Merkules is a 32 yr previous rapper from Surrey, British Columbia, Canada who started rhyming on the age of 15 below the unique title Merk Mikz. He later grew to become Snak the Ripper’s hype man to get his profession kickstarted over a decade in the past, dropping a complete of seven albums & 3 EPs of his personal since 2011 or so. Following the acquisition of Loss of life Row Data by one of many label’s authentic artists & WWE Corridor of Famer Snoop Dogg at the beginning of 2022, the very 1st artist to signal below the revived umbrella was Merkules & he’s introduced C-Lance to provide a overwhelming majority of his Loss of life Row debut albeit his eighth studio LP.
The title monitor marks his introduction as a member of the untouchable Loss of life Row with a drumless piano instrumental speaking about feeling regret after surviving a near-death expertise or traumatic occasion when others perished whereas “Loser” takes the growth bap route instrumentally to debate being a failure of an individual. “Grew Up” was the one monitor that didn’t have C-Lance behind the boards & one of many solely 5 skippers right here, however then the acoustic-trap hybrid “Blast Off” runs from the previous as if it’s erased.
“Mama Tried” retains the downtuned guitars within the fold favoring extra of a growth bap flare to the beat speaking how his mom tried her finest elevating him main into the g-funk influenced “Wassup” that includes NHale linking up with the son of an authentic from Tha Row & the late King of Hooks himself Nate Dogg refusing to fuck round since they’ve skilled the ups & downs. “Out Right here” that includes Categorised was a decently dusty chipmunk soul collab hustlin’ on the day by day, however then “Glory to God” will get derailed by Dax’ corny ass dropping the worst visitor verse on the entire thing.
Parts of rock & lure get blended as soon as extra on “Inside Out” admitting to that being precisely how he mentally feels in the mean time & “On Guard” that includes Shaquille O’Neal heads for a cloudier course to allow them to discuss bringing it to the doorsteps of anybody who desires beef with both of them. “Bawse” that includes Prof sees each MCs returning to the growth bap saying they the kind to smack muhfuckas by way of the aspect of shock whereas “Forgive Me” asks God to forgive him for all of the sins he’s dedicated in his life up till this very second in his profession.
“Smoke To” that includes Afroman cloudily comes collectively for a dedication to all of the stoners on the market since 4/20’s developing on Easter weekend & Day 2 of WrestleMania XLI simply earlier than “Pair of Chucks” that includes Daz Dillinger exhibits off the model new kicks they copped over a predominately west coast-flavored instrumental. “Combat Music” that includes Brotha Lynch Hung & X-Raided exhibits the trio on the verge of being able to throw arms whereas the crooning “All I Know” that includes Evil Ebenezer talks about the one factor they’re acquainted of & understanding they gotta change.
Detroit veterans Kuniva & Swifty McVay of prior D12 fame each be a part of Merkules for the growth bap-tinged “Massive Unhealthy Bullies” refusing to faux the funk whereas “Assholes” that includes Chris Webby talks about all the time holding ammo on them & solely talking follow once they shoot. “Security Off” embraces a rap rock vibe solely needing some kush & his spouse beside him whereas “Deserve You” exhibits gratitude in direction of his ride-or-die chick.
“R.W.T.R. (Driving with the Reaper)” that includes B-Actual chops up the soul samples once more speaking about driving round previous midnight with Loss of life beside them whereas “Mirrors” that includes Ricky Hil contemporary off his & Ouija Macc’s 2nd collab effort Drawback Youngsters 2 speaks of getting conversations with mere reflections of themselves. “Championship Rings” brings October London on the hook to speak about coming from the underside & “Runnin’ Away” that includes DIZZYISDEAD finishes Merk’s debut below the untouchable Loss of life Row on some emo rap shit.
Beginning the deluxe run, “Inside My Head” acoustically airs out these in his life who’ve grow to be envious of his success whereas “Twisted” that includes Jelly Roll talks being sick to their stomachs & ingesting alcohol to numb it. “LowKey” that includes Twista intensely exhibits off their chopper talents & Merk maintaining with the Chicago vet whereas the Mobb-infused “Yeah Yeah Yeah” that includes Too $hort talks about one other day within the lives of actual ones.
“Time” passionately exhibits 0 tolerance for anybody tryna convey him down whereas “Voices” that includes Wrestle Jennings talks about listening to shit inside their heads. “Murder” that includes Bone Thugs-n-Concord angrily warns a homicide or 2 will happen if you happen to fuck round with them whereas “6:00 Information” that includes Chris Webby feels as if each of them are shedding their minds getting shade from artists who at the moment are washed & previous their prime.
Caskey pops out to a lay a verse throughout “Revenge” to allow them to inform everybody to get the fuck out their faces & give them the area they want whereas “Higher Myself” that includes Rittz tackles psychological well being speaking about bettering themselves as folks & every little thing seeming like they’re drowning within the deep finish. “Not Like You” that includes Hopsin displays on everybody who’s informed them that neither artist wouldn’t be within the positions they’re in presently whereas “In Your Emotions” talks about by no means falling off.
“Woodstock ‘99” calls for everybody to go crazier than the competition that happened throughout the summer season of 1999 & making it the perfect night time of everybody’s lives whereas “Nerves” talks about him partying till it hurts in addition to having blisters on his fingers due to blowing cash. “Want Me Now” that includes Benny the Butcher observes these of their lives who respectively want them greater than ever whereas “In My Sleep” that includes The Sport rides across the metropolis trying lavish.
Retaining the additional freshness going, “Hollywood Hills” lets everybody know the place he might be discovered now that he’s signed to one of many absolute most infamous document labels in the complete music business whereas “I’m Right here” explains that he solely fears God realistically. “Inferno” confesses to trippin’ as of late & concurrently feeling bigger than ever as a creative whereas “The Title” asks what you’d count on after crossin’ a psycho like him.
“C’est la Vie” talks concerning the issues getting larger because of the cash rising & it hitting otherwise since he got here kind the underside whereas “Pat Keep Without end” profoundly remembers the late battle rap standout Pat Keep. “DNA” that includes Conway the Machine talks about sleepless nights getting them to the place they’re in 2025 whereas “Do This to You” cautions of our bodies dropping if you happen to get too cocky round him.
Millyz makes the primary of two appearances with “Nauseous” remembering when others stated they wouldn’t be shit & them principally being afraid of the success coming their manner whereas “Commas” talks about having a whole lot of issues & eager to stack his paper even increased. “Cigarette” might be extra satisfying to anybody who enjoys smoking them even when I don’t since I don’t fuck with tobacco whereas “Nonetheless Him” talks concerning the starvation remaining inside himself.
“Distant” apologizes for not being as intimate as he normally is citing the reasoning for him struggling mentally & avoiding going through the fuck-ups he induced whereas “Center of Nowhere” talks about being uncertain as to the place to go & feeling scared within the psychological jail he’s inside. “Run Away” that includes Phix accommodates a real theme of escapism even when Phix all the time stood out as being equally corny as Dax in my view that a lot for me personally whereas “Ha Ha Ha” offers a shot at attempting to make extra uptempo stuff.
As for “My Sneakers”, we’ve Merkules speaking about feeling unstoppable due to his Godly move whereas “Ups & Downs” delves down the basement feeling nugatory at all-time low & seeing change quickly as he accepted his flaws. “The West” offers much more flowers to the sunshine state shifting in favor of g-funk as soon as extra whereas the soulful growth bap crossover “Good Child” appears to be like again on not inflicting hassle throughout his childhood.
“No Favours” dismisses the notion of anybody doing him any favors since he doesn’t wish to self destruct & questioning the place every little thing went mistaken in his life whereas “Lights Digicam Motion” exuberantly clarifies his success not occurring in a single day. “Give Me a $ign” talks about not attempting to interrupt & discovering new methods of numbing his ache as a result of there’s solely being a lot he can take whereas “10 Toes” guarantees to remain on prime for eternity.
The Insane Clown Posse displaying up throughout the Shaggytheairhead-laced “Swish” solely is sensible making manner for Merk, Shaggy 2 Dope & Violent J to inform these bitches they solely mad since their ladies performs each artists’ music whereas “Fill My Cup” offers a nod to anybody who’s going by way of onerous instances of their lives at this present second. “By no means Come Down” that includes Millyz talks being up manner too excessive prolifically & by no means imagining they’d be making goodbyes whereas “Swap Lanes” pokes enjoyable at different artists who’re bitch made.
“No Hooks” talks concerning the Loss of life Row emblem justifiably displaying everybody who’s been listening to him in latest reminiscence precisely who the fuck he rolls with whereas “Cory & Trevor” that includes Lil Windex of all fucking folks likens themselves to each characters from Trailer Park Boys on Netflix. “Momma We Made It” publicly & assures his mom he’s lastly grow to be a profitable artist in a heartfelt full circle second & the ultimate bonus monitor “Ego Intervention” comes off as extra of a remedy session than a diss.
My introduction to Merk personally got here proper when he had a verse on the Tech N9ne album ENTERFEAR a month following the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdowns & all 24 songs on the ultimate model of his Loss of life Row debut mixed with 46 outtakes that have been left on the chopping room ground turned out to be higher than I might’ve thought. C-Lance nails it at making Survivor’s Guilt probably the most well-produced providing in Merkules’ discography, giving greater than sufficient room for him & many of the company to boost the enjoyability.
Rating: 8/10