This is the eighth mixtape from DJ Clay, the emcee, producer and turntablist from Detroit, Michigan. An in-house producer for Psychopathic Records for 20 years, he founded his own label, Armed Robbery Entertainment, in addition to releasing his last eight tapes and 2019’s debut full-length album, Over the Fear Of. However, the DJ of Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW)’s popular YouTube show JCW Lunacy is finally back for his sophomore effort in the long-awaited fifth installment of the Let ‘Em Bleed series.
After an EDM intro, “Man of the Year” kicks off with Clay’s solo track, boasting over vocal samples and some horns, while Ouija Macc’s “Chop ‘Em Up” skips over DeadBoyGrim and DJ Clay-produced trap instrumentals and spits out evil shit. “Following the ‘Yoo-Da’ skit, Bailz & Shaggy 2 Dope’s ‘Dumbazz’ finds the pair making comedic fun at all the fools, while Shaggytheairhead’s ‘Skrrt Skrrt (Juggalo Phonk)’ finds the latter adding acrobatics to the phonk sub-genre.
“Willis” sees Clay back on the mic for a trap-tinged single that’s our response to those who claim to be this guy over the summer, while Lardi B’s “Party Like Us” kicks off the second half with a nice club anthem. Shaggy 2 Dope’s “Hurt You” combines some piano and hi-hats in a nod to Southwest Strangla’s insatiably personal homage, while Tierre Diaz’s “Shiny Shit” confidently gives fans exactly what they want in their music.
Violent J returns in the sequel to The Evil Duke to remind everyone why the JCW Commissioner and 50% owner along with former WWE, WCW and TNA writer and former WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vince Russo earned the nickname, while “The Darth Fader Cut” dabbles in turntable music for 10 seconds with the help of DJ Chunk. “The Father, The Son & The Holy Spirit” marks the final DJ Clay solo collaboration, letting a feeling we didn’t know we had feel free from our souls, while Odd Squad Family’s “Sorry for the Wait” ends with a delayed apology for “Let ‘Em Bleed 5.”
I knew things were going to be different, as some of the former psychopathic alums who’d appeared in all 4 installments of the Let ‘Em Bleed saga had severed ties with the Joker for almost a decade, but it didn’t matter, as Let ‘Em Bleed 5 continues the series with a strong showcase for the current feud, with its co-founders and the CEO of its subsidiary Chapter 17 Records signing a number of affiliates, among others, who have all performed at previous reunions.
Score: 8/10
