The underground hip-hop scene just got a powerful new entry with Root of All Evil, the latest solo project from MAD Mike, one-half of the group Dual Diagnosis. Released through Lost Soul Productions, this album represents the sharpest and most personal work of Mike’s career, blending unfiltered lyricism with heavy-hitting production.
Featuring an impressive lineup of underground legends—including NEMS, Lex the Hex Master, Mr. Hyde, Termanology, and Roc—the project balances raw energy with carefully curated collaborations. Add in C-Lance’s crushing, metal-inspired production and the surgical mixing/mastering of Albert Charlemagne at Brooklyn Dragon’s Lair, and you’ve got one of the strongest underground hip-hop albums of 2025.
Unlike projects that throw features together for clout, Root of All Evil was built on intentional collaboration. MAD Mike personally matched artists with specific beats and themes, ensuring each verse carried purpose.
“All of these artists are in a similar realm of underground hip-hop. Each of their unique styles painted a clear picture of what the album is about,” Mike explains.
From NEMS’ no-nonsense delivery to Lex the Hex Master’s sharp horror-core edge, every feature complements Mike’s vision. The result is a unified album where the guests enhance the story rather than distract from it.
The sonic identity of Root of All Evil comes from producer C-Lance, a frequent collaborator of MAD Mike’s since 2020’s The Intake. Known for his dark, metal-infused beats, C-Lance provides the perfect backdrop for Mike’s guttural delivery and lyrical intensity.
“Over the years, he locked in my style by producing custom beats with a hard-hitting metal-like edge,” Mike says.
Once the production was locked in, Albert Charlemagne gave the album its final polish. Mixing and mastering at Brooklyn Dragon’s Lair, Albert elevated the sound while staying true to Mike’s vision:
“Albert’s ability to read my style added nuance to the overall mood of the record. I trust Albert and his vision. I wish I met him sooner.”
Together, the trio built an album that hits as hard sonically as it does lyrically.
If Nature of the Beast was about battling demons, Root of All Evil is about exorcising them. The album dives into cycles of family trauma, toxic relationships, and internal battles, framed through the lens of the seven deadly sins.
“My struggle is personal, but through this album, I make my struggle a communal testament to share strength and show support,” Mike explains.
Philosophical undertones run throughout, with lyrics like “Are you scared of your own shadow?” and “From the veins of the innocent to the path of righteousness, this is the root of all evil…” turning pain into poetry.
Horror-core has often been criticized for being all shock and no substance, but MAD Mike flips that narrative. His guttural screams and fire-forged verses aren’t for theatrics—they’re survival mechanisms.
“I rap about what I feel… I don’t talk about the experiences itself—that’s personal. But how I express vulnerability is through my delivery. That is healing for me.”
By weaving pain into power, Mike follows in the footsteps of underground icons like Tech N9ne and Ill Bill, proving horror-core can be a path toward empowerment and connection.
With Root of All Evil making waves in the underground, MAD Mike isn’t slowing down. He’s already teasing a follow-up that fuses the introspection of Nature of the Beast with the darkness of Root of All Evil—this time with heavier rock elements.
“The next album will almost be like a cool mixture of Nature of the Beast with Root of All Evil… edgier, more rock elements, more evolution.”
At the same time, Dual Diagnosis has new material on the way, continuing to push boundaries and spotlight topics like mental health, generational trauma, and survival.
Root of All Evil is more than just another underground hip-hop album—it’s a declaration. It’s MAD Mike at his rawest, teaming with C-Lance’s ferocious production and Albert Charlemagne’s precision engineering to deliver an unforgettable listening experience.
For fans of underground rap, horror-core, or unflinching artistry, Root of All Evil is essential listening.
Tracklist – Root of All Evil (2025)
- Intro
- Blasphemy (feat. Lex the Hex Master)
- Shed Blood (feat. Mr. Hyde)
- You Can Get It (feat. NEMS | prod. The Arcitype)
- Blood Squirt Fever (feat. Roc)
- Cuttin’ Da Chain (feat. Termanology)
- Outro
Produced by: C-Lance
Mixed/Mastered by: Albert Charlemagne @ Brooklyn Dragon’s Lair
Listen now on streaming platforms
📲 Follow MAD Mike & Dual Diagnosis:
- Instagram: @dualdiagnosis_
- YouTube: Dual Diagnosis Official
- Label: Lost Soul Productions