Certified Lover Boy vs. Donda

DONDA, a culmination of years of production and creative versatility. Kanye shines like no other on his tenth studio album. From jaw-dropping performances from newer artists in the game to veteran and refined sounds signature to only one of hip-hop’s legendary MCs and producers. Kanye has done it again, and DONDA is perfect. At least, everything but the cover. Now I better not hear anyone telling me it has to do with immersing yourself in the music because… have you seen Trippie Redd’s album? Trip at Knight was a smorgasbord of art and trust me, it only served to immerse me even more. Kanye could’ve done better in that regard, but that detail pales in comparison to the absolute beauty that is the album itself. 

Certified Lover Boy, a callback to every Drake to come before him, this version of our very own “champagnepapi” finds Drake at not only his most braggadocious, but also his most introspective. With tracks like “No Friends in The Industry” simultaneously and masterfully does both. Drake doesn’t delve too much outside of his winning formula. Telling his woes, while also bodaciously letting his audience know of his acknowledgment, not only of his tendency towards toxic masculinity but also his ability to recognize and accept the truth of his actions, and their consequences. Certified Lover Boy is a classic Drake album through and through, filled with vibes, Instagram captions, and heartbreak. But that album artwork makes Kanye’s look like a lost Warhol. 

Now, could we compare the two projects and come out with an objective winner? We most definitely could. But we’re not going to, because we don’t wanna. Kanye’s rapping ability, in our opinion, isn’t as polished as Drake’s, even though he’s surprised us time and time again with on-tracks such as pretty much all of the songs on College Dropout. However, with Drake, one thing you know is that there’s going to be wordplay and that we believe is Drake’s one saving grace. Kanye’s production and ability to fit other artists into his style of music surpasses Mr. Graham has going for him, but these two are completely different artists entirely. Drake’s a better rapper. Kanye makes better music. It would be cool if they could squash the beef though. Now that would be a legendary collab.

spence.wav - Ride The .Wav

spence.wav is a DMV producer who’s come on the scene in the past few months. With production credits on the collaboration tape between 301Music and BoBoBeatz, The Whole Kill, on its third track “Rain On Yo Head”, before going on to produce three breakout tracks in No Wrong featuring local rapper After.Fame, Locked In, featuring Des, and KILLAMANJARO ft. ILYFÁLL and After.Fame. The latter two are actually on the project we’re here to present to you today.

Take a look at our five favorite tracks off the tide-crashing Ride The .Wav 😈

STUCK IN THESE WATERS (ft. pablo skyes & Des)

“Stuck in These Waters” projects the image this album is trying to convey to a tee. Spence is the wave and people need to hop on before he crashes the game. Des and pablo skyes make an amazing duo, with the former walking on water with lyrical plays in pockets native to the DMV area. Des’s verse can make any listener stop what they're doing just to nod their head, scrunch up their face, and release a quiet “Damn.”

pablo skyes’ chorus takes us away from the thrashing waters of Des’ verse and sails us to a paradise of vocal runs. sykes makes a point of encapsulating the entire premise of this track, he won’t drown in these waters.

Where its sink or swim, the latter always prevails.

COLD FEET (ft. N.A.I)

Cold Feet is simply a masterpiece. R&B is a new genre that is slowly re-emerging within the DMV area, and spence.wav captured the essence of that vibe perfectly. Introducing DMV singer/songwriter, N.A.I, the two create a beautiful world, one where the singer is caught between decisions, feeling as if she’s floating away from what could be a great thing, however, at the same time, knows the pressure of this situation could drown her if she keeps holding on.

With gorgeous production and beautiful vocal performance, Cold Feet gets an A+ from us.

FIRST CLASS (ft. TracyDeuce)

First Class takes the DMV culture and injects it straight into the beat and flow of this entire track. TracyDeuce throws crazy bars over a heavy trap beat, produced by the wave himself. Spencer leaves enough space for Deuce to do his thing without letting listeners forget whose tape this is.

Tracy’s infectious hook is really what made the song for us. Great song all the way through.

AQUARIUM (ft. Teebow & CP3)

Teaming up with fellow DMV producer, BoBoBeats, Aquarium gives off a haunting vibe, meshing the two producer’s styles of heavy 808s and experimental melodies. CP3 and Teebow do a great job tossing bars back and forth like alley-oops. Braggadocious bars underneath a beautifully eerie production give the song a deep-sea feel, keeping in line with the aesthetic of the album itself, something we, at Nefarious Supply, absolutely love.

Concepts are a big 10/10 for us, in the sounds, artwork, and visuals artists use.

LUIGI (ft. Yv Keem)

Luigi is just a vibe.

Yv Keem dances over the waves of the guitar-led, slow trap beat. Though the production is somewhat calm, Keem speaks on the realities he’s had to deal with on his journey to becoming a rapper. Not having a proper place to sleep at night, being a young black man with no degree, and trying to make it by any means necessary.

Spencer has made it clear he is great at creating worlds for artists to live in, and with this being the last track of the album, it feels as if listeners can finally catch their breath.

But that’s only until the next wave hits.

Hopefully, they can catch it.

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If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with spence.wav, you can follow him on Instagram and be sure to check out his album Ride This .Wav.

If you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with the content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our newsletter, you can sign up below. Be sure to also check out our new collection SZN 3 which dropped and use discount code SZN3 to get 10% off your first order!

Forever Young - ImYoung

After a long wait and some release setbacks, rising artist ImYoung has finally released his debut album Forever Young. Based out of London but originally from Bergen, Norway I first caught up with him last year on the debut release of his newest single “Tryna Figure Out”. A catchy song that immediately caught my attention when he first submitted it, led me down a rabbit hole which then led me to discover more of his music. What really caught my attention with him is his social media presence as well as the quality of his work. While the rest of the world was locked down in 2020 in fear of COVID, the Bergen based artist spent most of his 2020 locked into his career. 

Using the quarantine and the slower pace of the world, he went on an impressive run that spanned the entirety of 2020.  Releasing 6 singles and an EP titled Andromeda while growing his social media presence, it's clear that he is a star in the making. But how does his album add value to his overall discography and the direction of his career? One of main things I really like about ImYoung is his presence, you can tell when he walks into a room he immediately grabs the attention and it's all eyes on him. The same can be said about his music. In my opinion his best work is his debut project Andromeda. Limited to only four tracks, you can tell that this project was meticulously put together from the beat selection, to the lyrics as well as  the guest feature. With Andromeda ImYoung set a pretty high bar for himself already so I was pretty excited to hear what his new project would sound like.

Leading up to the project with the release of three singles spanning 2020 into 2021, I kind of had an idea of what to expect in the project going into it. Opening up on a solid note with the first track intro I was immediately blown away by the beat as well as the mixing and mastering of the project. This trend of high quality work continues throughout the project and he shines through on standout songs like “Paris” with Ermina Ibishi,”By My Lonely”, and “Elevate” with KDVSGOLIATH.

These songs in my opinion are when he is at his best and all in all the project is well put together. It is an amazing body of work but my only gripe with it is it lacks variety. I’m not saying this to bash the project in any way because I actually like it, and I think he really put his heart and soul into it. You can tell he spent a long time putting it together and this project is a showcase of his work ethic. But within the project and overall sound I wish there was more diversity in the beats, and the lyrics.

Overall I give the project an 8/10; In my opinion his debut project Andromeda remains his best body of work but Forever Young is a close second. ImYoung is an extremely talented underground artist. No matter what setbacks occur within the album, he will always make up for it. I believe that ImYoung will strive to be the best artist that he can be, and will outwork and develop himself to get to the top of the industry.

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Big shout out to ImYoung for always supporting us if you want to stay up to date wit him and his music you can follow him on Instagram and Twitter and be sure to stream his newest his new project Forever Young available on Spotify.

If you enjoyed this review and want to stay up to date with the content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our newsletter you can sign up below. Be sure to also check out our new collection SZN 3 which dropped and use discount code SZN3 to get 10% off your first order!

BROCKHAMPTON'S ALBUMS RANKED

@channeltwotwotwo

Now we know love for the hardest working boyband in America is ample over here at Nefarious Supply, but now we want to test our listening capacity when it comes to one of our favorite groups in the rap game so far. BROCKHAMPTON has been a fan favorite for many since that explosive year of 2017. Since then the boyband has grown and lived their lives in many different ways, with these new experiences comes growth and

Here is our ranked list of the BROCKHAMPTON discography! Enjoy!

#7 - All-American Trash

All-American Trash saw the boys first coming up within the music industry under the name BROCKHAMPTON. Though most of the band members had been in the game prior to the group forming and also knew about each other much longer before that, the chemistry between each member and the connection to the music was simply just in the beginning stages, and these loose ties can be heard in every track on the album.

With softer beats and more intimate lyrics, the hidden treasure chest is full of gems. However, their luster pales in comparison to what the group achieves in their later years.

#6 - SATURATION II

Though SATURATION II has two of our favorite BROCKHAMPTON songs of all time in TOKYO and FIGHT, the album falls short of the other two in our opinion, only due to how incredibly raw and volatile the first and last albums were. SATURATION II takes a nice slow jog as opposed to SAT I’s explosively creative energy and SAT III’s entrance into the maturity of their ingenuity and sound.

SAT II will always have a place in our hearts though. Please listen to the greatest vibe check in the world above.

#5 - SATURATION I

Now SAT I was what started it all. As soon as the album starts you’re grabbed by ears by their sound and they don’t even let go till maybe about SKIT 1. HEAT, GOLD, and STAR set the tone for what isn’t just a body of work but an experience woven together to become the first incredibly anthemic piece to a trilogy. SATURATION I was BROCKHAMPTON at its most raw in its new sound. Hard-hitting, raw, emotional, groovy, head-bopping greatness. They’d just put iron to fire with this project but it was one that undoubtedly set the tone for the rest of their discography.

In honor of the OG SATURATION, we gotta put up one of the classics! Have a listen and don’t lie in the comments about the face you make when that beat comes in!

#4 - SATURATION III

SATURATION III was the culmination of hard work and effort the boys have put into their sound since All-American Trash, and these new heights are thoroughly showcased in tracks like BOOGIE, LIQUID, BLEACH, HOTTIE, SISTER/NATION, and RENTAL. Romil, Jabari, and Kiko, the central helm of BROCKHAMPTON’s production shine like the angels they are all over this project with their bodacious and outstanding landscapes they paint with their sounds for the vocalists to play around into their heart’s content.

This album also has the most cohesive writing of the SAT trilogy lyricism-wise! Check out our fan favorite above!

#3 - iridescence

iridescence is BROCKHAMPTON’s hard-left from their usual hard-lefts. This album came at a point in time where the boyband was dealing with a very tumultuous situation in Ameer Vann’s departure. This raw repositioning of the group in their career and life came through in the extreme experimentalism and emotional pull of iridescence. Tracks like J’OUVERT, DISTRICT, and VIVID make you throw your head back and forth in tandem with the infectious grimey beats, there are also tracks such as SAN MARCOS, TONYA, and FABRIC that remind you that this is a multifaceted machine of talent.

iridescene takes their already-established sound and punts it through the glass ceiling, making it our number three! Our favorite DISTRICT is floating around above, go ahead and bump it!

#2 - GINGER

GINGER takes the boyband and thrusts them to heights unknown by even the fans themselves.

With an extremely soul-baring yet grounded take on the events that took over their lives the past three or so years. On GINGER they’re coming more deliberate and more introspective, with tracks like NO HALO beautifully setting the tone of the entire album, searching within ones own mind and heart, battling with religion, making amends with yourself, and learning that in order to grow healthily there needs to be separation and healing from that in which impedes your growth.

Not to say that GINGER doesn’t know how to have fun from time to time, with bangers such as BOY BYE and ST. PERCY sprinkled in the mix. This album is the boyband at its most centered and deserves the number 2 spot off subject matter alone!

If you haven’t listened to LOVE ME FOR LIFE yet I honestly have no idea what’s going on in your world right now. And even if you have, listen above! Again!

#1 - ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE

ROADRUNNER… whew.

What a journey this album was, from the eclectic and JUNKY-esque anthem that was Kevin’s verse on BUZZCUT to the stone-cold Texas grime of WINDOWS, featuring the New York legend himself, A$AP Ferg, as well as Video Store’s SoGoneSoFlexy, to the whimsical and pop-infused summer hits in COUNT ON ME and I’LL TAKE YOU ON, and the absolutely devastating dual parts of THE LIGHT, this album saw them in a light like no other. JOBA absolutely shined on this project and brought a thought to my mind.

This album was an actual form of therapy for the member, from the light poppy tracks to the heavy and deeply emotional ones, this is a love letter to JOBA’s heart in the wake of his father’s passing, as well as an album worthy of every Grammy imaginable. The boys are at their cleanest production-wise and the most focused they’ve been topic-wise since GINGER.

Above is the absolute dance anthem of the year. Enjoy!

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Paris Texas - BOY ANONYNMOUS

The Enigma that is Alt Rap.

We’ve finally getting a lot of really good music! It feels like forever ago that I enjoyed a project in its entirety but this album takes the cake; everything that’s come out has either disappointed, totally flopped or under delivered (specially in the alt rap stratosphere) but Paris Texas has come in to save the day!

In this review, I’ll be covering a brand-new duo in the rap scene that I think you should keep your eyes on; these dudes know what they’re doing and it shows: Compton rappers Louie Pastel and Felix joined forces in the past year and broke into the mainstream with their hit single “HEAVY METAL”. There isn’t too much to say about the duo’s emergence into the scene since “BOY ANONYMOUS” is their first album that JUST released last Friday, so lets just jump right in.

You know the drill; I pick my top 3 favorite songs off the project, go into detail about how ingenious and innovative they are, then you go and listen to it and share it with your friends!

Starting off with the intro song “CASINO”: when my roommate put this on in our music-listening area I was immediately put into a trance at how Paris Texas’s vocals compliment the spaced out, almost hyper poppy melody that ducks in and out throughout the whole track whenever they decide to deliver a bar that goes against all conventional rap topics; like my personal favorite: “I’ve never been on the block, I just stay in the house, I used to cum in a sock”. The instrumental also takes a nosedive into the grey area between some alt rock, EDM and stereotypical trap; a super well-balanced song that delivers on all parts.

One to the next song; “PACK 4 DA LOW” is the second song on this project and BOY does it BANG! A lot of shit goes down in this song, like the introduction on the heavy, distorted guitar riffs layered on top of that FATASS 808 pattern with another weirdly melodic rage-esqe melody which I’m sure that if you were to speed up the sample the tiniest bit you can pull off an Uzi feature on this track. Lyricism follows the same sorta vibe as the previous song; some weird, off-kilter-ass delivery all throughout mixed with some more stabs taken at being a socialite.

Lastly, my favourite song award off this project must go to “SITUATIONS”. This track is what it would be like if you were to get the Beatles singing over a beat produced by Kevin Abstract and King Krule all mashed together;  an awesome headbanging compilation of filtered out background vocals mixed with a catchy guitar riff and a hip-thrusting bassline and drum pattern. This track makes me wanna throw on a white leather jacket with skinny red leather pants, walk down the street and  smoke a cigarette as I gatekeep the shitty, run down café down the street from all the “cool kids”.

That’s it for this review! I strongly recommend this album to anyone that’s interested in venturing into the weirder sides of rap and rock. To all my BROCKHAMTON, Baby Keem, and early hard rock fans out there, this project doesn’t shy away from wearing its inspirations on its sleeve as both rappers mess around with similar vibes and groove. Thanks again for stopping by! Don’t forget to keep up with the latest Nefarious news (especially the new merch drop). Stay safe, get vaccinated, and show love to small artists.

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Van Buren Records - Bad For Press

“you can’t sit with us.”

So turns out they’re good for press!

The boys from Brockton have finally come together, after cultivating their sound separately over the course of two years the group decidedly united their various styles and strengths like the Avengers in the form of the collective’s debut album, Bad For Press.

Featuring members Jiles, Luke Bar$, SAINT LYOR, Meech, Andrew Regis, Homeinvader, Shelby Narcisse, KIRON, Ricky Felix, rlouie, and MosCouture, Van Buren Records has a highly saturated roster of talent that has been waiting to be let loose. Now with the drop of their first collective effort, the VB boys are now in top form, ready to show the world the talent that only Brockton can bring to the table.

Below are our favorite five tracks from the project! Let us know yours in the comments and enjoy the article!

It Is What It Is (ft. Luke Bar$, SAINT LYOR, Jiles, & Lord Felix)

A groovy, high-energy opener, It Is What It Is showcases various bodacious verses from the boys, starting with Luke Bar$, who speaks on lack of trust in others, time running out, and destroying pedestals. The hook is incredibly catchy with the production surrounding Bar$ voice beautifully. SAINT LYOR helms the second verse taking on topics of unhappiness, checking boxes off his hit list, and warning against getting him angry.

Jiles ego makes a surprise entrance before the man himself comes in for a gritty three-piece, taking on a reminiscent verse centered on life in the hood back in Brockton. Lord Felix closes off with the energy of a headliner, wrapping up the incredible starter in a nice neat bow.

Medic (ft. SAINT LYOR, Lord Felix, Jiles, Andrew Regis,

The second breakout single from the boys, the Medic features vocal performances from everyone outside of Luke Bar$, with the inclusion of new vocalist and longtime producer, Andrew Regis. SAINT LYOR comes in with a face-scrunching, opener, making it clear the distinction between his team and the outsiders.

He speaks on laziness and comfort-searching within the music industry and how complacency has taken hold of upcoming artists nowadays. Lord Felix vibes in hitting pockets right between the beat that accentuate the beauty of the hypnotic production. Jiles grounds the track with a stellar grungy verse, boasting his lack of trust for others outside of his collective.

Andrew Regis glides along this beat with a groovy few bars before handing it off to Meech to absolutely destroy it with a beautiful last verse. Ricky said it best:

“That’s how you f*ckin rap n*ggas rap.” - Ricky Felix

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (ft. Luke Bar$, Andrew Regis, Meech & Lord Felix)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun slows the album down completely, shifting it into a more relaxing atmosphere. Luke Bar$ leads you in with a trance-filled thoughtful verse about commitment, love, and faith.

The chorus sums up the tone of this track, loose, unbearing, and tranquil. Andrew Regis rides for his second feature of the album, doubling down on the groovy flow of before as he speaks about his newfound ties with a woman he’s met. Meech struggles between love and lust in his verse, backed by almost heavenly adlibs.

As the hooks swing back around, Lord Felix does what he does best and vibes the track to a finish with an infectious last refrain.

No Interviews (ft. Jiles, Lord Felix, Luke Bar$, & Meech)

Jiles comes out the gate with a fury like no other, throwing heavy and gritty bars left and right to start off this hype train of a track. An alleyoop of sorts, Lord Felix catches the verse and doesn’t fumble in the slightest, changing the vibe to fit his needs, a slower more deliberate and funky delivery.

Luke Bar$ gently takes it from his fellow member, softly speaking deathly truths overtop a haunting production. Meech absolutely snatches his part, taking an absolutely braggadocious tone to his delivery, using the intoxicating production to lead him out.

VVS (ft. Luke Bar$, BoriRok, Jiles, & Lord Felix)

VVS… this is our favorite track on the album by far, and completely encompasses the grungy, truth-seeking, introspective, and deadly aura that Van Buren Records embodies.

Luke Bar$ gives an almost triumphant verse on this third-to-last track, manifesting riches for everyone on his team, admitting to probably going a bit crazy, but loving ride ever still. The hook is insatiable, keeping your ears hooked till the next verse, and BoriRock delivers like no other. His clean and concise, yet, ferally active delivery gives a forboding head-thumping energy like no other.

Jiles does exactly what he was meant to do on this beat, speak truths of his Brockton life and hope for the future, all while lyrically making your face stink up. Lord Felix’s verse encompasses the entire hype of the track, ending it off with a bang.

But it seems as if that was but only a warning shot, for the Boys from Brockton have much more in store for us.

97 BLOSSOMS - THE BLOSSOM (Review)

The Blossom is an LA based artist who is making waves in their own right through their interesting music and amazing subject matter. 97 Blossoms debuted on April 6th 2021 under the VIDEO STORE label.

Confetti

Confetti, the first song on the album gives us a nostalgic feeling, bringing us back to the early days of summer as a teenager when life was simpler. The smooth 90’s-esque guitar makes us think of the music we grew up with and the songs we would hear on the radio in the car with our parents. The lyrics in the first verse show the feelings of summer and walking everywhere you have to go, making your shoes dusty, and catching the train. These feelings are all ones we have experienced, and the song really does a great job of bringing us right back to those moments. The songs chorus talks about reality and how “Shit’s upsetting” and wanting a life wrapped in confetti, speaking about the want to live beyond reality and live in an easier time in memory.

Hardcore Happy

            Hardcore Happy brings us to an early 2000’s feel, with the reoccurring theme of raw acoustic guitar as the main sound clip throughout the song. The beat slowly kicks in and gives the song a nice modern twist that helps differentiate itself from the first song on the project. The Lyrics of the song describe wanting hardcore happy, possibly asking for better days and a happier life. They integrate some recent topics as well, such as gender identity and how gender identity can be assumed by many.  This topic is taking the power back from the people who have misgendered them and caused them harm in that way. Altogether this song brings their style of song writing to a new modern view making the listener feel some of the emotions they experience.

Smoke

Smoke hits us harder than the first two tracks with a beat that hits us hard from the get go. The song also features Matt Champion from BROCKHAMPTON, and has a more trap feeling to it with Champion’s verse. The song gives us a view into THE BLOSSOM’s style when it comes to production, as well as giving us lots of variety in sound. The lyrics are also more serious than the others, making us feel a more serious and powerful message than the others.

Shapeshifter

Shapeshifter brings us back to the sound we have been used to with this album, but brings an interesting topic to the topic. The idea of shape-shifting relates back to their lyrics in Hardcore Happy, speaking about their gender identity. The lyric “ I can be they, I can be so gay” relates directly to this idea as well, as they tend to mention their identity quite often, indicating that it is an important topic. An interesting note about this song is the instrumental section at the end of it, which has become a somewhat rare occurrence in music today, so to see a instrumental section just demonstrating the production is a very refreshing aspect of this album.

Black Eye

            Black eye brings us a total change of pace. I’ll be honest, at first I was confused with the way that it hit me so hard with the bass and then the hard hitting subject matter as well. This song gets real and down to some serious problems. They discuss ideas of self-value and the problems with reliance on other’s perceptions of self, as well as going over themes of depression and sadness due to societal pressures. The song gives a very heavy somber feeling with the use of the heavy bass and the light piano playing in contrast of each other as the song goes on. The song is also the most melodic in the album and wins my top spot for songs on this album in the fact that it makes you truly feel something, as well as being beautifully put together. 

Cloves

Cloves gives us a very happy send off to the end of the album. The theme of the song has a very light and happy tone to it that gives us a glimmer of hope after listening to some more serious and very real subject matter. The lyrics give us a feeling of moving forward and getting on with life, trying to make a better future for oneself especially after the events of “Blackeye”. The song gives us something to make us feel like we have closure, thus making it the perfect song to end the album on.  

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This album is a great listen if you are looking to get an introduction into what the new sound for the next generation of music will sound like. For more content like this please feel free to follow us on Instagram, twitter, and sign up for our news letter.

BROCKHAMPTON - ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE

Our boys are back.

The ever-evolving, bodaciously introspective boyband has sped back onto the scene once again with their newest official project since their 2019 effort, GINGER. In their previous works, the band of brothers were healing their wounds from numerous fronts, and it showed in their lyricism and production. The band was in flux, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, at least not for their music. iridescence, the project before GINGER carried a sense of raw energy and experimentalism that we had yet to see from the boys, it was as if they’d taken their sound and shot a rocket launcher at it, all to see the beauty of the explosion. However, on ROADRUNNER, the boy are indeed back.

Reaching back into themselves to find the happy spark that gave their music not just the therapeutic aspects it had mastered, but also the fun, curious, exploratory boisterous sound that made us fall in love with them in the first place. This was where the perfect balance was struck, no need for a rocket launcher, just a light, a road, and your brothers.

Have fun reading our review of ROADRUNNER: New Light, New Machine! 😈

BUZZCUT (ft. Danny Brown)

Buzzcut strikes with the power of BOOGIE, and yet retains the boys’ GINGER era. With heavy 808s and a weird sounding siren, Kevin takes off on the opening verse, with memorable bar after memorable bar about worrying for his mother who came to visit him, almost getting jumped into a Latino gang for protection, and how platinum-selling, award-winning records will never take away the very real fact that he is a man of color in America, and he is not safe.

Running straight into the chorus after taking final aim at the justice system for having locked up his cousin for selling dime bags of weed, critiquing the marijuana laws of the country. Danny Brown cruises right in after the infamous “NOW GET THE F*CK OUT MY RIDE” and absolutely smashes his verse, sparing no time calling out the boys with accusations of normalcy and involuntary celibacy, before directly quoting and interpolating Nas’s verse, featured on Rawkwon’s 1995 track “Verbal Intercourse”.

Overall an incredibly solid track.

CHAIN ON (ft. JPEGMAFIA)

Chain On is as JPEGMAFIA x BROCKHAMPTON as it gets. To the point you could probably search up this same “type-beat” on Youtube and you wouldn’t find anything too far off. Nonetheless, no one does it better than the original, and boy do they do it. The DMV maestro Peggy spits an incredible verse caked with topics such as police brutality, and a desire for equality and unity. Dom Mclennon shines brightly after the Abstract led hook, speaking about social unrest centered around the treatment of African American individuals in America.

Fun fact this was paired with the track “fishbone” in a one-week release from the boyband’s Techincal Difficulties series.

COUNT ON ME (ft. A$AP Rocky, Ryan Beatty, & Shawn Mendes

Count On Me is an incredibly catchy and feel-good song, and that could literally be the end of the review for this song. However, despite the beautiful BROCKHAMPTON-standard production, the real beauty of this song comes from the lyrical emphasis and amazing hook.

Sung by band-favorite collaborator Ryan Beatty and Shawn Mendes. Yes, that Shawn Mendes. What makes this entire thing as insane as it should stem from a Kevin Abstract shout-out on the track “STAR” from the boys’ SATURATION III album.

“I don’t fuck with no white boys unless that nigga Shawn Mendes.” - Kevin Abstract, STAR - SAT III

BANKROLL (ft. A$AP ROCKY & A$AP FERG)

Whew, BANKROLL.

Let’s talk about BANKROLL, haha. This track has been in the boyband’s archives since their iridescence era, after having popped up in a promotional video for their iridescence album, originally featuring A$AP Rocky and Merlyn only. As the years passed, fans of the boys couldn’t get the infectious sample out of their head, and even went as far as to create their own renditions and iterations of the prolific teaser. BANKROLL also serves as the first collaboration between A$AP Mob and BROCKHAMPTON.

It wasn’t until the boyband’s 2020 Technical Difficulties run that fans would even get a glimpse of news about any form of a release on the band’s May Twitch live stream. This version of BANKROLL is much cleaner than the snippet and uses a more in-depth version of its predecessor’s production, with the inclusion of a smooth new half of the hook from Matt Champion, Merlyn gaining an entire new verse, and the most suprising of them all a hard opener from none other than A$AP Ferg.

Jabari also shines on the tail end of this track, utilizing his unique presets around his voice to give off a smooth finisher.

THE LIGHT

The Light is the fourth song on the album’s playlist and is without a doubt the heaviest track on the album, second only to its second half at the end of the project. With only JOBA and Kevin Abstract on the vocals, guitar-heavy production, and a lot to say, the two members take on very personal topics.

JOBA viscerally speaks about the unfortunate passing of his father at the hands of suicide and his subsequent mental health, as Kevin speaks about his strained family relationships and looks back on his childhood in Texas.

WINDOWS (ft. SoGone SoFlexy)

Our second favorite track on the LP, BROCKHAMPTON shine like no other on this track, being the first and only song in which every sngle vocal member is present. There are also uncredited vocals from Ryan Beatty on this track, as well as an amazing opener from SoGone SoFlexy a childhood friend of Kevin turned new signee to Video Store records, a label created by Abstract and BROCKHAMPTON engineer, Romil The ending by Bearface is a beautiful bow on the amazing gift this track is to the ears.

Ooh, and Jabari’s hook.

I’LL TAKE YOU ON (ft. Charlie Wilson)

I’LL TAKE YOU ON is an amazing pop song that showcases the band’s ability to pull off the other side of their chosen genre with almost masterful nostalgia. Charlie Wilson, an R&B godfather, is featured on the latter half of the song, reigning in a cozy, yet upbeat rollercoaster ride of a track. Below Romil speaks on how he was able to snag a feature from the legend in an interview with MTF Fresh Out

“It was a surreal moment […] My friend had been working with him, and I just asked him. Can you introduce me to Charlie Wilson? And he was kinda wanting to do it, so we sent him a song and he loved it, did his Charlie Wilson thing on it and it’s one my favorite songs in the album now. So awesome.” - Romil Hemnani, MTV Fresh Out

OLD NEWS (ft. Baird)

OLD NEWS features multi-instrumentalist and a Baltimore native, Baird. Jabari takes a more prominent role in this track and though it isn’t high up on our list of favorites it is still a solid body of work, with an infectious hook and a versatile array of verses from JOBA, Matt, and Merlyn, tackling issues ranging from failed relationships to lamented pasts.

WHAT’S THE OCCASION

When we played WHAT’S THE OCCASION, Eminem’s early discography came to mind. The boys really came out of their shell for this album, which makes sense considering they took two years on this one, a stark change in their form album-making with the likes of the SATURATION series being churned out within months of each other, and the eclectic iridescence being recorded, mixed, and mastered in only ten days. The ending of this track is absolutely amazing, as is most of the outros on ROADRUNNER.

WHEN I BALL

When I Ball is a feel good, get out of your house and take a drive type of song, with nostalgic and reminiscent verses from Dom about how incarceration affected his family and the conversations he would have with his mother in order for him to avoid anything of the sort, and from Matt who raps about his relationship with his family and how each individual one has affected him. Rex Orange County and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes are enlisted for the beautiful instrumental.

DON’T SHOOT UP THE PARTY

Our favorite. An absolute banger of a track, DON’T SHOOT UP THE PARTY invites that dark, playful G-Funk vibe BROCKHAMPTON has capitalized on in the past, with just a dash of maturity in the lyricism and tone of their current mindset. Kevin starts out with a callback to Miserable America in his ear-catching almost anthemic verse as well as the overall tone of the song. Lines addressing homophobia, racism, and gun violence seem to be his main focus on the track, with Matt and JOBA assist with their tumultuous additions, speaking on paranoia.

DEAR LORD

DEAR LORD is simple, and beautiful and BROCKHAMPTON’s first take at a purely gospel-esque song. Helmed by the collective’s in-house crooner, Bearface, the track follows as he literally prays over his friend [JOBA] following the suicide of his father. There are multiple singers on this track but Bearface is the main vocalist and shines like no other in his request to the lord.

THE LIGHT PT. II

THE LIGHT PT. II is the final song of the album’s main tracklist and serves as a second-half to its predecessor, THE LIGHT, above. This track is by far the heaviest of any other in their discography to date, with the only exception being DEARLY DEPARTED on their GINGER effort.

The song features only JOBA and Kevin once more, with Kevin opening this time. reminiscing introspectively about his childhood in Texas. JOBA comes through with one more soul-searching, and honestly heart-wrenching verse about his father, addressing him directly and questioning his choice to commit suicide, as well as reflecting on the impact it has had on him in life and death. An amazing and raw outro, fitting for an LP that mirrors its very essence to the core.

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If you enjoyed this album and want to stay up to date with BROCKHAMPTON you can find them on Instagram, Twitter, and SoundCloud and be sure to listen to ROADRUNNER, NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE and let us know what you think. If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our news letter you can sign up below.

The Harsh Reality: A Resonating Tone of a Bewildered Spirit.

Rest in peace, Chase. You are forever in our hearts.

TW: Suicide.  

It took me a really long time to fully digest the passing of my favorite artist. It kinda hits you like a ton of bricks; at first, I was shocked. I couldn’t imagine someone as cheerful as this man was actually going through so much more than what I could imagine. Being perpetually stuck in the same routines with the same people sharing the same negative convictions that are shoved down your throat and nailed into your head as a child; giving you some sort of unrealistic image of yourself: the “Perfect Being” that if you don’t become. If you will fail, you’ll be a disappointment to people as they’ve built an expectation of you through their own trauma. I can empathise with that as I’ve grown in that same environment. I thought I couldn’t understand what being happy and free was until I was able to escape that vicious cycle.

Chase Amick (AKA. 6dogs) committed suicide on the 26th of January this year.

While mental health and wellbeing are being brought up to the forefront of music for the past few years; it never covered the more subtle ways the mental state of a person can deteriorate. The most popular music nowadays talks about murder and the repercussions of murder; the mental toll it has on people and their loved ones. However, Chase was talking to the people that weren’t forced into a life they didn’t wanna lead – be it gang warfare or drug dealing. He was talking to the kid that didn’t have any friends growing up, the one that was bullied at school for having long hair, the one that held their parents to the highest degree and immortalised them as if they were god themselves.

I was that kid.

Let’s start talking about his album that came out after the incident: RONALD.

If you’ve read my previous article on 6dogs, I’m sure you can tell that I’m a HUGE fan of his entire discography and his overall sound. But this album made me cry harder than any movie, book, break-up, or record that I’ve ever experienced before.

Once again, I write this article with swollen eyes and tears on my cheeks for how beautifully crafted and thoughtful this masterpiece is. We’ll be doing the same old same old; review my favourite tracks and implore you to listen to the rest on you own (even though I would recommend ANY and EVERY song off this album).

When I Was A Baby:

This song is all about Chase reminiscing about his past, being one of the weird outcasts from most “fun” things when he was younger while also contrasting that exact point by talking about how much he’s progressed in his artistic ventures. The chorus practically explains this, stating that: “Died my hair when I was 16. Weird boy ballin’, Dennis Rodman on the 18.”

In addition to the thoughtful lyricism, the song just BANGS. The revered melody that chops and screws at certain points to give space and emphasis on the delivery. The heavy and spacey 808 coupled with a fruity, bouncy hihat pattern makes for a song to just sit down for and appreciate (specially the DBZ references).

Starfire (Teen Titans):

One of the two singles to come out as per album rollout; Starfire sounds like being transported to an intergalactic landscape and doing donuts in an all-Black Escalade. The lyricism centers around (from my perspective) social anxiety; the rush of escapism from driving down a highway at 3 AM trying to avoid all social interactions since they bring 6dogs “tears all up on my phone". A whole lot of feels with this one while still banging harder than most of the songs on your playlist.

 Genie In A Bottle:

This is the song I play when I wanna get in my feel real quick; it’s the sort of sad vibe that also goes out of its way just to flex how much 6dogs drips, so I like feeling as if I could drip like that too.

As far as bars go, the song’s about going against the expectations built by people that try to put you out of the game when all you should be caring about is getting in your bag;  the people that wish for your downfall but you blow all of those assumptions out the window and gain big time. However, from time to time, they can get to you. Reminding you of how weak you were back then and being grateful for what you’ve been able to build up all on your own.

  (All these emotions flood you as the beat literally blows your speakers up.) 

That’s it. That’s the album, these are my thoughts, and this is how much I love and appreciate everything 6dogs left. I think the main reason I could talk the ears off my friends about Chase is that I feel as though if he were still around, I’d end up having him as a friend.

I know it sounds lame and pretty sappy, but I genuinely believed he’d blow up and that he’d get his flowers back when his self-titled album came out in 2017. But he didn’t, and it really upset me; it’s as if he just fell off the face of the Earth after releasing “Faygo Dreams”.

Anyways, thank you for reading this. I really hope you decide to listen to RONALD and the rest of his backlog. I think the best place to start would be the entirety of RONALD, then jumping to his 2019 release “Hi-Hats And Heartaches”; specifically “Cryin’ In The Rarri”, “It’s Worth Feeling Empty <3” and “Butterfly Doors to My Mind” (also read my article on “Hi-Hats And Heartaches”).

Cheers to good music.

Package by Uhmeer - Review

Package by Uhmeer is the newest release he has done in 2021, and it is interesting to say the least. Uhmeer is moderately new to the scene being only 21 but has made waves in his short amount of time being in the industry. Starting back in 2018 as a featured artist alongside Sabrina Carpenter, he has since branched out and started his own musical career, releasing mainly singles. Package seems to be the beginning of creating larger projects for himself, intertwining songs and making the listener listen for longer than one song.

Tired

Tired is the first entry in this EP, and it sets the theme very quickly. The fast paced, but relaxed guitar displays the somber nature of the song. Lots of the lyrics demonstrate a feeling of being unsafe and of how the world around him is dangerous. The lyric “tired” comes in when he mentions if they are “tired of all the fighting”, indicating a struggle and fight with others. The song shows both an internal struggle as well as an external one with other groups.  

Bear Hug

Bear Hug brings us into a more relaxed state, with a lapse of synth-wave style layering, and a slow beat. It is also the longest song on the EP, making it the song to listen to intensely and in detail. This song transports you to loving place that is full of emotion and at the same time extremely calm. The song makes you think about calm nights spent with someone that you really truly care about and want to be with, being in a perfect moment. As the song progresses it becomes more intricate with more layering in vocals and almost brings you out of that sleep like state we experienced at the beginning, and brings you into the real world again hearing clear sound.  

Effit

Effit brings us back to some more hip-hop feeling vibes, hitting us with a hard 808 and a moderately fast beat. It still provides us with the soft sounds we have become accustomed to with this album, so it brings us into a new feeling. The lyrics talk about exploring and not believing that someone was gone, showing the pain of someone leaving and how it can effect ones reality. This song leans a lot on the idea of mental health, as there is a sample of a woman talking about going to therapy and explaining how it was hard to deal with the situation she was in and how it was difficult to get stability. The song has hard hitting topics that make it a very interesting listen.

Maskeeta  

Maskeeta is the last song on the EP, and takes a drastic turn from the rest of the album, turning to some heavy hitting hip-hop beats. The flow of this song is the best one on the EP and really hits home with the hip-hop fan that listens. The chorus in the song really appeals to someone who is used to listening to artists like JID, as it has a flowy and almost effortless tagline. This song is, in this writers opinion the best song on the EP.

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My new project 'ITSNOWINLA' is out now: https://soundcloud.com/brokenpausebttn/sets/itsnowinla-1 UHHHH... MANAGEMENT: laura@pallasmanagementgroup.com LICENSING & BRAND PARTNERSHIPS: nicole@djjazzyjeff.com

Be sure to check out Uhmeer’s new project Package and if you want to stay up to date wit him you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and Soundcloud. f you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our weekly news letter you can sign up below.  

Lucky Daye - Table for Two - Review

Table for Two by Lucky Daye comes as his first release of 2021 and is nothing less than a great album to listen to. After the 2019 success with his album Painted and the release of the deluxe version of that album in 2020, Lucky Daye has put out a short yet powerful album that will surely make anybody who listens to it understand his style of music.

 First things first, this is a sexy album. It is captivating, dynamic, and makes you feel a deeper connection than most music we hear these days. The production value of this album is amazing. By utilizing heavy 808s, raw guitar, and layered vocals, it blends the two worlds of R&B and hip hop in a way that compliments each other and isn’t too overpowering.

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Ego Trip – Intro

The intro for the album ‘Ego Trip’ is a cool skit that sets the theme for the entire album. This style of introduction to a musical project shows the artist’s creative tendencies in wanting to produce something fun and different for the listener while staying in their own vein of creative thought. When albums have introductions such as this, it tends to hold the attention of the audience and interests them into diving into the entire project—which it did for me.

How Much Can A Heart Take

The first musical piece on this album ‘How Much Can A Heart Take’ is a very strong start and projects the theme of this album. Yebba, being the feature in this song, adds a great vocal lead that holds the listener. The song has a bit of a tropical vibe to it, transporting the listener to a state of relaxation, yet, the song discusses tribulations of heartbreak and changing feelings, all in the context of having someone run around on them. Overall, this is a great first song to start the album with and really does make for an interesting listen.

 On Read  

‘On Read’ hits way differently than the rest of the songs on this album. In my opinion, it’s the best song on the album, which is quite a feat considering that all the songs on this album are great to listen to. The intro, with a simple yet effective guitar solo, sets a very dark and sensual mood, then hits you with some heavy bass. On Read’s intro is the reason why I call this album sexy. Then to make things better, a choir-style vocal comes in singing “All Night” making for a powerful punch. The song covers the all too familiar issue of being left on read and worrying about if you said the wrong thing or not, thus making you worry “All Night”

My Window

‘My Window’ brings a very real and grounding reality to the album. The simple piano riffs at the beginning of the song give that feeling of a post break-up morning, where you’re left with sadness and the lingering thought of “what went wrong?” There’s a powerful message spoken in the song, specifically “It’s a shame trying to force something that we’re not” displaying a common situation of how some people leave a relationship because they feel that they are forcing it instead of wanting to be there.  

Access Denied

‘Access Denied’ is one of the more soulful songs on this album, with a very simple hand drumming line it makes the listener feel very in tune with the music on a deep level. This song takes a step back from the heavy production and fine-tuning within the other songs and brings it back to basics which makes it easy on the ear. The holds a playful theme and brings the listener a sense of relief and giving them a hopeful feeling after the previous songs laid a somewhat sad subject matter.

Dream

‘Dream’ is exactly the way it sounds; 'like a dream. With a very dreamy swaying sound, it puts you fall into a trance. The theme of this song is that their partner’s love is like a dream and if it is a dream, they never want to wake up. The thing that makes this song stand out the most is the harmonies both singers introduce as the song progresses. It becomes more and more layered as the song goes on, and eventually creates a wall of harmonies that is very pleasing to hear every time it comes up. The song also keeps up with the theme of increasing positivity and happiness by making the listener feel as though they are falling in love alongside the artists.

Falling In Love

 ‘Falling in Love’ really brings us full circle to Lucky Daye’s story about love and the journey of a romantic relationship. With this exodus, the notion “don’t make me regret falling in love” is transparent and brings the ideas from the beginning to a close, where heartache and anxiety are healed by finding love again. This song brings back that playfulness we saw in the last song, with the 80s style synth playing and the fast-paced beat the song carries. While it talks about love lots, it also shows how being in love can also develop a defense system for some people to make sure they don’t get hurt again. The song ends off the album in a positive light and makes the listener feel light and definitely makes them feel like they want to come back for more.

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Listen to Table For Two on Spotify. Lucky Daye · Album · 2021 · 7 songs.

 If you want an easy listening album that will keep your attention the while time, look no further than Lucky Daye’s Table For Two. If you enjoyed this review and want to listen to more Lucky Daye be sure to follow him and Instagram as well as Twitter. If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, Twitter, and for our weekly news letter you can sign up below.

[MYMHM 5] - Rico Nasty - Nightmare Vacation

Rico Nasty, whew. What else can we say? Originating from Prince George’s County, Maryland, the DMV artist has made waves in the music industry that have had the metaphorical boats rocking since her Tales of Tacobella mixtape. Rico has put out consistent and solid projects since then, including the headbanging, face souring Sugar Trap 2, which helmed fan favorites such as “Poppin” and “Key Lime OG”. Her debut album, Nasty, featured upcoming artists at the time such as Blocboy JB and Lil Gnar, and with the coming of her sophomore project, Anger Management, Rico had officially solidified her name in the rap game.

Now with her final studio debut project, Rico Nasty’s Nightmare Vacation has finally taken stage. Take a ride with us as we walk you down the the chaos ridden beaches of Rico’s World.

Candy

An aggressive and hyperactive first track off the project has Rico throwing listeners in an off-kilter production, engineered by Jay Que, supplemented by her subtle, yet gnarly lyricism. On this track Rico beckons her haters and critics to try their best because they’re going to have to kill or fight because, despite all of the negative energy, she’s shining brightly regardless, evident in her first lyric:

“On a dark and stormy night, I don't blend in, bitch, I shine bright (Okay)”

(fyi) There is a more in-depth analysis into this particular lyric on Genius.

IPHONE

IPHONE is the most experimental of the tracks on the project, with innovative producer Dylan Brady, who fans speculated was 100 Gecs due to their similar engineering styles. IPHONE is a trap song on an EDM trip, switching between the genres effortlessly as Rico styles out in a high-pitched, elecrtic synth vox-like delivery, followed by beautiful harmonies.

Honestly, this song is just a vibe. We love it. That’s it.

STFU

STFU is is probably one of our favorites due to Rico’s bare delivery on the track. She didn’t let the beat rest, and surprisingly vice-versa, bringing out this beautiful give and take that drew us in from start to finish. Rico’s storytelling has also improved, proving her growth as an artist in such a short period of time, lyrically and as a curator of her style of music, scream rap.

Back & Forth (with Amine)

Any day Rico and Amine decide to collaborate, the fans are always happy. The Sugarparents feed their children since Amine’s vibe-ridden ONEPOINTFIVE. On the beautifully orchestrated track (thank you CashMoneyAP) the two vetted rappers go “back and forth” with each other, slipstreaming through each other’s topics, ranging from not wanting to play games to the fear of saying what they need to say for whatever this is to move forward.

The song is an absolute vibe and Amine is already a fan favorite of mine, a very good collab!

Smack A Bitch (ft. ppcocaine, Sukihana, & Rubi Rose)

Smack A Bitch has been a staple track that signifies most, if not all, of what Rico is trying to convey in her music, with the energy, the grit, the demand for respect, the absence of care, Rico made this breakout single back in 2018, and decided to bring it back in full force on Nightmare Vacation, with the help of some of the most confidence off-kilter black female rappers in the game.

RICO NASTY · Nightmare Vacation

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What’s your favorite track on the album and most importantly what’s your number one favorite Rico Nasty song let us know in the comments below. And to stay up to fate with Rico Nasty be sure to follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us onInstagram,Twitter, and for our weekly newsletter you can sign up below, and we also working on some things for Nefarious Supply Wear, sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop!

MYMHM - That's What They All Say

Fresh off a breakout single that peaked at number 8 on the US Billboard 100, Jack Harlow has been steadily riding the waves of success and fame that have come his way. A Louisville, Kentucky native, Harlow has been in the rap game for almost 5 years now, dropping gems of smooth and stylistic artistry in the forms of chart-toppers like the grungy, yet butter smooth “WARSAW”, the sunny, head-bopping “SUNDOWN”, and of course now the recent big release, featuring Miami Heat’s number 1 rookie, “Tyler Herro”

Locking in and taking his career serious he dropped his debut project “18” back in 2016 and every since then the artist has been focused on slow consistent growth. While in the modern day of how music is consumed this may hinder some artists. The formula that Harlow sticks to has been propelling his name and garnering him more attention not only from us but the rest of the world. High quality music is what he is known for and across the board on all his projects one thing that we can say confidently is that he literally never misses. No matter how the song is presented whether it’s a banger, more of a slow vibe, or even a song that really makes you sit back and think Harlow’s focuses on high quality production as well as an emphasis on lyricism is what allows him to stand out and make a name for his self in this crowded industry.

That’s What They All Say is Harlow’s coming of age story. The Louisville MC reveals a sense of maturity, one that’s almost telegraphed by the people he has surrounded himself with, a closely-knit group of soldiers and advisers, a Private Garden. From open to close of the album Harlow reminds fans, and haters that his success as not instantaneous but instead was a product of his consistent work ethic, and focus over the last five years.  

Favorites off the track include “Rendezvous”, a beautiful opener that showcases Jack’s slick flow and brain-tapping lyricism, adding a satisfying instrumental lead out that leaves you wanting more. And that’s where our other fave comes into play. “21C / Delta” a darker vision of Harlow’s world. He beckons a girl to come to find him at his hotel, room 21C. As the beat switches, our brains are swept back to Drake’s Take Care as Harlow flows effortlessly on Delta. 

Over hits such as “Way Out” featuring Big Sean, a shining comeback artist of 2020 with the incredible “Detroit 2”, and “Already Best Friends” where Harlow partners up with Chris Brown (need we say more?) for an instant R&B classic.There are also sleepers on this cohesive tracklist, such as the introspective and reminiscent “Baxter Avenue”, the unapologetically confident and groovy “Creme”, all the way to “Route 66” which throws comeback feature, EST Gee.  All in all from beginning to end Jack Harlow has once again been able to deliver a project that will only age as the years go by. From the feature guest list to the production of project which includes house hold names like Hit-Boy, Sonny Digital, jetsonmade, and more. That’s What They All Say has added jet fuel the the already sky rocketing career of the talented artist, and as he continues to grow his career, and within the industry its self we are more than excited to see what he has to offer. All in all the album is a great vibe and exactly what we at Nefarious were waiting for from the Louisville golden boy. 

Big Sean - Detroit 2

Big Sean is back and in seemingly the biggest way possible. Coming off of a three-year hiatus after the release of his I Decided album, which is now certified RIAA Platinum, Big Sean decided that there wouldn’t be a better place to stage a comeback than back in his home of Detroit, Michigan. Detroit 2 is a sequel to Sean’s 2012 mixtape of the same title. 

What makes this a standout record for us at Nefarious Supply is the sheer hunger in Sean’s lyricism, flow, delivery, and topics tackled. We see the Detroit-born artist reach down into the Michigan earth and take tight hold of his roots. 

In this review, NS is here to tell you all our absolute favorite tracks off the album! Sean Don is back, and needless to say, we’re glad that he is. 😈

Deep Reverence (ft. Nipsey Hussle)

Deep Reverence is Big Sean’s chance for recollection and introspection. A golden track from start to finish, Nipsey Hussle deepens the meaning behind the track’s title and even Sean’s subject matter, with him looking back on his life and how far he’s come since then. On the song the two rap heavyweights trade bars about the various pressures of life, whether its pleasing fans, staying true to oneself. gang violence, personal troubles, and the rap game as a whole.

Big Sean states in February 2020: “I was working on this song with Nip and then Nip passed…”

He eventually released the song having finalized it, saying: “the world needs to hear [and] feel Nipsey presence!”

Wolves (ft. Post Malone)

Wolves establishes the first collaboration between Big Sean and Post Malone. Originally helming an A$AP Rocky verse, the track’s feature artist was soon switched to Post Malone, saving the Rocky collab for another track on the album. The wolves Big Sean is referring to in this track are his family. The two artists draw distinct parallels between their environment and community and wolves, invoking themes of dominance and loyalty to the pack.

The feature on this heavily murky production serves to only accentuate the theme behind the music, that they were raised by wolves, in a cold world, where you can be predator or prey.

ZTFO

ZTFO, short for “Zen The Fuck Out” which is a phrase the listener will become pretty familiar with, is another breakout track from the album. It features stellar adlibs by fellow rap heavyweight, Travis Scott, as well as fine-tuned production by Chase B, and sports Big Sean redistributing the various channels bad energy that comes in his direction. He never lets these bad vibes control or affect his state of mind, by the end of his infectious track, we’re pretty sure you’ll be singing the chorus too.

Guard Your Heart (ft. Anderson .Paak, Earlly Mac & Wale)

Guard Your Heart is one of our slower selections from Detroit 2. A beautiful walk through a metaphorical park with Anderson .Paak in one hand and Earlly Mac in the other, Big Sean skips along this song this introspective hit as both artists at his side lead him seamlessly to the final verse, hammered home by Wale. This is a point in the album where Big Sean reins himself in, as all four artists delve into their innermost thoughts.

Respect It (ft. Young Thug)

Respect It is the eleventh track on the album and has both Young Thug and Sean Don claiming the respect they deserve. With production handled by Detroit 2’s executive producer, Hit-Boy, the two rappers state their various accomplishments and takes inventory over their material belongings, flexing and demanding the deference and acclaim that got them to this point of their career in the first place.

The grungy trap beat fits underneath the two vocalists well, and the beat switch near the end seals the deal for us for this track.

Lithuania (ft. Travis Scott)

Probably the most popular song on the album, Lithuania features our very own Texas-made Travis Scott, who tackles a very infectious chorus with our very own Sean Don. The two trade bars on his braggadocious banger, rapping about their many travels and how fly they look at TSA and Baggage Claim, which is probably a nod to the northeast European country this song was named after. A catchy hook and even catchier bars, this is a solid track through and through.

Don Life (ft. Lil Wayne)

Don Life is the most celebratory track off of Detroit 2 for us. Featuring rap legend Lil Wayne and sampling the legendary Michael Jackson track, “Human Nature”, the two artists drop heavy verses discussing their relentless work ethic and perseverance in the face of hate and doubt. This collab was first teased in May 2019, and was the second half of a the same studio session where they released “I Do It”.

Kaash Paige - Teenage Fever

D’kyla Paige Woolen, known professionally as Kaash Paige is a break out singer-songwriter, hailing from Dallas, Texas. Signing with Se Lavi Productions and Def Jam Recordings at just 19 years of age, Paige is also now managed by the Jay-Z helmed Roc Nation. With this and her blowing up on TikTok Paige had all the right ingredients to drop a lustrous freshman album, and solidify herself as a new addition to the game.

So, she did.

Take a look at our review for Teenage Fever, down below! 😈

London

The first track on the album, Kaash starts the album with a slow-burning production with a nice guitar progression and a complimenting 808 that slows even further to mesh with her warped vocals at points of the track. Paige speaks on topics of loyalty, her ambitions for the future, and how she peeps everything from her spot at the famous London, hence the title.

Grammy Week

Grammy Week is pretty self-explanatory in its theme. Kaash sings and raps over a watery and clouded beat which clears itself up to reveal some subtle synth-like progressions overtop a nice and staccato-sequel beat. With a fitting guest feature from Don Toliver, the two touch on the topic of success, with even Kaash predicting her Grammy night at the beginning of the track.

Lost Ones

Kaash slides over Lost Ones, her voice dances over the beat effortlessly and her vocal runs, plus the flow of her lyricism lead the listener on a nice yet compelling journey, letting them get comfortable but not complacent in actively hearing her lyrics, which touch on love and the search for the lost ones in question. 

Soul Ties (ft. ssgkobe)

With a beautiful guitar riff opener, Kaash Paige slides onto the first few seconds of Soul Ties with a fitting, soulful take on her fear of being taken for granted and played with. ssgkobe compliments this theme by reassuring that as long as they're together she’s all he’s focused on. Together they ride out the chorus. “Down for the worse or the better.” 

Fake Love (ft. 42 Dugg)

Seeming to be a recurring theme in her style of music, Kaash starts off Fake Love with a bouncy, repeating guitar riff, which is soon flavored with tasty 808s and synths. The production surrounds Paige’s vocals in a beautiful coating, as if they're both guiding each other to a satisfying finish. Her topic is very straight forward, and 42 Dugg hammers this point home with his pinpoint feature. 

Jaded

A darker and more introspective take on her new relationship with the individual in question, revealing the problems that have strained their relationship from the start. She reassures that all they need is some practice, because at this point, their love seems to have come to a halt. Paige again effortlessly conveys her message with a vibe attached. 

FRIENDS

An upbeat addition on Teenage Fever, Paige switches between beats and warped vocals, creating an almost Travis Scott-esque atmosphere for the listener as she conveys her lack of trust for the world. She can't be more than friends with anyone, and can't even imagine anything more than those car rides in a Benz.

Break Up Song (ft. K CAMP)

Break Up Song is Kaash Paige’s apology in advance to anyone she gets involved with. She’s a dog through and through, and wants them to know they can easily leave her be, but if they want to be apart of the world, then here’s the disclaimer. K CAMP eats his verse and rides the wave reinforcing Paige’s take before she swings back in for the infection hook once again.

Pull Up 

Kaash Paige rides yet again with an addicting acoustic opener that climbs before dropping into a deep and full 808, that Paige dwells in before surfing into the chorus of the track. Pull Up has Paige keeping things lowkey with someone, asking them to pull up (most likely in the aforementioned Benz) and getting lit in the front seat, and back. 

Problems (ft. Isaiah Rashad)

With an incredibly rare feature from TDE’s very own Isaiah Rashad, Paige pours her soul out on the track, even starting off the bat telling the listener there’s a lot on her mind. Spending habits, soul searching, inconsistency, these are all worries that Paige is completely transparent about. Rashad conveys how he deals with these perpetual problems in life, by heading to his “throne” or his crib, where his friends stay, lighting up a jay and vibing with the crew for the night. 

SOS

Paige’s acoustic intro is softer and more deliberate on SOS, and her vocals, which stay the same in intensity and tone, are focused to more lighter and colorful aftertones. Her vocals are beautiful, with the autotuned runs doing feats akin to Trippie Redd’s level raw intensity. Fake friends, failed relationships, the price of fame, political strife, even through it all Paige still has the strength to know that the sun shines on, after the darkest nights. 

Mrs. Lonely 

A synth opening this time, Paige vibes on the intro, before creatively asking what the point of friends even is if they end up leaving in the end. Paige feels mentally lost and as if her time is running out, the only thing that seems to slow this down are the drugs she consumes. At the end of the melancholy second-to-last, Paige ponders what the other side looks like. 

Karma 

The final track on Teenage Fever, Paige takes a moment to sit down and talk with the listener about this crucial stage of adolescence, and all that comes with it, depression, relationships, love, hate, drugs, and as she says, everything else. The production gradually raises with the intensity of her voice, before all coming to the momentous halt, and then Karma starts. The aforementioned other side? Yeah, this is it. And instead of wondering about it, Paige actively yearns for the deceptive mistress. 

For the last track, Paige hammers it home that she is here to stay, past TikTok, past any dance or singing challenge, or any views, Kaash Paige has made her mark.

ISOLATION STATION EP 5 - AS WE PROCEED

In this segment we’re giving life to the leagues of music being dropped every week during this trying, yet, interestingly enough, personal time.

We at Nefarious Supply want you guys to always have a new underground project or creator, either on your mind, on your playlist, or on your feed in some way, shape, or form. In this instance, we’re doing this on an episodic basis and deciding to write on all the new music coming in through this station, five tracks at a time.

Our fifth episode shows us the importance of caution and quality in our next steps. “As we proceed” is a saying widely-known, especially throughout the African-American community, it propagates the feeling of hopefulness but also of care and attention to detail, of making silent and careful moves, then showing out with a bang when no one expects. As we proceed, let’s be creative, and committed.

Take a look! 😈

Hatesonny - Damage Control 

We first heard Hatesonny on Serena Isioma’s Sensitive EP, specifically the track, Move, where the artist laid down a groovy and swelling verse, which complimented Serena’s feminine energy on the track almost flawlessly. On his new album, Golden Child, Hatesonny shows us exactly who he is as an artist.

From the piano-driven melody on top to the bass-thumping 808s beneath, Hatesonny delivers on every part of “Damage Control”, the first track off of his third album. Hatesonny comes with a vengeance for that #1 spot. 

Black$tar x Mayal - Jump in the Party

Black$tar and Mayal are back at it again on another piping hot track! The two Calgary natives strike while the iron is hot and make their mark on Jump In The Party. With a nostalgic beast of a beat with a grand production Black$tar gets his point across that he will have fun, no matter what, where, when, or why.

Flexing so much even his ex acknowledges he has it, Black$tar bars are uplifting and also direct and confident, meshing well with Mayal’s masterful use of autotune and melodic synergy with the beat, that he possesses on every track.

Jump in the Party is definitely a feel-good banger that you’ll be singing in the back of your head for a while.

SwaVay - Yaya

DOLO Records’ very own SwaVay features on this episode of the Isolation Station. The opening track “Yaya”, off of his album B4dalbum. Instantly, Kendrick comes to mind as the flute progression and the soft 808-led beat creep along the bottom of the track’s production, the emphasis is focused on SwaVay’s lyrics, and boy are they worth the attention.

Bars comparing Bernie Mac, stu pigeons, big dogs, and cool midgets, as well as thanking God for his Christian roots, not even insinuating, more so telling the listener to the point what he’d do if he wasn’t, these effortless flows as well as the carefully curated production are what put SwaVay ahead of most of his peers.

SAEED - Faded Freestyle

SAEED is back people! With his new freestyle, Faded, the Chicago artist tries to drink away his problems, may have fallen in love, or was it the drink in his hand? He’s confident but also unsure of himself. However, at the end of the day, he’s going to keep it moving and keep working.

This is the underlying theme of the track, however SAEED’s fun take on the overlaying theme of a drunken night in the club, vibing over a heavy-hitting, spacey beat is him in his prime lane and vibe, and we hope his sound only continues to evolve beautifully.

Freddy Leone & Apollo1027 - Freak Show (ft. David Sulky)

Freddy Leone and Apollo1027 team up on a surprise collab de3with their EP, The Third Generation. Their standout track, Freak Show, portrays Leone and Apollo in their prime form, seamlessly switching flows as they trade lyrical blows left-right overtop a beautifully full and brimming production style.

The beat focuses heavily on making the space for both artists to run at their fullest speed, with topics of sexual freedom, lost time, letting go, keeping secrets, promises kept and broken, and of course, having the money to fund the lifestyle that propagates these hazardous, yet intriguing situations.

Featuring artist, David Sulky’s, beautiful finishing verse before the refrain solidifies him as an artist to look out for. Sultry, high-vibrato tones put him on a pedestal for all to listen and love. Overall a standout track from these Orlando giants.

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If you enjoyed this week’s episode of Isolation Station be sure to give the artists featured this week a follow and check out the rest of their discography!

If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, and Twitter. We also recently opened the Nefarious Supply shop so if you want to support you can show some love here!

KXRIUKI: The Dawn of a NEWERA.

Recently, it seems as though artists are finally coming to terms with the fact that they can’t lead the exclusive and extravagant lifestyles they once indulged in as if the self-isolative routines have made peace with the inner cogs in the creative machine. While some might call it depressing and lonely, I think it allows artists to experiment with out-of-the-box ideas they had in their closets. As if the insecurity of the outside world has faded away because all there is – at least right now – is the inside world.

About a week ago I was scouting and lurking around on Twitter. While I was retweeting random threads and looking for artists, I stumbled upon KXRIUKI: an 18-year-old rapper from Houston, TX with the best Earl Sweatshirt/Knxwledge vibe to his music I’ve heard in a long time. His only project: NEW ERA (released on the 19th of June) has been on repeat ever since it dropped in mid-June. It’s a perfect mix of jazz, muddy acoustics, monotone rap delivery and Kanye-esque production style.

Before jumping into the album review, I was able to ask KX a few questions about his inspirations, aspirations, and general opinion on the modern-day rap scene:

KXRIUKI · NEWERA.

Hey man! I loved your project and wanted to ask you a few questions! Could you give a quick bio about yourself?

I’m from Houston TX, originally from NY though. my biggest inspirations music-wise is Earl Sweatshirt’s poetic lyricism and Knxwledge's lo-fi production. Overall my biggest influence is Kanye West, giving me the confidence to do anything I want.

Yeah, your EP really shows off all those sounds that you expertly pulled off! Kudos to you on that for sure. What are you trying to do with your music? What’s the thought process behind it?

With my music influence, I just wanna show more insecure and indecisive kids like myself that they can do whatever they want to.

Is that because you’re 100% self-made? Is it all off the dome and at the moment?

Yeah! Its all me bro. I do my own production and write my own lyrics. I’m sick of folks not being real with their art. Art needs to reflect the artist.

That makes sense; people need to see themselves in their art. Does being self-made speak on a person’s work ethic to you?

Not even the work ethic, just a reflection of them. Their story, their character, etc. I just believe the BEST way of doing that is by being mostly self-made.

I see that makes sense! Could you talk about the songs on the EP? What do they all mean?

NEWERA. (title track) means exactly what it’s named. it’s a new era for me as a person, I just recently graduated high school, I’ve adopted plenty of new ideas and morals as a person, and most importantly time to go harder than ever as an artist. it’s a NEWERA. For KXRIUKI.

The 2 middle tracks represent my duality. more present on ENVYME//stolenmoments, the first half is me celebrating myself and all the great things I know I’m capable, but the stolenmoments half is me recognizing my downsides, and the demons I face daily.

Even the capitalization shows you which track means what. NEWERA, HIGHMILEAGE, and ENVYME (all caps) is me talking about my greatness and where I’m GONNA be, but dummy, stolenmoments, and selfmade is me recognizing my past and the things I faced to get here.

Oh, interesting! So you set up the EP to contrast both sides of your psyche and growth as a person and an artist?

Exactly that!

I like that a lot dude; I noticed that there are a lot of jazz influences with the samples and beat you have going on in the background, is that how you’re abler to put emphasis on specific lyrics and stories?

I feel like jazz-influenced production is the best way to get my point across. Softer tones=more attention to what’s being said.

Awesome dude! Thank you so much for taking the time and responding to these questions! I can’t wait to hear more from you soon!

Anytime bro! Thanks for the interview!

That concludes the interview segment of this article; time for the review.

This EP is very short but very sweet. With only 4 songs on here (6 if you’re following KX’s explanation of the two middle tracks), I think he was truly able to drive his point across regardless of record runtime. First off: NEWERA is a great introductory track to the overall vibe of this record with the psychedelic, muddy, and oversaturated vocals layered on the smooth jazz/elevator music sample in the background. The lyricism is on point with this track, explaining the disparity within the rap scene in general and elaborating on how KX is going to rise above the competition, starting his own new era. While some listeners might get a little bored of the monotone delivery and just chalk this up to be a mediocre Earl impression; I urge you to keep listening. The title track doesn’t do this record enough justice as it just sets you up for a vibe right after it.

HIGHMILEAGE//dummy is one of two tracks that shows the stark contrast of style and flow that KX can flip flop between with ease. The track starts off with a swooshing harmonic backdrop and booming bassline with an off-beat drum pattern as well – in layman’s terms – in blend between funk and jazz. Coupled with another Earl delivery, KX talks about his successes and how he’s finally feeling his music while also reminding himself of the challenges he’s going to face as an aspiring artist. As soon as you think the song is over, KX switches the beat to a slow jam-style beat with dreamy vocals coating the track with a layer of mystery and ambiguity as the phrase “don’t try to play me” is repeated till the end of the track.

ENVYME//stolenmoments is the BANGER of the EP. KX goes much harder on this track than the previous ones, calling out all the fake artists out there complaining about his music and production when - in reality - they’re just too prideful to just vibe with it. This is where the Kanye influences show their true colors as the production is bouncy, the melody is a very sweet piano groove and the 808s are loud and bumping.

And finally, the last song on this mini collection of mastery in art is selfmade. KX raps about how everything he’s made has been entirely by his own determination, design, and ambition to rise above the competition and secure his spot as a household name without asking anyone for a favor or support. While support is always good to ask for, the dependency on it can stagger a creative. This fantastic part of lyricism is complemented by a jazz/big band ensemble sample in the background, littered with a few piano chords to add a sparkly, silky smooth harmonic line in contrast with his own voice.

All in all, while I think KXRIUKI has something he might want to work on (differentiating in his sound-sphere, simplifying his sound by making the background sample less busy and an overall revaluation of his rap delivery), I believe that – for a first EP – this is a stellar piece of music that is radically under-appreciated and unheard of. In short: a solid 7.5/10 on my scale, a definite must-listen-to those that are fans of Earl Sweatshirt and a great start that paves a positive outlook for KX’s future as an artist!

Thanks for reading, folks! Make sure to wear your masks and stay safe! Even though lockdown restrictions are being lifted gradually, that doesn’t mean you get the liberty to do the things you used to do pre-lockdown, so be mindful of your surroundings and the people around you.

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KXRIUKI

Big shout out to KXRIUKI for coming on and interviewing with Nefarious Supply, if you enjoyed this interview and want to stay up to date with him be sure to follow him on Instagram and check out his Soundcloud (above) to listen to the rest of his discography.

If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, and  Twitter. We also recently opened the Nefarious Supply shop so if you want to support you can show some love  here!

IDK - IDK & FRIENDS 2

IDK is back! Yes, the DMV native has come back with another project after his incredible debut album, Is He Real? A second part to his IDK & FRIENDS, which helmed mainly DMV artists on the tape, including Q Da Fool, Rico Nasty, and Wale, with heavy additions such as Denzel Curry and Maxo Kream, IDK & FRIENDS 2 takes this concept a step further.

Newcomers to the friend’s list this year include producers Ronny J, Juicy J, and JetsonMade, along wieth many others, and new DMV link-ups such as Xanman, Big Jam, Yungmanny, and Big Flock, as well as others like PNB Rock and Alex Vaughn.

The tape is actually a soundtrack for NBA star, Kevin Durant’s Showtime documentary, Basketball County: In the Water. Both Kevin Durant and IDK are from PG County, Maryland, which is how they were able to connect for the project.

Check out our review of the new IDK & FRIENDS 2 tape below!

OMERTÀ

Shut the f*ck up

Our intro track for this project, presents IDK telling an unknown individual to stop running his mouth. The word Omertà is a Southern Italian code of silence and code of honor that places importance on silence in the face of questioning by authorities or outsiders. Basically, IDK is conveying that silence is power, and opening your mouth could end up being your downfall.

RILEY (ft. Xanman)

Indian plug, hold up, that n**** got work in a taxi cab

RILEY places Xanman right in his home in terms of production, with heavy 808s, hard piano keys, and an even harder beat to pull it all together. Xanman comes on with the infectious chorus before spitting verses on internet haters, shooters, moonwalking, Scooby Snacks, and his Indian plug. He alley-oops to IDK who slides onto the beat effortlessly, with the lyricism that solidifies this track a golden starter to the tape. As IDK says, he’s doing quite well for a Largo dropout.

MAZEL TOV (ft. A$AP Ferg)

Mazel Tov to the Gang

Started with a beautiful flute melody, the 808s crash into MAZEL TOV like a wave and by the time IDK’s first verse starts, you’re guaranteed to be already nodding your head and scrunching your face. On the track, IDK speaks on topics of fake friends, his lack of support from certain people in the early stages of his artistry, and oh yeah, his Jewish taxpayers. Ferg’s verse was as creative and flow-crazy as is expected of an artist of his caliber, tying a neat and hard bow on a fire track.

SQUARE UP (ft. Juicy J)

B*tch don’t call my phone no more, I don’t got no time for you fake ass h*es

One of our favorite tracks from the tape, considering it is the first track we actually see an IDK and Juicy J-. The frantic, running melody and the heavy, yet subtle 808s underneath give more bang to the percussion and hi-hats when they blend together. IDK’s vocals can be heard in the background, crooning with silent reverb and adding a delicate layer.

The DMV native spits with confidence and pride, showing no fear in his lyrics or topic of delivery. The bridge towards the second half of the track is a nice momentum builder for smooth, whimsical, and adlib-worthy Juicy J verse that follows.

BULLETPROOF (ft. Denzel Curry & Maxo Kream)

Think you bulletproof, ‘til my shooters shoot

BULLETPROOF rushes out the gate with a wavy Denzel and IDK bridge/chorus. The hook ignites the track before the first word of a verse is even said. The murky beat and overall dusky production with eerie chimes and weird synths, create the dark atmosphere where these artists thrive, especially Maxo Kream, who slid on his verse with perfection. Themes of young shooters, dead friends, and the promise to end any beef with a bullet.

END OF DISCUSSION (ft. PNB Rock)

She ain’t suckin, she ain’t f*ckin, end of discussion

One of the more sing-songy tracks on “IDK & FRIENDS 2”, END OF DISCUSSION has PNB Rock and IDK trading verses back and forth on the topic of broke haters, spending money simply because they can, stunting on those who’re out of their league, and moving out of the way of females who don’t have the energy they both desire. Creative and hard-hitting bars are littered throughout the track from both artists.

TOOTH FAIRY

Like a tooth under the pillow I get money when I sleep

When we heard that “Oh my god, Ronny!” tag on an IDK track, we at Nefarious can confirm that we almost screamed. IDK utilizes Ronny J’s production beautifully, hitting the pockets in the beat he needs to strike fire with every word that lands. IDK talks about the usual haters, getting money when he sleeps, comparing his moves to those with his name in their mouth.

495 (ft. YungManny, Big Flock, Big Jam, & Rico Nasty)

I got three oppositions that might f*ck ‘round and blow

We’ve already done our review for this track. Take a look here if you wanna read. Short answer:

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

LIVE FOR IT (ft. Wale & Alex Vaughn)

You the MVP for it, and ball for it, yeah yeah

The slowest track on the tape, the keys on an organ piano leads LIVE FOR IT from start to finish, with the rest of the production swelling and building around it. Wale has a beautiful opening verse that sets the tone for the rest of the track, and Alex Vaughn’s iridescent vocals color the track a pretty color needed to blanket over IDK and Wale’s lyricism. The track fades out, taking elements from the production out subtly, as Wale ends of the project with the dimming bridge.

Starz: A Look into Life in a Dystopian Europe.

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Yung Lean (Jonatan Leandoer Håstad) is a Swedish rapper that rose to fame after releasing his first major viral single “Ginseng Strip 2002” back in 2013. Through making music and listening to music, Lean was able to teach himself the English language by strictly grinding out tracks like there’s no tomorrow; either through his “Yung Lean” moniker or his “Leandoer96” alternate account on Spotify. While you can still hear a slight accent and one or two weird sentences since English is his self-taught second language, it 100% does not take anything away from his artistic integrity. As a matter of fact, I think it adds to the vibe he’s been going for as I’ve seen his style change repeatedly from the years of cranking his music on max daily.

So; Starz. Where do I even start…

This whole project is a masterpiece. I could talk about how ingenious the production is, how on point the atmospheric, desolate and yet full the vibe is and how the lyrics are kept simple enough to drive the point across while also drawing back the curtains on the confirmative and typical rap formula currently is for days. Instead – as per usual – I’ll be tackling my favorite songs off the record and different ways to go about listening to it and where to start as well.

On this 16-song project, I listen to all 16 tracks front to back - without fail - every single day since it dropped. 3 of these tracks are some of my all-time favorites; starting off with “Iceheart” on the tail end of the record. This song threw the old Yung Lean formula out of the window and attempted to tackle a KEY! (777 era) like delivery mixed with a very dark and dreamy trap beat over it. Lean goes off on this song, flexing his luxurious lifestyle; preferring to wear Prada over his massive collection of Goyard jewelry and wearing enough ice on his neck to weigh down an aircraft carrier. The production on this track is absolutely wild, ranging from heavy 808s to random percussion sounds and twinkly dreamscape-y melody in the background accompanied by a piano-trap style layer.

While most critics would advise you to listen to the album for the first time by starting at the top, I’d recommend starting off with this song first since it’s much more widely accepted by most fans with its straightforward delivery and full instrumentals.

Going back to the top of the project and making a full 180 on style and feel; “Dance In The Dark” is a very heartfelt song as Lean harmonizes over the melody more than aggressively attacking the beat. The lyrics are simple and scattered, yet they describe a feeling of euphoria and bliss by being able to let go of the seriousness of life and enjoying the smaller things: dancing under a blinking streetlight at the dead of night in downtown Stockholm. Lean’s singing voice really shines on this track as well. While yes; Lean doesn’t have the musical prowess of Alicia Keys or the pitch perfect humming that Kid Cudi can just whip out, the monotone delivery of the harmony adds more to the barren feel with this record which makes it much more intimate. This is the Yung Lean most fans are more familiar with; abstract beat and scattered lyrical delivery. This is the kind of song to vibe to more than bop at a party.

And finally; the best track title award goes to “Acid at 7/11”. This track sounds like if you mixed the “Iceheart” delivery with the “Dance In The Dark” instrumental and make it sound as good as Lean did. While this whole album feels like a euphoric acid trip, this track is the peak of it all for sure. Lean goes on to describe his “addicting” personality and how women flock to him from all over the place, as if they’ve chasing the high they were on while being with him (that’s what I like to call a ‘Lean binge’). This track is fun; it’s the sort of vibe you’d have after a good Saturday night; a nice, subtle beat and an easy-to-mimic delivery without too much thought into the intricacies of metaphorical writing or a dynamic and complex motif.

That’s what I have to say about the album; overlooking the obvious lack in language proficiency and simpler lyrics: a solid 8.5/10 in my books and a definite recommendation for anyone looking to explore a more barebones concept of alternative hip-hop. However - like my King Krule review – I feel like if you wanted to absorb the full Yung Lean experience in order to develop an ear for this genre, you should definitely check out “Kyoto”: a single he released during his early phases of making music in 2013, “Yoshi City” off of his second album “Unknown Memory” in 2014 and “Red Bottom Sky” off of the “Stranger” album in 2017.

I hope you all are staying safe and occupied during this lockdown; the best thing about it is we have new music coming out every other week with enough time to sit and really appreciate the artistic integrity and effort put into every sound, along with the transitions between tracks and the overall concept of the projects.  Keep listening to music and maintaining social distance!

YUNG LEAN · Starz

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Let us know what your favorite song is in the comments below,  and If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, and Twitter. We also recently opened the Nefarious Supply shop so if you want to support you can show some love here!

[MYMHM 2] Stephen Jailon - Oakwood

Stephen Jailon is back again with his newest release, Oakwood, an 11-track LP that spans topics of love, fake hustling, idols, clout-chasing, hunger for success, the strife for togetherness, the fear of losing, and ultimately loving what he does.

Oakwood puts the North Carolina artists back in his hometown, and surrounded by his roots, pulling from real experiences and fantasies of future success all within this 24-minute tracklist.

Take a look at our review of the new Oakwood album, on this episode of Music You May Have Missed! 😈

Hippies

Hippies is the breakout single from Jailon’s Oakwood tape, starting off the album on an upbeat note. The production hops and jumps with every inflection of the rapper’s tone and the subtle 808s swelling underneath the infectious hi-hats act as a perfect base for the synth-driven, triple-layered melody. Stephen rides all of this flawlessly, and reintroduces himself to those who forgot, reminding them that he’s “a king, period.” and to “turn it up so these f*ck n*ggas hear me!”

Smashbros

Taking a Latin approach with the production, Jailon shoots out the gate on a lyrical thoroughbred, racing along the beat and missing not a cadence nor beat switch. He alludes to many different topics on the track, from fake hustling, moving like his idols, spending the days in the East, and getting straight to the point. The beat is alluring and keeps you just as entertained and intrigued as the North Carolina artist.

Good Credit

A quietly fast-paced, uptempo track, Good Credit seems to be an endless void that Jailon seems to vent all his frustrations and truths into. Cold-blooded moves, staying strapped and ready at a moment’s notice, never letting his credit sour within the community you’re from, running through Raleigh, spending a rack like its virtually nothing, this is the essence of Carolina, and Jailon is giving us a ride in the passenger seat.

Go (ft. OMGItsBreezy)

An autotune-friendly melody and vocal performance by Jailon and the members of Ali Road Studios paints the foundation for both Jailon and Breezy, another upcoming trap artist from North Carolina, to bring heat as per usual. As if alley-ooping to a teammate, Jailon executes his verse perfectly, tossing up the third act of the track for Breezy to slam down with an autotune-refined finish, letting the instrumentals ride the last seconds out beautifully.

New Circus

On New Circus, Jailon speaks on the trials of living in North Carolina, growing up within the streets and hustling and giving back to his day ones, giving clout to those who don’t deserve it, how the internet has become the new playground for gang activity and violence, these themes are explored quickly, yet punctually and elaborately. Though New Circus is a short track, it slows down the production style of the tape, easing the listeners into Jailon’s next track, Setups.

Setups

Starting out with a Travis Scott-like introduction, the beat transitions slightly, adding the subtlest of harp-like progressions, which float lightly atop a smooth and deep 808, with a nicely-spread beat layered overtop. The melody seems to be carried off by a deliberately, slightly off-tune trumpet which wraps the instrumental up well. Stephen talks about how his lane differs from others, money-wise, female-wise, clout-wise, he rarely lets the beat breathe, not that it needs to, and talks game to those in his way.

Urgency

With an unknown sample being the centerpiece for Urgency, Jailon gets right to the point on this spooky instrumental. Jailon speaks on the familiar themes on this album, hustling, betrayals, fake love, money, drug running, fear of loss and hunger for success, it’s all there, and mixed and mastered perfectly for the listener to bop their head to for a good two minutes.

Body for Body

Body for Body is Stephen’s promise to those who’s been with him since the start that he will be there for them through thick and thin. He implores that they take care of their own and look out for one another. The simple production adds to accentuate what Jailon himself is saying and stays lowkey and supportive towards the end of the track.

Ghetto (ft. Woo$y)

Ghetto is the second track to present a feature on the Oakwood tape. Back to the roots of trap, the dark and brooding production returns as Stephen does what he does best and flows on the beat like butter. He talks his game and spits effortlessly for the duration of his verse. He references the Coronavirus and the sub-sequential quarantine that has taken place because of it, before passing it to Woo$y who picks up where Jailon left off, stating they’re taking shots like a vaccine. After an autotune-swelled vocal-riff of a verse, the two let the track ride into the darkness.

Identical

Identical is Jailon’s hardest flex on Oakwood yet. From boasting about Chanel, killing anything with a guitar beat, waking and baking, ignoring lames, working cash, loving what he does, and riding with his label, Ali Road Studios, Jailon’s confidence is through the roof, as it should be by this point in the tracklist. Having illustrated his life up until now, it was about time the artist spoke on his success.

Chillando

Chillando seems to be a slang-word used by Jailon and may be a North Carolina term, the word could be roughly translated to screaming or shrieking. On the track Jailon mentions this term more than once in different instances, but we deduce that it means “going wild” or “going crazy”. Do not take this translation as fact, as we’re speculating ourselves. Either way Chillando is a chill summer vibe that can rock on the subwoofers at any time of the day.

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Oakwood by Stephen Jailon is available all on streaming services right now. If you enjoyed this episode and want to stay up to date with new music from him you can find Stephan Jailon on Instagram as well as Twitter.

If you want to stay up to date with news and content coming from Nefarious Supply you can find us on Instagram, and Twitter. We also recently opened the Nefarious Supply shop so if you want to support you can show some love here!