Shaggytheairhead – “Secret World” review

Las Vegas, Nevada producer, rapper & fashion designer Shaggytheairhead dropping his 5th EP without warning. Peaking my interesting after producing one of my all-time favorite Ouija Macc songs “Nardwuar Glocc” back in 2018, he would back that up with 4 EPs before becoming an in-house producer for Chapter 17 Records & Psychopathic Records alongside his Mythic Mindz cohort Devereaux. Shaggy dropped his debut Wakin’ Up during the 21st annual Gathering of the Juggalos, which was the only Gathering I’ve ever been to & a weekend that I’ll never forget. As far as the actual music on Wakin’ Up, it’s my favorite of his thus far because of how much he improved his lyricism & that he dabbled with a wide range of sounds to show his influences. Grin to the Grave, Coffee, Blood Sweat Tears and Lazy & Crazy have all followed since to equally warm reception & looks to embark on a trip to a Secret World.

“Cursed” begins our exploration with a g-funk instrumental feeling like he wouldn’t make it as far as he has whereas the depressive “Never That Deep” talks about shit getting annoying to him. “Ghosts Ride” pulls a little inspiration from the Memphis scene sonically getting high in his zone leading into another g-funk cut “Relax” talks about needing to chill out. “Animosity” embraces a boom bap vibe to discuss antipathy & “I Ain’t Happy” angrily finishes the EP by dissing the crowd trying to stop his shine.

A little over 15 months since he & Darby O’Trill got with Devereaux to deliver their celebrated 10 Bandz collaborative effort, Shaggytheairhead first solo offering in over 2 years over 24 hours since the current GCW World Tag Team Champions YNDP became the new JCW World Juggalo Tag Team Champions during The 2 Day War between Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) & Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) coping with the personal issues he’s gone through since we last heard him on Lazy & Crazy by solely killing a deft batch of beats that range from g-funk to boom bap & Memphis rap.

Score: 4/5

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Darby O’Trill – “GARDeN” review

What better way to come off Hallowicked than Key Largo, Floridian emcee Darby O’Trill releasing his 7th LP? Emerging in the fall of 2018 off his full-length debut Blood, Guts & a Whole Lotta Love, would go on to follow it with Fester almost a year later & has extensively been working with Chapter 17/Psychopathic Records in-house producer Devereaux by bringing him into the cut to fully produce his 3rd album Piecemeal to critical acclaim during the COVID-19 pandemic. Darby’s eventually signed a 1-album deal with Lyrikal Snuff Productionz & fulfilled it over a year ago with Gully, which is a modern day wicked shit classic. Amputate was a solid prelude to The Tomb, the latter was even better. Darby’s official C17 debut Creek became his best since Gully & had a feeling GARDeN could join them in the ranks a month away from the Insane Clown Posse’s annual Ballas Christmas show followed by a livestreamed JCW Lunacy show.

“Diet Root Beer Shampoo” is a 100 second demonic trap opener that Devereaux of course laced talking about the portal to Hell’s Pit in the basement of his apartment whereas “The Sound of Suffering Trapped Skin” works in some hi-hats & guitars feeling murderous. “Quit Lookin At Me, You’re Making My Shadow Nervous” wants to know what the fuck you want over another trap metal beat while “Hell Been Callin’ featuring Shaggytheairhead & produced by Mythic Mindz recaptures the aura of 10 Bandz from this spring.

As for “Dick Down in a Bucket Fulla Beans”, we have Darby delving further down the trap metal rabbit hole feeling the fire burn around him just before “Crooked Pastor Blaster” serves as a sequel to “C.P.K. (Crooked Preacher Killas)” by the Insane Clown Posse & one that does the original justice. The bassy “Fiery Fish Pizza TMDWU” has some cool Memphis undertones throughout feelin’ like something’s talking in his head, but then “The Omen of the Body Bag” is another trap metal head-smasher.

“Multicolored Mood Ring” keeps the heavy guitars & hi-hats in the fold reminding us all that life & death is alchemy while “Blistered Hands Wipe the Sweat From My Brow” maintains a trap metal flare paralleling “My Axe” by ICP except he refers to a shovel instead of an axe. Shaggytheairhead’s only singular production credit lands on Skull Bone Soccer” giving a standard trap vibe so Darby can caution his disgustingness while the lively “A Man Made of Scabs & Guilt” asks why he even tries

Ouija Macc appears for “Baptized in a Vat Acid” aggressively leaving their opposition in the dirt while “Smokeless Tobacco Spit is Gross, Just Like You” goes trap metal again to spit the wicked shit. “Curse of the Ancient Skin Tags” infernally suggests a sign towards the end being close while “The Burden of Being” remarkably mixes trap metal & emo rap. “Close the Gate, Don’t Let the World In” heinously finishes his C17 sophomore effort by talking about being dead.

Being familiar with Darby since Piecemeal, he’s come a very long way in these past 4 years & GARDeN a lot like that introductory body of work alongside Creek & of Gully further proves further in addition to Chapter 17 embodying a new generation of juggalos. It’s more trap metal sounding than his previous material aside than the emo rap undertones, colliding that style with horrorcore in a tasteful manner.

Score: 4.5/5

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Shaggytheairhead – “Lazy & Crazy” review

This is the 4th full-length album from Las Vegas, Nevada producer, rapper & fashion designer Shaggytheairhead. Peaking my interesting after producing one of my all-time favorite Ouija Macc songs “Nardwuar Glocc” back in 2018, he would back that up with 4 EPs before becoming an in-house producer for Chapter 17 Records & Psychopathic Records alongside his Mythic Mindz cohort Devereaux. Shaggy dropped his debut Wakin’ Up during the 21st annual Gathering of the Juggalos, which was the only Gathering I’ve ever been to & a weekend that I’ll never forget. As far as the actual music on Wakin’ Up, it’s my favorite of his thus far because of how much he improved his lyricism & that he dabbled with a wide range of sounds to show his influences. Following the Gathering of Dreams last summer however, he dropped a producer album called Grin to the Grave featuring a wide range of artists rapping over his production from Ouija to King Iso, Project Pat, Sir Michael Rocks & even Matt Ox. But coming off the sophomore effort Coffee this past February & even the personal Blood Sweat Tears last weekend, Shaggy’s continuing to apply pressure with Lazy & Crazy.

“6 Foot Killa” starts things off with a minimal trap instrumental letting it be known exactly what people should be calling him whereas “Bang” takes a more grimy boom bap route talking about how he’s feeling good in this type of scenario & that we’re gonna get a heater as soon as you hear his producer tag. “Nice List” shifts gears into rugged territory thanks to Devereaux saying he’ll fuck you up if you’re talking shit leading into “Same” pulling from cloud rap & trap talking about skating.

On the other hand, “Beef 2” blends a delicately mellow loop & hi-hats together cautioning that those fuckin’ with the Mythic will get their wigs split just before “Old News” featuring Jake G gives off a more uncanny trap vibe talking about getting faded & that they ain’t ever gon’ stop. “Clock In” tries giving off a wavier approach to the beat encouraging listeners to dream big every single day, but then Devereaux hooks up these synths & hi-hats on “Alone Sometimes” so the Airhead can talk about the loneliness that he feels every now & then.

Chapter 17 Records’ newest signee Darby O’Trill & the Duke of the Wicked himself Violent J both come into the picture for “Greaper Shorts” flexing that they have 5 pairs of the titular shorts over an organ-laced trap instrumental while “Fe Fi Fo Fum” has a more occult feeling sonically talking about how he thinks people should be running from him since he’s out here killing shit. “Pause” has an icier sound to it asking if anyone feels alone or if they’re constantly getting the bone while “Sucker Stick” jumps top of some skittering hi-hats shoving exactly that in the earholes of his haters.

“Family All Around Me” has a more vibrantly aggressive tone getting rowdy as soon as he steps up in that bitch while “Sorry Not Sorry” gives off a bleaker trap sound talking about this shit being fire even though others could call it trash. The song “PBR” despite its brevity is a cool, psychedelic ode to the titular brand of beer that I personally enjoy as well while the penultimate track serves as a more synth-based sequel to the eerily raw “Street Trash” off Darby O’Trill’s 3rd album Piecemeal. Crowd” though tends to be a shimmery trap closer hoping those don’t know by now eventually will.

The C17/PSY in-house producer has been on a ROLL in 2023 by completing the trilogy that Sleepin’ In started & Wakin’ Up bridged with Coffee back in February on top of Blood Sweat Tears giving listeners a better look at who he is personally, but I went into Lazy & Crazy expecting it to be a soundtrack to his clothing brand of the same name & it’s a genuine one at that. It’s more summer oriented musically, the features a slight cut above Blood Sweat Tears’ & you can just tell the dude’s having more fun with it this time.

Score: 4/5

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Shaggytheairhead – “Blood Sweat Tears” review

Shaggytheairhead is a 29 year old producer, rapper & fashion designer from Las Vegas, Nevada that caught my attention after producing one of my all-time favorite Ouija Macc songs “Nardwuar Glocc” back in 2018. He would back that up with 4 EPs before becoming an in-house producer for Chapter 17 Records & Psychopathic Records alongside his Mythic Mindz cohort Devereaux. Shaggy would drop his debut album Wakin’ Up during the 21st annual Gathering of the Juggalos, which was the only Gathering I’ve ever been to & a weekend that I’ll never forget. As far as the actual music on Wakin’ Up, it’s my favorite of his thus far because of how much he improved his lyricism & that he dabbled with a wide range of sounds to show his influences. Following the Gathering of Dreams last summer however, he dropped a producer album called Grin to the Grave featuring a wide range of artists rapping over his production from Ouija to King Iso, Project Pat, Sir Michael Rocks & even Matt Ox. But coming off the sophomore effort Coffee this past February, he’s returning with a 3rd album.

“almost there” kicks it all off with an entrancing trap instrumental co-produced with his Mythic Mindz right hand man Devereaux talking about focusing on the dream whereas “grin to the grave” has a wavier approach sonically encouraging to let the haters hate & that he’ll die smiling. “life” pulls from the Memphis rap sound a bit pouring one out for all of those who couldn’t be with us today leading into “War Never Ends” working in some kicks & snares talking about intimidation catching up to him.

SPLXFFY’s feature on “so alive” is just ok although I absolutely love the warmer tone that Shaggytheairhead brings to the table both sonically & conceptually, but then “show love (give someone a hug)” picks things back up with a fun trap ballad all about spreading kindness. “out the park” almost gives me a hyphy feel except it has these icy synthesizers getting on the more boastful side lyrically just before “fam” featuring Chapter 17 Records’ newest signee Darby O’Trill gives off a rowdier edge wanting to throw hands.

“puzzle” begins the final leg of the album on a pluggier vibe realizing that he’s a dying breed while the song “i’m ok” reunites with SPLXFFY for the last time & performing better on “so alive” as this time they talk about all up in heavy thoughts over a somber trap beat. The penultimate track “she got” goes into sample-based territory confessing his love for a woman that’s like a weapon to him & “drink the pain away” is a dreary trap closer dedicated to those who like to be under the influence of alcohol until you can’t feel the pain anymore.

Wakin’ Up showed the juggalos what he was capable of on the mic & Coffee expanded on that, but he really did give it all Blood Sweat Tears on this one because I genuinely feel like it’s an album that those familiar with him must hear if you want to know more about who he is. The subject matter is more personal than his last couple albums were expanding on the versatile production ranging from Memphis rap & trap to boom bap & the art of sampling.

Score: 4/5

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Shaggytheairhead – “Coffee” review

This is the sophomore full-length album from Las Vegas, Nevada producer, rapper & fashion designer Shaggytheairhead. Catching my attention after producing one of my all-time favorite Ouija Macc songs “Nardwuar Glocc” back in 2018, he would back that up with 4 EPs before becoming an in-house producer for Chapter 17 Records & Psychopathic Records alongside his Mythic Mindz cohort Devereaux. Shaggy would drop his last album Wakin’ Up during the 21st annual Gathering of the Juggalos, which was the only Gathering I’ve ever been to & a weekend that I’ll never forget. As far as the actual music on Wakin’ Up, it’s my favorite of his thus far because of how much he improved his lyricism & that he dabbled with a wide range of sounds to show his influences. Following the Gathering of Dreams last summer however, he dropped a producer album called Grin to the Grave featuring a wide range of artists rapping over his production from Ouija to King Iso, Project Pat, Sir Michael Rocks & even Matt Ox. But to honor the 49th birthday of J Dilla & ヌジャベス, Shaggy’s returning in the form of Coffee.

After the “Shaggythelegend 3” skit, “Abyss” comes through with a trap opener calling for all the savages in this bitch prior to Trade Voorhees tags along for “Ima Make It” to talk about getting off your ass & doing something productive today working in some synths & hi-hats alongside a chopped & screwed inspired hook. “Need a Friend” hooks together a syrupy sample à la Three 6 Mafia to seek true friendship just before “Force Fed” dives into boom bap turf speaking to those who be feeling like they’re being imposed upon.

Trade returns on “Grind Everyday” keeping it in the basement encouraging to hustle until “Gotta Ask” continues with some kicks & snares put together with these spacious synth chords curious to know why he got done dirty. Darby O’Trill comes into the picture for the shrilling “Raygun” to bust shots at the zombies & encouraging those who have a problem with him to say something to them about it, but then the YungFiend verse on “Furnace” is probably the weakest feature on the album with all respect even though the atmospheric approach is nice & the themes of proving others how hot they be artistically.

The song “When Will They Learn?” eerily claps back at shit-talkers while “Witch” serves as the official closer to the album as he describes paranormally seeing a woman in the corner of every room that he enters with a dusty boom bap beat yet the “bonus cut” title track is the true finale to the album with it’s minimal yet bluesy instrumental accompanied by the heartfelt lyrics that look back on being down in his luck to eventually hanging with his idols & pursuing his dream in a music career.

Wakin’ Up was a great debut for Shaggy & a year & a half later with Coffee as the official follow-up, it was well worth it in my opinion. His production is continuing to evolve & the feature-list is much smaller than it was on the last album although they manage to do a fine job at bringing their own unique styles to the table. Now that he’s woken up & had his coffee, where do we go from here a year & a half from now? I’m curious to know.

Score: 4/5

Shaggytheairhead – “Wakin’ Up” review

Shaggytheairhead is a 27 year old producer, rapper & fashion designer from Las Vegas, Nevada who came to my attention after producing one of my all-time favorite Ouija Macc songs “Nardwuar Glocc” back in 2018. He would later go on to become an in-house producer for Psychopathic Records, allegedly having 9 beats on the Insane Clown Posse’s upcoming 16th album Yum Yum Bedlam. But with the 21st annual Gathering of the Juggalos going down this weekend, Shaggy’s dropping his full-length debut in the midst of his performances.

After the “Shaggythelegend” intro, the first song “The Gem / I Rap” is a bit of a jazzy boom bap kickstarter to the album with a murky switch up during the 2nd half saying it’s about time he snapped & turning losses into profit whereas the Trade Voorhees-produced “Reminisce” takes a cloudier direction speaking on getting older. “About Nothin’ / Bake It” is another 2-parter with a bit of a mystical vibe at the beginning saying he doesn’t have to brag at all, but then switches up into something trippier saying instrumental meditation is his only medication.

Meanwhile on “In the Road”, we have Shaggytheairhead enlisting Killatime to show off their lyrical abilities a boom bap beat inspired by the classic Joey Bada$$ tape 1999 leading into “Wakin’ Up / Steady Learnin’” starting off by atmospherically telling cats to catch him sleeping with his eyes open & then switching into a eerier tone proclaiming that he’s cursed. Darby O’Trill & Ouija Macc tag along for the riot-inducing “Act Up” produced by the homie Devereaux leading into “This Is Hell / Ceiling” somberly opening up about depression & later going into dark ambient turf comparing himself to the grim reaper.

“Vengeance” has a much quirkier beat as the wicked clowns Violent J & Shaggy 2 Dope themselves come in to talk about wanting revenge, but then he & Trade Voorhees follow it up by asking if they’ll miss them when they’re gone on the trap banger “Ghost”. He later calls out those who were hating on him for the cloudy “Jealously Woes I”, but then “Goin’ Goin’ Goin’” is an intoxicating cut about blowing up whether people like it or not.

“Rain Rain” works in some dusty drums & wavy synths to say his happiness has been gone while the song “Feel This Way” has a moodier tone sonically saying he’ll never change. The penultimate track “You Would Stay” is of course a funky love ballad & “Death to the Ego” psychedelically calls to humble himself.

I didn’t know what to expect from Wakin’ Up given that we’ve only heard Shaggytheairhead rapping a few times prior, but I must admit that this was a pretty impressive debut. Easily the best batch of songs that he’s crafted yet in my opinion. His lyrical skills have gotten better since the early days & it’s really awesome to hear him taking on a diverse range of sounds.

Score: 4/5

Ouija Macc – “Dirtbag” review

This is the 5th mixtape from Las Vegas, Nevada rapper Ouija Macc. Originally breaking out in 2017 off the strength of his debut EP Trashfire, this resulted in the Insane Clown Posse making him the final act to ever sign with Psychopathic Records later that year. Ouija has since been holding it down for the hatchet by dropping 2 full-length albums, 3 EPs, 4 tape, a greatest hits compilation & a collab EP with Starfoxlaflare. But after forming his own label Chapter 17 Records & dropping a collaborative mixtape with Young Money Entertainment signee Baby E a couple months ago, Ouija is enlisting the Floridian production duo Mythic Mindz for Dirtbag.

“Ain’t No Savior” kicks the door down by encouraging the listener to crank the volume up super high over a sitar-laced trap beat from Devereaux whereas the next song “Demon Seed” is a cacophonous depiction of a ritual. Ouija goes on to do a good job at melodically opening up about depression on the grungy “Route 17” & then “Killing Spree” brings in a chiming instrumental as the lyrics take a turn into horrorcore turf.

The track “Domino” brings in a bit of a country twang in the production to talk how this is the way it has to be while we get a bass-heavy ode to the kinky motherfuckers out there on “Nympho”. For “Did It Myself”, we get a Bollywood-flavored anthem about his grind before the Shaggytheairhead provides a dinky beat for Ouija to acknowledge his weirdness on “Walking WTF”.

Meanwhile on “La Cienega”, we get a quirky instrumental & Ouija bringing his speediest flows imaginable without making it sound cliche whereas “Thuggalo Slide” is a bassy anthem for the thuggalos to ride to. The song “Monster vs. Man” continues to bring in guitars as the lyrics tackle inner turmoil while “Not Enough” is Ouija talking about wanting more sex & drugs on top of a wailing trap beat.

The adrenaline-inducing “Die Like This” takes aim at his detractors whereas the electronic-influenced “Understand Us” is about how misunderstood juggalos are in the hip hop world. “I Don’t Know” doesn’t sound too bad for a cloudy love song while the penultimate track is a trap/rock fusion about burning it all down. As for the closer, “I’m Nowhere” talks about being a ghost over a sludgy instrumental.

This dude is just reaffirming his status as one of the most consistent artists in the underground today. He makes a great return to his normal style after the more commercial We Never Forgot & it’s cool to hear Mythic Mindz helping him out dabbling into new sounds.

Score: 4/5