Talib Kweli & Styles P is an unexpected collaboration that brings that raw, grimy NY sound with a surprisingly conscientious narrative. There's some serious lyrical ability between the two of 'em and they deliver the bars in each and every verse. I wouldn't be mad at a couple more projects from the pair.
Wins & Losses could have easily been Meek Mill's last great hurrah but with his back against the wall he came out swinging and proved that not only does he belong among rap's elite but that his best years are still ahead of him.
Vic Mensa pens a deeply personal and politically conscious debut album that delivers solid production and lyricism but doesn't deliver the promised star quality you expect from someone signed by Hov himself.
Dave East's second album isn't a giant leap forward from his debut but there is much more of an immediacy to his songs that will likely appeal more to a wider audience and it's refreshing to see that bars still matter.
Flower Boy is surprisingly sophisticated with more mellow moments of introspection than shock raps. He really shows off his full artistry and the spectacular production really made me see what all the hype's been about for the first time.
A$AP Twelvyy's debut won't make him a household name or the Mob's next breakout artist but it's a very solid project that really captures that NY feel and at the least make him a respected act in the industry. A solid start to a long delayed career.
Still Striving is a mindless, hard-hitting, turn-up mixtape that doesn't do anything to elevate A$AP Ferg's career but it will wash out the bad taste of his last album for a lot of his fans. The production is the real MVP here.
We talk about the possible demise of Rolling Stone as it's going up for sale for the first time since it's start in 1967. We talk about how we think they've lost their true identity as the counterculture bible and how they could possibly get it back. We finish things by talking about new albums we've been listening to like Jhené Aiko, Rapsody, Queens of the Stone Age, and the Foo Fighters.
A Boogie wit da Hoodie has created quite the buzz and many have crowned him the future of NY hip-hop. But if this generic mess of a debut is the best he has to offer then that future isn't looking so bright.
Rapsody delivered a jazzy, funky, soulful album full of incredible 'life music' and bars that match up with any MC in hip-hop, not just females. This is about as flawless an album execution since maybe To Pimp A Butterfly and I'm looking forward to picking this apart and vibing to it for the weeks to come. Damn she just made me rethink my best albums of the year.
Mr. Davis is more of the same trap rap we've come to expect from Gucci Mane with a greater level of refinement and bigger name features. I appreciate the added sheen and there are a few stand out moments, but I prefer when he's left to his own devices and when his music is a bit rougher around the edges.
I Still Am felt like a check list of song types lacking a lot of Yo Gotti's blunt charisma that elevated his past music above generic street fare. By far his weakest project in recent memory and not even a strip club anthem of the year like "Rack It Up" can spice up this bland assortment of music.
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.
One Night Only is a project full of great vibes and catchy hooks but it still lacks much of the depth or out of the box creativity that will be needed to take his career to the next level.
Blue Chips 7000 will represent a return to form for many of Bronson's fan. It's chock full of phenomenal cinematic production, vivid imagery rich lyricism, and quotables for days. It plays things fast and loose and Action Bronson is absolutely razor sharp throughout.
This time around on Cozy Tapes the 'friends' really take away from what could've been some interesting songs. They should've let Rocky carry the tape like the first time, instead we ended up with a couple throwaway hype tracks and not a whole lot more.
We're back and we're talking about all of the recent music and music news that has happened recently. We try to rank Jay-Z's catalog, give our picks for the top 5 albums of the year so far, and go on a tangent about the drug culture in hip-hop.
DJ Khaled returned with yet another album full of interesting collaborations and team-ups that rarely, if ever, live up to their potential for something special. Leaving a disappointing taste once again and not much replay value. But he got his big single so he'll be back with "another one" of these shortly.
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.
Gemini was another generic Macklemore album despite being his first solo effort in years; full of some enjoyable moments of his signature churchy, feel good music but ultimately dragged down by his continued lack of subtlety or elevated artistry. Either you love his style by now or you don't, because that's all you're going to get.
Lute delivered a really well executed project full of those relatable every man raps and earnest music now synonymous with J. Cole's label Dreamville. However, I'm still not convinced that Lute has enough charisma and personality as a rapper to really leave a mark on music.
UK Drill is the fast rising new sound in British hip-hop that's built on the hostility and aggression found in drill music popularized by the likes of Chief Keef. It's not without it's challenges and naysayers but it's providing opportunities and changing the rap scene.
This joint project has been a long time coming but unfortunately it doesn't quite live up to it's potential. Instead of raising each other's level they instead fall back to their usual formulas on songs that sound more like past throwaways than fresh, new creations.
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.