The Mekanix - Under The Hood 2

Released on April 3, 2026, on Zoo Entertainment, this studio album follows Authenticity (2023) and transforms the tracklist into a collective work without any gaps: each track is a chapter dedicated to a specific icon, from TK Kirkland to Too $hort. The total duration of five minutes and fifteen seconds testifies to a deliberately expansive project, where the absence of solo tracks highlights the gap between what was previously and this massive influx of legends from the Bay Area and underground rap.

A collective work dedicated to the icons of the Bay Area

The starting signal for a meeting of legends

So Ugggly (feat. E-40 & J. Stalin): The collision of historical flows from the Bay Area

The vibrational break with the simultaneous arrival of two major figures, E-40 and J. Stalin. This configuration is not just a simple accumulation of names, but the logical continuation of a documented history between The Mekanix and these artists: E-40 had already been featured on "Bay Area Perspective" (Chop Shop 2, 2014) and "Hands" (Under the Hood, 2016), while J. Stalin reappears after his previous appearances on "The Chop Shop", "Get Set", "H.N.I.C." or even "Party Jumpin" (all from Chop Shop, 2012). The catchy title of the track serves here as a banner for this vocal confrontation, transforming the track into a monument dedicated to the geographical and stylistic roots of the group.

The return of a classic Californian style

The thematic continuity with the previous era is reinforced with "Outta Pocket", where Keak Da Sneak returns to the scene after a series of past collaborations.

The continuation of the thematic continuity with Authenticity

The closing track is "Make Up", which seals the album not just as a simple studio project, but as a solemn conclusion to the narrative journey undertaken over these 20 tracks.

The solemn conclusion that seals the legacy of 20 collaborations

The closing with "Make Up" confirms that Under The Hood 2 is an absolute act of concentration, a statement where the constraints of time dictate the pace. All 20 tracks feature one or more credited artists, creating a symmetrical structure for an album where each collaboration is as important as the others. The closing track seals the legacy of 20 collaborations, transforming the project into a collective mural without any gaps in the sound.

A living encyclopedia of underground rap

The album Under The Hood 2 is a major event in the consolidation of West Coast rap, reviving a documented line of collaborations between The Mekanix and their historical guests while also incorporating a new wave of artists. The mythological richness of the Bay Area, where each track becomes a monument dedicated to a specific icon, is the main strength of this album. It is a living archive of underground rap, where each track is a chapter dedicated to the legend it honors, marking a story that began in 2012 with Chop Shop and concludes in 2026.

Technical details

- Release date : April 3, 2026 - Label : Zoo Entertainment - Tracks : 20 (1 h 05 min) - Opening / closing : Under The Hood Intro / Make Up - Guest artists : TK Kirkland, E-40, Problem, J. Stalin, Keak Da Sneak, OMB Peezy, 4 rAx, 22nd Jim, Eddi Penthouse, Scarface, Benny The Butcher, Mozzy … - Previous album : Authenticity (2023)