Best of The Month – November 2024

As tradition goes, the leader of Griselda Records, Westside Gunn, returns to the scene with a new project on November 1st. God bless W$G, because once again he proves to be the undisputed king and leader of underground Hip-Hop, raw and pure as we like it, yet elevated to art thanks to a unique stylistic vision. Still Praying retains that typical HWH flavor, confirming Gunn as one of the most influential and visionary artists of the last decade.

PAPITAS 2 is yet another masterpiece of the year by Lynn (Massachusetts) rapper Estee Nack, of Dominican origins and former member of Tragic Allies. In this project, the talent of British producer Giallo Point blends perfectly with Nack’s unique style. The album mixes Estee Nack’s raw, visionary, and revolutionary rap with Giallo Point’s grimey productions, creating an unmistakable sound. We can’t hide our deep admiration for Nack “Mandela,” the rapper and street philosopher, and for this reason, we invite you to buy it right now on his Bandcamp. You’ll thank us later.

Finally available on all streaming platforms, FLDSZN  the project by Nassau, Bahamas-born rapper Obijuan. His Caribbean influences clearly emerge in his vocal tone, slang, pronunciation ( flow, and cultural references, blending perfectly with underground sounds. The sound of FLDSZN alternates unconventional sounds with refined samples, created by some of the best producers in the scene, such as Nicholas Craven, August Fanon, GRiMM Doza, and Camoflauge Monk. Obijuan navigates the international underground landscape like a pirate, anarchic and true to his beliefs, establishing himself as one of the most interesting names in recent years.

The Harlem rapper Dave East and super producer AraabMuzik join forces to create one of the best projects of the year. Dave East’s flow seems tailor-made for AraabMuzik’s beats, famous for his Dipset bangers, and vice versa. In Living Proof, the Harlem rapper appears to have saved his best shots, refining his pen and enhancing every single production by the super-producer. With top-tier collaborations, Living Proof is a project full of bangers that perfectly embodies the current style and spirit of New York.

The rapper from Rochester (New York), ETO, is one of the last figures in the Rap Game to still prioritize loyalty, consistency, and integrity, not only in music but also in his actions. Like a Carlito Brigante just out of prison, he seems disoriented and out of place in a world where values have been flipped upside down. This disconnection makes him one of the most underrated rappers of recent years, but his music continues to represent and convey the authenticity, mentality, and attitude of men of honor and principles, raised in the streets. Long Way Home is a testament to this.

The New York producer Harry Fraud and the Detroit rapper Boldy James speak two unique and original languages in their respective fields. The fusion of these two exceptional artists could only result in a product that is not only of a very high level but also crafted in a refined and one-of-a-kind way. The two take us into a world where “drug talk” is expressed with intelligence and an uncommon sophistication, and it takes a “Brictionary” to sit at the table.

After the successful Gucci Ghost series, the rapper from the Umbrella Collective, Mickey Diamond, and Big Ghost Ltd., a producer known for his numerous collaborations with some of the best underground MCs, team up again. Throughout this project, which has almost cinematic atmospheres crafted by Big Ghost, titled Gucci Gambinos, the charismatic Detroit rapper Mickey Diamond spars over several tracks with his Umbrella partner Pro Dillinger, with the sole feature of Method Man. The result is always top-class.

P.S. Don’t miss our interview with the Umbrella collective in the 4th issue of ThrowUp Magazine. 

Madrid rapper SD Kong returns with a highly relevant album, with a classic and refined taste, evoking the elegance of a Goya masterpiece or a memorable Raúl play at the Santiago Bernabéu. For a few years now, SD Kong has emerged as one of the leading figures in the European underground wave, forging ties with prominent artists, even overseas. This sort of double album called Moon Tapes is proof of that, with productions from artists like Conductor Williams, a producer linked to Griselda, and features from Lil Supa, Estee Nack, Al.Divino, Mickey Diamond, Snotty, and El Camino, among others. With the release of Moon Tapes, SD Kong creates a project that demonstrates remarkable refinement and artistic ability.

In Italy, very few rappers can rap about street life with the maturity and honesty of someone who has overcome a certain past and specific ties, as Montenero does. The rapper from Baggio, Milan, is accompanied this time by Jampa Ak, a colleague from the Stakanov Boys collective, along with the group’s usual beatmakers and a series of high-level collaborations, both in terms of bars and production, with artists like Vacca, Jack The Smoker, and Zonta. In our opinion, Reportage is one of the most solid projects to come out in Italy in recent months.