Author: Alana Walls

East Coast duo Keyed Up release their highly anticipated debut album Left on Read…

Detroit YB is a 31 year old MC from Detroit, Michigan who broke out in 2017 by dropping 2 EPs back to back: 3:13 & The Heart of My City. This was followed up with a full-length debut the following year entitled Hustle SZN but after being teased with a handful of singles, YB’s finally delivering a sophomore effort.

The “Manifestation” opener talks about controlling your heart because you’re the only one steering it over a wavy beat whereas the next song “Doors” talks about never offering his toes over a dark, bassy instrumental. After the “Rich Speaks Life” interlude, the track “Stuck in My Ways” talks about being unwilling to change over a keyboard-inflicted trap beat while the song “Hard Way” talks about how it takes some losses before you get it over a hypnotic instrumental.

The track “Guilty Pleasure” with OneWay Monte sees the 2 talking about how it’s time for them to switch up their methods over an acoustic trap beat while the song “Hell of It” talks about drinking for fun over a woozy instrumental. After the “Mama Talks Addiction” interlude, “The Addiction” discusses toxic living an euphoric beat while “The Jungle” is a short yet dope response to the murder of George Floyd.

The song “I Get Around” over a trap beat with some odd background vocals & an occasional woodwind while “The Vibe” with Fenesse the World is a decent romance anthem with an instrumental to set the mood right. The track “New Leaf” talks about losing his soul in the ghetto over a trap beat with some well incorporated Japanese samples & after the “Simone Energy” interlude, the penultimate song “Shift My Energy” talks about escaping the affliction in his life over a calming instrumental. The title track is a great way to send the album off as YB spits some wisdom over a soothing beat.

I’ve been waiting on this album all year & walking away from it, I can say I’m impressed with what we got. The features were alright, but YB‘s at his passionate & the production is on point for the most part as well. If you wanna hear a up-&-comer from the Motor City at his finest, then I recommend giving Beauty in the Struggle a shot.

Score: 7/10

Saipher Soze is a 31 year old MC from Toronto, Canada coming up as a member of the Brown Bag Money collective. He eventually went solo on 2017 with Godbody & then Kanibull Rising just 10 months after that but after doing a handful of features throughout 2019 & a little bit of this year too, Saipher is back with his 3rd full-length album.

The album ends with “Ambrosia” gets confrontational over a frightening instrumental from Futurewave whereas the next song “Fat Cheques” with Daniel Son & Mooch finds the trio talking about the money over a soulful Finn beat. The track “Strong Arm Godz” with Asun Eastwood sees the 2 spitting straight up gangsta shit over a boom bap instrumental with an acoustic loop while the song “Ho-Lee-Chow” close captions his life over a ghostly beat.

The track “Lycan” talks about moving weight & sticking dudes up if he ain’t gon’ make it in the industry over a symphonic boom bap instrumental while the song “Unadulterated” with Family Gang Black finds the 2 getting murderous over a devilish beat. The track “Powerhouse” talks about double-crossers over a gritty instrumental while the song “Moe Greene” gets back on the money-tip over a luxurious beat.

The track “Roland Garros” comes at his competition’s necks over a gloomy instrumental while the song “Screwface” talks about not trusting a soul over a mournful boom bap beat. The track “Mulekick” talks about falling for nothing over a dreary instrumental while “The Revenant” with Jai Black sees the 2 talking about the game getting twisted over a suspenseful beat. The song “Van Glow” reunites with Family Gang Black to talk about time moving fast over a jazzy instrumental & then the closer “Sock Darts” reunites with Daniel Son to talk about how much noise they’ve made in recent years over a beat with some keys & horns.

Overall, this is the best thing that Saipher’s has put out yet. Not only has his lyricism stepped up with each new album, but Futurewave & Finn both remind listeners of their place as some of the dopest producers in the underground today.

Score: 9/10