Chicago’s Finest Link Up over Soulful Xcelence Production for a Modern Mid-West Classic

Released May 2nd 2026

I’ve known this project was in the works for a minute now, and I’ve been super excited for it. Put That On Everything is an album fully produced by Xcelence, the Grammy Award-winning producer, and is a collaborative project between two of Chicago’s premiere MCs, Rufus Sims and Ju Jilla. These two Windy City heavyweights came together and delivered one of the top albums of the year!

Both Ju Jilla and Rufus Sims bring high-tier lyricism to each and every track, delivering personal stories mixed with witty bars, street rhymes, and everything in between. Bringing it all together is the soulful, smooth production from Xcelence. This album flows incredibly well—verse to verse and track to track. “On My Soul” kicks things off and perfectly sets the tone for the next 27 minutes. No time is wasted on the quotables; “On My Soul” features one of my favorite lines on the project, as Rufus spits on the first verse: “Used to be a crashout, cashed out and made dough.” Meanwhile, on “Eye Could See,” Ju Jilla kicks: “Soldiers at war do or die over nonsense, double homicide got you bondless.” It’s just raw bars across the entire album from both artists.

This level of music takes effort—”Passion,” if you will. Which brings me to the track of the same name. “You can learn a trade or skill but they can’t teach passion,” Rufus Sims fires off as the opening line. It’s such a true statement, and it’s exactly what helps push guys like Ju Jilla and Rufus Sims to elevated heights. I love the aggressive yet mature sound and style these two MCs display across Xcelence’s beats. “Mastodon” is a great track, referencing both the prehistoric animal and the Black Ranger from Power Rangers, set against a beat that sings out and echoes beautifully. “Best In The World” gets personal, giving us an insight into both artists’ prayers. Finally, wrapping up the album is “Hottest In The City,” where they speak on Chicago and their respective spots in the city. “She say my heart cold, well it’s probably cause I got like 40k up on my neck,” spits Ju Jilla, while Rufus Sims hits us with: “I’m the son of a mob boss, I put that shit on everything like Frank’s RedHot sauce.”

This album is incredible and easily one of the best of the year. On their own, both Ju Jilla and Rufus Sims are out here dunking again and again. With the way they bounce off each other, the project starts to feel like an All-Star game, and Xcelence’s production is the perfect court for these MCs to do what they do best. This is a 2026 must-listen!

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (10/10)

Standout Tracks: “On My Soul,” “Mastodon,” “Passion,” “Make It Real,” & “Hottest In The City”