Sam R I is a 31 year old MC & producer from San Diego, California who first emerged within the west coast underground off his first 4 EPs Purple Cashmere, Rush Hour, Nickz & more recently Stax Payne over the summer. However after William Bostick heard Sam’s verse on “Rise in Winter Crime (Brrrrr)” off the Christmas EP that XP the Marxman put out last winter ‘Tis the Season, the New York producer has been brought in to produce Sam’s official debut album.

“Been a Buck” rawly sets it off by letting it be known he’s been the same from the very jump whereas “2 Types” incorporates some vibraphones to discuss the kind of people who say it without actually putting in the effort & the ones who actually do it. “TGFF” takes the boom bap route instrumentally showing off his storytelling abilities while “Art Basil in Spain” featuring Chester & Doza the Drum Dealer finds the trio coming together for a hardcore joint with a hook delivered in Spanish.

Meanwhile on “Blockbuster”, we have Sam on some more kicks & snares talking about letting shots ring out from the Benz just before “Freemason” after the titular interlude hooks up a soul sample to run the game as if he’s a part of the world’s first & largest fraternal organization. “Stick Up Kids” featuring 7ven 30 suggests their pen-games being Godly due to living in Hell, but then “Filthy” returns to the boom bap & lets his paper stack.

“Cul-De-Sac” featuring Kahlee nears the conclusion of 12 Monkeys needing a bigger truck with the work they be moving clarifying that there’s only 1 way out of the street or passage that’s closed 1 end while “Guilty” boasts his tax brackets being colder than Grand Rapids during the winter. “Take Time” finishes the LP on a more introspective note venting about the shit he’s dealing with whether it be his cousin possibly never walking again & a homie doing time behind bars.

In the 6 & a half years that Sam R I’s been around dropping projects, 12 Monkeys takes it above & beyond all expectations set by the small handful his previous EPs he had given us up until this point & culminating in a full-length debut showcasing the west coast lyricist’s elevation since 2018 on top of east coast production standing out in being amongst the best of William Bostick’s career thus far.

Score: 8/10