Belleville, NJ based host/producer Action Figure 973 returns with his third studio LP. At this point, his first few mixtapes, as well as his last 10 EPs and his full-length debut DOOM Was Right about a year ago, pay tribute to one of my personal favorite albums, Madvillainy, each establishing himself as a promising, skilled wrestler who just happens to rap. Last October, the Funniest Man in the World joined Machacha for his sophomore campaign, wrapping up the Soul Wrestling sequel Libra Wrestling on Christmas Day, and spreading some wrestler body odor asking what would a Harley racer do? Days after Darby Allin became the new AEW World Champion.
Following the “Harley’s Credo” intro, “Harley & Nash Driving Through the Hood” kicks off with a gritty drumless loop referencing WWE Hall of Famer, 7-time WWE World Champion, 7-time WWE Tag Team Champion, WWE Hardcore Champion and current Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) booker The Undertaker, while the “Pyramiami” vibe instrumentally talks about the difference between him and us.
The title track features none other than the late eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, WWE Hall of Famer and inaugural WWE United States Champion Harley Race himself, while “Harley Warned Bruiser About Puerto Rico” includes a bar featuring former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rampage Jackson’s son, Raja, in a performance by WWE Hall of Famer and two-time WWE Intercontinental Wrestler. Champion and 3-time WWE Tag Team Champion Rikishi.
“Blame Game” nightly featured WWE Hall of Famer, former 3-time WWE Champion, 11-time WWE Tag Team Champion, inaugural WWE Hardcore Champion, CWA World Tag Team Champion and TNA World Champion Mick Foley, as well as WWE Hall of Famer and former 3-time WCW Hardcore Champion Eric Bisched. Sos’ drumless “WWE Ice Cream” paid homage to the late WWE A tribute to Hall of Famer, former 2-time WWE Champion and 2-time WWE Tag Team Champion Yokozuna.
The song “Harley Pulling a Gun on Hogan” adopts a jazzier sound while continuing to strip down the drums and talks about having dinner with former two-time IWGP legends, WWE Hall of Famers and 10-time WWE Tag Team Champions The Whoer Brothers, while “Bred Don 11′ Is” what will the Harley do as it spends its last couple of dusty minutes before the ending? Boasting that no one could walk a mile in his shoes.
Act-Lo’s previous two full-length albums had been released a year earlier on underground hip-hop label ECW (aka Bars Over BS Records), which is how I discovered his music last spring, so it’s no surprise that they dropped “What Will Harley Race Do?” exclusively. on their website earlier this month and agree that it is one of his most exquisite materials. I like that he kept his guest appearances down to just 1 so that the east coast wrestler could shred some of Artifcer’s best beats on his own 99% of the time.
Rating: 9/10
