Roughneck Jihad, the seasoned emcee from the South Bay Area of Northern California, has officially returned to the Manchester-based indie label Boot Records for his 11th studio LP, Methanol. As a core member of the trio 3rd Sight, Jihad has maintained a prolific output over the last decade, but this latest project signals a refined focus, particularly through his renewed creative chemistry with Brussels-based producer Senz Beats.
The collaboration follows their previous work on the 2021 EP The Little Assassination Handbook and the 2023 sequel Lobespierre. With Methanol, the duo appears to have hit a stride that has been building since their initial partnership five years ago. The album serves as a testament to their shared vision, moving away from experimental shifts to focus on the raw, distilled essence of their sound.
The project opens with “Great Like Gonzo,” which sets the tone with a psychedelic boom-bap aesthetic and fuzzy guitar samples. Throughout the tracklist, Jihad balances technical lyricism with thematic depth. Tracks like “PCP Flow” highlight his unique cadence, while “Tongue Toast” leans into jazz-infused production. The second half of the album, anchored by the aggressive “New Eugenics” and the horn-driven “Barbarella,” showcases a more intense, focused delivery.
The project concludes with “Your Favorite,” a track that finds Roughneck Jihad firmly rooted in his Bay Area origins, providing a fitting end to a project that feels like his most cohesive work in years. By distilling their chemistry rather than forcing a reinvention, Jihad and Senz Beats have solidified their place as vital contributors to the underground scene, making a strong case for Jihad’s status as one of the West Coast’s most underrated lyricists.
Score: 8/10