No Passion, All Technique
??? — June 23rd, 2025
Well, well, well — look who has finally come crawling back…
That’s right, it’s me — back again! And I’ve been instructed that this must be the last time that I ever write one of these comeback-style introductions. That’s the kind of shit that a gentleman like myself can get down with. After a loooong four-and-a-half months of toiling in my work and in my studies, summertime is finally upon me, and I’ve got all the time in the world to put the people on and talk my shit. While I’ve not been putting in work publicly, I have been making moves in silence to develop my craft. (I’ve also been listening to everything that my ears will receive, but you knew this.) I’m already feeling like I’m on a roll, but if I may, I’d like to evoke the young great, Cade Cunningham, for one moment and issue a warning: Don’t touch me — I’m sizzlin’.
Bear witness and enjoy. The Boy is back in town. For now, enjoy the highs of my spring season, but look forward to a weekly version of this crap.
REQUIRED LISTENING
I’ve been in my hardcore bag as of late, but I won’t let that affect this round-up…
TAPES
SKYFALL by Yung Pams
2000s revivalism is for real, and it’s officially hit the rap scene. Chicago’s Lil2Posh and Thirteendegrees (and, to a lesser degree, Zukenee) are steeped in trap and early Chicago drill, and they all do a fine, occasionally outstanding job zombifying it. Not one of them, however, is doing it like Yung Pams. The Chicago product has breathed life into the bombast of early Chief Keef and the cold-bloodedness of Jeezy the Snowman without ever biting, and he’s done it all off the strength of a mixtape with a cover inspired by Rihanna’s Unapologetic. Autotuned tags, inventive inflections, and propellant beats are on the menu, and they’re delivered by a steward that honors the past while keeping one eye to the present and the other to the future.
Introducing… EP by Sold Short
About that introduction…I lied! I love this hardcore crap! I’ve got to include at least one tape. Supposedly this is the youngest band doing it out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Their schtick is believable enough, though, because this shit is raw. Straightforward fast hardcore will never go out of style, and style is something that these fools have in spades.
Gut Feeling by Bickle
This shit is extremely “cooperative living”-coded, but I can get down with that! How couldn’t I? This scuzzed-up RnB is earnest, forlorn, and funner than hell, all at once!
RRR & 2oo4 Presents…Only Ones Taxin’ by YL & subjxct 5
The history books are going to be riddled with the accolades and lore of subjxct 5, the super-producer and hardest worker in New Jersey, maybe even the whole world. He’s been locked in with Papo2oo4 for the longest time, and the output has been nothing short of phenomenal, conquering what seems to be every corner and every take on regional rap. But his other output with other artists? Just as good! And this tape with YL is yet another plaque in the subjxct 5 Hall of Excellence. Made for fans of 2000s hip-hop and insane deep cut references and flips. Don’t sleep on this.
The Message by Rnv 7even
Quotables, Detroit piano beats turned loud and discordant, mini-posse cuts? Replayability and cohesion pumped to the max? All of that made and assembled by some kid who looks like he’s barely old enough to drive? What could be better?
SMILE TO KEEP FROM CRYING by Fastmoneyfendi
When I first made a Twitter account for No Oldtimers about a year ago, this guy followed me, and after some very light digging, I stumbled upon his song “Never Seen a Drought.” That shit — a quick dose of lighthearted, LA-ified fast rap reminiscent of Scoob & Sydney — was undeniable! I needed more, but I never saw any other music from him. Out of the blue, at the end of May, he dropped an entire tape laden with two minute jolts of chiptuned raps and danceable instrumentals of every flavor. If I’m not mistaken, I believe that P*tchfork awarded BNM for one of the songs from the back half of the tape…totally justified!
TRACKS
“9 2 5” by Nourished by Time
Nourished by Time, Baltimore’s weirdo bedroom popstar-in-the-making, is on a legendary run. He has released two perfect EPs and one perfect album, and he’s gearing up to release a second perfect album in August. Naturally, he had no choice but to whet the appetites of the fans and drop a heater like “9 2 5,” a piano-forward, club-ish track about the pains of having to pay the bills while moonlighting as a artist but still making the most of it.
“Cruising in My Lane” by ffawty
The best album of the year is actually an amalgamation of ffawty’s slow trickle of singles, and “Cruising in My Lane” is the crown jewel.
“Call My Bluff” by Montana 700 & Zillionaire Doe
After running through the excellent tape from ABGR Cory a few months ago, I stumbled on “Stamp Dat” by Montana 700 and Zillionaire Doe from 2024, and I was instantly hooked to their fresh-eyed take on southern rap. That was back at the beginning of April. Now it’s damn near July, and they’ve done it again with February’s “Call My Bluff.” (The timeline is really twisted, I know.) I don’t know how I missed it — call me a bad fan or whatever — but I know for certain that I won’t miss whatever’s next.
“Goodbyerz” by Raq baby
It should go without saying, but Raq baby has the freshest take on mainstream rap of anyone currently having motion. He brings his A-game on every track, and he’s prolific as hell, flexing his range with every release. “Goodbyerz,” a cloudy and uptempo tumult of surprisingly reflective posturing, is no different and deserves to go global.
“Gas Hands” by Worlds Worst
I’ve done dastardly deeds in a Worlds Worst pit to songs far less captivating than “Gas Hands,” and I’ll do these deeds again and again if the music continues to trend in this direction!
“hope music” by babirred
On first listen, this shit sounds a little too similar to Postal Service’s “Such Great Heights,” but that is never a bad thing. This lesson in perseverance and will could turn anyone up with the quickness. Listen to the similarly titled hope music tape for more of this crap.
“That’s a Promise (The Song About a Dog)” by Skinhead
Boy, oh boy! Straightforward, heart-on-sleeve punk like this would’ve hit just right when I was like twelve years old, but it’s hitting nearly as right at twenty-seven years old! To clarify, this is some hardcore skinhead shit, not skinhead skinhead shit. Know the difference.
“SAVANNAH 2 JAX” by Nosaint
I have a lot of thoughts about this song, but I don’t think I could articulate any of them better than my friend Manny did: “The beat is wavy, but he can’t rap haha.” No lie told — the beat really is like that!
“South Side” by Percaso & reddglk
You ever pause a video game to play a game on your phone, forcing yourself to listen to both at the same time? This song is a lot like that but significantly better. As an aside, I’m rather charmed by the transcription of the lyrics on Apple Music. “I kno life suck I kno life suck” rings, at times, too true!
Worlds worst mentioned SLC please stand up, it’s good to see you didn’t forget your roots
Truly passionate piece here.