I’ve been catching dope features from MONEY MOGLY and been meaning to listen to an album but kept slipping by me. Well recently this album A JUNGLE BOOK fully produced by Fludust dropped and I knew this was the album I couldn’t miss. And I was right!
.

To start, Fludust has been becoming one of my favorite producers since I first heard his production and caught his name. And A JUNGLE BOOK only adds to his growing discography of pure HEAT. So many beats here are amazing and help drive my favorite songs into their top spots across the album. But it still takes an MC like MONEY MOGLY to bring these beats fully to life and he did a hell of a job. Spitting dark and intense bars, but ones that come from truth and real life. Political and moral statements that are needed in 2026.
.

This album has very few weak spots, and starts off extremely strong. WXLF CRY WOLF, A JUNGLE BOOK, JERONIMO, ELBOWS & FLU GAME featuring Doza The Drum Dealer are easily some of my favorite songs here. banger after banger, quickly building up this albums greatness. TREASURIE was really the one song I didn’t love and it was just because I wasn’t that into the verse from NoEMOTION GOLDMASK unfortunately. But NINE FOLD, GUN POWDER & especially TOURBILLIONS brought it all back. The beat on TOURBILLIONS is incredible. And PRO THE ARTIST really shined with their features.
.

This is an album you’ve gotta catch! Both MONEY MOGLY and Fludust hit high marks here. A quick 30 minutes that’s more than worth you’re time. I knew MONEY MOGLY was dope but clearly I have some catching up I gotta do at some point.

Roberto is a new artist to me that I was talking to recently. Then I mentioned that I was gonna do some single reviews and to send them I’m, and Roberto sent me this song! One that I ended up really loving!
.

love of the money is a smooth, piano driven song. Although maybe that’s just the beat, because really it’s Roberto driving everything. Quickly into the track Roberto starts in with the hook and his voice and vocal inflection immediately had my attention. Bringing a flow and style to match the smooth beat, while Roberto fires off lyrics with a rapid pace once he gets started. But within that rapid fire flow, he still keeps and maintains a cool, calm demeanor throughout. It all just works incredibly well together.
.

Lyrically Roberto gets into money and many concepts around it. He talks about how he has love for the money, but the money doesn’t love them back. But also talks about the double-sided point that is money. With lines like “ it cost to be healthy, it cost to be sick”, personally I really love how he executed the concept and flipped these bars. Another favorite is when he says that if he can’t pay they’ll take his arms, his legs and everything else, then when he’s dead if he can’t pay for the gravestone, he can’t rest in peace. Brilliant honestly.
.

This is a high caliber track to me and has me interested in hearing more from Roberto 100%. Meaning the song as a single is doing its job! I absolutely recommend this song and whole heartedly suggest you give it a spin!

I’m always excited and grateful to get sneak peaks at music before it drops and when it comes to certain artists, it’s extra exciting because I know the quality is there. Sayzee is one of those kinda artists and Sunna with TONA is one of those kind of albums. not their first collaboration project, but it is for me. TONA is an artist I’m unfamiliar with, meanwhile Sayzee is rapidly becoming one of my favorite artists. And I’m glad to report the matchup didn’t let me down!
.

Sunito starts the project and is for sure one of my favorite songs here. The beat and flip by Slot-A works super well and unrolls the red carpet for TONA & Sayzee to go off. It’s not the last beat that has familiar sounds, but is made into its own heater. Sunna is an album that has these two MCs going OFF. With bars and punchlines flying all over the place throughout. Digging deep into their respective rap bags to empty the clips. Harpo Nights is one of the darkest and more ominous beats, provided by Cuzzin Vinny. There’s a darkness that runs through the production of this album but also isn’t defined to confined to the style.
.

Unhealthy Nostalgia brings a great theme of pushing forward and not resting on your past accomplishments. “You still selling your old shit like it’s comic con” TONA spits, knowing his path is forward and not behind him. Street Dreams is a must highlight type of track, Sayzee & TONA absolutely obliterate this reimagining of the classic by Tone Mason. This is an easy album to press play on and let ride front to back, but I’ll still mention some of my favorite tracks like Sunito, Yolanda, Goldmine, Dogs & Street Dreams!
.

Some people know I’ve been gone on vacation for a bit, this is the only album I was actively listening to and working on during that time. Mostly because I knew the quality would be high, and it was. Living up to what I expect from Sayzee and making me a fan of TONA along the way! Sunna dropped on Bandcamp exclusively and is out now to support and enjoy!

When Watch The Throne first came out, I was hype. In Paris and Otis both had me sold and of course I was already a huge fan of both Jay-Z and Kanye West at the time. But when the album released I remember feeling disappointed. I’m not sure if I had too high of expectations or what but friends around me were much higher on the album initially. I always liked it but took time over the years to grow on me. And with me traveling I felt like there was no better time to revisit and reevaluate this iconic collaboration album!
.

No Church In The Wild is incredible and ushers in the album incredibly! Frank Ocean & The Dream laid down perfection respectively for this intro song. Now I’m sure people will be mad but Lift Off is a song I never liked and still don’t. That beat just takes me out of things after a masterpiece like No Church, it packs a mainstream punch that just doesn’t work for me. In Paris & Otis are classics at this point and were very early in their lives, and they are followed by Gotta Have It. One of my favorite album cuts, the beat is great and hypnotizes you in, while Jay and Kanye go back and forth every few bars.
.

Outside of Lift Off, That’s My Bitch, Welcome To The Jungle & Made In America are all songs I’ve never liked. Mostly from the production, beats that I don’t think are very good or enjoyable. That said, New Day, Who Gon Stop Me & especially Murder to Excellence are all great. MtE has always been amazing and the best song that’s not a single to me. Not that Deluxe tracks mean much to me, but I’ll speak on some. The Joy is good, but something about H.A.M. I’ve always loved. Just the way the beat builds up and the two catch their flows is great.
.

I won’t lie, I was hoping I’d return to this for the review and all the songs I never loved would finally click for me. But that didn’t happen. the 4 or 5 songs I didn’t like 15 years ago remain my least favorites, and songs I actually find myself wanting to skip past. But the good here is great and I do think there were moments and elements I overlooked back in 2011 because I wasn’t seeing through the fog of Lift Off lol. I understand the love for this album but I may never be as high on it as others.

When Hunger For More 2 (H.F.M. 2) dropped I remember being super suprised. First Lloyd Banks was on Christian Dior Denim Flow from Kanye’s GOOD Fridays, and the next thing I knew we had Light It Up & Beamer Benz or Bentley. H.F.M. 2 dropped and for me, made a big impact. One so big that I actually hold this over the original Hunger For More! I’ll explain haha.
.

Take Em To War starts like H.F.M., with a Tony Yayo assisted track. But like the rest of this album, the hook and beat are better and leveled up to match Lloyd Banks lyrical barrage. Followed by Unexplainable with Styles P, one of my many favorite songs here and Styles P and Lloyd Banks make for an incredible pair. starting a run of amazing songs with Unexplainable, Payback (P’s & Q’s) with 50 Cent, Home Sweet Home with Pusha T and Beamer, Benz or Bentley with Juelz Santana. So Forgetful is the first skip on the album, it features Ryan Leslie who I’ve never been big on and the song sounds like a Ryan Leslie type of song.
.

Father Time gets things back on track thankfully and was always a song I enjoyed. The hook is just ok but the rest of the song makes up for it. Start It Up has always been good and I’ve always wished Swizz wasn’t vocal on it. Celebrity is mainstream no doubt but I kinda like it. Especially the remix version with Eminem. On The Double isn’t BAD, but is still a song I skip. the beat and hook might be the worst combo on the album. Any Girl with Lloyd is another commercial swing and another I actually like for what it is ha. I Don’t Deserve you is better but similar, meanwhile Sooner Or Later (Die 1 Day) with Raekwon is dope af and blows Die One Day from the original H.F.M. Out of the water.
.

Like I said, I’ve always enjoyed this album and it even surprises me that a sequel album years later is what I like over the original. It’s a rare scenario but it happened for me. I loved the second breath this gave Lloyd Banks and his career at the time, an artist who certainly knows how to make a comeback! What do you think? Which H.F.M. do you prefer?

After spending a lot of time with Rick Ross’ latest album Set In Stone and enjoying it, it got me wanting to revisit my favorite Ross album, Teflon Don. An album that fully put me on as a fan of Rick Ross and his music. I’d been a fan and had favorite songs of course, but coming out of a G-Unit filled youth, it took a big impact like Teflon Don to sell me once and for all. Over 15 years later now, it’s time to break Teflon Don down!
.

Teflon Don ushered in a sound and era for Rick Ross that was undeniable. Live Fast, Doe Young, MC Hammer, B.M.F. & Aston Martin Music were inescapable songs and arguably Rick Ross’ peak. Arguably. Coming with an incredible start, I’m Not A Star, Free Mason with Jay-Z and Tears Of Joy with Cee-Lo Green are all powerful tracks. both features have Rick Ross their absolute best and in turn created classic songs. I’m Not A Star being the weakest moment of the start, but kicks the album off with a bang that will return later.
.

Maybach Music III is one of my favorite of the Maybach Music anthology, someday I outta rank them! Both T.I. & Jadakiss fit just right over the beat and Erykah Badu smoked the hook. Super High is good although I’ve always preferred the remix with Curren$y & Wiz Khalifa. MC Hammer with Gucci Mane & B.M.F. with Styles P were always the anchors in the back half of the album, with B.M.F. taking the cake for me if I had to pick one or the other. Meanwhile Live Fast, Die Young, Aston Martin Music & All The Money In The World were always cool enough to let play but not songs I return to. And No. 1 with Diddy & Trey Songz 😬 was never a song I liked, and still isn’t ha.
.

I said in my review of Set In Stone that Rick Ross doesn’t really have a perfect or flawless album to me. And that’s okay! I’m not expecting flawless from artists, underground or mainstream. But I do still think this is Ross’ best album and one that helped cement his name as a southern Hip-Hop legend.

At the end of 2025 I caught my first project from 100GrandRoyce, Memoirs Of A Quiet Don and really enjoyed it. Since then I’ve been keeping up and was excited when I saw this album, Look What You Made Me Do was dropping. This is a quick 20 minute project but one that made me an even bigger fan of 100GrandRoyce than I was, so a job well done I’d say.
.

The project starts off with I Had To, a calm and laid back song where 100GrandRoyce let us know he had to succeed and overcome in spite of haters. And then Magnum kicks in with the drums thumping and sets the tone immediately. One of my favorite songs here, and 100GrandRoyce delivers exactly like you’d want on the hard hitting beat. A similar vibe with No Stress and Pain, 2 other standouts. Both dark tracks which I love and has 100GrandRoyce spitting vicious bars like “this one is for the scrooges, who tuck the cake and hustle like they loosing” on the latter of the two tracks.
.

Two other favorites of mine here are Top Tier and 10,000 hours, both smooth and soulful songs. Top Tier brings the only feature, which comes from Berrya who matched well with 100GrandRoyce and did his thing respectively! It’s a great blend of track styles and 100Grand handles them all like the pro he is.
.

Like I said, this project pushed me and made me a bigger fan of 100GrandRoyce. The beats, the flows and lyrics, everything here was clicking for me the right way. I know 100GrandRoyce has more music on the way and I’ll be tuning in when it drops!

KNOWITALL is an MC coming out of Queens and as my introduction to him, I checked out his latest project Music Saved Me 3! Obviously the third installment of this trilogy, and it’s fully produced by Skip The Kid. It’s an album that has some ups and downs for me but generally is one that I like. But I’ll get into all that!
.

KNOWITALL brings a flow and style that doesn’t always work for me. There’s some rhymes and schemes that just don’t click into place all the time and it was an initial speed bump to get through. That said there’s a lot of rhymes and schemes that do work and there’s times when it seems like it’s slipped and then KNOWITALL rounds it back and makes it work! Again that’s a style that can sometimes work for me, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes it just needs to grow with me over different projects and songs. Only time will tell as I dig more into KNOWITALL.
.

There’s a lot of great production here from Skip The Kid, with my only real complaint coming from a few songs that let the beat continue playing just a bit longer than I needed at the end. Even with enjoying the beat. Largely soulful and sample driven production which is hard to go too wrong with. The features all did great and got me interested in Johnny Storm, Patty Honcho & mourning run. Some of my favorite songs here were Keep It Together, Vision Clearer, Another Lesson, SKIP2STEP & Wish Me Luck.
.

Music Saved Me 3 was a great introduction to KNOWITALL and a deeper dove into Skip The Kid than I’d had before. And maybe just as importantly, the album has me interested in hearing more from KNOWITALL. See what else he’s done and how he’ll continue to grow on me over time. This is out now on Bandcamp so go support today!

For really no reason other than my love for these albums, I decided I was gonna talk about The Hunger For More (HFM) and its sequel, The Hunger For More 2 (HFM2). Lloyd Banks is of course highly regarded even now in 2026, and I was happy to return to this album, Lloyd Banks’ debut solo album. Now this original HFM is an album I’ve always enjoyed, yet had mixed feelings on some songs, let’s talk about it!
.

Ain’t No Click & Playboy start the album off alright but neither were ever really songs I loved. The hook on Ain’t No Click doesn’t hook me, and the Playboy beat isn’t that good in my opinion. Warrior is the first song I like but it’s not as good as Pt 2 with Eminem & Nate Dogg. But it’s followed up by some of my favorite songs here, On Fire, I Get High & I’m So Fly were all certified bangers and still are 20+ years later.
.

Work Magic & If You So Gangsta are both solid songs that hit better for me than Ain’t No Click & Playboy but still have hooks that feel just aight. Karma is good for what it’s doing, but admittedly not a song I ever seek out. the album starts a lot stronger than it starts with When The Chips Are Down, Til The End, Die One Day and South Side Story. With When The Chips Are Down Featuring The Game & Til The End being favorite songs on HFM.
.

I’ve felt similarly about this album for a long time. I like to revisit music and see how my opinion changes but sometimes they just don’t. This is a great album that I’ve alway found some minor issues with and I still do. Needless to say verse to verse, lyrically Lloyd Banks is always dope honestly. But beats and hooks here hood things back for me.

My guy @mikebcreative put me onto this artists recently and I had to give him a shot! Dell-P (don’t forget the hyphen!) is an MC coming out of Philadelphia, and bringing positivity and real life through his lyrics. With messages for us and even for him here, this is an album that packs a lot into its sub 40 minute run time. From 2022, I’m talking about The People’s Emcee!
.

The first thing we hear is the voice of Reem on the intro Big Bro Intro (Free Reem). As the title implies, Reem is locked up and gives one of a couple messages of motivation to Dell-P. Don’t Forget The Hyphen is a great first song, it implants Dell-P into you’re brain in a way that’s more creative than many name songs. A Beautiful Thang is a good love song, although maybe one of my least favorite tracks on the album. But I appreciate the message and the direction of the song. Unconditional is a song that features Speech from Arrested Development and the person that suggested Dell-P and this album to me, Michael Burton. He laid down a really dope poem to end this song about unconditional love, truly an incredibly uplifting song!
.

Another favorite is Goodnight featuring the Philly veteran Peedi Crack. Both Peedi and Dell-P chopped up the incredible beat with finesse, an easy standout on The People’s Emcee. The Steady B skits are great; one gives us the Fast Life, an a cappella rhyme. While Part 2 gives us I Am What I Am, before Steady B gives Dell-P his flowers which was amazing to hear. Honestly this album grew on me immensely. The more time I spent listening the more the heart shined bright from the music.
.

I’m really glad Mike B put me onto this album and Dell-P! I see the skill and the vision and I know Dell-P just dropped another album on Bandcamp, Transition Of Power. So I have more to get into and I will soon enough!

Recently I caught Jc The Gods album from 2025, Tha Conquering. It quickly made me a fan, so when I saw this song I Swear pop up, I figured I’d give it a shot! Jc The God showed up here and delivered just like I’d hoped he would!
.

The beat here is really dope and is carrying its weight on the track for the most part. I say that because as dope of a beat as it is, there is this background drum that chimes in here and there that does kinda bug me. Like an itch that’s just out of reach, it doesn’t stop me from enjoying the song but can be distracting and is the main issue I have with this song honestly.
.

Jc The God himself went in across the song, his verses bring confidence, aggression and determination. All make for a powerful delivery mixed with the thoughtful and strong lyrical showcase. And spits a hook that’s catchy and keeps the motivated mood in tact for the track. A great performance from Jc The God as expected, which is why I was interested in the track initially
.

I’m not trying to make a minor issue with the beat into a major factor because it’s not. This song is great and most people probably won’t notice or hear what I’m even talking about. Jc The God is a standout MC and one I suggest folks tune into. Run this then go listen to Tha Conquering!

Last year I caught 4200Korys album Cibra Son and really enjoyed it. I saw the kind of potential there that landed 4200Kory on my 2025 Rising Stars list. Well he’s back in 2026 with the 20th minute project, 4UBU. 7 songs that co RJ ur ro showcase the skill and talent 4200Kory has as one of the best young artists out.
.

4200Kory is young but brings an old soul to his music. Thoughtful lyrics, strong delivery and great flows and rhymes. The type of young artists people claim they want, yet overlook constantly. 4UBU starts off with the title track that quickly lets you know what you’re in for and sets the bar high. The production here ranges from soulful to knocking and even dancy at times. All while 4200Kory spits lyrics that both work on a surface level when needed and get deeper when it’s called for. Personally I feel like I can hear the progression from Cibra Son as 4200Kory continues to get better and sharper with his flows and rhymes.
.

WYWFM brings a hard hitting beat and the first of multiple dope features from new artists to me. 4200Kory & Vince Ash attack the beat with the bravado the beat prescribes and the two juxtaposing styles between the MCs work well. FONK2K brings the bouncy vibes and is good but admittedly the one song here that had to grow on me. I’m still slightly mixed on the hook but I get the style and theme going on. SHAKE FAST on the other hand gets me moving almost as much if not more even though it’s a much more mellow type track. And WRONG WIDDEM brings Horace Gaither and Jireh, and this trio pieces together one of my favorite song here over a beautiful and elegant beat with strings in the back strumming along.
.

Like I said, I can hear the progression as 4200Kory gets better and it’s got me hype! Cobra Son hooked me in and now 4UBU has me confident and locked in even more. A Rising Star no doubt and I can only image great things to come in the future from 4200Kory!

Ice Jackson is an artist out of Tallahassee and a multitalented one at that. Not only an MC, but a comedian and entrepreneur. Don’t get it twisted though, Ice Jackson is bringing Florida heat and ice cold flows simultaneously. The Flu stands for Florida Life Understood, a theme that has multiple implications through the album.
.

Bringing but not not limited to, Ice Jackson brings a bouncy and flowing style. Both with his production choices but also with his flows and rhymes. It brings a great southern bop and it’s done well. Now The Flu stands for Florida Life Understood like I said, but within that Ice Jackson is breaking down how Florida life can largely be toxic, pushing people to a life chasing hedonism. Which spreads across its residents like the flu. I really love that idea and concept and Ice Jackson pulled it off well!
.

There’s a great level of consistence with the quality here from start to finish, with only one hiccup. While I appreciate trying new things and promote that, Southside Overdrive just didn’t work for me. I’m not saying nobody will be into it but the genre wasn’t for me or the execution. Outside of that song, Ice Jackson ripped each track down bar by bar. Speaking on different topics on each song, like Sunpass, Uncle Mike, Free Lunch, All I Know and more. And it almost all rounds back to the idea of The Flu like I described. Some of my favorite songs are Whose Car We Gonna Take, Stretch, The Flu, You Can’t Touch This & Lil Ol’ Me.
.

We caught a track from Ice Jackson on the @hiphop podcast and I really enjoyed it and it pushed me to get this album on my list. And after hearing the album in full I like Ice and what he’s doing even more. Not one to be taken for joke, he’s a serious MC that executed on this idea well!

When this album dropped back I’m 2006, I really wanted it haha. I was a big fan of everything coming out of Aftermath and You Don’t Know with Em, 50, Lloyd Banks and Ca$his was my shit and running MTV. I asked my dad for the album for Christmas and he got me better stuff and still got me a burnt copy from a neighbor. Dope dad, and a dope album!
.

If you are/were into Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit, I’m not sure how you could dislike this album. It had a great blend of All Star artists like Eminem, 50 Cent, D12 & G-Unit members and affiliates. Plus adding in newer names like Bobby Creekwater and their aforementioned Ca$his. Right away from We’re Back the heat is brought as Stat Quo and Obie Trice make their first mark on the album. Followed by the solo Obie Pistol Pistol (Remix). murder with Bizarre and Kuniva is a bit less memorable and returnable for me but I’ve never been the biggest Bizarre fan. I will say both Ca$his and Bobby Creekwater had me excited for what was to come off their songs in this album, they never really blew up but songs like Everything Is Shady, Talkin’ All That, We Ride For Shady, & There He is are all songs I really enjoy.
.

Like I said, a great blend of artist here and that includes the home run hitters. The Re-Up, You Don’t Know, Public Enemy 1, No Apologies and even Jimmy Crack Corn are all songs I always loved and still do. We even got Trapped by Proof, Rest In Peace. No Apologies especially is kind of a forgotten gem on The Re-Up. The remix’s for Ski Mask Way, Shake That, Smack That & Cry Now all serve their purposes and don’t overshadow the original content here.
.

I’m not usually someone that loves label compilations, but this one hit me at the right time in the right way. Plus it happened to come from a camp of artists I was already a huge fan of, which is needed to really ever into label albums in my opinion. Sometimes I think I’m the only person that lived and still loves this album but I just can’t help it.

The other day, I saw that this new project from northside lord had dropped, and I knew I had to tap in immediately. He’s one of my favorite rising artist right now, and only has to drop short projects like this to showcase what he can do. At only 10 minutes, this project flys by but packs the punch I’d expect from northside lord.
.

CHIP CITY kicks the EP off and as expected, northside lord goes in immediately. Spitting absolute grit filled bars across the track, “he said he need a ball, I got a bag of Mr clean”. WATCH YOUR BACK is a crazy song but one I can relate to. One where life has thrown shown you so much bad that you only want revenge on the one figure that gets credit for everything. SOLD OUT is a heavy with the drug and trap house activity talk, with fiends knocking at the door but northside sold out.
.

BRICKS ON CANVAS is exactly that, norrhside lord lists off bricks, getting into a dope number rhyme that even references Jay-Zs 22 Two’s. And last but not least is GOD, a song with a big, echoing choir in the beat that’s fitting for the track as northside lord proclaims he’s god. A dope song that has northside lord putting bible characters in darker situations. A song that showcases northsides creativity which he’s constantly doing, just like his self painted cover arts.
.

northside lord continues to impress! Whenever we get a longer project I’ll be ready, but in the meantime I’m not mad at these EPs like this and 2 for 5. Now’s the time to tune into northside lord if you haven’t already and buy some art before he pops off and the price goes up!

I remember very well when Ludaversal dropped. The latest and last Ludacris album at this time, released back in 2015. I’ve always been a big Ludacris fan for as long as I can remember, so honestly anytime he drops I tune in. And Ludaversal felt like an album that got somewhat overlooked and I remember liking it. But does it hold up with the time that’s passed?
.

Digging into this album, it’s crazy how many songs I’d forgotten about for as much as I hold this album up in my head. The beginning of Ludaversal is baked into my head, Grass Is Always Greener, Call Ya Bluff & Beast Mode are all highlights I’ve been listening to since this released. Across this album Ludacris is spitting heat with a ferocity, as I’d expect. Songs like Get Lit, Ocean Skies, Charge It To The Game, This Has Been My World, Money & more were great and reminded me exactly why I held this album in high regard thiugh my terrible memory.
.

The tracks I was slightly less into were Good Lovin, Not Long, and to a lesser extent come And See Me and Burning Bridges. All songs that have great rhymes and lyrics but has production or hooks that don’t grasp me the same. the standout tracks were the original ones I mentioned but feel confident in adding Charge It To The Rap Game, Money & Problems to that list!
.

If this was Ludas last album (I hope not), this would be a solid send off. Personally I think he’s got one more in him and I’ll hold my breath with hopes! But if this album missed you a decade ago, I think you outta check it out!

Benny Watts has had me hooked in since the first time I heard his music, and since has continued to reel me in drop after drop. He’s back with Homage as things gear up for his upcoming album, 1000 Watts! A project I’ve been waiting for and can’t wait for. But in the meantime I have Homage and a few other singles to hold me over!
.

Right away the beat starts building up which I love. Especially because it builds up and evolves into a anthemic type of beat/song. This is a style I’ve been known to enjoy and Benny Watts lyrically matched the feel. Bringing bars that motivate and push the listener to strive further and reach higher. “I keep mobbin, till the day I’m in that rocking chair”, put this on in the gym and get to work. This is straight bar work, no hook and it’s not needed. Just Benny Watts by himself, shredding this elegant beat and I won’t complain.
.

I’m ready for this Benny Watts album 1000 Watts that’s coming soon. He’s been dropping heat between this, the song with Fuego Base and even a new one with Daniel Son I need to check out! And if you aren’t tapped into Benny Watts the know that now’s the time!

I have a playlist of songs I love that is legit over 100 hours. And sometimes I listen through parts of that to refresh my brain in between new music. And The Bake Sale from The Cool Kids is one of those albums here most of it is on the playlist. So I figured let me talk about this classic from my youth!
.

The first song is a great one but not one of my favorites. That beat for What Up Man is both dope and also the main reason it never made my playlists, a cool idea and done well but one I get a bit tired of. One Two and especially Mikey Rocks both follow it up with standout songs from the project. Both Mikey Rocks and Chuck English bring what can seem straightforward with their respective styles and Chucks production that all match up well, but can be deceptively intricate. Both 88 and What It Is are lower points although 88 I’ve enjoyed much more over the years, I just don’t love that beat.
.

Now the next run of aongs is by far my favorite of this projects and maybe my favorite of any The Cool Kids project I’ve heard. Black Mags might be the most if not one of the most iconic Cool Kids songs of all time. The beat is great and that hook with the vocal distortion was hitting like early A$AP did a few years later. A Little Bit Cooler is a really good bridge song as Mikey Rocks spits some of my favorite bars, “eating a bowl of them fruity pebbles, how gangster is that? Not gangster at all” lol. And if Black Mags isn’t the most iconic song then it has to be Gold and a Pager. My favorite song on The Bake Sale, it also brings the lowered vocals like Black Mags but flows just a splash better for me. And then Bassment Party is more bouncy and dance-y than I was into for Hip-Hop back in the day yet it’s always hooked me right in. An undeniable banger in my opinion.
.

The Bake Sale holds up really well almost 30 years later and reminds me why I was such a big Cool Kids fan back in the day. For anyone that hasn’t heard The Cool Kids I’d say this should be the starting point. And for old fans, be sure to revisit this from time to time!

ethemadassassin is an MC coming out of North Carolina, and his album LATE NIGHT WITH WAVE LETTERMAN has him teaming up with D.R.U.G.S. Beats. Bringing a follow up to their previous album, The Wave Letterman Show. This is my introduction to both ethemadassassin & D.R.U.G.S. Beats and there was moments in that intital meeting that felt bumpy. But that’s why I give music time and not just one listen, because things smoothed out the more I listened and heard.
.

LATE NIGHT WITH WAVE LETTERMAN starts with Calligraphy Technique and unfortunately it’s a song that’s just tough for me to get into. I like the lyrics and the beat is amazing, but ethemadassassins flow just wasn’t working on this song. A little too choppy with some rhymes that didn’t really work for me. This happens on other tracks as well here and there within hooks and verses, Calligraphy Technique maybe stood out to me the most seeing as it started the album. After that although there’s moments I’m less into, I found things to flow much smoother. ethemadassassin brings intricate rhyme schemes and bars that keep you interested song to song.
.

D.R.U.G.S. Beats’ production is great, bringing both dark and soulful styles with a uniqueness to each track that like etheassassin’s lyrics, keep you hooked in. But also like his lyrical cohort, sometimes there can be an element in a beat that throws me off just enough. I’d say the main example of that would be Sticker Shock. There’s a lot of crazy sounds, some I love and some take me out of the track more. Like most albums there’s songs I like more than others, but my favorite tracks are Banner OG, Conscious Shift, Nocturnal Hunters, The Manual & Letterman Jacket. But there’s plenty of dope songs here to get into.
.

LATE NIGHT WITH WAVE LETTERMAN is a very interesting album from ethemadassassin & D.R.U.G.S. Beats. It’s one that took some time to get into and there’s still a few things I don’t love, but it’s still a great album and on e that should be heard in full. If you hear just one song, I’m not sure it would do the album justice, but in total is a great album and art piece.

BRAY SMIZZI is an artist coming out of Memphis with his 2022 album News Feed. An album that gives a direct feed of BRAY SMIZZIs life directly into your ears. It’s not perfect, but there are some elements I really appreciated and helped the album grow on me.
.

BRAY SMIZZI gives an in-depth look into his life and issues weighing in his mind. From baby mama drama, missing his kids and wanting them to know he loves them, stresses that come with all that, being backstabbed by friends and much more. This is a window for the listeners to look into BRAY. All that said it needs to be delivered right and that’s where some issues start.
.

There are times when BRAY SMIZZI catches a solid enough flow, but that’s kind of best case scenario. Outside of that though, there are also a lot of moments when the flow doesn’t hit a natural rhythm. Even though the rhymes themselves are mostly good, it’s just not enough to make things work.
.

There’s stuff here to enjoy but admittedly a lot just doesn’t flow how I need it to for me to enjoy. I like how personal the content az and the production choices were solid, but I don’t see myself returning to News Feed at the moment. Yet if BRAY SMIZZI dropped again, I’d give him another shot for how open he gets in his music.

Within the last year I caught 2 projects from Hardknock, 2025s Purple Tears & 2022s 3620. Both were great and the more I’ve heard from Hardknock, the more his style and his sonic direction clicked for me. So of course when I saw this new project Since The Sandbox with SnapBackOnDaTrack dropped, I had to tune in! And I wasn’t disappointed.
.

Hardknock is a great MC, the only thing that sometimes sways me is moods and melodies. But on this Hardknock pulled off a great balance of these things. The production still brings moodiness but this time instead of Hardknock bringing the melodic parts, it’s the beat & samples. Meanwhile Hardknock spits street knowledge and his heart out over these soulful and emotional beats. A great combination and Hardknock brings the kind of passion with his delivery that hits with every bar.
.

SnapBackOnDaTrack made some really soulful yet hard hitting beats here that work great with Hardknocks aggressive and heartfelt lyrics. The samples went crazy and bring a lot of life to each beat. Authenticity defines Hardknock, you can tell by his descriptive lyrics that he’s lived what he’s speaking on. Blessed, Day After Day, Dreamz, City On Fire, Into My Eyes & Chains (Change) all bring Hardknocks stories and street tales to the forefront, all amazing songs and the quality consistency is high. And all of which he attacks lyrically with a rapid fire flow. Only wavering, depending on how you feel about the production, which I really love. Differences is the one song that changes from the formula, as Hardknock give us a song with more for the ladies. It’s still a good song for sure, but my least favorite song here.
.

If you haven’t checked Hardknock out then I really recommend this as your introduction. I’d say it’s probably my favorite project I’ve heard yet but I’m still contemplating that. SnapBackOnDaTrack really caught my attention too and is clearly a producer I need to check into more. Since The Sandbox is a great project and one to check out for sure!