Back catalogue: Hip Hop/R&B

Review: Dr. Dre's The Chronic gave rise to such heavy-hitters as 'Nuthin' But A 'G' Thang' and 'Let Me Ride', but what about its many "reimaginings" over the years? With The Ghronic, released in 2023, West Coast rappers 38 Spesh and Conway The Machine can't be said to have laid down their own version more so than they did treat the Dre touchstone as a starting point, dropping a nine-track array of similar G-funk whistling lowrider bumps, readapted for the contemporary New Yorker, and yet with fresh lyrical themes and subject matters. Reissued two years later on green vinyl, after an initially white-sleeved run, the productions are ever clean and the flows lackadaisical. Features from Lloyd Banks, Che Noir, Benny The Butcher and Elcamino cement the bluffing rep of a brag-heavy machine duopoly.

Review: Griselda Records' own Benny The Butcher is a contemporary hip hop mainstay who has seen plenty of commercial success and critical acclaim. His The Plugs I Met features collaborations with Pusha T, Jadakiss, Conway, RJ Payne, Alchemist and Daringer and built on early success with a sounds that shows he is the embodiment of now. This specially extended version features some previously unreleased instrumentals, while the originals are beautiful soul drenched affairs with a subtle gospel feel and deep cut production. The guests all come through but don't detract from Benny The Butcher's singular sound.

Review: Benny On Steroids marks the true debut of Benny The Butcher, showcasing his talent over dark, hardcore boom bap beats entirely produced by DJ Green Lantern. This project stands out as one of the best Griselda releases, demonstrating Benny’s skill and improved beat selection. The album delivers a gritty street-level narrative of Benny’s past, painting vivid scenes of harsh street life with tough, gutter beats that exemplify true Hip-Hop. Benny’s flow is effortless, punctuating every syllable and creating an excellent Hip-Hop album. Standout tracks include 'Benny Vs. Carlito,' 'Fat Dom,' 'Change,' 'Blood Money,' and 'Whole Thing.' These tracks highlight Benny’s ability to balance mafioso themes with laid-back production, slowing his flow to emphasize his lyrical strength. Though the album features few guest appearances, 'Satriale’s' with El Camino and Conway adds solid verses. Overall, Benny On Steroids is a great introduction to Benny’s refined style and Griselda’s gritty nature.

Review: Conway The Machine is back in quick time after the success of his 2022 album God Don't Make Mistakes with follow up Won't He Do It. It finds Conway in super form having over come various perusal obstacles as he looks to inspire others to greater achievements than they thought possible. Across the 14 tracks he works with Westside Gunn and Benny the Butcher, plus Jae Skeese, Sauce Walka, Juicy J, Fabolous, Dave East, GooseByTheWay and 7xvethegenius amongst more while production is handled by heavyweight producers such as J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Khrysis, Daringer, Juicy J and several others.

Review: Soulful, interludey new LP bizniss from Conway The Machine, returning with his first full-length offering of 2024, Slant Face Killah. Subverting the pop cultural trope of the "smiley face killer" - through which the macabre horror of serial murders is subverted by an unsettling appeal to pure happiness - The Machine breaks down this trope with fervour, unleashing his killer insincts upon a mic that knows both gleeful and grim bars. Aggressive, gung-ho lyrics abound across this deft mixture of hard gangsta beats and serene, sampledelic breakdowns, which also channels an impressive feature list including Method Man, Raekwon, Joey Bada$$, Larry June, Key Glock, Jay Worthy & more, and production from heavyweight producers such as The Alchemist, Daringer, Conductor Williams, Cardo, and Swizz Beatz.

Review: V Don and Ransom are back with Chaos Is My Ladder 2, bringing a fresh wave of gritty bars and raw production to the table. Joining forces with Griselda heavyweight Conway The Machine, the album showcases ten tracks where each artist brings their A-game, blending sharp lyricism with V Don's signature, rugged beats. Lloyd Banks makes the sole feature appearance, adding even more depth to an already powerful project. With its dark, immersive soundscape and undeniable energy, this release has quickly caught attention as a potential Album of the Year contender. Each track pulls you deeper, making it impossible to stop at just one listen.