Audiopile Review: In horror, the most memorable figures are often the ones that take their time—creeping slowly, seeping into the audience’s psyche. Let Me Out, the latest from Fatboi Sharif and producer Driveby, channels that same slow-burning dread. It’s an album that unfolds at a steady pace, built on industrial textures and hollowed-out beats indebted more to experimental noise than boom bap. Sharif’s delivery is frequently disorienting, his surreal bars lingering long after the needle lifts from the platter. While he may not yet be one of the biggest names in experimental hip hop, those paying close attention know he’s been rapidly assembling one of the genre’s most singular and solid discographies. This latest addition to that run finds a perfect home on Deathbomb Arc, a label that’s championed similarly boundary-pushing acts like Clipping, JPEGMAFIA, and fellow up-and-comers Angry Blackmen. Together, Driveby and Fatboi Sharif aren’t just conjuring the ghosts of horrorcore—they’re warping them into something stranger and more nightmarish. The horrors here don’t merely lurk in the shadows—they echo the world around us, making this one of Sharif’s most essential works to date.

Crafted on the trembling bedrock of this country’s more turbulent times in recent memory, Fatboi Sharif & Driveby shred unease, rage, and passion in a blender and reassemble these fragments with equal sense of panic and precision. The result is an audio experience which holds a mirror up to the listener, reflecting a face you may not recognize. Hope remains throughout though, in tracks about conquering and freeing your mind from your own imprisonment of self doubt. Hidden potential, taking risks, and a distorted perspective are birthed as this creature they call LET ME OUT.

‘Let Me Out’ is Fatboi Sharif’s first full length album for Deathbomb Arc. Sharif has also released albums on the Backwoodz Studioz label, POW, and Fused Arrow. His 2024 work garnered him best of the year mentions at Bandcamp, The Fader, and The WIRE. 2025 will see Fatboi appearances on the west coast and his first trip to EU to perform.