Detroit, Michigan lyricist & one of many most interesting within the underground at present Mickey Diamond is again together with his 18th studio LP. Emerging in the beginning of this decade off the energy of his debut EP Bangkok Dangerous, the dude has since gone on to show fairly a number of heads within the underground by increase the spectacular discography for himself together with his earlier 17 albums alongside 7 EPs & a mixtape. Since 2022 nevertheless, Mickey has been constant placing out a few of the greatest materials of his profession to date. This contains the Gucci Ghost collection produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Ral Duke-produced Oroku Saki EP, the Sadhugold-produced Death Threat$ album, the Camoflauge Monk-produced Capital Gains album, the excellent Oroku Saki sequel Super Shredder & Gucci Gambinos. We lately received Diamond Cutter in addition to Dolla $ign Diaries & Wolf Tickets, coming off the latter nearly 2 months in the past for the 2nd installment of this new trilogy.
“Shepherd’s Pie” begins with a drumless soul pattern speaking about him studying how to economize slightly than chase it whereas “Big Bad Wolf” takes the increase bap route instrumentally so he can fuck up anybody who steps in his means. “Murda He Wrote” strips the drums as soon as once more speaking about pulling as much as reveals with 10 of homies whereas “B22” soulfully talks about him shaking up the block constantly in contrast to these nobody desires to collaborate with.
As for “Silence of the Lambs”, we now have Diamond over some pianos combined with kicks & snares letting the concern breathe once more leaving the feds asking what occurred to him throughout his break main into “Rabbit Hole” bringing again the crooning sampling chops speaking about his model being too flashy for the poor. “Matthew 7:15” eerily boasts of slitting throats utilizing a Liquid Sword whereas “Business as Usual” continues the 2nd half speaking about seeming cool up till every little thing comes all the way down to the cash.
“Cry Wolf” begins the 4th quarter bringing us extra hardcore increase bap cautioning the entire neighborhood would take his aspect if anybody’s beefing with one in every of his whereas “When It Rains” soulfully talks about feeling the ache of his homie who’s been down unhealthy. “False Profits” rawly makes it clear his function right here is to problem the best to ever do it & “Want You Back” ends by chopping up soul samples 1 final time speaking about not being mad at a girl he was as soon as in a relationship with.
It hasn’t even been a pair months since Wolf Tickets started The Wolf, The Sheep & The Goat trilogy capturing a buzzer beater by way of how 2025 was musically & Black Sheep isn’t what many who’ve caught up with Mickey Diamond through the years would anticipate it to be topically. His lyricism is extra centered in direction of his functionality to inform tales centered round friendships, relationships, spirituality, conspiracy theories & politics accommodated in the way in which Big Ghost’s signature manufacturing model all the time has.
Score: 9/10