Seattle’s King Khazm Rep’s The Best Of The Underground With “Return of a MAD” (Album Review)

Seattle emcee, producer and community organizer King Khazm is back since his 2021 release with is “Pangea” compilation. This year he drops his new full-length sophomore album “Return of a MAD” fully produced by Third Eye Bling featuring Abstract Rude, Afu-Ra, Def-I, Kurtis Blow, Moka Only, Myka 9, Percee P and more.

It’s refreshing to hear dope Hip Hop coming from up north from likes of Macklemore, Blue Scholars, Sadistik, and many other’s who have made that city stand out. This year it seems like it’s King Khazm’s year with this 13-track effort. Notably the collabs he has on this one with the affiliations with Project Blowed, Gangstarr Foundation, and Battle Axe Warriors, this project truly represents what the underground has to offer.

In this album review, we will be highlighting one solo joint and a few collabs we feel encompasses the essence of what Khazm wanted to give with “Return of a MAD”. “Crate Diggaz”, perfectly placed as track 2, we feel best represents Khazm’s writing skills on a solo track as he talks about his creative process.

A collab that immediately caught our attention was “Gone Away From Here” featuring Abstract Rude, Moka Only, and Myka 9. Haven’t heard a super collab like this in a while, and to be honest, these underground OG’s murked the song with their signature flows. Took me back to the early 2000’s when Project Blowed and Battle Axe were at their prime taking the underground by storm. By the way, the official video premiered today too!

The other collab track that we are highlighting is “Earth’s Tide” with one of the fathers of Hip Hop, Kurtis Blow. Who get’s Kurtis Blow flexing on a track today? KHAZM DOES!!! They both lay down some of the best conscious bars we’ve heard in a while over a perfectly chosen Third Eye Bling beat.

Front to back “Return of a MAD” earns a rating of 9/10 since we feel this project will be considered a cult King Khazm classic.