Action Figure 973 & Circa 97 Drop “Lucha Libre for the Soul” Sequel “Lucha Libre for Christmas” (EP Review)
Belleville, New Jersey emcee/producer Action Figure 973 celebrating the holiday season a couple days early with his 10th EP. For a while at this point, Act-Lo’s first 2 mixtapes followed by his last 9 EPs & the full-length debut DOOM Was Right merely 7 months ago giving flowers to one of my all-time personal favorite albums Madvillainy have each established himself as a promisingly skilled luchador who so happens to rap. It’s almost been a few months since The Most Interesting Man in the World got with Machacha for his sophomore effort & is ready to spit game on Lucha Libra for Christmas over a week after former PWG World Champion, record-tying 2-time World Heavyweight Champion & the longest reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther retired former 17-time WWE world champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, 5-time WWE United States Champion & 4-time WWE tag team champion John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLII.
After the intro, “Noche Buena” begins with this drumless chipmunk soul opener referencing WWE Hall of Famer & 4-time WWE tag team champion Chief Jay Strongbow whereas “DOOM’s Xmas Special on [adult swim]” works in a piano so he can take a second to address Westside Gunn & the WWE’s ongoing beef. “Christmas Coal” soulfully refers to the anaconda vice submission hold that was popularized by 8-time WWE world champion CM Punk while “Turbo Man” talks about being chased like he’s the fictional Jingle All the Way superhero starring WWE Hall of Famer Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Wrestling on Christmas” continues the sampling shouting out the late WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE United States Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion & WCW World Tag Team Champion Rick Rude near the end just before “Bad Santas” featuring Lord Juco compares themselves to the main characters of the titular holiday comedy crime film. “Batman Smells” featuring Malcolm Sef references WWE Hall of Famer & 2-time WWE women’s world champion Nikki Bella at the backend of it but prior to the “Yule Log” outro, the final song “Chinese Turkey” featuring Hound caps it all off with a drumless outro talking about not grinding this hard to stay the same.
Coming off the Thank God for Fania beat tape on Black Friday last month, Action Figure 973 gets back on the mic & links back up with Circa ‘97 for a holiday-themed sequel to Lucha Libre for the Soul roughly 48 hours away from solstice itself. Certainly a treat for those looking forward to those watching Carmelo Hayes ending Илья́ Драгунов‘s reign as WWE United States Champion this weekend or the longest reigning AEW World Champion MJF getting payback on Samoa Joe by defeating the current 2-time titleholder at World’s End III & the same goes to the inaugural AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions the Babes of Wrath putting their titles on the line against the longest reigning ROH Women’s World Champion Athena & the longest reigning AEW tbs Champion and current CMLL Mundial Femenil Campeon Mercedes Moné at World’s End III.
Score: 7/10
