Focus Hip Hop

Music Writing with a Focus on Underground Gems

  • Album Review | zeroh – BLQLYTE

    This album was released on April 24th this year. Believe it or not, this was one of my most anticipated albums of the year at one point. I can’t really explain why it took so long for me to get to this one. I’m sure there probably is a valid reason, but I genuinely can’t…

  • Don’t Sleep | Wrex Mason – ASCENDANT

    Don’t sleep on this new album from Wrex Mason. It was released on July 31st this year. This was my first time hearing any of Wrex Mason’s work, so I didn’t really know what to expect at all. He’s a producer from Connecticut, currently based in Brooklyn, and this is the third and final entry…

  • Best Singles of the Week | 2020: Week 37

    Once again, I started writing this a little late, so forgive me if I miss a few singles here and there. I’ve said it a lot recently, but I can’t stress this enough; I’m busy as fuck. Sunday, September 6th Ode to Camp Lo by Griff/Scorcese featuring Alaska & DJ Chong Wizard This track actually dropped last week, but…

  • EP Review | Conway the Machine & Big Ghost Ltd. – No One Mourns the Wicked

    This extended play was released on May 15th this year. I really don’t need to say anything in this preamble do I? If you follow this blog closely you know that I’m a humongous fan of Conway the Machine, and I have a shit ton of respect for Big Ghost as well. I’ve written before…

  • Album Review | Gorilla Twins

    This album was released on May 22nd this year. It’s the debut self titled album from Gorilla Twins, which is a duo comprised of Nems & Ill Bill. I was actually super excited when this album was announced. Ill Bill is obviously an underground legend at this point, so I can always expect quality music…

  • Best Singles of the Week | 2020: Week 36

    Sorry this shit is late. I’m gonna be honest. I’m writing this at 10:30 PM on Sunday, September 6th. This was supposed to be published at noon today, but I haven’t even started yet. I’ve just been super busy with school. Now that my classes have actually begun, and I’m fully moved into my dorm…

  • Album Review | Ruste Juxx & Amadeus 360 the Beat King – James Brown of tha Underground

    This album was released on July 17th this year. If you’re familiar with Sean Price or the rest of Duck Down Records, you’re surely aware of Ruste Juxx. If we’re excluding members of the Boot Camp Clik, Ruste Juxx has always been my favorite MC on the label. He’s got a great voice for rapping,…

  • Album Review | East Hampton Polo Boys – Summer Catalogue

    This album was released on July 30th this year. The East Hampton Polo Boys are a duo comprised of producer Panels and MC Scorcese. I have next to no experience with either of these artists, so I’m kinda going into this thing blind. I heard a couple of the singles though, and I really enjoyed…

  • Best Singles of the Week | 2020: Week 35

    I have pretty much nothing to say this week. My personal life is still in shambles. I did feel a little happy towards the beginning of the week for a couple days, but joy is fleeting. When it rains it pours y’all. At least I had some good music to distract myself from the perpetual…

  • Don’t Sleep | Brelstaff

    Don’t sleep on this new self titled album from Brelstaff. It dropped on July 23rd this year. Brelstaff is a relatively obscure producer from Edinburgh who specializes in super chill, jazzy, soulful instrumentals. Usually when a producer tells me they make chill, jazzy beats I’m a bit apprehensive because a shit ton of that stuff…

  • Album Review | Emceein’ Eye – Never Comply

    This album was released on May 18th this year. Emceein’ Eye is an artist from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He’s signed to Cold Rhymes Records, which is why I decided to check him out. I’d never heard any of his work before, but I listened to about three singles from this album and really enjoyed them.…

  • Best Singles of the Week | 2020: Week 34

    Once again, this was a terrible week for me personally, but I guess it was kinda nice to have some time off. I’m in New York now, taking classes at Hofstra University, so that’s why things are slowing down on the blog. It’s probably gonna be like that from now until the end of the…