February 2025
Monthly Reviews | February 2025
Another month of the year has passed, and I had the chance to listen to three brand-new projects. The first is Life Is Beautiful, a collaborative album from Larry June, 2 Chainz, and The Alchemist. This marks the second joint project between Larry June and The Alchemist, while it’s the first time 2 Chainz has teamed up with the legendary producer. But does their collaboration live up to expectations? For Valentine's Day, we were treated to a new project from Griselda's head honcho, Westside Gunn. His last release, Still Pray, dropped in November and was a thoroughly enjoyable listen. Hopefully, I can say the same about his latest effort, 12. Another Valentine’s Day surprise came in the form of a comeback album from Rizzle Kicks. The duo hadn't released an album since 2013, and for a while, it seemed like they never would, as both members pursued solo endeavors over the past twelve years. With so much time having passed since their last project together, is their latest effort worth the listen?
Larry June, 2 Chainz & The Alchemist — Life Is Beautiful
Release Date — 7th February
Larry June, The Alchemist, and 2 Chainz’s Life Is Beautiful is a good but slightly underwhelming project, largely due to the high expectations set by June’s previous collaboration with The Alchemist on The Great Escape. The album is a smooth yet an uneven ride through soulful boom-bap production, shining brightest when The Alchemist’s lush instrumentals meet 2 Chainz’s confident delivery. Tracks like “LLC” and “Bad Choices” boast some of the best beats on the project, while “Munyon Canyon” sets the tone well, and “Colossal” impresses with both rappers stepping outside their usual flow patterns. However, 2 Chainz consistently outperforms Larry June, often stealing the spotlight and leaving June struggling to keep up. This is most evident on “Generation”, where 2 Chainz delivers introspective and thoughtful lyrics within the chorus, reflecting on the potential negative influence of his generation’s music on the younger audience.
While the album maintains a certain level of quality, some tracks unfortunately fall into more forgettable territory. Larry June delivers multiple underwhelming performances, particularly on the title track “Life Is Beautiful” and “Any Day”, where his presence feels less impactful. The chemistry between him and 2 Chainz isn't always balanced, which hinders the project’s cohesion. Fans of soulful boom-bap instrumentals may still find “Life Is Beautiful” rewarding, but in comparison to The Alchemist’s other work, this album doesn’t quite reach the same heights. Though he remains a phenomenal producer, Life Is Beautiful ultimately falls short of his best efforts.To round it off, Life Is Beautiful is a fairly good project, but Larry June, 2 Chainz, and The Alchemist have all individually delivered stronger efforts in their respective careers. While the album offers moments of brilliance, particularly in its production and 2 Chainz’s performance, it ultimately falls short of the high standards set by each artist’s past work.
Westside Gunn — 12
Release Date — 14th February
Only three months after releasing Still Pray, Westside Gunn is back with a brand-new project, 12, the latest installment in his Hitler Wears Hermes series. This decade has been an interesting one for the Buffalo native—he has delivered some of his best work, such as Pray for Me and Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B in 2021. However, he has also released projects that haven't quite lived up to his highest standards, including Peace “Fly” God and And Then You Pray for Me. Unfortunately, 12 falls into the latter category. The album is let down by subpar production, certain underwhelming features, and a lackluster performance from Westside himself, especially compared to his stronger releases.
The project features multiple appearances from fellow Griselda labelmate Stove God Cooks, who has been a recurring collaborator on Westside Gunn’s past projects. While they’ve made great music together, Stove God consistently outshines Westside on 12, with his features arguably being the best moments of the album—especially on tracks like “Veert” and “055”. It seems that this project was heavily focused on showcasing lesser-known rappers and pushing them to the forefront. While Stove God Cooks has already made a name for himself, artists like Estee Nack and Brother Tom Sos have multiple features throughout the album. Brother Tom Sos delivers strong performances on two of 12's better tracks, holding his own. However, the same can't be said for Estee Nack. Though he has appeared on Westside Gunn’s projects before, his four features on 12—particularly “Bury Me with the Stove”—make the album difficult to get through, with that track standing out as the weakest on the project.
Given Westside Gunn’s extensive catalog and his rapid release pace, it’s natural to expect occasional missteps. However, 12 might be his weakest project yet. Coming off Still Pray, which was a thoroughly enjoyable listen, 12 is a significant drop-off. It’s the first time I can recall a Westside Gunn album feeling like a chore to get through. There’s nothing further that can be added with this album and there is a lot left to be desired. Unfortunately, there’s not much that I see myself returning to.
Rizzle Kicks — Comeptition Is For Losers
Release Date — 14th February
Twelve years after their last album together, the Brighton-based hip-hop duo has returned with a brand-new release. Now in their early thirties, they find themselves in a UK hip-hop landscape that has changed significantly since they first emerged in 2011 at just nineteen years old. Back when Rizzle Kicks were topping the UK charts between 2011 and 2013 with hits like “Down With the Trumpets” and “Mama Do the Hump”, David Cameron was Prime Minister, the world was making Harlem Shake videos, “Gangnam Style” had surpassed a billion views on YouTube, and Instagram was still in its infancy. So, how does the duo fare in 2025?
Last summer, they released “Javelin”, a playful, jazzy rap track that serves as the perfect reintroduction after all these years. The song is featured on their new album, Competition Is For Losers, a solid effort with several standout tracks worth revisiting. Alongside “Javelin”, highlights include “Everything’s Aligned”, “New Energy” featuring Mick Jenkins, and “Afternoon Tea” with Lex Amor. While released in the winter, the album carries a distinctly UK summer vibe, with tracks like “Bad Tattoo” and “Love and Delight” feeling tailor-made for park hangouts, bike rides, or beach days. For longtime fans of the duo, this latest project is worth a listen. Rather than attempting to recreate the exact sound and formula that brought them success in the early 2010s, the album still feels unmistakably like Rizzle Kicks—just more mature.