Detroit, Michigan emcee Bruiser Wolf returning for a brand new extended play. A member of the Bruiser Brigade collective, his 2021 solo debut Dope Game Stupid would become an experimentally gangsta & comedic gem although the sophomore effort My Story Got Stories was more moderately received a couple years ago. Both of his last couple albums Potluck & Made by Dope produced by Harry Fraud respectively have become his most celebrated material thus far, coming off the mixed response of Push & Paint to have Conductor Williams fully produce The Dealer Wins.
“Payday” hooking up a crooning sample with pianos for a 105 second intro talking about having 0 regrets & shooting his shot every time whereas the lead single “Ain’t Got Time” soulfully explains that he has more money than availability these days. The 2nd & final single “The Score” featuring Marv Won references the late WWE Hall of Famer Bobby Heenan & after the chipmunk soul-tinged “Dig Some Jive” echoes his own personal motto, “Transportation” talks about having locations to rinse the money off.
Kicking off the 2nd half, we have Bruiser looking back at a time when he used to spend his live living “In Danger” retaining the chipmunk soul vibes for a couple minutes leading into “State Property” talks about the minds of the poverty-stricken not functioning properly. “New Game, Same Rules” makes use of witty football wordplay since he played in the AFL when it existed & once “For You” dedicates itself to anyone who’s fumbled or hustled, “The Story of DeVaul Neal” rounds out The Dealer Wins on a more introspective note.
Looking to end 2026 strong ahead of reuniting with Harry Fraud for a Made by Dope sequel as as well as having Nicholas Craven produce an entire collection of material & even a collaborative album with Twista all coming within the new year, Bruiser Wolf makes up for the polarized reception Push & Paint received 8 months earlier combining the off-kilter delivery & inventive storytelling that’s made him unique with Conductor’s soulful production to make The Dealer Wins a 4th quarter buzzer beater of an EP.
Score: 9/10
