Ankhlejohn, the Washington D.C.-based OG who acts both on the mic and behind the turntables, proudly drops his 7th mixtape in collaboration with the acclaimed Cookin' Soul. Titled *The Michelin Man*, this tape adds a new chapter to his impressive discography, which is already brimming with 6 studio albums, 27 EPs and the previous 6 mixtapes he released for nearly a decade. A true salt shaker in the underground scene! Of his previous works, *As Above, So Below* with Navy Blue and the collab with Rome Streetz called *Genesis 1:27* are personal favorites of mine. Still, I was extra hyped to hear what he would do after his verse on Gangrene's comeback track *Heads I Win, Tails You Lose*.
*Landlord Member* opens the track with a fiery gospel sample in which he talks about what it's like to be a real father who has his children around him. With *Rump with Me*, Ankhlejohn takes us back to the golden days of boom bap and asks who really dares to battle with him. *The Hell Pit* takes a drumless approach where he reflects on how he has been recognized in the scene for years. *Lance Vance* featuring Premo Rice shakes his hand here as they thank omnipotence for their blessings.
In *Deuteronomy 28* we see Cookin' Soul once again foregoing drums, this allows Ankhlejohn to mix in the legendary Onyx flows demanding that everyone do their homework. The collaboration on *Seed of Chucky* with Tony Shhnow breathes new life into the soulful vibes we didn't know we needed. Then *Sturgeon Eggs* takes us back to the streets. It's pure boom bap, just as it should be, while *Halfway* featuring Mike Shabb leaves us literally and figuratively amazed.
The end of the tape approaches with *Riga Mortis*, where Ankhlejohn refers to Stone Cold Steve Austin, hoping that this old veteran will help current champion Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XLI. The separation comes with *Feel the Breeze*, a track with jazzy sounds in which he pays tribute to his mother with his words piercing through the marrow.
Some of LORDY's tracks from the past seven years have been hit-or-miss, but those who have experienced this journey in the music game with me will agree that *The Michelin Man* is among his best work of this decade. The salty beats of Cookin' Soul, rebooted last year, are a perfect match for Ankhlejohn who, without a doubt, is once again making his mark on the hip-hop scene. This is a release not to be missed if you love raw vibes and a hefty dose of street knowledge.
Rating: 9/10
Ankhlejohn has proven himself thick with this tape and gives the community something to talk about. Let your ears taste this salt and feel those vibes blasting through your speakers!
#hhz #houhet salt #hiphop #ankhlejohn #cookinsoul #mixtape
