u/0bieTriceKenobi

I’ve been a fan of Smoke DZA for a long time at this point so when he drops I try to tune in. Recently I saw he was dropping with Memphis Bleek and thought it could be a dope combo. Then a song popped on after finishing another album and Smoke DZA was spitting so crazy I had to tune in right then. So let’s talk about Trees Open Doors!
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This is a 4 song EP so it’s quick but that’s alright. Leave people wanting more. Blockbuster Night was the first song and brings a jazzy beat driven by the prominent drums. Produced by Pria, Smoke DZA hits the track first and lets us know when they go big for the night, it’s a blockbuster event. Memphis Bleek matches the theme and spits a good verse, his rhyme schemes don’t get as intricate as Smoke DZAs but brings a good balance to each track. Lock In was the song that caught my attention and pulled me into the project before I was planning on originally. Smoke DZA fires off in his verse like a rocket and doesn’t end until the hook is over. And Memphis Bleek brought a similar energy and popped off in his verse, telling friends and enemies alike to lock in if you want it like these guys do.
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Slide took me some time to get used to admittedly. The beat is good but switches up so much from the previous 2 songs that it took me a while to grow on me. More of a mainstream kind of song, not something I’d typically imagine Smoke DZA on but both him and Memphis Bleek sounded good. I think my main issue was not really loving the hook. And then Party of Five gets into a slow, heavenly beat that pulled me right in. And Christian D’or held his own with these two Hip-Hop legends.
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This was a really good project, I wish I liked Slide more even though it grew on me. I always say when a project is short like this there’s little room for skips and Slide is right on that edge. Regardless Smoke DZA and Memphis Bleek both went off on this project and made for a dope EP drop in 2026!

Earlier this year Aviated Keyaan hit my radar with his EP Gamesgiving 2 from 2025. A great bite of a project that gave me an idea of what Aviated Keyaan has to offer. Well he’s back with God Bless The Hustle and there’s even more heat to be had. Bringing smooth vibes and bouncing beats out of Ohio, this one’s for the laid back money makers!
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Just like Gamesgiving 2, Aviated Keyaan brings the vibes. If you’re into lifestyle rap this is an album to check into. With production from a range of producers like Dapp Beatz, Mink Tha Playa, Luka Burr & more, they all delivered on the soundscape to bring Keyaan to an elevated state. And while the production leads the charge through Aviated Keyaan direction, it’s the man himself that built up dope tracks on top of these beats. With flows and rhymes as smooth as the production, this is an album to smoke and ride to.
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With very few features here, the weight is largely left to Aviated Keyaan to hold up on his own. But he does it well. Not completely alone thiugh, the features here make an impact. Maino, Curren$y & Dii Jay Made It all showed up and showed out for AK and helped boost the album. I will say Aviated Seduction & My Gemeni were probably my least favorite tracks based on the content but still sounded good for sure. On the other hand some of my favorite songs here are All Grind, Ohio’s Groove, Gas Gauges, Sport Button, Beans & Rollin 3x. But generally it’s an easy album to put on and it’s let play!
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Aviated Keyaan is making some great moves in the lane he’s in! Like I said if you’re into luxury/lifestyle rap then this is an album worth your time! Great beats, great flows and rhymes, all tied together in a gold laced bow!

There’s no doubt in my mind that Vic Spencer is one of the hardest working artists in music. In 2025 Vic dropped multiple amazing projects and it’s time for us to get our first major dose in 2026! Vic Spencer is one of the few people that can say he’s inspired an idol of his in Sean Price, Rest In Peace. And now Vic is here to not only decimate beats alone, but with a few newer and lesser know talent that he believes in. And y’all don’t know how excited I was to get an early listen to talk about this album day 1!
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So much good stuff to get into here on Inspire Your Idols.. Starting with the production, it’s amazing front to back. As much as everyone and myself loves a one producer album, I also love multi-producer albums and this has a different beat maker for almost every track. Vic gets the best from every producer and each beat is different yet radiates with a Vic Spencer vibe that matches perfect. Amazon Truck On Spokes, an incredible first track that’s smooth and elegant before the beat switches into a bass heavy attack then back again. All while Vic matches and flows perfectly in the groove. Vic Spencer has endless bars and quotables that are filled with humor and wit, yet authenticity and respect are still exuded. There’s a reason Sean Price was a fan.
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Guys like Nut G, BlaQ Chidori, J Wade & Aakeem Eshú & Lil Kydd (also produced 2 songs here) are all brand new names to me, can be risky if they don’t deliver. But every single one of them did, nobody let Vic Spencer or us listeners down. And Marv Won, came through like I’d expect out of the Detroit great. Vic Spencer’s flows and thyme schemes throughout this might be the sharpest and most intricate I’ve heard from him so far. A song like Come Thru On Point (produced by Billionaire boys out) has Vic going absolutely crazy. Not just spitting clever and funny bars, as always Vic gets introspective and personal throughout the album. Showing his real feelings and thoughts on life, friends, love and enemies. always a great balance within Vic Spencer’s music.
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I’ve spent hours and hours with this album over many days already, but haven’t felt an urge to skip a track, jump around or even turn it off at all. On Tropical Smoothie From 71st Vic Spencer says “I ain’t been proud enough in myself” and I get it, that can be hard to do. But Vic, you deserve to be proud for countless reasons and Inspire Your Idols. is just the latest one. An incredible album.

All three of the artists involved in POP! Music have been impressing me since they first hit my radar in the last couple months. Linking up Michigan with Houston, this album consists of 5’4 EvEryDaY & AJ The Big Fella on the microphone, while A Producer Named 2 handles the production. This is a quick project but one that gives you a burst of dope Hip-Hop in your life!
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POP! Music starts the project off and brings a classic Hip-Hop vibe that I can’t help but love. The project itself was released for Hip-Hop 51st birthday and this is an ode to the genre. Great verses and a great hook if you have love for the genre. Chitterlin’z comes next and slows things down quite a bit. 5’4 EvEryDaY starts the song off with his smooth Detroit voice before AJ The Big Fella matches his verse with his contrasting more aggressive style. Jasmine Rice maintains the vibe although changes into a more somber feeling as the two MCs contemplate relationships.
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A Producer Named 2 always comes through with great production and he delivered as expected here. With a wide range of beat styles and sounds, but each moving you differently. Better Than Sex is 5’4 EvEryDaYs solo song here, a song that’s title made me unsure before getting into it but it’s amazing. That beat is dark and light, evolving as it plays while 5’4 EvEryDaY lets us know the benefits he’s getting are better than sex. F.L.Y. Is AJ The Big Fellas solo track, and like the tracks title, it uplifts. Bringing a bouncy beat, AJ matches the vibe and gets off a technical and lyrical showcase. Breakfast On Fontaine is A Producer Named 2s solo track, an incredible beat plays that I was into immediately, dark and murky, one I never check out on. The last song is Destiny (POP! Music Remix), a somber track that’s another love letter to Hip-Hop. I’ll always love songs like those.
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Like I said, ever since I came across all three of these artists I’ve been impressed and this project is no different. This further solidified how dope these guys all are, and it’s a project I urge you to check out and support on Bandcamp today!

It’s crazy that this is the 5th Wiz Khalifa release I’ve heard this year and the wild ups and downs that have come in that time. But this is easily Wiz’s best release of the year and might even be Curren$ys so far also. I really enjoyed Disc 1, but without a doubt Roofless Records For Drop Tops: Disc 2 leveled everything up.
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A lot of the little issues I had with Roofless Records For Drop Tops: Disc 1 felt ironed out here. Less Wiz hooks, replaced by some Curren$y hooks and sometimes no hooks at all, which worked really well. It fit in with the heavenly Harry Fraud production, nothing here felt forced which is what the beats needed. This album is like a Raw joint, all natural. Pink Panther was a great first track, a slow calm beat that let Spitta get the intro off before Wiz took over. Passing verses back and forth like Harlem Globetrotters in the court. The Coin Toss brings a beat that could have lost me but when the beat drops and Curren$y starts with “These Harry Fraud beats we don’t skip through these, we wreck em all”, the fuse is lit. An undeniable Jet Life/Taylor Gang hit.
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Not to focus too much on Curren$y, I gotta give Wiz Khalifa his flowers. I’ve had some reviews for Wiz this year that were hard on him, but everything he did here was exactly what I want. His flows and raps are great, his content feels authentic and mature plus he held back on the melodic parts. He’s a big brand already and I know he’s talking streaming but you gotta respect him with lines like “Tryna keep my streams up, workin’ to get my brand big”. Still in that grind mindset even as big as Wiz is. This album is only 20 minutes and flys by with its skipless tracklist. Some of my favorite songs were The Coin Toss, Champagne Bottle Emotes, Smoke N’ Pray, Storm Shadow & Snake Eyes and z28.
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This is arguably my favorite Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y collab project. Which is saying a lot. But for me and my tastes this might match up better than any previous releases, I’ll have to look back. But regardless we have what I think will go down as another classic in these two MCs discography.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Vic Spencer is one of the hardest working artists in music. In 2025 Vic dropped multiple amazing projects and it’s time for us to get our first major dose in 2026! Vic Spencer is one of the few people that can say he’s inspired an idol of his in Sean Price, Rest In Peace. And now Vic is here to not only decimate beats alone, but with a few newer and lesser know talent that he believes in. And y’all don’t know how excited I was to get an early listen to talk about this album day 1!
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So much good stuff to get into here on Inspire Your Idols.. Starting with the production, it’s amazing front to back. As much as everyone and myself loves a one producer album, I also love multi-producer albums and this has a different beat maker for almost every track. Vic gets the best from every producer and each beat is different yet radiates with a Vic Spencer vibe that matches perfect. Amazon Truck On Spokes, an incredible first track that’s smooth and elegant before the beat switches into a bass heavy attack then back again. All while Vic matches and flows perfectly in the groove. Vic Spencer has endless bars and quotables that are filled with humor and wit, yet authenticity and respect are still exuded. There’s a reason Sean Price was a fan.
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Guys like Nut G, BlaQ Chidori, J Wade & Aakeem Eshú & Lil Kydd (also produced 2 songs here) are all brand new names to me, can be risky if they don’t deliver. But every single one of them did, nobody let Vic Spencer or us listeners down. And Marv Won, came through like I’d expect out of the Detroit great. Vic Spencer’s flows and thyme schemes throughout this might be the sharpest and most intricate I’ve heard from him so far. A song like Come Thru On Point (produced by Billionaire boys out) has Vic going absolutely crazy. Not just spitting clever and funny bars, as always Vic gets introspective and personal throughout the album. Showing his real feelings and thoughts on life, friends, love and enemies. always a great balance within Vic Spencer’s music.
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I’ve spent hours and hours with this album over many days already, but haven’t felt an urge to skip a track, jump around or even turn it off at all. On Tropical Smoothie From 71st Vic Spencer says “I ain’t been proud enough in myself” and I get it, that can be hard to do. But Vic, you deserve to be proud for countless reasons and Inspire Your Idols. is just the latest one. An incredible album.

I’ve yet to hear anything from Fat Money I don’t like and with his new album WOLF, that continues. Coming out of Chicago, he’s one of the most talented artists in the city without a doubt. Bringing melody and bars full of street content across great production, what’s not to enjoy?
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“My pockets full of the root of evil” Fat Money starts the album off spitting. Over the quiet but building beat for Dust Off, Fat Money takes his craft serious and you can hear it in his lyrics and delivery. I’m not sure there’s a multi talented artist that can rap and sing that does it better than Fat Money. Every line & every note comes off so smoothly. And is one of the few artists that can get melodic like Fat Money does and still keep everything gritty and polished at the same time.
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Nunyaa is dope but Easter Sunday shines bright at the start of the album, and might be my favorite song on the whole project. Some of the rawest bars like “What’s the point of pushin peace when there ain’t shit but goofies left?”, damn! Easter Sunday, Uncle Remus and Dorthy make up my favorite run of songs, but there are great songs all over this album. I do think the first half is slightly better than the second half which has a few songs I like a bit less, but even then the songs aren’t tracks I have an urge to skip through or anything.
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Fat Money doesn’t dissappointed and this album is no exception. Whether he keeps things dirty or flashes mainstream sounds, he goes off. This is an album I absolutely recommend and even more so if you like some melodic raps, but be ready for Fat Money to go in.

I like The Musalini and have been a bit of a fan for a bit now. But admittedly between all the reviews and requests, real life stuff and some other projects I’ve been too busy to keep up with The Musalinis drop rate. But I’d been catching videos from him lately and decided I had to check into his latest release with Rewind Da President, The Power of P!
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The Musalini always brings that lifestyle & pimping vibe to pretty much everything he touches. And those two styles go together like peanut butter & jelly. Bouncy yet laid back production that grooves along and brings the funk. A a vibe for both guys and the ladies listening. Lyrically Musa gives us grinding/motivational bars through hustling and pimping stories.
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the Musalini doesn’t get the most technical but he doesn’t have to be, that’s not the style here. What he does get into is some melodic moments, which can be hit and miss for me. Like the hook on Drinks Up wasn’t my favorite but there are other times when Musas melodicism works more. Across the album there’s a good amount of features which is fine when The Musalini drops as much as he does, but solo Musa does tend to be my favorite. There are a few features I’m less into but I appreciate that Musa gives smaller artists opportunities through features. Some of my favorite songs here were Long Road, Mines Or Not, Stretch Her, Foxy Brown, Still Active and a few others
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If you’re into lifestyle rap you should already know of The Musalini, but if not now’s as good a time as ever to tap in. The Power of P is a great album and even though I don’t keep up with everything, I know I can tune into The Musalini and catch quality music!

Recently the homie @cloud recommended this album from Lyric Jones, GA$ MONEY. And he never lets me down so I had to give it a shot and clearly I’ve been ing out by missing out on Lyric Jones! This is a great album with great features and Lyric Jones went off!
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Looking more into Lyric Jones it’s not a surprise this album was so good. Shes got the accolades to back up her skill but I’m here for GA$ MONEY right now. As the album starts it’s clear that Lyric Jones needs whatever she’s owed. All Mine (The Bank) is the first song and Lyric lets it be known that she needs all her cash and respects the ladies getting it by any means necessary. Immediately showcasing high level rhyming and lyricism while sticking to the topic and executing it with a high IQ on display. Coming out of Boston, Lyric Jones gives us Beantown (Still Lovin’ It); an ode to her hometown and hood which she says on the hook.
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Look My Way is an upbeat track featuring 2 GOATS, Blu & Vic Spencer. Spanning the track from the West, to the Midwest and out East. A great track and collab between the three. Adulting is another standout track, one where Lyric Jones gets into the ins and outs of being (or trying to be) an adult. Game Ova brings us Lyric and the great Guilty Simpson, where they both boastfully spit, including Lyric telling older corny MCs shes not interested in dating. And last but not least is All Sides, a song where Lyric Jones lets it be known shes gif every angle covered, from all sides.
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This was an amazing album and like I said, I’ve been missing out on Lyric Jones. But better late than never! Now I’m in the know and look forward to checking into more music from her like Closer Than They Appear. And if you are t up on her music there’s no better time to tune in than the present!

I’ve been following the great producer FiveEight Fever for a while now, he even made my 2025 Rising Star Producers! So when I see he drops I try to make sure I check in. This time the album is Grhyme with the MC Chubs. coming out of Long Island with razor sharp lines and a unique flow, Grhyme is a top tier underground gem!
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I won’t lie, it did take me a little time to fully lock into Chubs flow and rhyme style. it’s a great style but like some of my favorites took me just a bit of time for everything to click into place. But by the time I was finished with my first play through I saw the vision. First of all, FiveEight Fever brought some great, gritty production here for Chubs to dig into. and it was dope to see some great features like Gripz, Bub Styles & Brad Piff scattered across the album.
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Chubs brings witty bars and grimy lyrics. Lines like “Where we from you either turn scum or an athlete, or a fiend on the backstreet” and “Slice you back like bacon fat, stop glorifying rats” are all over Grhyme and fit perfect with the beats from FiveEight Fever. This album stays in the mud and I really love that, songs like words Are Weapons, D.R.U.G.S., get Iff My Cross Trainers, Burl Talk and Camp Kill really get into a vibe I like. But on tracks like Soul Deepens you get more of a personal insight to Chubs which is dope too.
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FiveEight Fever continues to link and work with dope artists and I’ll continue to tune in. Chubs caught me as a new fan off this, and I can see he has a long career I have to study up on. Check this album out today and show these guys some love!

Something about TRICERATOPS made me think of Dream Master from the NES!

I couldn’t help myself, all just satire! 😂

Recently I reviewed Jonathan Clouds EP What Doesn’t Kill Me Will… and really loved it. Well he’s all gas no brakes right now and followed that up with another EP, What Doesn’t Kill Me Makes Me Stronger. A project I liked even more than the last one and have been excited to talk about!
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It starts with the title track which takes no time to get into the meat of things. The beat is hard knocking and beautiful as Cloud attacks it swiftly. “The road less traveled, my footprints embedded in the gravel”, that’s an incredible bar with layers and delivered with passion just like the rest of the track. Emptiness is the next track and brings a super uplifting beat while Cloud speaks on emptiness in different ways. In both good and bad ways, but seeing things clearly. Dark Clouds has Jonathan Cloud clicking dark clouds in his life and striking through them like a light beam.
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I really like how Cloud attacked each beat on this project, with razor sharp flows throughout. I think hoes might like Scaring The Hoes, maybe I’m wrong but either way I liked it ha. “Talking bout scaring the hoes, but we never seen you round no women”, some vicious bars on this track that feel like there might be a target out there. But I don’t see anyone stepping to Cloud and his bar work cause I know he’ll get busy. Have Mercy is a favorite and that starting bar is exactly why “the only things that matter is cold facts, they tellin me opinions I tell em to hold that" Cloud fires off before the beat even drops. Under a minute but a scorcher. And last but not least is Before I Get Home, a track where Cloud gives his testimony as his last words on the album.
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Like I said before with What Doesn’t Kill Me Will…, Jonathan Cloud was only getting started with his cooking. This felt like it hit just a splash more for me and that says a lot. It’s already becoming a busy year for Cloud and his fans, you won’t see me complaining though!

https://open.spotify.com/album/0vSCEmv0635olj1FLhVSPE?si=TpM3pyLuTnuT4iRHJPcQyg

I’ve known this project was in the works for a minute now and I’ve been super excited for it. Put That On Everything is an album fully produced by Xcelence, the Grammy award winning producer; and is a collaboration album between two of Chicagos premiere MCs, Rufus Sims & Ju Jilla! Two Windy City heavyweights came together for this album and came out with one of the top albums of the year!
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Both Ju Jilla and Rufus Sims bring high tier lyricism to each and every track. Telling personal stories mixed with witty bars, street rhymes and everything in between. And bringing everything together is the soulful and smooth production from Xcelence. This album just flows so well, verse to verse and track to track. On My Soul kicks things off and sets the tone that the next 27 minutes follows. There’s no time wasted with the quotables ON MY Soul has one of my favorite lines, as Rufus spits on the first verse of the album “Used to be a crashout, cashed out and made dough”. Meanwhile on Eye Could See, Ju Jilla kicks “Soldiers at war do or die over nonsense, double homicide got you bondless”. Raw bars across the entire album from both Rufus Sims & Ju Jilla.
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This level of music takes effort, ‘Passion’ if you will. Which brings me to the track by the same name. “You can learn a trade or skill but they can’t teach passion”, Rufus Sims fires off as the first line in the song. It’s such a true statement, and what helps push guys like Ju Jilla and Rufus Sims to elevated heights. I love the aggressive yet mature sound and style these two MCs get off across these beats from Xcelence. Mastodon is great, referencing the animal but also the Black Ranger from Power Rangers. The beat sings out and echos along beautifully. Best In The World has Ju & Rufus both getting personal as you get an insight into their prayers. And wrapping up the album is Hottest In The City, where they speak on Chicago and their spots in the city. “She say my heart cold, well it’s probably cause I got like 40k up on my neck” spits Ju Jilla while Rufus Sims hits us with “I’m the son of a mob boss, I put that shit on everything like franks red hot sauce”.
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This album is incredible, easily one of the best of the year. Both Ju Jilla and Rufus Sims solo are out here dunking again and again. This starts to feel like an All-Star game at a certain point with the way they bounce off each other. And Xcelences production is the prefect court for these MCs to do what they do best across. This is a 2026 must listen!

I keep finding gems emerging from Ohio and Dirty Needles is one of those gems. Recently this album Pens & Needles hit my desk and once I started it I couldn’t put it down. Produced entirely by Reese Tanaka, this album of wicked bars and beats was right up my alley.
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Literally no time into this project the gas peddle is stepped on and no sign of letting up. 0-100 type rapping and I love it. Bob Was Here… & Greetings X Salutations both start the project with a bang and by the time I was at The Nicest with Planet Asia I was all in. “Ain’t nobody fucking with me on a track, ima rap like the rents due”, one of the truest bars to his Pens & Needles. Dirty Needles brings technical excellence with flows to match. The rhyme schemes and the precision they are executed is in the upper echelon of MCs. As far as content there’s a lot of boisterous bars but when the rapping is this good, it works. But there are absolutely bars and songs that dig deeper into Dirty Needles life.
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Flame Emojis is an easy standout, Dirty Needles gets into some real shit. Fire Emojis don’t pay the bills. “Emojis are cool but it won’t put food in my refrigerator” & “I need more than a hashtag to show some respect” are two bars that really drive the message home. And Daphya provides an amazing hook and verse to match. Shes new to me but shined bright. 95 Needles brings a familiar vibe that most will recognize and Dirty Needles goes back to 95 and speaks on the origins of his razor sharp pen. And Humble Pie has Dirty Needles thinking over a comment saying he needs to humble himself over his rap skills. Dirty Needles is confident in himself and lifts himself up, and I agree with him. Plus, he has the skills to back it up.
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This was a hell of a first impression from Dirty Needles and it’s gonna tough to follow up and live up to moving forward. But the greats can do it and I have faith that Dirty Needles can reach and even exceed the expectations set by Pens & Needles. And another strong branch off the Ohio tree, give this a spin today and go support Dirty Needles!

Adot New Shit is a newer artist to me in the last half year or so. Finding multiple features from him across different albums that caught my attention. Year of the Content is Adot New Shits latest release with the Grammy nominated producer RMB Justize, who also touches the microphone across this album. Close to an hour long, there’s plenty to get into.
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Adot New Shit & RMB Justize is probably 80% raps and 20% or so, more melodic and singing. It makes for a good blend and with the mostly smooth production here it works. The few times it doesn’t work quite as much is when the song direction is less soulful and laid back, like Tudor Coupe. A song I like and the duo smokes lyrically, but the singing on that one just wasn’t for me. But like I said, Adot New Shit & RMB Justize mostly stick to rapping, and they do it well. Year of the Content (Intro) and State of the Union both show immediately as the album starts, that the flows are as smooth as RMB Justizes production.
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The beats provided by RMB Justize clock in at a high level. Jazzy and flowing tunes drive the album as the two MCs pack each track lyrically. Speaking on a few standout tracks, Vibrate stood out with its simple but wavy beat. Saying “people notice high vibrations”, which I fully agree with. Uber Black and 3 The Hard Way both bring darker and more stern production which makes for a good mid album switch up. And Change is Scary I really like, it’s just nice to get a song and topic so honest and self reflective. Change is scary and it’s okay to feel that way and say it, but it’s inevitable like they say on the song.
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These two put together a great album, I thought RMB Justize was going to produce only initially, but it turned out to be a great duo album. Super smooth, filled with sharp rhymes and dope lyrics. Check this album out and catch the vibe!