Boldy James – “Boldface” review

Boldy James is a 36 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who blew up on the scene with his Alchemist produced 2013 debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). He then landed a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records, but sadly went to prison for a while. Boldy eventually made his comeback a couple years ago with his House of Blues mixtape & now it seems like he’s trying to rekindle the flame with Uncle Al on his 3rd EP.

It all starts off with “Ill Advised”, where Boldy gets mafioso over a symphonic instrumental. The next song “Method of Madness” continues the lyrical themes of the previous cut over a grimy trap beat while the track “Summer Nights” gets reflective over an instrumental with a harmonious sample. The song “Dinavolino” with The Cool Kids gets homicidal over an intimidating instrumental & even though the closer “My 1st Offense” recalls the first time he got popped over a funky beat, it’s way too short.

If this is just an appetizer for a main course, then I’m all for it. Boldy sounds like he never even left really whereas The Alchemist’s production still fits his gritty pen-game like a glove. Would love to see them make another album together because even though this only runs it 15 minutes, they still recapture what made M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set) so great in that short amount of time.

Score: 4/5

Bub Styles – “Smoke Crudo” review

Bub Styles is a veteran MC from Brooklyn, New York that first came on my radar in 2017 with his debut EP Long Nights, Cold Winters in 2017. This was followed up with his sophomore EP Boar’s Head Bubs, Cold Cut King that came out earlier this year & if that wasn’t enough, Bub is teaming up with Philly producer Level 13 for his 3rd EP over here.

The EP starts off with “Lamb & Onion”, where Bub gets mafioso over a luxurious sample. The next song “Loose Blunts” continues the lyrical themes of the previous joint over a woozy beat while the song “By the Way” with ARXV sees the 2 telling their competition to get with the times over a soulful boom bap beat. The penultimate track “Bubble Goose” with Fastlife, Ren Thomas, Effyoo & Madhattan Mayor is a decent East Coast posse cut & then the closer “Hold Up” gets sexual over a smooth sample.

Personally, this is Bub’s best work to date. The features could’ve been better, but Bub’s gritty lyricism & husky voice fits with Level 13’s classy production pretty well for the most part. If they plan on collaborating more in the future, than I’m all for it.

Score: 3.5/5

Max B – “House Money” review

Max B is a 41 year old veteran from Harlem, New York who came up as a member of the ByrdGang. He released a solid debut album in 2011 called Vigilante Season but with him setting to be released from prison in 2021, he’s making a comeback with his debut EP.

The opener “Take My Time” talks about the lavish life over a mellow beat while the next song “Super Bad” with French Montana is a decent cut taken from their latest collab mixtape Coke Wave 4 that came out over the summer. The track “Ride on ‘Em” with Jadakiss sees the 2 showing off over a ghostly instrumental while the song “So Cold” with A Boogie wit da Hoodie talks about how dope they are over a woozy instrumental. The track “Never Change” with Wiz Khalifa sees the 2 talking about staying the same despite being famous over a spacey beat. The penultimate track “Goodbye” is pretty much Cam & Max passing the torch over to Dave East & then the closer “Champagne Wishes” with A$AP Ferg is a luxurious club banger.

For a comeback after 8 years, this was ok. Max definitely still has it in him & the features all sound great, but the production that Paul Couture brings to the table is hit or miss. I’d love to see him hook back up with Dame Grease one day, but time will tell.

Score: 3/5

Jam Baxter – “Off Piste” review

This is the 2nd solo EP from London, England, United Kingdom emcee Jam Baxter of the Dead Players & Contact Play. Signing to High Focus Records, his 2010 solo debut Rinse Out Friday / Spack Out Monday was received positively & the sophomore effort The Gruesome Features would see a lot more critical acclaim. …So We Ate Them Whole in 2014 remains amongst High Focus’ most celebrated releases ever, following up Mansion & Touching Scenes to drop Off Piste with less than a month left of the decade.

“Red Hawaiian” produced by Dr. Zygote starts off with a boom bap opener by talking about what he’s got inside his bag whereas “All Clear” featuring Lee Scott finds the 2 speaking of pulling your brain out of your mouth & giving us the all clear. “Drowned Dogs” featuring Datkid teams up over a Dirty Dike instrumental trading verses back-&-forth with each other while “The Stump” advises on top of a Telemachus beat that one should’ve stayed true to themselves from the start.

Coinciding with a brand new book of the same name, Jam Baxter takes a couple loose singles & combines them with 2 previously released songs to craft an extended play that I enjoy a lot than the one he put out 5 years prior. The production’s a cut above Fresh Flesh’s in addition to reaching the same pedestal Touching Scenes did 12 months earlier, spending half of it holding down the fort by himself & the other bringing a couple of his labelmates beside him to add their own distinctive flavors regarding cadences or general mood.

Score: 4/5

Action Bronson – “Lamb Over Rice” review

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This is the 3rd EP from New York rapper, writer, chef & television presenter Action Bronson. Who blew up with release of his first 2 studio albums Dr. Lecter & Well-Done in 2011. This resulted in a joint venture with VICE Music & Atlantic Records along with a couple EPs & mixtapes. The most notable being the Blue Chips duology, Saab Stories & my personal favorite: Rare Chandeliers. Then came Bronson’s major label debut Mr. Wonderful in 2015 which has some of his best songs on there, but the end result would be a more glitzy mixed bag. Bronson’s next effort Blue Chips 7000 would go back to his mixtape roots & it would be his final release on VICE/Atlantic, as he would go onto form the EMPIRE distributed Action Bronson Corporation last year & debuted the imprint with the solid yet somewhat rushed White Bronco. Other than that, Bronson has put out very little music throughout 2019. But with Thanksgiving next week, he has decided to get back with The Alchemist for Lamb Over Rice. Which is honestly the most excited I‘ve been for an ‪Action Bronson‬ project in a while given the quality of his past few projects along with the fact that Alchemist’s production seems to bring the best out of Bronson like on that Rare Chandeliers mixtape & or the Mr. Wonderful single “Terry”, which I can make the argument for being the best song Bronson has ever put out.

The opener “Dmtri” finds Bronson angrily rapping about about knockin’ it out of the box over a calming instrumental while the song “Sven” saying his competition ain’t shit over an almost futuristic sounding beat. The track “Tear Away Shorts” flexes over a boom bap beat with rich keyboards while the song “Accountrements” gets confrontational over a funky bass-line. The track “Descendant of the Stars” is a hard hitting theme song for Bronson’s show Traveling the Stars referencing WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson while the song “Just the Way It Is” details his love life over a boom bap beat with a continuous piano note. The EP then finishes off with “Arnold & Danny”, where Bronson & Uncle Al both rap about success over an instrumental that sounds like something out of a 70’s flick.

I was expecting this to be Action Bronson’s best project in a while & that’s definitely what I got. Bronson sounds a lot more focused than he did on White Bronco & much like Rare Chandeliers, the instrumentals that Alchemist bring to the table fits Bronson’s personality like a glove.

Score: 4.5/5

Dream McLean – “ALIEN!” review

This is the 2nd EP & Potent Funk Records debut from Colchester, Essex, England, United Kingdom emcee Dream McLean. Emerging in the late 2000s/early 2010s off the I’m the British Dream duology & The Purple Promo trilogy of mixtapes respectively, he would later make his full-length debut the day prior to my 18th birthday during my senior year of high school with Greyscale preluded by his debut extended play Weatherman. 6 years later & the ALIEN! has returned after signing a label deal.

“Orange” blends rap rock & trap talking about being Ashton Kutcher with the flow the way we’re getting Punk’d whereas “Ameri” goes for an uncanny vibe to the beat keeping it movie despite reality itself. “D.W.” has a more lo-fi trap approach instrumentally talking about bad news coming in 3s while the lead single “E.T.” began the rollout by skillfully capturing his wordplay. “Out” leans towards a hazier sound continuing the witty penmanship & the syrupy “Tuff” concludes with him taking about sticking to your guns even if they’re jammed.

Notable for being amongst the most underrated artists within the UK hip hop scene, ALIEN! begins this new chapter of Dream McLean’s career spanning an entire decade by preluding a sophomore effort entirely produced by Potent Funk co-founder Sumgii with an EP that reaffirms the fact that Dream’s sound has gotten more laidback after all the drugs he’s been taking & him deciding to handle all the vocal performances by himself putting us inside the shoes of an outsider.

Score: 3.5/5

The Bermuda – “The Madd Giants” review

The Bermuda are a duo from Coachella Valley, California consisting of Mad Hatter & Ivy da Giant. They’ve been around for a little less than 4 years now, making their full-length debut in 2016 with Backyard Hooligans. But almost a month after dropping their mic session, they’re following it up with their debut EP.

It all kicks off with “Pow!”, where the duo trade charismatic bars back & forth over a funky boom bap beat. The next song “Lewis & Clark” finds Mad Hatter & Ivy comparing themselves to the explorers of the same name over a grimy beat while the track “Temptations” with King Serrano sees the 3 talking about keeping your head up over a slick boom bap beat with some jazzy horns during the hook. The song “Home” vents about being at a dead end over a melancholic instrumental while the track “Rugged” is laced with clever battle bars over a ghostly boom bap beat. The song “Luminous” talks about enjoying life over a beautiful guitar instrumental & then the EP finishes off with “Celebration”, where The Bermuda talk about the love they’ve gotten over a heavenly instrumental. Especially with the guitar solo at the end.

For an EP, this is the duo’s best work to date in my opinion. You really get a closer look as to who The Bermuda are & where they come from. The production on here is really tight as well. Really looking forward to see where they take things on the next project.

Score: 3.5/5

Mr. Key – “Green & Gold” review

This is an extended play of solo material from London, England, United Kingdom emcee Mr. Key notable for being apart of Contact Play. Someone who eventually signed to High Focus Records & dropped his full-length studio debut Yesterday’s Futures in the summer of 2015 following my high school graduation using the sounds of wonky & glitch hop with the help of Greenwood Sharps to back his abstract pen. However, they’re reuniting once again for Green & Gold a few years later.

After the “Good Intentions Paving Co.” intro, “That’ll Be the Day” truly opens up talking about keeping faith over a wonk glitch hop beat whereas “Luv is All U Need M8” embraces a cavernous vibe instrumentally suggesting that sometimes one simply needs nothing more than affection. Concluding the 1st half of Green & Gold however, “Go Outside” shifts towards a nocturnal direction confronting an individual who seeks fear & desire.

“Palace of the Sun” continues the 2nd leg of the EP talking about writing a story for himself that he doesn’t consider to be anywhere near finished & the way we see things depends on the lens while “G&G (Vonneguts)” flexing of him having the whole cosmos balanced on a pain along with the harsh reality of nothing lasting forever. The outro “Chapasa Diamantina” takes up the remaining 4 minutes talking about Key feeling incredible because it’s a brand new day & life for him.

Mr. Key offers some valuable food for thought throughout Green & Gold so much to the type of people who’re searching for endearing substance rather than the sanitized, individualized & commodified norm we’ve all become accustomed to in a troubled & busy world marred with anxieties & uncertainties even if Greenwood Sharps’ production structurally contrasts the thematic continuation of Key’s widely praised debut Yesterday’s Futures.

Score: 3.5/5

The R.O.C. – “Monsters Ain’t Real” review

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The R.O.C. is a horrorcore veteran from Detroit, Michigan who got his start as a member of the House of Krazees with Jamie Madrox & Monoxide. When the latter 2 went onto form the duo Twiztid & sign with Psychopathic Records, The R.O.C. hooked up with Skrapz to put out 1 last album under the HOK name before starting a duo of their own called HaLFBrEEd. Although they would only release 1 official album under the HaLFBrEEd name titled Kontamination, it would go on to become a horrorcore classic. Then in 2008, he signed to Psychopathic’s now defunct Hatchet House sub-label & put out his Welcome to the Darkside EP before “retiring” the following year. Eventually, The R.O.C. returned to making music in 2012 & signed to Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2014. His long awaited 3rd album Digital Voodoo finally saw the light of day in 2017 & would go down as his magnum opus in my personal opinion but 2 & a half years later, the Astronomicon mainstay is treating fans with his 6th EP.

After the “Have Some” intro, the first song “From Beneath” finds The R.O.C. comparing himself to a demon to over an orchestral trap beat. The track “A Dream” talks about being in a nightmare over a frightening instrumental from Eric Davie while the song “The Chase” talks about being hunted down over a demented instrumental. And then before the “Next Time” outro, the title track paints a vivid picture of insanity over an electronic-tinged instrumental.

If we’re getting a new full-length album from The R.O.C. in 2020, then this is a fantastic appetizer for the main course because he’s really been putting it down for the 313 for a long ass time yet doesn’t get the props he deserves. He’s always been the most underrated of MNE & this is no exception of proving that from his lyricism getting better with time to his ever-so chilling production skills. Really looking forward to a follow-up to Digital Voodoo whenever that time comes.

Score: 4/5

Crimeapple – “Viridi Panem” review

This is the 8th EP from rising New Jersey spotter Crimeapple, who first blew up in the underground with his Sweet Dreams EP that dropped on Halloween a couple years ago. This was followed up with his Big Ghost Ltd.-produced debut Aguardiente the following year but if dropping Wet Dirt with DJ Skizz & Medallo with DJ Muggs wasn’t enough for Crimeapple in 2019, he’s decided to close out 2019 with Viridi Panem.

After the “Initium” intro, we go into the first song “Lupos”. Where Crimeapple talks about being the greatest over a demented boom bap beat. The next track “Entenmann’s” compares the cocaine he’s pushing to the titular donut shop over a cavernous boom bap beat while the song “D’Angelo Vickers” gets mafioso over a gritty beat.

The track “Alium” gets romantic over a slow yet eerie instrumental while the song “Phil Spectre” goes at his competition over a ghostly instrumental. The penultimate track “Dead Gringos” of course gets murderous over an ambient/boom bap fusion & then the EP ends with “Time to Go”, where Crimeapple brags over a soulful instrumental.

This is yet another example of why Crimeapple is one of the best MCs in the underground right now. His lyricism continues to stay grittier with each release & even the production from Buck Dudley is pretty hard as well.

Score: 4/5