LIVE LAUGH LOVE (Chapter VIII.)
“I need the love, gang”
From Gamma (need the ˂3) by Earl Sweatshirt
30. Teller Bank$ – DRUG$$$
If we were to list the hardest-working rappers in the game, the most interesting voices, and artists we believe will be the next stars, Teller Bank$ would appear on all three lists. Teller was a guest artist on Magic, Alive! by McKinley Dixon, where he presented himself to a wider audience as an unstoppable force on the mic. His uncompromising raw approach, blended with painful, sensitive, and authentic reflections on his feelings and the world around him, also dominates the album DRUG$$$, with an outstanding cover created by Teller’s father. “I am the product of my worst decisions.” The album DRUG$$$ by Teller Bank$ is hypnotic, socially aware, and introspective—a darkly ironic horror story with a happy ending. Teller raps with absolute determination and passion, and every second reveals that he considers himself the best rapper on the planet, a necessary driving force in rap. The album is genuinely dark, melancholic, and gritty; with each track, you sink deeper into a chaos of despair burning in an unjust and cruel world ruled by a rotten, exploitative system. Even though the album is largely introspective, Teller also tackles societal themes—tracks like Goat Head ($$$) feel almost apocalyptic. Production was handled by Philth Spector, q no rapname, and Killer Kane, delivering top-tier work. As noted, Teller’s horror of life in our world has a happy ending because he stands firm, creates, and lives as best he can.
29. Willie the Kid & V Don – Catch Me If You Can 2
Willie the Kid and V Don are back with the sequel to Catch Me If You Can, and if the first installment was a masterful game of hide-and-seek in the dark alleys of high-class rap, the second adds another level: sharper bars, a more sophisticated vibe, and production that pulls you into a swanky nightclub for the elite where reality is played in check. From the first track, Don’t Be Sorry, Be Careful, it’s clear that Willie is in form. Flows like tailored suits, references that let you know this is no beginner rapping, but high-level storytelling for a select circle. Meanwhile, V Don keeps the beats in a dark, cinematic veil, no gimmicks, just pure premium street luxury vibes. Bases Loaded shows Willie at his best: clever wordplay, precise delivery, and a vibe that makes you feel like you’re part of something big. The bars are crisp, to the point, and show that Willie is not playing in the second league. This track is like the last step before a home run; the pressure is on max, but the confidence level is even higher. Another highlight? Champagne at the Harris Building, a track that makes you feel like you’re sitting in a leather chair overlooking the city while something expensive swirls in the glass. V Don has produced a minimalist beat that makes every word stand out.
28. Rome Streetz & Conductor Williams – Trainspotting
The train is in motion. Trainspotting, the collaborative album from Rome Streetz and producer Conductor Williams, isn’t just a boom-bap journey along the tracks—it’s a freight train loaded with explosives, tearing through the concrete foundations of the underground scene and firing off siren-like warning shots along the way. There are no lies on board. Rome is full throttle, and Conductor, true to his name, orchestrates the ride with surgical precision. Right from the jump, Andre Agassi sets the tone like a blistering warm-up volley. Rome is in his signature form—razor-sharp cadence and bar-for-bar firepower, lobbing punchlines like Agassi in a Wimbledon final. Conductor’s beats are not mere backdrops; they are landscapes. On tracks like Connie’s Revenge or M*A*S*H, he crafts a noir soundtrack, steeped in smoke and streetlight shadows, turning each verse into a cinematic reel of Bronx survival. Then comes the Method Man feature on Ricky Bobby—and Meth isn’t just showing up for legacy minutes. He comes to elevate, bringing gravitas and grit. Another standout is 10 Toes with Jay Worthy—a West Coast Cadillac cruising through East Coast alleyways. The chemistry? Unlikely on paper, seamless in execution. The climax arrives with Resource Room, a two-part suite where Rome mixes raw street poetry with ego-laced introspection, like he’s freestyling from the steps of his own statue.
27. Papo2oo4 & Subjxct 5 – Papaholic, Vol. 1
New York rapper Papo2oo4 and producer Subjxct 5 confirm that they are currently one of the most cohesive duos on the independent scene. Papaholic, Vol. 1 takes their collaboration a step further. The result? 24 tracks that rely on a hard-hitting sound and an atmosphere that draws you in from the very first track. Papaholic, Vol. 1 is all about consistency. On the beats, Subjxct 5 combines a raw approach with an eye for detail; the bass is thick, the samples are captivating, and the tempo is held by an uncompromising drive. The production is not about eccentricities but about the purity of the manuscript, which feels confident and cohesive from start to finish. Papo2oo4 presents himself here as a rapper in top form. His flow is natural and precise, his language crisp yet playful. In the lyrics, you can find classic flex, allusions to street reality, and also moments of irony and personal reflection. His style is both gritty and charismatic; there’s a strong local identity and experience in speaking to people who know what rap is about. The track Shorty Goin captures the mood of the album well. It sounds like a club banger, but also carries a typical Papo2oo4 touch, sharp language, sense of timing and natural wit. KD In Dyckman, Pulaski, and Triple Black offer similarly strong moments. Familiar names from the associated scene, DJ Lucas, YL, GWOLLA or Big Ouee appear on the feats. All with a natural connection to the sound and flow the album is pushing.
26. ANKHLEJOHN & August Fanon – LIVE! At The Disco
ANKHLEJOHN & August Fanon — these two artists truly know how to move us, and we’re grateful to live in a time when we can soak up their art. Life memories, experiences, and stories shining like a disco ball — the album LIVE! At The Disco by ANKHLEJOHN & August Fanon is equally immersive. The production was handled by Fanon, so it’s no surprise the album boasts a truly unique soundscape — expect influences from disco, a key genre in hip-hop’s origins — with beats pulsing full of vibrant energy. Some of the standout moments on this cohesive record include DAY BY DAY, filled with self-reflection and personal growth, and DIGITAL LOVE, where LORDY gives a shoutout to Vic Spencer, who has an iconic series with Fanon called Psychological Cheat Sheet. Unfortunately, no official music video was released for the album, so here’s the video for the track FEEL THE BREEZE.
25. Hit-Boy & The Alchemist – GOLDFISH
“Two of the best in the coast of the West (Know it).” With these words, The Alchemist kicks off GOLDFISH, his collaborative album with Hit-Boy. It exudes confidence and the drive to constantly defend their position through dedicated work on quality music. This unique duo of producers, who also rap, released the EP THEODORE & ANDRE in 2024, followed by the album Black & Whites (w/ Big Hit), where they were primarily producers. Their full-fledged rap album GOLDFISH, which they also produced, dropped last year. The album premiered alongside a feature film of the same name starring Hit-Boy, The Alchemist, Rory Culkin, Blake Anderson, Shara Magomedov, Marshall Manesh, Sarah McDaniel, Danny Trejo, Big Hit, Conway The Machine, Slink Johnson, Simon Rex, Essyona Peschong, and Lefty Gunplay. The film has been seen by only a select few, but you can stream the album everywhere—and you should.
After the singles the artists released earlier, we expected mostly a dose of top-tier fun rap full of their braggadocio punchlines. GOLDFISH, however, also offers plenty of introspective tracks, allowing you to get to know the personal stories of both producer giants more deeply than ever before. Standout moments include the track Ricky, which has a must-see music video, and Recent Memory. Of course, there are also the laid-back fun tracks—Business Merger has been a banger since day one. It’s fascinating to see two very different artists collaborate on an album and be so natural in that collaboration, opening up emotionally while still having a blast the entire time.
24. Bruiser Wolf & Harry Fraud – Made by Dope
Few rappers have such a distinctive voice, flow, and delivery as Bruiser Wolf. His albums have fascinated us for several years, so we are thrilled that last year, after two great projects, he finally received widespread attention. Potluck is an album you definitely shouldn’t miss, but we liked the rapper’s second project from last year, Made by Dope, just a tad bit more. Bruiser Wolf has a gift for rapping about heavy topics in a way that makes you smile—not because it’s funny, but because otherwise you wouldn’t survive it. On Made by Dope, he teamed up with producer Harry Fraud, a master of moody, velvety beats that sound like Miami at three in the morning—calm, yet dangerous. The album feels like a film about survival, about growing up in chaos where everything is fragile, but your faith in yourself keeps you together. Fraud’s beats are cinematic, airy, and almost elegant, while Bruiser Wolf injects grit and truth into them. On Eye Owe You, he sums up everything that makes his rap exceptional. It’s the confession of someone who’s been through hell but never stopped laughing: “Went from no motion to slow motion, but stayed focused. Shit can pop at any moment.” There’s pain and pride, perspective and fatigue. This is the sound of a person who has lived it all and still wants to create. Guests like Benny the Butcher, Mick Jenkins, and Curren$y add weight to the project, but the core remains Bruiser, with his stories that balance reality and absurdity.
23. Verbz & Mr Slipz – THE WAY FWD
Five years after Radio Waves, the duo Verbz & Mr Slipz return with THE WAY FWD. And it’s a comeback that doesn’t sound like nostalgia but like the natural continuation of two artists who’ve lived through more and collected scars, experiences, and new inspirations along the way. Slipz stays true to dust and samples, but this time his production is far more than a boom bap backdrop — he’s built depth, layers, and a strong sense of form, crafting entire worlds for Verbz to step into. Verbz himself has matured, writing with more introspection, less focus on punchlines and more on moments that hurt and heal at once. His artistic growth shines most in Mémoires De Perte featuring India Shan — a song about memory and loss, about people changing and leaving even when we wish otherwise. Verbz speaks in the language of everyday details, yet behind it lingers a quiet sadness. Shan’s chorus adds tenderness, cutting through the concrete beats like a beam of light. It’s a track that echoes our own stories: the ones we never told, and the ones that will never return. As a whole, the album is cohesive yet
22. Starker & Zoomo – SUMMIT SHOOTOUT
Years of waiting are finally over – Starker & Zoomo have released the highly anticipated album SUMMIT SHOOTOUT, a testament to their completely unique style and sound. Starker is one of the most distinctive rappers today, and his style is truly inimitable. Fast rap often fizzles into emptiness and leaves no emotion – with Starker, it’s the opposite: his words land on the beat like perfectly aimed bullets, and the listener feels every single one. Describing the album as a shootout, an attack, or an action sequence is proof of the thoughtfulness behind the entire project. Both artists aimed to create a special experience – and they succeeded. It’s not just Starker who shines; Zoomo’s beats have an indescribable flavor, one better left uncategorized. It’s no surprise that the only feature on the project is YL. It’s RRR season.
21. Knowledge The Pirate – Before Common Era
Most of Knowledge the Pirate’s second album last year was produced by the rapper’s longtime producer E.l.e.m.n.t., who has been backing him throughout his career. So, is there something to look forward to? Absolutely. The second track, Prisoner, frames the story of young men pushed by a racist system into poverty-stricken neighborhoods, forced onto outlaw journeys that feel as ancient as society itself. Knowledge The Pirate has mastered the art of telling street stories wrapped in a mythical aura — whether leaning into Renaissance themes or pirate lore. Here, he delivers tales of the urban underworld structured like a Renaissance epic. Before Common Era strikes a rare balance — the perspective of a seasoned veteran fused with a modern sonic edge. Whether intentional or not, the record feels divided into two halves: odd-numbered tracks with a sharper, more aggressive sound, and even-numbered tracks with more melodic, almost magical production. The constant shifts keep the album fresh, pulling the listener deep into the hardships, struggles, and survival stories that Knowledge unfolds with his unmistakable gravitas.
