In many years for music, some of the best albums arrive towards the end of the calendar. For Ambrosia For Heads readers, 2020’s best-of list included late-year albums from Statik Selektah, Nana, 2 Chainz, and Your Old Droog. 2019’s AFH tally involved three November titles from Griselda, Gang Starr, and Add-2. In 2018, that late-year distinction belonged to Black Thought & Salaam Remi as well as Masta Ace & Marco Polo. 2021 may follow suit, as Russ delivers CHOMP 2, a just-released LP that may re-position the Secaucus, New Jersey native in the minds and ears of many. The work features appearances by Big K.R.I.T., Jay Electronica, Ghostface Killah, Ransom, Lloyd Banks, Snoop Dogg, Conway The Machine, CyHi The Prynce, Joey Bada$$, and others. Moreover, producers include DJ Premier, Alchemist, 9th Wonder, Hi-Tek, Hit-Boy, Jake One, Harry Fraud, Statik Selektah, and B!nk.

CHOMP 2 finds Russ swinging for the fences in the minds of critics and fans. On the second song, “Blue Chip,” Russ jabs, “Beat straight from Motown, shout-out Mr. Porter / B-Dot and everybody, get your list in order / This the album of the year by a long shot.” Moments later, he adds, “I wasn’t invited, so I through my own party / Didn’t let me join, so I got my own army / I spoke harshly, once or twice, boo-hoo, b*tch / Didn’t matter still went from, ‘Who?’ to, ‘Who’s who?’ b*tch.” The sentiment is from a perceived outsider who defied the old system. While based in Atlanta, Georgia throughout the early 2010s, Russ Vitale mounted a reputation as a prolific Soundcloud artist who raps, sings, and produces. In 2016, Russ told Billboard‘s Lyndsey Havens that he was a “10-year, 11-album, 87-song overnight success.” After dropping at least one song a week, “What They Want” became a charting hit, and brought attention to the upstart—marching its way to quadruple platinum.

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The MC merged his Russ My Way imprint with Columbia Records’ infrastructure for a time, earning his first platinum album certification for 2017’s There’s Really A Wolf. The LP spent 84 weeks on Billboard‘s Top 200 charts. Both follow-ups, 2018’s ZOO and 2020’s Shake The Snow Globe each peaked in the Top 10 too. However, in late 2020, Russ dropped a five-song EP, CHOMP, that found the triple-threat working with heralded Hip-Hop artists like Busta Rhymes, DJ Premier, KXNG Crooked, and Benny The Butcher. It showed new range, and an artist who could hang with some O.G.’s on and off the mic.

In the closing month of 2021, Russ follows with CHOMP 2. The sequel comes as a 14-track full-length that carries on tradition. On the 9th Wonder-produced “Salute,” Russ professes that his “success is still under the radar.”

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The 29-year-old raps about wealth and accolades alongside his skills. While he made a name without help, CHOMP 2 involves a who’s who in all the right places. “Note To Self,” involving Wale, Joey Bada$$, and Big Sean, begins with Russ dropping quotables: “5 A.M. in Atlanta, I’m writin’ raps / Sometimes I’m fightin’ for my dreams but it seems like they fightin’ back” and “F*ck the haters, focus on who loves it / It’s a shame to be chasin’ love and runnin’ right from it.” On “Get It,” Russ brags about making it while blazing a trail. “I just raised the standards / The first album made history / I made ’em change thе banners / And I wasn’t in their plans / But that’s too bad ’cause I’m cеmented /
Y’all didn’t think I’d get here, just imagine where I’m headed,” he raps.

CHOMP 2

MIDNIGHT pic.twitter.com/Xlkq61d1lo

— RUSS (@russdiemon) December 7, 2021

Russ brings a massive audience to deserving talent like CyHi, Lloyd Banks, Ransom, and others. While producing songs, he taps Jake One, Hi-Tek, 9th Wonder, DJ Premier, and others for an all-star ensemble. An artist who is on the top tier brings Hip-Hop with him.