20 years ago, the four HRSMN (Ras Kass, Kurupt, Killah Priest & Canibus) were all at the height of their major label careers when their intended debut album, The Horsemen Project, was leaked online and massively bootlegged.  The leak consisted of nine unmixed and unmastered songs that would go on to sell over 100K units; and not a dime in revenue for the group. There have been intermittent starts and stops along the journey for HRSMN, with a few singles and various collaborative appearances, and a full reunion track on Canibus’ Fait Accompli album; which once again began to build momentum with fans that the super-group would reunite and finally release a true official debut album.

As HRSMN, Canibus, Kurupt, Killah Priest, and Ras Kass have finally reunited to bring the world The Last Ride (a.k.a. The Debut Final Album), which features guest appearances and production from Planet Asia, Hus Kingpin, Chino XL, Wais P, RBX, Phil da Agony, El Gant, Tragedy Khadafi, Bronze Nazareth, and Anno Domini. The Last Ride displays the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in a truly biblical fashion. Kurupt (Famine), Ras Kass (Pestilence), Canibus (War), and Killah Priest (Death), all coming together to bring light to the ills of the world; and reclaiming their rightful throne as one of the most dominant lyrical forces Hip Hop has ever witnessed.

“The Last Ride is the culmination of at least two false starts since we banded together to become HRSMN around 2000. Our first records were massively bootlegged by a “friend,” and what was released were unmixed, un-mastered, and incomplete concepts. We are the first rap Super-Group! No one before us had connected various cities and international rap icons together like we did. Our brothers Slaughterhouse proved that four artists and lyricists from different crews could connect and execute, that there’s strength in numbers; and that was a big motivating factor in us wanting to complete an album. At least one album” Ras Kass lamented. “After twenty years, we finally have an album to give to the world. It was a journey that almost never got closure, and that’s why this is our ‘DEBUT FINALE.’ HRSMN and The Last Ride fills a void, and it’s what Hip-Hop needs today! It’s a breath of fresh air in a really convoluted marketplace. Just pure BARDOM. High on concept, high in depth of intelligence. The Last Ride is high energy, hardcore Hip-Hop.”

Canibus, Kurupt, Killah Priest, and Ras Kass have always been four of HHGA’s favorite emcees, so we were pre-inclined to love this album. The only apprehension we had was about the quality of the production – Kurupt, Ras Kass, and especially Canibus have proven in the past not to always have the best ear for beats. Fortunately, the instrumentals on The Last Ride do the job. Most of these beats are not super memorable maybe, but they do not bring the album down at all – and this project is all about BARS anyway. All four HRSMN are elite lyricists – they bring their A-game to The Last Ride, and they play well off each other. Close to an hour of music, and only one or two little missteps (the so-so ballad-like “Love N War” most prominently) – but there’s plenty of bangers to offset any weaknesses:  “Centaurs”, “This Sh Right Here”, “Morticians”, “Believer”, “Apocalips Now”, “Burger King”, “Last Ride”, and the immediate stand-out “Impossible” are all dope as f.  The Last Ride is one of our favorite Hip Hop albums of the year so far. 8/10

Release date: June 18, 2021.

Also read: The Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2021 & Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2021 – The Honorable Mentions