This album was released on January 9th this year. This is gonna be my first time listening to a full project from Ty Farris, but I’m honestly expecting this to be one of the best albums of the month, and possibly one of the best of the year. Every verse I’ve ever heard from him has been fire, and I loved the single he dropped for this project in Week 1 of 2020. I feel like there’s pretty much zero chance of me disliking this, but I guess anything’s possible. I think I’m gonna love it though.

1. Addiction, Death & Crime (Intro)

This is a very disturbing and uncomfortable intro about the crack epidemic and how it was used against black communities. At one point it sounds like Rush Limbaugh is talking, and he’s basically saying that powder cocaine is okay—because he did it—and crack is bad. I think this is a great intro. It sets the tone for the rest of the album really well; you know exactly what you’re getting into as soon as you hear this.

2. One of One produced by The Standouts

The production on this song sounds like it could be the soundtrack to an old Crime film. That Stephen A. Smith sample at the beginning of the verse was a really nice touch, and the opening couplet on this track is cold as fuck.

The best dope on the block; I got the potent fix
Go ‘head and close your fist, get the needle, and poke your wrist

As soon as I heard this song, I knew I was gonna love this project. It’s exactly what I wanted from this album. He rhymed his fucking ass off.

Prey on the weak; that’s the lion’s hobby
I’m with pirates prob’ly
The deep waters with street-walkers
No peace offers, we beefed often

Man, people should be scrambling to get this dude on a feature because he’s what Sway would refer to as a “hyena.” He slaughtered this track. The song is dope af.

3. Ride Thru the Jungle produced by Bozack Morris

This was the single that I heard before listening to the full album, and it’s fucking fire. I already wrote about this song when discussing Week 1 of 2020, so read that shit for more extensive thoughts on the song. Basically, all you need to know is that I was in love with the song when I first heard it, and nothing’s changed.

You can tell that I’m passionate with this rappin’ shit
An advocate who mastered it
Jaw jack with them wack raps, and I’m jabbin’ it
Street gamblin’, trust you far as I could throw a javelin

I love the dirty ass, cold production, and Ty fucking tore it to shreds. I think the song’s amazing.

4. No Receipt, No Return produced by Bozack Morris

I think this might be my favorite track on the album. Honestly, this is probably the best song I’ve heard all year. The production is fucking amazing, and Ty’s performance over it is glorious. He tells a story about his younger days when he was struggling to make money in a rough environment.

Flow witty, a few steps above the average
On the road to riches, ran out of gas, stuck in the drug traffic
The plug laughin’, tried to quit, but he know I can’t
Three days hustlin’ in the same clothes, and I know I stank

This shit is so fucking good, man. I was so happy the first time I heard it. There’s nothing I don’t love about the song. The production is fire, the writing is top notch, and even the hook is dope as hell. As if the song wasn’t already amazing enough, the production kinda evolves for the second verse and gets even better. The song is fucking incredible.

5. Black Mamba Venom produced by Stu Bangas

I’m not really as in love with this beat as I was with the preceding few instrumentals. It’s not a bad beat, but it’s definitely my least favorite up to this point on the project. However, any apprehension I had towards the production was quickly assuaged by Ty Farris’ superb lyricism. Just like with every other track, he spazzed on this shit.

I said I might as well build a clientele from these violent tales
If rhymin’ fails, then we buyin’ scales
Pasta with Italians; if I blink twice, they supply the shells

Both of the verses he spit on this track are fantastic. This shit is dope af.

6. Money Outta the Ziploc featuring Eddie Kaine produced by Vinyl Villain

The beat on this track is fucking awesome. It sounds cold as hell, and super evil. I wasn’t familiar with this Eddie Kaine dude before hearing this project, but his verse at the beginning is great. He fits in really well here. I guess Ty knows how to not tarnish his own work with weak MCs. I’m gonna have to keep my eye on Eddie Kaine because he really impressed me. In fact, out of all the features on this album, I think he probably had the best performance. He dropped an album in August, so I should check that out. He’s also working on an EP with The Standouts, who produced the first actual song on this album, so that should be good. Anyway, Ty Farris murdered that second verse.

Bullets get to spittin’, dry blood all on the splattered glass
Dope in a sandwich bag, make the sale and vanish fast
OGs tryna push more keys than a hacker’s hand
A product of a tragic past, first nigga to snap his jab

The hook is kinda underwhelming to me, but aside from that this track is really fucking good. This shit is dope.

7. Killing Fields produced by Sebb Bash

The previous track transitions into this one really nicely, and the beat is hard as fuck. Of course Ty killed the first verse.

Detroit bloodline, come get embarrassed
It goes Nickel, Em, Elzhi, then Mr. Farris
Man that shit’s apparent; a pair of pistols I lift in air
I’ma whip ’em like grandma when the kids are swearin’

The hook is really dope too, and I actually think the second verse is even better than the first. This shit is awesome. If I had to complain about anything, it’d be that the production is a little repetitive. That’s just a nitpick though. This shit is dope af.

8. Sunday at DirtyDiggs featuring Eto produced by DirtyDiggs

The production from DirtyDiggs on this track is really nice; it’s a lot more laidback and smooth than most of the others. Again, Ty rhymed his ass off.

I move different, since school-skippin’ made a few news clippin’s
Used to cruise with the goons with the tools liftin’

I’ve never really been super impressed with Eto as a rapper, but I don’t mind him here. I mean, I’m not crazy about his performance, but it’s definitely not bad. I would’ve preferred to hear another verse from Ty, but Eto did his thing. The song is dope af.

9. Had to Scheme featuring Flee Lord produced by MichaelAngelo

This beat is fucking phenomenal; it sounds like pure evil in the form of music. Ty killed the first verse, and the hook is really dope too. I think the second verse is even better than the first one honestly.

Bouncin’ thoughts off the wall in my basement wishin’ for better days
Grandma prayed and I was breakin’ in the reverend’s range
Since 11th grade in the back of my uncle’s escalade
Visions of stretchin’ ‘caine; I’m a diamond tester, check your chain

The final verse from Flee Lord was solid, but easily the least impressive on the track. I think his voice sounds really good over this instrumental, but his actual rapping didn’t stand out much to me. The song is still fire though. I think it’s dope af.

10. I Pray produced by Trox

This is another standout track for me. I think it’s my second favorite song on the album. The beat is really dope; the atmosphere of the production matches the bleak & forlorn content perfectly.

My patience thin, resembling my hairline
My life should be more Ric Flair lines
These are rare rhymes, but I struggle like Chris Christie on a stair climb
Heart of a lion, no weapon, stare in the bear’s eyes
Bear witness, I’m a victim of harsh realities
Dark fantasies annually, hard casualties
Dealin’ with it daily maybe made me a crazy cat
Meditate where Jason at, Crystal Lake & an 8th of smack
No lab, no needle; desert eagle how I lace a rat
Punch a platinum rapper in his mouth, I’m tryna break some plaques

This shit is fucking amazing. He fucking decimated that verse. This song is absolutely dope af.

11. The War featuring M.A.V. produced by J Banksy

The production on this track is fantastic. The first verse is performed by M.A.V., and he sounds really good over this beat. His verse was great.

Focus on it, but keep an eye peeled; I sat with kingpins
From time to time they filled they nostrils against the oath
It’s either powder your nose or stunt your growth
‘Cause when integrity & riches at hand, I need ’em both

Of course Ty killed his verse too. It’s another stellar song. I really don’t have any gripes with it. It’s dope af.

12. Truth Be Told produced by Stu Bangas

The relatively melodic production on this track is really nice. The whole song is pretty much just one long verse.

I make my moves on the low, they always unexpected
I eat beats for dinner lunch and breakfast
One of the best in the world and that’s uncontested
Another Stu Bangas beat, mark it off the checklist

I think his performance here was really good, but overall the song doesn’t stand out from the others. I don’t know what it is about this track, but it just feels like it’s missing something. Maybe if it had a really great hook or a beat switch or something that’d make it more interesting. This is definitely still a really good song, but compared to the others it’s kind of a low point on the project. It’s dope though. I fuck with it.

13. Made My Grandmama Cry produced by Mr. Authentic

This beat isn’t really that impressive to me, but it’s not bad. The first verse on the song is thankfully fucking awesome.

I’m fearless; a warrior, I die with integrity
And that’s for every nigga standing next to me
I’m in the streets regularly regulating with weaponry
Disrespecting me, your chest get a hole the size of a checker piece

The hook is really dope too. Lyrically, I think this is one of the coldest tracks on the album.

Battle tested, since adolescence I handle peasants
Homie up for parole, I hope he get the panel’s blessings
Never worried; my composure is my strength
My team warriors, you never see my soldiers on the fence

He killed this shit. The song is dope af.

14. Who I Am produced by Stu Bangas

The production on this song sounds relatively celebratory in my opinion. It’s really great. Out of all the beats that Stu Bangas contributed to this project, this is definitely my favorite. The first verse from Ty is really good too.

Mentally I was on a rollercoaster, sold some dope
Let a couple snakes rope they throat ’cause they hoped I’d choke
Now the greats quote my quotes, look at karma workin’
I carve bars from the heart, I’m a flawless surgeon, 1 draw from perfect

This track couldn’t have appeared anywhere else on the album. It’s a great way to close the project. The production alone makes it an obvious choice for the outro. It’s basically the kinda song that says “I’m grateful that I’ve made it through all the bullshit I’ve dealt with in life, and I’m moving on.” It’s dope af.

---

This album is amazing. This is pretty easily the best album I’ve heard so far in 2020, which I guess isn’t saying that much since we’re not even halfway through the first month. I don’t think anyone will be surpassing this any time soon though. This shit is really fucking good. Ty Farris is a fucking beast on the mic. If you like coke talk, and rappers who make rhyming look easy, this is for you. If you like artists like Pusha T & Benny the Butcher, you’re fucking up if you don’t check this shit out. Honestly, I feel like Ty would probably body them if they all rapped together. As much as I love Pusha T, something about the way Ty raps just feels daunting. I feel like everyone would and should be nervous to hop on a song with him because he is ruthless. You saw from all the lines I quoted in the body of this review. Dude is a beast. I’m mad at myself for not checking his work out sooner. This shit is dope af.

Favorite Song: No Receipt, No Return
Least Favorite Song: Truth Be Told

90

Watch the video below for more thoughts on this album.