After dropping the thought-provoking, socially powerful project, Just Us. earlier this year, rapper/producer Master Wiz returns with his new project The Hate Storm. The 7-track body of work picks up from where Just Us left off with Master Wiz digging deeper into the effects of racism, social injustice from a black American viewpoint. The project is produced entirely by the rapper himself with additional bass guitar instrumentation from Endustrie.

As the title suggests, audiences are taken deep into a world of growing resentment and frustration born out of the never-ending cycle of systematic oppression and the antecedents of slavery in the US of A. The first track, “Begins War,” starts with a vocal sample reminding us that war is not nice at all, but when push comes to shove, it could happen. The track’s boisterous horns, cinematic chops and punchy drums then come into play while Atlanta, Georgia-based Indie speaks on the oppressive nature of the system and its covert, underhanded practices that have pushed many against the proverbial wall. He doesn’t mince his words and reminds us that some of the governments atrocious acts were committed not too long ago with lines like  “Back then, wasn’t that long ago/ my great grandmother was enslaved to them white folks/ my grandmother lived through the time of Jim Crow/ Dr. King was killed when my mum was 8 years old,” before putting out a call to action at the end of the song. The next song, “News Cycle,” explores the US media cycle and the crazy political games and the players whose rap sheet reads like the forbidden scroll. Master Wiz sure has a way of conveying his thoughts using a mix of subtlety and graphic imagery that creates a juxtaposition of thoughts. On tracks like “Deleted Peace Talks” and the title track, he dots the i’s and crosses the T’s with his storytelling style, ability to convey emotions and use of real-time events to time stamp the theme of each song. “Deleted Peace Talks” digs into the hypocrisy and unbalanced justice system that favours the majority and delivers punitive measures towards the minorities, while the title track looks at white privilege, the rise of modern neo nazism and the domino effects. The song has the only feature by fellow rap artist Realz Reality. Similarly, “Higher” looks at the aftermath from a solemn perspective as Master Wiz calls for reorientation and mass enlightenment amongst black folks to see beyond the wool the system has put to shield them from the truth.

The project continues with its insightful, black liberation rhetoric and social political banter. On “Ship 26,” Master Wiz explores the dark connection of USA’s bloody past from the slave ships, slave traders, to the modern world and how things haven’t changed much. The final track, “The Last Song,” takes a legendary quote from Maya Angelou that talks about artists reflecting the times, and it’s a perfect way to end this chapter. The production here is moody, scenic and gritty and well-crafted for another round of raw, unfiltered bars from Master Wiz who doesn’t hold back with lines like “Wishing wells ain’t real but racism is real/That kinda optimism got 2pac killed/You white rock the rhythm if I drop them bills/remember she’s white so no ass ,no dropping skills” before flaming racism with more napalm than US soldeiers in Vietnam.

Overall, The Hate Storm packs a punch with its heavy theme that might not be digestible for some, but its a much-needed truth pill that everyone should swallow.

Keep up with Master Wiz | Website: Links : Twitter/X