At this point, Milwaukee Hip Hop has a pretty identifiable style. There is a certain sound (Slap Music) that is super recognizable which has become synonymous with the city at this point. It is rambunctious and strange in the best way. One artist that I feel embodies the Milwaukee style super well is Ef Ay. Everything about his music and overall presence just bleeds positivity and rowdiness. Ef Ay is someone we have covered often at Eastside Vibes. This is not only through his own music, but through the many awesome features he has provided on the work of other local artists. One of my favorite Milwaukee projects of 2025, Lost Boys, was a joint record with DJ Megadon(who I recently covered when he dropped Two Man Power Trip with Spaidez). Recently, Ef Ay released another joint project called NEXT GEN! with MeloDroppin30. I didn’t know about MeloDroppin30 before this one, but I am glad I learned about him on this one. Below, I wanted to talk about my favorite tracks from NEXT GEN!, then give some overall thoughts on it as a whole. Please let me know in the comments below what you think of Ef Ay, MeloDroppin30, and their album NEXT GEN!

EVERYWHERE & BACK

‘Everywhere & Back’ is the opening track from the project, and it gets this going on a glorious note. This song has a sound that feels both calm and lively. The melody definitely gives off a retro R&B feeling. This melody is super bright, driven by a cozy piano riff. The beat has a fast-paced tempo that feels like a mixture of Trap music and Slap music. The best has a Milwaukee tint, but still feels universal. Ef Ay kills it with his vocals on ‘Everywhere & Back’ as well. The little Drake interpolation on the hook sets the vibe(“I swear man we’ve been everywhere and back, I just can’t remember it all”). Ef Ay’s flow and tone fit so well on this instrumental. ‘Everywhere & Back’ is a great first track that gets this project started off super hot. 

COLOR GRADE

‘Color Grade’ is a track that somehow feels ultramodern at the same time. There is something about the sound of this melody that feels so nostalgic, and I love it. The tone of the melody is so twinkly and ethereal. The synths that provide this melody honestly sound like chimes and church bells, which is fun and interesting. I know that the sample does not come from ‘Together’ by Janet Jackson, but for some reason when I listen to this track, I think of that song(which is something I am totally okay with, of course). Once again, the beat on this track feels like a mixture between Trap music and Slap music. Ef Ay pitch sounds so good on this melody. I really like it when he hits the higher notes, because it gives the song a cool texture. ‘Color Grade’ is a light and confident bop where Ef Ay shows off some cool vocals. 

CHOSEN

‘Chosen’ comes right after ‘Color Grade’ in the track list, and honestly, it has a pretty similar sound and feeling to its predecessor. ‘Chosen’ is kind of like a deeper and slightly softer version of that track. Like ‘Color Grade,’ the melody for ‘Chosen’ has a very ethereal tone. It is not quite as bright, but certainly sits on a similar plane. I like the lower synths that come in and out of this one, as it makes the song feel very full. As I mentioned, this song is a bit slower. The tempo and beat give it a bit more of a kick back feel than a turn up feel. Ef Ay once again kills it with the vocals on this track. On the hook, his tone is pretty low and a bit gritty. During the verses, his pitch is higher and more sporadic. This contrast makes the verses exciting. Even though ‘Chosen’ isn’t quite as big-sounding as some of the others on this project, it still hits hard. 

XTRA STORAGE 

Like ‘Chosen,’ ‘Xtra Storage’ has a slower sound than the other music on this project. In fact, this is definitely the slowest song here. It feels like more of a Drill song than the other songs here. ‘Xtra Storage’ is also the song that I was immediately drawn to the most when first listening through this project. There is something about this melody and overall sound that is so dope to me. The melody has an old school video tone which I think is really cool. I love the way that it is mixed, as it feels so trippy. The way that the bass pounds on ‘Xtra Storage’ really gives the song emphasis. ‘Xtra Storage’ is another song that contains a great Drake interpolation (“I’m living right now, man, and this is what Imma do ‘till it’s over”). This may be Ef Ay’s most dynamic vocal performance here. The way he switches his tone around gives the track so much life. ‘Chosen’ stands out for its beat on this tracklist, and it really pops as much(or more) than anything. 

OLE MISS

Just like on the opening track, EF Ay and MeloDroppin30 close this project out with a bop. ‘Ole Miss’ actually has a sound that feels just as warm as that one. The melody is very luscious and balmy, and it makes me think of a summer day. This melody sounds like it is being provided by a distorted guitar, which makes the melody feel very deep. ‘Ole Miss’ also contains a cool vocal sample in the background; this sample comes from Willow’s song ‘Wait A Minute,’ which is pretty iconic. Ef Ay’s vocals on this track are actually a bit lower and more subdued than a lot of the rest of the record. His tone fits super well with this melody and gives the song a bit of a calmer feeling(even though the beat is still pretty high key). ‘Ole Miss’ is definitely a great send-off for this record. 

As I mentioned during the introduction, Ef Ay has a vibrance to his sound that really stands out. His infectious energy and unique vibe truly stand out on NEXT GEN! This album has a sound and essence that is unlike anyone doing in Milwaukee right now. Even though most of the beats have a Slap music tempo or at least feel adjacent to it, this album still feels like it is in its own lane. Speaking of the beats, I have to say that MeloDroppin30 really killed it throughout this album. I mentioned that I had not listened to him before, and I am glad I was introduced to him here. So many of these melodies are so cool, and all of the drum patterns pound. Even though I only wrote about five songs above, I think that every song here has its own charm. A couple of songs that I did not mention but think are dope are ‘another day’ and ‘nobody cares.’ Vocally, Ef Ay killed it throughout this project. He demonstrates a variety of flows, always showing his diversity and intricacies as a rapper. I enjoy how many different tones he sings with. Ef Ay will always keep you on your toes with his many styles of singing and rapping. Overall, NEXT GEN! is a very entertaining project from one of Milwaukee’s most exciting individuals. There is so much to like about this project, and I hope you give it a listen if you haven’t yet.