38 Spesh stays putting out dope music. Whether he’s on the mic, handling production or both, you can count on 38 Spesh to deliver one way or another. This is 38 Speshs first solo release since 2024s Mother & Gun and it didn’t disappoint!  
.

For this album there was less 38 Spesh production than some might expect seeing as he’s an outstanding producer. Much of the production was taken care of by producers like  TrickyTrippz, Smooth Hayes, LT Beatz, Moose Tarantino and more. Meanwhile 38 Spesh focused on his bar work and it shows. Not only does 38 Spesh get grimy with street content, but also lets us get a deeper glimpse with songs like Heavy Burden & Mental Health. A song that has Che Noir annihilating her verse, and Spesh kicking an incredible hook where he says “Can’t tell my bitch the reason why I’m sad, if I tell her my problems she repeat it when she mad”, damn.  
.

38 Speshes bread and butter is hardcore street lyricism and he does it at an extremely high level. Across the album there’s quotable after quotable. Sometimes I want more from 38 Speshes flow, but it’s a flow that allows for focused lyricism and intricate rhyme patterns that keep your attention locked in. 38 Spesh brought a whole crew along with him to feature across the album and largely they delivered. Dave East, Ransom, Method Man, Smooth Hayes, Curtis Coke and the aforementioned Che Noir all showed out. With only the Busta Rhymes verse not really working for me, it just didn’t feel like it fot the verse 100%. Some of my favorite songs on 8 Shots are The Main Line, Mental Health, Trust Us, Heavy Burden & Everything.  
.

8 Shots is an amazing album from 38 Spesh. Filled with great features and songs, it was a great solo return and hopefully we continue to get more 38 Spesh on the mic because he’s an underrated MC in the grand scheme of things. And 8 Shots is a 2026 album you can’t miss.

Album Review: 38 Spesh - 8 Shots