Once You Enter Nezzy’s “Hall of Infamy”, There’s No Turning Back (Album Review)
This is the sophomore full-length studio LP from Sandusky, Ohio emcee/producer Nezzy. Emerging within the underground in 2022 off his first 2 EPs Subject to Change & Pyramids, he went on to follow this up last year by releasing the debut album Hippie Thug in the spring & subsequently his 3rd EP New World Disorder in the fall. However coming fresh off of opening for Psychopathic Records alumni Anybody Killa & DJ Clay at the co-headlined Welcome Home Party couple weeks ago, Nezzy’s looking to further spread exposure by taking everyone through the Hall of Infamy.
“Admit 1” is a raw boom bap opener talking about being the real deal out here whereas the self-produced “Teeth Markz” keeps it rugged pointing out the fact it’s time to crown the king & everyone obeying the emperor. “Cutter” featuring former Funk Volume artist Jarren Benton alongside Psyonik sees the trio coming together over a grisly beat to flex their lyrical abilities for 3 minutes just before “Ready, Fire, Aim!” keeps it in the basement instrumentally talking about shooting first & thinking later.
Johnny Slash cooks up one of my favorite beats on the Hall of Infamy for “Muzzle Flash” featuring Vincent, the Owl hopping over a sample mixed with kicks & snares for 109 seconds handling things their way going forward while the triumphant trap cut “Dog Eat Dog” featuring Jimmy da Gunna talking about demons intervening every day & having chips on their shoulders. “Undercurrent” soulfully finds perfection in the worst moments, but then “Salute” strips the drums cautioning he’s only warming up.
“Headless Horseman” featuring Diamond Dezjuan & Phe returns to the boom bap putting the team on their backs like Bulbasaur while the crooning “Ayahuasca Retreat” prays that his discography leaves a legacy by the time he’s no longer here in the flesh fueled by passion. “Bongwater” hops over pianos, kicks & snares refusing to settle for any small offers while the cutthroat “Optionz” featuring Pohnny talks making their scales break weighing their options out.
The song “Freethinker” nears the conclusion of the LP advises that he isn’t the one you wanna bet against & playing the role of his own success over another boom bap instrumental while the penultimate track “Malice in Wonderland” has a cloudier trap vibe feeling on the verge of freaking out losing his shit. “The Godfather” closes up shop telling everyone to leave his name out of the discussion if it ain’t centered around the greatest.
Truthfully, I’ve been familiarizing myself with Nezzy ever since it was first announced a couple months ago that he was warming the stage up for the Native World Inc. & Armed Robbery Entertainment founders and his sound can only be summed up as a distinct blend of hardcore vulgar references & deeply introspective conscious rap full of uncompromising rhyme schemes & thought-provoking choice of words. Hall of Infamy though as an album conceptually builds itself around the idea that once you enter, there’s no turning back.
Score: 7/10
