Armand Hammer – “Mercy” review

New York underground duo Armand Hammer signing to Rhymesayers Entertainment for their 7th LP. Consisting of billy woods & Elucid, they formed together a decade ago already off their only mixtape Half Measures & the debut album Race Music. The pair would go on to release an EP & 4 more albums worth of abstract political hip hop, with the last one Haram fully produced by The Alchemist becoming the most critically acclaimed within their discography. We Buy Diabetic Test Strips quickly became the greatest musical statement in Fat Possum Records’ entire discography, reuniting with Uncle Al for the Haram sequel Mercy & switching labels from Fat Possum to Rhymesayers.

“Laraaji” comes out the gate hooking up an uncanny sample saving a reference to the late Ka’s 9th & final album The Thief Next to Jesus for billy’s verse whereas “Peshawar” trades the mic with one another over a piano talking about the technological advancements in AI with the “thou shall not make a machine in the likeness of a human” line. “Calypso Gene” embraces a jazzier vibe instrumentally using water as a metaphor for spiritual cleansing just before “Glue Traps” featuring Quelle Chris topically finds the trio addressing more economic issues.

We get some heavy pianos throughout “Scandinavia” talking about life being filtered through white curtains being stranger than the northern European subregion while “Nil by Mouth” continues to put Alchemist’s ear for sampling on full display comparing their flows to remote control lightning. “Dogeared” ends the 1st half with a drumless beat talking about their love running deep until “Crisis Phone” addresses the type of people who don’t know what it means to bleed.

“Moonbow” continues the 2nd leg of Mercy by incorporating a chipmunk soul instrumental hoping all shine through until the end of their days while “No Grabba” combines elements of boom bap & cloud rap talking about their preference of smoking weed without mixing tobacco with it. “U Know My Body” feels more like a brief billy woods solo track going on a complete massacre while “Longjohns” featuring Quelle Chris talks about seeing it all.

The 3rd & final single “California Games” featuring Earl Sweatshirt samples “Rehearse with Ornette” to continue the abstract brilliance of their previous collaborations “Falling Out the Sky” & of course “Tabula Rasa” while “Super Nintendo” wraps things up with a lead single that combines drumless, neo-psychedelia & chiptune using that very console as a metaphor for childhood memories fleeting away.

Despite being confirmed by both billy woods & Elucid that the creative processes behind Haram & Mercy were similar, you’d be disappointed to expect Armand Hammer’s debut under the triennal Rhymesayers Entertainment to sound much like it’s predecessor because that isn’t the case whatsoever. Obviously less experimental than We Buy Diabetic Test Strips was over 25 months earlier, the drumless & jazz rap influences of Haram still remain behind the revered abstract hip hop duo to test out more back-&-forth flows.

Score: 4.5/5

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The Alchemist & Hit-Boy – “Goldfish” review

Beverly Hills producer, DJ & rapper The Alchemist joining forces with Fontana producer, rapper & singer/songwriter Hit-Boy for their long-awaited collaborative LP. Both of whom have respectively become amongst the most in-demand beatsmiths, with Uncle Al ranking amongst my top 10 producers ever. They’ve crossed paths with each other on multiple instances whether it be producing Benny the Butcher’s 4th album Everybody Can’t Go or Big Hit’s sophomore Blacks & Whites, but are finally dropping Goldfish a little over a couple years in the making.

“Doing My Best” finds the 2 trading bars with one another over a sumptuous Hit-Boy beat they cooked up together to begin while the jazzy single “Business Merger” turns up the watts whilst beating up the pots. “Show Me the Way” takes the drumless chipmunk soul route instrumentally thanks to Uncle Al feeling confident they won’t ever be the same people they once were prior leading into the Conway the Machine solo track “Mick & Cooley”.

Alchemist & Hit-Boy get back on the mic during the soulful “Ask for Me” talking about being on the low with the only thing you gotta do is simply ask while “Ricky” hooks up an pretty orchestral sample so Uncle Al can reflect that a 2-parent household is all he & his siblings ever knew. “Groupie Love” brings back the drumless chipmunk soul vibes getting rotation on the radio after doing a freestyle just before “Celebration Moments” talks about wanting the crown now.

“Home Improvement” primarily has a smooth drumless sound until the drums come in full gear near the end of both verses delivered from a deeply introspective place while “Recent Memory” talks about their only competition being themselves. “Walk in Faith” continues the sampling until a switch-up during Hit-Boy’s part freezing because of the cold world we’re in & “Not Much” featuring Boldy James soulfully flexes their own individual spaces as MCs.

Continuing to holding it down by themselves “Drawing Bridges” talks about there being nothing to take because nothing was given in the beginning while “All Gas No Breaks” featuring Big Hit & Jay Worthy finds the quartet applying pressure to the pedal. “God’s Great” officially ends Goldfish giving praise to the most high over a pitched sample while “Morrissey” starts the deluxe run comparing their lives to theatrical films.

“The Main Event” structurally is built a lot similarly to “Slipping Into Darkness” where Hit-Boy’s rhyming over an Alchemist instrumental & vice versa with the exception Johnathan Hulett’s briefly sung verse following Uncle Al’s & the final bonus track “Don’t Be Gone” flips a Chicago Gangsters deep cut going back-&-forth with each other on top of drumless sampling for a little over 3 minutes.

Goldfish isn’t really any different from what The Alchemist has done with Oh No under the Gangrene moniker for the past 15 years aside from the Conway joint & that’s not a criticism because Hit-Boy has already proven himself to be a capable MC on Surf or Drown alongside it’s sequel. The west coast veterans gel with one another exceptionally on the mic as they have in the past producing for other artists.

Score: 4/5

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Freddie Gibbs – “Alfredo II” review

Yes, the 6th studio LP from Indiana emcee Freddie Gibbs has finally arrived. Blowing up initially over 2 decades ago with his debut mixtape Full Metal Jackit, he would sign to Interscope Records for a brief period of time until he left without dropping an album with them. This was made up for with the mixtapes The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs & Str8 Killa No Filla, which would catch the attention of Jeezy & land Freddie a contract with CTE World in 2011. However, Gibbs eventually left CTE the following year after releasing the tapes Cold Day in Hell & B.F.K. (BabyFace Killa). In 2013, he decided to form his own label E$GN Records & finally dropped the full-length album E.$.G.N. (Evil $eeds Grow Naturally). He & iconic Oxnard producer Madlib would drop their MadGibbs debut Piñata the year after that, which is EASILY one of the greatest hip hop albums of the previous decade. Gibbs continued to grow his profile after that with Shadow of a Doubt, You Only Live 2wice, Freddie & the Curren$y collab EP Fetti & who can forget MadGibbs’ sophomore effort Bandana or Alfredo produced by The Alchemist? $oul $old $eparately made for a valiant major label debut under Warner Records & You Only Die 1nce returned to his independent hustle, recapturing the magic of Alfredo for a sequel of it’s own.

“1995” opens with a jazzy, drumless 2-parter picking up exactly where “1985” left off talking about being ok regardless of haters & bitches snaking whereas “Mar-a-Lago” swaps out the drumless elements in favor of boom bap making it clear that the feds ain’t gettin’ nothing after tryna hit his shit. “Lemon Pepper Steppers” turns the jazz influences up a bit talking about people tryna block his blessings prior to the silky “Ensalada” pleading to get away from this place he’s in.

Jim Jones gets dissed during “Empanadas” stripping the drums once again just before “Skinny Suge II” talks about being the last don & looking to body every last person whenever he’s in the middle of a job. “Feeling” featuring Larry June chops up a soul sample for both of them to keep it trill leading into “I Still Love H.E.R.” homaging the テリヤキ・ボーイズ single of the same name featuring & produced by Ye or the Nazi formerly known as Kanye West.

“Shangri La” soulfully airs his grievances towards a woman that he deems to be “sneaky”making better use of an unused verse recorded during the Vultures sessions when ¥$ was still together at the beginning while “Gas Station Sushi” addresses his falling out with Curren$y not too long after Fetti was released. I found both the “Pee on city girls like P. Diddy” line & the DJ Akademiks diss not even a minute into “Lavish Habits” to be pretty funny while “Gold Feet” featuring J.I.D finds the pair getting together talking about feeling great.

The song “Jean Claude” gets the final 7 & a half minutes of Alfredo II started with a drumless jazz rap track comparing life to the 1988 martial arts film Bloodsport & recommending to take the role of Frank Dux in that situation as a way of survival while “1,000 Mountains” closes the album with 1 last boom bap cut arguing that the only person who he feels can outrap him is André 3000, taking it a step further by contemplating taking a flute & hiding out similarly to what the Prince of hip hop did.

Don’t want to take away from the highlights $oul $old $eparately & You Only Die 1nce both have even if I lean more $oul $old $eparately, but Freddie Gibbs reunites with one of my top 10 producers of all-time for a successor to make an Alfredo successor that takes it back to what made that original LP the most beloved solo effort in the E$GN Records founder’s discography as he prepares for his next project fully produced by KAYTRANADA.

Score: 4.5/5

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Larry June & 2 Chainz – “Life is Beautiful” review

Vallejo, California rapper & songwriter Larry June joining forces with Atlanta, Georgia rapper, actor & songwriter 2 Chainz for a brand new collaborative studio LP. Both of whom have already crossed paths with one another a couple times in recent years on the tracks “Still Boomin’” & “Ocean Cuisine”, ultimately deciding to get together with one of my top 10 producers of all-time The Alchemist to entirely produce Life is Beautiful after being teased on Twitter a couple months ago sparking interest even further by letting off a couple singles the previous month & 2 Chainz appearing on WWE’s flagship program Monday Night RAW on Netflix a couple weeks ago.

“Munyon Canyon” is a drumless intro with both of them talking about needing everything whereas “Colossal” works in a reversed sample to admit they find it therapeutic counting it up referencing WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Schwarzenegger & calling it exactly the way they see it. “I Been” continues to strip the drums as they discuss minding their own business leading into “LLC” talking about how there’s so much money to get bringing a boom bap flare to the table instrumentally.

The jazzy, drumless & boom bap lead single “Bad Choices” was one to begin the rollout perfectly wanting to know where all the good women who make bad decisions are at in the building while the title track has a flute sample that I really enjoy as they discuss the beauties of life. “Generation” dabbles with trap again talking about being the ones getting kids doing drugs, but then “Any Day” strips the drums to talk about giving their all.

“Epiphany” begins the final leg of Life is Beautiful on a mellow note flexing that their cribs be looking exactly like an Airbnb & “Tru Organics” continues to keep the drums out the equation talking about money being the motivator. “Jean Prouvé” psychedelically comes to the realization of them getting their minds right while “Days Like This” starts the deluxe run praising God daily for their blessings. The final bonus track “Spy Hunter” featuring The Alchemist ends with the trio chillin’ on a yacht & staying forever hungry.

Larry has brought the best out of 2 Chainz in the past throwing it back to his Tity Boi days & even though I initially thought that Jay Worthy was gonna be on here a couple months ago, the former Playaz Circle member taps in with The Freeminded Records founder to take their chemistry to the next level. Alchemist’s production is mostly drumless other than some hints of boom bap & trap for both of them to drop their signature luxurious raps.

Score: 4.5/5

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Roc Marciano – “The Skeleton Key” review

This is the 12th full-length studio LP from Long Island emcee/producer Roc Marciano. Beginning in the very late 90’s as a member of the Flipmode Squad, he then went solo in 2008 to drop classic albums that would pave the way for those like Griselda such as Marcberg & Reloaded. He would begin focusing on producing projects for other artists like Flee Lord & Bronze Nazareth following Mt. Marci & of course returning to enlist The Alchemist to produce The Elephant Man’s Bones, which I gave a perfect score. He & Uncle Al are now presenting The Skeleton Key coming off a lesson in Marciology exactly 3 months since former AEW tbs Champion & the inaugural 新日本プロレス強い女子王座 Willow Nightingale’s reign as CMLL Mundial Femenil Campeon ended.

The opener “Mystery Gawd” takes us to the basement instrumentally showing these lil muhfuckas what grown men do comparing him & Alchemist to gatekeepers whereas “Street Magic” goes for a bit of jazz rap direction suggesting that y’all should check the score. “Chopstick” brings a more morbid atmosphere to the table rightfully talking about embodying hip hop culture referencing the inaugural IWGPヘビー級王座, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer & Real American Beer founder Hulk Hogan while “Knock It Off” wants to know why some of these cats be looking devilish yet angelic.

“Acid” hooks up these prominent piano chords flexing that they still drawing him even though he’s sketchy warning the pipsqueaks that shit really ain’t sweet leading into the soulful “Rauf” talking about running up a tab to receive himself a decent vehicle. “Chateau Josué” goes completely drumless to discuss doing it his way & that his hoe has no say whatsoever, but then “Skirt Streak” keeps the drums out of the equation once more advising how dirty the game is.

The track “Cryotherapy” hooks up this psychedelic beat feeling like he’s running out of hands to count & refusing to give handouts while the closer “Make Sure” symphonically talks about how he should be doing his own thing. The first of 2 bonus tracks “Hard Drugz” brings the soul samples back boasting that squares don’t fit into his circle whatsoever & finally, the other “Bleu Mouson” rounds it all out with a mafioso flare showing off his genius & status as a boss in all regions.

Merging all of Roc Marciano & The Alchemist’s individual qualities together, The Skeleton Key offers hip hop a collection of tracks that blend innovation with authenticity & also highlights their shared philosophy of creating art that stands the test of time while cementing their legacy as leaders & trendsetters in the field of communication through music. It’s additionally a thank you to their fans above all else & came from a place of gratitude for their continued support further solidifying themselves as undisputed trailblazers & tastemakers.

Score: 5/5

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The Alchemist – “The Genuine Articulate” review

Beverly Hills producer, DJ & rapper The Alchemist following up the Flying High EPs with his 12th EP. Beginning as 1/2 of the duo The Whooliganz in 1993 with Scott Caan, they would only disband a year later after recording a debut album that eventually got shelved & Scott went onto acting like his father. Mudfoot on other end quickly established himself as one of the greatest producers in hip hop history with a resume including ranging names from Mobb Deep & Eminem to Travis Scott & even Drake. Gangrene got back together this spring for Heads I Win, Tails You Lose & The Genuine Articulate is refusing to slow down.

“Ferraris in the Rain” featuring ScHoolboy Q is this jazzy, drumless opener with both of them asking for the rain to remove them from all the pain they’re going through in their lives whereas the first 3 Uncle Al solo joints “Something Light” delivers it hardcore over a futuristically rugged self-produced instrumental. “Minnesota Fats” featuring Action Bronson finds the pair over a rock sample pledging allegiance to the fellowship while “Scientology” featuring Havoc displays how hard-headed they are.

The penultimate Alchemist solo track “Everybody’s Favorite Uncle” strips the drums once more further elaborating on the Uncle Al nickname Earl Sweatshirt gave him a decade ago on Doris that is until “Diego Mardona” featuring Conway the Machine heinously talks about the scenery only getting intenser & darker. “Details” featuring Larry June hops on top of this bare soul sample boasting anyone can do this, but then “Seasons Change” was a remarkable Father’s Day single from this summer & the best closer imaginable.

On the contrary to a lot of Alchemist’s previous solo material that I’ve covered in the past, this is probably the most that I’ve heard him vocally since he’s performing on every single track including with the guests & I welcome that since he’s been ripping mics before he even became a top 10 producer of mine. He maintains his signature sound & holds his own weight lyrically with a cast of high-profile MCs.

Score: 4/5

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Action Bronson – “Johan Sebastian Bachlava the Doctor” review

New York City emcee, songwriter, chef, wrestler & television host Action Bronson enlisting Daringer & The Alchemist to produce his 8th full-length studio LP. Blowing up with release of his debut album Dr. Lecter in 2011, he then landed a joint venture with VICE Music & Atlantic Records while following up his debut with a couple EPs & mixtapes. The most notable being the Blue Chips duology, Saab Stories & my personal favorite: Rare Chandeliers. He then put out his major label debut Mr. Wonderful in 2015 & it has some of his best songs on there, but the end result would be a more glitzy mixed bag. He fulfilled his contracts by dropping Blue Chips 7000 & celebrated his freedom the next year in the form of White Bronco which were both solid, but didn’t reach the caliber of Lamb Over Rice the Thanksgiving after. Only for Dolphins though was pretty mid given that some of the production choices were questionable & Cocodrillo Turbo was a bounce back. As for Johan Sebastian Bachlava the Doctor, I went into it hoping it would be Bronson’s best album yet.

“Splash (Provocativ)” is this relaxing, jazzy opener showcasing a new fragrance from Bachlava when it’s all said & done whereas “SEGA” works in some haunting organ melodies from Uncle Al referring to himself as that muthafucka you don’t wanna rump with since he’ll moonsault off the top of a boat like WWE Hall of Famer, 6-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion, IWGPヘビー級王座, the inaugural 6-time TNA World Champion, TNA X Division Champion & 2-time TNA World Tag Team Champion Kurt Angle. “Nourish a Thug” hooks up pianos as well as kicks & snares from Daringer talking about taking temperatures the old fashioned way just before “Hideo Nomo” strips the drums explaining that his horoscope told him to get more cake out here.

Meanwhile on “Salvaje”, we have Bronson over more laidback production looking to smash guitars over heads like the 2nd longest reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion & WWE Hall of Famer The Honky Tonk Man did to current AEW manager, WWE Hall of Famer & former SMW Heavyweight Champion Jake “The Snake” Roberts on top of comparing a battle to one between the late WWE Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Roddy Piper who had his last match in Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) vs. current AEW/ROH performer Dustin Rhodes leading into Meyhem Lauren joining him for the rock-influenced “Hogan” humorously talking about bitches who look like the inaugural IWGPヘビー級王座, former 12-time WWE world champion, WWE tag team champion, 2-time WWE Hall of Famer & Real American Beer founder Hulk Hogan.

“Citrus Wahoo” featuring Meyhem once again lecturing you for what you did wrong only to get stomped out with Bronson comparing himself to WWE Hall of Famer as well as their current Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative & NXT Head of Creative Shawn Michaels, but then “Kompressor” featuring Larry June charmingly talks about always coming through.

“NBA Leather on NBC” featuring The Alchemist himself jumps over keys & a harmonica pairing up the New York Knicks & the Chicago Bulls while the song “Shadow Realm” pours his heart off talks about trying to take off for so long in the midst of everyone hanging from land again. “Doctor” ends the LP drumlessly comparing his life to a scene from the 1979 masterpiece Apocalypse Now.

I’m really proud to see where Action Bronson has come in over a decade from his initial rise to the top over a decade ago to Fuck, That’s Delicious’ increasing popularity & even his brief AEW appearances in at All Out IV & Grand Slam II. Now over 13 years since his debut tape, he celebrates his mom’s born day by releasing my new favorite full-length of his. For only a half hour, we get a heart-to-heart dedication to all the Day 1s & even the newest members in Bachlava’s coalition.

Score: 4.5/5

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Big Hit – “Blacks & Whites” review

This is the sophomore full-length LP from Los Angeles rapper Big Hit. The father of Hit-Boy, he was found guilty & convicted of a hit & run resulting in great bodily injury almost a decade ago & unlawfully being sentenced to 12 years & 4 months in prison including a 5-year GBI enhancement connected to Count 1. Last February, his petition for a writ of habeas corpus was granted & became a free man on his son’s 36th birthday. Hit would have his father join forces by making Surf or Drown 2 a collab effort tailored for Father’s Day Weekend & put out a debut album of his own The Truth’s in My Eyes only 6 months later. Blacks & Whites here raised my expectations after learning Hit-Boy was producing half of it & most importantly, The Alchemist doing the other.

“Drug Tzar” is this murky boom bap opener to the album talking about being a drug star as opposed to a rap star whereas “Only Weight I Feel” works in more kicks & snares reminding that he’s the one who sold these cats the news & gave them the rules. “Godfather, Pt. 2” featuring Boldy James is this piano-boom bap hybrid with both of them calling out the cross-artists out here just before “Heartless” goes drumless revealing that he’s suited up ready for y’all.

Moving on from there, “Foreclosure” takes the heinous route instrumentally cautioning that you better count your fingers when you shake his hand while “Temperature Check” kinda has an atmospheric flare to the beat talking about being ready for war. The title track featuring The Alchemist & Hit-Boy themselves finds the trio lavishly keeping everything black & white prior to “Champion” coming through with a warmer vibe talking about being a winner.

“Count Your Blessings” featuring Figg Rarri, Killa Twan & LongBodyy brings the quartet over more keys as they discuss keeping track of one’s blessings while “Sly, Slick & Wicked” featuring Hit-Boy’s son & Big Hit’s grandson C3 soulfully talks about disliking these n****s. “Dirtball” nears the conclusion eerily explaining that everyone else can’t keep up with him while “Gank Move” featuring Hit-Boy’s sister & Big Hit’s daughter HitgirlLena cloudily samples “Murderer” by the titular Detroit duo to end the LP detailing the gangsta lifestyle.

Big Hit’s been steadily getting his name back out there ever since coming home from the pen, but Blacks & Whites as I had anticipated takes himself to a whole new level & dethrones The Truth’s in My Eyes as the best album of his discography thus far. Hit-Boy & Uncle Al’s production are like yin & yang with their own distinctive styles, complimenting Big Hit’s gangsta lyricism stronger than the debut we got last winter.

Score: 4.5/5

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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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Benny the Butcher – “Everybody Can’t Go” review

Buffalo emcee Benny the Butcher ending the first month of 2024 by releasing his 4th full-length LP & major label debut under Def Jam Recordings. Being in the game for 2 decades already, it wouldn’t be until 2016 where he alongside his cousins Westside Gunn & Conway the Machine would take the culture by storm off projects like Tana Talk 3 & The Plugs I Met. Harry Fraud came in for a sequel to the latter following the mature Burden of Proof & finally, Tana Talk 4 took it back to the basement a couple years back. But for the butcher’s Def Jam opus, he’s having Hit-Boy produce half of it & leaving the other half to The Alchemist.

“Jermaine’s Graduation” sets the tone of what’s to come with a luxurious instrumental explaining that he doesn’t need a trophy because he is the trophy whereas “Bron” goes into a triumphant boom bap direction likening himself as the LeBron James of this rap shit. “Big Dog” featuring Lil Wayne works in this reversed loop talking about being too dogs, but then the title track featuring Kyle Banks on the hook giving back to the game accompanied by a soul sample & some kicks & snares.

Meanwhile, “T.M.V.T.L. (Trust More Valuable Than Love)” has some dynamic production throughout expressing the importance of trust over love just before “Back Again” returns to the boom bap with additional vocals from WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg talking about being gangstas. “1 Foot In” featuring Stove God Cook$ starts the 2nd leg of the album admitting he was a foot out the game after that freestyle with Funkmaster Flex over a hard-hitting beat leading into “Buffalo Kitchen Club” featuring Armani Caesar blending these piano chords & hi-hats together reminding that nobody fucking with them.

“Pillow Talk & Slander” featuring Babyface Ray & Jadakiss sees the trio telling their older selves to watch out for these hoes over a rich trap instrumental while “How to Rap” takes it back to the basement showing everyone how it’s done. “Griselda Express” featuring Conway the Machine & Rick Hyde begins the encore of the LP by saying they ain’t stopping on top of a solemn beat & “Big Tymers” featuring Peezy ties things up with 1-last trap cut boasting their current statuses.

A lot people who started with Benny or played a part ain’t make it since some are no longer with us, in prison, taking other paths or others that just weren’t built for it. With the help of Hit-Boy & Uncle Al, he puts the biggest lesson he took from that on full display for his major label debut. The production is versatile, the guests match his intensity & the Butcher inviting y’all to his world.

Score: 4.5/5

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