This is the 8th mixtape from Detroit, Michigan emcee, producer & turntablist DJ Clay. Being an in-house producer for Psychopathic Records for 2 decades already, he would also start up his own label Armed Robbery Entertainment in addition to putting out his last 8 tapes & the 2019 full-length debut Over the Fear Of…. However, the DJ for the Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) hit YouTube show JCW Lunacy has finally returned ahead of a sophomore effort for the long-awated 5th installment of the Let ‘Em Bleed series.
After the EDM intro, “Man of the Year” begins with a Clay solo track getting boastful over a vocal sample & some horns whereas “Chop ‘Em Up” by Ouija Macc hops over a trap instrumental produced by DeadBoyGrim & DJ Clay to spit the wicced shit. “After the “Yoo-Da” skit, “Dumbazz” by Bailz & Shaggy 2 Dope finds the 2 comedically poking fun at all the dumbasses while “Skrrt Skrrt (Juggalo Phonk)” by Shaggytheairhead finds the latter putting a juggalo spin on the phonk subgenre.
“Willis” brings Clay back on the mic for a trap-tinged single that we got summer responding to those claimin’ to be the man while “Party Like Us” by Lardi B kicks off the 2nd half with a decent club anthem. “Hurt You” by Shaggy 2 Dope hooks up some pianos & hi-hats addressing an individual whom the Southwest Strangla can’t get enough of leading into “Shiny Shit” by Tierre Diaz confidently giving fans what they want musically.
Violent J returns for a “Duke of the Wicked” sequel reminding everyone why the JCW Commissioner & 50% owner alongside former WWE, WCW & TNA writer and former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vince Russo earned himself that nickname to begin with while “The Darth Fader Cut” dabbles with turntablism with the help of DJ Chunk for 110 seconds. “The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit” marks the last DJ Clay solo joint calling to let the feelings we don’t know free from our souls while “Sorry for the Wait” by the Odd Squad Family ends with an apology for Let ‘Em Bleed 5’s delay.
I knew it was gonna be different since some of the former Psychopathic alumni who appeared on all 4 of the previous entries of the Let ‘Em Bleed saga had their ties to the Clowns severed for almost a decade, but it’s alright because Let ‘Em Bleed 5 continues the series strong showcasing where the hatchet’s been at currently with both of it’s co-founders & the CEO of it’s Chapter 17 Records subsidiary all contributing in addition to A•R signee Tierre Diaz & a couple affiliates like the Odd Squad Family or Lardi B who’ve all performed at previous Gatherings.
Score: 8/10