Hip-hop artist AKTHESAVIOR and lo-fi producer sagun have officially announced their forthcoming joint album u r not alone.
We just announced our collaboration with Axcess, hip-hop artist out of the mid-west, leading all the way up until his...
If I didn't know better and I just heard Allan Kingdom's last two projects together, I would assume that 'Peanut Butter Prince' was the one that came earlier in his career; it's that much of a step back.
Anderson .Paak is an undeniably talented artist but he doesn't always deliver on that potential. 'Oxnard' is a definite step up from his debut but it still can't fully shake that feeling of missing 'something.'
Apollo Brown definitely coasted on this one and it showed. It'll still make the catalog because I still love a good Apollo Brown beat but 'No Question' is one of his weakest efforts yet.
The Easy Truth is hip-hop in it's purest form with Apollo Brown taking us through a master class of producing and sampling, and Skyzoo taking each track through a lyrical exercise. It's a beautiful, refreshing album that shows exactly why Apollo Brown is one of my all-time favorites.
Rebel Against Society was another big step forward for Axcess as he continues to find his groove and his voice. I only hope that he doesn't pull any punches next go around when it comes to speaking what's on his mind. He along with artists like Chance the Rapper are making me more of a believer in positivity in hip-hop.
Newly opened at The Baltimore Museum of Art, “The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century,” treats hip hop’s roots, impact, and essential figures with the same intellectual rigor and prestige it would a presentation of ancient Egypt, Greece, or Rome.
Bari creates some enjoyable, albeit superficial, chill trap vibes on MSTRGLSS that'll have you bopping along to it, as long as you are capable of just turning off and turning up.
He seems content only playing to his core audience (and I'm one of them), but for a project that was widely touted as going to be his 'coming out party', things were played a bit too safe for my liking. It's another solid Bas project that won't do much to change people's opinions one way or another.
Sonically 'Everything Is Love' is as good as you'd expect from Beyoncé & Jay-Z but I don't think there's anything here that's mind-blowing or different than what we've heard from them before (mostly like throwaways from the 'Lemonade' and '4:44' sessions). 'Everything Is Love' doesn't push either one of them artistically but it answers a lot of questions and lives up to their high musical standards.
4eva Is a Mighty Long Time is Big K.R.I.T.'s most ambitious project yet, and while it doesn't answer all of the criticisms people have of him, it is him at his absolute best and it's his most listenable, yet still deep, album yet. If this doesn't prove that he belongs in the conversation with the Kendricks and J. Coles of the world, then nothing will.
Alan Ward, the Mid-West rapper with a soulful touch, emerges as a torchbearer of the golden era of rap with his latest single, "Bucket."
Allan Kingdom's major debut may not be particularly groundbreaking but it is still a very strong first offering that manages to push the envelope of what is modern hip-hop that much more. With shades of Cudi, he's got a bright future ahead of him.
“MONEY TALK LOUD” is a testament to the ambition of Amber Ryann - a raucous, unabashed and bravado-filled outing that showcases herup front and no-nonsense way of doing business.
The latest joint project from Apollo Brown featuring Joell Ortiz is a respectable effort in essential East coast hip-hop although it stays strictly within the lines.
Artists are continuing to line up to work with Apollo Brown and for good reason. His sampling is on another level and his lush, soulful production is exceptional as always. Anchovies isn't my favorite project of his but I'll take as much Apollo Brown production as I can get.
Friend of LLF and frequent collaborator, Axcess just released his very dope latest project Rebel Against Society, and to celebrate it's release he put on quite the show at the Reverb Lounge in Omaha, Nebraska. The whole affair was hosted by Doc Beatbox with DJ K-Dub on the boards, and featured guest appearances from Trevor Scott, Houdini, Meraki Skies, Greco, and K3rtis Montano. And we've got some great shots from the night.
Axcess is an up and coming rapper out of the midwest and he sits down to talk with us about juggling teaching, coaching, and music; whether he'd take a state championship or a sold out concert, and bringing positivity to hip-hop through his music. He also discusses the current state of hip-hop, his influences growing up, and his upcoming mixtape, Rebel Against Society.
Anything But Words was an unexpected collaboration between two NY icons in Paul Banks of Interpol and RZA of Wu-Tang. While sonically everything sounds great, it's just too formulaic and pop leaning for it's own good. A missed opportunity on something that could have been a dark, gritty spectacle.
Barra Brown delivers a flawless and natural jazz/hip-hop fusion album seen from the jazz side of things, with excellent results.
Bent Self with support of Kool Keith and DJ Blesd1 delivers his own unique brand of sci-fi hip-hop with "Murder On Mars."
Big Boi tries hard to balance his usual funk filled sound with more modern fare on Boomiverse but it doesn't always work. There aren't many duds here but it often left me feeling like I was listening to anything but a Big Boi album. However, him and Killer Mike together is gold as always.
'TDT' is more of a continuation of Big K.R.I.T.'s last album than a major step forward, but it's a solid offering that shows he's continuing to expand his range as an artist.