Blaq Medici & Agallah The Don Bring Unfiltered Grit on 暴力 BōRYOKU
ARTICLE JOHN SABBIA
Hip-hop has always thrived when producer and emcee chemistry hits that rare sweet spot — the kind where beats and rhymes feel like they were designed for each other. On their new joint album 暴力 BōRYOKU, producer Blaq Medici and rap veteran Agallah The Don tap directly into that energy, crafting a project that sounds both timeless and forward-thinking.
The title BōRYOKU — meaning “violence” in Japanese — sets a bold tone before you even press play. But what unfolds across the 10 tracks isn’t just aggression for aggression’s sake. Instead, the album explores the multiple faces of conflict — the fight for survival, the struggles of independence, and the creative battles necessary to push the culture forward. Agallah, a Brooklyn staple whose resume stretches from Dipset to underground classics, sounds laser-focused here, his gravel-toned delivery commanding each beat with veteran precision.
Blaq Medici’s production refuses to take shortcuts. The drums hit hard, but there’s atmosphere woven into the mix — haunting melodies, layered textures, and cinematic backdrops that elevate Agallah’s storytelling. It’s not nostalgia rap, nor is it trend-chasing. Instead, BōRYOKU builds a lane of its own, one that’s rooted in hip-hop fundamentals but wide enough to hold new perspectives.
Guest features from Planet Asia and Sadat X add a stamp of authenticity and connect the album to a lineage of legends who’ve kept lyricism alive. Meanwhile, DJ Radiohead’s contributions inject unexpected twists, ensuring the record never falls into predictability.
What makes BōRYOKU most powerful, though, is its cohesion. This isn’t a playlist or a collection of singles stitched together — it’s an album in the truest sense. From the first track to the last, Blaq Medici and Agallah bring listeners into their world, reminding us that hip-hop is at its best when it’s uncompromising, unfiltered, and unapologetically real.
Validated has always stood for highlighting music that pushes boundaries while respecting the culture. With 暴力 BōRYOKU, Agallah The Don and Blaq Medici don’t just meet that standard — they raise the bar. This is one for the heads, the purists, and anyone who still believes in the power of hip-hop as an art form.
Physicals via www.maisondefunk.com from October 8th.