Curly Castro- Yaphet

Label: Backwoodz Studioz

Released 10/30/2026

Yaphet is the new album from rapper Curly Castro-also known as one half of the dynamic duo Shrapknel. On Yaphet, Castro draws inspiration from the Blaxploitation film genre of the 1970's; using that era's black heroes and antiheroes as a launching pad for his cinematic lyricism. Flows switch as effortlessly as camera angles, verses are saturated with references and entendres, it's an endlessly rewind-worthy rap masterclass. But Yaphet is also Castro's first solo album since 2021's Little Robert Hutton, and beneath the fireworks, this album reflects the depth of his experiences in those intervening years. "I didn't set out to be so honest about my life, but that's what came out and the album is better for it, " Castro explains, "from facing the death of my infant daughter, to my father's death, to facing my own impending mortality, these are my most vulnerable blades, on my deepest cuts." Like Castro, this record marches to the beat of it's drum, and make no mistake, there are drums a-plenty for the veteran MC to spar with, as only he can. Produced entirely by Milwaukee beat maker Locust, Yaphet is a bouncy, eclectic listen that nods to it's influences, without ever looking backwards. Castro is joined by a whirlwind of the genre's finest; billy woods, PremRock, Fatboi Sharif, Brian Ennals, SKECH185, Blueprint, AJ Suede, shemar, ALASKA, Sunmundi, blackchai, & Margel the Sophant.

Track listing:

1. Black Don't Crack Ft. Fatboi Sharif, Blueprint, Brian Ennals, Skech185, Aj Suede, & Billy Woods
   
2. Superdope
   
3. Cheese N Bread Riddum
   
4. Enemy-Minded Ft. Margel the Sophant
   
5. Kotto
   
6. Railroad Spikes Ft. Margel the Sophant
   
7. Blood in the Garden Ft. Premrock
   
8. Salem Baptist
   
9. The Delectable Negro Ft. Margel the Sophant
   
10. Rinzler Wreck Ft. Alaska
    
11. I Couldn't Breathe, If I Wanted to
    
12. New Mutants Ft. Shemar, Blackchai, & Sunmundi
    
13. Last Good Will