Patreon supporters received access to this review on October 2nd, 2024.

On May 3rd this year, Pro Zay released this collaborative album with underground MVP producer, Sadhugold. I’ve been meaning to review this album since before it even dropped, but life hit me hard this year as many of you are aware. I actually think now is the perfect time for me to be covering this record though. The title of this project resonates more than ever. That’s really how I’m feelin’ at this point in time. I’m happier now than I’ve been in years, so I really do feel like I pulled gold out the mud. It’s of course referring to events that have taken place in Pro Zay’s life, but I can relate to it in a sense. Anyway, Pro Zay is already rolling out his follow-up to this project with Boots the Blessed, so I wanted to make sure I didn’t fall too far behind on his discography. This is another one of the better albums of the year for me, so I had to share it with y’all. I’m planning on copping the cassette once I get my bread up, so hopefully it doesn’t sell out before that happens.

I don’t actually think I’ve ever really written about Sadhugold in depth, but I generally enjoy his work. I think he’s a super creative producer, and his rapping isn’t too shabby either. My favorite thing he’s done might actually be that Czardust project with Ohbliv. That one was really cool honestly. Wow. That was five years ago. Time really flies, man. Anyway, let’s get into it…

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The album begins with the Cancun Intro. The first time I listened to this track, I was walking to the smoke shop near my campus. I can visualize the experience in my head right now. Every time I play this song, it takes me back to that walk. I think the high-pitched sound that Sadhugold used as the backbone of the instrumental is cacophonous in the best way possible. It sounds really cool to me. With that said, a lot of rappers would not sound good over this. I think Pro Zay fits over it really well though. His signature delivery is just as grimy as the beat itself.

Massage seats in the whip, leather smell like piff
Used to meet 'em in the alley, smell like piss
Here, take a sample, take a sniff
One hit, they doin' backflips, immaculate fix

The tone of the lyricism certainly matches the soundscape. If this was just an instrumental I would probably think it was too long, but the lyrics from Pro Zay help to keep things interesting. It’s a really dope track.

Track 2 is called Time to Go. I can tell that this track would go crazy live. The beat has a lot of energy, and I love Pro Zay’s flow over it. Just like with the previous track, I think Pro Zay himself is what really makes this song enjoyable for me. The beat is by no means bad, but it wouldn’t really stand out to me much on a beat tape. Pro Zay just fits over it though. There’s a noticeable confidence in his delivery. He sounds very comfortable over this beat.

Rather be carried by 6, don’t even trip when it’s my time to go
Designer blow, water under bridge, gotta pay the toll
Walkin’ on water from the hole in my sole
Shit, I’m Texan, two-steppin’ walkin’ ’round with my weapon
Smith & Wesson that block your blessing, shit expected
This ain’t even my warm-up yet, I’m still stretchin’

Pro Zay’s writing is actually really dense. There are a lot of layers here that you might not realize on first listen. The line about water under the bridge and having to pay the toll is ostensibly a reference to the iconic entendre from one of the best episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Nightman Cometh.

Pro Zay built upon that entendre by extending it with a homophone. I interpreted the last line about how he’s still stretching as a reference to cooking up dope. I don’t know if his writing has drastically improved or if I’m just better at recognizing things like that these days. Either way, I’m happy about it. This song is really great. Despite the aggressive vibe, the lyrics are kind of uplifting at certain points.

You good at all, master of none, knowledge missed your mental
That ain't no L, that's just a lesson
Keep your head up my G, why you cryin', get to steppin'

He’s really spittin’ that wisdom here. The hook doesn’t really differentiate itself from the verses sonically, which isn’t necessarily a good or a bad thing. I guess it just depends on your perspective. The first time I heard a song that had a similar characteristic, I really didn’t like it. I’m a lot more open-minded these days though, so I didn’t really even think about it until I started writing this to be honest. I really dig the song.

Recipe is the first major highlight for me, and it features Estee Nack. The production here is pretty incredible. I love how minimalistic it sounds. The percussion here is excellent, and the primary loop that forms the backbone of the beat is really dreamy. Pro Zay went absolutely crazy on this one too. His flow is so good here. I love it.

The mattress has the cash flow
Studied the craft off the man with the mask on
The flask full, but the glass half empty
Aim for fetty, you need a pack or you owe pay if they sent me

That’s so fire, man. That DOOM reference was really cool. I feel like Zay’s writing often gets overshadowed by the eccentricity of his vocal approach, but if you really listen closely you’ll see how much he’s killin’ it. The rhyme pattern in the hook is superb as well. The second verse is by Estee Nack, towards whom I’ve been a bit ambivalent in the past. I think he fits really well here though. I think he’s an undeniably skilled MC. However, something about his flow and vocal delivery makes it difficult for me to understand what’s being said sometimes, so a lot of his bars don’t stick with me personally. With that said, I loved his verse here.

Shorty just got her a new BBL
Youngin' was servin' narcotics since he was 12
Came out the coach with cookies like the Keebler elves
Environments that we live in the type you see in Hell

I might have to reconsider my stance on this dude. I’m gonna keep trying with his music and hopefully I’ll enjoy it more because I think this verse gave me a new appreciation for him. This song is absolute fire to me, and one of my favorites of the year.

Track 4 is called Elevated, and it features Tony Tone & twohorizonra. The instrumental on this track is a lot more melodic than that of the preceding song. I slightly prefer that track, but both of the instrumentals are awesome, and the features on this song went crazy. The opening verse from Tony Tone is excellent. I really love the way his voice sounds over this instrumental.

I'm Dallas, Texas, born & raised
Eyes red, I'm torched & blazed
Lookin' at the devil, pray away all the scorn & haze
You know me, I'm tryna find a way to pass the day
Cash inflation on a Saturday, I found my way up out the matrix
Try and get out the maze, try and find a path, and take it

The second verse from twohorizonra is also pretty nice. His flow sounds really fantastic, especially right at the beginning of his performance. I have to admit that I kinda find my patience running thin by the time this song is ending. It maybe didn’t need to be four and a half minutes. I mean, all of the verses are very great, but sonically there isn’t much variation, so unless you’re a lyrics-based listener like me you may find it tedious. With that said, I personally think it’s a really dope song. I love the production, and the rapping is great. Maybe a really good hook could’ve elevated things a bit, but it’s really dope as it is.

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WardWar3 was my favorite track on the album the first time I listened to it. I really love this beat. The way the percussion builds up as the song progresses is really cool. The first verse is performed by Døøf, who is another artist I’ve had mixed feelings on in the past. With that said, I’ve only heard features from him, so it’s possible that I’d enjoy his solo material. I just haven’t tapped in yet. I did enjoy the performance on this particular song though. I definitely preferred Zay’s verse, but they both did a really nice job here.

Ed, Edd n' Eddy, chase the cheddar
Which falls faster, you or the feather?
Malt liquor stains on the leather
Can't blame you for not seein' the vision
This pen a missile, broke glass in the kitchen
Runnin' laps bristol, pain—I'ma get through
'Caine get the rent due
Marble in the mansion what we tryna get to

I don’t love it quite as much as I did the first time I heard it, but it’s still really great. Honestly my favorite aspect of it is Sadhugold’s production. The instrumental here sounds like something I’d hear in a black & white crime film. It’s really dope.

The following song is called Make It, and this one honestly grew on me a lot. I thought it was good the first time I heard it, but it was definitely my least favorite track. That’s not even the case anymore though. I really like this one. I think the beat here is even better than that of the preceding track. I love how much energy is here. It’s hard for me to listen to this one without getting the coveted involuntary head nod. This is the kinda stuff Busta Rhymes should be rhyming over. He should get the Leaders of the New School back together and make stuff like this. That’d be fire. Anyway, this track is just over two minutes in length, so there’s only time for one verse. It’s great.

My tongue a sword, I sharpen my weapon
Leather pedals on the Lexus, feel good when I press it
Patience a virtue, couldn't hurt us when I'm steppin'
I buried the most, need the house with the toast close
Need the private land with the big ass boat
Seen 'em choke like the Falcons, climb mountains
They try to sustain fame with a lame ass outfit

I really like the way he ends the verse in particular.

They tell you don't change 'cause they want you complacent
It's free range, you want what's out there? Go take it
Hope you tough, if not, out here you not gon' make it

Again, this one really grew on me. I think it’s super dope.

The next song is called Many Flavors, and it features Okir. The beat here is interesting. The bass sounds really blown out to me. It sounds good though. I like it. The rapping itself is what makes this song stand out to me though. I love Pro Zay’s performance here.

Many flavors, stole paper from the neighbors
Pay us, I'm the late night fiend savior
Late bloomer, but I was early for the paper
Step up on toes, I don't care, they some hoes
Eat your food and turn you to my waiter
Here's a kick, piff blowin' take away my anger
Change the whip quite often
Shoe make the soft harden, feel like I found my calling

The second verse from Okir is great too.

Raise the Fahrenheit, motherfuck a parasite
Homie doin' five'll take your life over a pair of dice
My auntie rob banks, she was dressin' like an Arab, right
Me, I drop fire, probably burnin' through your terabyte

I think as far as the lyrical content goes, Pro Zay’s verse was better. However, in terms of their cadences, Okir stood out a bit more. They both did a really nice job here though. It’s another dope track.

Track 8 is called Homemade, and it features Obijuan. This song definitely has one of my favorite beats on the project. I also love the way Pro Zay starts his performance.

Ever want something so bad pussy and bread couldn't distract you?
No handout, had my hand down push and seal vacuum
You washed up in the fed now, wouldn't put it past you
Set my man up and he ran off, couldn't let that pass do
Cookin' glass up with the fan off
Hey, crack the back door, they cookin' packs with the fentanyl
Had the fiends lined up at the mall
We still up, they passed out

He actually went crazy on this track. That’s definitely one of my favorite verses on the project. Obijuan is someone I’ve only heard on features because, to be honest, his music isn’t really affordable for me. I was planning on checking out one project of his at one point, but it was maybe 18 minutes of music and he was trying to charge people like 40 bucks for it. I just can’t be spending that kinda money, especially for a digital version of a project. He’s not a bad rapper though. I’ve seen people accuse him of biting Mach-Hommy in the past, but I’m not familiar enough with either of those artists to say whether I agree or not. Their voices are similar, but I haven’t heard Mach-Hommy use this flow before. I’m not really crazy about it personally.

Remain more than thankful, but fuck humble
Critics wrong ’cause they ain’t give felatio
Let’s go band for band, take this ratio

It’s a fine verse. I don’t mind it. I mean, I probably would’ve preferred this as a solo track, but he doesn’t ruin the song or anything. I still love the song. I think it’s excellent.

The penultimate track is a solo cut called Mandela Effect. This is another highlight for me. The production here is excellent. I feel like Iceberg Theory would destroy this instrumental. I love the way Pro Zay starts rapping before the beat drops. The way the drums fade in sounds so cool. It’s awesome.

What you need, I can find; I been solid, I been working
Sold every drug, everything at your service
I get the bag, stretch it out, then serve it
Bird the worst hit from them curses, had to hide this in her cervix
Hearses stay in business, they give they two cents at the churches
Handle chicken like it's Church's, my first lick had us livin' well
Not so worthless, but the bread addiction finger lickin'

The lyrical content is pretty grizzly, as you can see. Zay paints some dark pictures here, which I personally really enjoy. This is another one of the shorter songs on the project, but it doesn’t feel too scant or anything. It’s honestly another one of my favorites on the project. I love it.

The closing track is one last highlight called Fork, and it features the legendary Boldy James. Is it too soon to call Boldy James a legend? I’d say he’s one of the best rappers of the past 5 years. I mean, he hasn’t really ended up on my year end lists that often, but he’s just super consistent. That Indiana Jones project was dope. I haven’t even heard everything he’s dropped in the past year because he’s so prolific. I think he’s a brilliant rapper, but unfortunately his production choices some times leave much to be desired. That isn’t an issue here at all though thankfully. Sadhugold’s beat here is stellar. This is definitely one of my favorite instrumentals on the project. It might be number one honestly. The opening verse from Zay is superb as well. This might actually be his best verse on the project.

I know I'll lose a piece of me, but I'll still weather the storm
Feel my legs givin' out, I still carry it on

That couplet alone makes this one of my favorite verses Pro Zay has ever released. He just keeps going too. That’s not even the hardest line.

I won't even act surprised, could care less to get back
Needle in my unc' vein, his eyes rollin' back
If I had it my way he'd be alive kickin' back
Too late for that, they pressin' fam, switch to attack
I don't dap, I hug my brothers 'cause I lost too many of 'em
On the soul or in the cell, snatched behind the covers

I love how his lyricism matches the tone of the production. The storytelling from Boldy James on the second verse is phenomenal as well. Yeah. This song is amazing. I’m really glad they closed this album on such a high note. This track really wrapped things up nicely.

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^{This album is exceptional. Pro Zay’s rapping is the best it has ever been, and he sounds excellent over these really cool instrumentals from Sadhugold. I love a lot of the dark, gritty subject matter explored by Zay and the features, who were dope as well. The title of this project definitely gives you an idea of what to expect lyrically. It’s about perseverance and overcoming hardships. Pro Zay has gotta be one of the most consistent artists on my radar right now. Every single project I’ve covered from this dude has been super dope. His signature raspy vocal delivery may be an acquired taste for some, but I think he’s dynamic enough with it for it to be pretty accessible to a lot of listeners. I really enjoyed this project, and it’s definitely one of the better albums I’ve heard in 2024. Check it out, and let me know what you think in the comments below. Peace.}

Favorite Song: Fork
Least Favorite Song: WardWar3

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