Black Josh – “YSL Bootleg” review

This is the 8th studio LP from Manchester, England, United Kingdom emcee/producer Black Josh. Known for being a member of the Cult of the Damned & LEVELZ collectives as well as 1/2 of the B-Movie Millionaires & the Super Sag Bros, he would make debut over a decade ago off an eponymous EP & the full-length debut Blick Flair’s Ape Mountain until signing to Blah Records. He went on to drop 6 more albums & 3 EPs under the London label, coming off Today’s the Day a couple years earlier with YSL Bootleg.

“Aw, Here It Goes” by the B-Movie Millionaires starts with them trading verses with each other over a Lee Scott beat fusing g-funk & boom bap whereas “CBA” co-produced by Sumgii talks about refusing to be assed when he tries hard replacing the g-funk elements with hints of cloud rap. “Flu Game” featuring Sly Moon maintains the boom bap vibes speaking of feeling themselves when they’re not exactly feeling themselves while “Drink Champs” featuring Stinkin’ Slumrok shouts out the mishaps making money.

King Grubb appears on the sinisterly dusty “Gutter” talking about good things coming to those who pull the weight just before “Mossy Tree” luxuriously talks about being ready whenever shit pops off, calling back to one of my all-time favorite Cypress Hill tracks. “Council Pop” featuring Sly Moon finds the 2 lyrically going back-&-forth with each other just before “Garfield” heads for a lo-fi direction instrumentally talking his bars wrapping his doubters up in a weed joint to light up, reserving the last 55 seconds for a jazzy synthesizer breakdown.

“Who’s on What” begins the final act hopping over a psychedelic boom bap beat talking about partying until the sun rises while the cavernously hardcore “Don Julio” likens himself to playing the role of a villain in a theatrical film & dismissing rappers who aren’t on Blah’s level of lyricism. “Yes, Man” featuring Sniff has this uncanny boom bap tone talking about getting whatever it is they ask while the closer “Tiger Blood” by the Super Sag Bros drumlessly makes a reference to Charlie Sheen’s infamous 2011 meltdown except they’re drinking Hennessy instead of a tiger’s actual blood.

The only complaint I have regarding YSL Bootleg was it being marketed as an extended play when it’s a dozen tracks & over a half hour long but nonetheless, I’d have to put it above Mannyfornia when it comes down to the greatest entry in Black Josh’s solo discography. Lee Scott’s production here captures Josh’s versatility better than Today’s the Day since it largely stuck to 1 unified sound & the latter sharpens his skills after opening for Danny Brown during the UK leg of the Quaranta tour for this next chapter of a career spanning over an entire decade.

Score: 4/5

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Black Josh – “Today’s the Day” review

Here we have the 4th EP from Manchester, England, United Kingdom emcee/producer Black Josh. Known for being a member the Cult of the Damned & LEVELZ collectives as well as 1/2 of the B-Movie Millionaires, he would make debut over a decade ago off an eponymous EP & the full-length debut Blick Flair’s Ape Mountain until signing to Blah Records. He went on to drop 6 more albums & a couple more EPs under the London label, celebrating Friday the 13th in no better fashion than Today’s the Day.

“Habitat” was a dark, occasionally crooning boom bap intro coming out the gate with unapologetically hardcore penmanship whereas “Doolally” works in an organ sample mixed with kicks & snares talking about driving people crazy. The title track dustily finds himself ready to catch up to the money & the paper chase while “Vince Carter” featuring Da$h references none other then the greatest Toronto Raptors player of all-time himself over a symphonic boom bap beat.

Sonnyjim joins the B-Movie Millionaires on “E R M8” continuing the last leg of Today’s the Day bringing all 3 artists together hauntingly leaving heads spinning harder than The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s intro & after “Close to the Edge” maintains a boom bap vibe instrumentally talking about him feeling like he’s on the verge of slipping homaging the late DMX in the midst of it, we get hit with a soul sample & Josh letting the people he has in mind know he’ll “Pray” for them.

I wouldn’t put it above Smoking Kills regarding the extended plays in Black Josh’s discography, but Today’s the Day is definitely the most I’ve enjoyed a solo project from him since Mannyfornia. Rather than continuing to delve deeper into some of the most vulnerable material throughout Josh’s career much like Heartbreak Hostel did, the latter’s wordplay & the grimier production are enough to please any hardcore hip hop fan.

Score: 3.5/5

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Sparkz – “Overload” review

Manchester, England, United Kingdom emcee/producer Sparkz dropping his 4th extended play under High Focus Records. A member of the LEVELZ collective & co-fronting The Mouse Outfit, he would later make appearances on projects like Verb T’s 8th album Good Evening & Pitch 92’s debut EP Lost in Space until Fliptrix signed Sparkz to his historic Hove, East Sussex underground imprint dropping Overload following the Angle trilogy of EPs in preparation of his own debut album.

“Buzzin’” kicks it all off with self-produced boom bap intro reminiscent of Yasiin Bey or A Tribe Called Quest talking about doing his thing whereas the 2nd & final single “Mean It” doesn’t shy away of keeping it sincere with his words. The title track & lead single blends boom bap with grime putting his lyrical proficiency in the limelight & after “Kidda” goes a little hardcore pulling shit out the basement to show audiences what the deal is, “Quit” blends wonky & boom bap to end the EP suggesting people to give up whatever they’re trying for.

Testifying to the years Sparkz has spent honing his wide range of talents from the mic to behind the boards, his inaugural solo release brings the heat with this 5-pack of unforgettable bangers that’re guaranteed to brighten up even the dreariest of places. High Focus brings him on board the label’s roster giving him a new sense of creative freedom, exemplified by his production sounding a bit wonkier unlike everything he’s done previously matched with the buoyant flows & sharp penmanship.

Score: 4/5

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