A mere glance at DJ.Fresh’s extensive discography reveals a who’s who of hip-hop greatness, covering a wide range of rappers, from respected Bay Area mainstays to national gems like Curren$y and Jay Worthy. Reaching from coast to coast, the Oakland-based producer now taps Bronx spitter The Musalini for a full-length collaboration. Its title a nod both to Bond films and a Kool G Rap classic, *Live and Let Fly* combines sleek beats with lifestyle rhymes. While obvious commonalities exist between this album and the *Tonite Show* don’s other recent releases, the dozen songs contained within stand out thanks to the two artists’ cohesive interplay. The Musalini’s laidback delivery over the soul-powered boom-bap cut “Polo Scarf” and the quiet storm-informed “Red Eye” enhance the cinematic nature of the project. To that end, guests like Denver’s own O FINESS on the title track and veteran MC Planet Asia on “Players Ball” help make it a movie worth revisiting again and again.
Though the title of Chuckyy’s 2025 album may suggest something haunted, supernatural, or in line with his obsession with all things scary, *I Live, I Die, I Live Again* also speaks to his resilience as a rapper. Chicago’s favorite horror rapper began dropping music in 2023, and very quickly managed to build a career indebted to, but not reliant on, horrorcore rap icons of yore. With *I Live, I Die, I Live Again*, he’s created a project that both leans into these aesthetics while introducing a wide swath of new genre exercises, including styles close to home (drill) and far out in left field (alt-pop). “My World” fits firmly into the latter, featuring a New Wave-inspired hook from EKKSTACY and a torrent of bars from Chuckyy that fit loosely over the propulsive punk-leaning groove. Even when the vibes shift, though, Chuckyy remains devoted to his signature themes of loss, alienation, and determination.
