H.A.R.D. – Self-Titled review

This is the brand new collaborative EP from Brooklyn & Long Beach veterans Joell Ortiz & KXNG CROOKED. Both of whom have had notorious label issues at the start of their careers, but would go on to see success as members of the supergroup Slaughterhouse along with Royce da 5’9” & Joe Budden from the late 2000s up until the mid-2010s. The quartet had quietly disbanded in 2016 after Joe’s retirement from making music, but it wasn’t confirmed until 2 years later. However after the 3 remaining members got back together on “I Will” off of Eminem’s latest album MUSIC TO BE MURDERƎD BY, Yaowa & Crook are teaming up on H.A.R.D. (Housing Authority Rap District).

The title track finds the duo talk about being humble for too long over a Heatmakerz instrumental with some beautiful background vocals whereas the next song “Get Ya Money” talks about how there’s 6,000,000 ways to make bread over a boom bap beat from Erick Sermon. The track “Caddy Bump (LBC)” is a Crook solo joint about growing up in the eastside with a ghostly instrumental from !llmind while the song “Catchin’ Bodies” sees the 2 getting back together for some vicious battle bars over a grand instrumental from Apollo Brown.

The track “Lose My Mind” talks about growing up where they come from over a lone acoustic instrumental while the song “Wolves (BRKLYN)” is a solo Joell joint where he totally airs someone out over bloodcurdling beat from the J.U.ST.I.C.E. League. The penultimate track “Lovely” talks about waking up to the same thing over a shadowy beat & then the EP finishes with “Memorial Day”, where Crook & Yaowa pay tribute to those who’ve passed away this year.

If this is the closest we’ll ever get to a new Slaughterhouse project then coming from someone who used to be a huge fan of the supergroup back in the day, then I’d be totally ok with it. The production is grimy as Hell & the chemistry between both MCs is fantastic as well.

Score: 4/5

Axe Murder Boyz – “Fatality” review

The Axe Murder Boyz are a duo from Denver, Colorado consisting of brothers Young Wicked & Bonez Dubb. The 2 have been making music together since the late 90s, but didn’t make their breakthrough until the mid-2000s when the Insane Clown Posse signed them to Psychopathic Records. They went on to release 3 albums & an EP with them before signing to Twiztid‘s label Majik Ninja Entertainment on New Year’s Eve 2016. Last we heard from the siblings was in 2018 with their 8th album Muerte & as we get close to the halfway point of this year, they’re back with their 6th EP following their Astronomicon debut.

After the intro, we get right into the title track. Where Young Wicked & Bonez Dubb talk about killing their competition over a bassy trap beat from Young Wicked himself. The song “Cantfxckwittus” with Jamie Madrox sees the 3 talking about how MNE’s running the underground over a morbid instrumental while the track “Nothin’ 4 Free” talks about how nothing in hip hop is ever granted to you over a flute-inflicted trap beat.

The song “Murda Shit” gets on the horrorcore tip over over a trap beat with some creepy bells while the penultimate track “Runnitup” is a celebratory banger about their hustle. The EP finishes off with “We Up”, where the siblings talk about their success over a punchy beat with haunting piano loop.

AMB’s been one of my favorites out of Colorado for a while now & this EP just goes to show it. Young Wicked’s production continues to elevate over time as does the chemistry with his brother Bonez Dubb. If they have a new album together in the chamber & this is just a taste of what’s to come, then I’m really looking forward to see what they do on there.

Score: 4/5

Flee Lord – “Hand Me My Flowers” review

This is the 8th EP from Queens emcee Flee Lord. The man has proven himself as one of the most most hard-working dudes out today by constantly dropping projects like Loyalty or Death: Lord Talk, it’s superior sequel Loyalty or Death: Lord Talk 2, Gets Greater Later, Later is Now and Loyalty & Trust. He just dropped an EP with DJ Shay a month ago entitled Lucky 13 & now he’s tapping Buckwild in for Hand Me My Flowers.

After a jazzy intro, we get right into the first song “Plug Talk”. Where Flee obviously discusses dope slangin’ over a bleak instrumental. The song “Beethoven Wit a Stick” with TF sees the 2 talking about going bar for bar over an uncanny instrumental while the track “10 From This Clip” talks about reaching top dog status over an orchestral beat. The song “Can’t Fuck Wit Flee” might have the weakest beat on the entire EP despite Lord showing off his rapping prowess very well while the track “On My Deen” talks about going from selling drugs to touring over a boom bap beat with a faint string loop.

The song “Toast to My Neighbor” is full of vicious shit-talking over a boom bap beat with some horns & even though the track “Gathering My Thoughts” is only a minute long, I really enjoy how gritty it is over. The penultimate song “From the Change Jar” talks about being the people’s champ over a set of strings & then the EP finishes with “Shooter Tappin’ on Ya Window”, where Flee talks about being happy with his life now over a luxurious instrumental.

Of all the projects the dude has put out in 2020, this is easily my favorite so far. I wish he would drop something more full-length, but he maintains himself as one of New York’s dopest MCs whereas Buckwild reminds us that he’s one of the greatest producers of all-time.

Score: 4.5/5

Conway the Machine – “No One Mourns the Wicked” review

This is the 7th EP from Buffalo emcee Conway the Machine. In case you don’t know, he‘s been running the underground for the past 5 years as 1/3 of the trio Griselda with Westside Gunn & Benny the Butcher by consistently been putting out 1 modern East Coast classic after another. Earlier this year we saw The Alchemist entirely produce La Maquina’s previous EP LULU & now just a couple months later, Big Ghost Ltd. is getting tapped on for No One Mourns the Wicked.

After the “Family Secrets” intro, we go right into the first song “Dead Flowers”. Where Conway talks about rapping what you live over a menacing guitar lead. The next track “Icon” talks his already established legacy over a demented boom bap beat while the song “Fake Love” with Elcamino sees the 2 talking about deceivers over an instrumental with these ghostly vocals hanging in the background. The track “Shark Guts” looks back at all the accomplishments of his career up to this point over a soul sample & even though Conway’s vocals slowed down for whatever reason, it works.

The song “Bricks to Mural” talks about how he’s eating now over a dusty boom bap beat & after the braggadocious “Rich” interlude, the penultimate track “S.D.L.N. (Streets Don’t Love Nobody)” vividly paints how it’s cold the hood can be over some bleak piano chords. The EP finishes off with “Sicarios”, where Conway & Flee Lord get together to talk about being hitmen over a boom bap/rock fusion.

If you loved the Griselda Ghost EP that Hall ‘N Nash dropped about 5 years ago, then I really don’t see why you wouldn’t like this as well. It literally sounds just as gruesome from Conway’s lyrics all the way down to Big Ghost’s production & both parties show why they’re currently the top dogs of the underground.

Score: 4.5/5

C.G. – “The Certified Genius” review

C.G. is a producer based out in New Jersey who’s been at it behind the boards since the age of 16. He’s spent the last decade working with artists such as Do or Die & Grizzy Hendrix, but he has decided to come together with an eponymous debut EP.

After the intro, the first song “Transition” by Elus & B.Ankha is a really great way to start things off as it’s a beautiful positivity jam. The track “Angels” by Guilty Simpson talks about brotherhood over a dim instrumental while the song “Destruction” by Dikulz & Twisted Insane is a cutthroat boom bap/metal fusion. The track “Never Sold Dope” by Bizarre & Ren Thomas sees the 2 looking back at their come-ups over a slick instrumental whereas the final song “Higher” by Ca$his & Niamson talk about reaching for the stars over a killer trap beat. The EP then finishes off with a remix to “Angels” that I actually like more than the original.

Overall, this is a solid effort. The guest-list is mostly on point & I really like the diverse range of sounds that C.G. manages to pull on here. If you wanna hear an up-coming producer doing a good job at showing what he’s capable of doing, then give this a listen.

Score: 3.5/5

100GrandRoyce – “Prodigal Sun” review

100GrandRoyce is an MC from Harlem, New York that came up as a member of The Stackboys. He eventually went solo in 2011 releasing his debut No Relief followed by the debut EP Chips followed by the sophomore effort Destiny preluding a whole trilogy of EPs: The Old Dutch, 3 Strikes & more recently Nice Guys Finish Last this past Black Friday. But to start off the new decade, he’s enlisting 183rd to produce his 5th EP in its entirety.

Things kick off with the title track, where 100GrandRoyce talks about how no one can fuck with him over a meditative instrumental with a saxophone hanging in the back. The next song “No Pressure” continues to flex his rapping prowess over a mystical-sounding instrumental while the track “Prime” talks about how he feels like he’s at his best right now over a trap beat with a harmonious vocal sample.

The song “Above All” is a sensual love tune while the penultimate track “Angel” talks about being watched from above over a soothing instrumental. The EP finishes off with “Pain 2 Pleasure”, where 100GrandRoyce talks about overcoming his hardships & I love the way “Living Inside Your Love” by Earl Klugh gets flipped on here.

To me, this is 100GrandRoyce’s best work to date & it’s a really great entry point for new fans. Could’ve used a feature or 2, but his lyrical evolution compared to his previous efforts is insane & 183rd’s production is absolutely gorgeous.

Score: 4/5

XP the Marxman – “Keep Firing” review

XP the Marxman is an MC from Los Angeles, California who came up as 1/3 of the trio Rhyme Addicts. He would eventually branch out for a solo career & has released a few projects since. However as a huge marijuana advocate, he’s celebrating 4/20 with a brand new EP entirely produced by none other than Roc Marciano.

“The Have Nots” that kicks the EP off talks about life in the ghetto over an Italian-flavored instrumental & after the titular interlude, the next song “Get Paid” of course talks about making money over an ominous instrumental. The track “No Idea” shows listeners how it is over a more upbeat instrumental while the song “Who Shot Ghost?” hooks up with Termanology to paint some vividly dark imagery over a supernatural instrumental. The EP finishes off with “Season Eatings”, where XP takes a more predominantly melodic approach over a smooth instrumental.

If you wanna get into XP’s music, I highly recommend starting off this because I think it’s his best release to date. He sounds hungrier than ever, Roc Marciano goes to show that he’s just as much of an incredible producer as he is an MC & it all comes together naturally.

Score: 4/5

Donnie Darko – “Before the World Got to Us” review

This is the latest EP from East Coast hip hop artists Sutter Kain & Donnie Darko. The first of whom is a producer, DJ & occasionally MC from New York & the latter being an MC from New Jersey. The 2 have been collaborating with one another pretty much since the beginning & to kick off the 2nd quarter of 2020, they’re coming together for Before the World Got to Us.

The opener “Gladys” finds Donnie talks about growing up in Newark over a slowed down loop of “Giving Up” by Gladys Knight while the next song “Block Game, Pt. 3” pretty much addresses the current state of the world over a boom bap beat flipping Debbie Taylor’s “Let’s Prove Them Wrong”. The track “Driving My Crazy” addresses how the world today is insane over a flawlessly incorporated soul sample while the song “Life, Pt. 4” is essentially about how rough life is over an instrumental that kinda has an Alchemist influence to it.

The track “Shadows” talks about almost dying twice over a mesmerizing beat while the song “Feelings” goes at those who rap alike over a boom bap beat. The penultimate track “As the Beat Cries, Pt. 2” standing ground despite life being rocky over a flute & some humming then the closer “Loser, Pt. 10 (Before the World Got to Us)” tackles depression over a boom bap beat over a hypnotic vocal sample.

It’s more an EP to me, but still great nonetheless. Sutter Kain’s production has only gotten grimier with time, Donnie Darko’s sounds angrier than ever & the 2 continue to bring the best out of each other after all the extensive collaborating over the years. Really looking forward for the sequel After the World Got to Us next month.

Score: 4/5

Conway the Machine – ” LULU” review

Conway the Machine is an emcee that blew up as 1/3 of the trio Griselda with Westside Gunn & Benny the Butcher. Last year we saw him droping a total of 3 short projects last year & now with the 1st quarter of 2020 coming to a close, he’s enlisting West Coast veteran The Alchemist to produce his 6th EP in it’s entirety.

After the intro, we get into the first song “14 KI’s”. Where Conway of course talks about pushing coke over an ominous beat. “The Contract” speaks on how nobody’s on his level over an orchestral instrumental while the song “Shoot Sideways” with ScHoolboy Q sees the 2 talking about murder over a boom bap beat. The track “Calvin” talks about being the big homie over a demented beat while the song “They Got Sunny” with Cormega sees the 2 going at wack rappers over a grimy boom bap beat. The EP finishes off with “Gold BBS’s”, where La Maquina talks about gunning down those who oppose him over a boom bap beat with a spooky vocal sample.

To me, this is easily one of the best things Conway has ever put out. He sounds a lot more focused than he did on the 3 projects that he dropped last year & the production is more consistent too because you can’t really go wrong with The Alchemist.

Score: 4.5/5

Vanderslice – “Trendsetter” review

This is the 3rd EP from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania veteran Vanderslice. A man that made a name for himself by producing for the Army of the Pharaohs on numerous occasions since the mid/late 2000s & just last spring, he produced Diabolic’s 3rd album Collusion in it’s entirety & that has quickly become my 2nd favorite release of his. But as the 2nd quarter of the year is starting to begin, Vansleazy’s hitting us with Trendsetter.

After the intro, the first song “ Cold Winter” by Vic Spencer is a minute & a half of witty battle bars over a grimy instrumental. The next track “Christmas Night Heist” by Ty Farris talks about being from Detroit over a tense boom bap beat while the song “Barry White Shit” by G Perico talks about ballin’ over an organ. The penultimate track “Puzzles” by Daniel Son gets on the mafioso too over an intoxicating beat & then before the outro, the closer “Shell Casings” by Capo talks about killing his competition over an suspenseful instrumental.

Vanderslice has always been one of the illest underground producers of all-time & this just solidifies it. It’s only 10 minutes long, but the sound on here is like no other & the guests fit in very well on top of his production.

Score: 3.5/5