It’s fair to acknowledge at this point that Osamason has been an unmovable force within the underground since his 2023 debut album Osama Season. He, along with peers such as Nettspend, Che, Xaviersobased, etc., could be described as the figureheads for the new post-pandemic era of underground rap music. All of these artists have clear ideas and visions for themselves, as we’ve seen through their projects thus far—pushing the boundaries of rap and having old-heads and hip-hop purists scratching their heads in confusion and frustration—a beautiful sight to see, might I add.

Osamason, sitting among the more consistent of the bunch, just released his 4th solo album titled Psykotic, which serves as a cultivation of the hardcore and “rage” type of music Osama has been dabbling within since the beginning of his career. While not every song on this album goes all in on the mosh-pit–inciting and vexed sound, even within the more mellow songs on this album, such as “Get Away” and “She Woke Up,” the vision remains clear through beat selection and, most notably, the intentional and consistently distorted vocal mixing, which helps to form this body of work into a true album—a huge win in my book.

That being said, my critique of this project falls in line with my criticism of the More Chaos album by Ken Carson, in that there are moments on this album where the abrasive and psychotic nature—though fitting—can fall flat and leave an exhausting feeling rather than tastefully engaging its listener. But on the contrary, there are plenty of moments in this album that feel inspired and poignant within that same tone. For example, songs like “Addicted,” “Inferno,” and “Function” properly convey the essence of Psykotic in a tasteful manner, while songs like “Worldwide,” “Maag Dump,” and “T193” miss that mark and get “lost in the sauce,” if you will.

All this being said, while this album is not perfect by any means and isn’t a better portrayal of Osamason’s abilities than his last project, Jumpout, in my opinion, it does its job in creating an interesting experience for its listener. It definitely lives up to its name, some songs more than others.

Rating: 7/10