Stanisland Magazine

Fresh out the oven, Lord Apex wins prizes on commendable new hip-hop album

Last updated: 1st October 2025

This album has been a long time coming, and with the announcement of his
UK-wide tour, Lord Apex’s fire pit is growing out of control. Smoke Sessions 4 released two singles that made us hungry — here we are diving headfirst into a platter of hip-hop goodness.

Smoke Sessions 4: Review and Breakdown

Initial P laid the groundwork while EM4 fired a slingshot into the air, and with that, a catastrophic series of embers drifted off in various directions.

“Full frontal lyricism is at the core of his approach, opting for dramatics and a production funnelled through the writing room of fire.” – Review of “EM4”

Tracks like Vision are relatable, vibing productions simmering with blatant stylistic inventions of the rapper.

“On this creamy current of diarist notions, the London spitter dreams of a life of comfort and beyond — both for himself and friends.” – Stanisland Magazine on “Initial P”

READ MORE: All the Latest News From the UK Hip-Hop Scene

His code of property leans heavily into it — this is no different when we arrive at Warmest Winter, where the lyricist exudes storytelling finesse. It’s visceral, you feel like you’re there, while smoke billows into the air around you.

The UK rap scene is a divided one, with a polarising fan base of dubious picks to say the least. Lord Apex has done well to weave his own brand of hip-hop in such a short space of time. Flying the flag adjacent to such a growing industry, he’s found a own way to keep up with the Joneses — by ignoring them.

It’s one of the best long plays so far this year, dripping in sweat and tears from a rapper who can truly call himself an artist. It’s a vessel of triumphant rhyme, stocked with patterns of metaphors, levitating before the listener.

The Verdict

The production on Smoke Sessions 4 cracks the window without slowing down, and there are trophies to give out for almost all its compositions. What separates Apex is his ability to continue swimming into the depths he is comfortable with, and that’s pretty deep. Crafting his own proverbial swagger, he’s inseparable from incredible, synonymous with a custom literary technique that has made him one of few gems in the hip-hop scene.