Conway the Machine – “You Can’t Kill God with Bullets” review

Brand new LP & the 5th overall from Buffalo, New York emcee Conway the Machine. Blowing up a decade ago as part of the 3 OGs of Griselda Records alongside his brother Westside Gunn & their cousin Benny the Butcher, the trio have had hip hop on lock ever since their arrival by their constant work ethic balancing quality & quality as well as vividly detailing their lives in the streets. Con’s full-length debut From King to a God was my Album of the Year for 2020 & the Shady Records-backed sophomore effort God Don’t Make Mistakes is the most personal he’s ever been. Last we heard the Drumworm Music Group founder by himself was S.F.K. (Slant Face Killah), marking his Roc Nation Records debut with You Can’t Kill God with Bullets.

“Lightning Above the Adriatic Sea” produced by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League after the “Gun Powder” intro talks about this being the musical equivalent to the Super Bowl whereas “B.M.G. (Black Man is God)” goes for a soulful boom bap vibe thanks to Sndtrak so he can discuss African American excellence. “Diamonds” featuring Roc Marciano references former WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion & 2-time WWE tag team champion Carlito over a Conductor Williams beat while “Hell Let Loose” featuring Tony Yayo admits that being called names doesn’t mean shit to them.

Timbaland’s instrumental on “Crazy Avery” was fortunately better than I had initially expected it to be due of his recent AI shenanigans talking about his mind being deeper than the deepest river just before “The Painter” reunites with Daringer breaking down all the problems others don’t need in their lives. After the “Undying” interlude, “Nu Devils” featuring G Herbo takes the trap route courtesy of both araabMUZIK & Beat Butcha spittin’ that gangsta shit together while “Otis Driftwood” talks about him getting better with time over a JR Swiftz beat.

“Mahogany Walls” continues the 2nd half promising that Drumwork will reign for all of eternity bringing Conductor’s lo-fi boom bap sound back in the fold while “Parisian Nights” takes a moment to celebrate success over an E. Jones instrumental with chopped & screwed vocals at the backend of it. The lead single “17.5” goes for a drumless direction stylistically using the pen to paint imagery of the gangsta lifestyle while “Attached” featuring Lady London talking about the future being nonexistent when you’re living in the past.

Apollo Brown chops up a soul sample throughout “Never Sleep” adding some kicks and snares into the picture, asking God to forgive him for his foul ways while “Hold Back Tears” talks about the feeing of losing someone in your life that was close to your heart. The Alchemist strips the drums 1 last time during “Organized Mess” detailing the life money has brought him for the past 10 years & the closer “Don’t Even Feel Real (Dreams)” sends it all off on the soulful boom bap tip talking about his success being surreal to him.

Conway taking more time with You Can’t Kill God with Bullets than he did Won’t He Do It & S.F.K. (Slant Face Killah) was a very smart idea in my opinion because as much as I love both it’s predecessors, I can certainly tell you that this is the most I’ve enjoyed an album from him since God Don’t Make Mistakes. He takes a relatable approach to songwriting relating to whatever many are doing in life whether be celebrating, dating, lost someone special or struggling with mental health all whilst maturing the feeling of Reject 2 & G.O.A.T. (Grimiest Of All-Time).

Score: 4.5/5

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Boldy James – “Criminally Attached” review

It’s been 4 months & Detroit veteran Boldy James has finally returned to make his Roc Nation Records debut in the form of his 17th LP. Breaking out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set), there was a point where Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records had them on their roster for a little while before getting locked up. Once coming home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the Boldface EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album The Price of Tea in China. Manger on McNichols produced by Sterling Toles was as equally fantastic & the Griselda Records-backed Versace Tape EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was. Bo Jackson though would become his most critically acclaimed work to date & Super Tecmo Bo was almost as great for an EP. Fair Exchange No Robbery produced by Nicholas Craven, Penalty of Leadership, Mr. 10-08 produced by Futurewave, the Conductor Williams-produced Across the Tracks the Harry Fraud-produced The Bricktionary & the Carlo Anthony-produced Hidden in Plain Sight were all welcomed to warm reception additionally. Token of Appreciation produced by Chuck Strangers was much better than both Murder During Drug Traffic & Permanent Ink, the Antt Beatz produced Hommage left people divided although I didn’t mind it, coming off the V Don-produced Alphabet Highway & the Killing Nothing sequel Conversational Pieces respectively by showing up Late to His Own Funeral. Signing to Roc Nation not too long ago, he & Craven have decided to run it back with Criminally Attached.

“Walnut Grove” comes out the gate with a vocal sample talking about making money for a long time putting it on his grandmother Mary Lou whereas “No Blemishes soulfully explains that a membership of the gang he’s in cannot be simply claimed.“Infrared.com” talks about still being in the ghetto with all of his Zs getting calls that shouldn’t be answered on speaker just before “Fully Smack” runs up a check quickly to the point where he doesn’t have to wait in a line.

David Hill & 50 Gwuap Taj join Boldy on the soulful “Trifecta” talking about the way they see themselves livin’ leading into “Thumb of Craven” starting the 2nd half continuing the drumless chipmunk soul vibes telling the heavyweights throw up against to walk a little lighter. “Mr. Quaker Oats” featuring Poppy Bricks embraces a jazzier vibe talking about being more Richie than Lionel while “Thread the Needle” suggests you know he came from the bands the way he marches in.

“2 Left Feet” begins Criminally Attached last several minutes talking about not missing a single beat when he’s hustling in the streets over a chipmunk soul instrumental & lastly, “1st Time Around” ends with a vocal jazz flip admitting that he isn’t referring to blank disc when he mentions CDs & advising that one shouldn’t get to acquainted with the 227 Concreatures because of all the excessive gang shit that stays surrounding them.

Hard to say whether or not we’ll still get The Pop Catcher either next month or in 2026 but either way, Boldy James’ official Roc Nation Records debut & his 4th album to be entirely produced by one of my personal favorite producers of this ongoing decade joins Late to My Own Funeral alongside Token of Appreciation & Alphabet Highway for the strongest out of the handful of albums the Motor City’s finest has had to offer in 2025. Gearing up for a Super Tecmo Bowl follow-up next year also, Nicholas Craven’s drumlessly soulful production is unparalleled compared to it’s predecessor 4 months earlier & the same can be said regarding the gangsta-themed lyrics.

Score: 4.5/5

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Westside Gunn – “Heels Have Eyes III” review

Buffalo, New York emcee, songwriter, entrepreneur, curator & professional wrestling promoter/booker Westside Gunn celebrating Halloween with the final chapter of the Heels Have Eyes trilogy. Proving his legend status & that he’s a force to be reckoned with all in nearly a decade whether it be running one of the hottest hip hop labels in recent memory to his first 2 full-lengths FLYGOD & Supreme Blientele. The success of the 4th Rope independent professional wrestling circuit has included 2-time RoW Heavyweight Champion Zilla Fatu becoming the inaugural 4th Rope Heavyweight Champion carrying on the legacy of his late father in former AJPW世界タッグ王座, FMWハードコアタッグチームチャンピオン and 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion Umaga as well as former 2-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion Real1 becoming the inaugural 4th Rope Flyweight Champion and even the current 4-time TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz becoming the inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champions, following up Heels Have Eyes II with Heels Have Eyes III instead of FLYGOD is an Awesome God III.

“Free Rolleys” featuring Benny the Butcher & produced by CG after an intro from former JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion Joshua Bishop begins with a boom bap instrumental & Benny dissing Freddie Gibbs whereas “Mankind” featuring Stove God Cook$ references WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, the inaugural WWE Hardcore Champion, CWA World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Champion Mick Foley over a soulful Daringer beat.

We have Westside Gunn over a boom bap instrumental with strings during “Eddie Bauer” shouting out the titular outdoor recreation brand just before “Tito Santana” featuring Rome Streetz gives their flowers to the WWE Hall of Famer, former ECW World Heavyweight Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Tag Team Champion of the same name. The pianos Denny LaFlare works in during “Tiffany Blue” suit the Halloween timing & West lets off some insane rhyme schemes.

“R-Truth” salutes the former 2-time NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, 2-time NWA World Tag Team Champion, TNA World Tag Team Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Hardcore Champion & 2-time WWE tag team champion who recently made his foray into country music this summer while “Babas” gives off a lo-fi boom bap vibe instrumentally referencing WWE Hall of Famer, 2-time WWE Champion & WWE Tag Team Champion Bob Backlund.

After the “Grey St.” interlude, the final song “Gus Smacker” featuring Brother Tom Sos provides a taste of what’s to come from the latter’s upcoming debut album in 2026 teaming up over this jazzy beat talking about how some people need to be using common sense & an outro from former JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion Joshua Bishop is what officially ends the Heels Have Eyes trilogy tying things up the way he started it only 25 & a half minutes earlier.

The insert of the Heels Have Eyes III states that FLYGOD is an Awesome God III will be released “soon” & whether that be within the next couple months or sometime the following year, Westside Gunn carries on his tradition of celebrating Halloween concluding what he started during WrestleMania XLI weekend curating 25 & a half minutes of the mafioso rap he’s become celebrated for with the production going from boom bap to jazz rap & drumless.

Score: 4/5

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Reuben Vincent – “Welcome Home” review

Here is the highly anticipated 3rd album from Charlotte, North Carolina emcee Reuben Vincent. Emerging under the original moniker Esau, his debut tape IDOL.escent would catch the attention of 9th Wonder & would sign Reuben to Jamla Records in 2016. His debut album Myers Park would be released the next fall followed by the previous EP Boy Meets World, the latter of which resulted in Roc Nation Records handling distribution for Reuben’s future output much like fellow Jamla signee Rapsody beginning with the sophomore effort Love is War almost 3 years ago continuing to elevate his popularity. General Admission was ok in comparison, coming off the well received Hit Me When You Get Here earlier this spring to finally drop Welcome Home.

“Homecoming” promises over a slick boom bap instrumental that the blood, sweat & tears he puts into his music won’t be in vein whereas “Day by Day” works in a soul sample to send praises to the most high on the daily. “God’s Children” featuring Ab-Soul finds the 2 nostalgically homaging Ahmad’s hit single “Back in the Day” just before the charming “Gotta Get It” talks about getting paid.

As for “Queen City”, we have Reuben observes the excessive wannabes out nowadays in addition to dismissing the crowd who stays in his ear telling him what he can & can’t leading into the triumphantly funky “Get Up (Get Down)” talking about being here to flip the pages. “Issa Dee” takes a summery approach to the beat facing the concept of insecurity directly leading into “Anything” talking about doing whatever makes his partner happy.

“So I Pray” featuring Heather Victoria teams up for a luxurious ode to both Jamla artists’ spirituality while “Dre & Sydney” finds himself trying to figure out how this man & woman are so close yet so far sampling soul music once again. “Get It Girl” featuring Wale shows a flirtatious side to themselves over some synthesizers while “Sweet & Good” continues the theme of love over an orchestral boom bap instrumental.

Jourden Cox joins Reuben on the soulful “Just 4 Me” talking about God making their soulmates solely for them while “Cup of Love (Fools)” explains his preference of living like a country boy instead of winning awards. “I’m Good” featuring Marco+ links up for 5 & a half minutes assuring everyone concerned of them that they’re doing well while “In My Life” wraps things up with a line referring to my favorite Roy Ayers track “Searching”.

Taking it back to the foundation of Reuben Vincent’s artistry, Welcome Home represents a full-circle moment from the standpoint of 9th Wonder being the person to give him 1st chance in this game & they back to where it all began for them simultaneously elevating their artistic bond. He might’ve lost friends & family to get to where he is presently, but he gained things worth more than living in the process finally seeing the fruits after remaining focused.

Score: 4/5

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7xvethegenius – “Self 7xve 3” review

Buffalo, New York emcee 7xvethegenius making her debut under her Broadband Sound imprint’s new distribution deal with Roc Nation Records for her 3rd album. Emerging off her first 2 EPs The Calm Before & Self 7xve as well as the full-length debut 7xve is Love, it wasn’t until she & Jae Skeese both became the first artists to sign with Conway the Machine’s very own Drumwork Music Group where 7xve got her biggest break yet. She has since preluded Death of Deuce with Thy Will Be Done alongside Self 7xve 2 & most importantly the DJ Green Lantern-produced The Genius Tape, celebrating the 1-year anniversary of her final Drumwork opus this past weekend & looking to close out the Self 7xve trilogy 52 weeks later.

“Stay” produced by Haas Almahdi & S1 was a lush intro talking about having no care or fear & speaking God into her home before sleeping at night whereas “Twin” featuring Sol ChYld works in some pianos from CG confessing they’ve fallen in love again. “Price of Love” carries the keys over except the kicks & snares are replaced with hi-hats talking about paying the price of pain in exchange of affection leading into “You & Me” continuing the romantic subject matter contrasting her doing well & not so much for her partner from what she’s heard.

Haas reunites with 7xve & has Bricks da Mane co-produce my personal favorite of the 2 singles “Pedals” featuring Reuben Vincent questioning whether he truly loves her or not over a jazzy instrumental while the melodically cloudy “911” featuring Lil Sos reflects a relationship where their arguments weren’t ever merely between them. We later get some cool sampling chops on “Windows” talking about her beating the odds that were against her while “Worthy” featuring Flames dot Malik brings back the jazz thanks to Cartune Beatz teaching that it’s not love until you give some.

“Running” featuring Willyynova begins the 4th quarter of Self 7xve 3 talking about themes of escape over an EYEKETYSON instrumental while “Save Yourself” featuring Monie Love rivals the lead single for the best of the 5 collaborations forever going out their way to save themselves. “Survivor’s Remorse” hooks up more pianos to spit what she considers to possibly be the realest shit she’s ever written & “On My Own” ends the LP by talking about standing in the dust once the smoke has cleared.

Every chapter of the Self 7xve trilogy to me has it’s own level of significance when you think of the fact that the inaugural entry came out months prior to 7xvethegenius getting a label deal & the sequel came when she was halfway through her said previous contract. Of course I have to mention the last 2 installments both being extended plays & this being an actual album, marking a new era in her career under Roc Nation recalling true stories of her life with meticulous production in preparation of her & Che Noir’s long-awaited collaborative project a month from now.

Score: 4/5

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Westside Gunn – “Heels Have Eyes II” review

This is the 13th mixtape from Buffalo, New York emcee, songwriter, entrepreneur, curator & now professional wrestling promoter after forming the 4th Rope independent circuit promotion Westside Gunn. Proving his legend status & that he’s to be a force to be reckoned with all in nearly a decade whether it be running one of the hottest hip hop labels in recent memory to his first 2 full-lengths FLYGOD & Supreme Blientele. The success of the 4th Rope promotion has included 2-time RoW Heavyweight Champion Zilla Fatu becoming the inaugural 4th Rope Heavyweight Champion carrying on the legacy of his late father in former AJPW世界タッグ王座, FMWハードコアタッグチームチャンピオン and 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion Umaga as well as former 2-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion Real1 becoming the inaugural 4th Rope Flyweight Champion and even the current 4-time TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz becoming the inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champions, releasing a sequel to Heels Have Eyes.

“Heel Cena” after the “Bommes des Garçon” intro references 17-time WWE world champion, 4-time WWE tag team champion & 5-time WWE United States Champion John Cena’s short run as a heel over a vintage boom bap instrumental from CG whereas “Amira Kitchen” featuring Brother Tom Sos jazzily talking about everything working because God said it would. “Powerhouse Hobbs” featuring Benny the Butcher has to be one of the the grimiest moments here thanks to Denny LaFlare giving a nod to the current AEW World Trios Champion & former AEW TNT Champion alongside former 2-time AEW International Champion Will Ospreay leading into Conductor Williams sampling “Can You Lose by Following God” by Johnnie Frierson for “Mandela” & FLYGOD flowing all over it.

Stove God Cooks joins Westside Gunn on the Harry Fraud-produced “Brikolai Volkoff” referencing none other than the late WWE Hall of Famer & former WWE Tag Team Champion Nikolai Volkoff while “Aunt Gina” featuring Skyzoo dedicates itself to all type of people that they know from those in prison to brick movers. “Glowrealah” gives off a hypnotic boom bap vibe talking about possibly getting him a country chick just before “Prick” featuring Brother Tom Sos kicks the pianos back in effect talking about seeing dope fiends & broken dreams.

The song “Demna Left Balenci” begins the final leg of Heels Have Eyes II with DJ Muggs chopping up a soul sample & a bar referring to another current AEW World Trios Champion & former 2-time AEW TNT Champion Samoa Joe in addition to his reign as AEW World Champion while “Blow Hendry” featuring MIKE drumlessly references former TNA World Champion & the longest reigning TNA Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at Astronomicon 8 this spring. The tape finishes with a sequel to the “Love U” interlude off Hitler Wears Hermes VII being used as an outro this time.

In no way am I trying to discredit the projects that followed Hitler Wears Hermes X because I enjoy And Then You Pray for Me for his attempt at experimenting with trap & Hitler Wears Hermes XI this past Valentine’s Day even if I still maintain that it felt more of a Peace FLYGOD sequel, but Heels Have Eyes II contains some of Westside Gunn’s greatest performances since what was originally the concluding chapter of his infamous mixtape series that continues today going back & forth between drumless & boom bap production with 5 other guests whose pen-games are individually unparalleled.

Score: 4.5/5

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Clipse – “Let God Sort ‘Em Out” review

Clipse is a duo from Virginia Beach, Virginia consisting of Pusha T & No Malice. Signing to Elektra Records in the mid-90s, their original debut Exclusive Audio Footage produced by the greatest production duo of all-time The Neptunes wound up getting shelved & jumped over to Star Trak Entertainment/Arista Records to widely introduce themselves on Lord Willin’. Switching distribution deals with Jive Records a couple years later, the Clipse took them to court & Hell Hath No Fury has since become one of the greatest coke rap albums ever. Following the mixed reception of the Columbia Records-backed ‘Til the Casket Drops, both members would embark on solo careers for over a decade & having Roc Nation Records buy them out of their Def Jam Recordings contract according to longtime manager & Victor Victor Worldwide founder Steven Victor for a Pharrell-produced comeback.

“The Birds Don’t Sing” opens the Thornton brothers’ return insisting that the birds screen in pain as the siblings talk about their parents passing on whereas the very reason Def Jam pussed out “Chains & Whips” featuring Kendrick Lamar in fact sticks out as a rap rock highlight calling back to his verse on “Nosetalgia” off Push’s solo debut M.N.I.M.N. (My Name Is My Name) during my sophomore year of high school succeeding that classic song when you think about 3 of the 4 contributors involved in both “Nostealgia” and “Chains & Whips” all have 1 common enemy.

Tyler, The Creator airing out Playboi Carti on “P.O.V.” had to have been a full circle of a moment from him as somebody who’s been following Yung T since the Odd Future era or especially hearing “Trouble on My Mind” during my adolescence until “So Be It” fuses Khaliji music & dirty south airing out the honorary WWE Hardcore Champion Travis Scott for playing “Meltdown” a week prior to UTOPIA’s release & adding Drake’s verse onto it after the fact.

“Ace Trumpets” made for a perfect experimental hip hop & rage lead single with lyrics from the perspective of their days movin’ weight including jabs at Consequence & Jim Jones’ egotistical self having the nerve of putting himself above a later guest at some point during Let God Sort ‘Em on God, but then “All Things Considered” lets everyone know what’s been going on with them lately & the “Dior slides made of iguana” line during the hook made me think of how great they’d look on the current AAA Mundial Mixtas Parejas Campeon Mr. Iguana signed to the Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide subsidiary of the Endeavor-owned TKO Group Holdings division WWE.

We have women wanting a “M.T.B.T.T.F. (Mike Tyson Blow to the Face)” since the coke strong as a punch delivered by the WWE Hall of Famer himself harboring white slave master souls in their safe over a boom bap instrumental prior to the blog era throwback “E.B.I.T.D.A. (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation & Amortization)” featuring Pharrell talking about there being no evening between them since the scale be telling no lies. “F.I.C.O.” picks up from there breaking down the survival of the fittest being either getting acquitted or facing time leading into “Inglorious Bastards” named after the Quentin Tarantino film of the same name marking the return of the Re-Up Gang.

“So Far Ahead” gets the 4th quarter of the Clipse’s comeback going off the rip refusing to eat at Roscoe’s out of respect for the late PnB Rock which is understandable as someone whose had Roscoe’s in the past & a crazy Brittney Griner line while the title track featuring Nas on the 2nd half “Chandeliers” leaving y’all dead on your back with your eyes lookin’ up clearing most of At the Church Steps & “By the Graces of God” closes the LP with the Thorntons explaining they way they escaped the odds.

When the timeless Public Enemy asked on “What Eye Said” off their newest full-length Black Sky Over the Projects: Apartment 2025 if any MC can write a verse without cursing, I had mentioned No Malice alongside Method Man’s most recent material & isn’t as bad as O-V-Hoes are making it out to be since their all-time favorite wants to ask “What Did I Miss?” when an he got bodied in 2 rap beefs & the group their biggest foe once looked up to saw the Louis Vuitton men’s creative director put doubters calling him washed by going demon time with production & the siblings providing a Ying & Yang factor lyrically regardless of everything that happened with Chad Hugo when he’s always been musically superior as his best friend as said on the criminally underrated In My Mind & the Piece by Piece biopic that I highly enjoyed the previous fall.

Score: 4.5/5

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Memphis Bleek – “APT 3D” review

Memphis Bleek is a 46 year old rapper & songwriter from Brooklyn, New York starting as the original hype man for JAY-Z. Hov eventually signed him to Roc-A-Fella Records once their distribution deal with Def Jam Recordings was settled, dropping both his full-length debut Coming of Age & the sophomore effort The Understanding to mixed reception. M.A.D.E. (Money, Attitude, Direction & Education) would become my personal favorite album of his in the winter of 2003 & with the 20-year anniversary of 534 passing last month, the Warehouse Music Group founder is looking to make a comeback with his 5th studio LP.

“Durag Bleek” produced by Just Blaze was a perfect lead single to kick off the rollout talking about the Roc life being bigger than that mob shit whereas “Still R.O.C.” works in a gospel sample to talk about representing the same squad he’s been with for almost 3 decades, which he’s not wrong since Roc Nation Records is distributing Warehouse now. “You Should Know” laughs off those copping out more than they drop out over a soulful Cool & Dre instrumental leading into the mild pop rap cut “On My Way”.

We get a spoken word intro that takes up the first half of “Holla at Cheech” ahead of a 52 second verse off the top flexing that y’all should be following him outside of social media over a Sndtrak beat while “I’m the Type” brings a chipmunk soul vibe to the table talking about being the kind of person to ride with you until the very end. “King’s Design” suggests that he should be charging people the way he be speaking like a boss just before “3 Kings” featuring Benny the Butcher & Smoke DZA finds the trio talking about being royalty around their respective parts.

“Believe It” begins the 3rd & final leg of APT 3D with boom bap instrumental showing off the large lifestyle he’s been involved with ever since his music career took off really while “Choosing You” brings back the pop rap vibes except he & Mario Winans are doing it much better than they did on “On My Way” from the atmospheric sound to the lyrics of always remaining loyal to his partner. “Word to Hov” finishes Bleek’s first body of work in 2 decades with him taking the last 2 & a half minutes to shout out his mentor as well as explain that he had to take time away from music to pick himself back up from personal shit.

Taking it back to the apartment complex in the Marcy Projects that made him, APT 3D rivals M.A.D.E. (Money, Attitude, Direction & Education) by passionately returning to the booth casually shrugging off whatever Memphis Bleek had going on in his life outside of music. The production nostalgically throws it back to when Roc-A-Fella was at their prime as a label in the early 2000s & most of the features doing hooks other than both MCs who were on the 2nd single was a great move on his part since that time away gave him a lot to get off his chest.

Score: 3.5/5

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Westside Gunn – “Heels Have Eyes” review

Here we have the 7th EP from Buffalo, New York emcee, songwriter, entrepreneur, curator & now professional wrestling promoter after forming the 4th Rope independent circuit promotion Westside Gunn. Proving his legend status & that he’s to be a force to be reckoned with all in nearly a decade whether it be running one of the hottest hip hop labels in recent memory to his first 2 full-lengths FLYGOD & Supreme Blientele. The success of the 4th Rope promotion has included 2-time RoW Heavyweight Champion & current HoG Crown Jewel Champion Zilla Fatu becoming the inaugural 4th Rope Heavyweight Champion carrying on the legacy of his late father in former AJPW世界タッグ王座, FMWハードコアタッグチームチャンピオン and 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion Umaga & even the current 3-time TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz becoming the inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champions, putting together a joint pay-per-view with the Brett Lauderdale-owned deathmatch promotion Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) called For the Culture that will be taking place in Las Vegas tonight ahead of WrestleMania XLI live on the Comcast Corporation subsidiary NBCUniversal-owned streaming service peacock, surprise-releasing Heels Have Eyes to coincide with it.

After the “Fishscale Friday” intro, the first song “Einstein Kitchen” produced by CG is this piano-based boom bap opener taking y’all to the spot where the rhymes are cooked leading into the drumless “Goro” that Harry Fraud laced admitting that he had to go back inside the kitchen so he can go to SummerSlam XXXVIII in August that’ll mark the 1st to take place across 2 nights. “Davey Boy Smith” returns to the boom bap thanks to Denny LaFlare homaging the late WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE Tag Team Champion & 2-time WWE Hardcore Champion of the same name & the closer “Egypt” featuring Doechii on the remix soulfully references former ROH World Television Champion, NXT Champion & 3-time WWE tag team champion Tommaso Ciampa.

In what’s already been a huge week for professional wrestling with WrestleMania along with AEW Dynamite outliving WCW’s Monday Nitro as Discovery Global’s longest running wrestling show in spite of WWE Hall of Famer & former 3-time WCW Hardcore Champion Eric Bischoff, West drops off a quick 10-minute EP to warm everyone up ahead of 4th Rope’s biggest event yet with the east coast hip hop styles that’ve made GxFR so beloved in the past decade & one that I might like more than the EP he put out 5 months ago. The production balances boom bap, drumless, a hint of jazz rap & chipmunk soul fluidly on top of the iconic curator handling the vocal performances solely by himself in contrast to having a bunch of guests on it.

Score: 4.5/5

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Lørd Skø – “PiFF” review

New York up-&-comer Lørd Skø signing to Fat Beats Records for his 3rd studio LP. Getting his start in the fall of 2020 off his debut EP 13th Angel, his profile would grow from there eventually hiring one of the greatest A&Rs in the industry Dante Ross as his manager & showing the world of what he’s capable of doing last summer when he put out his debut Museum. His sophomore effort United Palace was a great dedication to his neighborhood, returning a year & a half later to drop PiFF.

“Livin’ Life” is this jazzy intro talking about living right these days whereas “2nd Thought” produced by Statik Selektah proves to be a highlight as he shows off an aura that can’t be confused with anyone else. “Stubborn” works on this high-pitched gospel sample getting reckless in the middle of his block rockin’ 2 boots while “Bong Rips” featuring MAVI along with Harry Fraud behind the boards making reference to the current TNA World Tag Team Champion in his 3rd reign & inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champion Jeff Hardy of The Hardy Boyz.

Curren$y joins Skø on the single “Understand” suggesting that even the haters gotta love it & turning their plugs into fans of their music just before “Girbaud Talk” featuring Grand Puba brings back the jazz thanks to Mike Shabb talking about checking the wave & sliding. “Robinhood” takes a more cloudier route with the beat likening himself to a vigilante, but then the lo-fi boom bap “Cigarette Butts” smacks the makeup off these clowns making them do 10s.

“Camel Eyes” featuring Conway the Machine psychedelically talks about both of their standards being high & being where they are now by staying on course prior to Feardorian bringing a woozy trap flare to the table on “Holding Me Up” featuring Polo Perks airing everyone moving wack. “Problem Child” soulfully telling his homies to stay safe moving dangerously & after a “Funkee Intermission”, he puts smoke in his “Lungz” like he always does daily.

The song “Not the Same” hits the backend of PiFF working in a crooning sample referencing WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Champion, 11-time WWE tag team champion, the inaugural WWE Hardcore Champion, CWA World Tag Team Champion & TNA World Champion Mick Foley merely 19 years to the day he gave former 2-time AEW TNT Champion, WWE Hall of Famer, 11-time WWE world champion, 5-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion & 15-time WWE tag team champion Adam Copeland married to WWE Hall of Famer & 4-time WWE Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix his best singles match.

“Randy Moss” closes it out comparing himself to the Pro Football Hall of Famer & my personal favorite WR of all-time temporarily playing with the New England Patriots at a point in time where his career was winding down, who was recently battling cancer this past winter & is now fortunately cancer free while the vinyl exclusive bonus track “Lesson Learned” reunites with Statik Selektah once again asking it all for the wrong reasons.

For his Fat Beats debut, Lørd Skø makes an example of cross-generational worldbuilding at its best with PiFF by referencing classic New York City hip hop while embracing today’s NYC sound much like he did on United Palace a year & a half ago. Inspired by the stoner wing of the Blog Era during his pre-teen years, he’s created a wide-reaching stoner-friendly future classic showcasing his evolution as an artist in full.

Score: 4.5/5

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