Oh No – “Nodega” review

Oh No is a 46 year old MC & producer from Oxnard, California known for being 1/2 of The Professionals with his older brother Madlib & of course Gangrene with The Alchemist. His debut album The Disrupt under Stones Throw Records would become a west coast hip hop gem & the sophomore effort Exodus into Unheard Rhythms of course relied on Galt MacDermot samples. Ohnomite & the Chris Keys-produced Ashes would succeed the Oxperiment & Ethiopium beat tapes, returning over a decade after Disrupted Ads for his 6th studio LP after signing to Nature Sounds.

After the “Broken Radio” intro, “No One’s Stop” ruggedly begins with The Disrupt jumping over a gritty self-produced instrumental trying to get guap setting up shop whereas “Community Trenches” by Team Getem featuring Blu, Kazi & M.E.D. finds the quintet advising staying indoors so the war outside can be avoided. Rah Digga & Talib Kweli both rip the mic together for “Around Here” letting it be known that some ain’t allowed to be near their premises while the 2nd & final single “Rooftop Shottas” by Ghostface Killah & TriState finds the pair coming together over a gully beat advising to give up everything they got in the middle of a stickup unless you wanna get shot.

Following the “Dr. Nodega Informercial” skit, “Gutter Streams” reunites Gangrene a year & a half following their comeback Heads I Win, Tails You Lose to talk about making the needle break after shooting dope through people’s veins & after the “Watch Ya Steps” interlude, Guilty Simpson alongside Montage 1 & Vic Spencer along with him for the spaciously raw “Grounding Stars” so they can get at the throats of those who think they be running shit.

J. Sands takes us all on an 103 second “Nodega Run” having some vibraphones backing his storytelling while the lead single “Money Everyday” by Big Twins & Tha God Fahim talking about looking for new ways of getting paid. After the “Nobody Told U” interlude, “How Crime Works” by Crimeapple gets on some boom bap shit explaining his grind up until the “Alley Loitering” interlude.

“No Parking Zone” featuring Logic sets out for all the smoke with the wankstas acting like they really got it while “Czarnobyl Torture” featuring Esoteric carries the battle bars over wanting their opposition to know the applause wasn’t meant to be a congratulatory gesture to them. And after the “Good Beer Therapy (Interlude)”, “Likwit Smoke” by Tash & Wildchild makes it clear they’re still part of the Likwit Crew.

The song “ICU with Bottle Service” featuring Bishop Lamont finishes up our last few minutes of exploring the Nodega with him & Oh No over a Khrysis instrumental sampling what sounds like an SNES video game warning that they’ll let fists fly towards detractors who stay flapping their mouths while “Corner Goons” by Team Getem featuring Jayo Felony concludes with the trio suggesting everybody chillin’ at the corner to move because they carrying weight.

Thematically built around a corner store where all microphone assassins can stop through to lay down their street tales, Oh No cooks up a freshly wild collection of songs as the drama unfolds only contributing a handful of verses & letting his guests shine throughout a good bulk of Nodega. His production is some of the most cinematic he’s ever made & even though his performances are all occasional, a great deal of the veterans that’re brought on board all do what they’ve become known for VERY well.

Score: 4/5

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Gangrene – “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” review

Gangrene is a West Coast emcee/production duo consisting of The Alchemist & Oh No. Both of whom have already made a name for themselves by producing for other established hip hop artists both in the mainstream & in the underground, particularly Uncle Al. However, they’ve put out a total of 3 full-length albums & a couple EPs together over the past 15 years. Nearly a decade after the Mass Appeal Records-backed You Disgust Me though, they’re finally reuniting for a long-awaited 4th LP.

“Congratulations, You Lose” is a grimy opener produced by Oh No talking about how no animal is safe here whereas “Dinosaur Jr.” finds The Alchemist stripping the drums completely likening themselves as big Tyrannosaurus Rexes prehistoric flexing. The album’s only single “Oxnard Water Torture” ruggedly discusses the gang’s return & that it ain’t the same drip, but then “The Gates of Hell” featuring Ankhlejohn works in these heavy pianos talking about exposing all these sorry muthafuckas out here.

Moving on from there, “Cloud Surfing” incorporates some woodwinds comparing themselves as the Wright brothers of hip hop leading into “Espionage” following the “Free Money” interlude continues the drumless vibes boasting that their flavors are sorted individually & their rings are like Christmas tree ornaments. “Magic Dust” featuring Evidence throws these ominous chords into the picture talking about doing the dirty work & that this the way you could take theirs just before the synth-driven “Watch Out” continues to get in their hardcore bag lyrically.

“Just Doing Art” featuring Boldy James strips the drums once more defending themselves of they smear your blood & body on their canvases while the song “You Should Join the Army” hops over victorious horns asking who the fuck want what. “Royal Hand” from Flying High 2 makes it’s way here as the penultimate track & finally, the blaring yet luxurious “Muffler Lung” concludes Gangrene’s first offering in 9 years with both of them talking about them categorizing the way they spit as classical.

When you think about the gap between this new LP & the last one they did, it’ll seem like Gangrene came back as if they never took a break in the beginning. The predominantly hardcore stylings of You Disgust Me with additional elements of jazz rap & abstract lyricism make their way onto this new LP except they throw a hint of drumless in the sound too. Another worthy detail in regards to Heads I Win, Tails You Lose is that it’s noticeably more darker & cryptic than much of Gangrene’s previous material.

Score: 4/5

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eLZhi – “Heavy Vibrato” review

One of the greatest Detroit emcees of all-time eLZhi teaming up with Oxnard producer Oh No for his 5th LP. Rising to prominence as a member of Slum Village shortly after the departure of the late J Dilla about 2 decades ago, he eventually saw success of his own with his classic solo debut The Preface in the summer of ‘08 & was followed up 8 years later with Lead Poison. 7 Times Down, 8 Times Up is my 2nd favorite of his behind The Preface due to JR Swiftz’ stellar production as well as it’s resilience heavy concept & the last album Zhigeist produced by Georgie Anne Muldrow was a boom bap/neo-soul love letter to people of color. But with Oh No fresh off producing Berserko for Tha God Fahimthis spring, eL’s keeping it rolling on the Nature Sounds roster for Heavy Vibrato

After the “What Is Heavy Vibrato?!?” intro, the first song “Trick Dice” starts the album by mixing these vibraphones with kicks & snares detailing the type he is & that he stays on point whereas “In Your Feelings” featuring Dankery Harv gives off a suspenseful boom bap approach instrumentally blasting those who be squealing on them. After the “Doc No Check Up” interlude, “R.I.P. (Radio International Programming)” featuring Guilty Simpson continues to move forward hoping on top of pianos declaring this shit ain’t real now just before “Possessed” shifts gears into darker turf talking about not being sent to another dimension in this lifetime.

“Bishop” works in more kicks, snares & pianos admitting that he’s been feeling like it’s him against the world as of late leading into “Fireballs” keeps in to the basement musically talking about what’s exactly going to happen when you speak ill on his name. “Smoke” featuring Blu as well as Oh No himself & Phez Roc strips the drums in favor of a jazzy loop admitting that they’re from another space & time occasionally, but then “Twilight Zone” talks about opening up the doors with the keys to imagination over a fragilely calm beat. The penultimate track “Say It Don’t Spray It” draws near the end of the album by bringing it hardcore responding to shots being fired & to wrap up Heavy Vibrato, the closer “Last Nerve” admits that there are only a few things in this life that be getting on his nerves over another boom bap instrumental.

You can’t really go wrong with eLZhi’s discography since he’s been constantly putting out quality material in the last 25 years, but I happen to like Heavy Vibrato slightly more than Zhigeist. Oh No‘s production here is more jazzier in comparison to Georgia’s swapping those elements out for neo soul last time & the storytelling from the Detroit lyrical wizard is cinematic top to bottom.

Score: 4.5/5

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Tha God Fahim – “Berserko” review

Tha God Fahim is a 26 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. But coming off 4 EPs in the last 3 months with my favorites of the quartet personally being the Camoflauge Monk-produced Dark Shogunn Assassin as well as the Nature Sounds-backed Iron Bull & the Nicholas Craven-produced Dump Gawd: Shot Clock King 4 that literally just fucking came out last week, Fahim’s enlisting Oxnard veteran Oh No behind the boards for his 42nd EP in it’s entirety.

“Da Coldest” is a calmly laced opener with the Dump Gawd talking about being unable to see the game holding him back whereas “Faithful” works in some horns to ask why try if you ain’t even giving your all into it. Droog comes into the picture for the crooning “Cobbler” talking about being the ones that supply the product leading into “Tha Haunted” taking a creepier approach in sound to say those who think can fuck with him got it twisted & all he wants to do is run it up counting bands

Jay NiCe tags along for “Axe Pain” brings back the horns as they advise it’s better to be a moving target than simply a sitting duck just before “Bladepoint” talks about his exact line of business & playing to win it all. “Art Official” weaves a bare soul loop into the fold as he makes it clear that he ain’t here to play games with cats & to tighten up, but then “Grind Hard” follows it up with a mellow ode to the hustle.

The song “Megachad Rap” goes full-blown boom bap continuing to flex his greatness while the penultimate track “I Show I Prove” returns to drumless territory as he cashes out. “Nightmares” on the other hand truly ends the EP by talking about watching his back because of how petty some people truly are & that he’ll never retire from this music shit over some chilling vocals & synths.

I know I just said a week ago that Shot Clock King 4 is the best EP that Fahim has dropped in 2023 so far, but there’s no question in my mind that Berserko is on the same caliber. And if he’s continuing to drop EPs every month for the rest of the year like how Flee Lord & Papoose both did respectively, then I’m excited to hear what he has to offer next month. His determination is still clear as day & it’s refreshing to hear Oh No production start to finish not only considering it’s been 3 years since A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night dropped, but also how equally as talented as he is compared to his older brother.

Score: 4.5/5

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The Professionals – Self-Titled review

The Professionals are a hip hop duo from Oxnard, California consisting of Oh No on the mic along with his older brother Madlib on production. Both of whom have made household names for themselves in the West Coast underground in their own rights. An album together has been long overdue in my opinion & has been hinted at since 2008, but it seems like we’re finally getting it a little over a decade later.

After the “My House” intro, we get right into the first song “The Pros”. Which is a very short but gritty way for the duo to reintroduce themselves to the listener. The next track “Payday” of course talks about making money over a nondescript instrumental while the song “Give N Take” tells the story of Oh No trying to sleep with a woman at 3am over a somewhat funky instrumental with this vocal sample relaying in & out like a radio transmission. The track “Superhumans” with Chino XL & eLZhi sees the 3 comparing themselves to superheroes over a haunting instrumental while the song “Buggin'” talks about people annoying him over a somber beat.

The track “CDP Breakdown” talks about wanting to fight someone referencing the current 2-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones over a grimy boom bap beat while the song “Timeless Treasure” gets conscious over a tense instrumental. The track “I Jus Wanna” talks about wanting to relax over a mellow boom bap beat while the song “Away Too Long” talks about the rap game over an extravagant instrumental.

“Make Due” is a dedication to people putting their last buck on trying to get it over a gorgeous instrumental while the song “Tired Atlas” is another politically charged cut much like “Timeless Treasure” over a hypnotic loop. The album then finishes with “Dishonored Valor”, where Oh No talks about the soldiers who went A.W.O.L. over a vintage sample.

I personally have been waiting on this album for a long time & now that we finally got it, it’s not as perfect as I’d hoped yet solid. Madlib’s production is creative always & Oh No’s rapping is sharp, but it could’ve used a couple more features in my opinion. Nonetheless, I’m still happy with the outcome of what the 2 legendary Oxnard siblings did together.

Score: 4/5