Boldy James – “Mr. 10-08” review

Boldy James is a 39 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who broke out in the fall of 2013 off his Alchemist produced debut M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set). He would later go on to land a contract with Nas’ independent label Mass Appeal Records for a little while before getting locked up but once Boldy came 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 at the beginning of last year. This was followed up with the Sterling Toles-produced Manger on McNichols which was as equally fantastic, but 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. But not even a month after linking up with Montréal, Québec, Canada beatsmith Nicholas Craven for the well regarded Fair Exchange No Robbery, he’s enlisting Toroto, Ontario producer Futurewave for his 6th album.

“The Whole Hundro” is a drumless yet groovy opener with Boldy talking what he’s gonna do if someone goes against the grain whereas “Mortermir Milestone” takes a more jazzy boom bap route coming clean that he’s still on the corner rocking them Sawyers. “Smacked” has a more ghostly atmosphere to it talking about the hustler life just before the synth-laced “Dormin’s” gets back on that 1 shit & I think 2100 Bagz did a pretty solid job with the hook here.

However on “My Double Trigger”, we have Futurewave working in a chipmunk soul sample for Boldy to talk about blasting any motherfucker who’s dumb enough to run up on him leading into the drumless yet dark “Disco Fever” talking about having tricky moves. “Could Be Worse” though has a more glossy yet slicker sound talking about putting a little bit of the dope in a bag & a purse, but then “Flag on the Play” has a more calmer vibe sonically advising to stand down ‘cause that bag’s on the way.

The guitar licks throughout the penultimate track “Jam Master J” are an infectious touch to the instrumental as he intricately talks about being the King of Rock & referred to as the Jam Master with “Indivisible” closing the album with a shimmery boom bap beat that switches up into a soulful loop during the 2nd half praying to God to ensure that these streets don’t eat him alive.

It hasn’t even been a little over a month since [Fair Exchange No Robbery quickly became amongst the greatest bodies of work that Boldy has ever put out thus far & here we are at the beginning of November with him dropping another classic that’s just as amazing if not better. Much like that previous album, here you got a skilled MC from the 313 continuing to tell tales of his crime life with one of few best producers in Canada right now masterfully resurrecting the boom bap style that the predecessor respectfully lacked in.

Score: 4.5/5

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Daniel Son – “Son Tzu & the Wav.God” review

Daniel Son is a 32 year old MC from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who came up as a member of the Brown Bag Money collective back in 2016. His profile began to rapidly increase in the underground off projects like the Giallo Point-produced debut mixtape The Gunners or the Futurewave-produced sophomore album Yenaldooshi but after spending 2021 dropping a few EPs, he’s bringing Futurewave back in the picture to lace his 4th tape from top to bottom.

“Son Rise” kicks the whole thing off on some boom bap shit with an almost glistening loop showing cats how he does it in his neck of the woods whereas “Full Moon” goes into a more euphoric route sonically talking about having nightmares that’ll haunt him until he’s gone. Rome Streetz tags along for vengeful “Field Trips” going at the throats of those jealous of their success, but then “Nostrildamus” incorporates a soul sample to get on his pusher shit. Meanwhile on “Death & Taxes”, we have Daniel Son talking about not having a choice to lead the way even tough Pro Dillinger’s verse at the start is just decent leading into the jazzy “Hallelujah” speaking on dying for his chips.

Flee Lord comes into the picture for the sedatively-produced “3rd Eye”talking about having records that’ll play when they’re both gone while the song “Stove Dance” goes into drumless turf up until the 2nd half saying he applies a pressure that they can’t take. The penultimate track “Talk to Yourself” has a horn-heavy sound advising to keep his name out these punks’ mouths & “Son Set” with Saipher Soze ends it all with some grimy street shit that hopefully serves as an appetizer for a Divizion Rivals sequel.

I know 2022 literally just started today, but we already got an Album of the Year contender straight out the gate. Daniel Son’s lyricism goes hand-in-hand with Futurewave’s raw production as always, but they really take it to another level much like they did on Yenaldooshi & Moonshine Mix 2.

Score: 4.5/5

Rome Streetz – “Razor’s Edge” review

This is the 6th full-length album from New York emcee Rome Streetz. Breaking out in 2016 off his debut mixtape I Been Thru Mad Shit, he would make his presence known as one of the most skilled lyricists in the underground today off projects like Headcrack & the Noise Kandy mixtape series. His last album Death & the Magician that came out back in February is not only Rome’s magnum opus, but one of the best albums that I’ve heard all year with DJ Muggs’ production being a damn-near perfect fit for dude’s acrobatic lyricism. But after a 5 month break, Rome is re-enlisting Futurewave for a Headcrack sequel entitled Razor’s Edge.

The opener “Mud to Moet” operatically looks back on when his pockets were frail whereas “Most High” goes into boom bap turf talking about being made in the image of God. His wife Chyna tags along for the hypnotic title track touching down on maturity leading him talking about going through some things on the luxurious “Same Way”.

Meanwhile with “Envy”, we have Rome & Daniel Son coming together for a morbid shot back at those who’re jealous of them just before he & Starker jump on top of an organ for “No Sample” to say they ain’t changing shit. “Dry Ice” opens up about having to learn the wrong turn burns on top of a tense instrumental prior to the bloodthirsty “Sage or Gunsmoke” with Ransom, which has some jazzy undertones in the beat.

“Bible or the Rifle” works in some heavy horns to say it’s game over for those who make the wrong moves while “Disconnected” jumps on top of a soulful instrumental to acknowledge how doubters wanna work with him now that his profile is increasing. The song “9 4 Judas” grimily proclaims the only thing you need to know is how to earn dough while the penultimate track “High Grand Strandz” with Plex Diamond devilishly calls out those who try to take shit from New York emcees. Then there’s “Rated R”, which works in a gospel sample to compare his life to the MPA rating of the same name.

If anyone puts Razor’s Edge over Death & the Magician, I wouldn’t be mad at it at all because this is just as spectacular. Wasn’t feeling a couple of the features, but everything about Headcrack from the pen-game to Futurewave’s production is being turned up to 11.

Score: 4.5/5

Rigz – “Substance Abuse” review

Rigz is a 30 year old MC from Rochester, New York who came up as a member of Da Cloth. He’s put out a few EPs & mixtapes throughout the last 3 years (with the most notable being Roach Gutta Slums) but just a week after Mooch dropped his new album Da 5th Power, Rigz is enlisting Futurewave of Brown Bag Money for his full-length debut.

After the spoken word intro “Basura”, the first song “Sheridan Grapes” talks about those who’re scared of him over a demented instrumental while the track “Halfway Into da Future” with Asun Eastwood sees the 2 giving insight to loose-lipped talkers over a grim boom bap beat. The song “Dream” with Mooch finds the 2 talking about getting out of the ghetto over an instrumental that I can picture hearing in a mobster movie or something while the track “Bodies Behind Mojoes” talks about hustling over a nightly beat.

The song “Study da Champ” with Daniel Son, Mooch & Vinnie Paz is a complete barfest backed by over an eerie boom bap instrumental while the track “Balance It” trusting half of what you see & less of what you hear over a lavish beat. The song “Buckshot BB” with Rob Gates sees the 2 trading back & forth with each other over while the track “Melting Pot” talks about fucked up shit going on in the hood over forlorn boom bap beat.

The song “Picture Yourself” ponders how the listeners imagines oneself over a symphonic instrumental while the track “Top Student” with Times Change finds the 2 making a number of education references over a paranormal beat. The song “Brake Lights” talks about how that’s the last thing you gon’ see over a mournful instrumental & then the closer “Embers” gets introspective over a jazzy beat.

Rigz really outdid himself on this one & I’ll even say it’s one of the best albums that I’ve heard all year. Some of his most well-written bars ever pop up on here & Futurewave’s sound compliments him damn near perfectly.

Score: 4.5/5