Ill Conscious — “The Aggregation of Marginal Gains”
Baltimore veteran emcee ILL Conscious has spent years solidifying his name as a top-tier lyricist at home and abroad. On December 12, 2025, he dropped his 9th album, “The Aggregation of Marginal Gains.” The album release show was at Baltimore Soundstage, where he shared the bill with Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA. The Mobtown tour stop celebrating the 30th Anniversary of GZA’s classic solo album “Liquid Swords” was a perfect storm. The packed crowd of Golden Era Hip Hop enthusiasts was left pleasantly satiated even before GZA hit the stage as ILL performed songs from the new album with featured artists — including his right-hand man Snook Da Crook of Dirt Platoon — while Wendel Patrick held it down as his DJ for the evening.
The second album release show is set to happen in Paris, France on January 17, 2026, sparking his Euro 2026 tour. “The Aggregation of Marginal Gains” is a transatlantic collaboration with Parisian producers Alcynoos and DJ Parental. The 21-track album leads with 11 meticulously crafted songs displaying sharp wordplay, storytelling, and 5% Nation of Islam nomenclature. As the listener, you’re taken on the journey of a homegrown artist who has earned the stripes of touring, finding inspiration, and gaining fans while growing as a father, writer, and teacher. The seasoned boom bap griot raps over smooth production featuring relaxing melodies matching his laid-back persona.
On the second track, “Marginal Gains,” he pulls no punches in calling out inauthenticity: “Panoramic Views and the endless nights with mi amore / landed in Portugal, we was catching flights from Azores / How does it feel to live a lie in whatever you portray / solidified but still disguising whatever that correlates.”
Dirt Platoon’s Snook Da Crook backs him up on the second verse, showcasing the two close-knit emcees’ like-minded approach to the craft: “Don’t do a lot of features these artists is coons / When you pursue music for money God walks out the room / Rather stay self-contained grow what I consume / I don’t even gotta say it’s Dirt Platoon to the tomb.”
“Carpe Diem” is my favorite example of how ILL’s flow can take a simple experience like meeting a woman overseas and turn it into Pulitzer-level wordplay. “We slow cooking this ‘til the marinade fallin’ off / exquisite cuisine with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon / I’m only in town Wednesday to Saturday then I’m gone / Let you have a part of me when I serenade with a song.”
Tracks like “Israelites Mist” and “Nautical Lanes” feature scratches that took me back to being a teenager up late listening to 88.9 FM Strictly Hip Hop. ILL Conscious is a Rapper’s version of jazz singer Samara Joy. Channeling the sound and execution of music made 30 years ago with fresh, current energy isn’t easy to do and highly underrated.
The second half of the album repeats but without the lyrics. It’s a moment to reflect on the lessons just vibing to the instrumentals. The chemistry between ILL, Alcynoos, and DJ Parental is fully on display. The album is a press play, no-skipping masterclass in executing the essence of the music that connects him with fans in Baltimore and across the water. If you’re a fan of real hip hop, this is for you. Stream it on all platforms and purchase the vinyl.
Snook Da Crook & Jay Funk — “410 Til I Go”
In November, I wrote about Snook Da Crook’s single “Sounds Like Home,” a gritty yet endearing love letter to Baltimore before gentrification. In December, Snook followed up with a 5-song EP. Fully produced by seasoned producer and accomplished drummer Jay Funk, “410 Til I Go” is unapologetically Baltimore. The Dirt Platoon general delivers his signature raspy flow in true veteran form, taking you through the dark sides of street life that still exists in a city that now boasts its biggest decline in the murder rate in 50 years. He serves warning that shit still ain’t sweet while also acknowledging growth and showing love. On “Ova West” Snook raps: “My life is like a book by D. Watkins / strip hot, still hittin’ sales while police watchin’”
ILL Conscious and The Boy Blesst shine on “Crazy Johns” as the only featured emcees. A flawless collab with no hook over haunting production, all three emcees bring A game: “My daddy off on Clifton Ave, my mama out in Westport / So naturally found my slick ass hustlin’ in front of death’s door,” Blesst proclaims.
At only 16 minutes of pure-grown-man bars, the EP is high replay value just in time to join his comrade ILL Conscious on tour overseas this winter. “410 Til I Go” is streaming on all platforms.
If you’re not already familiar with YG Teck, I’m not sure where you’ve been. The West Baltimore native and hometown favorite has racked up a solid discography over the past decade while growing his clothing line No Excusez and opening his Federal Hill restaurant Culture Bar & Grill.
In mid December, Teck dropped “Might Not Miss” produced by Tip12Ive. He takes us on a flawless lyrical ride over the Baltimore Club music tempo with a dark melody in the way only Baltimore rappers can do. Perfect for the “doing hoodrat shit with my friends” playlist, he raps, “I like a bitch that’s liking a bitch / She shaking her ass she hyping the bitch / Another brick of the yola it’s white and it’s fish / Got the gun in the club be tight in the bitch / I might not miss.”
A quick 2:12, this one might slip under the radar for most but we caught it. “Might Not Miss” is streaming on all platforms.
Martina Lynch is a Baltimore Beat favorite. Her most recent offering comes in the form of a 16-song album that covers a plethora of authentic human experiences. You learn that she could either beat you up, inspire you, get some money with you, or take your girl; the choice is totally up to you. The title track, “I HAD TEW,” finds Lynch confessing “I just had to put a bottle ‘cross a bitch head / I just had to pull a nigga by his fucking dreads.” But by the time you’re there, 12 tracks in, you’ve learned so much about her that you’re certain they deserved it.
The immersive opening track, “Make It Out,” sets the tone. “I just gotta make it out I don’t see no other route / niggas do it for the fame niggas do it for the clout / niggas try to air ‘em out what they really care about / they dont really give a fuck they just want a bigger house / they dont talk about the pain they don’t talk about the drought.”
From there she unleashes top-notch bars, switching her flow up and showcasing versatility from song to song. Her features don’t slack on the collabs either. On track 3, “I got a feeling,” rapper Wyte Off Da Come Up fires off a stellar 16 bars.
The solidarity track “SISTAS” featuring Chelsea Monae is a dope ode to a best friend/ride or die chick. “TO THE EDGE” featuring Tia Reid is a warning not to push her to the point of “having tew.”
Money Jake comes through on the Baltimore Club track “AHHH” and Dwreck holds it down on “LIKE SAMMY.” But at no point does young “Tina Turn Up” rely on features to carry the project.
Lynch demonstrates this effortlessly on tracks like “Break Down,” a soulful, electric guitar-driven therapy session where she declares to not let distractions, environment, or anything else stop her from pushing forward, protecting siblings, achieving goals, and fighting vices.
Foot on the gas throughout, it’s a solid project where she comfortably talks her best shit and gets vulnerable at times. “I HAD TEW” is streaming on all platforms.
This good-time gem of a single from 106.7KRIS landed in our inbox over the holiday break and I immediately fell in love with it. “Be Mine” has a classically crisp piano groove with lyrics that should be in a musical. It’s that scene where the shy, insecure protagonist daydreams a more confident version of themselves leading a group of backup dancers, commanding the attention of all patrons as they shoot their shot at the desired lover. “Lyrically, it’s a confident profession of love with warmth and swagger,” they told us via email.
“Be Mine” is infectious and undeniable for dancing with a chorus that immediately got stuck in my head on repeat. Looking forward to hearing more from the ongoing KRISFM project. Stream “Be Mine” on all platforms.