Goosebytheway – “Nature Boy” review

Buffalo, New York rapper & singer/songwriter Goosebytheway making his full-length studio debut. Signing to Drumwork Music Group back in 2022, he would make a handful of guest appearances across several Conway the Machine projects preceding his debut mixtape By the Way a year afterwards. But the time has come for him to drop his very own LP Nature Boy named after 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, former 16-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, 6-time WWE United States Champion, 6-time WWE tag team champion & 9-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair following The Demand ending The Conglomeration’s reign as AEW World Trios Champions.

“203” featuring Conway the Machine finds the pair talking about where they come from over an opulent beat whereas “Rivi” takes the boom bap route instrumentally asking whether anyone’s hearing him or if they’ve heard of him yet. “Pesto Margarita” maintains the more kicks & snares keeping a gun on him in case anyone acts out leading into “Walk Ups” featuring Conway the Machine & Fuego Base seeing the trio ripping up a drumless loop from Bozack Morris.

K’mani & Spark Houston’s contributions to “Pedigree” weren’t that great despite the reference to 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, 14-time WWE world champion, 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 3-time WWE tag team champion & the WME Group-owned TKO Group Holdings division’s CCO Triple H while “Nowhere to Be Found” featuring Jottibee after a skit continues the 2nd act of Nature Boy talking about being prepared for war since they’ve hit rock bottom.

“Selfish” featuring Jae Skeese makes up for the mediocre guest verses having both Drumwork labelmates getting stingy as fuck together while “Heisenberg” featuring Conway the Machine & SK da King includes a reference to the main character of my all-time favorite show: Breaking Bad. The closing track “I Ain’t Did Enough” spends the album’s final minutes with 1 last boom bap cut feeling like he should’ve done more since he has 2 kids to raise.

Regardless of former NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion as well as WWE Hall of Famer & the inaugural WWE Champion Buddy Rogers originally earning the Nature Boy nickname, I typically see people caring less for the features Goosebytheway has been doing for Conway in recent memory & I’ve been giving him the benefit of the doubt since he got his label deal because I felt there was room for him to grow. The production has improved since his last tape so have the performances from both Goose & the guests.

Score: 3.5/5

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Tash – “Attention is a Drug” review

Tash is a 54 year old MC from Columbus, Ohio who would relocate to Los Angeles, California to form Tha Alkaholiks. He would eventually drop his underappreciated solo debut Rap Life in the fall of 1999 under Loud Records & Columbia Records, which was followed up with the poorly received sophomore effort Control Freak a decade later. This new extended play on the contrary has already been teased for some time already & the Catashtraphe has signed with Fat Beats Records to finally put it out.

“Day 2 Day Basis” featuring Styliztik Jones produced by E-Swift finds the pair smashing on suckas daily whereas the funky title track featuring the entire Likwit Crew along with Q-Tip & will.i.am on the remix talks about the effects social media. “Shoe Fits” kicks off the 2nd half of the EP sharply reminding the world of the fact that the truth always comes around in the end while the closing track “Smokin’ Session” sends it all off entrancingly talking about smoking weed.

Widely considered to be the most lyrically proficient member of Tha Alkaholiks, I’m fairly confident that anyone who was disappointed with Control Freak will come away enjoying Addiction is a Drug more than Tash’s previous LP over a decade ago & hopefully it won’t be as long for him to go solo again. The production’s consistently better than it was back in ‘09 & I’m really happy he’s found the inspiration to continue making music.

Score: 3.5/5

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Buckshot – “The Package” review

Here is the 3rd solo LP from Brooklyn, New York emcee/producer Buckshot. Emerging as the frontman of the trio Black Moon & the Boot Camp Clik’s de facto leader along with founding one of the most beloved record labels in all of hip hop Duck Down Music with the assistance of his business partner Dru Ha, his debut The B.D.I. Thug as well as Backpack Travels become the only 2 albums he’s put out & he’s coming off the I’m the Boss EP a few years earlier to drop off The Package.

The self-produced “We Have Arrived” begins with a jazzy 3 & a half minute intro to get things going whereas “Good Day” continues the jazz rap vibes explaining about how rather pleasantly this day has been panning out in his hood. “What I Bring to the Table” shifts towards a hardcore boom bap direction talking about getting his & breakin’ ‘em all off leading into “Sounds of the Subway” brings the horns back for another jazz rap cut getting on his New York shit.

“Just Stop” moves on from there with a more mellow boom bap atmosphere providing some advice for the kinda people who don’t know when to shut the fuck up until “Make Moves” reaches the halfway point of the full-length responding to those saying he ain’t the hardest. “High Tech Low Life” kicks off the 2nd leg of The Package ruggedly talking about going nowhere as long as he has is notepad & pen in his backpack while “All Fans” expresses his increasing appetite over some strings.

To get the 4th quarter started, “Beware Now” jazzily advises to realize where one stands & spraying up blocks while “Band on Break” brings some pianos into the fold responding to the people wondering where he’s been for so long. “Night Stress” featuring Steele talks about everyone having their own right to rebel & scoffing at these muhfuckas playing crash dummies while the title track spends the LP’s final minutes embracing a celebratory atmosphere confident of taking it to the top with him.

The B.D.I. Thug has been widely considered to be one of the most disappointing debut albums in hip hop & Backpack Travels was alright for what it was but if it takes another decade or so for Buckshot to go solo again, then I wouldn’t complain because I truly believe The Package is musically superior than both it’s predecessors. I think it’s great for those who’ve been wanting him to produce an entire body of work for himself & the Duck Down co-founder lyrically sounds as sharp as he did on Rise of da Moon back in 2019.

Score: 4/5

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Chip Fu – “Invisible Footsteps” review

This is the 2nd solo extended play from Brooklyn, New York veteran Chip Fu. A member of the Fu-Schnickens, he would eventually put out a solo mixtape of his own 16 years earlier called Stop Playing & the sequel arrived roughly 32 months later. The Beginning of the Reckoning under Blaq Ink Entertainment in tandem with Fat Beats Records was a solid EP last summer & the highlights it had made me eager of where Invisible Footsteps would go next.

After the intro, we have the man himself welcoming us to the “Shell Down” except I feel like the trap instrumental is merely ok compared to the enjoyable lyricism whereas “Double Dutch” hooks up a more thunderous beat & flows that would make the heads of those unfamiliar with start spinning. Busta Rhymes later appears on “Have Mercy”, where both lyricists join forces over a boom bap instrumental so they can ask God to grant them lenience.

“MI-JOI” might be my least favorite track on Invisible Footsteps & that’s disappointing because I appreciate the positive messaging despite the execution of the dancehall sound while “Warning” featuring Shaquille O’Neal finds the 2 linking up to talk about those thinking they can fuck with them, assuring them they’re all sorely mistaken. “More Amor (Love)” finishes the EP fusing jazz rap, boom bap & pop rap for an ode to affection.

With all due respect to Chip Fu because I did enjoy his previous EP alongside his output with the Fu-Schnickens or guest appearances, Invisible Footsteps does have moments that I can see myself going back to since the verses as well as the flows & both guest appearances are on point. My main criticism I have towards this newer batch of material is that the production’s somewhat more inconsistent at times, which I find disappointing.

Score: 2.5/5

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A.G. – “$ € £ ₣ ¥” review

The Bronx, New York veteran A.G. enlisting Boston, Massachusetts producer Stu Bangas to produce his 7th solo LP. Known for being 1/2 of Showbiz & A.G. as well as a member of the D.I.T.C. collective, he would make his solo debut in 1998 with The Dirty Version & came back 8 years later for the sophomore Get Dirty Radio. He has since followed these up with Everything’s Berri, The Taste of AMBrosia, Always Protect the King, NYLUV & Giant in the Mental which I personally prefer some more than others. However, I already knew $ € £ ₣ ¥ had great chances of being some hit best material individually when Stu’s involvement was announced.

“Borderline” featuring D-Flow & Diamond D angrily opens up shop talking about nobody being above them lyrically & Diamond D having my favorite guest appearance of the 2 whereas “Get It Going” continues from there providing words of wisdom. “Creatures” goes for a boom bap vibe instrumentally so he can spew unapologetically hardcore lyricism prior to Cory Gunz appearing on the hypnotic “Replicant” talking about being the naked truth with clothes.

To end the 1st half, “Skywalker” experiments with an unsetting trap atmosphere using the clouds as his stepping stone while “She Like to Dress Up So I Modeled Her” calling back to when his original moniker was reminiscent of the late WWE Hall of Famer, the shortest reigning WWE Champion & former WWE Tag Team Champion André the Giant. “Suspense” featuring Prince Julius was a more laidback cut making people disappear by merely uttering 1 sentence.

“All These Things All These People” heinously talks about coming from an era when you couldn’t rap if you didn’t write it & going to all sorts of different places while “Really Rapping” encourages people to ask his crew if he’s capping or being serious in his rhymes. “Real Hip Hop” lastly sends off the album with a boom bap outro where the hook ironically samples “Ova Here” by KRS-One on what would’ve been Afrika Bambaataa’s 68th birthday but I digress.

A great bulk of A.G.’s solo material for the past 16 years has been average at best, so $ € £ ₣ ¥ on paper seemed like it would reach the same level of quality The Dirty Version & Get Dirty Radio had reached decades earlier. Thankfully, my expectations were met because a great deal of this was enjoyable to me anyway. His pen & Stu Bangas’ production combined make for the strongest he’s sounded since all of those earlier full-lengths putting aside a couple guests sticking out personally.

Score: 4/5

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Natural Elements – “aligNmEnt” review

Baychester, Bronx, New York outfit the Natural Elements are making their long-awaited full-length debut under Fat Beats Records. Consisting of A-Butta as well as Mr. Voodoo & Swigga, they would go on to sign with Tommy Boy Records in late ‘90s off a debut extended play only to leave after their major label album was shelved. They would return in 2013 with the NE Definitely mixtape & a handful of EPs including All Hail NE, Death Comes in 3s, 3 Kings & 3Times Dope. Over 3 decades since their formation, they’ve made great timing for this aligNmEnt since all of hip hop’s O.G.s have been coming back in recent memory.

“As We Should” opens up with them talking about evolving & adapting with the times since that’s a crucial focal point of the way life works whereas “This Isnt a Drill” produced by the group’s founder Charlemagne finds the trio trading cutthroat bars with each other over a symphonic boom bap instrumental. “Whole Foods of Rap” explains their style being why it’s been so long to get here since Tommy Boy didn’t know what to do with it leading into “We Could Exist” representing their home state.

Meanwhile on “Naturally (Natural E)”, we have the Elements sampling “Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’Sullivan decades after the latter’s court battle with the late Biz Markie changed hip hop & the music industry at large forever just before the hardcore “dopamiNE” talks about still having their touch. The soulful boom bap crossover “infiNitE shiNE” continued with them boasting that they’re unstoppable while “Alive & Well” thanks the most high for allowing them to still be here.

“Cosmos is Calling” begins the 2nd half of aligNmEnt venting everything that hits their minds looking at the nighttime sky pondering our existence while the title track hooks up a chilling sample mixed with kicks & snares carrying the same words they honor to this day. “NilE River Flows” sticks to the traditional boom bap sound meshing some keys & occasionally melodic background vocals talking about getting better with age while “Book Smart Street Smart” explains the way they prefer their women.

Things go for a funkier direction for “Y.K.T.V. (You Know the Vibes)” boasting that they’re always on fire while “nooNE Can Tell Me Shiii…” returns to the boom bap & putting an atmospherically soulful twist to it feeling confident of themselves. “Time Doesn’t Exist” explains the very reason they consider themselves timeless & the beat embracing a more nostalgic tone but after “Demon Frequency” confesses to the thing that’s been fucking with their collective vision, the outro “3-Card moNtE” ends NE’s debut album trading bars with each other 1 last time.

Notable for having the late Ka as a member of the Natural Elements at some point during their early years, an official LP from these guys excluding the 1999 compilation has been long overdue & it’s like they never even went through all that label drama 3 decades earlier to begin with. The production mostly handled by Charlemagne brings a durable take on boom bap to the table in enhancing the feeling of the types of songs these guys’ cult following worldwide has become accustomed to since Day 1.

Score: 4/5

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Jae Skeese – “The Good Part” review

Here is the 5th extended play from Buffalo, New York emcee Jae Skeese. Starting in 2010 off his debut mixtape W.A.C.K. (Women, Alcohol, Cash & Kicks), it wasn’t until a decade later where he & 7xvethegenius gained wide exposure as the very first signees to Conway the Machine’s very own Drumwork Music Group. The Big Ghost Ltd.-produced 3rd EP Authenticity Check & the sophomore effort Abolished Uncertainties both elevated Skeese’s popularity in the last couple years. Coming off the Superior-produced Testament of the Times & elevating from Ground Level though, Ill Tone’s producing The Good Part succeeding 40 Hours.

“Paralysis” chops up a soul sample to get things going talking about feeling like nobody’s above him whereas “Accelerant” featuring Conway the Machine & Stove God Cook$ finds the trio aggressively going at the throats of those who got the game wrong. “Curt Menafee” featuring Cory Gunz goes for a summery direction instrumentally talking about putting it all on the line leading into “S.W.G.M. (See It, Want It, Got It, Mines)” end the 1st half by speaking of taking what’s his.

Fuego Base & Sule appear on “Raiden” kicking off the 2nd leg with all 3 of them aggressively talking about wanting the finer things closer in reach just before “Worldwide” featuring Talib Kweli & T.F links up so they can discuss how far they wanna take it musically. “Mua” hops over a victorious beat to talk about getting his cake up & winning in the biggest ways while “No After No” featuring Brother Tom Sos & Consequence finishes with each artist explaining that they never stopped chasing their goals after being counted out.

I completely understood what Jae Skeese was doing trying give lesser known local artists a bigger platform although I’m still on the fence with that EP over an entire year later, but The Good Part has to be my personal favorite project of his since Testament of the Times. From the penmanship to the higher profile guest appearances & Ill Tone’s production, it’s already been implied that they’re gonna make an entire series out of this & this inaugural entry checks off every box regarding why they should.

Score: 4.5/5

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Chip Fu – “The Beginning of the Reckoning” review

Brooklyn, New York veteran Chip Fu putting his debut solo EP up on all streaming platforms after making it exclusive to EVEN for a short period of time. A member of the Fu-Schnickens, he put out a solo mixtape of his own 15 years earlier called Stop Playing & the sequel roughly 32 months later. The Beginning of the Reckoning dropped exclusively on EVEN at the very beginning of the month, but has now become available on all streaming platforms regardless of whichever one you prefer to use.

After the intro, the first song “Me” produced by Blizzard opens with a soulful boom bap instrumental & Chip taking 113 seconds to kick his speedy flows into full gear whereas “Levels” keeps chopping up more vocal samples to talk about life being similar to that of an elevator. “Thousandz & Hundredz” finishes the EP with a boom bap/reggae crossover blending intricate rhyme schemes with a chopper flow.

Continuing to innovate & elevate hip hop over 3 decades deep into the game The Beginning of the Reckoning regardless of it’s brevity powerfully showcases Chip Fu’s lyrical mastery & depth in superior ways than either Stop Playing or Stop Playing 2 did making considerable improvements in the production department of things from those early tapes.

Score: 4/5

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Lørd Skø – “PiFF” review

New York up-&-comer Lørd Skø signing to Fat Beats Records for his 3rd studio LP. Getting his start in the fall of 2020 off his debut EP 13th Angel, his profile would grow from there eventually hiring one of the greatest A&Rs in the industry Dante Ross as his manager & showing the world of what he’s capable of doing last summer when he put out his debut Museum. His sophomore effort United Palace was a great dedication to his neighborhood, returning a year & a half later to drop PiFF.

“Livin’ Life” is this jazzy intro talking about living right these days whereas “2nd Thought” produced by Statik Selektah proves to be a highlight as he shows off an aura that can’t be confused with anyone else. “Stubborn” works on this high-pitched gospel sample getting reckless in the middle of his block rockin’ 2 boots while “Bong Rips” featuring MAVI along with Harry Fraud behind the boards making reference to the current TNA World Tag Team Champion in his 3rd reign & inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy of The Hardy Boyz.

Curren$y joins Skø on the single “Understand” suggesting that even the haters gotta love it & turning their plugs into fans of their music just before “Girbaud Talk” featuring Grand Puba brings back the jazz thanks to Mike Shabb talking about checking the wave & sliding. “Robinhood” takes a more cloudier route with the beat Tony Seltzer cooks up likening himself to a vigilante, but then the lo-fi boom bap “Cigarette Butts” smacks the makeup off these clowns making them do 10s.

“Camel Eyes” featuring Conway the Machine psychedelically talks about both of their standards being high & being where they are now by staying on course prior to Feardorian bringing a woozy trap flare to the table on “Holding Me Up” featuring Polo Perks airing everyone moving wack. “Problem Child” soulfully telling his homies to stay safe moving dangerously & after a “Funkee Intermission”, he puts smoke in his “Lungz” like he always does daily.

The song “Not the Same” hits the backend of PiFF working in a crooning sample referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, the inaugural WWE Hardcore Champion, CWA World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Champion Mick Foley merely 19 years to the day he gave former 2-time AEW TNT Champion, WWE Hall of Famer, 11-time WWE world champion, 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion & 15-time WWE tag team champion Adam Copeland married to WWE Hall of Famer & 4-time WWE Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix his best singles match.

“Randy Moss” closes it out comparing himself to the Pro Football Hall of Famer & my personal favorite WR of all-time temporarily playing with the New England Patriots at a point in time where his career was winding down, who was recently battling cancer this past winter & is now fortunately cancer free while the vinyl exclusive bonus track “Lesson Learned” reunites with Statik Selektah once again asking it all for the wrong reasons.

For his Fat Beats debut, Lørd Skø makes an example of cross-generational worldbuilding at its best with PiFF by referencing classic New York City hip hop while embracing today’s NYC sound much like he did on United Palace a year & a half ago. Inspired by the stoner wing of the Blog Era during his pre-teen years, he’s created a wide-reaching stoner-friendly future classic showcasing his evolution as an artist in full.

Score: 4.5/5

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Doodlebug & 80 Empire – “A Galactic Love Supreme” review

Doodlebug is a 58 year old MC from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania notable for being 1/3 of the Digable Planets. Following their disbandment, he would branch out in favor of a solo career beginning with his 2011 debut Futuristic Sci-Fi as well as The Expendables & more recently The Calidelphian roughly a decade after Futuristic Sci-Fi dropped. West coast duo 80 Empire are officially joining him for a new collaborative LP & have signed a deal with Fat Beats Records to help put it out into the universe.

After the “Galactic Intro”, the first song “Outtaspace Connection” is a funky romance tune throwing it back to Zapp during the hook talking about the laws of attraction whereas “Breathe” slickly talks about his passion for drums coming from his uncle having a drum set at his grandmother’s house growing up. “Mother Earth is Dying” jazzily discusses our planet slowly deteriorating leading into “Spread Love (Communicate)” talks about positivity & communication.

Shabazz Palaces joins Doodlebug for “Deliveries” letting it be known what they stay constantly running & getting paid off of these days while “Amore” soulfully gets back on the themes of romance. “Time Keeps Slipping” featuring Nejma Nefertiti finds the pair talking about life flying by the way does just before “Intergalactic Love Supreme” featuring YaH-Ra spaciously speaks on love once again.

“I Am” featuring Emma Lee M.C. & Skrewtape unites the trio they can demand that you obey the empire, but then “Nothing Lasts Forever” featuring Bone Crusher & KXNG CROOKED officially concludes A Galactic Love Supreme with all 3 of them cooking up what could possibly be my favorite collaboration reminding us all that there isn’t a single thing out there that’ll last until eternity.

Sir Analog & Duke of Digital both really nailed it helping Doodlebug make a provocative body of musical escapism with every song revealing itself to be a different painting making the canvas at its core hip hop although it’s meticulously textured with so many other influences from jazz to soul music. Reminiscent of a time when music’s sole obligation was to make you feel good & think critically, they portray a healthy marriage of analog & digital or nostalgia meeting contemporary.

Score: 3.5/5

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