38 Spesh Delivers a Lean, No-Frills Boom-Bap Clinic on ‘8 Shots’

Released May 29th 2026

Topping my personal list as one of the most underrated MCs/producers in the game, Rochester’s 38 Spesh recently dropped 8 Shots. Needless to say, the wordsmith hasn’t missed a beat during his two-year hiatus since Mother & Gun. Filled with top-tier wordplay, gritty production, and top-notch features, 8 Shots is already in the running for my album of the year—yeah, it’s that good.

As mentioned, the production throughout this release is no-frills, head-bopping New York boom bap. If you’re looking for melodic flair, you’re in the wrong place. Instead, 38’s witty, punchline-heavy style complements the beats perfectly. It’s incredibly refreshing these days to hear a project where the pure rapping does most of the heavy lifting.

Manager on the road, I played every role like Eddie Murphy Steady workin’, head be hurtin’ When you make this kind of cake, you gotta watch every person Kind of hard to stop fetty servin’ Tried to give ’em dope, but they want the synthetic deadly version — 38 Spesh, “Heavy Burden”

Along with the fitting production, the guest spots perfectly complement the album’s overall scheme and 38 Spesh’s signature style. Featuring a who’s who of modern lyricists, the project boasts appearances from Method Man, Che Noir, Ransom, Dave East, and Busta Rhymes. While every artist held it down lyrically, Busta Rhymes’ verse on “Cold War” felt like it was written for a completely different beat, failing to mesh well with 38’s opening verse. Additionally, I wish we had gotten a full-fledged verse from Method Man on “The Main Line” instead of just a hook, especially given how crazy he’s been spitting recently. Still, the track manages to be one of the best on the album. These are just a couple of minor hiccups on an otherwise stellar project.

Overall, coming in at an efficient 12 songs and 30 minutes, 8 Shots is a no-fluff clinic in lyrical assault. 38 Spesh continues to pad his already loaded resume with another great release. This project is absolutely worth checking out and easily stands as one of my favorite releases of the year.

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (9/10)

Standout Tracks: The Main Line, Mental Health, Trust Us, Heavy Burden