Alla Xul Elu – “The Magic Xul Bus” review

This is the 3rd EP from Ohio horrorcore trio Alla Xul Elu. Consisting of Billy Obey as well as Joey Black & Lee Carver, they broke out in 2015 as a duo by releasing their first 2 albums Head of Horns & Sci-Co that same year. This was followed up with their 4/20-themed debut EP Necronomichron in 2017 & adding Carver into the fold shortly after, but it wasn’t until Twiztid signed them to Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2018 when the Xul Boys’ music got increasingly better. Their MNE debut The Almighty is unquestionably the greatest horrorcore album of the 2010s, their 2019 sophomore EP Church of Xul took a much darker approach, Mauxuleum made it in the top 10 of my Best Releases of 2020 list despite them ditching their signature boom bap sound for a more industrial, trap metal direction & Necronomichron 2: Dead by Bong was a superior sequel to their 4/20 EP. Ahead of Camp Xul 4 weekend however, they’re getting the party started opening the doors to The Magic Xul Bus couple months after Astronomicon.

The title track is a grimy boom bap opener to start the EP with all 3 members trading the mic back-&-forth with one another taking the Xuligans on a journey on The Magic Xul Bus itself whereas “Smoke Stop” works in more kicks & snares on top of an ominous loop so they can talk about getting stoned. “Fucked Up” goes for an electronic trap direction instrumentally admitting they’ve been getting too wild at the party that is until “Buried Alive” ends the EP with pianos, kicks & snares getting on the wicked shit.

It’s been rumored for a while now that the upcoming Xul album Gods of Evil Rise produced by Mike E. Clark will be the trio’s final MNE release & hopefully we get an official update on it from A.X.E. themselves during their event at the very end of the week but either way, The Magic Xul Bus is sure to satisfy the Xuligans who’ve been waiting a tad over 3 years to put out new material excluding the Lost Lakes Estates collab effort with their protégés the Super Famous Fun Time Guys about 9 months ago. In only 12 minutes, they return to their horrorcore/boom bap stylings occasionally expanding their sound beyond trap.

Score: 4/5

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Insane E – “Scales” review

Insane E is a 39 year old MC & graphic designer from East Palestine, Ohio starting out as 1/4 of the No Clue Crew in the early 2000s before branching out in favor of a solo career releasing The Fine Line at the very end of that decade. Subsequently, he became the Head of Graphic Design for Majik Ninja Entertainment & a graphic designer for the label’s founders Twiztid in November 2013 only 11 months after the demented duo had departed from Psychopathic Records to do it themselves. And to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of E’s sophomore effort The Art of Blaowww, I was eagerly waiting for the Astronomicon graphic designer’s 3rd album.

“In the Balance” kicks off the LP on some rap rock shit produced by Fritz the Cat opening your mind & taking a look inside whereas “Tell Me Do You Really Care?” heinously talks about hoping everyone’s paying attention to him since the end is near. “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Me 2099” is a remix version of a highlight track off E’s solo debut The Fine Line, but then “Limitless” moves forward passionately talking about keeping your head up & giving it all you got.

The trap metal vibes on “Alien” suit the lyrical content of not fitting in or not belonging just before the anthemic “Chambers” featuring Zodiac MPrint finds Blaze Ya Dead Homie & The R.O.C. assisting E in running around circles chasing after what they’re looking for. “Get a Clue” takes an ominous trap route hoping that someone out there can hearing him crying leading into “Excedrin” marking a turn into boom bap territory talking about passing the over-the-counter medication to him.

“Welcome to My Gallery” fuses trap with metal once again coming to terms that he’s simply an artist searching for his inner self while “Brainwashed 2099” is another remix, this time of a Gemini Projekt track off the duo’s only album Experiment 17. “Scapegoat” brings a futuristic flare to the beat from Godsynth not giving a fuck about who hates him since he’s only moving faster up the ladder that he’s been climbing while “Bury It” featuring Jamie Madrox goes full-blown rap rock feeling like they’re losing their sanities.

We get more guitars & hi-hats on “Time” so E can ask how long will it take until Father Time starts crumbling down on us all while psychedelic “Life by Design” wants to know if everyone is living by default or design. “Let It Burn (No Return)” grimly talks about being past the point of no return while “Next Level” featuring Mr. Grey has this morbid trap groove to it discussing that they’ve been waiting too long to move up & move on.

“Homesick” nears the climax of balancing the Scales working in a stripped-back sound altogether with some acoustics courtesy of Stir Crazy talking about how there will always be a part of him back home & that the family he’s started meaning the world to him ahead of “Shift” properly concluding the album fusing electronic music & trap asking if you can feel him now.

Over a decade since we last heard from him on The Art of Blaowww & roughly 15 years that he began carving a path for himself as a solo artist, Insane E has returned to provide what I consider to be my new favorite solo effort of the 3 in his entire discography. It’s more well-produced than his last couple LPs were, he sounds focused addressing more personal subject matter & we get stronger feature performances on top of it.

Score: 4/5

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Young Wicked – “Young Wicked: The Mixtape 2” review

This is the 2nd mixtape from Denver emcee, singer/songwriter, producer, engineer & fashion designer James Garcia or the artist formerly known as Young Wicked. Coming up as 1/2 of the Axe Murder Boyz with his older brother Bonez Dubb in 1999, the duo put out 4 albums on their own before before the Insane Clown Posse signed them to Psychopathic Records in 2005 & making their debut on the label that following spring by dropping Blood In Blood Out to moderate reception. However, their next full-length outing God’s Hand is considered to by many (including myself) to be their best given how much both of them elevated their lyricism & Otis’ production. This resulted in him becoming Violent J’s protege many years later, dropping his solo debut Slaughter: It’s the Best Medicine in the fall of 2015. Fast forward a couple years later, Twiztid signed Young Wicked & eventually AMB to Majik Ninja Entertainment in the midst of their falling out with Psychopathic to put out an equally fantastic sophomore effort The Return of the Prodigal Son. But after rebranding himself 3 & a half years ago on Activated which had more of a mainstream sound to it, the initially scrapped sequel to Young Wicked: The Mixtape is finally seeing the light of day ahead of his upcoming Astronomicon appearance.

“Deep” is an aggressive rap rock opener talking about the fact that they’ve been waiting for him to come out of the basement to show the underground who he really is whereas “Eternal” takes the trap metal route instrumentally admitting that he can’t rest in peace with these sick muthafuckas in the street although the heavy auto-tune on the hook just isn’t it. “No Masters (Shake da Shit)” works in these somber piano chords & sirens sayin’ y’all looking at a king coming for everything just before the rap metal-infused “Resurrected” admits to feeling darkness clouding his mind.

Meanwhile on “Shallow Grave”, we have Young Wicked on some boom bap shit taking everyone through the mind of a murderer leading into “Pushing On” blends some kicks & snares with guitars as he discusses trying to figure himself out as of lately. “Chrome” ruggedly pushin’ bars similar to the way they be pushin’ weight cautioning that you don’t want to get smoked by him, but then “Flowers” dabbles with the trap metal flare once more calling himself the goat having to be sacrificed in the blood.

The song “No Slackin’” goes for a vibrant trap approach that his pimpin’ doesn’t ever slow down while “Crucifix” returns to the boom bap reminding y’all that his last album was activism & he’s back to stabbin’ victims now. To conclude Young Wicked: The Mixtape 2, the closer “Keep Out the Cold” is this guitar ballad singing that he keeps the whiskey in his veins for the titular reason & “Coastin’” starts the deluxe run with some g-funk undertones repping MNE.

“Breathin’” cleverly references the inaugural AEW World Champion, former ROH World Champion, ECW World Television Champion, IWGPインターコンチネンタル王座, ROH World Champion, WCW World Television Champion, 6-time WWE world champion, 7-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 4-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, record-holding 9-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion & WWE Hardcore Champion Chris Jericho.

James blends trap & rock for “Rage” unlock the door to my vision & telling everyone listening to step inside while “The Language” talks about only speaking in hustle not giving any fucks regarding being famous. “Unbroken” enlists ScatteredBrains behind the boards telling everyone that he’s still unbroken out here & the final bonus track “Stayin’ Lit” ends with him swinging as if he’s the soon to be inducted WWE Hall of Famer Muhammad Ali.

Activated has it’s moments even though a lot of juggalos I know weren’t feeling the more commercial-approach it took, but this to me is the best thing that James has done on his own since The Return of the Prodigal Son almost 7 summers ago. It’s much more rawer than the previous LP we got from him & we still get a glimpse of his artistic evolution in the last 25 years whether it be his bars, his singing, an evolving self-produced sound or the mixing/mastering.

Score: 4/5

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G-Mo Skee – “Filth City” review

Richmond, California lyricist G-Mo Skee enlisting Boston producer Stu Bangas for his 4th full-length LP & the first since returning to Majik Ninja Entertainment. Emerging as a member of the trio Stampede & later the Inf Gang. He would drop 2 official mixtapes Got Filth & Got Filth II: The Great Adventures of G-Mo independently before Twiztid signed him to Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2016. His full-length debut My Filthy Spirit Bomb coming out that same winter to significant acclaim, but I personally think G’s sophomore effort Chaly & the Filth Factory is his best work so far because of it’s incredible concept & the instrumentals accompanying it (mostly handled by former Strange Music in-house producer MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7). The previous album The Filth Element commemorated his 30th birthday by proving that he didn’t need MNE until returning to The Dojo on 8 Bit Filth II: Hero Hunter last fall & is now turning Filth City from an EP to an actual album ahead of his upcoming Astronomicon appearance.

After the soulful intro, the title track starts us off by advising not to come to Filth City since shit can go left over a boom bap instrumental whereas the grimy ass single “Work Magic” references 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. “Jumped” hauntingly incorporates more kicks & snares obviously talking about not fighting fair with people who run up on him while “Evil Plans” sounds like something out of a horror flick keeping it dusty at the same time advising that you’re gonna see him act like an animal cleverly referencing The Animal.

After the interlude, “Diamond in the Dirt” links up with his Inf Gang brethren Jae Harmony & Nobe saying you’d have to time travel to beat them in a rhyme battle & to find them lurkin’ in the underground along with it being time for them to show ‘em what it’s worth on top of this eerie ass boom bap beat while “All in Your Head” featuring Linzy & Jaylin Skee on the intro & TheArtLawd on the outro brings these colorful vibraphones into the picture discussing fatherhood, worrying about shit that might happen & making good out of the bad he represents. “Autistic” featuring Kvng Moses has these sick ass synthesizers mixed with kicks & snares flexing that he eats more rappers than the ASTROWORLD Travis Scott entrance when they walk in it, but then the synths on “G-Mo University” feel like something out of a Sega Genesis game since it’s no secret that G’s a gamer talking about coming down to get a Filthication.

“Story to Tell” instrumentally goes for a dejecting approach telling a true story although he can’t say their names & that it gets messy while the rugged lead single “Postcards from Hell” talks about how he was raised with all the killers & dope fiends being on the frontline with everyone else in the nosebleeds. “2 the Side” featuring Young Zee of the Outsidaz aptly advises everyone to fall to the side over some Atari-like synths, kicks & snares calling your rap style more outdated than a payphone & that they’re more stuck-up than bitches are these days. And before the futuristic “Credits” outro, the final song on the album “Escape” serves as a climatic finish talking about the city to the point of no return & understandably looking to get the fuck outta there.

8 Bit Filth 2: Hero Hunter was a fun return to MNE for G, but I already knew Filth City would be a standout in his discography since his lyricism is unmatched & Stu Bangas is simply one of the absolute greatest underground producers ever. However after hearing that it wound up being an actual full-length after initially set to be an EP, my expectations increased immensely & we sure enough got one of the best albums of 2024 joining The Chainsmoker II from over a couple weeks ago in being a Hell of a way for Majik Ninja to start the year. Conceptually, the filthiest of them all takes us through what it’s like in Filth City as Stu gives G-Mo some of the coldest production he’s EVER murdered. I know it’s been a hard time for his family right now & I’d like to offer him my DEEPEST condolences, but this album is a special moment for him & I couldn’t be more proud of him. Be sure to catch him on tour with Rittz right now & at Attack of the Ninjas shortly after. I’m most certainly looking forward to the latter.

Score: 4.5/5

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Monoxide – “The Chainsmoker II” review

Monoxide is a 50 year old MC/producer from Detroit, Michigan getting his start as 1/3 of the House of Krazees alongside The R.O.C. & Jamie Madrox. The latter of whom would join Hektic in signing to Psychopathic Records in late 1997 as Twiztid, becoming the biggest act to emerge out of the label that runs beneath the streets under the Insane Clown Posse’s wing next to Ouija Macc subsequently 2 decades later shortly after MNE & PSY severed ties. Some may not even know Twiztid sporadically wrestled during the early years of Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW), later inviting multiple wrestling veterans to their annual Astronomicon pop culture convention since it’s 2018 foundation. Mono was actually the last of the demented duo to go solo, with Chainsmoker turning 20 this fall & Jamie already being established as a solo artist almost 3 decades ago. So with that in mind as well as the 10 year anniversary of Majik Ninja Entertainment’s founding & how much Monoxide has gotten better lyrically as time has gone by, it makes sense to put out a sophomore effort on Leap Day produced by MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7 to hold off until Welcome to Your Funeral produced by Zeuss.

After the intro, “F.A.F.O. (Fuck Around Find Out)” is an eerie trap opener to the album based on that whole entire mentality whereas “Blown Away” works in pianos as well as kicks & snares cautioning that y’all don’t want this smoke. “I See Everybody Dead” gets in his wicked shit bag reminding that no one listened to him about the issues he has & after the “You Said It” skit, “Smoke Train” featuring Blaze Ya Dead Homie & Joe Black of Alla Xul Elu unites the trio for a ghostly ballad dedicated to smoking weed.

“Not Normal” by Twiztid finds Jamie & Mono over vibraphones & hi-hats feeling the abnormalities in their chests but after the “Is That You?” skit, “Anxiety” featuring Boondox & James Garcia or the artist formerly known as Young Wicked is this badass trap metal cut that’ll definitely get the pots going. “Bad Medicine” gives off an ominous trap vibe encouraging to light a doobie & enjoy the ride since life’s too short, but then the rap rock “B.M.A. (Baddest Motherfucker Alive)” by Twiztid featuring G-Mo Skee references WWE Hall of Famer, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion Rikishi.

The House of Krazees get back together for the penultimate track “Night They All Died” which is actually one of my favorite songs that they’ve done with each other in recent memory reminding that the horrorcore trio are still out here over 3 decades later & “Turn the Lights Off” concludes The Chainsmoker II fusing rock with trap talking about wandering for way too long.

Jamie was my favorite of Twiztid up until Monoxide started elevating his pen game in the late 2000s & considering the amount of insane verses he’s been dropping as time goes on, I went into The Chainsmoker II thinking it would be better than the album he put out on Psychopathic almost 20 years ago & that’s exactly what we got. 7’s production is more tighter than the original Chainsmoker, you can hear Hektic’s lyrical evolution & the features from the MNE roster all maintain his level.

Score: 4.5/5

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Majik Ninja Entertainment – “Songs of Samhain 4: The Liminal Space” review

Majik Ninja Entertainment is an underground hip hop label from Detroit, Michigan founded by Twiztid & their manager George Vlahakis in 2014 after departing from Psychopathic Records only 2 years before. However, 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 comp showing off their roster Year of the Swordhas to be my personal favorite of the 4 thus far with all respect to Songs of Samhain as well as the Attack of the Ninjas compilation & Songs of Samhain 2: Haunted Record Player. But as that time of the year comes around again, MNE’s following up on Songs of Samhain 3: Cult of Night by taking a trip through The Liminal Space.

After the “Liminal Space” intro, the first song “I’m the Night” by Twiztid is a rap rock opener produced by Fritz the Cat making the comparisons of Jamie Madrox & Monoxide to darkness whereas “All My Friends Are Dead” by Blaze Ya Dead Homie jumps over some pianos & hi-hats from Grady Finch talking about his homies no longer being here with him. “Deluded Dead” by Jamie gives off an industrial rock vibe musically discussing the mislead deceased, but then the self-produced “6 Feet Deep” by the artist formerly known as Young Wicked himself James Garcia of the Axe Murder Boyz ominously looks to bury motherfuckers.

“Highest High & Lowest Low” by Bonez Dubb, Boondox & Insane E finds the trio over a dark trap beat explaining that things have changed as they look to plateau leading into “Last House on Dead Street” is the prelude to an album that Blaze has been working on for the past 15 years when he was still on Psychopathic from the morbid instrumental to the gruesome performances. “If I Return” by Jamie & Zodiac MPrint heinously declares what would happen if they eventually make a return accompanied by a grueling beat just before “Merciful Fate” by the Eastside Ninjas goes for a ghoulish atmosphere talking about voices invading their minds.

The song “Strangehold” by Alla Xul Elu & the House of Krazees puts the 2 generational horrorcore trios together for the first time ever cavernously spitting the wicked shit beautifully while the chaotic penultimate track “Collide” by Triple Threat talking about everything inside being a mess. “Wounded & Suffering” by Grady Finch & WackGxd ends the compilation with a decent ballad rooted in Oh! The Horror’s signature sound.

Cult of Night showed some considerable improvement over Haunted Record Player & the original Songs of Samhain so with Fright Fest coming up in a few days, the journey through The Liminal Space is once that juggalos will enjoy for future Halloween seasons. The performances are a tad more consistent as everyone displays their own artistic characteristics in their respective fashions.

Score: 3.5/5

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G-Mo Skee – “8 Bit Filth 2: Hero Hunter” review

This is the 3rd EP from Richmond, California lyricist G-Mo Skee. Emerging as a member of the trio Stampede & later the Inf Gang. He would drop 2 official mixtapes Got Filth & Got Filth II: The Great Adventures of G-Mo independently before Twiztid signed him to Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2016. His full-length debut My Filthy Spirit Bomb coming out that same winter to significant acclaim, but I personally think G’s sophomore effort Chaly & the Filth Factory is his best work so far because of it’s incredible concept & the instrumentals accompanying it (mostly handled by former Strange Music in-house producer MIKE SUMMERS a.k.a. 7). His last LP The Filth Element commemorated his 30th birthday by proving that he didn’t need MNE, but is returning to The Dojo for 8 Bit Filth II: Hero Hunter ahead of his upcoming 4th album album Huckleberry Filth & the next EP Filth City produced by Stu Bangas following his Astronomicon 6.5 return.

Things start off with the 3rd & final installment of the “Final Boss” trilogy sampling Super Mario World adding some kicks & snares into the fold reminding that he’s the final boss off this rap shit whereas “Filthbound” is my favorite on the EP putting a unique spin on Earthbound & former Majik Ninja in-house producer Godsynth cooking up the phattest beat on the entire project. “Inf Kong Country” featuring Cell & Jae Harmony of the Inf Gang finds all 3 members of their respective Richmond crew flipping Donkey Kong Country referencing AAA Mundial Crucero Campeon, IWGPジュニアヘビー級王座, 5-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion Juventud Guerrera alongside WWE Hall of Famer Paul Bearer

“That Ain’t Falco” goes into trap turf sampling Starfox prior to “Heart Pieces” going for a dreamy boom bap quality instrumentally dedicating this the love of his life that is hip hop just before “Falcon Punch” featuring Seuss Mace & Ubiquitous references Captain Falcon’s neutral special move in the Smash Bros. series over a triumphant instrumental. “Skull Kid” angelically talks about what the road & show business did to him leading into the wavy boom bap closer “Hero Hunter” telling everyone to drop their coins.

A reference to Twisted Metal was made on the latter cut that I enjoy in light of it getting a TV adaption last summer on the Comcast Corporation subsidiary NBCUniversal-owned peacock with the franchise’s mascot being played by the current ROH World Television Champion, former 2-time AEW TNT Champion, GHCタッグ王座, inaugural ROH Hall of Fame inductee, the longest reigning ROH World Champion, ROH Pure Champion, TNA World Champion, 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion, 5-time TNA X Division Champion, record 3-time NXT Champion & 2-time WWE United States Champion Samoa Joe.

The original 8 Bit Filth contains some of G’s best material & this sequel here is an equally fun return to Majik Ninja for the Richmond emcee. The video game samples are as creative as they were last time mainly grounding them into his signature boom bap sound & his ear-grabbing bars always entertain. Here’s to Huckleberry Filth & Filth City.

Score: 4/5

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Twiztid – “Odyssey” review

This is the 16th EP from the Detroit demented duo & Astronomicon founders Twiztid. Consisting of Jamie Madrox & Monoxide, both of whom originally started out as part of the House of Krazees alongside childhood friend The R.O.C. in 1992 before their initial disbandment 5 years later. Almost immediately after, the Insane Clown Posse took Jamie & Mono under their wings by signing them to Psychopathic Records as who they’re known as today. They would become the label’s 2nd biggest act being their mentors off projects like Mostasteless, Freek Show, Mirror Mirror, The Green Book, W.I.C.K.E.D. (Wish I Could Kill Every Day & Abominationz. Shortly after the latter was released, Twiztid left Psychopathic to form Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2014. Since then they’ve released 7 albums & 8 EPs on their own label, my favorites of which being /ˌrevəˈlāSH⁽ᵊ⁾n/ & even their last full-length Glyph that they dropped over the fall. But coming off the Stir Crazy-produced Echoes from Dimension X this past spring, DJ Godzila’s being brought in to fully produce a new 7-track Odyssey.

“Pot Snob” starts things off with a Jamie Madrox solo cut drawing blending trap & old school hip hop for all the weed heads out there whereas “It’s About to Go Down” has a bit of a thunderous boom bap quality to the instrumental talking about everyone getting smoked out. “6 Feet Deep” is another Jamie solo joint working in some ominous keys saying everything will all repeat until you’re dead in the ground leading into “Smoke Headed Monster” by Madrox & Blaze Ya Dead Homie finds the 2 over a funk/boom bap hybrid encouraging to smoke your kush if you got it. To start the final leg of the EP, the entrancing “Astro Planin’” by the Multiple Man talks about an out of body experience while the penultimate track “Lifestyles” is a glamorous look of what it’s like for Jamie & Mono to be as stoned & high as they are. “This 4 U” by Madrox rounds out the Odyssey with an energizing dedication to those in life who’re sick & tired of feeling like they’re useless.

Some juggalos were trying to write this off as a 3-Headed Monster bite & I don’t really see it since 3HM contains 3 generations of the wicked shit in 1 & Odyssey finds Twiztid delivering a stoner-heavy concept although it’s predominantly Jamie Madrox on top of DJ Godzila’s production giving the demented duo a completely different sound from some of their past material from Glyph returning to their wicked shit roots to the hardcore hip hop approach of /ˌrevəˈlāSH⁽ᵊ⁾n/ & who could forget their rock debut Unlikely Prescription? The follow-up to the latter Welcome to Your Funeral is said to be more wicked, feature more rapping from them & fully produced by Zeuss so I expect them to deliver what Unlikely Prescription should’ve been

Score: 3/5

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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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Twiztid – “Echoes from Dimension X” review

Twiztid is a hip hop/rock duo from Detroit, Michigan consisting of Jamie Madrox & Monoxide. Both of whom originally started out as part of the House of Krazees alongside childhood friend The R.O.C. in 1992 before their initial disbandment 5 years later. Almost immediately after, the Insane Clown Posse took Jamie & Mono under their wings by signing them to Psychopathic Records as the demented duo they’re known as today. They would become the label’s 2nd biggest act being their mentors off projects like Mostasteless, Freek Show, Mirror Mirror, The Green Book, W.I.C.K.E.D. (Wish I Could Kill Every Day & Abominationz. Shortly after the latter was released, Twiztid left Psychopathic to form Majik Ninja Entertainment in 2014. Since then they’ve released 7 albums & 7 EPs on their own label, my favorites of which being /ˌrevəˈlāSH⁽ᵊ⁾n/ & even their last full-length Glyph that they dropped over the fall. But as Jamie & Mono hit the road with Static X for their Rise of the Machine Tour, the Astronomicon founders are celebrating by surprise dropping their 15th EP fully produced by Stir Crazy.

“I’m Dead Now” is fascinatingly morbid way to set things off as Twiztid hops on top of a piano/boom bap instrumental vividly portraying themselves as if they were actually deceased while the song “Chops & Sweeps the Leg” delves deeper into a more uncanny vibe sonically as the Multiple Man & the Monoxide Child talk about taking the advice from the millions & millions who’ve told them not to take shit for granted ever again with. The penultimate track “A Demon” has this raw, grungy guitar lead throughout to discuss enough being enough & truthfully feeling stuck in this Hell they’re trying to leave prior to “Slip/Trip” finishing the EP with a trap/rock crossover continuing to spit the wicked shit as a reminder to those who like to lie to themselves that they turned their back on juggalos.

Mirror Mirror has always been my favorite EP from the demented duo, but Echoes from Dimension X is already creepin’ up with Electric Lettuce as the best EPs that they’ve dropped since leaving PSY to start MNE. Stir Crazy’s production is interestingly detailed ranging from the opener kinda throwing it back to the boom bap Mostasteless days to preluding their upcoming album Welcome to Your Funeral with Zeuss by refining the predominantly rock-oriented direction Unlikely Prescription took during it’s 2nd half in the form of blending the rap rock qualities of both Mutant & Generation Nightmare with their horrorcore roots. At this rate, Planet Z’s bound to give us a wicked shit rap rock classic & the best rock album Twiztid has ever done.

Score: 4/5

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