New extended play & the 4th overall from Sandusky, Ohio emcee/producer Nezzy. Emerging within the underground in 2022 off his first 2 EPs Subject to Change & Pyramids, he went on to follow this up by releasing the full-length debut Hippie Thug in the spring of 2023 & subsequently his 3rd EP New World Disorder a couple months later. Hall of Infamy & his previous album Worm Food from last summer have both elevated him in terms of popularity containing some of the greatest tracks of his career, coming off The Infamous N.E.Z. to open up the Blackbook.
“R.A.P.” comes out the gate with a boom bap instrumental talking about being a hip hop philosopher whereas “Crooked Teeth” reports live directly from the birthplace of aviation. “The Art of Vandalism” maintains the dustiness talking about graffiti writing & after “Not for Radio” featuring Copywrite links up for an ode to their anti-commercial sound, the outro “Wildstyle” concludes the EP remembering the late Tame One of the Artifacts.
The last time Nezzy dropped twice in the same year was when Hippie Thug & New World Disorder both arrived in 2023, so it was surprising for Blackbook to come out although I’d put it on the same pedestal as The Infamous N.E.Z. when that came out several months ago becoming my favorite EP of his yet. From the raw boom bap production to the cutthroat lyricism, it’s a touching love letter to everything that makes 90s hip hop so beloved.
Score: 8/10