Sule is a 29-year-old emcee from Englewood, New Jersey, and Benny the Butcher signed with Black Soprano Family Records in late 2022 after releasing seven EPs in ten years. He’s also known for his guest appearance on The Greatest Since Canby closing track “White Lives Matter,” produced by Havoc ex-Mobb Deep, one of my favorite records from last spring. However, he will release his first official work through B$F, his 8th EP, which is 24 and a half minutes long and contains 9 tracks.
“Tommy Bundy” opens with a sampled boom bap instrumental from Nyckles & Harlem Zone, who wrote much of the EP and likens himself to Hype Williams’ directional debut album ” Belly” by the late DMX’s eponymous character, while Benny’s “Made for It” is more kick and snare, with a symphonic flip that asks if you’re up to this shit and if you get It but lost it. “Courtesy Inn” introduces some piano before the jazzy “Jodie” tells the tragic story of the eponymous character, talking about how his mother never had to worry again.
The almighty Wu-Tang Clan’s Fuego Base and Inspectah Deck appeared on the scene amidst the return craze of ‘Wu-Sopranos’, bringing their raw lyricism to the table, but then ‘Crown Vic’ starring The Hoodies found the trio reserved It shows their strong status in a dirty way. “If a Brick Could Talk” has a weirder boom-bap vibe, detailing the hustler lifestyle, while “YNGAW (Young N****s Got a Wave)” leads the way with its trap beat and raucous lyrics. Here comes a 180° turn. “Marlo Scamfield” closes the EP with a sparkling cycle of kicks, snares, and references to characters from “The Wire.”
Black Soprano Family continues to expand its roster, and Written on Wides Corner completely takes Sule to the next level as it’s the best work he’s put out to date. I think the production here is mostly based on the traditional boom-bap sound with trap bass, which is stronger than his previous material, and it has a short but solid guest list that the Hackensack emcee is committed to making His hometown became a landmark.
Score: 8/10
