Tag: Hus Kingpin

Hus Kingpin – “Wavo Forever” review

Brand new LP & the 9th proper one overall from underground veteran Hus Kingpin. In addition to being 1/2 of Tha Connection with SmooVth, he has also built up over both a dozen mixtapes & EP in his discography all in the span of almost 2 decades with my personal favorites being Cocaine Beach produced by Big Ghost Ltd. as well as the Portishead-inspired Portishus & more recently The Supergoat fully produced by 9th Wonder. The latter in the beginning of 2024 has quickly become his most celebrated material in years, returning with Wavo Forever under Holy Toledo Productions.

“RZA Fangs” produced by RZA starts with him talking about keeping a razor in his mouth in case the gun’s jammed whereas “Ghost of Camay” goes for a soulful vibe thanks to Mathematics & he could’ve given us 1 more verse instead of letting the beat ride out for the last minute. “Next Level” featuring Inspectah Deck finds the 2 spending their 95 seconds together talking about turning people into ghosts when the smoke settles while “Hang Glide Samurai” featuring Kurupt & Raekwon comes through with more hardcore penmanship.

Killah Priest & Planet Asia both join Hus on “Mind Devine” aggressively talking about having guards around them because they’re well known while “Who Made You Look? 2” featuring Shyheim find the 2 teaming up for a sequel to a Portishus highlight. “The Pleasures” by Tha Connection featuring Rozewood brings all 3 of them together to look back at getting chains at 16 while “Majestic” featuring Ghostface Killah & Planet Asia lets the trio spit darts over a Big Ghost Ltd. beat.

“Killer’s Theme” featuring the Wu-Syndicate rounds out 3rd with everyone making an anthem for the kind of people who aren’t afraid to let some blood shed while “Saigon Velour” featuring Ghostface Killah & Tricky doesn’t hit me the same way “Majestic” did although I do like the Relense instrumental. “Wisewave” featuring Bronze Nazareth finishes up the full-length pairing both of them over a soulful beat the latter cooked up individually spitting verses of wisdom.

There are a couple of guests that I could’ve done without & some of the production can be a tad bit inconsistent compared to The Supergoat other than a few noteworthy exceptions, but I can definitely say that Wavo Forever’s the most I’ve enjoyed Hus Kingpin’s music in a couple years. If he makes an adjustment or 2 to the areas where this album lacks, then I really think he can make something nearing the same pedestal it’s predecessor & Cocaine Beach stand regarding the most essential entries to his catalog.

Score: 3.5/5

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Hus Kingpin – “The Supergoat” review

If I’m not mistaken, I believe this is the 8th proper full-length studio LP from New York underground veteran Hus Kingpin. In addition to being 1/2 of Tha Connection with SmooVth, he has also built up over both a dozen mixtapes & EP in his discography all in the span of over 15 years with my personal favorites being Cocaine Beach produced by Big Ghost Ltd. & the Portishead-inspired Portishus. However when it was announced that 9th Wonder was gonna fully produced The Supergoat, I had a feeling it was going to surpass both of those as his strongest album.

“Rewind” is a great kickstarter with a luxurious sample cooking up a sunrise song for those slidin’ on motherfuckers whereas “King is Born” featuring fuckin’ Rosco P. Coldchain takes the drumlessly jazzier route likening themselves to that of royalty. The title track shifts into soulful territory telling y’all how to address him, but then “Friends” gives off a spacier boom bap flare to the instrumental showing a more sensual side to Hus.

Meanwhile, “Behind the Scenes” hooks up these strings with kicks & snares spilling some behind the scenes sex on the set shit just before “Famous Poet” fuses chipmunk soul & boom bap talking about not being misunderstood amongst those in serendipity figuring he would know it. “What It Is” featuring The Musalini strips the drums once more saying everyone knows exactly what the fuck it is leading into “The Waviest” returning to an orchestral vibe boasting that he really is the waviest of them all.

“Chaos” continues the sampling of soul music by telling a real story on wax while “Already” by Tha Connection with a melodic hook from Sweata yet again displays a sensual side to Hus except he’s joined by his partner-in-rhyme SmooVth. To tie up The Supergoat the closer “Box Office” links up with Fredro Starr of Onyx for a synth-funk/hip hop hybrid getting on some big screen type of flexing.

Cocaine Beach has been my favorite LP of Hus’ for almost 7 years up to this point, but I gotta say here that The Supergoat has now dethroned it for that spot. Not just because 9th Wonder’s production masterfully goes from boom bap to drumless & chipmunk soul, but there’s less features here in comparison & they’re all unparalleled to the waviest as he drops some of my favorite performances of his yet.

Score: 4.5/5

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