ThaWilsonBlock Magazine

This is the 8th studio LP from Philadelphia emcee O.T. the Real . Getting his start in the underground back in 2016 after coming home from prison & dropping his debut single “Papercuts”, his profile began to grow from there after showcasing his skills on radio stations as well as dropping 7 albums as well as a mixtape & his last 7 EPs. My favorites being  the Heatmakerz -produced 3rd EP  The Irishman  & the  DJ Green Lantern -produced 3rd album  Broken Glass  that dropped on my 25th birthday & the  Statik Selektah  produced  Maxed Out .  No Matter What ,  Desperation of December ,  It’s Almost Over  &  Red Summer  were all hit or miss for me until O.T. finally signed to  Black Soprano Family Records  & enlisted  araabMUZIK  for  Zombie  to critical acclaim.  Prepare for War  &  Pale Horse  were ok, following up  Moving Base O...

Los Angeles, California rapper  Big Hit  dropping his 3rd studio LP from behind bars. The father of  Hit-Boy , he was found guilty & convicted of a hit & run resulting in great bodily injury almost a decade ago & unlawfully being sentenced to 12 years & 4 months in prison including a 5-year GBI enhancement connected to Count 1. His petition for a writ of habeas corpus was later granted & became a free man on his son’s 36th birthday. Hit would have his father join forces by making  Surf or Drown 2  a collab effort tailored for Father’s Day Weekend & put out a debut album of his own  The Truth is in My Eyes  only 6 months later.  Blacks & Whites  produced by Hit-Boy &  The Alchemist  outdid the debut last spring, finding himself incarcerated again 4 months ago & Surf Club Inc. has put together  Free Big Hit . “The Game Just Forced Me” is this summery intro talking about wanting to live his li...

New York emcee Queen Herawin returning ahead of her solo debut  Metamorphosis turning 10 this spring with a sophomore effort. A member of the Juggaknots, she eventually went on to drop an EP after her debut  The Space Between Things  & appeared on Vinnie Paz ’ 5th album  as above so below  only a month away from the world changing forever because of the pandemic. However after some recent singles, she’s teamed with Coalmine Records to help distribute  Awaken the Sleeping Giant . “Focus” is this spacious boom bap intro exploring the idea of resetting perspective until the aperture is properly set & allowing you to see things from a much more clearer perspective whereas “Anger” talks about time feeling like a ticking bomb to her occasionally through genuine angst. “Gluttony” featuring Breeze Brewin’ works in this crazy gospel sample venting that their people feel like straight meat sometimes just before “Denial” featuring Illa Ghee & Pretty ...

Boldy James  teaming up with  Chuck Strangers  for his 12th full-length studio LP. Breaking out in the fall of 2013 off his  Alchemist  produced debut  M.1.C.S. (My 1st Chemistry Set) , the Detroit lyricist would later go on to land a contract with  Nas ’ independent label Mass Appeal Records for a little while before getting locked up. Once coming home, Uncle Al would help get his name back out there once getting out by dropping the  Boldface  EP around Christmas 2019 & then the sophomore album  The Price of Tea in China  at the beginning of last year. This was followed up with the Sterling Toles-produced  Manger on McNichols  which was as equally fantastic, but the  Griselda Records -backed  Versace Tape  EP was a tad bit disappointing given how rushed it was.  Bo Jackson  though would become his most critically acclaimed work to date &  Super Tecmo Bo  was almos...

Grieves – Photo By Loe Kee Phlicks On Sunday, February 23rd, Seattle, Washington’s own Grieves electrified the stage at the Lodge Room in Highland Park. Grieves showcased an intimate, rare performance, delivering songs from their catalog including Irreversible , 88 Keys & Counting , Together/Apart , Winter & the Wolves , Running Wild , and their latest album, Canopy . The Out Cold tour made its final stop here in Los Angeles, giving the crowd a chance to celebrate Grieves’ birthday. The Out Cold Tour was accompanied by The Street Sweepers and SOLO of Horrorshow . The Street Sweepers opened the night, getting the crowd pumped up and singing along. They also delivered a couple of hilarious skits. SOLO of Horrorshow came all the way from Australia and showcased their rapping and singing/harmonizing talents to the crowd. The Street Sweepers – Photo By Loe Kee Phlicks Solo of Horror Show – Photo By Loe Kee Phlicks 1/3 of the Street Sweepers – Photo By Loe Kee Phlic...

Yung Van’s   Losing Meaning  perfectly captures the slow, painful unraveling of a breakup where words lose their weight but still linger. With melancholic melodies and raw lyricism, this emo rap track dives into the emotional limbo of still talking to an ex while knowing the connection is fading. The hazy production and introspective delivery mirror the numbness that sets in as love turns into routine conversations with no substance.  Losing Meaning  isn’t just a song—it’s a feeling, one that hits hardest when you’re stuck between holding on and letting go. Losing Meaning is Yung Van’s second single from his upcoming album Haunted Hearts releasing in summer 2025. With over 70 million streams worldwide on Spotify alone, yung van’s impact on the alternative music scene is undeniable. His music speaks to the universal struggle of overcoming trauma—particularly the painful loss of his best friend—and the unpredictable, often turbulent emotions that come with growi...

Brooklyn, New York duo  Smif-n-Wessun  consisting of  Tek  &  Steele  of the Boot Camp Clik returning with Jamla Records’ in-house production team The Soul Council for their 8th studio LP. Their 1995 debut  Dah Shinin’  is widely regarded as an East Coast classic & the  Pete Rock  produced  Monumental , I enjoy almost as much.  The All  maintained the high quality consistency of  Monumental  by teaming with The Soul Council for the first time, looking to do it again 6 years later on  Infinity . The title track produced by  Khrysis  begins  The All  sequel by promising that they’ll be here for eternity whereas “Moses Promise” takes the soulful boom bap route instrumentally needing the whole team to be straight in order to catch wins. “Namaste” romantically tells their partners they ain’t in a rush tonight with the help of Ka$h behind the boards leading into “Medin...

A-Wax and Bobby California dropped their Latest visual for, “Trapped Out Every House”. Make sure to catch more of A-wax on Spotify Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Email

  Hailing from Rome and spending his formative years in Anzio, Gianluca's journey was influenced by personal hardships. The impact of his parents' divorce and his father's aggressive behavior towards his mother led him to seek solace in solitude and the natural world. At the tender age of 10, he would find himself atop his grandfather Bruno’s apartment in Anzio, feeling the salty breeze of the Tirreno Sea while penning his first poems. Although he had yet to master the English language, he envisioned crossing oceans, overcoming cultural divides, and establishing himself as a songwriter in America. Gianluca's passion for music emerged early in his life. Motivated by rock bands, he began learning English and composing songs, despite having only a rudimentary guitar—a broom handle with two strings. His enthusiasm was nurtured by the melodies of his grandfather and the film scores from his family's theater, laying the groundwork for a lifelong commitment to music. A...

  Kun The Highbinder is a Korea born U.S. based artist. He had a lot of influences of Kpop growing up, however, he moved to the U.S. due to his family's properties getting taken away by the government when he was 11. He got kicked out of the house at a young age of 13 due to his violent ways.  Kun The Highbinder was interested in making beats at first, but then he realized these rappers are mediocre and started rapping by himself at the age of 17, but didn't take music seriously. However, after 3 years in America it changed his whole point of view of the world.  He was getting into Florida hip hop, Chicago drill, and West Coast Hip Hop. He made beats for about 3 to 4 years and rapped seriously for about 1 and a half years during his house arrest for his robbery case, and his Grand Theft Auto case. The artist was getting schizophrenic due to the absurd amount of drug use. Currently, he is living in a Felony Incompetent to stand trial program with 62 other members, gett...

Buffalo, New York emcee, songwriter, entrepreneur, curator & now professional wrestling promoter after forming the 4th Rope independent circuit promotion Westside Gunn continuing the  Hitler Wears Hermes  series with his 12th mixtape & the 12th installment overall. Proving his legend status & that he’s to be a force to be reckoned with all in nearly a decade whether it be running one of the hottest hip hop labels in recent memory to his first 2 full-lengths  FLYGOD  &  Supreme Blientele . Last we heard from West was  And Then You Pray for Me  which as a trap-heavy sequel to  Pray for Paris , dropping  Hitler Wears Hermes XI  on Halloween & in 24 hours’ notice of  Still Praying . Initially set to come last month, the 12th chapter is here ahead of joint pay-per-view between 4th Rope & Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) called For the Culture taking place in Las Vegas during WWE’s WrestleMania XLI week...

Detroit, Michigan veteran  Fat Ray  returning after 4 years for his 4th album. A member of the trio B.R. Gunna alongside  Black Milk  &  Young RJ , he would eventually go solo in 2008 by dropping the criminally slept-on  The Set Up , but it wouldn’t be until a full decade later when it was followed with both  The Lunch Room  mixtape & then his sophomore effort  Perseus .  Santa Barbera  proved to be the strongest since his debut & he’s taking it back to where it all began on  Food From the Gods . After the “From the Gods” intro, the first song “Elderberry” starts with a trippy boom bap instrumental wanting to know how to sow & reap whereas “Talcum” psychedelically talks about having that powder. “Cane” featuring Guilty Simpson works in a guitar sample to warn that you’ll get popped for playin’ with them, but then “Just Say No” featuring Danny Brown fuses jazz rap & drumless together cautioning t...

  Detroit, MI - When you hail from the Motor City with a grandmother who sang the blues, and a cousin who was one of the original Motown Temptations, music just kind of rests in your spirit and organically becomes who you are. Pianist, singer, songwriter and producer, Reggie Braxton has aptly honed such impactful melodious roots into his Brax-Tone Records debut release, “The Brax-Tone Experience,” a luxurious jazz infused, heart caressing collection of original and timeless R&B singles.   His first release, a velvety cover of Erykah Badu’s “Next Lifetime,” is our invitation to a project simmering with warmth and seduction. “The Brax-Tone Experience” is the ambiance of low lights, flickering candles and chilled libations with Braxton perfectly poised to make his “Brax-Tone” the only tone for romance! Production credits boast none other than Detroit’s own silky, smooth serenader, J. Poww of UNV fame, alongside the Grammy nominated Chris “Buddaflywolf” Bivens, produc...

Vallejo, California rapper & songwriter Larry June joining forces with Atlanta, Georgia rapper, actor & songwriter 2 Chainz for a brand new collaborative studio LP. Both of whom have already crossed paths with one another a couple times in recent years on the tracks “Still Boomin’” & “Ocean Cuisine”, ultimately deciding to get together with one of my top 10 producers of all-time The Alchemist to entirely produce  Life’s Beautiful  after being teased on Twitter a couple months ago sparking interest even further by letting off a couple singles the previous month. “Munyon Canyon” is a drumless intro with both of them talking about needing everything whereas “Colossal” works in a reversed sample to admit they find it therapeutic counting it up calling it exactly the way they see it. “I Been” continues to strip the drums as they discuss minding their own business leading into “LLC” talking about how there’s so much money to get bringing a boom bap flare to the table i...

Almost a week has passed since Coast Contra released their brand new EP In Case You Forgot produced by Marco Polo on EVEN & earlier tonight, Ye formerly known as Kanye West posted a clip of the “‘08 Obama” video on his Instagram story. In Case You Forgot has been widely praised since it’s release last Thursday & will be on all streaming services soon. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Email

Check out this new video “ Good Morning ” by Benchwarmers Clique’s Travisty the Lazy Emcee . This track is off his new project “Reminise 90’s Sh!t: the Jewbei Stash” available now on Bandcamp ! The 12-track release is entirely produced by the beat wizard Jewbei plus featured guest appearances from 6 Cardinal, Money Mogly, 8ch2owens & Orion. With dope singles like “Stop Frontin”, “Locked” and “Every Season Remix”, it’s safe to say Travisty has another classic for the world to hear! Reminise 90’s Sh!t: the Jewbei Stash by Travisty (BenchWarmers Clique) Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Email

Talib Kweli @ The Paramount LA . Photo by Loe Kee Phlicks On Thursday, January 30th, Talib Kweli, Skyzoo, and Landon Wordswell took over the house at the Paramount in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Talib Kweli is currently on tour with some close friends, and he brought the energy to LA with a powerful performance. The crowd was left in awe as Kweli served up classic tracks from Black Star, Reflection Eternal, and selections from his solo catalog. He also surprised the audience by bringing out special guests Planet Asia, Psycholes, and MC Bxb. Skyzoo By Loe Kee Phlicks Skyzoo, co-headlining this tour and hailing from the NYC underground, delivered an immaculate performance, performing hits from his recently released project Keep Me Company , as well as selections from his previous catalog. Landon Wordswell By Loe Kee Phlicks MC BXB By Loe Kee Phlicks Florida native Landon Wordswell kicked off the night on the tour. A rising East Coast artist, Landon is currently touring...