Tucson, Arizona recording artist Stacc Styles is back with his 4th studio LP. The founder of Dope Shop Records, he introduced himself in the spring of 2015 off the debut album Inside the Ride followed by the sophomore effort Mr. Purple in the fall of 2020. Stacc has also been an affiliate of Suburban Noize Records dating back to being a roadie for the punk band Mower, eventually signing to the west coast underground label in 2024 & his last full-length Live Your Best Life refined his whole artistic identity. Almost a couple years later, he’s returning with a Stacc of Spades.
After the titular intro, the first song “God Mode Activated” makes his return over a funereal trap beat talking about being the head honcho whereas “Still Riding High” leans towards a g-funk vibe for all the stoners out there. “Relentless” goes for a more rugged vibe instrumentally & takes a hardcore approach to his songwriting prior to “What You Mad About?” posing a question for all the haters who’ve been detracting him since signing to Subnoize.
“Knife Rips” embraces a more celebratory tone refusing to stop because it’s only gonna go up from here just before “Pounds to Grams” featuring D-Loc & Judge D of the Kottonmouth Kings finds the trio getting back on their weed smoking shit. After the “Sub Noize Legacy” interlude throws it back to the Tsunami Bros.’ only album King Harbor with a full-blown turntablism cut, “Stamina” works in some pianos & guitars boasting that no one has his kind of endurance while “Modern Day Hero” talks about how dreams do come true.
Preceding the “Message from Munchies” skit, “Take Your Time” hops over a bluesy boom bap instrumental wanting the world to know everything will be ok in the end while “To the Dome” featuring the DG@F General himself Chucky Chuck & the late Saint Dog comes through with an old school 90s west coast heater. “How You Living” goes g-funk again wanting everyone to ride with him into this new era & once the original Kottonmouth King Johnny Richter appears for the reggae-inflicted single “More Peace of Mind”, the closer “Anything’s Possible” featuring Too Rude frontman Dog Boy ends the album on an optimistic note.
Live Your Best Life was a solid refinement of Stacc Styles’ whole sound that Suburban Noize Records laid out the blueprint for & not only does Stacc of Spades take it to the next level with his magnum opus, but also one of the greatest things Subnoize has done over the course of the 2020s along with Obnoxious’ debut album Sic Audio & the King Klick’s self-titled extended play. From the incredible list of the label’s most celebrated alumni to Stacc’s own performances & the production, it feels like their way of moving forward whilst celebrating 3 decades of it’s foundation.
Score: 9/10