The Scythe Strictly 4 The Scythe
Released Mar 6, 2026 Loma Vista Recordings
Established consensus 8 professional reviews Updated Mar 20, 2026
Mostly positive consensus
The Scythe's Strictly 4 The Scythe channels a bruising, celebratory strain of Southern rap that lands as a high-energy posse statement more often than a cohesive album.
How ChoruScore worksCritics' Top Tracks
The songs critics returned to most
PHONY (feat. Juicy J, Key Nyata & A$AP Ferg)
6 critic mentions
“Key Nyata playing into that with some really great triplet flows” — The Needle Drop
THE SCYTHE (feat. TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)
5 critic mentions
“TiaCorine on the title cut says she fixes her lips to talk shit” — Shatter The Standards
LIT EFFECT (feat. BKTHERULA & LAZER DIM 700)
5 critic mentions
“sleepy LAZER DIM feature, that's honestly too weak and unmemorable” — The Needle Drop
Full critic consensus
The Scythe's Strictly 4 The Scythe channels a bruising, celebratory strain of Southern rap that lands as a high-energy posse statement more often than a cohesive album. Across eight professional reviews the record earned a 67.5/100 consensus score, and critics consistently praise the tracks that embrace Memphis horrorcore and 90s posse-rap nostalgia for their raw chemistry and club-ready momentum.
Reviewers point to standout tracks as proof of the concept: “PHONY (feat. Juicy J, Key Nyata & A$AP Ferg)” and “THE SCYTHE (feat. TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)” emerge repeatedly as the collection's highlights, while “LIT EFFECT (feat. BKTHERULA & LAZER DIM 700)” and “HOOPTY (feat. TiaCorine & Smino)” fuel the record's block-party energy and gang-vocal thrills. Critics note the project excels when it foregrounds collaboration and the Ultraground's menacing theatrics, stitching together Three 6 Mafia and Raider Klan influences into moments that feel both nostalgic and immediate.
That said, several reviews point out uneven cohesion and stylistic inconsistency: some cuts drift into glossy internet-trap or solo-artist fare, which dilutes the supergroup dynamic and leaves the record feeling restless at times. The consensus suggests Strictly 4 The Scythe is worth seeking out for its standout songs and communal highs, especially if you care about Southern hip-hop fusion and posse-rap revival, though the collection stops short of a fully realized coalition. For a deeper dive into what critics say about the best songs on the record, read the full reviews below.
Track Ratings
How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.
THE SCYTHE (feat. TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)
LIT EFFECT (feat. BKTHERULA & LAZER DIM 700)
PHONY (feat. Juicy J, Key Nyata & A$AP Ferg)
MUTT THAT BIH (feat. 1900Rugrat & Key Nyata)
HOOPTY (feat. TiaCorine & Smino)
YOU AINT GOTTA LIE (feat. 454 & Luh Tyler)
TAN (feat. BKTHERULA & TiaCorine)
UP (feat. Rich The Kid, A$AP Ferg & SadBoi)
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What Critics Are Saying
Deep insights from 8 critics who reviewed this album
Critic's Take
The critic foregrounds the group’s collective chemistry and the record’s short, no-wasted-moves runtime as central reasons these are the best songs on Strictly 4 The Scythe. Ultimately the strongest tracks are praised for stitching together eras of Southern rap while giving each member clear space to dominate.
Key Points
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The album’s core strength is its concentrated homage to Southern rap, threading eras into concise, hard-hitting tracks.
Themes
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Critic's Take
In a loose, club-ready way Denzel Curry and company deliver plenty of fun on Strictly 4 The Scythe, but the record rarely adds up to more than the sum of its parts. The result is an album of low-stakes, high-energy fun rather than a fully realized coalition.
Key Points
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The album’s core strength is high-energy Southern production and charismatic individual turns, despite uneven group cohesion.
Themes
Critic's Take
Denzel Curry’s collective project Strictly 4 The Scythe reads like a celebration of Southern rap, and the best songs on the album are the ones that lean into that heritage. Opener “THE SCYTHE (feat. TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)” establishes the Ultraground’s menacing theatrics, while “YOU AINT GOTTA LIE (feat. 454 & Luh Tyler)” locks into an addictive phonk groove. The tape is chaotic and playful, so the best tracks are those that let each voice sharpen the next.
Key Points
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The album’s core strength is its chaotic, playful celebration of Southern rap voices and collaborations.
Themes
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Critic's Take
The Scythe’s Strictly 4 The Scythe sells itself on posse-rap nostalgia, and the best tracks prove it - “THE SCYTHE (feat. TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)” functions as the album’s mission statement with filthy Memphis beats and genuine interplay. The reviewer's voice loves the horror-tinged highlight “PHONY (feat. Juicy J, Key Nyata & A$AP Ferg)”, which summons Juicy J and channels Mystic Stylez energy. “LIT EFFECT (feat. BKTHERULA & LAZER DIM 700)” gets props for Denzel’s stellar verse, though some guests underwhelm, and that inconsistency is why the best tracks sit mostly in the first half.
Key Points
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The best song is “THE SCYTHE (feat. TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)” because it crystallizes group interplay and Memphis-style production.
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The album's core strength is nostalgic, gritty 90s Memphis energy, but it falters due to stylistic inconsistency and weak group cohesion.
Themes
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Critic's Take
Hi, everyone. The Scythe’s Strictly 4 The Scythe is at its best when it leans into grimy Southern energy, like on “THE SCYTHE (feat. TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)” and “PHONY (feat. Juicy J, Key Nyata & A$AP Ferg)”, which feel large, cohesive, and hype. The record also lights up on “HOOPTY (feat. TiaCorine & Smino)” with gang vocals and a block-party momentum that showcases TiaCorine and Smino. Yet the album drifts into glossy, internet-trap territory on cuts like “TAN (feat. BKTHERULA & TiaCorine)” and loses collective focus, turning some tracks into standard solo-artist fare rather than a unified posse statement.
Key Points
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The best song is "THE SCYTHE (feat. TiaCorine & A$AP Ferg)" because of its booming beat, cohesive group choruses, and strong guest turns.
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The album's core strength is its grimy, energetic Southern-rap moments, but it loses focus when it drifts into glossy internet-trap.
Sh
Critic's Take
The Scythe sounds deliberate and nocturnal, and on Strictly 4 The Scythe the best tracks come through with the tape's sharpest lines and momentum.
Key Points
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The album's core strengths are consistent murky production, guest highlights from Key Nyata and Bktherula, and palpable group energy.