Here we have the Mass Appeal Records debut from Buffalo, New York emcee, songwriter, entrepreneur, curator & professional wrestling promoter/booker Westside Gunn. Proving his legend status & that he’s to be a force to be reckoned with all in nearly a decade whether it be running one of the hottest hip hop labels in recent memory to his first 2 full-lengths FLYGOD & Supreme Blientele. The success of the 4th Rope independent professional wrestling circuit promotion has included former 2-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion Real1 becoming the inaugural 4th Rope Flyweight Champion and The Hardy Boyz becoming the inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Team Champions, following up the Heels Have Eyes with Heelmatic.
After the “Grant Heel” intro, the first song “Blowdysseus” featuring Stove God Cook$ finds the pair over a bare soul sample advising not to call them whereas “Zilla” produced by Denny LaFlare goes for a boom bap vibe instrumentally referencing the late WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE world champion & WWE Intercontinental Champion Randy Savage. “Koke Slam” goes for an eerier approach thanks to CG shouting out former JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion CoKane.
“Sock a Knee” featuring Stove God Cook$ gets in their coke rap bags lyrically over a boom bap beat from JR Swiftz just before Griselda reunites on “Don Pistola” bodying a boom bap instrumental that reminds me of 90s east coast hip hop gunning down everyone who tests them. “Martin 4sese” featuring Nas & Rome Streetz brings us a KILLER 2-parter where all 3 of them are firing off hardcore verses in their own styles while “Tommy Heelfiger” gets back on his gangsta shit again.
Benny the Butcher links up with West for the 7 minute “Hurt + Heel” explaining that people love you until turning their backs on you & coming back around while “Pricer Choppers” talks about turning a lot of fuck boys into believers over a piano-woven boom bap beat. “Egyptian Cadillac” brings in some trunk-knocking drums for soundtrack the FLYGOD’s gangsta rap imagery while “Bottom Bunk Legends” featuring Benny references the late WWE Hall of Famer, former WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE Tag Team Champion & 2-time WWE Hardcore Champion Davey Boy Smith.
“Bavettes” featuring Stove God Cook$ links up for a dosage of drumless coke rap while “The Bastard Pac” by Hall ‘N Nash honors the inaugural AEW International Champion, former 2-time AEW World Trios Champion, オープン・ザ・ドリームゲートチャンピオン, オープン・ザ・ブレイブゲートチャンピオン, オープン・ザ・ツインゲートチャンピオン, 3-time オープン・ザ・トライアングルゲートチャンピオン, PWG World Tag Team Champion, 2-time NXT Cruiserweight Champion & 2-time NXT Tag Team Champion who recently passed. “Upstate Farms” featuring Brother Tom Sos ends Heelmatic looking to catch Ws until their dying day.
It hasn’t even been a few hours since former AEW World Tag Team Champion Bobby Lashley was crowned the new 4th Rope Heavyweight Champion & tomorrow will be a whole week since 4th Rope performer & former JCW World Juggalo Heavyweight Champion Josh Bishop became the new MLW World Heavyweight Champion, so both of those occurring within the past 7 days only makes it feel right for Westside Gunn to come back 54 weeks since Heels Have Eyes III & curate the impressive Heelmatic on Mass Appeal Records since Rome’s already dropped his last couple albums under the label.
Score: 8/10