San Diego, California emcee Sham Blak teaming with PHD Beats for his fifth studio LP. Coming up a decade in the past off his debut Money Well Spent, he returned 7 years later for the ShamRock & D Day Project EPs adopted by the sophomore effort Gratuity & Something Out of Nothing. We just lately received a sequel to ShamRock a number of months in the past & he’s seeking to end the primary half of 2025 by enlisting a bunch of collaborators for Red October.
“Window” that includes Von Dreaam was a menacing growth bap intro placing your belief in them on their solution to get the bag whereas “War Scriptures” that includes B-Rell retains it within the basement to speak about being constructed for this. “Spooky Dilemma” that includes Chop the Father & Rhamis Ali finds the trio linking up to allow them to all go into their Jason Voorhees shit lyrically whereas “Silent Waters” that includes twenty fifth Enigma finds the two likening themselves to hunters.
Knollege & Tay da Crown be part of Blak on the dusty “Encrypted” making the entire crowd stand again with their hardcore flows simply earlier than “Iron Curtains” that includes NVY Jonez LKR brings the pair collectively to speak about taking the excessive street as a result of they might not reside to see one other day. “Never Shall We Die” seems again on the best way he used to hustle again then turning into performed out with time passing on, however then Paper Pat & Von Dreaam seem for “Periscope Visions” speaking about not being content material with shifting backwards.
“The Captain’s Gambit” that includes Baegod goes for a jazzier path instrumentally determining the way you go from being up 1 minute & down the subsequent whereas “Escape Route” that includes Benny Watts grittily talks about needing to get away from all of the negativity. “Torpedo Blow” that includes RMthePoet speaks of studying to make use of their actions as instruments as a result of the advantage of persistence whereas “Submarine” by Banish Habitual soulfully dismantles their competitors.
Sick Rick & Smalls Uno to not be confused with Smallz 1 lay the ultimate Red October visitor appearances down throughout “Spooky Sonar” layin’ out these daring to fuck with them utilizing firearms & “Red Dawn” finishes the LP with a piano/growth bap fusion speaking about breaking away from the shackles together with the block being sizzling not taking something away from what he’s making an attempt to do.
Taking a distinct strategy in comparison with what Sham Blak has often completed, Red October units out to take advantage of conceptual physique of labor in his complete catalog & finally succeeds cementing the epitomization . The growth bap manufacturing has some inventive pattern selections high to backside & the visitors all contribute to the story Sham’s telling of wrestle, triumph & self‑discovery.
Score: 8/10