For the second year in a row the most talked about inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame isn't from rock, but rap; and for the second year in row there's a lot of bitching about whether or not hip-hop belongs. For a long time, I have been adamantly for it because classic hip-hop definitely shares that same spirit and feeling that birth rock and roll. But as it's grown and evolved as a genre it's become clearer than ever that it's time they cut the cord.
Post Malone's latest doesn't do much in the way of evolving his craft, as the entire album just feels like a long collection of homogeneous 'moods' with songs that sound like every other song on the album that sound like every other song on his previous album. But "beerbongs & bentleys" is an easy (if not mindless) listen and there are a good number of stand out moments, it's just that none of them feel as innovative or exciting as when he first burst onto the scene.
Sparkz GAWD, a rising artist out of Brooklyn, NY, talks with us about how he got his start in rap, GAWD LYFE, his latest project 'In Us We Trust', and more.
Check out our sit down with rising rapper West, where we talk about his new single and video "Checks", going viral with his previous song "Euro$tep", Chinese rappers and influence, writing vs freestyling, and more.
Nas wastes no time in getting right to the issues as most of the album is about subjects he's been addressing for years even before this newfound 'wokeness' and the production, while done by Ye, still feels very true to Nas stylistically, not overly commercial but with a more substantial bounce and rhythm. After 6 years it still would have been nice to get more than 7 tracks from Nas but even in those 7 songs he's able to say a lot and leave a strong impression regardless.
Meek Mill's shown a ton of growth both personally and as an artist; no longer is everything just about rollies, cars, and women, but he touches on some real issues and does it exceptionally well.
Rad Brown has just shared his energetic new single, "Pace Myself," an eclectic hip-hop single giving off vibes of early Asher Roth.
I'll give Trippie Redd credit for crafting some genuinely compelling stuff on 'LIFE'S A TRIP' that shows there's more to him than meets the eye. That soundcloud sound still isn't my forte but LIFE'S A TRIP is one of the better offering out of this wave.
Our thoughts, opinions, and live reaction to the latest album from JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown, 'SCARING THE HOES.'
Trippie Redd's latest is a surprisingly solid project that shows an impressive amount of growth from just a few months ago. This is probably his most fully realized one yet.
Lil Wayne started this outpouring of mixtapes and artists like Future, Young Thug, and Curren$y have since tried to emulate that mythical run, but the purpose and definition of a mixtape has changed drastically since those early days. It's time we stopped applauding this endless wave of mediocre mixtapes and started calling it out for the cop out it is.
More Life is his most experimental project to date; delivering a collection of the different eclectic sounds that have been inspiring his music lately. While initially I was disappointed that we didn't get more straight up hip-hop, especially after the more pop leaning Views, it's hard to argue the results. More Life is another win for him and will undoubtedly mainstream a lot of the artists and sounds it employs.
Rapper Ice Spice first broke onto the scene with her Brooklyn drill song "In Ha Mood," but did she actually steal it? Let's chat.
In terms of being a major debut, Big Fish Theory was a bit disappointing as he moved further and further into experimental sounds. Some of his raw, matter of fact rhymes were still present but as a whole this album resonated with me far less than any of his previous work.
Harder Than Ever is a polished, effortless listen that shows off his full range as an artist. If nothing else, it's great proof as to why Lil Baby might just be next up.
Check out our sit down with the enigmatic, mask-wearing, rapper/singer-songwriter RMR, where we talk about his new single "Crazy" with renowned producer Ryan Lewis, his mega-viral hit "Rascal", tearing down genre boundaries, his mysterious persona, and much more.
Kanye West was busy this month, and by busy I mean ranting, and a favorite target of his, Adidas, was at the center of many of those rants. But is this repeated cycle getting old?
While the dream pairing of Fabolous & Jadakiss didn't quite live up to the immense expectations, they did deliver a mostly satisfying project that's more Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana than Kanye and Hov. But ultimately they delivered in the area that mattered the most - the bars.
XXXTENTACION said his goal was to show his versatility on this project and although a lot of the stuff here is watered down representations of said genres, his talent is undeniable and his renditions turned out better than I ever would have expected. Now most of it feels like teasers/unfinished versions with only two tracks going over 3 minutes, but sonically there's more than enough here to keep me coming back. ? is as enigmatic a project as XXXTENTACION is as an artist but there's an undeniable draw to it and to him that continues to surprise.
Top tier lyricism, strong production, great use of features, and revelatory storytelling make Book of Ryan THE definitive Royce da 5'9" album and a must listen.
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.
Our thoughts, opinions, and live reaction to the latest album from Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign 'Vultures 1.'
There's really not a whole lot to say about Kolorblind, there's a handful of knocking songs that warrant a few spins and seeing Nas on here was an unexpected surprise, although it was more than a bit underwhelming, but there's nothing as big as "Too Much Sauce" and there's nothing that would make Future's greatest hits. At this point you either love/like Future or you don't.
It's official, 'OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below' is now the highest-selling album in rap history, knocking off Eminem's 'The Eminem Show.'