Uncle Mazzi and Producer D’Walla Deliver an 18-Track Project With Carousel Gardens
#NOLAZINE - New Orleans hip-hop continues to evolve, and Uncle Mazzi is determined to make his presence felt.
New Orleans recording artist Uncle Mazzi has joined forces with producer D’Walla for their latest collaborative album, Carousel Gardens, an 18-track project released October 30, 2026, through FYT Entertainment LLC.
Running approximately 53 minutes, the album brings together an impressive collection of collaborators while continuing the creative partnership between Mazzi and D’Walla.
With appearances from Big Ramp, OG Enoch, A.P. TH3 GHOST, MikeTheYoungin', Kyle’a, Mac Infinity, Ray $teezo, Imani Vonshà, Freak Masters of The Universe, and Ike Numberz, the project offers listeners a wide-ranging introduction to the artists within Uncle Mazzi's musical circle.
One of the first things that makes Carousel Gardens interesting is its title.
For generations of New Orleans residents, Carousel Gardens has been more than an amusement park. Located inside City Park, the attraction represents childhood memories, family outings, and a piece of the city's cultural identity.
By choosing this name, Uncle Mazzi and D’Walla establish an unmistakable connection to New Orleans.
The title also provides a compelling metaphor for the ups and downs of life. Like an amusement park ride, an artist's journey can involve excitement, setbacks, unexpected turns, and moments of reflection.
Whether that interpretation was intentional or not, it gives listeners an interesting perspective from which to approach the project.
One of the defining elements of this release is the ongoing partnership between Uncle Mazzi and D’Walla.
The two previously collaborated on projects including Opening Night and Lakeshore Drive, establishing a working relationship that continues with Carousel Gardens.
In hip-hop, the relationship between a recording artist and producer can be one of the most important ingredients in creating a recognizable sound.
History has shown how successful artist-producer combinations can develop their own musical identities through repeated collaborations.
For Uncle Mazzi, working consistently with D’Walla creates an opportunity to build that same level of creative familiarity.
Rather than approaching each release as an isolated project, the pair are developing a growing catalog together.
The album begins with “The Journey,” featuring Ike Numberz, before moving into “Ready 2 Go.”
From there, the tracklist introduces “Where I'm From,” featuring MikeTheYoungin', and “Time 2 Get Paid,” featuring Big Ramp.
Those opening titles suggest themes of personal identity, preparation, and financial ambition.
Other songs, including “I Get Nice,” “Fabio's Revenge,” and “Get It Right,” continue the album's progression.
Interestingly, the project includes three tracks featuring Ike Numberz: “The Journey,” “The Arrival,” and “The Departure.”
The placement of these records creates a beginning, middle, and ending framework that makes the album appear deliberately structured.
Instead of simply presenting a collection of unrelated songs, Uncle Mazzi and D’Walla have organized the tracklist around the idea of a journey.
Another major talking point surrounding Carousel Gardens is the number of guest appearances.
Big Ramp appears on “Time 2 Get Paid,” while MikeTheYoungin' joins Uncle Mazzi and D’Walla on “Where I'm From.”
A.P. TH3 GHOST is featured on “Fabio's Revenge,” and OG Enoch contributes to “Get It Right.”
The album also features Kyle’a on “Be Honest,” Freak Masters of The Universe on “Million Dollar Gamez,” and Imani Vonshà on “Party Don't Stop.”
Later in the project, Mac Infinity appears on “Slidin',” while Ray $teezo joins the collaboration on “Polaroid.”
Ike Numberz contributes to “The Journey,” “The Arrival,” and “The Departure.”
Altogether, the guest list demonstrates Uncle Mazzi and D’Walla's willingness to involve a broad group of collaborators.
For independent artists, collaborations can play an important role in expanding audiences, developing relationships, and introducing listeners to new talent.
The range of names on Carousel Gardens also gives fans several artists to discover beyond the album's two principal creators.
Several records stand out on paper because of their titles, featured performers, or placement within the project.
“Where I'm From” featuring MikeTheYoungin' is particularly intriguing because its title suggests a connection to personal history and hometown identity.
“Time 2 Get Paid” featuring Big Ramp points toward ambition and the pursuit of financial success, subjects that have long been part of hip-hop storytelling.
“Fabio's Revenge” featuring A.P. TH3 GHOST is another record worth exploring, especially for listeners familiar with the collaborators' previous work.
“Million Dollar Gamez” featuring Freak Masters of The Universe has one of the album's most memorable titles and represents another interesting collaboration.
“Party Don't Stop” featuring Imani Vonshà provides a potentially different thematic direction within the tracklist.
“Polaroid” featuring Ray $teezo also catches attention with a title that suggests memories and moments captured in time.
The album concludes with “Pressure,” “The Message,” and “The Departure,” creating a closing sequence that invites listeners to consider the project's overall narrative.
These tracks offer promising listening points, although determining which songs are the strongest requires hearing the complete album.
New Orleans has produced some of the most influential figures in hip-hop history.
From the emergence of Cash Money Records and No Limit Records to the generations of independent artists who followed, the city has maintained a distinct place in Southern music.
However, the history of New Orleans hip-hop is much larger than the nationally recognized names.
Independent artists, producers, engineers, and creative entrepreneurs continue contributing to the city's musical identity every day.
Uncle Mazzi belongs to that broader community of artists working to establish their own catalogs and audiences.
Projects such as Carousel Gardens are important because they give independent musicians another opportunity to document their creativity and build lasting connections with listeners.
What makes Carousel Gardens noteworthy is its scale, its New Orleans-inspired identity, and the continued collaboration between Uncle Mazzi and D’Walla.
With 18 tracks and a sizable collection of guest artists, the project represents an ambitious release for the creative partnership.
The album's sequencing, particularly the placement of “The Journey,” “The Arrival,” and “The Departure,” suggests an effort to present a cohesive experience rather than a random collection of songs.
Its featured artists also provide an opportunity for listeners to explore a wider network of independent talent.
The ultimate test will be how successfully the performances, production, songwriting, and collaborations come together across the full 53-minute runtime.
For now, Carousel Gardens deserves a place on the listening list of anyone interested in following independent New Orleans hip-hop.
NOLAZINE encourages hip-hop fans to support independent artists, explore the full album, and decide which records deserve a spot in their rotation.
Carousel Gardens by Uncle Mazzi and D’Walla is available now on Spotify and other major streaming platforms.
Have y'all checked out Uncle Mazzi and D’Walla's Carousel Gardens? Which featured artist or song are you most excited to hear?
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