Curly Castro is back, and the Philly rapper just dropped Yaphet, his new full length. This one starts big. The opener, "Black Don't Crack," is a six-minute posse cut that plays like the entire Backwoodz Studioz roster kicking down the door at once. Fatboi Sharif, Blueprint, Brian Ennals, SKECH185, AJ Suede, and billy woods all pile in, trading bars like they have something to prove.
If you followed Castro through his Wrecking Crew days or caught his sharp work on 2021's Little Robert Hutton, you know the man builds dense, political, deeply felt rap. This feels like a new peak. The guest list alone is a stunner, but Castro holds the center, anchoring a track that could easily fly apart in lesser hands.
Yaphet is out now, and that opener is only the entry point. Deep, knotty, and full of moments worth rewinding.
Play it loud. Then play it again.