Apr 7, 2021

There's something strangely endearing about Bankroll Freddie's QC debut Big Bank which dropped last week. Its like he's still in 2011 bumping Gucci and Flocka mixtapes and has never heard of Future, Thug or Travis Scott. Its almost like he sees trap in the same way Flee Lord sees boom bap lol.

 

Apr 6, 2021

There was a thread on here the other day talking about Thugger's children. One that wasn't mentioned was new up and comer CEO Trayle, one of the weirder offshoots of the Slimey family tree. The weirdest thing about Trayle is his beat selection. It feels like he's often purposefully trying to find the strangest, most incongruent instrumentals to rap over. Warren Buffet, off his most recent self-titled mixtape is an exception to the rule: a breezy trumpet melody with high tempo trap percussion makes for an uncharacteristically easy-listen, and Trayle's flows slide in and out like the slimy mfucker he is. But listen closer and you'll hear very Trayle-ish woozing between space-out and cold-bloodedness: "Lil bro said he ain't takin no more Ls he brought his pole to fight / smoking on some s---, got me talking to the poltergiest".

 

Apr 2, 2021

Even with the tragic passing of Bris last year, everything EBK and their affiliates have been dropping recently has been pure flames, with EBK Young Jock at the front and center. His latest single picks up where Fresh Prince of Bel Air left off, with that Cali-meets-Michigan flow and that outrageously infectious loop of a violin sample

 

Apr 1, 2021

I've posted about Southside Hoodlum before, an upcoming South Park Mexican-inspired rapper outta H-Town with a flow that sounds like he's just stumbled into the studio after up off a 48-hour lean binge. His latest tape - Lord Knows - just dropped this past Friday and it is a TRIP. Every song is soaked with syrup then left out to dry in the Texan heat. This one's a big highlight, with an irresistible screwed-up sample and trap drums where Hoodlum sounds halfway lucid, but still rapping out of the side of his mouth like his brain can't figure out whether to focus on the mic or the blunt.

 

Apr 1, 2021

this ones a must imo! Especially if you're a fan of Gucci. Speaking of Wop, he absolutely murdered his feature on this album.

 

Mar 30, 2021

Every time I listen to anything related to Dolph I get Jeezy's immortal words echoing in my head - "OH GOD WHY HE GO HARD??"

Dolph is a f---ing human earthquake. Surely a top 3 voice in rap right now? I've Dum and Dummer 2 on repeat since Friday and Dolph might be the Richter-scale smasher but Glock ain't too far behind. I need to revisit the first edition again but I think this one might even have the edge. Also, somebody stop Bandplay, the man has been a walking human inferno for like 5 years now.

 

Mar 29, 2021

Crazy eyes, crazy dreads, sunshine-soaked drawls and an instrumental that is both threatening and playful at the same time. This is Florida. This is Sniper g---. In the age of constant saturation its weird to suddenly have Kodak back in our speakers on a regular basis. Not that I'm complaining, i've missed the dude. Hotboii, Trapland Pat and SpotemGotem are all great but there'll always only be one Kodak.

 

Mar 28, 2021

AND WE BACK IN BIDNESS

Hopefully for longer than a week this time. 2021 has been slow. 3 months in and barely anything noteworthy has dropped yet. Mainstream-wise, that is. But there has been plenty of exciting stuff bubbling beneath the surface.

Take 2020 (or was it 2019?) freshman Calboy, for example who's been sporadically dropping hit or miss projects and singles since his initial rise to fame with the release of 2018's Envy Me. It looks like he's come though with another one in 2021, with a loose Lauryn Hill interpolation and Wayne feature for added effect. It works, to maximum sorrowful, melodic Windy-City effect that has become so incredibly popular these past few years. Beautiful song.

 

Feb 1, 2021

Day 3: The Colleagues - Gimme the Loot ft. Freddie Gibbs



Freddie Gibbs is entering that elite stage of rapping few have ever achieved. Like Wayne in 07. Like Hov describing sniffer dogs getting sick. f--- that, he is elite. He's just f---ing around here, not even saying anything but the natural gift, the feeling that he was born to rap shines through just as it did on Alfredo. He's got the Midas touch right now and shows no signs of slowing down.

 

Jan 14, 2021

Xanman - You Got Servin


I fukin love Xanman. He raps like a deranged crack addict running at you with a broken beer bottle. Like Ski Mask before him, Xan jumps on the Missy/Timbo train with so many quotables its almost impossible to digest in its 1:56 run time

 

Jan 9, 2021

A few recent holiday season standouts

Pooh Sheisty - Back in Blood ft. Lil Durk

I love being right about s---. I’m sure Gucci does too. This song has been gaining a lot of traction in the past few weeks and after Foogiano’s excellent debut he dropped a few months back, I’m looking extremely forward to seeing what Pooh brings on his debut tape, supposedly dropping soon.

Morray - QUICKSAND

Say what you will about J. Cole but he’s building one h--- of a label/collective under Dreamville. Morray is the latest Dreamville signee, after blowing up with this truly beautiful song. Looking forward to hearing more.

DUSTY LOCANE - Rolando (Caught in the Rain)

Posted about Dusty Locane (who is apparently Pop Smoke’s blood cousin) a while back after I stumbled across this song on Twitter. Yes, it sounds like a carbon copy, but s---, it sounds f---ing good. That ghostly sample sounds like something Great John would produce for Sheff or Sleepy. Would love to see Dusty evolve his own sound more, there’s huge potential here.

EBK Young Joc - Jokes Up ft. Bris & Armani de Paul

I don’t know much about EBK, other than a few singles that have popped up on Thizzler. This one stuck out to me, featuring the recently deceased Bris (RIP). That instrumental is so infectious.

Lil Eazzyy - Onna Come Up

Another up and comer out of Chicago - this song being the opener to his debut mixtape Underrated which is just as good throughout.

YBN Almighty Jay - Bring Out the Hoochies

The least interesting member of YBN comes through with what might be his best song yet. I mean he rhymes ‘hoochies’ with ‘blue cheese’, so you know its fire.

Lil Loaded - 6acc Doe

I wrote about Lil Loaded a while back, following the release of his second mixtape - A Demon in 6lue. He’s followed that up with a quick EP - CRIPTAPE, which wasn’t as strong but featured this big highlight.

Sada Baby - Black Harlow

Best for last. I hate the fact that so much of Sada's s--- isn't on streaming services..... This man is a BEAST.

 

Dec 30, 2020

Nice list brother! where the f--- is dua lipa

 

Dec 28, 2020

Westside Gunn - Flygod


....is now finally on streaming services. I don't think I ever really gave this a proper chance when it first dropped so it was interesting to listen to it in full, especially given how far Gunn and Griselda have come since. Its a great album. The lines between albums and mixtapes have never been more blurred, but I think if you had to try cut Gunn's catalog down to "albums", you'd include this, Supreme Blientele, Pray for Paris and WMTS. All of them (barring the Shady album, which is just ok) are excellent, each have their own take on that grimy/high-art sound and feel Griselda's had so much success with. Flygod may not be the best Griselda record but surely marks the turning point when the school that Roc Marciano went mainstream and Griselda began on their path to world comination. Speaking of Roc, the guest list on Flygod is insane; him along with Benny, Conway, Bronson, Skyzoo, Droog, Danny Brown and Mach-Hommy all appear and all k--- it. I'm incredibly happy to see that Mach and Gunn have finally squashed their beef and hope it leads to more collaborations between Griselda and the newly formed NEW RELIGION (Droog, Mach & Fahim). Definitley worth revisiting this if you havent already

 

Dec 23, 2020

@Sav Stanfield man I have to ask, what do you do in real life that gives you so much time to listen and absorb so much music?

I'd love to listen to as much music as you but even if I was a bachelor to do what you do (the write ups) I'd have to be fully committed to listening to the music while doing nothing else. Couldn't just have it on in the background.