This is the fourth studio record from Coyote, a duo from Los Angeles, California. Comprised of the Morales brothers LadiesLoveGuapo and Ricky Blanco, they came to attention in late 2022 with their debut album Thicker Than Water and are known for their witty one-liners and East Coast influences. Their 2024 sophomore effort L.Aliens quickly became their breakout project, people recommended it to me, and it was easy to understand the appeal, with yoteLAndia having Statik Selektah fully produce Machetes & Micheladas just a month after Penta became the new WWE Intercontinental Champion.
Following the “ApeXzibit” intro, first track “Gimme a Hell Yeah!” has Conway the Machine teaming up to spit out hardcore gangsta lyricism over a boom tune, while “No Rest for the Wicked” raucously talks about a blizzard falling outside. The Psycho Realm’s “Whippin’ Cream” brings the two groups together to discuss the thesis on a mafia single, before “Blasphemy” talks about trading drugs for vitamins and fish oil.
“Love Me Love Me Not” keeps the booming BAP vibe going, acknowledging their uncertainty, and after the “Shoebox Money” interlude, the actual “Shoebox Money” track itself features Sirrealist going in a jazzier direction and talking about getting what they deserve. “Nothing Changes If Nothing Changes,” starring Curren$y, fondly talks about some real-life shit, while “Letter to My Son,” starring Berner, starts talking about fatherhood in the second half.
John Solo was fine on “Calli Dreams,” despite their soulful rhythms and love of their hometown, but after the “Welcome to America” interlude, “What Is Peace?” the quartet, featuring Locksmith and RA the Rugged Man, found themselves taking a more conscious approach to their songwriting. “Kid Named Johnny” simultaneously gets into their storytelling bag and proceeds to show off Statik’s ears for sampling, while “IDK” talks about only surrounding himself with winners.
“Cortez on My Feet” featuring Lil Mr. “Church” flips through the deep vocals and makes a bunch of witty religious references, while “Huff & Puff” delivers a jab at those whose egos have been bruised by their presence.
Being a fan of these guys for a few years now, the trailers we got before Machetes and Micheladas gave me confidence in LadiesLoveGuapo and Ricky Blanco over L.Aliens and yoteLAndia. Lo and behold: they kicked off the second season of 2026 with what is undeniably their greatest work ever. Statik Selektah’s jazzy-bap production is a vast improvement over Coyote’s last few full-length albums, the guest list is packed with heavyweights, and the Morales brothers themselves are in top form.
Rating: 9/10
