Brand new full-length LP & the 19th overall from Hackensack, New Jersey lyricist Crimeapple. Becoming a fan of his in the fall of 2017 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. DJ Skizz-produced Wet Dirt, the DJ Muggs-produced Medallo, Cartagena, Breakfast in Hradec, Sin Cortar, El León produced by Preservation, theofficial 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. Almost 3 months since the latter, Hanzai has arrived in time for Black Friday.
“Mastery” kicks the door down by hooking up a drumless beat recalling a time where he was deemed more than worthy following a performance in Tokyo, Japan & with by the blade whereas “Cocainerose” cloudily talks about rising out the coke game to having his neck froze. “14hrflight” takes the boom bap route instrumentally going to get what’s his right off the payload just before “Talmbout” featuring RLX go at the throats of the type of people who have no business discussing smoke.
As for “Forever” produced by Billy Loman, we have Crime ominously talking about traveling around the world doing the most trying to motivate leading into “Zipfile” ruggedly making guap with the ziplock bags of dope that he’s been whipping up where his homie’s girlfriend stays at. “Bajo” strips the drums again lighting a black & mild over some sumptuous piano chords but after “Sayonara” reunites with DJ Skizz talks about leaving a hoe who loves toxicity way too much, “Madamewoo” advises to picture him running the game without using his legs.
“MetroPCS” starts the final leg of Hanzai explaining that raising fingers at his crew isn’t the way he does things around here while “1,000,000 Miles” talks about running laps around the entire city. “Brownbutter” including an uncredited feature incorporates a drumless soul sample clarifying that they only bang bitches & bank accounts while the V Don-laced closer “Tippytoes” sends it all off talking about doing his time acting humble, advising one should’ve taken advantage at that point.
Can’t say I came away from Hanzai enjoying it on the same caliber as Rose Gold or Bulletproof Chicken, but the 4th & likely final project from Crimeapple this year excluding the Escama collaborative EP with Primo Profit contains plenty of highs that make it worth your time. Some of the production may not stick out to me as much as his last couple albums & both guest performances were passable, although his lyricism remains gratifying.
Score: 7/10