Your Old Droog – “YOD Wave” review

This is the 5th EP from Ukrainian-American emcee/producer Your Old Droog. Emerging in the underground off his self-titled debut, many first thought he was an alter ego of Nas given that their voices are somewhat similar. Nonetheless, the guy has reached legend status at this point by proving that he was in his own lane off later albums such as Packs & It Wasn’t Even Close. But coming fresh off the incredibly conceptual TIME & Space Bar over the summer & fall respectively, Droog is kicking off his 2022 by enlisting Nicholas Craven to fully produce YOD Wave.

“Fela Kuti” kicks off the whole EP with some gorgeous piano melodies saying he’s being away for too long whereas “Scooby Snacks” takes a more soulful boom bap route looking back on where he came from before getting back to business. “.500” works in some dramatic string sections talking about having less than nothing just before the organ-laced “Purple Rain Freestyle (Game, Blouses)” comes through with some braggadocio.

The song “Black n Red Huaraches” with Tha God Fahim finds the 2 comparing their lives to operas even though the instrumental is my least favorite on the whole EP while the penultimate track “Lost Love” gets romantic over a drumless chipmunk soul sample. Fahim returns once more for the closer “Body Right, Mind Right” to jump on top of some solemn piano chords talking about taking no one’s advice.

Coming from someone who’s been down with Droog since the beginning, I genuinely believe that YOD Wave is the best EP he’s made yet. It’s not as conceptual as his last 2 albums, but he’s just spitting nothing but pure heat for 20 minutes accompanied by some of the most astonishing production that Craven had to offer.

Score: 4.5/5

Nicholas Craven – “Craven N 3” review

Nicholas Craven is a 29 year old producer from Montréal, Québec, Canada who gained notoriety in the underground by doing tracks for Griselda, the Dump Gawds, Hus Kingpin, Planet Asia & Ransom just to name a few. He’s also released a handful of beat tapes on his own & even 2 solo EPs: Craven N & Craven N 2. However to warm the fans up for his upcoming projects with Mike Shabb & Your Old Droog dropping later this year, Nicholas is closing out the Craven N trilogy by dropping his 3rd EP.

“Opulence” by Stove God Cook$ is a symphonic opener proclaiming that they’ve won whereas “Yzerman” by Boldy James named after the greatest Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman takes a glossier route talking about being tied in. “Breaking Atoms” by Evidence works in a soul sample to discuss righting wrongs & needing the pressure present, but then “Anchor” by Navy Blue follows it up with a piano ballad talking about how he ain’t trying to boast.

Meanwhile on “50 Wings”, we have Elucid on top of some killer guitars to discuss grace, peace, prosperity, fortune & wisdom just before “Serotonin” by Pink Siifu brings in some brass talking about seeing & showing it all. The track “YOD Body” incorporates an alluring vocal sample with Your Old Droog delivering some fiery bars & prior to the “Sud Wes Craven” outro, the final song “Nouvelle Religion” by Connaisseur Ticaso educates listeners on some French over a soul loop & it’s really admirable.

You can’t go wrong with either of the previous installments of the Craven N series, but this has gotta be my favorite installment so far. The guests all bring their A-Game lyrically & Nicholas continues to propel himself as one of the best hip hop producers in recent memory. If he keeps it up, 2022 might be his biggest year yet.

Score: 4/5

Tha God Fahim – “Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King 2” review

Tha God Fahim is a 25 year old MC/producer from Atlanta, Georgia notable for his affiliation with Griselda Records as well as being 1/3 of the Dump Gawds alongside Mach-Hommy & Your Old Droog. We also can’t ignore the massive discography that he’s managed to build for himself, some of the standouts include Breaking Through tha Van Allen Belts & Dump Assassins. He just dropped the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King at the beginning of the month & now they’re ending it the way they started it: A sequel EP.

The opener “Shot Clock Legend” kicks things off with a soul sample & Fahim proclaiming himself as such whereas “Hard to Digest” works in a flute to start bragging. “Hall of Fame” has a bit of a more glossier feel musically to say he gives listeners a piece of his mind when he spits just before taking an ominous bap turn for “Megatron” saying he ain’t doing none less.

Meanwhile on “Sketch”, we have Fahim jumping on top of a moody boom bap instrumental saying he don’t wanna talk too much because of trust issues leading into the penultimate track “Wingz Logo” has an eargasmic loop opening up about the world being against him. The closer “Punishment” has some rich piano chords & dusty drums to declare that he’s milking the game until the well runs dry.

Now despite preferring the predecessor, I personally think we got a stellar sequel. Could’ve used a feature or 2 to break up the monotony, but it’s safe to say Fahim & Craven’s chemistry as an MC/producer duo is continually getting better with each project they whip up together.

Score: 4.5/5

Tha God Fahim – “Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King”

This is the latest EP from Atlanta, Georgia emcee/producer Tha God Fahim. Coming up as an affiliate of Griselda Records alongside Mach-Hommy & Your Old Droog, he also has a incredibly vast discography with a couple of standouts being Breaking Through tha Van Allen Belts & Dump Assassins. His 18th full-length album Dump Gawd: Stock Lord just dropped a little over a month ago & after Nicholas Craven teased a project with him on Twitter recently, we’re finally getting it in the form of Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King.

“Dear Friend” is a beautiful piano ballad to open up the EP with him & Your Old Droog saying they’re always cooking referencing 14-time WWE world champion, WWE Hall of Famer, 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 3-time WWE tag team champion & current WWE COO Triple H alongside 2-time WWE Hall of Famer, 6-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE United States Champion, 14-time WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hardcore Champion, RoW Tag Team Champion & TNA World Tag Team Champion Booker T whereas “Look What You Done” takes a more soulful approach talking about being strapped. Droog returns to ask the listener introspective questions on the lachrymose “Lost His Way”, just before dedicating the heartfelt “Wit Out a Question” to his peoples. Especially with the chilling vocal loop.

The song “Big George Bombs” is the only one on the entire EP that Craven didn’t produce, but I love the harmonious sample Fahim flips for him to say he’s loading up like George Foreman did to Joe Frazier. The penultimate track “Crypto” goes into chipmunk soul territory talking about that’s what he blew his $100K on while “Bitter End” serves as a jazzy closer calling out those who’re trying to keep him piss poor.

Stock Lord was good, but I like this a lot more & I’ll even go as far to call it one of the best Fahim projects yet. He’s at his most genuine on some of these cuts & Nicholas Craven continues to solidify himself as one of the best producers in the underground today.

Score: 4.5/5