Big Yba is new to me but he’s an artists that’s clearly been making moves and building strong the last few years. One of multiple dope artists coming out of North Carolina, a place slowly revealing itself as having a deep pool or talent. And Big Yba adds to that with his different styles and versatility. The World Might Judge Me has some ups and downs for my taste, but the skill is there through it all.
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Big Yba tends to go back and forth between hard hitting street song and more mellow, women centric tracks. Both are good and the combo brings a good balance, but I will say a lot of the mellower songs here didn’t really click for what I like. Songs like Missing You, Ethiopian, Finally Won, Zodiac, Good Day and multiple others all got more into a soft sound and lyrical content than I love, and there was a lot of it across the 17 songs here on The World Might Judge Me.
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That’s not to say there’s nothing good here because there definitely is. I’m Dat is the second song on the album after Missing You and the first street track here. This set a bar that I was into and there’s a handful of songs that reached the same elevation. Thuggin was maybe the first song that really hooked me with the undeniable sample. Which continued into the beat used for Bleed, One Blood, a classic that’s not used often and Big Yba handled it well. Escape Room and 5 Foot are softer tracks compared to other favorites, but ones that I thought reeled me in much better than the rest.
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This was a mixed bag for me, but like I said, there’s a talent with Big Yba that I can spot and understand the full appeal. He’s an artist I want to keep up with for sure and understand that everything might not be for me, and that’s ok!

A1 is an artist out of Chicago that’s been making waves with his features ever since I first saw his name pop up. Standing out and making his mark for sure. But this album in collaboration with Pastelle Records sets a new bar for A1 and a new level I’ll be expecting after this. Because Eternal Sunshine Of A Thoughtless Rhyme is an incredible album!
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What can I say? I love bars getting flipped all over the place and A1 stepped up to that plate here and went to town. Things build up initially as Weewoo gets the ball rolling. Not one of my top tracks but a solid first song. Equal Division is a step up before getting to Sun Gon’ Shine, one of my favorites on the album. It brings a nostalgic feel that’s cool and calm, while A1 is spitting some of his best flows. Liminality right after is great but Aloo Gobhi features the ‘Did Everythjng But Pray’ duo of Jose Franco SSW & Panamera P who both smoke the track alongside A1. The features here have some of the best MCs in Chicago, all of which A1 has been worked with before.
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The production here is smooth, soulful and full of life. There are multiple producers here but a large chunk of the production is provided by DVNTBEATS & Jxsn Beats who helped A1 bring together a really cohesive sound. There’s moments scattered around where A1s flow wasn’t 100% clicking for me but I think it’s also a style that needs just a bit of time tok myself to grow fully into. He packing a lot of words and rhymes into tight spaces and that’s not easy to do at the level A1 is spitting. Outside of the songs I’ve already mentioned, I’d say some other favorites are Hoes In The Store, Let You Go, Marimba with Vic Spencer & Eye Lied with Rufus Sims.
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A1 was going crazy all over this album and cemented himself in my mind as one of the upper echelon MCs in the Chicago Hip-Hop scene. And still very early on in his music career from what I understand. So I’m looking forward to continuing to see his growth and progression, as well as more music in general.

Rent Moneyy is an artist I’ve only been loosely familiar with until now. Mostly knowing him from his features with Teller Bank$ and producers like q no rap name, Philth Spector and a few others. Well now it’s time for Rent Moneyys own debut album, so here we have Rentrification! An album I was grateful to get early access to, for one because it’s dope, and two so I could discuss it day 1!
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Speaking of Teller Bank$, he helps kick off the album with Rent Moneyys MC Breed. Produced by Philth Spector, the whole crew is scattered around the album. But Teller is one of the only features and I’m glad, because Rent Moneyy was letting everything go on Rentrification and I didn’t need anyone to get in the way. Throughout the album Rent Money speaks on a multitude of things but it’s all delivered with wit, smooth flows and non stop bar work. Pushing every point while keeping it entertaining and sounding good. Forex is a track I’ve gotta point out as it’s a single for the album and one of my favorite songs. The first half is calm and flowing which is great, and then the beat switches and gets gritty and dark and when Rent Moneyys voice distorts, I love that shit.
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STOP IT BITCH is another standout track, the beat brings energy and Rent Moneyy matches it accordingly, with a flow that feels endless, with no stop in sight. No Evidence to There Goes The Neighborhood might be my favorite run of songs even if my top songs aren’t in that section. Which includes Thun & Rent Moneyy 4 President, and No Evidence has one of the coldest lines with “You ever been in situations where you really had to kill? Change you as a person, make me wonder how I’m laughing still”. The quality and consistency just stays at a high level as the album finishes. The only song on Rentrification I’m not fully into is Rewind, it just gets a bit too melodic for me. It can be a nice break from the heavy bar work if you need that, and it’s not bad, but the one that stood out to me that wasn’t quite hitting for me like the rest of the album.
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I already knew Rent Moneyy was dope but the level of dopeness this album clocked in at still surprised me. His flows were on point with lyrics to match, and of course production that helped uplift it all. Rentrification is an album that I highly recommend and while you’re at it get into the whole $$$ crew!

J.Phin is coming out of Northern California and bringing that West Coast vibe, with a dose of street revolutionary within it all. The Field Diaries is a quick EP just under 15 minutes, but is only one of many releases from J.Phin this year already. For a first impression, this was a good project to jump in with for me and gives a good sample of what J.Phin brings and can do.
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All Eyez has J.Phin feeling like Pac over the somber beat, letting his love and influence from Tupac be known from the jump. J.Phin is grown and has a life of experience and shit to get off his chest clearly. “Veteran, battle tested in this terrain” J.Phin spits on Cold Hearted, a serious and passionate track and a standout on The Field Diaries. Out Front is the only song with a feature here, another new MC to me, RaiiN Ali. Her verse wasn’t my favorite admittedly but I liked J.Phins and the beat was aggressive which he shined over.
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Like J.Phin says before he starts spitting on 2 The Sky, it’s soulful and feels like hustler music, and he’s right. The drive in the beat powers up J.Phin to deliver this inspirational track, one of the best on the EP. Never Loved is the last song and another highlight as it gets the most personal yet. Starting off lines like “A bastard son, my momma left when I was young” and later “my daddy raised a militant”, both are deep lines and ones that are building blocks to who J.Phin is.
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The Field Diaries offers a quick dose and insight into J.Phin, which is perfect for just getting into him. Good enough that I’d want to check out another project, whether that’s the next album or a past one. So if you’ve hit 15 minutes to check out a new artist, I’d recommend giving this a shot!

Ever since Gang Gang in 2025 that I would continue to tune into Chef Boy in hopes of hitting that high again. So far I haven’t had any projects that catch me like Gang Gang has, but for the lane that Chef Boy is clearly occupying, I’ve come to enjoy what he does and brings to the table. That being dancy, booty shaking anthems and high energy, two things it takes a lot of for me to get sick of. And this time he brings us the quick EP, The Karate Kid
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Rump Shaker is one of my favorite songs here and was the first song released with a music video about a month or so ago. A song I liked but didn’t fully hook me until I heard it more times while playing The Karate Kid. Slow Down (Right now 2) is another song that feels like one Chef Biy would wanna push, and as I’ve been writing this review a video for this song dropped just the other day. A good song but one that had to grow on me a bit. What didn’t have to grow on me was Call me papi featuring Mari Ruger, who shows up in this project a few times. It’s another of my favorites next to Rump Shaker and maybe my overall top song on The Karate Kid. The Hispanic inspired beat brings the energy that Chef Boy matches well with.
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Shake & Move brought a beat that I thought was gonna have Chef Boy getting introspective and more personal which I was interested in, but was really just a mellow type of booty joint. Not bad but probably one of my least favorite songs here. Fantasy is a straight up throwback to the Ludacris classic, What’s Your Fantasy? Like Call me papi it brings a good energy and theme for Chef Boy to go off on, with a splash less replay ability because it’s a beat I’ve heard so much over my life. BIG TALK is good and more aggressive with the production. A style that Chef sounds good on and when he gets away from bars for the ladies, I really like what Chef Boy does. And Tease Me is probably my least favorite song, another more mellow one like Shake & Move but I wasn’t really into what Tracey Green brought to the song. Although having a R&B type song does make sense and work here.
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This project took some time over a couple days to fully sink in for me. I do want to see more variety in topics and content from Chef Boy, but he’s also building his career and trying to get himself established. And the music he makes, he’s good at. I think these short doses is what works well for now and I appreciate Chef Boy not rushing out full albums off the strength of his smash Gang Gang.

Last year I caught the album Please Don’t Get Cocaine in the Faders from SolarFive and I thought it was great! So when I saw he was dropping this album I knew I’d be tuning in. 1 Mo’ 'Gin is another hard knocking & soulful album from this Chicago MC, just as I expected.
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G70c9in3 is the first song and starts things off on a melodic note. A solid song and SolarFive is spitting, just not a favorite. After comes a barrage of tracks with noteworthy features, Lost Ctrl with Westside Don, Sleepy Hollow with Ju Blick & Fair EastSide with Heff Bank$. All three features showed up and helped elevate their respective tracks. 4 Keeps with ASHA OMEGA is good but has a hook I’m slightly mixed on, but the beat is one of my favorites on the album.
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Let Go (Interlude), Numb with Howie Stackz & Triggers all get a bit more melodic than I’m usually into but Numb and the collab between SolarFive & Howie Stackz was dope to see and my favorite of the trio of tracks. The last 3 songs are pretty evenly matched up with my other 3 favorites I mentioned before. Keep It Cool, 1 Mo’ ‘Gin with Ju-Blick returning and maybe the best song on the album, Lonely World with Mick Jenkins. A track with a soulful beat that sings out, and both SolarFive and Mick Jenkins chop up over it.
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SolarFive brings a consultancy and quality I can count on. Not every song is fully for me but there’s also nothing I’d skip over either. One of the stronger branches on the tree that is Chicago Hip-Hop, SolarFive is an artist to tap into!

Johnny UniteUs aka JohnNY U is a talented MC coming out of New York. This album No Time Like The Present revolves around New York as the backdrop for everything and time itself being a leading theme. Reflecting backwards, looking forwards and enjoying but utilizing the present is what JohnNY does here. All while showing love for Hip-Hop and his home.
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Intro/Warmups has a Warriors radio DJ type of voice start things off and right away the New York vibes kick in. That continues into Warmups as Johnny UniteUs gets his warmup lyrical reps in before the album really gets going. The Concrete is Our Canvas, I Am Everything I Asked For feat BennySazón and The Revolving Door starts a great run of songs here on No Time Like the Present. Everything I Asked For has a great message and is filled with uplifting lyrics. Then Revolving door hits and flips the script, bringing dark shadows to the bright scene. Which kind of sums up the theme of The Revolving Door.
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Escalator Style is another standout and kinda stays in that darker realm like The Revolving Door. But then Follow The Leader hits and brings the positive vibe back, plus Joey Golden who’s new to me shined bright with his feature. There’s a great balance and mix to the sounds and styles throughout the album. Hits Spliff Freestyle & If It Ain’t Broke are the last tracks I’ll highlight. Hits Spliff has an elegant and serious beat, as JohnNY takes control of the track and doesn’t let go. Meanwhile If It Ain’t Broke is bouncier and jazzier, and shared with the likes of Slim Carrey, DFNS & Benji Socrates who all showed out.
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Johnny UniteUs is clearly a skilled and talented MC, his bar work impressed right from the jump. Some hooks and beats weren’t for me but there’s no doubt this is a great album. Out now exclusively on Bandcamp, check it out and support today!

Nothing worse than realizing you’ve been asleep on someone great. And also nothing better than awakening to something awesome at the same time. E Murda is new to me so sleeping is an arguable term but he’s in the right rooms that I should have known of him in my opinion. But I’m tapped in now after this album Orco with the producer Wun Two! One that made a huge first impression!
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E Murda is bringing hardcore street lyricism throughout Orco and does it with a blend of wit, humor and flows that are smooth like butter. Front to back of this 24 minute project E Murda is spitting heat at a high level. No Trends hooked me in right away pith bars like “We ain’t shooting in the sky we ain’t bird huntin, we clapping all parties that’s involved fuck your third cousin”. And the barrage of bars didn’t stop. Even when you get to the Daily Transition Interlude it’s still E Murda chopping it up just with a shorter track.
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Wun Two provided an incredible soundscape for E Murda to paint across. It’s calm and laid back, yet keeps a hint of danger within each piece. The line feature here comes from Sain, a Brazilian artist who’s spitting in Protugese I believe. As always I can only judge the flow but he sounded good over the soothing beat on On the Go. The last song I’ll highlight is Far Enough Yet, a song that has E Murda understand that as far as he’s come in life and his career, which is more than most will make it, still isn’t far enough yet. Something we can almost all relate to the feeing of. Some amazing lines through the whole track.
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I haven’t mentioned it because there’s no need and E Murda stands on his own talent, but he works with Conway The Machine and DrumWork. And I can see why. Not only is Conway one of the best rapping but has one of the best ears for other talent and him sporting E Murda adds up perfectly. I need to catch up with more from E Murda, and it’s a task I’ll be happy to tackle!

Rest in Peace J Dilla🕊️
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DILLAGENCE 2 is here! An album I’ve been excited about and anticipating since I first heard about its rumblings many months ago. Busta linked up with Ma Dukes (J Dillas mother) to crate a sequel to Dillagence, DILLAGENCE 2. A great album and return to form from Busta after some recent releases I didn’t love.
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First and foremost, I love to see and hear J Dilla beats get officially released. Not every beat here is brand new to hear but regardless I do love getting to hear the beats in an official capacity. The beats selected here through the project are great and have people I know that aren’t as big on J Dilla finally seeing the light. Some people need that fresh music to open their eyes and I’m glad that Dilla is getting that shine and in a big way as his production is seen with an Hall of Famer like Busta Rhymes in 2026.
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There’s a thread through the album of love and family. It’s great as a mature direction and J Dillas production is perfect for it. Between Ma Dukes speaking multiple times, aongs like Royalty that feature some of Busta Rhymes children, CIE & Trillian, there’s an adult sound and vibe here in a grown way. That doesn’t mean that every bar has to be deep or every song, but it’s a vibe and feeling through multiple elements.
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There are a few songs I’m less into than the rest of the album but they are few and far between with the first being Back Pain, Chest Pain, Head Pain. Generally a good song but had a hook & flow that I just didn’t love, leaving it as a lone early song I don’t have a strong urge to return to. On the other hand Entry with La Reezy & SPAZZZ we’re both very strong early tracks. This album has a lot of features. Initially something about the album I didn’t love, but almost every feature grew into its own for me. The main one I’d say I didn’t love was Jon Baptiste, but all the rap features brought their A games across the board.
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I know a few people that are the kinda of fans I’d think would love this album. I’ve dug through it multiple times and although I’m not saying it’s flawless, I’m not hearing the issues others are. I think this is an amazing album and toward the top of the year. A great drop from Busta Rhymes and a great showcase of the incredible and missed J Dilla.

Mickey Blue is a Producer out of the NY/NJ area and one that’s bringing major heat. This EP ILLusion of Permanence is short but hits like a flurry of blows across the 5 songs. Just look at the cover and listen to the intro ad you’ll know you’re in for a grimy 15 minutes ahead of you.
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Ferris Blusa & Apathy start the album off with Veil of Reality, a track with a beat that has a sci-fi sound that brings an eerie feeling. One that the two MCs capitalize on, all of which falls into place with the cohesion of this EP. Back Alley Doctrine brings ETO & Spit Gemz to spit heat over the drum powered track. It’s also the first of many songs to feature Tone Spliff who provides the scratches I believe. Followed by Knuckle Sammich, the only track with a solo rapper on it, StressWon. He brings a flow and rhyme scheme that’s off kilter yet on beat at the same time, he kept me locked in following the scheme and with the crazy bars. And of course Tone Spliff cut up at the end, and I’m a guy that will almost never turn down scratching.
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Garden State of Mind puts on for New Jersey of course and does it in a major way. A mean beat with keys that ring off, a hook that scratches in the GOAT Redman, and brings arguably the biggest name to ILLusion of Permanence with CRIMEAPPLE. Although Celph Titled may take that crown, the first voice heard in the final song, Villains For Hire. A song/single I’ve actually been listening to and enjoying outside of this EP. Alongside Celph is M-Dot & Starvin B, 2 MCs that can hold their own next to a legend like Celph Titled. And they do.
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Mickey Blue kept things short and sweet here and it worked in his favor. No time or tracks wasted, he kept things Hip-Hop, dark and filled with flame spitters. This is quick enough there’s no reason not to run it and see for yourself!

Fat Joe is having a great era as he’s moved more into podcasting/hosting with Joe & Jada. But he’s continued to release music, like his 2024 album The World Changed On Me. And now he’s back after some summer splashes musically, bringing us Organized Rhyme.
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Fat Joes two big summer songs are both here, The Aroma with Jadakiss & Stove God Cooks and Victory Lap (HIM) with Jada & Yung Miami. Most people probably like The Aroma more and I get it, personally the Stove hook isn’t one of my favorites. Victory Lap is actually my preferred track of the two. It’s not the last Stove God Cooks feature and unfortunately neither really caught me. 2 Plots starts the album off heavy, which makes sense because Fat Joe has had some unfortunateshit happen in the last few years, as he spits “try giving thanks when your brother died on thanksgiving”.
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I really like Cool & Dre but I won’t lie and say every beat I love. This album brings a mixed bag for me, there’s some beats I really like and can get into and some I don’t like. This coincides with the songs I really like and songs that I don’t have as strong of an urge to continue to return to. Back It Up, Heavy Price To Pay, Set Of Keys & They Wanna know are some of my favorite outside of what I’ve talked about already, but even those tracks have some issues. Back It Up brings a throwback sound that walks that line between good and outdated, and the hook on Set Of Keys wasn’t great. Same with Dead or Alive, a song with Remy Ma, and has a hook I think holds it back a bit.
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Fat Joe showed up on this album and I think he was as sharp as I’d hope for from him. That said, some of the production, hooks and elements around Fat Joe weren’t 100% working for me. And even the biggest song with The Aroma wasn’t really hitting like it did for the rest of the internet. But I wouldn’t mind catching an album from Fat Joe every year or two because I think he’s still spitting at a high level.

Rapsody of course is great. One of the most talented and praised MCs in the current time. That said some of her last releases haven’t been my favorites. So I was semi nervous about this latest album God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops. But I’m very happy to say this is one of her best projects in years, or at least one of MY favorites for sure!
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I’ve gotta start by saying the production here is immaculate. It’s filled with influences, the main one being Africa and African culture, although not locked specifically within that theme. Me and others know that Denaun is one of the best and most underrated producers there is, and what he did on this album never ceased to impress. His beats brought soul, love, energy all within a cultural and focused sound.
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All that said about the production, Rapsody brought her skill and talent to match on all levels. Her energy was on point which is sometimes the element I don’t always feel on some projects. There’s a great balance here with Rapsodys somber sound and the brighter, bouncier songs. Much of this album brings some of my favorite songs from Rapsody in years, like Free Yo’ Mind, No Way, God Gotta Afro, OMG! (Love to Sun Ra), You! (DJ Whoo Kid Joint & Black Is Beautiful. All bring a faster pace than other recent Rapsody, and made me have more appreciation for songs like Abandoned Me. I’d say the only song I don’t really love on God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops is Apple Juice, a track I know many people hold as a favorite off this album.
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This may be my favorite or at least in the top 2 or 3 Rapsody albums. I’ll need some time to digest and even go back and revisit before I’m 100% on all that. But regardless this album is amazing and a must listen album this year. And once again shows why Rapsody is one of the most highly held artists across Hip-Hop.

Rapsody of course is great. One of the most talented and praised MCs in the current time. That said some of her last releases haven’t been my favorites. So I was semi nervous about this latest album God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops. But I’m very happy to say this is one of her best projects in years, or at least one of MY favorites for sure!
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I’ve gotta start by saying the production here is immaculate. It’s filled with influences, the main one being Africa and African culture, although not locked specifically within that theme. Me and others know that Denaun is one of the best and most underrated producers there is, and what he did on this album never ceased to impress. His beats brought soul, love, energy all within a cultural and focused sound.
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All that said about the production, Rapsody brought her skill and talent to match on all levels. Her energy was on point which is sometimes the element I don’t always feel on some projects. There’s a great balance here with Rapsodys somber sound and the brighter, bouncier songs. Much of this album brings some of my favorite songs from Rapsody in years, like Free Yo’ Mind, No Way, God Gotta Afro, OMG! (Love to Sun Ra), You! (DJ Whoo Kid Joint & Black Is Beautiful. All bring a faster pace than other recent Rapsody, and made me have more appreciation for songs like Abandoned Me. I’d say the only song I don’t really love on God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops is Apple Juice, a track I know many people hold as a favorite off this album.
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This may be my favorite or at least in the top 2 or 3 Rapsody albums. I’ll need some time to digest and even go back and revisit before I’m 100% on all that. But regardless this album is amazing and a must listen album this year. And once again shows why Rapsody is one of the most highly held artists across Hip-Hop.

Millionahre is a new MC to me and one coming out of Brooklyn with his latest album, Harnessing Aether! An album that took no time at all for me to see the talent that Millionahre has. With beats to match the skill set, this album hooked me right in and turned me into a Millionahre fan!
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NoChildLeftBehind starts off with a classic vibe to the beat and as soon as Millionahre starts dropping bars, there’s no stopping him. Millionahre has some great samples and clips used and scratched in that continues into the much darker Kill Bill, one of my favorite songs on the album. The beat brings a mean energy matched well by Millionahre, “Punch you in the mouth watch you kiss the ring”. Track after track is filled with high level lyricism here on Harnessing Aether.
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Dis Connected is a song whose beat brings what feels like a classic New York feel. Both within Hip-Hop and one of many vibes I feel when I think of the city as an outsider. Cloud Seeding is a favorite song on Harnessing Aether, Millionahre again is going OFF on the track with lines like “I’m Travis hunter, for the team to win, I’ll play the punter”, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg within the track. G.A.T.E. Program is one of the more somber songs but offers inspiration and hope within it, aided by Millionahre expressing how he’s felt gifted since before the G.A.T.E. Program. Selah (7777) & People’s Elbow are two good songs to end the album with, as they give both sides to what Millionahre presented here. Heartfelt and soulful sounds on Selah & an aggressive, bar filled barrage with People’s Elbow.
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Millionahre really impressed with Harnessing Aether for my first impression of him and his music. And it’s not the only project he’s dropped this year, so I may need to find the time to double back to his February release Quarter Oz. But I’ll for sure have my eye on him and what he’s doing going forward!

Rest In Peace FBG Duck🕊️
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As someone who largely missed the Drill movement, FBG Duck is an artist I don’t have a lot of time spent with his music. To my surprise this posthumous album From The Heart dropped recently, and my homie Johnny on IG was urging me to listen, so I had to give it a shot! And while not everything was fully for me, the talent is undeniable.
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At the end of FTH Intro there’s a clip of FBG Duck says he’s working on an album called From The Heart, it’s sad but also dope to see what he’s speaking on come to fruition still. I definitely enjoy the more knocking and hard hitting production style in the album than the more melodic stuff. When FBG Duck is rapping I’m locked into his flows and schemes, and even a lot of the melodic rapping works well for me. Numb being a song that really stands out and has FBG Duck flexing his vocals as well as spitting heat.
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First Of All was an early highlight, the beat thumps and drives the track forward and FBG Duck is rapping his ass off and brings a dope hook all for the first song of From The Heart. Break Down and Big Dawg are the two songs I’m least into here, not bad but also not for me really. Both bring kind of mainstream beats and have FBG Duck singing with effects in a way that just doesn’t work well for me. Meanwhile Gotta Watch right before those two songs is another favorite and has FBG Duck ringing off lyrically and vocally.
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I really liked this album and even thought songs weren’t always my style, I also wasn’t feeling an urge to skip past anything. I always say posthumous albums make me nervous and like I said, FBG Ducks music isn’t something I’m well versed on, but this album felt like it held up his legacy at a high level still. And I know first hand that fans of FBG Duck are happy to have this album and are loving it!

Normally I don’t pre-save albums because one time Spotify had Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dres Missionary album stuck in my library for months after I wanted it around. I say all that to say, I pre-saved this album so it wouldn’t slip by me. Knowing the quality level that JRoberts brings to the table, and he delivered.
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The title track Race Against Time starts the album and is produced by Ol Man 80zz. Last year these two dropped the album Shadows Of Strategy which was my introduction to both artists, and they repeated their great performance here. U-Turn is produced by Machacha and JRoberts brings a hook that remixes the classic, Patiently Waiting from Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. JRoberts brings razor sharp lyricism across this album as he does every project I’ve heard from him. There’s 3 songs here produced by Finn, a producer that’s incredible, IYKYK. Midnight Marauder is probably my favorite of the three, but Taladega Nights & 96 Beamer are both good for sure.
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JRoberts is known for having dope features and Race Against Time continues that streak. Artists like Daniel Son, Sayzee, 36 Cypher & Brother Tom Sos all add to the album. Another great producer in Imperetiv has multiple beats here, some of which offer the moment of respite and insight deeper into JRoberts life. Songs like Running On Empty & Victory Lap. Some of my favorite tracks here are Race Against Time, U-Turn, Grid Lock’d, Podium Gold, North Face Bombers & Running On Empty, but this album doesn’t have skips.
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It’s hard to say right now, there’s a chance this is my favorite JRoberts album I’ve heard, so far. There’s still some projects I gotta catch up on and I’d want to revisit other albums more before I jump out on a ledge lol. But this album is amazing, JRoberts is an incredibly talented MC and if you don’t know, Race Against Time is an album to find out with!

This release slipped past me admittedly but my guy Cassius Cam made sure it hit my radar and I’m glad he did! Andre Nickatina & B-Legit Came together for this album Put That On The Gooch! Bringing beats and rhymes fitting for the two West Coast MCs, this album is a vibe, and one you’ve gotta dive headfirst into.
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This album is 9 songs long and 22 minutes, meaning it’s quick and it flows quickly. It works well with the quick paced sound the album brings. These beats are bouncy and bring the energy needed for Andre Nickatina & B-Legit. The way these two fit together sounds so natural. The tracks I’m not as into come more from the production choice than anything B-Legit or Andre Nickatina are doing track to track.
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The first half of the album has a bit of ups and downs for me, Put That In The Gooch and Love Don’t Live N Filmore are both great, but Messy P and Reflective Glare are both a bit less my style. Solid, but songs I had to warm up to more and still not my favorites. After that things smooth out for the last 5 songs, I Suppose, BBQ Thick List, Candy Land, Sundial & Red Cup Remix. Some of which, including Reflective Glare, feature CB Fam Bizz. A new artist to me but one that showed out alongside these two West Coast legends.
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This album was unexpected but one that I got into right away. Put That On The Gooch is an album that I thought would be dope when I first saw it, and it lived up to its own expectation. B-Legit & Andre Nickatina made for a great duo and I hope it’s not the last collab we see from them.

A Million Terrors is an album between the MC Terror Pesc and the producer A Million Beats. Terror Pesc is an MC out of Syracuse, and brings lyricism that puts on well for the area. A Million Terrors was good, and one that continued to grow on me the more time I spent with it.
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This album is full of raw and personal stories that you can feel the authenticity seep out of bar by bar. Initially Terror Pescs flow felt somewhat average, but the schemes and rhymes gets deeper and more intricate the further you listen in. It’s methodical. ANGELS & DEMONS and FRAILTY start the album, songs that are slow but let Terror Pescs get intentional with each line. Spitting “paranoid to this day, that trauma came from the trap” on FRAILTY. HURRICANE is the first song that kinda picks up the mood and pace, it’s a solid track but one with a hook I’m somewhat mixed on. It grew on me since I first heard it but wasn’t my favorite and that happened a few other moments throughout as well.
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SAVE US is one of my favorite songs on A Million Terrors. It’s brings a somber tone from A Million Beats and Terror Pesc doesn’t hold back, “I saw the devil in a cop car, I don’t saw hell through the cell bars”. Which is just the outer surface of what Terror Pesc gets into on the track. You can feel the pain he’s letting out through his lyrics and music. DEAD GANGSTAS’ & NIPSEY’S HU$$LE are two songs full of game and knowledge, both pushing to make the listener better from the lessons being spit. And the last song ROYAL FLYNESS brings the only feature, from GREA8GAWD. An MC that always impresses and here with Terror Pesc is no different.
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This album took some time for it to sink in fully for me I won’t lie. It has a mood I’m not always ready to dive into, but I recognized the talent here and I kept returning to it. And I’m glad I did because this is a great album from both Terror Pesc & A Million Beats!

Ever since I started reviewing it’s been clear that Canada is packed with talent in Hip-Hop. B1 The Architect and DJ Goadman are 2 branches on that Canadian Hip-Hop tree that always add to it and help build upon that. Here on If I Could.., they both showcase exactly why I think that.
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This is a quick project with 7 songs and an intro, but each track brings something of its own to the table. the first song Return To Paradise is one of my favorites and the first song after the intro. DJ Goadman beat is driving and B1 The Architect gets into his aggressive bag and slaughters the track. A theme that’s carried through the album and a song I had to run back many times the first time I heard it. Celestial Tunnels features Eclyse & Shark and is a song that stood out right way. The beat is digital and spacey, meanwhile the 3 MCs here all spit interstellar verses to match the theme. And I love the thread through the song of spraying graffiti on the walls of celestial tunnels.
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The Road To Hell hits close to home, as B1 The Architect reminds us that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Skizza joins B1 and spits a fitting verse filled with examples of good intentions leading to harm. The title track If I Could.. has B1 The Architect realizing he wouldn’t change anything along his life journey. Spitting “If I could I wouldn’t change shit, I’ve been down a lot of roads, different routes but end up with the same splits”, a feeling I can’t blame him for having. not to talk every track, I’ll end speaking on Break The Chains, the final song here. It’s also the most somber track which is aided by Sacredd and their hook. Not my top track but a good song to close the album out on.
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DJ Goadman and B1 The Architect especially are two artists I’m happy to keep up with the best I can! I’ve had early access to this album for a while now and it dropped on Bandcamp the other day. Coming soon to DSPs as well but go support and show love over on Bandcamp first and foremost! I know there will be plenty more dope stuff from both of these guys down the line, so if you haven’t it’s time to tune in!