You won't see Mach-Hommy's face on his album covers or promotional photos. This mysterious villain of the East Coast rap underground exclusively operates in the shadows. Having originally run with Griselda Gang, he splintered from the group after his comrades Westside Gunn and Conway inked a deal with Eminem's Shady Records, focusing instead on his grizzly, lo-fi sound and alternative release strategy. If you wanted to hear projects like Dump Gawd: Hommy Edition and HBO (Haitian Body Odor), they were available via Hommy's website – for $1,000 each.
On new album Tuez-Les Tous, the rapper teams up with veteran beatmaker DJ Muggs for another concrete set of hard-boiled hip-hop. On songs such as Wet Bully, Muggs's production is tough and sinister, matching Hommy's brawny, slow-moving flow. Yet the record has moments of wicked beauty, too. Stained Glass features a glittering sample that provides a gorgeous counterpoint to Hommy's braw, while Spent Casings is an expressive slice of rap noir.
There are some weaknesses: 900k lacks structure and focus. Still, this a solid showcase of Hommy's bloody-nose sound. For newcomers, though, I recommend starting last year's excellent joint record with Tha God Fahim, DUCK CZN: Chinese Algebra.