For the second single from their upcoming collaboration album, Tuff Racket, Noah23 x Fresh Kils tap the talents of ShrapKnel’s PremRock, a frequent collaborator of Fresh Kils. This time around, Kils provides a sunny, synthy, summer jam that somehow still has a darkness to it. Maybe it’s the drums. Still, iIt’s a perfect dichotomy that suits the subject matter, and the stripped back beat puts the focus squarely on the lyrics. For those, Noah23 and PremRock combine concepts of anti-capitalism, drug culture, movie references, and battle rap braggadocio. “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” reveals a trio of artists that combine for a powerful hip hop combo.
Canadian rap artist Max Moon delivers another fresh and captivating take with “DEAD END$”, the third single from his upcoming debut record, The Grand Howl, out September 26, 2025 on Hand’Solo Records. For this raw and moody self-produced joint, Moon taps in Philly/New York duo ShrapKnel, made up of Curly Castro and PremRock. On billy woods’ vanguard label Backwoodz Studioz, ShrapKnel has become venerated for their distinctive approach to lyricism and unorthodox production choices. The team-up is an instant fit. The result is an alluring, driving, stream-of-consciousness cypher, intersecting human relationships, culture and perception. The beat shifts from dark boom bap to loose, distorted breaks, and a blitz of drum and bass flavour supports Castro’s ever-unique, blazing delivery.
The single is accompanied by an esoteric reconstruction of the song with a bold remix by electronic experimentalist Emilio Portal, a past Max Moon collaborator. “DEAD END$” also receives the visual treatment with an animated lyric video incorporating stop-motion by Max Moon himself.
Written and performed by Max Moon, PremRock, and Curly Castro
All proper narratives have an arc. Sometimes the protagonist doesn’t end where we thought they might but more often than not they get where they deserve to be. Throughout every arc there are through lines that emerge and are engrained in the fabric of the story. Sometimes we fall short for the same reasons and cycles remain unbroken. The devil you know, you know? The art of looking close but trying not to fixate.
This project pairs the old friends and long time Backwoodz stalwarts in the same organic one on one setting they settled into since 09’. A lot has changed but the chemistry remains. Though the only true PremRock & Willie Green album is the self titled LP from 2011 the two have been intrinsically linked throughout the past 15 years whether through the engineering of Prem’s endeavors or friendship in general.
A swift but momentous and textured meditation on love, loss, addiction cycles, remorse and acceptance, “Through Lines” is evergreen seasonal blues with a glimpse of that first city day of spring and yes the beats knock. The project features only ShrapKnel’s Curly Castro and Chicago’s finest DefCee.
Acting as a fine feather in the boys’ collective fitted and a brief taste of something much larger in scale Prem has in store in 25’ executive produced by Green this stealth September slice is a must add to label’s faithful.
Nobody Planning To Leave is the new album from Curly Castro and PremRock aka ShrapKnel, fully produced by Controller 7. Featuring Open Mike Eagle, Onry Ozzborn, Lungs, Breezly Brewin, D-Styles (of the legendary Beat Junkies), and ELUCID, title represents a duality. Both a boastful claim and also a resigned recognition. Sometimes you’re planting your flag and sometimes you’re acknowledging that it’s all ultimately out of your control. With the exception of a few cases, nobody plans to leave. Nobody plans to abandon their passion either. Usually, the slow grind of necessity chooses that for you. What started as a few DMs between Castro and Controller 7 in 2021 slowly morphed into a fully fleshed opus.
The official video for “Bagloops”, expertly crafted by Dan Jardine for Boom Shoal Enterprises, is straight out of Miller’s Crossing or Peaky Blinders. An assortment of sketchy characters—played by friends and collaborators, including producer Fresh Kils, rap artist Max Moon, and Hand’Solo Records label-head Thomas Quinlan—clash as they compete for control of a criminal empire.
Explore this shady and thrilling world with Mickey O’Brien and Premrock on “Bagloops”.
About “Bagloops”
Mickey O’Brien demonstrates his uncanny ability to tackle a variety of topics and tempos with “Bagloops”. The beat, the lyrical references, and the cinematic video, are a larger-than-life, action-packed nod to O’Brien’s Celtic heritage. Juno-nominated producer and MPC button masher Fresh Kils (Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Buena Vista Social Club) lays down a wall of glitched-out, chopped bagpipe loops and rock drums, while DJ SLAM! assists in the cacophony with the addition of a rowdy sea shantey sing-along for the chorus. O’Brien’s raps project a sense of victory and reflect a man familiar with his strengths re-emerging with a new sense of vigour and purpose. Guest rapper PremRock, a disciple of NYC’s vanguard record label Backwoodz Studios (billy woods, Armand Hammer), delivers his vast collection of words, anecdotes, and recollections in his abstract rap format that has been steadily impressing critics and heads alike.
Written and performed by Mickey O’Brien and Premrock
