Pretty sure this is the 19th extended play from Hackensack, New Jersey lyricist Crimeapple. Becoming a fan of his nearly a decade ago with his 4th EP Sweet Dreams along with the Big Ghost Ltd. produced full-length debut Aguardiente that next spring, his profile in the underground grew exponentially from there. Discography standouts include the DJ Skizz-produced Wet Dirt, the DJ Muggs-produced Medallo, Cartagena, Breakfast in Hradec, Sin Cortar, El León produced by Preservation, the official Aguardiente sequel Bazuko, the Mello Music Group-backed This, Is Not That produced by Apollo Brown, Rose Gold & more recently the V Don produced Bulletproof Chicken. Last we heard from him was Hanzai this past Black Friday & he’s back with the Evidence-produced War Cash.
“Last Day” hooks up a drumless piano loop to get us started talking about no diamond district having the capability of cooling him off now that the fire’s been lit leading into “Dr. Scholl’s” taking a slicker approach to the beat spraying the foot care product as if he’s graffiti writing. “Ventilation” goes for a wavier vibe assuring he retained his soul after updating his mind leading into “Karachi” embracing a boom bap direction to capture the aura of those who wound up falling flat.
Blu makes my favorite guest appearance of the 2 on “Pinto” likening their pens to pistols over a funky beat while “Roy” strips the drums again talking about God & the agencies being the only things he fears. “2 Left Feet” returns to the boom bap speaking of poppin’ in the jungle on a weekly basis while “Rio” featuring Monday Night talks about the possibility of showin’ up to the capital of Brazil at some point before 2026 ends. “Green Room” ends the War Cash exchange bodying 1 last instrumental recalling a time where he was chillin’ backstage killin’ time until his set.
Hanzai wasn’t my favorite album Crimeapple dropped last year per se & I definitely wouldn’t place it in the hierarchy of his lengthy discography by any means, but War Cash comes merely less than 24 hours since it was announced with the most I’ve enjoyed a new project from him since Bulletproof Chicken last fall. Evidence’s production is a huge step-up from Hanzai’s varying between boom bap or drumless, suiting Crime’s mafiosi tales a lot more consistently.
Score: 9/10