Maybe the stars just aligned, maybe Griselda is gearing up for a killer back-half of the year, but they really came out firing on all cylinders this week. Please give these dudes a chance; if you are looking for a piece of that old-school 90’s dirt, these are absolutely the dudes for you.
In other news, the podcast carries on strong, with Episode 3 (which I think is the best episode yet) behind us and Episode 4 on the horizon. I’ve been getting a lot of good feedback on how to make the experience better for everybody involved, and with the new microphone setup the quality will only get better and better. For this last episode we recorded I would like to thank Ryan “Pirate Baird” Mantle for dropping in from the land of Seattle to fuck around with us and share some of his music taste with us. We’ll miss you buddy.
Here’s a link to the Week #14 Playlist for y’all
-----PROJECTS-----
JPEGMAFIA – All My Heroes Are Cornballs
Phenomenal album that manages to pack so much into its 40ish minutes. Ambient, industrial, hardcore hip-hop, punk elements, even some vapor and chillwave shit. Compared to Veteran from last year, this album is more lighthearted and melodic, with a flow from beginning to end that is smooth as hell. It feels more digital and electric, and the multiple beat switches on these shorter songs create such variety and instrumental texture. As usual, his sampling of mundane shit is top tier, making the album feel so alive. A must listen for those looking for something truly cutting edge in experimental hip-hop.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Conway the Machine – Look What I Became
One of my least favorite Conway releases to far, with the length of the album being a key issue. Lots of dead air on this thing with skits and talking and whatnot, which I suppose can be excused by the fact that Griselda is billing this as an “appetizer” before his Shady debut here shortly. I expected more on the production front (except DJ Muggs he killed that Black Spoons beat), and there were a few questionable moments beat-wise, like the out of place trap beat on Half of It and the lifeless Vino D. Conway is still sharp, but I would bet he’s saving his best material for his album.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Mozzy & Gunplay – Chop Stixx & Banana Clips
Bail Bond spoiled me, because the rest of the album is pretty mid. It doesn’t feel like a proper collaboration between the two artists, feeling most of the time like Gunplay featuring on a bunch of Mozzy tracks. Gunplay still kills most of what he’s on for the most part. I just wish it drew upon that West-Coast spirit more often in the same way Bail Bond did.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Termanology & Dame Grease – Set in Stone
It’s… ok. For as much as Term likes to call these new cats “mumble crap” and clown them, he puts a lot of melodic and autotune crap on here. When he gets down and raps, it’s lyrical miracle mumbo jumbo, but the flows can be entertaining. The features are the best part, with Method Man and Sheek Louch getting to work here. Dame Grease is an alright producer, but the instrumentals can feel overdramatic at points.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Ty Da Dale – School By The Apollo
A gem that almost went under my radar, drawing on old Wu-Tang production and scholars (Poppa Wu is on this thing and he imparts much wisdom). Ty is a serviceable emcee, really nothing too special about him if I’m honest, but the beats on this thing are amazing, and really showcases the talent that’s being funneled into Harlem right now. Guys like 183rd and V Don need much more respect in the production game right now.
YouTube/Bandcamp
————————————————
Ghostface Killah – Ghostface Killahs
This is merely a repost from last week; it was released exclusively on his website last Friday, and now, a week later, it’s being released on all platforms. It’s ok, give it a shot.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
———————————————
-------SINGLES-------
clipping. (Feat. Elcamino & Benny the Butcher) – La Mala Ordina (with the Rita)
Never in a million years would have pictured this collaboration, let alone one that goes over this well. Daveed does his thing over this haunted electro-beat, but Elcamino and Benny wreck this shit in spectacular fashion. BUT, the track instantly warrants a skip because of the harsh noise-wall that blasts the final two minutes of the track. I could understand 10-15 seconds as a novel outro, but two whole minutes is insufferable (it might not be present on the single edit).
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Elcamino (Feat. 38 Spesh) – Change Spots
The Elcamino onslaught continues with s single from his upcoming album Where’s my Pyrex. This track has GROOVE ladies and gentlemen, and Camino and Spesh flow elegantly over the sparse beat. I am just so glad this dude is getting back into the spotlight, and I hope his days on the Griselda shitlist is over (which may be true given he was also on Conway’s album this week).
YouTube
————————————————
Coltrane (Feat. Benny the Butcher & Elcamino) – Gucci Scales
The electric guitar in this track in epic, played over this heavily layered and glitchy beat. I love the way the beat comes in and out during Elcamino’s verse (who absolutely wrecks this track by the way). My only complaint is that the actual song part is too short, and the movie sample on the backend is too long.
YouTube
————————————————
Denzel Curry & slowthai – Psycho
Zel really disappointed me with this one. The beat is a terrifying banger, with these shrill string notes obviously calling back to Hitchcock films, but Denzel just raps in a way that does not showcase his talent for ripping a beat apart. In a completely unexpected turn, slowthai taps into the instrumental’s psychotic vibe more effectively than Curry does.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
FKA twigs (Feat. Future) – holy terrain
God damn this track is a vibe, both beat-wise and in twigs’ fantastic vocal performance. The instrumental is a spaced-out futuristic trap beat, punctuated by occasional rips and sharp, distorted synth notes that plays into this odd spectacle that FKA twigs seems to be wanting to create. twigs’ melodies and falsettos are beautiful, and her understated deliveries sound haunting. Future is the weak link here, as I think the track would have been just fine without him.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Apollo Brown (Feat. Black Milk, Ketchphraze, & DJ Los) – God Help Me
Apollo Brown, while being a fantastic producer, doesn’t always hit with me because I feel like he has a penchant for dramatic and cheesy beatmaking. However, when he sticks to a more low-key, dusty style he almost always pulls it off, and that’s what we’ve got here with his first single from his upcoming Sincerely, Detroit LP. Black Milk and Ketchphraze work well here, and DJ Los puts it over the top for a true “Made in Detroit” feel.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
A Boogie wit da Hoodie – Mood Swings
Wheezy produces an excellent trap beat, that A Boogie glides over effortlessly. A Boogie might not have the best lyrics in the world, borderline cringy at times, but I can’t deny his talent for melodies. Wheezy is the MVP here though, I’d listen just to hear the catchy beat in action.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Ricky Remedy (Feat. Smokepurpp & Zay27) – Body Bag
Not sure who is who here, but I know Smokepurpp, and his part is so bad it’s good. It’s a dime a dozen beat, but I only go back to this track for some of the hilariously stupid shit Purpp says. Something about sucking on his peepee? I think purpp finessed these dudes and gave them a throwaway verse for the fuck of it, and these dudes ran with it.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Gucci Mane (Feat. YoungBoy NBA & DaBaby) – Richer Than Errybody
Dark, dirty Gucci is the best Gucci, and he always manages to bring out the best in his features. YoungBoy has never been my favorite rapper, but on this track with its grit manages to make him tolerable. DaBaby does the thing he always does, spit fire verses, but as the weeks and months go on of his fame, I can’t help but think this dude is going to get stale, cause he really does come with same approach every verse.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Lil Skies – More Money More Ice
One of the better Skies singles post-Shelby, with a cute beat and a good melody to boot. Really not much else to say about it other than if you like Lil Skies, you’ll like this.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
D-Block Europe (Feat. Lil Baby) – Nookie
Mainstream hip-hop over the pond is a different breed, but it can still accommodate the occasion guest verse from an American (which admittedly is the only reason why I listened and would ever go back to this track). D-Block Europe (which might be two dudes?) invite Lil Baby to spit some fire, but the hook is pretty weak, and the instrumental could be more interesting.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
French Montana (Feat. Gunna) – Suicide Doors
This might be my favorite French Montana song ever. The Harry Fraud beat is ethereal, well-paced with sharp synth notes and guitar playing, and crunchy with excellent percussion. French on the hook is slightly better than tolerable, maybe even a little catchy, but his verse on the end I could have done without. It really feels like a Gunna song, with Gunna finding that groove of the beat and running the show.
Spotify/YouTube/Apple Music
————————————————
Eto & Flee Lord (Feat. 38 Spesh) – Roc Connectin
This is a lot like the Elcamino’s track Change Spots from earlier (which also features 38 Spesh coincidentally). Good bassline, nice samples, and killer verses from Eto and Spesh. Flee just never seems to come with rhyme schemes that interest me, so for this upcoming collaboration I’m looking forward to being proven wrong about Flee.
YouTube
————————————————
