Associated with the neo-boom bap Griselda collective, top-tier Detroit-raised lyricist Boldy James is incredibly prolific. After a number of late-blog-era mixtapes, he debuted with the Alchemist-produced My 1st Chemistry Set (or M.1.C.S.) in 2013, as one of Mass Appeal Records’ first signees. He reconnected with Alc for 2020’s critically acclaimed The Price of Tea in China, their third of five collaborations. One of his many 2025 releases, Late to My Own Funeral (with producer Nicholas Craven), is a typical Boldy project, featuring strong sample selections and polished flows with street-level moxie. The Mary McCreary sample (from 1973’s “My Soul Is Satisfied”) on “Spider Webbing Windshields” is the chef’s kiss. – Kahron Spearman
