Pretty sure this is the 19th full-length outing for Hackensack, New Jersey songwriter Crimeapple. He became a fan almost a decade ago with his fourth EP, Sweet Dreams, and produced his feature-length debut album, Aguardiente, with Big Ghost Ltd. the following spring, and his underground profile has grown exponentially ever since. Highlights of the discography include Wet Dirt by DJ Skizz, Medallo by DJ Muggs, Cartagena, Breakfast in Hradec, Sin Cortar, El León by Preservation, Bazuko, the official sequel to Aguardiente, This, IsNoten Chicken by Apollo Brown supported by Mello Music Group and most recently Thien, Isten by Don Rose. The last we heard from him was this past Black Friday, and he was back with evidence-produced war cash.
“Last Day” ties into a drumless piano loop and gets us talking about No Diamond Zone’s ability to calm him down as the fire is lit, leading to “Dr. Scholl’s” taking a more subtle approach to spraying foot care products as if he’s graffitiing. “Air” employs a fluctuating atmosphere that ensures he retains his soul as he renews his mind, leading “Karachi” to embrace the direction of prosperity to capture the aura of those who ultimately fall.
Blu guest-starred on “Pinto” as one of my favorite duos, comparing their pens to pistols over a funky beat, while “Roy” stripped down to the drums again and talked about God and institutions being the only things he’s afraid of. “2 Left Feet” returns to the heat, talking about weekly pop in the jungle, while Monday Night’s “Rio” talks about the possibility of appearing in the Brazilian capital sometime before 2026 ends. “Green Room” concludes War Cash Deals with a final instrumental that recalls the time he spent killing time backstage leading up to the show.
Hanzai itself wasn’t my favorite Crimeapple album from last year, and I definitely wouldn’t place it in his lengthy discography, but War Cash , released less than 24 hours ago, is my favorite new album since last fall’s Bulletproof Chicken . Evidence’s production is a huge improvement over Hanzai’s, varying between boom bap or no drums, more in line with Crime’s mafia story.
Rating: 9/10
