At first, it wasn’t necessarily clear how seriously one should take Zelooperz, his defining traits being “Internet rap oddball” and “Danny Brown protege.” Discovered in…
Rae Sremmurd was always undeniable. Exploding onto the scene nearly a decade ago, brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmy delivered some of the most memorable…
Though it wasn’t actually that long ago, the pop music landscape into which Lil Yachty first emerged doesn’t really look the same as the one…
Woeful Studies — alongside the accompanying Languish Arts — rejuvenates through rumination, attesting to Ka’s near-scholarly maturity and finesse. The rise and enduring appeal of Brownsville rapper/producer…
Cheat Codes is an undeniably synergistic collab, but Black Thought’s facility with stacking rhymes feels more self-conscious here than before and burdens the entire project. As…
You Still Here, Ho? is more of the same for Flo Milli, but that same is littered with small pockets of joy and Milli’s reliably dexterous…
The confident, even brazen, Red & White is further proof that Lil Uzi Vert has the uncanny ability to stay one step ahead of us…
X isn’t close to a successful record, but it does prove that Ken Carson has tapped into an enticing sound that could lead to a more…
Honestly, Nevermind is Drake’s best record in a half-decade, a monumental work of pop music-making and a welcome disruption of his grab-bag approach to album construction.…
Get Used To It doesn’t necessarily have a strong thematic arc to its musical core, but KayCyy’s diverse skill set offers more than enough reason to…
Khaza is an imperfect album that requires you get on its wavelength, but in leaning more into his pop sensibilities that before, Gates at least makes…
Shape Up’s boasts a catchy, assured first half, but ultimately suffers from too much bloat and poor sequencing. There’s a solid EP worth of material…
Jack Harlow’s sophomore effort is a tedious affair to work through, built upon a disappointing collection of stock hip hop beats and routine bars. “Back…
No Fear of Time is a breezy, concise record that proves Bey and Kweli are still lively performers, even if it doesn’t do much to suggest…
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers is a thorny record of exorcised interiority that finds Kendrick Lamar contending with his own ugliness and cultural situation…
Describing music as lulling you to sleep usually isn’t complimentary, but for the hushed, meditative world of Hypnos, it’s high praise. Hypnos is R&B singer-songwriter Ravyn…
I Never Liked You continues Future’s streak of doing nothing more than the minimum, with moderately successful results. It’s been a while since we last…
Cocodrillo Turbo is one of Bronson’s finest releases in some time, managing to finesse the more challenged elements of other recent releases. Action Bronson arrived on…
It’s Almost Dry is a bit lacking in connectivity and coherence, but it still hits highs on the strength of Pusha’s emcee skill and the dual…
Stardust is something of a reset for Lean, showcasing the rapper’s facility with various styles and successful, mode-switching collabs. While many would love to deny it,…