Introverted Intuition is an interesting introduction to TDE's mysterious signee. It has some bright moments that show what he's capable of, but far too often gets bogged down in unnecessary abstractness.
AIM continues M.I.A's experimental ways, but her production and songwriting sound disconnected and lacking the "bite" of her previous works.
Cozy Tapes is everything that's made A$AP so popular in the first place. As a whole, it's their best sounding tape to date as they seem more confident and comfortable than ever. It's really Rocky and friends, with Ferg, Ant, and Nast only getting spots here and there, but it makes for a better flowing album.
Here is Alicia Keys' homage to classic hip-hop and the essence of New York. It's still her tried and true sound of a girl and her piano, but with a lot more grit and edge. Her vocals are as strong as ever as she continues this trend of black consciousness and culture. She's the definition of consistent greatness.
Yes Lawd! is pure instrumental bliss! The way Knxwledge layers old funk/soul samples over sharp percussions and smooth chords would make J Dilla proud. While Anderson .Paak's smooth, raspy vocals leave you with no choice but to get lost in the groove. Phenomenal.
Dreamchasers 4 has lived up to all the hype leading up to it's release and you can feel the hunger in his voice. It's Meek at his best; getting off vicious bars over hard beats. Instead of getting into more distractions he finally did what he should have been doing all along; letting his music speak for itself.
Check out some of this weeks most talked about and interesting music videos from artists like Alicia Keys, The Rolling Stones, Green Day, Chocolate Droppa (Kevin Hart), and more.
Check out some of this weeks most talked about and interesting music videos from artists like Alicia Keys, Tech N9ne, Future, KiD CuDi, Bring Me the Horizon, and many more.
Campaign is a solid album full of some very high moments, but also plagued by some very forgettable ones. It's at it's best when it leans more heavily on it's traditional R&B sounds as opposed to the trap beats.
Atrocity Exhibition is a manic trip down to the darkest corners of Danny Brown's mind, full of paranoia, anxiety, and regret. He's the punk rock of hip-hop and it's a refreshing sound unlike any other.
Phantogram's genre blending production on Three, paired with Sarah's powerful, yet airy vocals make for one of the most unique and standout albums this year.
Bad Boy Records has been at it for 20+ years and their recent outpouring of nostalgia inducing collections and concerts has left me wondering about what could've, should've, and would've been Bad Boy Records. If it wasn't for some untimely losses, poor signings, and the rise of Sean Combs as a star, they'd go down as the greatest "urban" label ever.
The Divine Feminine is hands down my favorite album from Mac Miller. The jazz/soul infused production is phenomenal and creates his most cohesive sound to date. He sounds right at home rapping/singing about love, distance, and intimacy. He may have made a believer out of me.
Rage & the Machine is Buddens' most focused project to date. AraabMUZIK kills the production, with smooth soul sampling and hard drums, giving Joe the appropriate space to lay down his dense, layered lyrics. I gotta give it to Joe, he goes the f*ck in and it's pure concentrated dopeness.
Check out some of this weeks most talked about and interesting music videos from The Lumineers, Britney Spears, Drake, A Tribe Called Quest, and more.
Joanne is a surprising departure for Lady Gaga. Moving away from the loud, intricate, in your face pop hits to a more subdued, raw sound in search of something more authentic. The ironic thing is it may have proved the character of Gaga that she had built was her true authentic self.
A Seat at the Table came out of left field and surprised as one of the most complete artistic projects to come out this year. The neo-soul production was absolutely spectacular and her honest, raw, social commentary make this a must listen. Her sister waded in the shallow end of black consciousness and cultural embrace, Solange dove in the deep end head first.
Hard II Love is probably one of Usher's strongest projects in years. His vocals are strong as ever and the production mostly manages to blend more traditional R&B staples with newer trends successfully. Some of the subject matter, however, feels outdated in today's edgier R&B landscape.
October was full of great moments for the culture. From albums from the likes of Bon Iver and Solange, to videos from A$AP Mob and Macklemore, all the way to new trailers for Star Wars and Wolverine. We've highlighted some of the best drops over the month and now we're ready to crown the best album, movie trailer, and music video for the month of October.
Kairi Chanel stands in stark contrast to the current sound dominating hip-hop. It's a refreshing throwback to a time when what you said mattered and expertly encompasses that traditional NY sound.
1992 is a refreshing change up from The Game. Almost no features and limited name dropping. Not all the samples are put to proper use, but this may be bar-for-bar his best album in years.
22, A Million provides a beautiful soundscape that experiments with electronic sounds, vocal manipulations, and soulful samples. It's a transformative album that transcends any trends or traditions, and will most assuredly bring home a couple more Grammy's for Bon Iver.
Check out some of this weeks most talked about and interesting music videos from artists like Vic Mensa, Calvin Harris, Macklemore, The Chainsmokers and many more.
Check out some of this weeks most talked about and interesting music videos from artists like Chance the Rapper, A$AP Mob, Ty Dolla $ign, Dillon Francis, and many more.