When MAD Mike sets his mind on a concept, it’s never just a theme—it becomes a ritual, a confrontation, a deep dive into the psyche. Root of All Evil, his latest solo album under Lost Soul Productions, is exactly that. It doesn’t follow trends, it breaks cycles. Seven tracks. Seven deadly sins. One mission: to purge pain and build strength through chaos.
Known for his work with Dual Diagnosis, the New Jersey emcee has long walked the line between horror-core and healing. With this record, he’s gone deeper, inviting some of underground hip-hop’s fiercest lyricists—NEMS, Lex the Hex Master, Mr. Hyde, Termanology, and Roc—into a space that’s equally spiritual and savage.
From Concept to Execution
Rather than toss a few features onto generic beats, Root of All Evil was constructed with intention. Each instrumental was handpicked to match the guest artist’s energy, making every collaboration feel natural, focused, and razor-sharp. There’s cohesion across the entire record, thanks in part to producer C-Lance, who handles the full project with his signature cinematic, metal-infused grit.
Arcitype, who appears on the blistering “You Can Get It” with NEMS, brings extra texture to an already rugged project—proof that even a one-off beat can seamlessly integrate into a well-crafted soundscape when the vision is solid.
The writing here feels sharpened, both emotionally and technically. Mike doesn’t need to spell out every trauma—he lets the tone, cadence, and pacing do that for him. There’s a balance between abstract metaphor and direct catharsis, especially as the record walks through the shadowy themes of sin, betrayal, and rebirth.
The intro and outro bookend the project with eerie proclamations and spoken word fragments that frame the listener’s descent into darkness. Tracks like “Blasphemy” and “Shed Blood” embody wrath and pride, while “Cuttin’ Da Chain” flips the narrative into one of liberation, aiming to shatter generational curses rather than glorify them.
Albert Charlemagne’s mix and master work at Brooklyn Dragon’s Lair can’t be understated. His engineering adds clarity and depth to a genre that often leans into distortion and grime. Each verse is surgically placed, with vocal layering, panning, and balance designed to preserve the emotional weight of the content. It’s polished—but not too polished. The rawness remains intact.
This isn’t just another underground rap tape. Root of All Evil builds on MAD Mike’s previous release, Nature of the Beast, expanding the narrative from personal introspection to philosophical warfare. Where Nature looked inward at mental health and trauma, Root externalizes those demons and burns them down. It’s a metaphor for shedding skin, cutting ties, and pushing forward—something listeners battling real-life chaos will undoubtedly connect with.
What’s Coming Next?
Mike’s future plans show no signs of slowing down. With C-Lance set to remain at the production helm and Albert Charlemagne continuing to fine-tune the sonics, the next chapter will likely fuse the darkness of Root with even more aggressive rock and rap textures.
And with more Dual Diagnosis music in the works, as well as solo collaborations on the horizon, fans can expect a continued evolution—edgier, smarter, and more emotionally nuanced than ever before.
Root of All Evil — Tracklist:
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Intro
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Blasphemy (feat. Lex the Hex Master)
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Shed Blood (feat. Mr. Hyde)
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You Can Get It (feat. NEMS, produced by The Arcitype)
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Blood Squirt Fever (feat. Roc)
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Cuttin’ Da Chain (feat. Termanology)
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Outro
Stream the album everywhere now.
For visuals, merch, and more info, visit:
📡 Lost Soul Productions
📸 @dualdiagnosis_ on Instagram
📺 YouTube Channel
