Albums

Young M.A’s ‘Red Flu’ is an ideal offering from the Brooklyn rap star.

Future’s ‘High Off Life’ is a familiar journey through a terrain of toxic lust, sleepless paranoia, wealthy boasts, and deep-seated trauma.

Polo G, for all the demons he’s faced on the streets and in his mind, is one step closer to securing his legacy.

She says it herself: “We will always be fine.”

Drake delivers a fan service release during quarantine, allowing him to clear out his vault of throwaways, loosies, and leaks.

‘BLAME IT ON BABY’ is an album that says, “I’m on the way,” not, “I have arrived.”

“A resounding success.”

“In the age of streaming and playlists, ‘Pray For Paris’ further solidifies Westside Gunn as an album artist.”

One listen and you won’t forget Kenny Mason.

“Rod Wave is like if the song ‘Soul Survivor’ by Akon and Young Jeezy came to life and joined a choir.”

“During a period of uncomfortable change, Thundercat’s ‘It Is What It Is’ is right on time.”

Conway The Machine’s injuries and paranoia are treated as constants. They’re not his crosses to bear; they’re fueling his fire.

Every Knxwledge project, remix, and loosie has led to this moment.

“Well, that was indeed a PARTYNEXTDOOR album.”

“Suffice it to say, I’m disoriented.”

The Weeknd delivered more shiny, danceable pop music with his signature moody edge.

Jay Electronica’s always got one more trick up his sleeve.

Bad Bunny cannot be critique-free.

Rap’s newest Martian has returned to Earth in spectacular fashion.

‘The Allegory’ is, for a lack of a better word, woke.

Brevity continues to be the soul of Medhane's wit across ‘FULL CIRCLE.’

‘UNLOCKED’ is an exercise in gut and viscera.

“World getting warmer, we goin’ the other way.”

Alchemist’s legacy has been long secured, and ‘The Price of Tea In China’ feels like a level-up for Boldy James.

‘Funeral’ is Lil Wayne, the mixtape rapper, puncturing original beats with consistent one-liners in a stream-of-conscious style that occasionally burns out.

On ‘Big Conspiracy,’ every rap is crisp; every hook is an earworm; every song is plotted.

“If only Eminem cared more about making the best music and not being the best rapper.”

At present, 070 Shake is another member of the orchestra. But when the time comes, she’ll be ready to take up the mantle as maestro.

Mac Miller’s sixth studio album, ‘Circles,’ is the moment he comes into himself as a man, as Malcolm.

A quarter of a century later, all heads realize.

‘Netflix & Deal’ is as indulgent as a bucket of movie theater popcorn with just a little too much butter.

One time for Rihanna's fearlessness.

Kanye is an imperfect person. ‘Jesus Is King’ is an imperfect album. Christianity is an imperfect religion. But they can all inspire us to do better.

“I used to work at a shitty restaurant bussing tables and got fired because I missed a shift to work on our last album.”