Stern Savage is the president of ASH Music, and along with CEO, Big Haps, have formed one of Arizona’s up and coming labels. Coming straight out of Philly, he migrated to Arizona in 2005 and has begun to create a name for himself out here. Now, Stern Savage hits us with his premier mix tape on Ash Music called “How to Bully Vol 2”. With this mixtape, Stern proves he is one to be respected in Arizona, and brings you right into Philly sound. “How to Bully” is a fitting title for this mix tape because that’s exactly how Stern Savage attacks the mic. His furious flow and energy on tracks is contagious and actually saves some of the music on this mixtape. The intro “Return of the Bully” brings you right in and your hear Stern get ferocious over a soulful beat with some dope pianos as he announces his return. We hear Stern at his best on the song “Rollah Ridah” where he brags and boasts over a beat that just bangs hard in the speakers. Dropping punch lines like “I don’t mean apartments when I say I’m pushing units” or “he’ll have three holes in his melon like a bowling ball” makes this a definite banger. Stern drops another dope one with the heater “Straight Balling” boasting a Wayne sample from “Like Father like Son” bringing the perfect energy for the track. Even though I think there is way too many features on this mixtape, a good amount made for some dope music. One raw collab is “Flatline” where Stern and Reck da Villain spit verses over a beat with some serious horns; Stern once again brings the energy on this track. “About My Paper” is a very nice east coast club banger with Lou Rizzol and Reck da Villain. Another highlight is “Bossman” with Odie and Boss. Boss murders the track showing he is very underrated in AZ. “It’s just the jerk in me, pop a perk or three/and me and Stern spit the flame burn to the third degree/ashes in urn pages turn to the next story/undisputed and undefeated in all categories/I’m on some new shit, fresh out the package/direct and shoot you take 6, actors/”. One of the best songs I’ve heard in a while out of AZ is the song “I Want it All” ft. Lo and Attlas. Lo laces the perfect hook and delivers a scorching verse with his always hot flow. Attlas comes with a straight asshole verse reminding you of his claim as the king of AZ. Proclaiming that Maryvale should name street after him, he hits you with bars like “now an ice box sits where my heart be/this is my city you don’t like you can leave/but I’m like a Visa everywhere you wanna be/and I stay armed don’t make me roll up my sleeves”. There are some serious misses on here – “Youuu” and “That’s Her” are just bad songs but Stern Savage manages to give us a consistent project that’s bangs throughout. This is a mix tape that definitely shows his potential to be force nationwide rather than locally. With ASH Music behind Stern, he is poised to make that jump. If you’ve slept on Stern before, “How to Bully Vol 2” will definitely wake you up.