Untreated Trauma

Prolific Sacramento rapper Mozzy teamed with YG for the often fun and sometimes frivolous Kommunity Service mixtape in May of 2021, and changed gears somewhat on the solo venture Untreated Trauma, delivered before the year was over. As the title might suggest, a good portion of the ten tracks collected here find Mozzy in a self-reflective headspace, contemplating the possibility of death in the streets on somber opener "Straight to 4th," addressing disloyal false friends on "Slimey," and examining a life of pain and a never-ending search for peace on the lyrically dexterous and beautifully produced "My Life Different." Eerie piano loops and distant chopped samples make up some of Untreated Trauma's best beats, with "Reeboks" standing out due to its murky blend of catchy hooks and ominous production. It's not all feelings and remorse, however, as the wobbly synth bass and hard drums of "Tycoon" pay homage to Mozzy's West Coast roots, and the high-energy "Beat the Case" finds Mozzy, EST Gee, and Babyface Ray upping the ante as they trade verses on one of the album's most ruthless and exciting tracks. ~ Fred Thomas