The New York rapper Mike has returned with one of the best rap albums of the year, especially considering that the album is a sequel to his 2024 album, Pinball.
Pinball 2 is Mike’s second album released in 2025, following ShowBiz! Anything that the original collaboration between Mike and producer Tony Seltzer missed or may have slightly lacked, Pinball 2 makes up for greatly.
The Pinball series borrows heavily from the more well known corner of the underground scene, with Mike typically rapping on tracks with a slower flow and a heavier, more melodic beat. The Pinball series does show versatility, though, as Mike is able to flow and excel on faster, louder, more aggressive beats, similar to those of Evilgiane, OK, and other thriving underground producers.
The track “#71” is the best example of this interpretation of what’s hot right now. It combines sped-up verses and hard-hitting 808’s, with Mike’s lyrical prowess creating an exciting combination of two corners of the underground.
The track “Jumanji” is the reunion of Earl Sweatshirt and Mike, since Earl also had a feature on the first Pinball. On this new record, Earl dominates his verse and boasts amazing chemistry with Mike, who at one point Earl had mentored.
Finally, the track “Prezzy” which has a co-production credit from the acclaimed producer Clams Casino, consists of an amazing beat and a brilliant verse from Mike. However, the track seems to bite a lot of underground flows and styles, with the inclusion of lots of sped-up and distorted sounds that essentially have been trademarked by artists like Acid Souljah and producers like DJ Smokey.
