Camel Hunting Season (no Peedi Crakk)

Let's talk best live performance scenes in movies ever. There's the Ramones concert medley in Rock 'N' Roll High School; the Beastie Boys doing Desperado in Tougher Than Leather; Digital Underground & 2Pac doing Same Song in Nothing But Trouble; Cro-Mags doing Hard Times in The Beat; and my own personal favourite L7 as Camel Lips cranking out Gas Chamber in John Waters' masterpiece Serial Mom.


What the Gas Chamber performance has over the rest is that it features Donita Sparks and Jennifer Finch wearing prosthetic vulvas as they help Kathleen Turner light Justin Whalin's arse up like a Christmas tree. Any old musicians can perform a song in a movie, only L7 have ever performed a song in a movie while helping the movie's villain commit murder by pyromania. DEATH IN STEREO!

I Come Strapped

3 Shades Of Rhythm - Reflections
(From Part One (22 Unreleased Recordings From 1990-92) CDr)


Fave jam my third eye has been awoken to so far on Sleepy B's Bay Area Jazz Rap 1990 to 1992 compilations. I don't know anything about Equipto beyond his work with Andre Nickatina, but I do know that Reflections is exactly what I wanna hear from some early 90s Bay Area backpack-rap. Music which makes me feel like I'm back wearing a pair of 42" waist DROORS jeans which I've cut off below the knee.

That Protestant ethic

504icygrl - Work
(From Caked Up album; 2025)


I'm on this one like a sticker. In fact I like Work even more than Throw Me Something Big and Where He At. It's certainly the 504icygrl song which contains the most effective use of her "HMMM" ad lib. All you need is a girl rapping about a gun over the Bounce equivalent of a Tunnel Banger™.

Rick & Marty

Slick Rick - So You're Having My Baby
(From Victory mini album; 2025)

Slick Rick · So You're Having My Baby

I'm gonna need a bigger dookie rope to get my head around this new Slick Rick mini album thingy Victory. Don't call it a comeback when it's only 27 minutes long including a buncha interludes with no rapping. The one thing I can say with any certainty is that the songs which initially stick for me are the songs which sound like unreleased Behind Bars era tracks. The whole point of Hip-Hop is not caring about artists intentions/intended purposes and using their music however you see fit instead. Thus, I'm probably gonna consider Victory the follow up to The Further Adventures Of Slick Rick, The Ruler rather than the follow up to The Art of Storytelling.

Slick Rick ft. Giggs - Stress
(From Victory mini album; 2025)

Slick Rick · Stress

Last Kharas

"If life's a riddle with a song in, all the best ones sound like longing
And how I yearn to be with Shulgin"

Real Lies - Shulgin
(From We Will Annihilate Our Enemies album; 2025)


Quite a feat that "you know my life is full of cheap surprises, I gotta get offa the grid/it's as if these algorithmic freaks don't know who they're f**kin' with" ism't even the best lyric in Real Lies' latest single. Like Freddie Ljungberg in the final stretch of the 2001/2002 Premier League season, Kevlar Kharas & Pumpin' Patrice don't miss. The best way to listen to Real Lies: taking a long, tipsy piss in a moonlit city alley with neon-lit nightbuses whizzing by behind you.

Oh wait, you're here for Rap music, right? Okay, so my baby-blue bruv Big Sleep is putting together a 14 volume zipfile series (!) of Bay Area Jazz-Rap over on his blog. Volumes 1 and 2 are up now. Sleep's got the gift 2 gab too. Peep game:

Whether you know your Mac Ts from your Mack-Ts1 or not, there's somethin' for everyone here. Doesn't matter if you're listening to I.Q. or Eyeque. I got it all covered: from Dave Dub to Joe Dub, everything from dank smokin' killers to doja smokin' nerds. A who's who of “who's that?”, that'll make you sound like a group of owls listenin' to Mike Jones.

The Chelsea Hotel hasn't cracked this hard since the night Rockets Redglare probably killed Nancy Spungen

The Guy - Blaze or Die
(From Blaze or Die twingle; 2025)


The Guy - I'm The Guy
(From Blaze or Die twingle; 2025)


You, a square: Turnstile finally released their follow-up album to Glow On. Rawk music is back!

Me, a connoisseur: yeah, but the Arab Parrot & his m8 Dutch made the best Squawk & Roll song of the 2020s so far and they're back with two new songs.

Fair play, this pair really know how to compose and crank out a Rawk song with chef's kiss flourishs. Granted, I'm The Guy is an cheeky acoustic flip the script of Bruce Springsteen's I'm On Fire, but they've bodied the source material musically and lyrically. Forget Cock-Rawk, the 3 Guy songs are Crack-Rawk.

Juke Them, Hoes

Lil' M.U. - Top of Cars
(From Handful maxi EP thingy; 2025)


Johnny The Boxxx ain't even a Rap blogger and yet he posts better Rap songs than most Rap bloggers. So, Lil' M.U heard Move by Mello Buckzz and thought "I can use flip some of those lines into my own Juke-Rap song!" R. Kelly once asked "Can I get a toot-toot? Can I get a beep-beep?" and Lil' M.U has given him a whole next level interpreptation for an answer. Honk if you horny! If someone ever paid me to a Chicago Rap DJ set then I'd play Top of Cars inbetween Next To It by Lupe Fiasco & Ty Dolla $ign and the aforementioned Move by Mello Buckzz.

09 'til Infinity

BunnaB - Ice Cream Girl
(From Bunna Summer (Ice Cream Summer Deluxe) album; 2025)


BunnaB - Mad Again
(From Bunna Summer (Ice Cream Summer Deluxe) album; 2025)


Nowadays I only like Atlanta Rap if it sounds like it's been beamed into 2025 from 2009. BunnaB pulls this aesthetic choice off better than all the Atl bois making similar music simply because it hits fresher coming out of a bird's mouth, and she knows how to knock out a Legit Jam™. Bunna Summer is her big choon, but I prefer her other singles Ice Cream Girl and Mad Again meself. All three songs answer the question - what if Yung L.A. were a wench?

Another reason why I fuxwit BunnaB: she has a song called innit. I don't particularly like that song, but I gotta love that an American Rap song has been accidentally named with one of the greatest British words ever.

Late pass!

Young Bari - I Rep That Blocka
(From M.O.B Pt 2 The Meeting album; 2011)


Finding out that pre-HBK P-Lo produced Young Bari's On My Own Hype has got me checking out Bari's music from the early 2010s when he was working with various HBK members. I remember the single Mob Solo which Iamsu hooked up, but that shit never much tickled my fancy. What very much does tickle my fancy, however, is this other Iamsu produced single I Rep That Blocka; a notable entry in the Bay meets Bayou soundin'-ass-canon. Youse Bird-brain squares will dismiss this song as "Crash Bandicoot music", but us big-brain connoisseurs know that Rap music is often at its best when it sounds like some ol' robotic, futuristic Crash Bandicoot shit. Doctor Neo Cortex - we comin' for you, brotha!

School of Rock

"Same bat time, same bat channel
Same flatline, same plaid flannel
Same bad gamble
Same graff' name on the axe handle
Brand new taxidermy mammal on the mantle
Maaaaannnn"

Aesop Rock - Send Help
(From Black Hole Suprette album; 2025)


Homeboy Sandman has become a bore who can't make a song without making vaccines/veganism/not owning a smartphone, but ya host still needs to get his jollies from the post-Fondle 'Em pipeline. So, it's time for me to finally take a smell of what Aesop Rock is cooking. I'm a changed man, my taste has range, ma'am, I got a whole new game plan. Listened to his new single and said "that's nothing but game, fam!"

Related: initially loathed the LL song wot sounds like El-P and then ended up liking it as part of his album. But what a shitty bargain budget Westside Plum type video this is eh? Never forgive action from a rapper who had some of the best music videos of the 80s and 90s.

"Chef's in the kitchen while we out fly fishin'
Water so clean, you can see the fish pissin'"

LL Cool J - The Force
(From The Force album; 2024/YouTube; 2025)

Born Alone, Dine Alone

Eatem ft. Mr Blitzem - Poppin' Dem Bxs
(From the internet; 2025)


Eatem back! This is a different type of Baton Rouge brawl music where the brawl is an internal battle between neurotransmitters and drugs consumed. There's a war goin' on inside no pill popper is safe from. If Eatem is back properly then it's time he finally drops the video for Lil' Phat Flow. Reeeeewind for the best Lil' Phat homage ever.

Eatem - Lil' Phat Flow
(From Lil' Phat Flow single; 2022)

Turf talk

Young Bari - On My Own Hype
(From Young Bari & J Roc's M.O.B album; 2008)


New favourite Instagram account alert: I'm So Hyphy. Exquisite taste in choonz I do know, and even better taste in choonz I don't know. Picture me not knowing that pre-HBK P-Lo produced Young Bari's On My Own Hype. Plz believe I'm not an anniversary dates bloke, but I gotta appreciate an account which tells me that Beeda Weeda's debut single Turf's Up was released on December 27th 2005.

Beeda Weeda - Turf's Up
(From Turfology album; 2006)


Very impressive that Beeda Weeda could score a Lil' Jon cameo for his debut video innit? The Turf's Up video was uploaded to Beeda's Own channel on February 15th 2006 surely making it was one of the very first NorCal Rap videos uploaded to YouTube.

Generic list post: May 2025

Obligatory wrap-up post of those songs I've played most during the month when Mac Dre appeared as an option in one of the Daily Mirror's quizzes. Gotta be the first time Mac Dre's name has appeared in a British newspaper. Bring back Derek McGovern's gambling column IMHO.

Roxanne Shante vs. Sparky Dee - Round 1 (1985)
Edan - Eyeblink (2nd version) (200?)
OnlyHeaven - Text (2025)
Ezale - How Much Dope (2025)
Seiji Oda ft. Trunk Boiz - No Fillins2 (2025)
Seiji Oda - Sleeve Jobs (2025)
X-Raided - Queen of Hearts (2025)
Lord Sko ft. Grand Puba - Girbaud Talk (2025)
Slade - Them Kinda Monkeys Can't Swing (1974)
Real Lies - Down & Out (Where E-Girls Dare) (2025)

Bonus bloggin: 1nce again I'm gonna use my monthly wrap-up post to keep track of the best movies and TV shows I've been watching. * indicates rewatches dunnit.

Movies I watched and liked:
Accident (1967)
Slade In Flame (1975) *
Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975) *
Vampire's Kiss (1988)
The Boy From Andromeda (1991)
The Surfer (2025)

TV shows I watched and liked:
Neighbours (new episodes) (2025)
Mastermind (grand final) (2025)
Toy Shop On Tour (final episode) (2025)
Brentford vs. Man United (2025)
Southampton vs. Arsenal (2025)
Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City (2025)
Inter Milan vs. Barcelona (2025)
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid (2025)
PSG vs. Inter Milan (2025)
Match Of The Day 1 and 2 (new episodes) (2024)

Other stuff: I made a playlist of my top 10 favourite non-2025 Rap songs I've discovered in 2025; enjoyed Party Sparty's post about Peter Cushing's first Dr. Who movie.

Born To Audiomack: Top 10 2025 Late Pass Faves

~~ Top 10 2025 Late Pass Faves ~~

1. O.Z - It's A Black Thing (1990)
2. Three Below Zero AKA MOOD - Mr. Everything (1995/2016)
3. Edan - Eyeblink (2nd version) (200?)
4. Dru Down - I Rock (2002)
5. Murs ft. Shock G & Humpty Hump - Risky Business (2003)
6. Murs - The Night Before (2003)
7. Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh - Party (2024)
8. Mello Buckzz ft. G-Herbo - Hmm.. BD (2024)
9. DCG Shun & DCG Bsauv - Steppers Freestyle (2024)
10. 504icygrl - Throw Me Something Big (2024)



No shotz @ youse ol' McRib ass bloggers who only show up to show out once a year, but I feel like my blog got dust in it from not bustin' it this month. Even when I'm busier than a blue-arsed fly IRL I've still got an itchy posting finger for the URL. And so, here's a playlist of 10 killer non-2025 Rap songs which I've discovered this year. Murs gets 2 slots on the tracklist because Risky Business and The Night Before are both equally brilliant in completely different ways.

If you go down to the woods today you're sure of a big surproiz

Seiji Oda ft. Trunk Boiz - No Fillins2
(From HUMAN+NATURE album; 2025)


Seiji Oda already recorded a homage to the Trunk Boiz Cupcake No Fillin back in 2021. Now he's recorded a sequel featuring none other than the Trunk Boiz themselves. This ain't Cloud-Rap, this is Incense Smoke-Rap. Even your new age hippy missus can catch a vibe to this shit when she's treating her chakras with her collection of painted rocks healing crystals.

Ladies, please!

Roxanne Shante vs. Sparky Dee - Round 1
(From Round 1 EP thingy; 1985)


Mid 80s Tuff drum-machine excellence! Spyder-D lit the fuse on Roxanne Shante & Sparky Dee's tampons and then let them rip the living piss outta each other back-and-forth on this little known 80s track. And it really should be more known because it's one of the most vicious dis songs of the 80s. No matter the medium, there's little more entertaining than a cat fight.

Good top, very philosophical

Seiji Oda - Sleeve Jobs
(From HUMAN+NATURE album; 2025)


Some Oakland rappers go on Sway In The Morning, while other Oakland rappers make legit slaps which are as gentle as a field of wheat gently swaying in the morning breeze. It's a paradox in the Baytrix which Seiji Oda has been exploring/exploiting since Like This in 2020 and continues to explore/exploit in 2025 with Sleeve Jobs.

Rewind for Seiji's best song of 2025 so far which isn't on his new album for some unfathomable reason. He actually coaxed an excellent, no Auto-Tuned cameo out of Iamsu - summat which hasn't happened in a decade.

Ice Cream Man back!

"I got a way with words
And it ain't for nerds
I just hit the gas on the offi-cers"

Ezale - How Much Dope
(From Town Taxes album; 2025)


R U Still Dru Down? Another new video for a song from Ezale's new album which will go platinum on my TV, laptop and tablet. Ezale's so full of Disco-power, there ain't a Got To Be Real cover version he can't devour. I grab my pencil, papers and pad, I listen to Ezale's music like it was my dad. Best of Ezale Audiomack playlist still available for your streaming pleasure.

They found Nemo, but they not gonna find you!

X-Raided - Queen of Hearts
(From Queen of Hearts single; 2025)


Best old man West Coast Gangsta-Slap song of 2025 so far? That Strange Music video budget moolah bought X-Raided a whole 1930s Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie set.

Random relared thought: my pick for most underrated Young Bleed deep cut of all time has gotta be Walk Like Uh Hustla from his album on Strange Music.

Unexpected 2025 Grand Puba appearance!

Lord Sko ft. Grand Puba - Girbaud Talk
(From Piff album; 2025)


Lord Sko's Pimp Socks is my mfing jam, but I'd mentally filed him away as a One Song Wonder™ and kept it moving. Guess I'm gonna have to slang humble pie & St Ides in the same sentence because he now has two mfing jams to his name. Puba is on good form delivering a verse and the chorus, and Sko is 100% correct when he says "this shit sound like a fever dream..." - that beat is the audio equivalent of one of those sweaty, delirious 6:40 AM sleep hallucinations which would be the best dream you ever had if only you could remember it.

(Possibly not that unexpected of a 2025 Grand Puba appearance since Lord Sko is Dante Ross' artist.)

E's are good

"Emcees be suckin' like black holes
It's like their work was done at Habro
Tryna dog me out because they think my style is Alpo
But F**K NO!
Tell an enemy that I’m the pedigree
Feed him kibbles n bits until he dribble 'n' spit
Pitiful shit is what I am hearing on the airwaves
That stuff is soon to die out like that jheri curl hair phase"

Edan - Eyeblink (2nd version)
(From no idea where; 200?)


Here at The Martorialist we don't approve of jheri curl disses, but we do approve of this Edan song. Eyeblink is a Top 3 song on Edan's debut CD-R album, but here's a 2nd version of it which is even better. It's the same beat and lyrics, but with re-recorded vocals where he delivers his lines with more boldness. Song is that vintage super-scientific smartarse Percee's Boutique type Edan shit where he says "as a syllable spitter, I kill a bullshitter/my rhymes are skull-grippers which frustrate ya like dull scissors". Lewis Recordings or one of youse boutique raer materialz labels to stop effin' around and give Artchitecture the deluxe remastered reissue treatment on CD with this song and Drop Some Smooth Lyrics as bonus cuts. Make it happen like Ultramagnetic.

My copy of that thst book about independent Rap circa 1995 to 2005 arrived a few days ago. Alas, the author doesn't argue the case why Edan & his m8 Eric "Skillz" Ferguson were a better Rap duo than Mos Def & Talib Kweli. And on that note, I let the facts float: Mos Def & Kweli have two killer tracks together, while Edan & Ferguson have three killer tracks together.

5th Ward Breezie

OnlyHeaven - Text
(From KISS (Keep It Short & Sweet) EP; 2025)


I'm like Heaven, everybody wanna get to me; how'd I make it to three posts without realising OnlyHeaven is the reincarnation of 5th Ward Weebie? The chromosomes might be different, but the characteristics are the same: a short, tubby New Orleans rapper who makes expertly crafted Bounce music which is both very funny and very smutty. For me, Text is the best song on OnlyHeaven's recent EP: a risqué R&Bounce jam with a Can't You See interpolation which will have you shouting "BABY, BABY!" Let me find out this song is a beast, heard it's been killin' my speakers, rest in peace to the deceased.

Generic list post: April 2025

Papo2004 & Subjxct 5 - Chopper City Pap
(From Papoholic, vol. 1 album; 2025)


Obligatory wrap-up post of those songs I've played most during the month when Papo2oo4 finally made a song I really fuxwit. Cot-damn, that beat sounds like Ralf & Florian remixed a Mannie Fresh track.

Big Scoob - Say It Loud (American & Proud) (2002)
Murs ft. Shock G & Humpty Hump - Risky Business (2003)
Murs - The Night Before (2003)
Myaap ft. Vae Vanilla & Tre 3200 - Feeling Dis (2024)
Myaap - Fairy (2025)
Ezale - On The Radar freestyle (2025)
Wiz Khalifa & DJ Fresh - What's Hannin' (live) (2025)
La Reezy ft. Malachi - Venus Fly Trap (2025)
504icygrl - Where He At (2025)
504icygurl - Throw Me Something Big (2025)
Real Lies - Arielle (2025)
Real Lies - Shulgin (2025)

Bonus bloggin: 1nce again I'm gonna use my monthly wrap-up post to keep track of the best movies and TV shows I've been watching. * indicates rewatches dunnit.

Movies I watched and liked:
The Monster Club (1981) *
Tombstone (1993) *
La Haine (1995) *
The Descent (2005)

TV shows I watched and liked:
Neighbours (new episodes) (2024)
Doctor Who (new episodes) (2025)
Mastermind (semi finals) (2025)
How To Win The Champions League: José Mourinho (2025)
Arsenal vs. Real Madrid (2025)
Real Madrid vs. Arsenal (2025)
Aston Villa vs. PSG (2025)
Manchester United vs. Lyon (2025)
Barcelona vs. Celta Vigo (2025)
Crystal Palace vs. Aston Villa (2025)
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid (Copa Del Rey final) (2025)
Barcelona vs. Inter Milan (2025)

Russell Athletic

LARussell - Nothin' Like It
(From Nothin' Like It single; 2025)


Ya host Ronaldo Dregan has been tryin' to front on this LARussell single to no avail. As a Brit, I neither know about nor care about Baseball or any other American sport, but that doesn't stop me enjoying this song just like I enjoy Twista's NBA Live theme. What Nothin' Like It manages to do is be a personal anthem for fans of the San Francisco Giants while tapping into the universal feeling of watching your sports team win. It's NorCal Rap music for the local community with so international appeal like B-Legit.

La La La

'New Orleans Chance The Rapper/Hot Boy hybrid rapper making Swag-Rap/Boom-Bap hybrid music' is a bizarre concept, but I'll be damned if this La Reezy kid doesn't make it work on a few tracks from his new EP. I'm kinda feelin' his latest single I Look Good and really feelin' his song with LARussell's m8 Malachi which hits like some vintage Dungeon Family.

"I seen a lotta n*ggas fade to black before they hit they teens
Like I wish my brother could see me on a screen"

La Reezy ft. Malachi - Venus Fly Trap
(From Welcome To La Reezyana Vol. 1 EP; 2025)

Late pass again!

"Now in L.A., as you know, there's a war goin' on
And it's been goin' on since before I was born
Though the undisputed origin has yet to be formed
It all used to boil down to the red and the blue
But that got f**ked up as the many led the few
Now there's bloods killin' bloods and crips killin' crips
That's n*ggas killin' n*ggas they played kickball with"

Murs - The Night Before
(From The End Of The Beginning album; 2003)


Murs' perfect song/video with Shock G & Humpty Hump inspired me to pick up his Def Jux debut CD. My 2nd favourite choon on there is another storytellin' track The Night Before, altho ain't shit funny about this tale. Murs uses each verse to whip up a whole world about L.A gang violence like Ice-T used to do, albeit from a different angle about 'bangers like triangle isosceles. Woulda been another perfect song had Murs not referred to THE REAL FOOTBALL™ as kickball. It's the exact same myopic 'Murican refusal to accept THE REAL FOOTBALL™ on its own terms which gave us such sporting calamities as the way Major League Soccer players used to take penalties in the 90s.

Fresh Is The Word

Wiz Khalifa - What's Hannin' (live)
(From the On The Radar YouTube channel; 2025)


LARussell & Wiz Khalifa's I Might Be is such a killer single it inspired me to peep Wiz's new long-touted sequel to his Kush and Orange Juice mixtape. Naturally, I Mught Be is the best choon on there, but there's a couple of other legit jams including a sad boi wavy song produced by DJ Fresh called What's Hannin'. However, Wiz performed What's Hannin' live for the On The Radar YouTube channel with the sort of crystal-clear chutzpah which has made the studio version superfluous 4 me.

Bonus bloggin': what better time than now for an official Martorialist top ten favourite Rap songs produced by DJ Fresh list? One song per rapper so everybody gets their chance to shine.

Beeda Weeda - Bass Rock Babies (O.G mix) (2010)
Keak Da Sneak - Maxi Pads (2010)
Ezale - We Want Some Pussy (2016)
D-Lo - It Won't Be Long (2009)
Nef The Pharaoh - Giggerz (2021)
J.Stalin - Cocaine Cowboys (2008)
Shady Nate - Bottom Of My Bottle (2009)
Mozzy - Wet Woozy Wop Em and Wolly (2013)
Mistah F.A.B - Summertime In My City (2006)
The Jacka ft. Bo Strangles - Boomin' System (2012)

Late pass!

Myaap ft. Vae Vanilla & 3200 Tre - Feeling Dis
(From The Bigger Picture album; 2024)



I've been checkin' for Myaap since HTS but I completely missed this song from the tail end of last year. A posse cut where everybody came with their own perspective and everybody got their points across. 2nd best non-2025 Rap song I've discovered this week so far. The first is Risky Business by Murs & Shock G/Humpty Hump. Never in a month of Black Sundays would my square arse have guessed that Shock G guested & produced a song on a Def Jux album.

Murs ft. Shock G & Humpty Hump - Risky Business
(From The End of The Beginning album; 2003)


I'm sure most of youse lot were already familiar with Risky Business, but nobody ever told me about it! In fact, the only song I know from this particular Murs album is Transitionz Az A Ridah.

So Icy Entertainment

504icygrl - Throw Me Something Big
(From Caked Up album; 2025)


Sassy NOLA bird Mardi Gras parade-rap over a Trel Itz A Hit-type beat? 4 better or 4 worse, that's some shit I can't resist. It's Supa Sunday in N.O on The Martorialist today, so I'm compelled to admit I'm also diggin' 504icygrl's recent Bounce choon Where He At. When our 9th Ward breezy says "all white steppin', yeah, I'm feelin' Godly" I pray the lord keeps her kicks free from any dog/cat/bird shit. It's a cold world, but them streetz are filled with hot dung.

504icygrl - Where He At
(From Caked Up album; 2025)

My Mind Spray 19

In hindsight, I wish I'd have named this blog Transmitting Live From Mart's (geddit?)

Topics I'm hoping will be discussed in this book about independent Rap circa 1995 to 2005: why the Operation Doomsday re-recordings of DOOM's early singles are categorically better than the original 12" versions; Z-Man being Rap's O.G Courtney killed Kurt conspiracy theorist; Camu Tao's Hold The Floor single bodying the El P and Cannibal Ox albums on Def Jux; Big Scoob's 12" singles on Fully Blown Records; Vordul getting beaten up by Will High; Immortal Technique getting beaten up by Filipino Frank; Copywrite getting beaten up by Camu Tao and Cage; why the author decided 2005 was the cut-off point when J-Zone & Celph Titled's Bo$$ Hog Barbarians album dropped in 2006.

How's about a generic list of my favourite singles of 2025 so far? Billing it as the best singles of 2025 means I can include a few hot 2024 songs which officially became singles this year.

Ezale - Hang Wit Them
Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh - Party
MelloBuckzz ft. Monaleo - Move Pt 2
Kurious - 1984
OnlyHeaven - In Here
Seiji Oda ft. Iamsu - HUU!
LARussell ft. Wiz Khalifa - I Might Be
Pookie F'n Rude ft. E-40 - Da N***a (video mix)
Supahbadd - I Am
YG ft. Buddy & The Gang - 2004
Murs - Silverlake Rec League
Richie Rich - Wires And Vogues
Robb Bank$ ft. Sir Michael Rocks, Shorty K & Boldy James - Top Shottas 2k25
EBK Jaaybo - F**k Everybody (Free Maxx)
TG Kommas - Out Yo Mind
Stunnaman02 & The Yee Section - Out That Window (live)

Champagne On The Blog

Big Scoob - Say It Loud (American & Proud)
(From Say It Loud (American & Proud) 12" single; 2002)


Here's a rap song which wasn't on the internet so I've uploaded a video of it to YouTube. Some proto-Top Shelf 8/8/88-core by Big Scoob FKA Big Daddy Kane's ex-dancer Scoob Lover, taken from the early 2000s when Scoob was dropping nice 12" singles like Kryptonite and U Got It, Can Du and Brooklyn Flava and Floss Filthy. Say It Loud (American & Proud) is Scoob's ode to the U.S.A recorded in the aftermath of 9/11, which basically means it's 30% patriotism/70% braggadocio. Don't get it twisted tho, this song would make a way better American national anthem than The Star Spangled Banner. That's one thing the U.K and the U.S.A will always have in common: national anthems which are tuneless dirges.

My Gran bought me the portable turntable in the video back in the early 80s and it's still going strong. I dunno how to rip vinyl to MP3 so Step One said he'll do it for me if I post him the Big Scoob 12". I'm gonna take him up on his offer, but first I'm gonna take a punt on a couple of the other early 2000s Scoob 12"s I've never heard which have never been uploaded to the internet. If they're legit jams then I'm gonna hit Step up with that Scooby pack.

**EDIT** I put the Say It Loud (American & Proud) instrumental on YouTube too.

We're All In The Same Yang

"Sauced up, bossed up
Just got a few dollars she coughed up
All in a bitch mouth like cough syrup
Can't help this the way I was brought up"

Ezale - On The Radar freestyle
(From P-Lo's For The Soil cypher for On The Radar; 2025)


A mere freestyle, but it's the first time Ezale has rhymed over a P-Lo production and it's a great fit like tighty-whities. I'm down for a proper Ezale & P-Lo collaboration, preferably an EP together like the LARussell & P-Lo EP where Ezale does the raps and P-Lo does the slaps.

Speaking of which, it's very weird to hear the word slap enter Britain's normie vernacular. Just last week I caught an episode of British soap-opera Coronation Street and one of the zoomer lads said "this curry slaps!" O rly? Nane 3 Mac Dre songs, m8.

Generic list post: March 2025

Obligatory wrap-up post of those songs I've played most during the month when Babyf×ce E brazenly bit 70th Street Carlos and thought nobody would notice.

Three Below Zero AKA MOOD - Mr. Everything (1995)
Ezale - Hang Wit Them (2025)
LARussell & Wiz Khalifa - I Might Be (2025)
Seiji Oda ft. Young Bari - Mobby Miyazaki (2025)
EBK Jaaybo - F**k Everybody (Free Maxx) (2025)
Murs - Silverlake Rec League (2025)
Pookie F'n Rude ft. E-40 - Da N***a (video mix) (2025)
YG ft. Buddy & The Gang - 2004 (2025)
Supahbadd - I Am (2025)
Mello Buckzz - Barely Chew (2025)
Real Lies - Towards Horses (2025)

Bonus bloggin: 1nce again I'm gonna use my monthly wrap-up post to keep track of the best movies and TV shows I've been watching. * indicates rewatches dunnit.

Movies I watched and liked:
PlayTime (1955)
The Boys (1962)
The Lost Boys (1987) *
Decision To Leave (2022)
Flow (2024)

TV shows I watched and liked:
What We Do In The Shadows (series 5) (2023) *
Neighbours (new episodes) (2025)
Only Connect (grand final) (2025)
Newcastle vs. Liverpool (league Cup final) (2025)
Athletico Madrid vs. Barcelona (2025)

You know there's otha posts in the sea there is: my list of great late-career singles; EttelThun found the O.G version of Can I Live when it was a LOX song featuring Black Rob; Spartan on Looking For Mr. Goodbar.

Don't Get Caught

Babyf×ce E ft. Mello Buckzz - Tweakers
(From Tweakers single; 2025)


On one hand, this is tuff and I have a crush on Mello Buckzz. On the other hand, Babyf×ce E has shamelessly 'borrowed' lyrics from 70th Street Carlos' Government Shutdown and thought nobody would notice. It's not just me who clocked it either because various people in the YouTube comments have picked up on it. Should have tried to disguise your plagiarism with a different flow, m8. You can drop your song, kid, and it don't matter that it's hot, there's still one rule, playa - don't get caught.

Late pass!

Three Below Zero AKA MOOD - Mr. Everything
(From Unreleased 93 - 95 EP; 2016)


I've heard a few of the unreleased mid 90s songs MOOD recorded as Three Below Zero but I'd never heard this one. And this one has gotta be a top 3 song they ever recorded. Some black belt in rap hands judo Boom-Bap to make you walk with a bop. What we're they thinking not releasing this shit back in the 90s?

Still active upload to the unreleased songs EP can be found on this blog.

Ain't no tellin' what the bitch will do, I was all on her face like barbecue (part 3)

Ezale - Hang Wit Them
(From Town Taxes album; 2025)


Ezale Duz It. And by Duz It I mean Ezale duz sausage-fest music videos better than 99% of other rappers. But then you already knew that if you've seen the videos for 5 Minutes Of Funktown and Foreal Foreal. Plz believe the spirit of REAL HIP-HOP™ is pulsating through this video's 4k pixels: dancin' in the street, gold teeth and Levi's jeans, gettin' chased by coppers and vintage motors. As for the song, it's that hella hyphy dirtbag Charlie Hustle mob music innit. Nobody in California Duz It better right now.

My Mind Spray 18.5

I'm starting my own offshoot of the Conservative Rap Coalition for those of us who aren't stuck in a Boom-Bap rut but also aren't interested in Playboi Carti and his disciples. For my fellow peeps who don't think Godfather Don's comeback album is the only good release of the past 5 years, but who've never heard a Destroy Lonely song in our lives. Do you enjoy the music of Spoonie Gee and Seiji Oda? Then come join. There's rules, guidelines and codes we obey tho: you must be able to name 3 songs by YZ, 3 songs by Young Bleed and 3 songs by Yuno Miles.

Mac Dre & Khayree performing an acoustic version of Times R Gettin' Crazy on Billy Jam's radio show in 1991 was the original Splash Bakery.

I very rarely check for those teen-gangbanger Stockton rappers, but EBK Jaaybo's F**k Everybody (Free Maxx) piqued my interest. The song is some grandiose Mob-Drill which is probably supposed to be a sequel to Boogieman, but I prefer it as a NorCal spin off of Treal Lee & Prince Rick's Dallas classic Walk Around The Club (F**k Everybody).

Kids and casuals don't even realise that the video for Craig Mack's Makin' Moves With Puff was the inspiration for Suge Knight's infamous Source Awards speech. TBF, Knight did have a point.

Wear your funkiest pattern, grab your hat and come get crazy with me if you agree with me that the Q-Tip remix of Craig Mack's Get Down is better than the Flava In Ya Ear remix. Shout out to British TV show The Word who had Mack perform the Get Down remix live in 1995 where he did the 3rd verse from the original mix in the place of Q-Tip's cameo.

NOLA Girl

Supahbadd - I Am
(From I Am single; 2025)


Most effective interpolation of Estelle's American Boy since Max B or wot? I came across this shit in YouTube's recommendations on OnlyHeaven's In Here video a while back, and in a perfect circle of life, OnlyHeaven claimed that Supahbadd was a big influence on her when Johnny The Boxxx interviewed her a week or so later. I've since gone through Supahbadd's back catalogue and come to the conclusion that I Am is the best song she's ever recorded. Bonzer R&Bounce that's as rowdy as it is bawdy. She'll rule your dong with her iron can, Supah Pum-Pum AKA Filthy Triggawoman.

Shout out to the YouTube algorithm for also recommending me I Need A Hot Boy by Tha Hot Girls. Nice to see BlaqNmilD is still out here producing even tho 5th Ward Weebie is gone. BlaqNmilD was also behind Maine Musik's Social Media Thuggin' AKA the greatest Foxx song not actually recorded by Foxx.

These are the breaks

Caveman - I'm Ready
(From Positive Reaction album; 1991)


The classic U.K Rap single by the one and only U.K Rap group to be signed by Profile Records. I'm gonna call I'm Ready the most Rave-friendly U.K Rap song of the early 90s based on the empirical evidence it got played at a local Illegal Rave I went to in 1992 at the tender age of 14. Dubbed The Melt Down Zone, the party was hosted in a disused former Agri-Electrics building by some local pikeys who weren't fussy about letting underage kidz in as long as we had the £5 entry fee. The DJ was an ex Hip-Hop head who'd had his head/dick turned by the drugs and girls at Rave parties, but would still play some uptempo Rap tracks in amongst the Rave choonz. I have very specific memories of hearing I'm Ready and Naughty By Nature's O.P.P that night because they were 2 of my favourite singles of that era and it was the first time I'd heard Rap music played in what was, essentially, a club. I also have very specific memories of having to leave early because my parents wouldn't let me stay out beyond 10:30 PM. They f**k your adolescent nights up, your mum and dad.

I've always wondered whether Percee P & Ekim and/or T-Ray heard Caveman's Fry You Like Fish. It's plausible innit since Profile Records would have ensured the single made its way into New York's record shops.

Rude Awakening

Pookie F'n Rude ft. E-40 - Da N***a (video mix)
(From YouTube; 2025)


New bumper-bonker from Pookie F'n Rude AKA the fat fella responsible for two of my favourite L.A singles of the past few years with Hold Up and Put That On Everythang. Part Kokane, part E-40, all west coast offkey bam-bamthems you can step to. This video mix differs from the version on his Rebirth Of The West album due to a 2nd Pookie verse after the E-40 cameo. A 2025 Rap song by 2 guys with 3 verses? How novel.

When did it become acceptable for rappers to walk around with septum rings looking like crusty Punk-Rock beezys? Holla at me, pop a leather collar at me, send a freaky white bitch like Beki Bondage at me.

Hi kidz, do you like violins?

LARussell & Wiz Khalifa - I Might Be
(From I Might Be single; 2025)


Damn! Nef The Pharaoh has spent the last 11 years pioneering and perfecting Thizz Khalifa-core only for LARussell to come along and put Wiz Khalifa on a Kush & O Bay type beat which brings The Old Wiz™ out. Professional Rap music choonage with Wiz and Russell both delivering their own separate choruses. Plus, that Michael Prince bloke who played violin on here put an Ultramagnetic elbow into this shit and took the song to a next plateau.

Mello Music Group (part 3)

"Flame a n*gga up and grill his ass, barbecue
Paid to fuck, don't ask me if I'm eatin', bitch, I barely chew
Always front for Instagram, n*gga you barely you
How the f*ck you tryna score a point and n*ggas barely shoot?"

Mello Buckzz - Barely Chew
(From YouTube; 2025)


Colder than the temperature in one of Putin's penal colonies. However, this shit needed a second verse IMHO. Thus, rather than consider it an A-side, I'm gonna use this shit as the B-side to Move Pt. 2.

Props to Mello for lookin' sexy while dressed like 2003 era Juelz Santana while wearing some Deidre Barlow lookin'-ass glasses. Ain't naan a bird looked that good in a pair of Cazals since Isabelle Adjani in The Tenant.

F**k a cop, he get Spirited Away and turnt to a porkchop

Seiji Oda ft. Young Bari - Mobby Miyazaki
(From Mobby Miyazaki EP; 2025)


Props to Seijj Oda & his m8 for creating the missing link between Studio Ton and Studio Ghibli. Seiji's now had 5 hot singles in a row so here's a Quinary of Quiet-Knock Quality™ playlist of them.

~~ Seiji's Got 5 On It ~~

1. A Gentle Gigg (2024)
2. Last Summer (2024)
3. Peaceful2 ft. LARussell (2024)
4. HUU! ft. Iamsu (2025)
5. Mobby Miyazaki ft. Young Bari (2025)

Generic list post: G.O.A.T late career singles IMHO

My lil' tribute to Angie Stone has got me thinkin' about the greatest late-career singles in music history. Creative sparks can disappear in a cocaine heartbeat and so it's a miracle when an artist 15 years deep into their career records a great single. So, here are the 30 best examples of this phenomenon according to me. I'm not sayin' all these songs were the last great single the particular artist dropped, I'm just sayin' the song is a Martorialist classic the artist dropped long after they first debuted.

Mac Dre - Feelin' Myself (2004)
Too $hort - Blow The Whistle (2006)
Howlin' Wolf - Evil (electric) (1969)
Dr. Dre ft. Snoop, Kurupt & Nate Dogg - The Next Episode (1999)
James Brown - Papa Don't Take No Mess (1974)
Angie Stone - Wish I Didn't Miss You (2001)
DOOM - Gazzillion Ear (2010)
Kurious - Cow's Eye (2024)
UGK - The Game Belongs To Me (2006)
E-40 ft. B-Legit & Stresmatic - Rear View Mirror (2011)
Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up (1977)
Diana Ross - Upside Down (1980)
Mystikal - Hit Me (2012)
DJ Quik ft. Suga Free & Ty Dolla $ign - Nobody (2011)
Young Bleed - Holla At Uh Dog (2011)
5th Ward Weebie - Let Me Find Out (2014)
LL Cool J - Luv U Better (2002)
Danzig - Black Candy (2010)
Ramones - I Don't Wanna Grow Up (1995)
Jamie Jupitor - Future Computer (2016)
Geto Boys - G Code (2005)
De La Soul ft. MF DOOM - Rock Co.Kane Flow (2004)
Busta Rhymes - Don't Touch Me (Throw Da Water On 'Em) (2009)
Ka - I Love (Moms, Mimi, Kev) (2020)
Chaka Khan - Like Sugar (2018)
Body Count - Talk Shit, Get Shot (2014)
Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh - Party (2024)
The Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets (1983)
Common & Pete Rock - Wise Up (2024)
Mr. Fingers - Qwazars (2016)

I was gonna do this list in order of preference but gave up on that notion after the first song. Ranking and rating songs is for tubby music critics in t-shirts with stretched neckholes.

If we sacrifice Oliver Stone to a volcano can we get Angie Stone back?

The Sequence - Simon Says
(From Sugar Hill Presents The Sequence album; 1981)


R.I.P to Rap's soul sista number one Angie Stone, the O.G Queen of Hip-Hop Soul before Mary J. Blige. Real headz know that Simon Says is as good as Funk You Up and one of the last great Disco-Rap era choonz full stop. That shit thumps so doggone hard they had to call the national guard. But it's important to remember that Angie kilt shit like kitty litter in multiple decades.

Vertical Hold - Seems You're Much Too Busy
(From A Matter Of Time album; 1993)


As for Wish I Didn't Miss You, it's one of the greatest late-career singles of all time in any genre innit. Me, I consider it an even better song than Back Stabbers and plz believe that is not a slight to Back Stabbers. I just hope Ezale cut Miss Stone a cheque for that shit when him & HawkBeatz flipped it on Ironic.

Generic list post: February 2025

Busy Bee - Suicide
(From Running Thangs album; 1988/YouTube; 2018)


Obligatory wrap-up post of those songs I've played most during the month when I found out that Busy Bee dropped a video for his 1987 classic Suicide in 2018. Melle Mel co-wrote that song and coached Busy Bee's flow and it shows dunnit? I was thinking this must be the most belated Rap video ever until I noticed that LL dropped a video for Rock The Bells last week for its 40th anniversary.

O.Z. - It's A Black Thing (1990)
Dru Down - I Rock (2002)
Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh - Party (2024)
OnlyHeaven - In Here (video) (2025)
OnlyHeaven - Text (2025)
Mello Buckzz ft. G-Herbo - Hmm... BD (2024)
Mello Buckzz ft. Monaleo - Move Pt. 2 (2025)
Ezale - Can U Blame Me (2025)
Ezale - Make Her Gig (2025)
Seiji Oda ft. Iamsu - HUU! (2025)
Richie Rich - Wires And Vogues (2025)
Robb Bank$ ft. Sir Michael Rocks, Shorty K & Boldy James - Top Shottas 2k25 (2025)
Luh Tyler - Florida Boy (2025)

Bonus bloggin: 1nce again I'm gonna use my monthly wrap-up post to keep track of the best movies and TV shows I've been watching. * indicates rewatches dunnit.

Movies I watched and liked:
Night and The City (1950)
Horror Express (1972)
Night Moves (1975)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) *

TV shows I watched and liked:
Married With Children (series one) (1987)
Neighbours (new episodes) (2024)
Only Connect (new episodes) (2025)
Deal Or No Deal (new episodes) (2025)
Arsenal vs. Manchester City (2025)
Everton vs. Liverpool (2025)
Manchester City vs. Real Madrid (2025)
Match Of The Day 1 and 2 (new episodes) (2024)

PS: peep my best of Dru Down playlist.

Heaven is a place on Twerk

OnlyHeaven - In Here
(From YouTube; 2025)


I'm in here like booty hair so it's my duty here to report that the best New Orleans Bounce song of the moment has an official video. And what an official video it is with a hospital which looks like a fun place to visit. Very pleased to see ol' girl is now going by the name of OnlyHeaven rather than Heaven; lest we not confuse her with the literal Kidz Bop Heaven.

Turns out That Whiney Canadian Nonce™ is an OnlyHeaven fan. On one hand, it's great exposure for the lass. On the other hand, the plebs who listen to That Whiney Canadian Nonce™'s shitty music probably don't care for New Orleans Bounce.

Born To Audiomack: Best of Dru Down

~~ The Best of Dru Down ~~

1. Weak Move (1993)
2. Dru Rules (1993)
3. Bigger Than What You Think (1993)
4. Ice Cream Man ft. Luniz (1993)
5. Pimp of The Year (1993)
6. Rescue 911 ft. Luniz (1994)
7. Bad Boys (1994)
8. Rigged ft. Luniz (1994)
9. Playa Fo' Real (1996)
10. Can You Feel Me? (1996)
11. Head & Shoulders (1996)
12. Baby Bubba ft. Bootsy Collins (1996)
13. Hustlin' Ain't No Thang (1996)
14. Breezy ft. Luniz (1996)
15. Deal Went Bad (1996)
16. In Jail (199?/2008)
17. Assassinated (199?/2008)
18. Gangstafied (2002)
19. I Rock (2002)
20. Don't Shoot The Pimpin' ft. AMG & Suga Free (2002)
21. Summer In The City (2005)
22. Hellooo ft. The Jacka (2010)
23. My 501's (2018)
24. Streets Is Cold ft. Mistah F.A.B (2018)
25. Tube Socks ft. The Jacka (2018)
26. Ring Ding Dong (2019)
27. Fitness Funk (2019)



You got me mixed up twisted like an Arabian gymnast if you thought I was never gonna put together a best of Dru Down playlist. If you were to combine the DNA of Hanna-Barbera's Snagglepuss and Pomona, California's Suga Free then you'd end up with East Oakland's D Squared. Deep down and dirty, he grew up hella early, here's a playlist of my favourite song by Pimpy Doo.

Shorty K Back

Robb Bank$ ft. Sir Michael Rocks, Shorty K & Boldy James - Top Shottas 2K25
(From the internet; 2025)


Top notch posse cut belonging to Shaggy's son Robb Bank$. Everybody did their thing and sounded cognizant of each other’s presence over a beat which is effervescently effective. Personally, I'm pretending this is a sequel to Too $hort Back which was recorded for Boldy James' first album.

Dont worry, be Hyphy (part 2)

Seiji Oda ft. Iamsu - HUU!
(From HUU! single; 2025)


That's four hot singles in a row from Seiji Oda: A Gentle Gigg, Last Summer, Peaceful 2 and this new HUU! joint. The kid is back and cooking with Slap-Classico gas again. Someone call up Tariq Nasheed & his FBA cult and tell them Oakland Rap is now a 50% AZN genre.

Iamsu would have won the Worst Rapper's Trousers of February™ award if it weren't for Kendrick Lamar's superbowl flares. Finding the ugliest trousers in the world is now the first element of Hip-Hop kulcha.

Late pass!

Juvenile ft. Mannie Fresh - Party
(From 400 Degreez deluxe reissue album; 2024/YouTube; 2025)



I completely missed last year's deluxe reissue of 400 Degreez featuring a new Juvenile & Mannie Fresh song which sounds exactly how I want a new Juve & Mannietronix song to sound (like an old Juve & Mannietronix song, but not quite.) Luckily it's they've just dropped a video for that very song where Juve & Mannie dreamt of Californication.

Juve definitely missed a trick by not including 187 and Cash Money Gorilla on the 400 Degreez deluxe reissue.

PS: is Skip's verse on the Nolia Clap remix one of the most amusingly violent verses ever on an actual hit single?

"If I catch you on my porch, you gon' die by that
Right there by them leaves, go & lie by that
Right side of that dog doodoo, you gon' dry like that!"

Slicker than a bipper on a rainy day

"Shooter and the driver at the end of the day
Because I had to learn both like it's MMA"

Ezale - Can U Blame Me
(From Town Taxes mini album; 2025)


The cool thing about this new Ezale mini album is that every song is a single - literally since he's shot videos for all nine songs. Ezale videos always draw a vivid picture but the industry makes it hard for him to shoot for the stars. MC Ez' put his daughter in Ezekiel's Bakery as his video co-star like she's Willow Smith. To all you rapper's offspring out there who wanna be on a record label where you're all in the videos cookin'... sweepin'... then go to Foreal Foreal Entertainment! Like I said before, Can U Blame Me is the most DJ Fresh soundin' ass song which wasn't actually produced by DJ Fresh. Pure ToNHTe Show-core which uses some 80s Boogie to recreate the warm glow of MDMA.

The one thing this Town Taxes MLP does lack is a heartfelt jam in the vein of In A Day. Ideally, it woulda been a tribute to Ezale's dearly-departed DJ/best M8 HawkBeatz.

Toot it and shift it

Richie Rich - Wires And Vogues
(From Richard album; 2025)


I've been fiendin' for a new legit choon by Richie Rich after his verse on LARussell & P-Lo's shit, his "rhyme away the pain" incident in LaRussel's backyard and his Splash Bakery live performance. Plz believe Wires And Vogues here will do just nicely as that new legit choon. A grown man's car jam where Richie reflects on life in the rear view mirror. One thing Richie Rich has always had a knack for is rhyming about cars and making them sound like the coolest shit in the world; no mean feat because there's nowt more boring in real world conversation than a bloke telling you about his car. That's the magic of Rap music innit.

Mello Music Group (part 2)

Mello Buckzz ft. Monaleo - Move Pt. 2
(From Move Pt. 2 single; 2025)


Two of my favourite singles of the past five years are Move by Mello Buckzz and We Not Humping by Monaleo. Both songs are my ideal standard for modern Rap singles: high BPM big choonz full of big shit talk. And so it makes perfect sense that Monaleo should be the guest for the remix to Mello's Move. Most modern remixes bring out my John Self and have me thinking "what is the point of you?", but, much like the We Not Humping remix with Flo Milli, you can jam the original Move and the remix back-to-back like late buses. Props to Monaleo for selling that "if you scared, bitch, call ya mom because I'm The Bomb.com" with the sheer chutzpah of a Lyricist Lounge rapper in 1998.

Bonus beats: this Mello single from last year has really grown on me. Back when it first dropped I listened to it a few times and thought it was cool. But now I stay spinnin' this shit like a CD. This shit should be retitled Brrr.. BD because it's some Chicago street-Rap that's colder than no clothes in some place like Nova Scotia.

Mello Buckzz ft. G-Herbo - Hmm.. BD
(From Hmm.. BD single; 2024)


Even when Mello drops a single 4 the streetz she still keeps the video packed with more arses than the women's toilets in M&S. Pray 4 those old dears with weak bladders waiting in the snaking queues for the M&S bogs.

Feelin' James

O.Z. - It's A Black Thing
(From Fever For The Flavor album; 1990)


Discovered via EttelThun's early Chicago Rap mix, here's a nice slice of Lakim Shabazz-core. A notable entry in the canon of Chicago Rap songs with samples from James Brown & affiliated artists. Also historically notable since it might be the first 3rd Bass dis song. Word to the motherland, I wonder what O.Z. woulda thought about Chazmaniia?

Related golden-era white boi rapper thoughts: I heard David Bowie & Queen's Under Pressure in full for the first time ever the other day and was flabbergasted at how unlistenable it is other than the intro break. In hindsight, I shouldn't have been so surprised because Bowie and Queen are two of the worst offenders for middle-class British stageschool music. Hearing that bag of shite song in full only makes me appreciate Ice Ice Baby even more than I already do.

Generic list post: January 2025

Obligatory wrap-up post of those songs I've played most during the month when Lord Jamar became Brand Nubian's answer to Russell Brand. It's always hilarious to see a conspiracy-theorist grifting windbag get utterly humiliated. The elephant in the room is that Lord Jamar is now Donkey of The Day for the rest of his life.

Casual ft. Young Zee - Bay vs. Bricks (2005)
DCG Shun & DCG Bsauv - Steppers Freestyle (2024)
41 - Chill Guy (2024)
Ezale - Can U Blame Me (2025)
Ezale - Hang Wit Them (2025)
Stunnaman02 & The Yee Section - Out That Window (2025)
Seiji Oda & LaRussell ft. The Yee Section - Peaceful 2 (live) (2025)
Rio Da Yung OG - We Dem N*ggas (2025)
TG Kommas - Out Yo Mind (2025)

Bonus bloggin: 1nce again I'm gonna use my monthly wrap-up post to keep track of the best movies and TV shows I've been watching. * indicates rewatches dunnit.

Movies I watched and liked:
The Silent Partner (1978)
Fright Night 2 (1988) *
Nosferatu (1922) *
Nosferatu (2025)

TV shows I watched and liked:
Elvis Presley: '68 Comeback Special (1968)
Prisoner: Cell Block H (episodes 169 to 173) (1981)
Neighbours (new episodes) (2025)
Ben Fogle: New Lives In The Wild (new episodes) (2025)
Only Connect (new episodes) (2025)
Benefica vs. Barcelona (Champion's League game) (2025)
Match Of The Day 1 and 2 (new episodes) (2025)
Toy Shop on Tour (series 3 episode 7) (2025)

PS: that Tweaker is pretty cool as a legit hit because it sounds like Maine Musik made a Nelly song. BUT I'm already sick of hearing it in 7 out of 10 Instagram stories.

PPS: please listen to my best non-Bad Boy Craig Mack jams playlist and my best of Ezale playlist.

Ain't no tellin' what the bitch will do, I was all on her face like barbecue (part 2)

Ezale - Hang Wit' Them
(From Town Taxes mini album; 2025)


Yeah, my best of Ezale playlist is cool, but how about Ezale droppin' a 9 song mini album which contains all his comeback singles plus some new songs? I've been waitin' on Hang Wit Them since last summer and this shit delivered the hella hyphy dirtbag Charlie Hustle vybz I was hoping for.

What are the chances this Ezale mini LP will get a physical release? When I say physical release, I mean a CD which costs less than £20, not some coloured raer vinylz LP which costs £60 and you only have a 12 minute window of opportunity to buy.

So Whatcha Steppin'

"I ain't going to school, mama I'm tired
I just got suspended, mama I lied"

DCG Shun & DCG Bsauv - Steppers Freestyle
(From YouTube; 2024)


Discovered via Noz's 2024 wrap up. DCG x2 goin' back-and-forth like EPMD over Keezo Kane's Ga Ga Ga. Big two-steppin', shit will turn ya feet into lethal weapons. If the DCG bruvs fancy some future tag-teaming over some Chicago dance shit which samples James Brown then may I recommend Cajmere's So Happy.

Let's talk favourite Chicago Rap songs with James Brown & affiliated artist samples. I got these 5 on it.

Mic Terror - Juke Them Hoes (2007)
Common & The 45 King - Car Horn (1999)
TREE ft. Tone Skeet - Pride (2011)
Twista - No Peace Sign (1992)
Crucial Conflict ft. Toi - Ride The Rodeo (1996)

Born To Audiomack: the best non-Bad Boy Craig Mack jams

~~ The best non-Bad Boy Craig Mack jams ~~

1. MC EZ & Troup - Just Rhymin' (1988)
2. MC EZ & Troup - Get Retarded (1988)
3. Craig Mack - Style (1997)
4. Craig Mack - Please Listen To My Demo (1999)
5. Craig Mack - The Wooden Horse (1999)
6. Craig Mack - Mack Come Thru (2000)
7. Craig Mack - Straight In Ya Mouf (2003)



Poor old Craig Mack. He's viewed as a Couple Of Hits Wonder even though he was a consistently good singles artist who had a blackbelt in Rap Hands. Ever since he first came out as MC EZ in 1988 he had an unfortunate habit of jinxing himself on record with lyrics promising future career endeavours which never materialised. But that's what gives Mack's music a bittersweet edge which never fails to pull my heart strings like guitars down in Spain. Mack's career deserved better but he was Mr. Reverse Words I Manifest who couldn't stop hexing himself on wax. Me, I prefer Mack's remake of Please Listen To My Demo to the EPMD original; Erick & Parrish kept it philosophical like the Greek man Plato, but Mack made it spiritual/educational like the German word Bildungsroman. So, here's a seven song playlist of Mack's best non-Bad Boy legit jams which would have included Jockin' My Style if Audiomack hadn't cockblocked it. Damn, I miss dem dayz when you could upload anything and everything to Audiomack.

I remember some video where Stezo played an unreleased 2000s song featuring Mack which actually sounded like some fat Funk flav for the ages. Can Dooley-O plz release that shit ASAP? R.I.P to Mack and Stezo, natch.