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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Grip – “Still 5 & a Fuck You” review

Grip is a 34 year old MC from Atlanta, Georgia emerging in 2017 off his debut mixtape Porch. His full-length debut Snubnose received significant attention as 2 subsequent EPs Halo & Proboscidea lead to Detroit veteran Eminem signing Grip to his very own Interscope Records imprint Shady Recordsa couple summers ago. His sophomore effort I Died For This?! the following month was an impressive major label debut showing his potential, but his sophomore tape 5 & a Fuck You last fall took a more rawer approach that I liked. So when it was announced that Grip was dropping a sequel ahead of his upcoming tour, I had to check it out for myself.

The intro is a piano trap opener talking about shit still being the same with him whereas “Fetch” almost gives off a dirty south edge instrumentally getting on the more intimate side of things lyrically. “Numbers” works in some hi-hats & fabulous soul sample talking about putting exactly that on the board & rubbing in his success to the faces of those who doubted him just before “SS” takes a more organ-trap route keeping the heat tucked on him everywhere he goes.

“Bare” has more preachier sound this time as Grip himself airing out a person he knew since middle school knowing something was gonna change between them leading into “Keys” is a synthesizer/hi-hat fusion talking about making a scene. “Time” has a moodier aesthetic to the beat continuing to display a more romantic side of him, but then “Hyperbole” shakes it up with a grim trap banger talking about it being him vs. himself.

The song “Angels” goes into boom bap turf giving his flowers to the special people in his life who’re no longer here to see how far he’s made it while the penultimate track “Still” mixed these auto-tuned vocals with kicks & snares talking about remaining to yet reach his prime even though his skills aren’t up for debate. “You” wraps up the tape in the form of an emotional boom bap closer produced by both Tae Beast & Chris Keys telling his younger self to go as far as he can.

Although Snubnose was a promising introduction to Grip’s discography for me personally, I feel like some people are still sleeping on him which sucks for them because because Still 5 & a Fuck Youfurther proves that he’s continuing to outdo himself musically ever since the Shady/Interscope deal. He expands on the mindset that was brought onto that previous 5 & a Fuck You tape without any features this time around balancing the boom bap/trap sounds yet again.

Score: 3.5/5

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7xvethegenius – “The Genius Tape” review

7xvethegenius is a 33 year old MC from Buffalo, New York emerging off her first 2 EPs The Calm Before & Self 7xve as well as the full-length debut 7xve is Love. However, it wasn’t until she & Jae Skeese both became the first artists to sign with Conway the Machine’s very own EMPIRE Distribution imprint Drumwork Music Group where 7xve got her biggest break yet. She has since preluded her sophomore album albeit Drumwork debut Death of Deuce with Thy Will Be Done & Self 7xve 2, but is teaming up with DJ Green Lantern for her debut mixtape.

“Meditation” is a spacious opener to the tape reminding that she’s the illest bitch out here today whereas “Biddy Mason” goes into shimmery boom bap turf talking about being right here with this army behind her for those trying to disarm her. “Back End Developer” gives off an uncannier vibe saying it’s time for her to talk her shit on these records that is until “Brainstorming” featuring Conway the Machine finds the pair strategizing on top of some chilling background vocals.

After the “AA Speaks” interlude, “Brain Food” dives into quirkier turf sonically so 7xve can tell everyone to look at who she was then & who she is now today just before “The Feel” gives off an atmospheric edge this time around talking about trying to show love. The song “Lost on Mars” is a desponding ballad of a man that loves the streets more than her while the penultimate track “Moon Walk” featuring T.F. returns to the boom bap pulling up as if they were surfing, but then “Neck Protected” featuring Che Noir & Rome Streetz ends the tape some pianos hooked up to kicks & snares as all 3 of them can deliver lyrical annihilation. I also really like the nod to “Da Rockwilder” during the hook too.

For a mixtape preluding her upcoming sophomore full-length effort, The Genius Tape has to be my favorite 7xve project to date & I can only imagine Death of Deuce taking it up a few levels whenever the time comes. She’s already proven to be one of the most skilled females in recent memory, but DJ Green Lantern’s production is more consistent than her last 2 EPs with all respect & the features are all well picked out.

Score: 4.5/5

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TR Dee – “Trapped in My Bag 3” review

Here is the 6th mixtape from Ypsilanti, Michigan rapper TR Dee. Notable for being 1/3 of the ShittyBoyz alongside Babytron & Stanwill signing to Lando Bando’s own The Hip Hop Lab Records, he also began carving a path for himself as a solo artist off his first couple mixtapes Trapped in My Bag & Made for This ahead of his debut album M.I.P. (Most Improved Player). He has since given us 3 more tapes in Trapped in My Bag 2 as well as Crunch Time & Ice Trae, he’s finding himself Trapped in My Bag for a 3rd time.

The title track kicks it all off with a Detroit trap opener talking about nobody being able to fuck with him whereas “Uncle Drew” demands that the Dog $hit Militia gets respect out on their name collectively. “Chaka Khan” by the Dookie Brothers references WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE world champion & WWE Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage while “Final Boss” gives a nod to 14-time WWE world champion, WWE Hall of Famer, 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 3-time WWE tag team champion & current WWE CCO Triple H.

Stanwill trades the mic back-&-forth with TR Dee on “Fuck the Booth” for 2 & a half minutes just before “Goin’ Harder” talks about haters motivating him to raise the bar whenever he hears them running their mouths. “Slow Dance” makes a promise that he won’t ever let the fame change him or switch up on the squad he came up with while “ShittyBoy” talks about there not being many in the game like him & that he doesn’t take threats too kindly.

“Bandits” featuring Babyfxce E & Grindhard Efinds the trio teaming up to break down their lifestyles even if the 2 guest appearances don’t do much for me compared to others while “Kobe’s Last Game” talks about going out the same way my favorite Los Angeles Lakers player of all-time did during the retirement game. “M.O.B. (Money Over Bitches) Life” tells us what it’s like for him prioritizing women more than hoes while “Catch a Bag” produced by Danny G & Jakesand talks about catching bags than feelings.

Certified Trapper & MariBoy Mula Mar both appear on “Kia Boyz” putting the whips in sports mode together while “Dame Time 2” picks up where his 3-Peat solo cut left off. “Hate on Me” finds himself asking why he got so many people counting him out trying to tell him what to do like he ain’t been doin’ this shit while “Rhude” featuring BandGang Biggs sees the pair unable to complain about their lives since it could get worse.

Tesla CEO, SpaceX founder, Neuralink founder & Twitter owner “Elon Musk” gets referenced on a song named after him feeling like he’s in our solar system off the Backwoods while “Movie” featuring ScrumbleMan looks back on when things were fucked up despite living better financially these days. “Off-White Rug” talks about trying to make his money flip even though he knows nothing of gymnastics while “EA Sports” by the Dookie Brothers flexes that they’re in the game.

“Ball on You” gets on a Danny G beat to talk about being as deep in the game as he by now not shedding a single tear over some of the Ls he’s taken in the past while “Knockout” featuring Kasher Quon proves to be one of the weakest back-&-forth moments on the tape despite the instrumental of course. “Dog $hit” talks about the Dog $hit Militia lieutenant dismissing the idea of switching teams who’re tryna win a ring while “Y Not?” admits to wanting to shit on exes for the fuck of it.

The final time that both Danny G & Jakesand team up together behind the boards is “GLO” wanting it to be known that he doesn’t give a fuck about what other people once had because it’s a flashback as far as he’s concerned & “Dee You Made This?” finishes up the 3rd chapter of the Trapped in My Bag series with him thanking God every day when he wakes up for being alive feeling incredibly fresh after hopping out of the whip.

Trapped in My Bag & Trapped in My Bag 2 are both considered to be TR Dee’s finest solo tapes & I’ll argue with people calling this the weakest installment of the series that it can certainly hang with it’s predecessors although I still got a decent listening experience. It’s length is comparable to Trapped in My Bag 2’s, I’ll give them that including some of the guests here & the production stepping down compared to Crunch Time.

Score: 3/5

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Sk8star – “whole new meaning” review

This is the 2nd mixtape from Atlanta, Georgia recording artist Sk8star. Getting his footing in the spring of 2021 off Superstar Status, he would go on to follow it up last year with both the B4NWØ EP & his debut mixtape New World Ørder respectively. The latter being my introduction to Sk8’s music after my lil brody UnreleasedSnip put me on, with songs like “Standin’ on Business” & “YSL Flow” being the standouts for me personally. He just put out his previous EP Mogul a month after we saw him live in Brooklyn back in November & eventually rebel at the beginning of this year, but is returning once more to surprise drop whole new meaning.

“new racks” is a cloudy trap opener to the tape produced by Toom of Vanguard Music Group with Sk8 blasting about the new money that’s been coming in over his way prior to “mitchell & ness” working in some synthesizer patterns & hi-hats knowing that he’s keep shining when it’s all said, done & over with. “permanent damage” has a more delicate trap sound to it thinking that he needs a bad bitch in his life until the title track brings back the synths & hi-hats once more talking about looking at life in a different way now.

Meanwhile, “say so” discusses being the big dog of this shit with a mystic trap instrumental accompanying him in the background referencing WWE Hall of Famer, 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, the inaugural 6-time TNA World Champion, TNA X Division Champion & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Kurt Angle just before “red dead” talks about doubling his cup & the beat having a more psychedelic groove to it this time around. “love galore” switches it up a bit with the help of Nosaint by diving into glitzier territory by melodically detailing how much of a good heart he has & wanting to see the real her, but then “offering” turns back into a more spacious route talking about doing whatever he wants without anyone having to control him.

“hermès” brings in the rage beats with co-production from fellow Vanguard member & Internet Money Records’ very own ReidMD making it clear to cut the laughin’ since this ain’t no joke whatsoever while “light ice” featuring tana & untiljapan is another highlight on the tape for me personally as the trio hop over a cloudy instrumental talking about riding around the coup in the late night with a minimal amount of ice in their leap cups in their own distinctive styles.

The song “trendy” continues to delve further into a more atmospherical sound courtesy of Cxdy talking about everything he does is fashionable or up to date while the penultimate track “in trouble” is a hazier trap cut calling out those who think they’re bigger than him for hallucinating & to watch your back considering the dirtiness of the music industry. And finally, “#staytrue” rounds out the tape with a inspirationally trippy ballad about always being yourself no matter what.

Of the 3 projects that Sk8’s delivered within the last 6 months, whole new meaning is quickly becoming my favorite of the trilogy even though that’s not to throw shade at Mogul & rebel because there are still some rewindable highlights on those EPs. The handful of Vanguard & Internet Money members cook up the most consistent batch of beats he’s rapped over since New World Ørder as he profoundly displays his new perspective of this crazy thing we call life.

Score: 3.5/5

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Ouija Macc – “Detritus” review

This is the 8th mixtape from Las Vegas, Nevada emcee Ouija Macc. Breaking out in the fall of 2017 after the Insane Clown Posse signed him to Psychopathic Records shortly after putting out his debut EP Trashfire independently, Ouija has since proven himself as one of the most consistent & hard working dudes in the underground by dropping 3 full-lengths, 2 greatest hits compilations, his previous 6 mixtapes & 4 EPs all in the span of nearly 6 years. He even started his own label Chapter 17 Records & made the big homie HEXXX the first signee to PSY’s new subsidiary almost a year ago by now. The previous Ouija tape Fallen Angelic just celebrated it’s 1 year anniversary at the beginning of the month & his latest album Stalewind was a near perfect conclusion to the Element saga, but is now following up the Hideous collab album he dropped with Golden BSP only a few months ago by welcoming y’all to Detritus.

After the “Lost Transmission” intro, the first song “Freak” opens the tape with an ratchet ode for all of those who like it nasty whereas “Dypschyt” works in some bass & hi-hats courtesy of Shaggytheairhead so everyone can go dumb. “Blam Blam ‘Em” spits that gun talk over a dark Devereaux instrumental just before the uncanny trap hybrid “Deadzone” vividly details a demon coming after him for 3 days back to back to back.

“Apollo 17” has a bit of a Memphis flare sonically detailing a murder that he had been planning for weeks leading into “Clown Luv” coming through with a spiritual successor to the joint off Shaggy 2 Dope’s solo debut EP Fuck Off!. “Rich Boy Pacc” pulls some bells & hi-hats together making it clear what he be smoking on, but then “Lumberjacc” is a jazz/trap hybrid talking about punani being all he needs.

Meanwhile on “Rippin’ Out Ur Guts”, we have Ouija spitting the wicced shit over an unhinging beat while “Human Malfunction” switches it up into a cloudier sound admitting to not knowing much other than our days being numbered & cautioning to get back before your shit gets jacked. “Just Go” brings in more bells & hi-hats bragging that his foot’s on the gas with his pockets on swole while “Dream Survey” atmospherically confesses that demons stand by him as he sleeps.

“Well Wicced” is a short but macabre continuation with a bassy trap instrumental boasting that shit can’t get more wicced than this while “They Don’t Like Me” lays these hi-hats behind a killer guitar throughout getting on his emo shit a bit. “Look Bacc” bombastically tells y’all to keep the past in the past while “Way the Shit Go” brings back the guitars thanks to Billy Martin talking about how life be sometimes. And until the “Found Transmission” outro, the final song “In the End” sends off the tape with a roller coaster ride of an 8-minute closer about the world falling victim to stupidity.

Chapter 17 has quickly become one of the most dominant forces in the underground wicked shit scene within the last couple years & coming off what seemed to be their biggest yet, the CEO indicates that it’s only gonna get bigger from here because I happen to enjoy Detritus more than Hideous with all respect. The performances are more consistent & the production continues to evolve the sounds of his finest full-length that he gave us at last year’s Gathering.

Score: 4/5

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Lil Keed – “Keed Talk to ‘Em 2” review

This is the 6th & final mixtape from late Atlanta, Georgia rapper Lil Keed. Emerging in 2018 off his first 2 mixtapes Trapped in Cleveland & Slime Avenue, it was enough to catch the attention of local trap pioneer Young Thug & sign him to Thugger’s very own 300 Entertainment imprint YSL Records shortly after. Keed eventually made his YSL debut with his 3rd mixtape Trapped in Cleveland 2 & & eventually landing a spot on the label’s Slime Language compilation that summer. The follow-up Keed Talk to ‘Em on the other hand is undeniably his best tape & Long Live Mexico wound up being a decent full-length album albeit being his only one, but Trapped in Cleveland 3 & even 3.5 were mediocre to say the least. But as I like many others were hoping that he would bounce back last spring, Keed unfortunately passed away of eosinophilia at the age of 24.

“Go See” opens things up with a sample based-trap instrumental as Keed talks about those who thought he was a disgrace were amazed how far he came until his untimely passing whereas “Bags to the Sky” has a more tropical quality to the beat thanks to JetsonMade touching on going from Ralph Lauren to Gucci. ΠΔV tags along for the hypnotic, Bollywood inspired “Muso Kuso” talking about the type of swag they got leading into Keed’s brother Lil Gotit joining him for “SRT” admitting that neither of them wanna fuck over some strings & hi-hats.

However, “Hottest” with Big Sean seems to be an attempt at a spiritual successor to “Hot” by Thug & Gunna down to the instrumental that falls flat on it’s face until the Offset-assisted “How Many” picks things back up with it’s orchestral beat & the lyrics pondering the amount of bitches they took. “Get Money” with Trippie Redd has some more rage vibes surprisingly as they touch on their respective hustles, but then “Think About It” comes through with a heartfelt trap ballad touching on the paranoia that he was feeling.

“Long Way to Go” is a pop rap jam that I think YSL made the right choice of making the lead single as Keed admits that he was feeling like he was closer than ever while “Can’t Fall Victim” comes through with an acoustic trap fusion touching on him feeling the symptoms of being rich. Big Slime dominates “All I Wanna Know” for a compelling ballad produced by London on da Track asking if anyone’s rocking with them as his fallen protege only pops up for the final verse while “Lost My Trust” with Cordae finds the 2 over some woodwinds & hi-hats calling out hoes for sleeping with their homies.

Moving onto “Hitman”, we get a trap beat with some heinous piano melodies & lyrics about how his assassin never takes days off while “Betty Boop” with Karlae comes through with a pop rap/trap crossover providing a strip club ballad for all the baddies out there. Lil Jairmy comes through with one of the weaker feature performances on “Off Land” despite the Einer Bankz instrumental & the themes of stepping on shit like soldiers prior to the Wheezy-laced “Big Bag” with Thugger & Dolly White picking it up with a harp/trap hybrid about wealth.

StickBaby’s verse on the bassy “Kick Back” produced by ilykimchi of Working on Dying is underwhelming although I love how the Render brothers were both thuggin’ à la the greatest Grand Theft Auto game of all-time San Andreas while the song “Self Employed” was my favorite single that was released leading up to the tape with a touching pop rap cut talking about the self paid life that he was living. The penultimate track “Love Me Again” reaches the climax of the tape on an emotional note showing off how young, fly & flashy he was with the gospel flavored closer “Thank You Lord” enhancing the bittersweetness up to 11.

Despite everything that’s been going on with YSL for the past 10 months, Keed Talk to ‘Em 2 is surprisingly the best thing to come from the label since then & a solid sendoff for Keed. The production’s better, the dosage of features are just right although there are only a couple of them who missed the landing & you get a good look as to where here was at in his life before God abruptly decided to call him home. If this is the last time we’ll get a project from him, then they did him right.

Score: 3.5/5

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Ty Farris – “No Cosign, Just Cocaine 5: The Final Sniff” review

This is the 11th mixtape from Detroit emcee Ty Farris. Coming up under the name T-Flame, he was featured on a lot of projects throughout the mid-2000’s until the very end of the decade where he started to put out solo stuff at a prolific rate from Tyrant to Room 39. But coming fresh off his 3rd EP Moments of Mayhem alongside his last 2 albums Fluorescent Mud & Pain for Ya Vein respectively, Ty’s returning for the 5th & final installment of the No Cosign Just Cocaine series.

After the “80’s Cocaine” intro, the first song “The Coca Leaf” works in a drumless loop from Graymatter as T-Flame spits about that cocaína prior to Jae Skeese tagging along for the gritty “We Never Backing Down” talking about refusing to fold. “Alejandro Sosa” has a slicker yet cinematic groove to the production courtesy of Trox speaking on the man only concerned about the quota, but then “Dean Smith” takes a more soulful with it’s bare sample & the lyrics concerning the rap game’s dean’s list.

As for “Dope Speak 4 Itself”, we have J. Arrr & Vega7 the Ronin joining Ty over a cavernous boom bap instrumental provided by Stu Bangas to show off their lyrical prowesses just before “The Thoughts of Ghost” comes through with a standout from the horror flick-inspired beat that Big Ghost Ltd. cooks up to the bars about being a hot boy before Lil Wayne could start to curse in his music. Flames Dot Malik drops a husky verse on “The Twilight Zone” as they continue to son motherfuckers on the mic over what is possibly the darkest Wino Willy beat I’ve ever heard leading into “Underestimate Me” weaving some synths, kicks & snares speaking to those who underrate him.

“The Most Feared Threat” with Mickey Diamond & The Steiner Brothers finds the quartet over a shimmering boom bap beat from Finn referring to themselves as problems in the game while “Critically Acclaimed” has a richer quality to it taking a dive into his dark mind. The song “Brown Bags Over Revolvers” with Daniel Son sees the pair on top of some pianos, kicks & snares to live lawless while the penultimate track “Never Lose Respect” returns to soulful turf declaring himself as the Jesus of this rap shit. “The Most High” concludes the tape & the NCJC series with a downtrodden Bozack Morris instrumental living for today.

I’ve been anticipating this project for quite some time now & even had the honor of seeing the artwork only a few months before the final product was even announced earlier this week. From that moment on, I knew I wasn’t gonna be disappointed it & it couldn’t have been a better conclusion to the saga now that we got it in full. Ty lyrically continues to cement himself as one of the best in underground today, the guest list is nearly as on point as the last installment’s was & the production is consistently raw.

Score: 4.5/5

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Babytron – “Bin Reaper 3: New Testament” review

This is the 8th 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 Megatron last spring & a spot in the 2022 XXL Freshman Class a couple months later, he’s dropping the other half of the final installment of the Bin Reaper trilogy.

“Forever $cams” is a suspenseful hyphy opener with Tron talking about never stopping whereas “Next Level 2” works in multiple beat switches as he welcomes everyone to the next chapter. “Michigan Ave” has a bit of a catchy groove or rhythm to the instrumental advising to meet him on the titular road, but then “#FREEUNKY” comes through with a more uncanny sound courtesy of Detroit trap veteran Helluva shouting out his uncle that’s currently incarcerated.

Meanwhile on “Gimme Dat”, we have Lil Yachty coming into the picture with Babytron for an explosively raw trap hit as they talk about popping out that cut prior to “CatDog” with Babyface Ray finds 2 of the best rappers in Detroit at the moment calling out those who be talking shit online & backing down in person over some triumphant Bay Area inspired production. Cordae tags along for the mellow “Beetleborgs” getting on some category 5 type shit leading into “Mr. Hanky” referring to himself as the shit over a trap instrumental with a menacing loop.

“Remote Control” finds Tron doing his thing with some beat switches sampling shows ranging from Kenan & Kel to Samurai Jack just before “R.I.P. Hutch” with Rico Nasty & Remble has more vibrant tone to it as the trio deliver a party anthem. “Mike Amiri Monster” is a 2-parter with a piano-trap crossover during the first half & some background vocals for the other referring to himself as such while “Golden Child” mixes some hi-hats & saxes talking about feeling like an Egyptian with all the ice he is referencing former UFC BMF Champion Justin Gaethje.

Following that, “Euphoria 2” has a more dramatic approach in terms of sound reminding that tomorrow’s price isn’t the same as today’s whatsoever while “Sunday School” produced by Danny G & Jakesand samples Resident Evil 2 calling out another for having the sauce yet it’s far from marinated. “Dirty Draco” with KanKan keeps the pianos in tact as both artists speak on sipping Faygo & staying strapped while Certified Trapper’s feature on “Zap Zone” is one of the weakest on the tape despite the whistling loop & the claps within the beat & the lyrics talking about having a game to win.

“Ricky Henderson” compares his lil brodie to that of the titular baseball player accompanied by a wavy trap instrumental while “Waffle House” by the ShittyBoyz, Drego & Beno, RMC Mike, Babyfxce E, J1Hunnit & Prince Jefe is a decent 3 & a half minute Detroit posse cut. “Mainstream Tron 2” has a cloudy aesthetic to it talking about how it’s all rah-rah with the yacht & the Glock.

As for “100 OVR”, the beat blends these strings & bells as Babytron explains that his crew still sin because all dogs go to heaven as well as referencing former 3-time WWE world champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 9-time WWE tag team champion, 8 time WWE Cruiserweight Champion, アイアンマンヘビーメタル級チャンピオン & The Crash’s inaugural Mundial Pesocompleto Campeon Rey Mysterio while “Za Morant” returns to a more atmospheric vibe talking about him balling. “You Would’ve Thought” with DaBoii pulls from nu disco as they both flaunt their success to those who didn’t believe in them while “Animorph” gives off a more saddening feel expressing the pain of watching someone he once respected turning into a snake.

The instrumental throughout the “2 Ea$y” is more horn-laced talking about being the early birdie while the penultimate track “Tronalation 28:27” is a synth/hyphy crossover as Tron confesses that he can’t trust what some fraud has to say to him. “I Can’t Call It” with $camaurion closes out the tape admitting that they don’t know what they be on these days with a thumping bass-line, some chords & hi-hats.

Although I’d still say that Old Testament is my favorite between both parts of the Bin Reaper finale, that’s not to say New Testament isn’t worth the time of anyone who’s been following him up to this beat Other than it being a little longer than it should’ve, the 2 things that really wowed me the most about it was the fact that the feature-list is more consistent in comparison to Babytron’s past efforts & the insane punchlines that he endlessly comes up with

Score: 3.5/5

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Choco Valens – “Hollywood Burns” review

Choco Valens is a 33 year old MC from Miami, Florida who came up in 2018 off his full-length debut Kill Politics. This was followed up with his sophomore effort The Night Before the Fight the next summer & then his 3rd full-length album Wolfenstein a couple years later. But as the 2-year anniversary of the latter approaches next month, Choco has seen fit to return in the form of his debut mixtape following the 2-year schedule set by his last 2 efforts.

“Broken Bones” kicks things off with a 3 minute spoken word piece until we get a jazzy boom bap beat & Choco dropping some hard battle bars during the 2 half whereas “No Mercy” perfectly lives up to it’s title to the murderous lyricism to the funereal production. “7 Chakras” comes through with one of my favorite performances on the tape with it’s intricate rhyme schemes & flow switch-ups over an Alchemist instrumental that has kinda sounds like it was originally made for Griselda, but then “Blood Sport” has a more occult atmosphere to it comparing the rap game to such.

Meanwhile on “Heart of Evil”, we have Choco returning to the boom bap spitting the wicked shit to my surprise & pulling it off wonderfully leading into “Mad Villain” comes through with a 7-minute tribute to the late MF DOOM that I think any hip hop head would come to appreciate. Especially with all the multiple beat-switches. Serum, Duivan, King Tetrus, 8ch20wins & Lejnd all come into the picture for the 7-minute posse cut “Born Killers” produced by DJ Pain 1 declaring themselves to be such prior to the bombastic “Rage” encouraging that now’s the time to riot.

Orion Brass tags along for the bluesy “No Days Off” as the 2 talk about having no time to rest while “Free Country” is a short but sweet boom bap joint produced by Evidence & it’s just incredible how much charisma Choco puts on display with his delivery. “Bad Guy” has a more luxurious approach to the instrumental continuing to belittle his competition while the song “Scarface” with Wolf-gang finds the pair jumping on top of some prominent hi-hats to talk about not giving a fuck. The penultimate track “Blue Print” is basically a freestyle over “U Don’t Know” by JAY-Z until “Miami Estate” is a triumphant closer à la Maybach Music Group letting y’all know where you can find him.

It most definitely feels more like a mixtape compared to Choco’s last 3 albums to me, but it’s still a dope way for dude to ring in the new year. It’s cool to hear him pay homage to some of his influences by jumping on top of beats that we’ve already heard before as well as simply hearing how much he’s evolved as an MC within the last 5 years from the flow switch-ups to the passionate execution in his delivery.

Score: 3.5/5

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