This extended play was released on October 31st this year. Yesterday I published my review for Fatboi Sharif’s latest full length album with Steel Tipped Dove, Decay. I thought that album was amazing, so I was really excited when I saw that he was dropping this collaborative project with the legendary Bigg Jus of all people. I honestly didn’t even know Bigg Jus was still making music, so this collaboration really came outta nowhere for me. It makes a lot of sense on paper though, so I’ll be shocked if I don’t end up enjoying this project to some extent. I’m really excited to check this shit out. I think I’m gonna love it. It’s fully produced by Bigg Jus, who also contributed some rapping to each track.

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The project begins with the title track, Insomniac Missile Launcher, which has a really awesome, loud, chaotic instrumental.

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This might actually be my favorite beat on the project. I feel like it sounds like Halloween, so it’s cool that that’s when this came out. The beat sounds like a jack-o-lantern in the form of music. One thing I noticed on my first listen of this project is that it sounds a lot less polished and clean than Decay. This shit sounds dirty as hell, and kind of maximalist. There’s a lot going on here. The lyricism is even more difficult to make sense of than the instrumental. They’re rapping about some wild shit here. This is my type of lyricism. The dirty mix makes it kind of difficult to understand every lyric, but the shit that I can make out is crazy. I can’t even come close to deciding who had the better performance because they jelled really well here together. I feel like their styles blend beautifully. This song is super dope. It’s followed by Grimy Squadron Grow a Garden. This song didn’t really impress me as much as the others, but I definitely still like it a lot. The production is very cool. It kinda reminds me of the Underworld theme from Kingdom Hearts II. I love how hard-hitting the percussion is. As much as I enjoyed the bizarre production here, I think what really keeps me hooked is the rapping from Sharif & Jus.

Heartless intention, an unintended victim
Did so much dirt only evisceration through eternal route for self affliction
Drowning in fake Actavis, fake Percocet, and fake, insecure women
Souls shriek and shiver inside their wretched body, swimmin'

The instrumental kinda loses my interest as the song progresses. Like I said, the lyricism is what keeps my attention. The song is really good overall though. I definitely like it. The penultimate track is a highlight called Ghost Story. The way the instrumental builds up as the song progresses is really cool. Sharif kinda starts rapping really early on before it even feels like the beat has developed into a tangible Hip Hop instrumental. This might be my favorite song on the EP. I don’t know yet. It’s either this one or the closing track. I really loved what they did on this track though. The beat feels ethereal, yet dark and haunting at the same time. Just like with the previous material, the lyricism had me hooked. There’s not a single filler bar on this track. I guess that could be said about the project in general. I really love this track. It grew on me even more with repeat listens. It’s dope as hell. The closing track, God, is arguably even better. The beat is very chaotic and trippy, and Bigg Jus fucking killed the opening verse.

Man, listen
Reincarnate you back in the fetal position
Suckin' on the breastmilk of mother Isis
'Til your third eye start to decalcify, have you stargazing to one thousand horizon
'Til you glimpse one's destiny or die tryin'

Honestly, this song was already fire to me after the first verse. The second verse from Sharif was like the icing on the cake. It really elevated this shit even further in my opinion. This shit is very unique—thankfully in a way that I can really appreciate. I love it. The song’s dope as hell.

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^{This project is great. It’s not like every single track blew me away, but I was definitely satisfied by the time the EP was over. Bigg Jus’ eccentric production style fits Sharif’s rapping super well, and lyrically these guys blend together perfectly. I feel like I say this for every project that Sharif touches these days, but if you’re into off-kilter, abstract Hip Hop, you’re not gonna wanna miss this. Since there are only four tracks here, this just feels like a taste of what’s possible with more collaborations between these two. I definitely wouldn’t mind hearing more work from them. I knew this collaboration was gonna work as soon as I saw that these guys were dropping this project. I mean, I personally haven’t kept up with what Jus has been doing over the years, but it just sounds like a fire idea on paper. I’m here for it. I’m just excited that this project even exists. It didn’t disappoint at all. Check this shit out, especially if you enjoyed previous releases from Sharif.}

Favorite Song: God
Least Favorite Song: Grimy Squadron Grow a Garden

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