New York's own hip-hop veteran and battle rapper RJ Payne, formerly known as Reign Man, has sprinkled salt back into the hip-hop game with his 13th EP. This man has a discography that will make you dizzy: with no fewer than 23 mixtapes, 12 previous EPs and four full-length albums, he is building an impressive solo career. At one point, Benny the Butcher even had him signed to Black Soprano Family Records, and he delivered stunner after stunner there, such as "Leatherface" and the next-level "Square Root of a Kilo. But perhaps "My Life'z a Movie," produced by Stu Bangas, is his freshest work to date. Along with Enemy Soil Entertainment's own producer C-Lance, RJ went on a trip to 'The Barbershop' and is now collaborating with the legendary Erick Sermon for a 3-Track EP you won't want to miss.
We begin this salty trip with the "Warning" intro, followed by the first track "Right Cross." On this you can hear both RJ and Erick Sermon pelting the boombap heavens with hardcore bars. With a good two and a half minutes of pure fire, they set the tone. Then there's "The Hook" where RJ Payne, with firm pen and sharp tongue, reminds everyone that they need to step it up a notch to match his level. And honestly? We can't help but agree.
The EP closes with "The Uppercut," a soulful ending in which RJ makes it clear that he is both a master MC and an entrepreneur with a vision. With his flow and bars, he once again sets the bar high, all on an EP of only four tracks that lasts just over eight and a half minutes. But don't let the length fool you, there is a lot of substance hidden in this short playing time. It's further proof that RJ's pen is like a spear: this man keeps dropping hits and making his mark in the scene.
Erick Sermon, just back from producing Redman's comeback album "Muddy Waters 2," provided RJ with his signature beats, on which RJ went full blast into lyrical mode. "The Green Eyed Bandit" and RJ form a dynamic duo that proves a lot can be said in a short amount of time, and how.
So, all hip-hop heads take note: this is a must-listen if you like raw and authentic. A serious 9/10 for this release where RJ continues to combine facts, flows and fun. It's clear he's salted the game and has no intention of stopping that for a long time. It continues to be a wonder time and time again to see how the man continues to sprinkle the scene with salt.
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