Blackout” is an andreline pumping moshpit starter from the Three 6 Mafia inspired production to the feature from former No Limit Records signee Fiend while the track “Drip” talks about the shit he be rocking over a rubbery beat from CashMoneyAP.

“Sauce” with Yung Ralph sees the 2 talking about chasing paper over an atmospheric instrumental while the track “Vibe” with Hil-Figer talks about kicking it with their ladies over a more smoother beat. The song “Address the Issue” with Yung Tookie Baby finds the 2 talking about testing their tempers over a spooky instrumental & then the closer “Gas Up” with Duddy Ken & Pastor Troy sees the trio talking about Challengers & Box Chevy over a beat that gives off that classic dirty south vibe.

Coming away from this EP, my thoughts on it are mixed. I dig the sound, but there are a handful of features slapped onto it who punch under their weight. I understand it too Blackout is the only project under Flawless2k’s belt so far & the first one doesn’t always hit. He definitely has room to evolve his artistic craft down the road & I wish him nothing but the best.

Score: 2.5/5

Flee Lord – “In the Name of Prodigy” review

Flee Lord is a 37 year old emcee from Queens, New York who came up under the wing of the late Prodigy of Mobb Deep. However in 2020 alone, he would reveal himself as one of the most consistent dudes in the underground by dropping a new project every month for the whole year. And to finish it off, Flee is enlisting Havoc to produce his 14th EP.

After the intro, the first song “Torch Carriers” with Ransom finds the 2 talking about keeping this grimy East Coast shit alive over an organ-inflicted boom bap instrumental whereas the next track “Infamous Bop” with Big Twins sees the 2 talking about being the hottest in the hood over an uncanny beat. The song “Major Distribution” with Busta Rhymes finds the 2 talking about moving coke over an instrumental with an alluring vocal sample while the track “All for the GOAT” with Conway the Machine sees the 2 shit-talking over some glorious horns.

The song “1 A.M. Music” perfectly lives up to it’s title as Flee talks about what goes down after hours over a dismal beat while the track “Wu-Lords” with Raekwon finds the 2 on the gangsta tip over an instrumental. The song “Raise the Bar” with Santana Fox sees the 2 talking about how they changed the standards over some plinky keys while the penultimate track “Mac in the Engine” with Billy V & Eto finds the trio talking about being bosses over a solemn beat. The EP ends with “Bound to Take Losses”, where Havoc himself joins Flee Lord to talk about life being a gamble over a pessimistic beat.

This has unquestionably been Flee’s most prolific year yet & what a way for him to cap it all off. I could’ve done without a couple of the features, but everyone else kills it on the mid & Havoc’s production is still top-notch almost 26 years later. Curious to hear where he & DJ Muggs take it on Rammellzee in 2021.

Score: 4/5

Shah Leezy – “The Iron Sheik Tape” review

Shah Leezy is an MC from Staten Island, New York who’s been floating around for a couple of years now. So far he has a few EPs under his belt up to this point but last month, he released his 6th EP paying tribute to WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion The Iron Sheik.

The opener “Theme Music” gets on the competitive side of things lyrically over a string loop whereas the next track “Who the Fuck is Shah Leezy?” is a proper introduction to the man himself with a churchy-beat. The song “Sheik’s Shadow” talks about betrayal over some snares & an orchestral sample while the penultimate track “World Stage” advises the listener to keep dreaming over a soulful beat. The EP then finishes with “The Main Event”, where Shah speaks on being the King of the Middle East over a luxurious instrumental.

I think this is Shah’s best work to date & I can only see him going up from here. He sounds hungrier than ever lyrically & I’m not sure who did the production, but the soundscapes they bring to the table all suit him pretty well.

Score: 3.5/5

Micall Parknsun – “Back in Business” review

Kilburn, North West London, England, United Kingdom emcee/producer Micall Parknsun returning for his 2nd extended play. Making his debut under Low Life Records in 2005 describing life as The Working Class Dad, his debut mixtape The Interview would be his last offering for the label & signed to YNR Productions to release the sophomore effort 1st 2nd Time Around as well as Me, Myself & Akai. I Should’ve Done This Time Ago was ok, but his Boot Records debut Practicing Tag Team Moves at the beginning of 2017 was better & he’s looking to outdo himself now that he’s Back in Business.

The self-produced title track begins with some eerie organs melodies making it his mission to have everyone listening to him whereas “Reality” produced by DJ Jazz T & Dr. Zygote takes a grittier boom bap/rap rock route talking about being too inconsiderate. “Still Living Black” featuring Napoleon da Legend hooks up a prominent flute providing conscious lyricism regarding the system & once “Message in the Music” refuses to stomach fabricated bullshit over another woodwind instrumental, “Go Get It” ends the EP talking about getting yours over a vibraphone-inflicted beat.

Practicing Tag Team Moves was a solid introduction of what could happen for Micall Parknsun after signing to Boot Records, but Back in Business ends what’s been a tumultuous year for the entire world as a whole whopping up my favorite EP of the 2 he’s given us thus far 9 months since the COVID-19 pandemic began. He produces a good 60% of it by himself & has some of the UK hip hop scene’s most notable names to do the rest, bringing only 1 guest on board as opposed to a couple & making it count so he could handle the rest of the rhymes to himself.

Score: 4/5

Che Noir – “After 12” review

This is the 4th EP from rising Buffalo emcee Che Noir. Coming on my radar by extensively collaborating with 38 Spesh, she would really change things up earlier this summer by enlisting Apollo Brown for one of the illest albums of the year: As God Intended. However, Che herself has decided to start hopping on the boards & showcase her beat-making skills on the self-produced After 12.

After the “Foxy’s Intro”, the first song “Cruise Control” talks about riding through the city over a mystical beat whereas the next track “Hunger Games” with Ransom & 38 Spesh finds the trio talking about starving for greatness over a churchy instrumental. The song “Reasons” with Jynx sees the 2 talking about backstabbers over a lush soul sample while the track “Divine Knowledge” talks about thinking better when it’s harder to see over an alluring instrumental. The song “Moment in the Sun” with RJ Payne & Sa-Roc finds the 3 talking about not speaking about shit unless they know it over a piano & some vocal harmonies while the closer “Grace” talks about wanting it all over an uplifting beat.

Pretty solid follow-up to As God Intended if you ask me. There are a couple features that I personally could’ve done without, but Che’s production is honestly just as dope as her lyricism & I can only imagine her perfecting it as time goes on.

Score: 3.5/5

Ketch P – “Untitled” review

Ketch P is a 40 year old MC from Inkster, Michigan who started off as part of the quartet Street Justice. He eventually went solo & put out 3 mixtapes in the late 2000s, but Ketch took a hiatus in 2013 & returned last fall by dropping the fantastic comeback tape Gift Certificate under Middle Finger Music. This was followed up a couple months ago with the full-length Out of Nowhere but almost 3 months later, he’s surprise-dropping an untitled EP that he recorded with Black Milk about a decade ago.

Things start off with “Barricade ’08”, where Ketch spits about being the livest over soulful beat. “The Virus” with Guilty Simpson sees the 2 comparing their music to that of a sickness over a grimy instrumental while the song “Grind Mode” talks about hustling over a suspenseful boom bap beat. The penultimate track “Shut the Phuck Up!!” sends a message to all the haters out there over an instrumental with some beautiful background vocals talks about & then the closer “My Detroit” with eLZhi & Trick-Trick finds the trio paying tribute to their hometown over a churchy beat.

Man even though the material on here is 10 years old, it sounds like they made it earlier this year because these joints in 2020 still sound really good. Black Milk kills it on the boards as he usually does & Ketch P’s lyricism is just as raw as he is today. Looking forward to the albums he has with Bad News Brown & 2 Door Coupé.

Score: 4/5

Elcamino – “Sacred Psalms” review

Elcamino is a 26 year old MC from Buffalo, New York who blew up in late 2017 when he dropped his self-titled EP with Griselda Records. This was followed up by his Walking on Water mixtape in the summer of 2018 along with dropped 2 studio albums & a few EPs last year. He just dropped an dope EP produced by 38 Spesh back in February called Martyr’s Prayer & now as we start the 4th quarter of the year, he & Spesh are back for another one.

The opener “Hammers on the Hip” talks about being strapped over a glistening instrumental whereas “The Avenue” horrendously sings about what it’s like on his block over a slow, dreary beat. The track “Hold U Up” continues to sing poorly (this time on some gang shit) over a gloomy instrumental while the song “Don’t Know” hops back on the rapping tip to boast over a slick beat.

The track “Hustle Like Me” talks about his grind over a woodwind-infused instrumental while the song “What I Be On” talks about being rich over a boom bap beat with some synth-horns. The penultimate track “Camino Season” talks about taking over the rap game over an instrumental with a funky bass-line & some synth-chords whereas the outro is a decent remix to “If You Want It” off the Trust Army’s sophomore album Army of Trust II.

I prefer Martyr’s Prayer of the 2, but this is still a solid effort nonetheless. 38 Spesh comes through with consistent production once again & Camino sounds like he took his time on it in contrast to a handful of his latest material.

Score: 3.5/5

Meek Mill – “Quarantine Pack” review

This is the 6th EP from Philly’s very own Meek Mill. Starting out as a battle rapper, he later became a protege of Rick Ross & signed to Maybach Music Group in the 2010s. We’ve all watched this man have a series of ups & downs throughout his career from his critically acclaimed Dreamchasers mixtapes to his beef with Drake. However a couple years ago, he was freed from prison after a corrupt judge sentenced him to 6 years in November of 2017 & made a triumphant return with his 4th album Championships. But with a new full-length in the works, Meek is preluding it by dropping a Quarantine Pack.

“Middle of It” compares himself to Richard Porter over a trap beat with some heavy bass & a flute while the next song “Pain Away” with Lil Durk sees the 2 talking about money relieving them of their stresses over a slow instrumental from S1. “GTA” with 42 Dugg finds the 2 talking about how there’s certain things that don’t need to be said over a hyphy beat & then the closer “Think It’s a Game” talks about a homie who turned his back on him over a spacious instrumental.

Personally, this is a decent collection of songs & I’m curious to hear how all 4 of them play out in the context of Meek’s next album whether he puts it out in the next month or in 2021 once this whole pandemic begins to sort itself out at least. I mean he definitely took is time with these joints & I appreciate that to the highest degree, but there’s not much else to it beyond the production feeling like a significant step down compared to Championships.

Score: 2.5/5

DaBaby – “My Brother’s Keeper (Long Live G)” review

This is the brand new EP from Charlotte’s very own DaBaby. Blowing up almost 2 years ago off his viral single “Suge”, the man would drop 2 average full-lengths to build off of it. Last we heard from him was this spring with his subpar 3rd album Blame It on Baby but in light of his brother Glenn committing suicide recently, DaBaby is back with My Brother’s Keeper (Long Live G).

The opener “Brother’s Keeper’s” is a touching tribute to Glenn with an acoustic trap beat whereas the next song “8 Figures” with Meek Mill finds the 2 talking about being in their feelings & carrying ungrateful people over a symphonic instrumental. The track “Shanyah” pays tribute to a person in his life with the same name over a funereal beat while the song “Gucci Peacoat” talks about his family over an instrumental kin to the opening cut.

The track “Handgun” with NoCap & Polo G sees the 3 talking about being strapped over a banger beat while the penultimate song “Bidness” with Toosii finds the 2 talking about mixing hoes with their business over a JetsonMade beat with some Roger Troutman-like vocal harmonizing. The EP finishes off with ”More Money More Problems”, which talks about the cons of being wealthy over some more acoustic-trap production.

Yeah, this is yet another mediocre project from DaBaby. The introspective lyrics are a nice change of pace of what he usually does on joints, but the production could’ve been a lot better in my personal opinion.

Score: 2.5/5