Fordio & MJPaid – “Made & $tyle” review

Michigan rappers Fordio & MJPaid teaming up for a new collaborative mixtape. Both of whom are notable for being members of the Dog $hit Militia collective founded by the ShittyBoyz, signing to Lando Bando’s own EMPIRE Distribution imprint The Hip Hop Lab Records as solo acts not too long ago with 3 EPs under their belts each. However ahead of their respective debut albums Paid Ponzi & Fordi Milligrams next year, both parties are putting their chemistry to the test on Made & $tyle.

“Grammys” begins by trading verses with one another about the way they be living over a Detroit trap instrumental whereas “Dirty $oda” expresses their love of sippin’ lean. “Trials & Tribulations” produced by Danny G has to be an early favorite of mine excellently pulling off the back-&-forth delivery better than both previous attempts while “2K24” talks about leaving all that broke ass shit in the past.

As for “Neck of the Juggs”, we have Fordio & MJPaid telling us they’d rather play gangster for the blue hundreds spending all day chasin’ a bag just before “Way 2 Geeked” talks about being fucked up off the drugs to the point where they can’t even sleep. “IDKY” references WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson while “Chemistry” featuring the late $camaurion has a bar referring to the Fox Corporation’s flagship property’s longest running animated series The Simpsons.

“Bubble” talks about hitting Philadelphia after burning down shop only 3 months away from the City of Love hosting WrestleMania XL following Endeavor merging the WWE & the UFC to form TKO Group Holdings a few months ago while “D$M&$” featuring Lewis & Clark reps their gang over a Jakesand instrumental. “3am in Oakland” remembers their fallen homie $cams accompanied by a Danny G beat while “What Happened” asks where the time goes.

Moving on from there, “Nowadays” observes the way things are currently whether others acting as if they tough or both Dog $hit Militia members never failing while “Never Stop Cashin’” featuring Prince Jefe reunites with Jakesand for the trio to talk about not complaining of the cheese they making since it’s free. “On the Way” advised for anyone broke to keep their opinions to themselves while “Intoxicated” talks about profiting off every run.

“Master Minds” featuring Kasher Quon reminisces over the times they’ve done fucked up a load & memories of $camaurion coming up to mind while “2am in Atlanta” takes us live from the ATL talking about what’s on their minds during the late night hours. “Juice WRLD” gets over a Danny G instrumental for another exciting moment of trading verses prior to GlockBoyz TeeJaee & TR Dee joining to express their dislike towards “Paparazzi”.

Danny G & Jakesand both lock in with each other behind the boards for the song “What It Seems” talking about rocking the finest, most expensive shit & having the money to compliment the outfits while “Ain’t Hearing It” confesses to getting up in their feelings when it comes to the bands aspiring to go after millions. “End Goal” finishes Made & $tyle with both rappers talking about their endgame being in their separate mansions.

As someone who’s heard both of these guys through guest appearances on a handful of projects that THHL has put out within the past couple years, Made & $tyle is only the beginning for Fordio & MJPaid as I’m sure their individual debuts for the Detroit trap label will be equally promising of their artistic potentials as this. The production is greater than either solo EP from each performer, holding their own weight & doing a fine job at balancing one another lyrically.

Score: 3.5/5

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Big Hit & The Game – “Paisley Dreams” review

This is a brand new collaborative mixtape between Big Hit & The Game. One of whom hails from Los Angeles, California coming fresh off his debut album The Truth’s in My Eyes a few weeks ago after being in the making for a decade & the other is an established Compton, California veteran at this point mentored by both Dr. Dre & 50 Cent who put out Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind a year & a half ago, which was the most I’ve enjoyed a project from him in quite some time. Both projects where executive produced by Big Hit’s son Hit-Boy, who eventually produced Paisley Dreams to start 2024.

“Backfade” is an ominous boom bap opener talking about having each other’s backs using the old school west coast terminology whereas the title track takes a more soulful approach admitting to being fathers first & real ones secondly. “P Fiction” featuring Hit-Boy finds the trio shifting into trap territory declaring themselves to be menaces leading into “Bang” talking about banging for the cause over a Mobb instrumental.

Meanwhile, “Cutthroat” starts off the 2nd leg ballin’ on top of a g-funk beat & TeeFLii’s hook being inspired by the late Zapp frontman Roger Troutman just before “The Game Won’t Stop” returns to a more soulful sound talking about shaking the cops. “Crisis” featuring Half-a-Mil has a gospel flip to it discussing the struggle while “Happy Ru Year” is a hyphy-tinged New Year’s anthem. “Body for Body” rounds out the tape by smelling homicide over a trap instrumental.

Wild to think that Game pulled up on Big Hit & Hit-Boy to only do 1 track with each other only to end up with a 9-song tape to release out of nowhere on New Year’s Day. If you’re a west coast head, you gotta check out Paisley Dreams at some point. Hit-Boy’s production mixes boom bap, trap, g-funk, Mobb music & hyphy altogether as his dad teams up with the Compton vet on the mic to rep their sets.

Score: 4/5

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B.G. & Gucci Mane – “Choppers & Bricks” review

This is a brand new collaborative mixtape between B.G. & Gucci Mane, one of whom hails from New Orleans, Louisiana starting as 1/4 of the Hot Boy$ & the other coming straight outta Atlanta, Georgia becoming one of what I like to call the big 3 trap pioneers. The only time we’ve ever really heard them together previously was in 2015 on the track “Try It Out” & with B.G. being released from prison this past fall, he & Wop are joining forces throughout the duration of Choppers & Bricks thus making the collab tape the first body of work from the Baby Gangsta ever since he came home.

“Talk” is a chilling trap opener produced by DJ Paul cautioning that shit’s gonna start getting real here pretty quickly whereas “Guwop & Gizzle” gives off a more suspenseful atmosphere instrumentally so they can both break down the significance of both their nicknames. The title track boasts that they got plenty of sticks & weight on them accompanied by a bouncy beat, but then “Cold” gives off a vibrant approach with the help of Mike WiLL Made-It reflecting on the days where they were both incarcerated.

The Atari-synths that Honorable C.N.O.T.E. hooks up throughout “My Bitch” aren’t too bad breaking down how much they spoil the special women in their lives leading into the spacious “Run a Bag Up” that ATL Jacob cooked up talking about making that paper. “Paperwork” makes it clear what they’re standing on over a solemn beat with co-production from 30 Roc, but then d.a. got that dope radiates a chilling atmosphere during “Idiot’s Worst Nightmare” declaring themselves to be exactly what these bitches fear.

“At This Point” has one of the weaker features on the tape from Lil Jairmy despite the bell-infused trap instrumental making it known that there ain’t no stopping for any of them while “Rewanksta” pretty much recreates “Wanksta” by 50 Cent down to Bandplay heavily sampling it. The song “Project Baby” featuring C-Murder finds the trio breaking down what it was like in the PJs for them while KLC gives “She Say She Love Me” more a dirty south feeling telling the baddies to let them see ‘em bend over. “Beautiful Life” happens to be a profound closer expressing gratitude that both of them are home.

I know B.G. said he wrote 7 or 8 albums worth of material during his time behind bars & stand by that we could be in for the best music that he’s released post-Cash Money if he gets the right producers & features. If anything, Choppers & Bricks could very much be the beginning of that. My favorite thing Gucci has done within the last few years & a consistently solid way for B-Geezy to reintroduce himself to everyone. The production’s better than Breath of Fresh Air & it’s fun hearing these 2 different worlds of southern hip hop colliding.

Score: 3.5/5

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Lloyd Banks – “Halloween Havoc IV: The 72nd Hr” review

Queens emcee Lloyd Banks is returning with his 18th mixtape. Gaining notoriety in the 2000s for his witty punchlines along as well as being an original member of G-Unit alongside childhood friends 50 Cent & Tony Yayo, he kept himself busy for a little while after the group’s disbandment in 2015 by releasing A.O.N. 2 (All Or Nothing 2): L.I.U. (Live It Up) & Halloween Havoc 3: 4 Days of Fury just before taking on a 5-year hiatus that really lasted until he received a song placement on the soundtrack for Griselda Records’ theatrical debut Conflicted a year & a half ago along with the whole Course of the Inevitable album trilogy gaining renewed interest in the PLK himself. But 7 years since 4 Days of Furyended the Halloween Havoc trilogy, Lloyd’s resurrecting the series at The 72nd Hr.

“Above the Law” is a boom bap opener with some pianos talking about shocking the world whereas “Convoy” with Haas Almahdi cautions that the southern side of his hometown Queens is loaded with .357 Magnums over a glistening backdrop as well as some kicks & snares of course. “Familiar Scars” works in this appropriately ghostly boom bap beat so he can compare his life to a horror flick leading into the dusty “Speeding Session” talking about seeing the top from where he’s at currently & that they don’t get the vision.

Meanwhile, “Dangerous Minds” gives off an infernal boom bap flare to the instrumental warning that you really don’t wanna take this ride as much as you’d like just before “No Opinions” hooks up a shimmery loop with kicks & snares from Cartune Beatz talking about how there ain’t too many as hot as him demanding his props. “Clubbin’ & Chaos” goes for a sample-based boom bap feeling to it with his eyes never being taken off the prize, but then “Diamond Heist” featuring Vado finds the 2 over a despondent boom bap beat comparing their looks to pulling off the titular crime.

“Trap Dice” flexed that he’s so nice, he gets up when he slips & doubles on top of delicate keys alongside kicks & snares while “Broken Arrows” shoots for a darker atmosphere explaining that he’s just simply tryna breathe. “You Shouldn’t Be Here” has these beautiful orchestral elements throughout letting it be known that you’ll never be able to stick him while the dusty “Roaming Weather” is pretty much an open letter on wax to someone who Banks advises not to be a famous no one since nothing’s wrong with them.

The song “Take Me Under” somberly explains there ain’t no turning back for him until he hits the number while the penultimate track “Bad Advice” featuring Sy Ari da Kid on the hook luxuriously talks about not listening to your friends as their advice is obviously shitty. To end the 4th installment of the Halloween Havoc series, “Condolences” is a grueling closer promising that he’s hitting us at every quarter now refusing to stop.

The Course of the Inevitable 2 & Pieces of My Pain are still both enjoyable, don’t get me wrong on that. With that being said: Halloween Havoc IV: The 72nd Hr is the best thing Lloyd has done since his comeback album over 2 years ago. It’s more toned down with the features & increasingly raw than the trilogy of LPs we were treated to up to this point

Score: 4/5

Krazy Attitude – “Simulation of Death” review

Up-&-coming Syracuse, New York underground emcee Krazy Attitude released his 7th mixtape over here about a couple months ago on Devil’s Night, which is basically the day before Halloween. He’s already built up a full-length debut, his previous 6 tapes & 3 EPs all in the span of 5 years with the last time we heard from him being his 6th mixtape Quey Grizzley last year. And looking at some of the titles here named after classic hip hop cuts from the last 3 decades, I was intrigued going into Simulation of Death.

After the “Welcome to the Simulation of Death” intro, the first song “Serial Killa” freestyles over the classic Snoop Dogg joint of the same name featuring Tha Dogg Pound & RBX whereas “On & On continues to kick it off the dome over one of my favorite Pete Rock & CL Smooth tracks. “Rhymeslayer” seems to have new original production going for a rawer sound slaying rhymes for y’all prior to “BANG!!!” shifting gears into trap territory talking about how this shit easy.

“6 SHOTS!!!” gives me a bit of a Detroit trap vibe instrumentally belittling his opposition just before “Lyrical Assassinator” gets back on his freestyle shit over “Terminator X to the Edge of Panic” by Public Enemy. After the “Reality Check” interlude, “Winter Warz” of course finds him flowing over the timeless cut off Ghostface Killah’s solo debut Ironman, but then “Worthless World” blends these synths with kicks & snares getting in his underground bag.

Meanwhile, “Pencil Illness” continues to spit off top over the the flawless “All Caps” by Madvillain leading into “Harsh Reality” returning to the boom bap getting bringing to you hardcore on the lyrical front. “Here’s Mr. Terrorist” goes for a bit of a futuristic sound introducing his alter-ego of the same name almost like Eminem with Slim Shady & fittingly enough “Scary Movies” featuring Kean Asé joins forces on top of the beat from the immaculate b-side from Bad Meets Ǝvil.

After the “How High” interlude, “Smile More” goes for a suspenseful atmosphere instrumentally trying to show y’all the right way while “The Night Stalker” flows over “Blow” off of Tyler, The Creator’s only mixtape Bastard already fuckin’ celebrating it’s 14-year anniversary in a few days. “Unhinged” this time freestyles “Luper” by Earl Sweatshirt while the bell-heavy “DTF” admits that he’s crazy.

“Hellraiser” begins the encore of the tape by weaving these ominous synth patterns into the fold talking about being a murderer & “Kill Them All” closes out the tape with 1 last freestyle. Choice of song being “Skrunt Owt” by Fam-Lay or Tyler, The Creator’s “Splatter” freestyle at the beginning of Odd Future’s 2nd & final mixtape Radical that turned 13 about 7 months ago.

If you want mix between early 2010s & old school 90s hip hop with multisyllabic & internal rhyme schemes along with hardcore/horrorcore lyrics & braggadocio rhymes, then you’re gonna want to give this mixtape here a shot. You get a look at some of his influences throughout the whole duration of the project & feels reminiscent to Lil Wayne’s historic Dedication series

Score: 3.5/5

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Homixide Gang – “5TH AMNDMNT” review

Atlanta, Georgia duo the Homixide Gang consisting of Homixide Beno! & Homixide Meechie are back with their debut mixtape. Beginning to turn heads a couple years ago after dropping their debut EP Snotty World, that led to trap trailblazer/rage pioneer Playboi Carti making them the 3rd act to sign to his Interscope Records imprint Opium Records following Ken Carson & Destroy Lonely respectively. Homixide Lifestyle was a solid debut & Snot or Notreceived mixed responses this past spring, but are celebrating the Halloween season by unleashing 5th AMNDMNT.

“Gunz in Soho” is a rage-inducing opener produced by Cxdy of Internet Money Records & Vanguard Music Group talking about walking around the titular neighborhood in Manhattan with heaters on them whereas “LexLuger” gives off a grimly approach instrumentally explaining that they do what they want by breaking the rules. “B5” goes right back into hypertrap territory describing the fast lives that they just so happen to live, but then “NiNO 5ROWN” stands as a highlight from F1LTHY’s dark synth-based production to the reference made towards the titular New Jack City character.

Problem Child 5’s appearance on the cloudy trap joint “MW5” is ok to me & calling out those who wanted smoke with them until they ratted just before “FroZone” brings back the rage beats reminding exactly what’s gon’ happen when you play with the shits on their watch. “What It Is?!” was a perfect choice for a single as they hop over a tight trap instrumental from Pi’erre Bourne talking about people that cap in their raps, but then “5onjour” dives back into their hypertrap vibe hooking up with Paris chicks.

“Hom3 Invasion” has these wavy synth patterns throughout so the Homixide Gang can chase the paper while “5rew” brings in a psychedelic beat from F1LTHY of Working on Dying boasting that they be drippin’ in fashion with others knowing how Homixide does it. “Roundz” blends these fuzzy synths with hi-hats telling all the fuck boys to come play with them referencing WWE’s 2nd flagship program Friday Night SmackDown whose GM is now former 2-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, IWGPタッグチャンピオン, GHCタッグチャンピオン, 2-time TNA World Champion & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Nick Aldis while “DesignerDRÜGZ” experiments a bit giving plugg a shot to show off the work both of them be putting in.

Meanwhile, “Road Rage” explains that the Homixide Gang don’t necessarily fuck with messy bitches with Synthetic of Internet Money Records pulling from trap metal a bit musically while “Left Hand” incorporates these glamorous synthesizers throughout challenging anyone to come grab everything from them. “RckstarB!tch” with Toom & Zodiac of Vanguard Music Group behind the boards comes through with a chilled out dedication to all the women that engage within the rockstar lifestyle while “25/8” is a 94 second rage cut turning 24/7 up to 11.

“AddXcts” draws near the end of the tape by fusing elements of metal music with trap once more making it clear that they got habits while the penultimate track “E.U.” gives off a spacier flare to the rage beat looking to run it up. “HXG Bizness” couldn’t have ended the tape any better from the gorgeously bouncy trap instrumental so the Gang can clarify what their business is exactly.

Snot or Not still has it’s highlights even though I still don’t listen to it as much as I do with their debut, yet I feel like this mixtape is the best thing that Homixide has done in 2023 out of both projects they’ve given us in the last 6 months. The tape has a rougher vibe to it as Beno! & Meechie continue to expand on their niche hypertrap sound.

Score: 3.5/5

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Babytron – “Megatron 2” review

This is the 9th mixtape from Detroit emcee Babytron. Coming up as a member of the trio ShittyBoyz along with his childhood friends Stanwill & TR Dee signing to Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records, he also branched out on impressive solo career for himself as well as the side groups Lewis & Clark and the Dookie Brothers. But the last couple years was probably his biggest yet landing interviews ranging from No Jumper to even Rolling Stone following the release of Luka Trončić a couple summers prior to signing with EMPIRE Distribution later that same month & then Bin Reaper 2: The 2nd Coming that same fall. But now coming off Bin Reaper 3 as well as the bootleg Style EP & the full-length LP 6, we’re being treated to a sequel to Megatron.

“Beyond Turnt 2” hops on top of some pianos & hi-hats for a sequel to one of my favorite tracks off the original Megatron saying it’s time to kick in the door whereas “#Certified” talks about being legit over an ignorant trap instrumental. “Murder Mitten” goes into hyphy territory reminding y’all exactly where the fuck he’s from keeping cameras with him like WWE Hall of Famer, 4-time WWE world champion, WWE United States Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion Bill Goldberg prior to “IRL” featuring BLP Kosher going back & forth with one another accompanied by a booming trap beat turning muhfuckas into WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion & 17-time WWE Hardcore Champion JBL.

Tron charismatically boasts that how his cup look, you think he bled in it on “Let’s Get It!” over strings & hi-hats leading into “Streetball” explaining to his girl that there ain’t no rules in the titular game over a rubbery Danny G & Jakesand beat. “Bop It!” featuring Drego & Beno experiments with a lowend sound telling the bitches to let them see that shit they doin’ all on TikTok, but then “Stutter Flow” experiments with a stuttering rap flow over a Detroit trap instrumental.

“Yo Mamma” by Lewis & Clark pulls off a back-&-forth delivery style better than “IRL” unsurprisingly since Babytron & Stanwill both come off so natural with a smooth backdrop & hi-hats leading into the bouncy “Down, Up!” talking about how it’s time to pick up a blick for him. “Kai Cenat / Old Days” featuring Luh Tyler is a decent 2-parter with dynamic & an average chemistry compared to “Yo Mamma” despite the subject matter of being rich now ain’t nothing like being broke back then just before “XXX” puts in extra hours over a tropical beat.

Meanwhile, the line at the start of “Deez Nuts!” asking why you rockin’ fake Bape in the midst of shopping off of Alibaba had me laughing congratulating someone for playing himself & the instrumental would fit snugly fine in a club while “Work!” ends the first half of Megatron 2by flexing that he grinds’ like he’s Rob Dyrdek himself over a spacey trap beat. GT & Cash Kidd join Tron so they can compare themselves to the “90’s Bulls” over a dark instrumental while “Ice Cream” featuring Certified Trapper, RiFF RAFF, Soulja Boy & YN Jay is actually a cool 3-minute cypher that I don’t mind other than Certified Trapper’s parts.

“Tutorial” shows off that he beat the game while everyone else is just learning how to play spitting out promethazine as if he’s former ECW World Television Champion, 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion, 3-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, WWE United States Champion, CZW World Heavyweight Champion, MLW World Middleweight Champion, 2-time BJWジュニアヘビー級チャンピオン, 2-time BJW認定タッグチャンピオン & CMLL Mundial Peso Semicompleto Campeon 田尻 over pianos & hi-hats while the synthesizer heavy “Trick or Treat?” explains exactly how he ended up going from Chris Rock to Ray Romano in his life.

“Red Ring of Death” sticks to the Detroit trap guns making a clever reference to what happens when 1 or more components of the Xbox 360 have failed while the piano-trap hybrid “WHATS FUNNY? (HAHA)” talks about hoes being nothing to brag over hitting bitches with the finisher of inaugural AEW World Champion, former ECW World Television Champion, IWGPインターコンチネンタルチャンピオン, 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.

Babyfxce E’s contribution to the 2-part “241” doesn’t really do it for me even though Tron himself & the beat-switch themselves are just fine while “$1M” talks about waiting on his 10th payment & referencing former 2-time アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン & the final WWE Cruiserweight Champion Hornswoggle hoping on top of more keys & hi-hats. “Coney Island” featuring AK Bandamont, BandGang Javar, Glockboyz Teejaee, KrispyLife Kidd, Los & Nutty and Nuk is a mediocre Detroit trap posse cut while with Krispylife & Babytron standing out the most while the bell-infused “Ain’t They?” by the Dookie Brothers picks up the pace wanting them to be shown more since it ain’t enough.

“Yakuza” featuring Fordio, J1Hunnit, MJPaid, Prince Jefe & ScrumbleMan reps the Dog $hit Militia for 3 minutes giving off a bassier quality musically while the song “Thumb War” vibrantly likens USDs, Euros, Yen, IDM to exactly that. The penultimate track “AYEE!” shoots for a grimmer approach saying you’d think he’d be making Kool-Aid playing with his father Mr. Sadistic who happens to be the frontman of former Psychopathic Records rap metal outfit Motown Rage & “I Imagine” wraps up Megatron 2 by paying tribute to his late homie $cam.

Although Style wasn’t all that good to me, 6 still stands as an impressive debut full-length album from the best member of the ShittyBoyz & we got a sequel to the tape that he dropped right before he made it onto the previous XXL Freshman Class list. Feature list is iffy, but the production is grounded in his signature Detroit trap sound dabbling with lowend a bit more & Tron himself improving himself compared to the last couple outings from him.

Score: 3.5/5

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Rome Streetz – “Noise Kandy 5” review

This is the 8th mixtape from New York lyricist Rome Streetz. Emerging in 2016 off his debut mixtape I Been Thru Mad Shit, this was followed up by a plethora of projects with the most notable being the Noise Kandy tetralogy & Headcrack. These past couple years however we’re probably his biggest ones yet, as he dropped some of the best work of his career from the DJ Muggs-produced Death & the Magician or the Futurewave-produced Razor’s Edgeto the Ransom-assisted collab effort Coup de Grâce& the Griselda Records deal that followed. His debut with the Buffalo powerhouse Kiss the Ring came in at the #9 spot on my Best Albums of 2022 list & coming off the Big Ghost Ltd.-produced Wasn’t Built in a Day, Rome’s now looking to close out the Noise Kandy series.

“2nd Seizure” starts the finale with a haunting loop boasting that no one’s as slick as him whereas “Hell Backwards” goes into cavernous boom bap territory thanks to Wavy da Ghawd talking about having fire in his eye & the pistol right by him. “Clutchin’” goes for an eerier atmosphere keeping the kicks & snares in tact making it known his lifestyle still illegal, but then “Stunna” featuring Boldy James & Double D finds the trio over a groovy Denny LaFlare beat talking about only recognizing dollar signs.

Meanwhile, “Chrome Magnum” flexed that he’s still eating dinner off the same plate he was bagging over an uncanny Conductor Williams instrumental just before the sample-based “Go Raw” produced by Sovren talks about being a born leader until the death of him. “Accurate” featuring Curren$y returns to the boom bap accompanied by Evidence behind the boards discussing their lives as they know it leading into “Fire At Ya Idle Mind” featuring Joey Bada$$ proves they have no time for lack of progress or engagement backed by more dusty production.

“Pocket Full of Beans” dives into trap turf a bit this time around talking his shit kicking up his flow a bit while Sadhugold brings a drumless, jazzy vibe to “Black Magic” seeking to do motherfuckers as if he never even knew them from the start. “Shake & Bake” continues to pull inspiration from jazz music instrumentally talking about being on the road to gold all gas no brakes while the symphonic “Fastactionvenom” featuring Rigz as they shine the brightest in the dark. The keyboard-driven penultimate track “Heart Break Hotel” talking about selling hoes Molly out the metaphorical location & “Procall” rounds out the Noise Kandy saga by hoping over a shimmery boom bap beat justifiably declaring that the product is potent & popular.

The Noise Kandy series contains amongst Rome’s most prolific cuts like “Hot Pistol Heart Frozen” or “World in My Palm” & “My Destiny”, so it makes sense for him to round out the iconic mixtape series much like Westside Gunn did on Hitler Wears Hermes X last fall. Couldn’t have ended it better. Futurewave’s engineering is remarkable, Rome’s articulate pen-game never fails & almost all the guests match his caliber.

Score: 4/5

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Prince Jefe – “Jefe’s Way” review

This is the 7th mixtape from Detroit, Michigan rapper/producer Prince Jefe. Known for his affiliation with the ShittyBoyz, I can’t forget to mention the 9 EPs & his previous 6 tapes he’s already put out since 2023 to establish himself as a solo artist. Personal favorites of mine gotta be Jefe, 12/19, On the Run & more recently Lab Talk a couple months earlier. For his 3rd & final offering of the year, he’s looking to do it Jefe’s Way under Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records.

“Angel” opens with some strings & bells talking about hearing Envy next to him as if he’s on The Breakfast Club with Charlamagne tha God leading into “Handle It Right” venting over seeing people he knew in life changing all because of some money. “Tryna Tell U” embraces the Detroit trap vibes heavier talking about living more on the right side of things these days prior to “50 Boy” boasting that he cooks better than his own mother.

As for “Jealous”, we have Jefe going for a cloudier approach to the Detroit trap aesthetics comes clean of his daughter catching a body recently & feeling that exact way about it just before “Math Ain’t Mathin’” warning that he got hitmen who’ll send out hits with the blicks if you piss him off over a Jakesand instrumental. “Single Again” has a cloudier Detroit sound to it talking about a breakup while “L.L.$. (Long Live $camaurion)” featuring Fordio of the Dog $hit Militia pays tribute to $camaurion, who was killed in a fatal car accident last fall.

“Voodoo” admits it’s been hard to switch from the streets to rap while the self-produced “On the East” featuring Certified Trapper boasts of everyone in their hoods knowing about them. “J Reed” references Green Bay Packers WR Jayden Reed while “Another Deuce” produced by Danny G talks about having junkies knocking on his door in the early morning. “Heel Toe” featuring Babytron ends Jefe’s Way with them entertainingly going back-&-forth with each other.

Familiarizing myself with his appearances on Lando Bando’s 4th album New Era & of course Babytron’s 8th mixtape Bin Reaper 3: New Testament, the most underrated artist in the Detroit trap scene puts out a new tape under Lando’s steadily growing label & it easily surpasses a lot of what I’ve heard regarding Jefe’s earlier material. Including his work when his original moniker used the same name as Rap-A-Lot Records founder J. Prince because he’s doing it how he wants to.

Score: 3.5/5

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Terror Reid – “Hot Vodka 2” review

This is the debut mixtape from San Jose deejay, producer, rapper & actor Terror Reid. Originally started turning heads a decade back after dubstep pioneer Skrillex signed him to his OWSLA Music for short period of time, he went on to drop 2 full-lengths & 13 EPs in the EDM genre under the name Getter before embarking into hip hop during the pandemic with Hot Vodka, which my homie Rone Bone of The Beneath the Dirt Podcast put me onto when it came out & was impressed by the boom bap/g-funk production as well as the raps from Terror himself. This was followed up with the sophomore EP DYNAMO & now after teaming up with Pouya to on the collab EP Chrome Casketz few weeks ago, Terror Reid is back in effect to deliver a sequel to his debut EP.

After the intro, the first song “Run It Back” starts the tape getting in his shit-talking bag over some kicks & snares whereas “Babe Ruthless” featuring Lu is a sick boom bap/g-funk crossover talking about exactly how they do it. “Tha Jackpot” fuses a crooning loop with more kicks & snares admitting that he feels like a God, but then “Daz My Bitch” shifts into a feel-good ballad dedicated to the woman of his life.

“Stay Dipped” featuring Domsta has a somber g-funk vibe reminding us all these hoes ain’t shit leading into “Hasselhoff” going for a more symphonic trap turn references WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion & NWA World Tag Team Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin. “Dis Substance” takes the psychedelically cloudy route of course discussing drug use just before the guitar-driven “Medicine (Tha Cycle)” singing about a cycle that had ended.

The song “Comatoze” has a woozier vibe instrumentally promising to rob any poser of their green for doing simply that while the penultimate track “1st Blood” shoots for a dreamier boom bap groove profoundly spitting words of wisdom. Pouya saves the tape’s best feature for last on the grueling closer “No Gimmix” much like on the original Hot Vodka itself matching the energy they captured on Chrome Casketz only 3 weeks earlier referencing WWE Hall of Famer Mike Tyson.

If you loved the boom bap/g-funk fusions that Terror Reid has become known for, you should come away from Hot Vodka 2 liking it as much if not more than the original EP that introduced us all to him during a retrospectively weird time. The production expands on the sounds of the predecessor & I love how he focused more on himself as a performer by having the same amount of features albeit focusing more on himself as an MC instead of leaving it half solo cuts, half features.

Score: 4/5

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