ANKHLEJOHN returns with ‘SELFMADE EP’, a compact but focused five-track drop that leans fully into his signature grit. Across the project, the DC rapper sounds locked in, hungry and unapologetic.
Opening track ‘THE RIDDLER’ sets the tone immediately. Over almost eerie production from WHOA1.0, ANKHLEJOHN delivers grimy bars with his instantly recognizable voice, even throwing in a raw “open up the moshpit” that underlines the project’s intensity. That same darkness carries into ‘STATE PROPERTY’, where booming 808s meet cold piano loops. His delivery slows slightly, making lines like “half of you fucking rappers can’t drop without permission” hit even harder.
‘JUMPIN A BUNNY’ continues the formula. Heavy piano, stripped-back aggression, and hunger in every bar. While THE AMERICAN MAN leans into self-praise. “I’m the closest thing walking to Jesus” isn’t just a bar, it’s a statement of positioning, reinforcing his self-made identity over yet another bass-driven, piano-laced beat.
The standout shift comes on ‘COOKING BOARD’. Here, ANKHLEJOHN picks up the pace, flowing over a more orchestral instrumental while reflecting on his upbringing. It adds a layer of depth to an otherwise sonically tight project.
As a whole, ‘SELFMADE EP’ is cohesive to a fault. The production stays in a narrow pocket, gritty, eerie, piano-heavy, which works, but occasionally feels too comfortable. Still, that consistency reinforces his aesthetic rather than diluting it.
The verdict is clear: a solid, no-frills EP that taps into that raw, Griselda-adjacent energy. ANKHLEJOHN sounds as hungry as ever, and that alone makes this worth your time.
