Conway the Machine & Ransom Release Collab LP “Chaos is My Ladder 2” Prod. by V Don (Album Review)

This is a brand new collaborative LP between Buffalo, New York emcee/entrepreneur Conway the Machine alongside Jersey City wordsmith Ransom. One of whom came up with his Hall ‘N Nash cohort Westside Gunn as well as Benny the Butcher as Griselda Records’ core 3 artists & the other started as 1/2 of the A-Team except he much like Benny saw renewed interest in their careers when 38 Spesh signed them to TCF Music Group for a period of time. Both of these guys have collaborated with each other previously on “Stab Out” off Conway’s 3rd album Won’t He Do It & are teaming up for a sequel to Ransom’s 5th solo album Chaos is My Ladder produced by V Don, who’s staying behind the boards on the follow-up.

“A New Day” gets the ball rollin’ by hopping over a guitar & organs bringing the chaos together for roughly 3 & a half minutes whereas “Limitless” aggressively talking about making sure everything they do is past the point of having any limitations. “Photo Bomb” works in pianos to discuss everyone over the age of 40 making party anthems calling those lil gangbangers Childish Gambinos just before the boom bap-laced “Shell Fish” wanting to know who else brings the chaos like they do.

Meanwhile on “Mid Life Crisis”, we’re treated to the first of 2 Ransom solo joints soulfully talking about not stopping the party & continuing to celebrate for him just before “Commandments” eerily declares that they can’t fuck with them since they got too much hustle. After the “Anarchy” interlude, “Born Again” brings a soulful trap flare to the table stressing out thinking of their homies who ain’t here while “Higher Killer” featuring Lloyd Banks was a murderous choice of a single. “Nefarious” by Ransom ends Chaos is My Ladder 2 in the form of secret interviews with the devil.

Chaos is My Ladder almost 2 years later has to be one of my favorites in Ransom’s entire discography, so the sequel here had me anticipating it as much & him linking up with Conway the Machine makes it a step above Pain Provided Profit with Jae Skeese & on par with Coup de Grâce with Rome Streetz as one of the best collab efforts from either one of them. V Don’s production remains consistent as it was on the predecessor, allowing the 2 east coast artists to elevate their chemistry.

Score: 9/10