RZA — Birth of a Prince

Third solo album by Robert Diggs, founder of the Wu-Tang Clan: Diggs abandons the moniker Bobby Digital and releases the album under the name RZA, for the first time in his career. The record is almost entirely produced by himself, however, The Abbot occasionally leaves the keyboards to other beatmakers: Choco, Megahertz, Barracuda, and the "Wu-Elements" Tru Masta & Bronze Nazareth. The guests of the album are Ol' Dirty Bastard, Masta Killa and Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan, Beretta 9 of Killarmy, Prodigal Sunn of Sunz of Man, Freemurda & Shacronz of CCF Division, the affiliates Allah Real, Cilvaringz, Tash Mahogany, Featherz, and the only external guest of the edition, the German singer Xavier Naldoo.

Curren$y & Harry Fraud — Regatta

Another beautiful project that documents the synchrony between Curren$y and Harry Fraud, among the most appreciated artists in recent years within the underground circuit. The tape consists of eight laid-back tracks, just over twenty minutes of listening and guests such as Styles P, 2 Chainz, Larry June and Jay Worthy. After several subdued releases, Curren$y's delivery is back inspired over crisp, exquisite and lush production, with the producer providing trap, dark and ethereal touches in several passes. An easy must-listen for fans and one of the most stylish hip-hop efforts of the year. 7.5/10.

Neef — Forever Do Me 2 [mixtape]

Mixtape starring Hanif "Neef" Muhammad aka Neef Buck, half Ethiopian-American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, member of the group Young Gounz with Young Chris, affiliate with State Property. Guests are Pooda Brown and State Property rappers Peedi Crakk and Freeway.

The record seems starts quite well, nevertheless, soon it comes a really poor, cheap, simplistic and annoying production that drags the whole product into the grave. Neef has still one of the weakest deliveries in hip-hop, most of the tracks are short, but even those pieces at four and six minutes go unnoticed during the listening. After all the feats, there are six choices in dozen minutes, then a outro of other dozen minutes. The series of "Forever Do Me / FDM" will continue in the following years, but the guy does nothing to make you passionate, like or you hate him or you hate him less than the others. 1.5/10.

Elcamino — If You Know You Know EP

Resounding, unexpected and welcome return to form for Elcamino, rapper from Buffalo, New York, who comes from a downward trend born between the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, shortly after the releases "Elcamino 2" and "Money for Bail". From then on, he made a fall that seemed to have no end between half-rnb releases, wailing hooks and uninspired bars performed in spoken word. I was starting to fear listening to other badly sung rnb albums by him and therefore ignoring his releases, starting with this one.

Statik Selektah & Termanology — 1982

First collaborative album by the duo from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed by producer Statik Selektah and rapper Termanology. 16 tracks, 52 minutes of listening. The production is entirely managed by Statik, he creates simple jazzy rhythms, boom bap with light, tidy, minimal drums and bland samples. Termanology is little more than the typical generic MC, he doesn't have enough personality to carry through the songs, and his flow is weak for most of these fifty minutes: this is quite evident when comparing his solo tracks, where he's overshadowed by the beats, and the tracks with the guests. MOP, Cassidy, Xzibit, Bun B, Styles P, Saigon, Freeway, Saigon and Inspectah Deck participate: quite effortlessly, they're all better than the main rapper, effectively saving the whole project. Many of them bring energy and ignorance to the record, Freeway deserves an honorable mention: the Philadelphia rapper boasts a rough, raw and grumpy flow that creates an interesting contrast to the lightness, cleanliness and smoothness of the jazz beat provided by the producer. Published by ST., ShowOff and Brick Records, it's the first Termanology record to enter Billboard's rap chart.

Lil 1/2 Dead — The Dead Has Arisen

In this episode of "Don't judge an album by the cover" we present the first album of Donald "Lil 1/2 Dead" Smith, rapper from Long Beach, California: image, moniker, title and even the title font might make you believe that this is a filthy horrorcore album and, instead, is an enjoyable g-funk product, smooth as silk.

11/5 — Fiendin 4 tha Funk

First studio album for 11/5, San Francisco group formed by Dante "Taydatay" Casey, Jermaine "Maine-O" Phillips and Paris "Hennesy" Robinson. Production and mixing are entirely handled by TC, who also plays the keyboards along with Reggie Smith and The Enhancer, co-producers of the record. Mr. Laid produces a beat, Barry Smith plays the bass. Guests are Under da Influence, Cold World Hustlers, OG Kevi Kev.

Aceyalone — All Balls Don't Bounce

Debut studio album for Edwin M. "Eddie" Hayes Jr. aka Aceyalone, Los Angeles rapper known for being part of the Freestyle Fellowship. The production is split between The Nonce, Punish, Vic Hop, Chillin Villain Empire, Mumbles, Aceyalone and Fat Jack. Eric Saraphin at the mixing. Guests are Abstract Rude, Change of Rhythm, and Freestyle Fellowship members Mikah Nine and Peace. Following the imprisonment of one of the members, the group disbanded and Aceyalone found himself having to pursue his solo career: he comes out in 1995, the West Coast is slowly going through the gangsta and its nuances, while he still wants to do alt rap.

Tha God Fahim & M. Stacks — Live and Let Dump

I begin to not understand the reason behind these tributes in the covers of Fahim. After Shakur, it's now Kool G Rap's latest work with DJ Polo, whose faces are replaced by those of Tha God Fahim and M. Stacks, rappers from Atlanta, Georgia. The cover then changed in 2021 towards a more sober design, but still not good. Fahim is assigned to rapping, Stacks produces the entire tapes, 12 short tracks, 28 minutes: this guy mumbles things for half an hour over mediocre lo-fi rhythms.

Royce da 5'9" — Street Hop

Royce da 5'9" comes from the commercial and critical success of the collaborative album with supergroup Slaughterhouse, shortly before releasing his fourth solo album, originally announced in 2006. At the time, it was thought that it would be fully produced by Premier, then at least half-produced by Premier, then overseen by Premier, then beats-selected by Premier. In the end, DJ Premier is featured three times here, once at the beginning, once in the belly of the record, once at the end. He exclusively mixes his tracks. The rhythm set is completed by Emile, Nottz, Frequency, Quincey Tones, Streetrunner, David Cross, Raf Moses, Mr. Porter and Carlos Broady. Guests are Slaughterhouse, Kid Vishis, Phonte, Busta Rhymes, Trick Trick, Mr. Porter, K-Young, Jungle Rock Jr. and Bun B.

Shabazz the Disciple — Hood Hopera (Theatrica Biblica)

Shabazz the Disciple's first studio album released under Chambermusik / Chambermusik Special Products, second if considering the compilation "The Vault" (2008), and also through the symbol of the supergroup made with his hands, the artist demonstrates that he has officially reconciled with the Wu-Tang world.

Grafh & DJ Shay — Stop Calling Art Content

Album by Queens rapper Grafh, entirely produced by the late DJ Shay producer from Buffalo part of the Griselda family. The project boasts high-profile guests including Bun B, Styles P, Sheek Louch, Cyhi the Prynce, 3D Na'Tee, El Camino, Ransom, Heem, Rick Hyde and Benny the Butcher, who blesses the release through its Black Soprano Family Records, with which Grafh has just signed.

Gravediggaz — The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel

After the resounding success of the debut, Gravediggaz shows up with a full-blown sophomore jinx. The rapping formation is unchanged, however, Prince Paul is no longer the main architect of the rhythms.

BigBob & Solomon Childs — First Class: The Teaching

Another effort in the boundless discography of Solomon Childs, former member of Theodore Unit, now part of School of the Gifted, always affiliated with Wu-Tang. The music is provided by BigBob, while alongside the Wu-swordsman are Ghostface Killah from the Wu-Tang Clan, Killah Priest of Sunz of Man, 9th Prince & Dom Pachino of Killarmy, Dungeon Masta of the crew Brooklyn Zu Fam and Shyheim.

Curren$y — Still Stoned on Ocean

808-Ray & Smitty Beatz are the main producers of this mixtape, a follow-up to the EP released five years earlier and produced by Cool & Dre. The rapper spits for half an hour along with Fendi P and Jim Jones on music that stays true to that created by the Miami duo in 2016. 808-Ray, Smitty Beatz and the other guys provide honest, melodic and robust rhythms, sometimes elegant, nothing really memorable nor bad. Curren$y is fine, he's not in his full potential and comes up with a trap mixtape that has his moments, but is quickly forgotten in his catalog.

Articolo 31 — Messa di vespiri

Second studio album by Articolo 31, duo from Milan, Italy, formed by rapper J-Ax and DJ Jad. The title and cover totally represent the album: the cover is stupid, it's done very badly, while the title is meaningless. "Messa di vespiri" is the ungrammatical abbreviation for "messaggio, divertimento e spiritualità", three words that have nothing to do with the LP, in Italian the title means nothing. The disc is entirely performed by J-Ax, Solo Zippo is the only guest of the project, in a track. The production is performed entirely by Franco Godi, but the music is made by DJ Jad.

The Musalini & 38 Spesh — In God We Trust

Collaborative album between New York-based MC The Musalini and Rochester rapper producer 38 Spesh, respectively on their second and fourth projects during the 2021 season. Spesh is mainly in charge of production and invents basic, lo-fi, relaxed jazz boom bap beats, accompanying very well the calm and relaxed delivery of Musalini and the guests, Rasheed Chappell, Izzy Hot, Planet Asia, O Finess (with whom the main rapper released a collaborative tape earlier this year) and G4 Jag. Overall, with nine short tracks and just over twenty minutes of material, this tape proves to be one of The Musalini's best and a gem in 38 Spesh's vast discography, who continues to prove himself as one of the best rapper producers in the Empire State area. The sample from Brenda Russell's "You're Free" in "Another One" is wonderful. It's also one of the best tapes released by The Musalini, which is carving out an ever greater share in the underground circuit, here he's in his finest dimension, on a cordial production that rewards its qualities and hides its defects. 7/10.

The Alchemist — This Things of Ours 2 EP

Second chapter of "This Thing of Ours", The Alchemist still plays on the mafia reference to "Cosa nostra". The producer is admirable for trying to showcase unknown rappers every time.

Shabazz the Disciple — The Book of Shabazz (Hidden Scrollz)

He has been around since the late eighties, is honored directly by RZA in "Clan in da Front", the song of "Enter the Wu-Tang" and his contribution on Gravediggaz' first LP is crucial, it allows him both to get his first contract and to influence the style of renowned artists such as Big Pun and Nas, among many others. Still, Scientific Shabazz also known as Shabazz the Disciple is a name you may never have heard of. Around the 1992, when "Protect Ya Neck" is coming out on the streets, a turning point comes for him: his cousin Freestyle, rapper of the Arsonists, plays his demo for Prince Rakeem (RZA), and he decides to bring Shabazz to his new album, made with Prince Paul and other guys in a group called Gravediggaz.

Young Chris — Hired Gun [mixtape]

Solo debut mixtape album by Christopher Francis "Young Chris" Ries, rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, member of the State Property affiliated duo Young Gunz with childhood friend Neef. Released by the independent label Nicetown Entertainment, the tape is hosted by DJ Noodles, production credits DJ Drama and Don Cannon. The main guest of the tape is his friend Neef, with four appearances, followed by members of the State Property Beanie Sigel, Freeway, Peedi Crack, as well as Pooda Brown, Junior Reid, Murda Mase and MOP.

Raekwon — The Vatican IV [mixtape]

Fourth and final chapter of the "Vatican" mixtape series by the Wu-Tang Clan rapper Raekwon in collaboration with DJ Riddler.

Red Hot Lover Tone — #1 Player

Second album by Samuel "Red Hot Lover Tone" Barnes aka Tone of Trackmasterz, three years after its debut. Production is provided by Tone, Silver D, Diamond D, Buckwild, Frank Nitty, Greg Nice and Rog Nice, while guests are Big Daddy Kane, Rich Nice, M.O.P., The Notorious B.I.G., Organized Konfusion, Greg Nice (uncredited in "Wanna Make Moves"), Charlie Brown (uncredited in "Bust tha Maneuva"), and Don Baron.