Paul Wall – “The Tonite Show” review

West coast producer DJ Fresh tapping in with Houston, Texas emcee, DJ & businessman Paul Wall for the latter’s 16th studio LP. An affiliate of Swishahouse Entertaimment & a co-founder of The Color Changin’ Click, his sophomore effort albeit major label debut The People’s Champ propelled him as an H-Town veteran 2 decades ago & has since been steadily dropping music whether it be Bounce Backs Over Setbacks becoming the best album of his from the previous decade to the mixed reception of The Great Wall a year & a half ago. Once Upon a Grind dropped on my birthday weekend last winter making up for The Great Wall’s divisive feedback by homaging the city who made him the person he is presently & DJ Fresh has brought back The Tonite Show to make Paul the most recent guest.

“Wake Up” blends jazz rap & trap together so the Oiler Mobb Entertainment founder can talk about getting his mind right the second he gets up every single morning whereas “It’s Necessary” turns the jazz influences up even higher to discuss doing what’s obligated & his legendary grind. “Dedicated to the Game” gives off a west coast Mobb vibe with a hint of trap talking about his loyalty to this shit leading into the piano-driven “Husslin’ For Eons” boasting his hustle.

We get a bluesy guitar sample on “Same Ol’ P” talking about nothing changing with him a little over 2 decades into his career while “Drink 1st” fuses cloud rap & trap opting to take a sip from his cup before he heads out. “Blanton’s Tonite” takes a smoother approach instrumentally for an ode to my personal favorite alcoholic beverage bourbon whiskey while “Out Yo Mind” talks about the crowd who thinks he ain’t paid tweaking.

“Riding with the Top Down” whips up a breezy anthem for the California & H-Town to blast in their whips on a sunny day while “Money on My Mind” shifts his focus towards the bag. “Still Froze” hooks up some synthesizers to show off the watch on his wrist while “Get the Paper” talks about grinding to the utmost. “Whatchu Really Kno” concludes The Tonite Show with a dirty south outro advising to keep a clear vision.

Approximately a couple days following Wednesday’s season premiere of South Park on Comedy Central poking fun at the Paramount Skydance Corporation cancelling The Late Show in 2026 because of a joke Stephen Colbert made regarding his show’s parent company settling a $16M lawsuit, Paul Wall & DJ Fresh get together to make a highly successful attempt at capitalizing their chemistry 7 months ago & my favorite late career entry in Paul’s catalog.

Score: 4.5/5

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Paul Wall – “Once Upon a Grind” review

Houston, Texas emcee, DJ & businessman Paul Wall returning with his 15th full-length studio LP. An affiliate of Swishahouse Entertaimment & a co-founder of The Color Changin’ Click, his 2005 sophomore effort albeit major label debut The People’s Champpropelled him as an H-Town veteran & has since been steadily dropping music whether it be Bounce Backs Over Setbacks becoming the best album of his from the previous decade to the mixed reception of The Great Wall last winter. Ahead of the latter’s 1-year anniversary this weekend, he’s got a story to tell Once Upon a Grind.

“Woke Up a Millionaire” produced by DJ Fresh perfectly starts with a spacious beat talking about how amazing it is the way he be stackin’ up his paper whereas “Platinum Playa” fuses Mobb & trap flexing his aptly titled status. “I Get Down” takes the ominous trap route instrumentally dedicating this one to all the go-getters listening worldwide just before “Can’t Talk, Chasing a Check” featuring Lil’ Keke & Slim Thug finds the trio tryna collect paychecks refusing to chit chat.

As for “All Money Good”, we have Paul heading for a soulful trap direction letting it be known that all kinds of money around his parts is good money as far as he’s concerned leading into “Way 2 Wet” reconnects with DJ Fresh once more for an anthem built his candy-painted whip. “Swang Down” featuring Z-Ro shoots for a laidback approach advising the soldiers to slowly do exactly that, but then “All Night” is another DJ Fresh banger getting what’s his throughout the whole evening.

“Underground Ambassador” featuring Berner, Big K.R.I.T., Freeway, Rich the Factor & Termanology starts the encore of Once Upon a Grind with a nearly 5 minute posse cut while “Pocket Fulla Money” brings the Mobb flare from earlier back in the equation talking about his pockets being swole. “Run to the Money” featuring Yung Al sees the pair getting in that mode soon as they hop out of bed & “Love 4 Rent” sends it all off spreading the word of money being unable to buy love.

Once Upon a Grind redeems Paul Wall from the mixed reception of it’s predecessor almost 365 days ago & I’ll even make the argument that it’s the most I’ve enjoyed a solo effort from him in quite a while. It’s more well-produced, the guests’ performances stick the landing for the most part & Paul himself coming off more focused all culminates in this 41 minute LP that he conceived out of love for the very city that made him.

Score: 3.5/5

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Paul Wall & Termanology – “Start Finish Repeat” review

This is the 2nd collaborative LP between Paul Wall & Termanology. One hails from Houston, Texas & the other coming straight out of Boston, Massachusetts. However, both of them have been holding it down for the culture for the past 2 decades with their insane work ethics & albums like The People’s Champ or Politics as Usual. They’ve worked with one another a few times within the last couple years & are took their chemistry to new heights with Start 2 Finish, so it was enough to have me anticipate the sequel Start Finish Repeat.

“Wall Paper (No Chit Chat)” is an angelic boom bap opener produced by Statik Selektah getting on that grind time whereas “Palm Trees” featuring AZ takes a more summery route from the slick instrumental to the lyrics about being fresh out the coupe after traveling high. “It’s Magic” featuring CL Smooth goes into funkier territory doing this with no apologies whatsoever leading into “Houston BBQ” featuring Bun B returning to the boom bap thanks to Large Professor providing an anthem for you to cookout to in the 713.

Moving on from there, “Talk About It” weaves this groovy sample with kicks & snares dropping smooth braggadocio just before “Positive Vibes” featuring Tony Sunshine of the Terror Squad gives off a glossy boom bap edge to the beat getting in their positivity bags. “Do It for the Ghetto” featuring Big K.R.I.T. works in some pianos & hi-hats so all 3 of them can join forces to write a ballad dedicated to the streets, but then “Got It Made” featuring Peedi Crakk of State Property discusses the way they living over an airy instrumental from Diamond D of the Diggin’ In The Crates collective.

“Blue Bill Bandit” compared themselves to thieves when it comes take $100s over a flute-tinged boom bap beat from Buckwild while “Smoke Somethin’” featuring Sheek Louch incorporates a soul sample courtesy of JR Swiftz talking about smoking weed of course. “Leather Recliner” is a synth-laced late night cruiser to bump riding with the top down while “No Apologies” brings back the Trill O.G. Bun B for a glamorously dusty joint about how they gon’ have to bring an army to take theirs.

To start the final leg of the duo’s 2nd collaborative effort, the penultimate song “Real Life” gives off a jazzier flare musically giving y’all a look into their actual lives & the title track featuring NEMS fresh off his Scram Jones-produced major label debut Rise of the Silverback rounds it all out with Cartune Beatz keeping the jazz influences in the picture bringing some kicks & snares into the fold so all 3 emcees can make it known to everyone listening with only minutes left that they back at it.

Start 2 Finish was a cool look at the Boston & Houston emcees gelling with one another, but this sequel over here is on par & even has it’s highs that’re higher than the last collab album was a year & a half ago. The production is generally based in Term’s east coast boom bap roots, but he & Paul are both spittin’ at an exceptional caliber together & the feature list is consistent on top of it

Score: 4/5

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Paul Wall & Termanology – “Start 2 Finish” review

This is the brand new collaborative album between Paul Wall & Termanology. One hails from Houston, Texas & the other coming straight out of Boston, Massachusetts. However, both of them have been holding it down for the culture for the past 2 decades with their insane work ethics & albums like The People’s Champ or Politics as Usual. They’ve worked with one another a few times within the last couple years & are now taking their chemistry to new heights by dropping Start 2 Finish.

“No Asterisk” opens up the album with a soulful Statik Selektah instrumental talking about wanting the rings & the title whereas “Ask Permission” takes a jazzier route advising to ask them in advance prior to pulling up to either H-Town or Beantown. “Recognize My Car” dives into boom bap territory with the help of Pete Rock talking about whips just before Bun B tags along for the classy money making anthem “Thailand”.

Meanwhile on “No Favors Pt. 2”, we have Paul & Term delivering a fresh sequel to a joint off The Po-Up Poet leading into Statik KXNG & Wais P coming into the picture for the triumphant “Clubber Lang” spitting braggadocio. “How You Been?” goes into a sensual direction thanks to Dame Grease getting romantic while the song “No Tolerance” with Fly Anakin & NEMS is just a dusty, 4 minute barfest. The penultimate track “Money on My Phone” has a slower beat talking about that’s all see & “Step Outside” with Millyz ends the album with a powerful boom bap ballad encouraging to forget what it’s like living in the dark.

Coming from someone who’s been a fan of these guys for a minute, Start 2 Finish is definitely one of the best collab efforts that either one of them have ever made. I think Paul sounds great on top of traditional East Coast production & his chemistry with Termanology is improving steadily also.

Score: 4/5