With quick-paced, head-nodding 808 drum programming and melodic synth keys, Machine and fellow Buffalo emcee Armani Caesar give us a track worthy of the nightlife. His flow and wordplay are in stark contrast to Machine’s hyper-realistic street bars:Ĭanadian producer Murda Beatz provides a sound that’s unusually upbeat for an emcee such as Conway. Featuring Method Man, the Wu-Tang emcee’s verse alone makes him the best guest rapper on the album.

The Daringer/Beat Butcha produced “Lemon” is the type of Griselda backdrop that I’m accustomed to: A spooky atmosphere with a sampled piano loop. However, Flee Lord stands out the most for the intensity he brought to his verse. Over Havoc’s string-heavy street production, each man brought their A-game with the battle rhymes. No stranger to letting other emcees take a swing on the mic, Conway enlists Havoc, Flee Lord, and Lloyd Banks for the posse cut “Juvenile Hell”. Dej Loaf provides a sung verse over the soulful backdrop. One producer for whom 2020 has been a banner year is Hit-Boy, who laces the beat on “Fear God”. He produced the opening track, “From King”, while sharing production duties on two other tracks. Production-wise, Griselda’s in-house beatsmith Daringer has a noticeably smaller role. Despite the album having a few filler tracks, Machine may just end up with the crown on the album cover if he continues the route he’s currently on. He’s rapping over beats outside of the dark, almost-syrupy, sample-based production customary of Griselda and he’s experimented as a lyricist, rapping at an accelerated pace and on topics beyond his usual. His third 2020 album, and first solo album of the year, Machine builds on what he began with “LULU” in that he’s transcending his limits. His newest album offers listeners his most ambitious transition yet – “ From King to a God“. He’s gone from slinging on the block to doing national tours with his Griselda brethren. Because it’s the one word which encapsulates the trajectory to which he’s taken his career. Actually, you won’t, but his picture should be in there. If you look up the word “ascension” in the dictionary, then what you’ll find is a head shot of Conway the Machine.

Dej loaf try me cover