The intro of rapper Bayou Boy’s The Bidden War, plays out as a group of people looking for their favorite radio station. The group turns down the station that is playing Lil’ Wayne’s mixtape version of “Money in the Bank,” and celebrates as they find their desired station which starts the second track of the album. Bidden War serves as a showcase of hungry New Orleans rappers featuring Bayou Boy, Mack Maine of Young Money, Young City, and Skip. The album’s nostalgia for Pre- Katrina New Orleans is its most compelling element; on “Things Ain’t the Same,” Bayou Boy raps, “Schwegmann’s sold out to Robert / and the prices is high so po’ people don’t really go there/ pass by The Hangar see they boarded up the door there / reminisce about the last time we did a show there / I sense that my career is finally about to break / but I’ll give it all back for another Ms. Viola’s plate.” The artists go on to name-drop various early Crescent City classics including “the beanie weenie,” and Club Whispers.

Perhaps because album consists of rising rappers, the production is often sub-par. Manny Lee composes the majority of the tracks, and at times the horn, and snare drum gets monotonous. However, Manny mixes up a banger for Diesel, “You Heard Me Lil’ Mama,” which has the potential of a club favorite. Bidden War is an interesting project, with many songs that shows promise for the rising artists.