Lex the Hex Master – “Cathedral of Chaos” review

This is the 5th EP from Queens emcee Lex the Hex Master. Breaking out in 2015 with his independent debut album Born in Hell, the demented Detroit hip hop duo Twiztid would go on to sign him to their label Majik Ninja Entertainment shortly after & he has put out a plethora of releases since. This includes The Black Season, Contact, the Mr. Ugly duology, Beyond Redemption, Shadow King, Strictly 4 My N.I.N.J.A.S., Party Castle, Haunted Mansion & Palace of Illusions. But after taking a year off, Lex is finishing the series that began with Party Castle & ending it in the form of Cathedral of Chaos.

“Hallelujah” opens things up with an eerie trap banger warning that it’s a wrap for these bitches now that Lex is back on the scene whereas “Money Back” has a more explosively aggressive atmosphere to it as he talks about the paper. “The Gang” has a more uncanny tone to the instrumental as dude reps his homies leading into Danny Diablo, Jake Palumbo & Madopelli Music coming into the picture for a rap metal/boom bap crossover to leave motherfuckers scared shitless in the terrordome. And prior to the titular outro, the final song “Bongs & Bonfires” ties up the EP with a peppy, tropical ballad about turning the night up.

So after almost 3 years this summer, the tetralogy of EPs from one of the most underrated/underappreciated MCs on the whole entire MNE roster finally comes to an end & it has me anticipating on whatever it is he that he plan on doing next whether it be a full-length or another EP or even another mixtape for that matter. Of the 4 installments, the production on the concluding chapter is predominantly more darker & the cutthroat Queens lyricist comes through sounding recharged on the mic.

Score: 4/5

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Lex the Hex Master – “Palace of Illusions” review

Lex the Hex Master is a 37 year old MC from Queens, New York who broke out in 2015 with his independent debut album Born in Hell. The demented Detroit hip hop duo Twiztid would sign him to their label Majik Ninja Entertainment shortly after & he has put out a plethora of releases since including The Black Season, Contact, the Mr. Ugly duology, Beyond Redemption, Shadow King, Strictly 4 My N.I.N.J.A.S., Party Castle & Haunted Mansion. But after laying low for a good portion of the year so far, Lex is returning with his 4th EP.

After the intro, the first song “Dream State of Mine” kicks off the EP with an acoustic trap banger talking about making them bow down whereas the C.G.-produced “Get Sippy” with Gibby Stites & Skullz has a bit of a more West Coast feel instrumentally talking about turning up. “Thriller” mixes together some dusty drums & synthesizers saying he can’t disappear until they know his name just before “Real One” almost has a bit of a Latin trap influence to Poetic Beats’ production letting listeners know who you’re rocking with.

The song “Closed Minds” with Jamie Madrox finds the 2 going into boom bap territory firing back at those who’re quick to dismiss their talents while the penultimate track “Main Squeeze” takes a more futuristic route in terms of sound talking to his potential ride or die bitch. “Highway to Heartbreak” then closes out the EP with a passionate piano ballad talking coming a long way & still being here today.

We’ve waited a little over a year for this 3rd installment in a 4-part series of EPs & I’d say it’s a solid comeback for Lex. The production in comparison to his past material is probably the most diverse it’s ever been, his lyricism is as cutthroat as always & there’s no denying that he took his time with this one. Very excited to hear how the series will end hopefully next year.

Score: 3.5/5

Majik Ninja Entertainment – “Attack of the Ninjas: The Album” review

This is a brand new showcase compilation from Detroit underground label Majik Ninja Entertainment. Founded in 2014 by Twiztid & their manager George Vlahakis only 2 years following the demented duo’s departure from Psychopathic Records, they quickly built an empire or their own from bringing a few other PSY alumni along for the ride to help introduce G-Mo Skee & Alla Xul Elu to a much wider audience. The label’s first showcase comp Year of the Sword is easily the best one they’ve put out so far given the strength of the roster at the time, but that’s not to say Songs of Samhain wasn’t a respectable Halloween-themed EP. But to celebrate the 5th annual Attack of the Ninjas, everyone on MNE right now & the 2 acts on their Welcome to the Underground sub-label are uniting as one alongside a couple outside collaborators for an exclusive compilation given away at the event.

The opener “Are You Scared?” by Oh! The Horror & Twiztid is a pop punk/rap crossover telling their haters to say their prayers whereas “Each & Every” by Bukshot, Jamie Madrox & Lex the Hex Master finds the trio jumping on top of a west coast instrumental from Fritz the Cat saying they’re broken & don’t feel fine. Buk & Jamie stick around as they enlist Boondox & Mr. Grey to spit the wicked shit on “Horror” down to the Godsynth & Stir Crazy production, but then Gibby Stites & Blaze Ya Dead Homie come in for the atmospheric “Come Up” saying ain’t nobody doing what they’re doing.

“Let ‘Em Burn” by Anybody Killa, the Axe Murder Boyz, Bukshot, Crucifix & Monoxide come together on top of a trap instrumental from MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 to get in their arsonist bag just before the futuristic “Space Between Us” sees Zodiac MPrint reuniting to talk about a toxic relationship. “Kill” by Insane E, Jamie Madrox, Oh! The Horror & Redd goes into a rubbery direction with the help of Grady Finch saying no one’s on their level while “Chin Check” by Bukshot, Gibby Stites, Joey Black, Lee Carver & The R.O.C. encourages the listener to mosh despite the out-of-place forlorn production.

The track “We Are the Underground” by Boondox, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Gibby Stites & Oh! The Horror needs no further explanation lyrically diving into a trap/metal fusion whereas the final song “Boohoo” by Gibby Stites, Lex the Hex Master & The R.O.C. ends the comp with a boom bap-tinged shot at their detractors even though the hook is a bit tedious. The actual closer though is just a remix to “Maelstrom” off of Cabal’s most recent debut album The Watchers featuring the Super Famous Fun Time Guys & the Venomous 5.

I don’t expect all that much whenever a label puts out a project showcasing their artists & although I enjoyed the last 2 that MNE has put out, I’m a bit torn on this one. Some of the collabs on here come off to me as natural, but then there are others that seem hamfisted & in no way shape or form am I trying to be disrespectful to anyone because I’ve given a good share of positive feedback on the label’s output throughout the years like with /ˌrevəˈlāSH⁽ᵊ⁾n/ & Krimson Crow.

Score: 3/5

Majik Ninja Entertainment – “Songs of Samhain” review

This is the new surprise EP from Detroit hip hop label Majik Ninja Entertainment. Founded by Twiztid in 2014, they’ve proven themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the underground with an all-star lineup of artists & a consistent work ethic. They dropped a fantastic showcase compilation in 2017 called Year of the Sword but almost 3 years later, the label’s coming together once more on Songs of Samhain.

After the “We Only Have So Much Time” intro, the first song “Wash” by the House of Krazees talk about murder over a somewhat quirky beat while the track “9lb. Hammer” by Twiztid is a full-blown rap rock moshpit starter. The song ” Murder Carnage” by Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Boondox & Lex the Hex Master sees the 3 getting violent over a rubbery beat from Godsynth & Stir Crazy but after the “Nursery Rhyme from Another Time” interlude, the track “Die on Samhain” by Alla Xul Elu & the Axe Murder Boyz portrays themselves as serial killers over a nocturnal instrumental.

The track “Death Talk” by the House of Krazees talks about being lunatics over a rock-tinged beat while the song “Haddonfield 2 Crystal Lake” by Twiztid compares themselves to Michael Myers & Jason Voorhees over a somewhat funky beat. The EP finishes with “In My Head”, where Twiztid contemplate about whether or not they’re insane over a spooky instrumental.

Overall, this is a short but sweet surprise effort from one of my favorite hip hop labels in recent memory. All the artists stand out in their own unique way & given everyone’s history in the horrorcore subgenre, they all come together with a consistent batch of songs just in time for the Halloween season.

Score: 3.5/5

Lex the Hex Master – “Haunted Mansion” review

This is the 3rd EP from Queensbridge emcee Lex the Hex Master, an artist who I’ve been keeping up with since late 2015 when he became one of the first artists to sign with Majik Ninja Entertainment. His latest EP Party Castle that dropped just a few months ago was the 1st in a 4-part series & even though it was more trap-flavored than anything he’s done before, it was a great way to kick the series off. But as fall approaches, Lex is already delivering the 2nd installment.

After the 9-second intro, the title track sets the tone for whole project as Lex talks about getting lit over a C.G. instrumental sampling Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” whereas the next song “Be Gone” takes aim at those who’re hating on MNE over a trap beat from Poetics with some melancholic piano-chords. “The Life” sees Lex showboating over an energetic beat while the track “Take It Off” is a wild strip club banger.

The song “S.A.L. (Sorry Ass Loser)” to me seems like a darker, modern version of 7L & Esoteric’s “Herb” while the penultimate track “Insane” with Blaze Ya Dead Homie & Boondox finds the trio talking about staying that way until the very end over an instrumental that has somewhat of a crunk feel to it. The EP finishes with “Bruja”, where Lex talks about a witch over a tribal beat from Charlie Beans.

This whole ongoing EP series are quickly becoming some of my favorite projects that Lex has ever put out point blank period & I’ll even say this is Party Castle on steroids. The club bangers on here in comparison to it’s predecessor are more refined from the hooks, production choices, lyricism & performances. At this rate, the next 2 installments are bound to be even better.

Score: 4/5

Lex the Hex Master – “Party Castle” review

Lex the Hex Master is an MC from Queens, New York who broke out in 2015 with his independent debut album Born in Hell. The demented Detroit hip hop duo Twiztid would him to their label Majik Ninja Entertainment shortly after & he has put out a plethora of releases since. This includes The Black Season, Contact, the Mr. Ugly duology, Beyond Redemption & Shadow King. However despite showcasing a bunch of lesser-known MCs on the Strictly 4 My N.I.N.J.A.S. mixtape this past fall, Lex pretty much payed on the down-low for most of last year. But to kick off a new era, he’s delivering the 1st installment in a series of 4 EPs.

After the intro, the first song “Last Night” talks about being under the influence over a woozy beat & then “The Count” gets on the shit-talking tip over a forlorn trap beat. The song “Hypnotized” vents about wanting his name to be remembered over a grimy instrumental from Poetics while the track “Back Up” talks about. The penultimate song “Chill Mode” gets on the more cool side of things down to the Godsynth instrumental & then the closer “Sleep at Night” is a remix of “Stay Woke” by HB the Grizzly that I actually like more than the original.

If anyone’s looking for some East Coast hip hop that’s lyrical & something you can vibe out to, I highly recommend checking this out & am looking forward to hearing how the other 3 installments of the Party Castle series turn out. The beats are a lot more trap-flavored than his previous efforts & Lex manages to remind fans why he’s one of the most menacing MCs that MNE has to offer.

Score: 4/5

Majik Ninja Entertainment – “Twiztid Presents: Year of the Sword” review

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Majik Ninja Entertainment is an underground hip hop label that was founded in 2014 by Detroit hip hop duo Twiztid. The roster has been immensely growing since it’s inception of this year specifically, they’ve dropped 1 great release after another. And now to close out such a great year for them, they’re now giving the fans a compilation featuring new songs from every artist on the label. After a 90 second intro, we then get into the first song “Heads Will Roll” by Gorilla Voltage & Jamie Madrox. Here, they‘re bragging about how their skills will amaze you over a sinister instrumental. The next track “Turn It Up” by Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Bonez Dubb & Lex the Hex Master sees the 3 MCs aggressively getting in your face over a chaotic beat while the track “Fucked” by Boondox, Gorilla Voltage & The R.O.C. talks about how crazy they all are over a haunting instrumental. After a 15 second skit with “Level Up!”, we then get into the next song “Their Fault” by Jamie Madrox & Young Wicked. Here, they’re predominantly singing about those who never gave them a chance & while the vocals during the first half seem nasal, it definitely picks up on the second half. The song “Ignite” by King Gordy, Mr. Grey & Zodiac MPrint talks about how they’re never gonna fall over a killer rap rock instrumental & then “Cut ‘Em Up” by Twiztid & Young Wicked rapidly talk about killing their competition over an abrasive yet eerie instrumental. The song “Lights Out” by G-Mo Skee, Mr. Grey & Twiztid angrily talks about getting murderous on their last day alive & the rap metal instrumental on here fits the vibe like a glove. After the 30-second “Harassment” skit, we then dive into “Don’t Fuck wit Us” by ClocworC, the House of Krazees & Lex the Hex Master. The lyrics are self explanatory, but they’re delivered fantastically over this menacing yet thumping instrumental. The song “Better Than Ever B4” by the Axe Murder Boyz, G-Mo Skee, Lex the Hex Master & Triple Threat talk knowing now than ever before about over some twinkling piano keys & an organ while “Flix ‘n Chill” by ClocworC, Triple Threat & Young Wicked is a predictably decent love song with a wavy instrumental. The song “Get High” by the Axe Murder Boyz, L.A.R.S., Mr. Grey & Triple Threat is self-explanatory weed anthem with a druggy beat while “Galaxy” by G-Mo Skee, Jamie Madrox & King Gordy sees the 3 looking for a challenge over a synthesizer-heavy instrumental. The song “Don’t Tell Me” by Boondox, Gordy & Twiztid tells the haters they’ll never listen to them over a grimy yet thunderous beat & then after the 20 second “Summon the Majik Ninja” skit, we then get into the final song in the standard edition “B.N.U.” (an acronym for Brand New Underground). It’s an explosive posse cut where everyone on the label all talk about their prowess. The “Did You Unplug It?” skit is the final track on here, but there is a bonus disc with 9 tracks. All of which are new solo cuts from each signee on the label, with the exception of Lex the Hex Master’s being previously released on his latest album Beyond Redemption. As a whole, this was a great way for Majik Ninja to end their 2017 & it’s just another example of why they’re one of my favorite labels out right now. The production is gritty as usual & everyone compliments each other fantastically. Can’t wait to see them continue their string of successfully raw releases in 2018

Score: 4/5

Lex the Hex Master – “Beyond Redemption” review

Almost year after his debut Contact & just in time for Halloween, Queens horrorcore MC & Majik Ninja Entertainment signee Lex the Hex Master is now dropping his sophomore album. After an 80 second intro, the title track is the first song in the track listing & it has a super ominous instrumental that fits his angry about being face to face with his fate perfectly. The track “Beast” raps about shuttin’ shit down over an energetic, but the first half of the hook is too nasal for me. The song “Joke’s Ova” with G-Mo Skee & Grizzy Hendrix is basically the 3 venting about the wack shit of today & getting back to the hardcore days over a sinister instrumental. The track “Attributes” sees Lex telling us a bit about himself & the instrumental kinda sounds like something Eminem would rap over in 2002 or 2003, but in a cool way.

The song “Shadow Army” with his mentors Twiztid alongside Gorilla Voltage & Řezník is a nice, gritty horrorcore posse cut & the track “Gangstas” talks about a chick who wants to chill with the thugs over an instrumental with a fitting gangsta rap vibe to it & the song “Broken” vents about haters as well as traumatizing your ears over another Early 2000s Eminem-esque instrumental minus the wailing guitar. The track “Bully Foot” has an instrumental kinda reminds me of “Put ‘Em in Their Place” by Mobb Deep, but Lex’s confrontational bars actually sound just fine over it. The song “Samurai” with Young Wicked sees the 2 bragging about their skills over some pounding drums & the hook is super catchy. The penultimate track “Arrival” with Young Uno, Var Francis & Bubbah Barz sees all 4 MCs taking shots at all the frauds out there over some ominous keyboards & then the closer “It Begins” is Lex vividly telling the story of a man who eventually gets murdered over a perfectly somber instrumental.

Overall, I think Lex the Hex Master outdid himself on this one. The production is grittier, Lex is continuing to improve himself as an MC & it sounds even angrier than before.I think Lex is one of the most underrated right now & if anyone’s new to him, I think this is where you should stop sleeping

Score: 4/5