FAST FIVE: June 2025
New Christian Order, Thee Alumni, Fresh Prints, Andy Mineo, Saint in Exile
Usually I try to get these out early in the month, but things have been really busy at the MD offices getting #8 out. Which, by the way, Midnight Donuts #8 is out and you should go buy it! It has a bunch of really good mini-reviews written by my colleagues that have not and will not appear online. Click here to get yours!
Now, on to the FAST FIVE…
New Christian Order - “Violence”
June 13, 2925
Words by Darius Mullin
Leaning into a collective/group theme today, as you’ll see. outr.cty, Prodi Da Prodigal, International Show, and Q-Flo team up on this New Christian Order track to deliver one of my favorite gritty CHH releases of the year.
Thee Alumni - GODS PLAN
June 17, 2025
Words by Darius Mullin
Multiple dope new groups dropped debuts in June. CHH veteran Kaboose teamed up with Polished Arrow Music’s newest emcee, m1L, to drop the GODS PLAN EP under the name “Thee Alumni.” Classic boom-bap excellence in five tracks.
Fresh Prints - “Chromesthesia”
June 20, 2025
Words by Darius Mullin
Illect Recordings has brought us another incredible hip-hop group in the form of Fresh Prints. The act is a duo comprised of lyricist Nomis and producer DSTL (aka Daniel Steele). DSTL is all over the place these days, drumming for Kings Kaleidoscope, producing for the likes of Tunnel Rats and Andy Mineo, and more. Nomis is one of my favorite underground lyricists. The two are both in top form on the record. Definitely looking forward to the full LP this fall.
Andy Mineo - "I Swear, This Is Not an André 3000 Diss Song"
June 26, 2025
Words by Darius Mullin
Ever notice how Andy Mineo tends to release mixtapes and/or stand-alone singles right before he gears up to release a definitive piece of work? Formerly Known before Heroes for Sale, Work in Progress before Neverland II, etc. I’ve been assuming that we are going to get another full Mineo album sometime in the near future ever since he released For Promotional Use Only last year. Not to get too psychological, but I wonder if Andy is such a perfectionist that he has to release something really low-stakes before releasing a proper project, just to give himself “permission” to accept the risk of a flop, and to build a little momentum.
Anyway, Andy Mineo pretty much says as much in “I Swear…” He purports to be talking to Andre 3000, but you get the sense that he’s mostly looking in the mirror.
“…My guess is that it's pressure… And I know I'm soundin' critical, but if I'm comin' clean, this got more to do with me, it isn't you.”
Plus it has a great vid. Check it out below!
Saints in Exile - “My Dead End”
June 27, 2025
Words by Darius Mullin
This alt-rock song features 4 musicians/lyricists who have either written for, or been interviewed by, Midnight Donuts (or both): Justin Sarachik, Cutright, Jeannie Ortega, and Luc DiMarzio. (Jericko is also on the song, so I guess we have our next interview lined up lol) Just a cool and unexpected crossover, and a great song. “My Dead End” is the follow-up to Saints in Exile’s relentlessly catchy debut “Becoming the Villain.”
In case you missed it, we just launched a chat for Midnight Donuts here on Substack! And I’m letting you guys choose what shows up in the next FAST FIVE! Click here to join.
We also launched a summer playlist! Curation by @careyjackson Check it out below.
