J. Cole 'KOD' 1 Listen Album Review
The man who made “No Role Modelz” made his most earnest attempt at being one.
Albums
25 Best Hip-Hop and R&B Albums of 2018 (So Far), Ranked
This is as perfect a list as you'll ever see.
Tom Misch Charts Growth and Memory on Effortless Debut Album ‘Geography’ (Review)
Misch’s Dilla and early boom bap influences are on full display.
Cardi B 'Invasion of Privacy' 1 Listen Album Review
'Invasion of Privacy' is fun, funny, and fulfilling.
Saba Battles Mortality on Sophomore Album ‘Care For Me’—His Finest Work to Date (Review)
‘Care For Me’ addresses the harrowing reality that nothing is promised and proves Saba as an artist meant to endure.
The Weeknd 'My Dear Melancholy,' 1 Listen EP Review
The Weeknd sheds his pop-star brightness for a return to the late night.
Trouble Moves Closer to Finding His Voice on Mike Will-Produced Debut 'Edgewood' (Review)
"'Edgewood' proves that finding your voice is not a direct route but a journey of trial and error."
'PRhyme 2' Is a Familiar Buffet of Bars & Beats (Review)
"'PRhyme 2' is yet another dazzling bit of jump roping between title matches, sometimes flashy but always familiar."
Sango Soundtracks the Pursuit of Wholeness on ‘In the Comfort Of’
‘In the Comfort Of’ is enveloped in prayer, hardship, overcoming, and gorgeous swaths of sound.
Logic’s ‘Bobby Tarantino II’ Is Part Alter Ego, Part Identity Crisis
The Def Jam MC continues his never-ending identity search on 'Bobby Tarantino II'
Lil Yachty 'Lil Boat 2' 1-Listen Album Review
Yachty has ditched the pop sheen of his debut and doubled down on disaffected and rattling trap.
Phonte's 'No News Is Good News' Cuts Through the Pains & Panic of Middle Age (Review)
Phonte only speaks when he has something to say.
Valee Introduces His Unique Brand of Anarchy on Debut EP 'GOOD Job, You Found Me' (Review)
The Chicago rapper has the talent, and now the label backing, to develop into a truly remarkable artist.
EarthGang Continue Their Strange Yet Wondrous Journey on 'Royalty' EP (Review)
'Royalty' is a fitting end to the Dreamville duo's impressive EP trilogy.
Black Milk’s ‘FEVER’ Takes Us Through The American Fever Dream (Review)
This is an album focused on the heat of a movement—both sonic and sociopolitical.
15 Worst Song Lyrics From Tyga’s 'Kyoto' Album
"Uh, girl your hot and cold, that makes you warm"
Richard Russell Braves Isolation and Mortality With 'Everything Is Recorded'
'Everything Is Recorded' is an album about being lonely to your bones when your bones are failing you.
Cozz’s ‘Effected’ Debut Showcases an MC Hurdling Toward Undeniability
The Dreamville signee has a co-sign from J. Cole, but can he open eardrums?
I Have a 'Crush' on Ravyn Lenae (And Her New EP)
Produced by The Internet's Steve Lacy, the project exposes her as a time traveler and a vocal shape-shifter.
'Black Panther The Album' 1 Listen Album Review
This isn't a Kendrick Lamar album, but it's Kendrick Lamar's album.
Rich Brian 'Amen' 1 Listen Album Review
'Amen' has flaws, but it's an amusing debut with music that will slot nicely into both trap rap and melodic pop playlists.
Skyzoo’s ‘In Celebration of Us’ is a Celebration of Black Love and Community
The Brooklyn MC's latest album is lovingly crafted social commentary delivered by way of jubilant boom bap.
Migos 'Culture II' 1 Listen Album Review
'Culture II' is a bloated test of patience and dedication that avoids the successes of its predecessor.
Evidence's ‘Weather or Not‘ is a Heartfelt Torrential Downpour (Review)
Some legends move in silence, others move with the rain.
SiR's Debut Album 'November' Is a Sultry Cycle of Love & Loss (Review)
SiR's latest is a trip through the happy and sad pit stops of love, and an impressive next step in his TDE tenure.
Maxo Kream's 'Punken' Is Authentic Trap Music at Its Finest
Maxo Kream is the real deal, and 'Punken' is the autobiography that will bring you a bit closer to Houston's most promising prospect.
Quavo & Travis Scott 'Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho' 1 Listen Album Review
"Despite being a noteworthy moment, this isn't music that will truly stick to your ribs."
BROCKHAMPTON's 'Saturation III' is the Beginning & End of an Era (Review)
…most important sentence of 2017.
Eminem 'Revival' 1 Listen Album Review
I didn't write this in my review, but 'Revival' is, by far, the worst album of Eminem's career.
Big Sean & Metro Boomin 'Double Or Nothing' 1 Listen Album Review
What happened to all of Big Sean's style, before he leaned so hard on double time flows and lackluster double entendres?
Miguel 'War & Leisure' 1 Listen Album Review
I’m not always keen on Miguel's production choices, and occasionally let down by his songwriting, but he always delivers an enjoyable listening experience.
Jaden Smith 'SYRE' 1 Listen Album Review
Jaden's long-awaited debut is an ambitious and thrilling concept album buried under substantial fat.
T-Pain’s ‘Oblivion’ Picks Up Where He Left Off—For Better & For Worse (Review)
With some great moments and some bad moments, 'Oblivion' is a fitting re-introduction.
Talib Kweli’s ‘Radio Silence’ is Much More Than a Return to Form (Review)
'Radio Silence' is the most human record Talib Kweli has released in a long time.
CyHi The Prynce 'No Dope On Sundays' is Half-Church, Half-Street, All Punchlines (Review)
'No Dope On Sundays' is a mostly cohesive trip through the streets in CyHi’s head—a trip seven years in the making.
Wiz Khalifa's 'Laugh Now, Fly Later' is a Slick Return to Mixtape Wiz Form
Wiz, at this point in his career, is like watching a movie with Samuel L. Jackson.
Offset, 21 Savage & Metro Boomin 'Without Warning' 1 Listen Album Review
My search for the hip-hop equivalent to Harlem Heat continues.
Ty Dolla Sign's 'Beach House 3' Is a 20-Track Search for a Hit Record
‘Beach House 3’ is similar to Drake’s ‘More Life,’ a project full of infectious, yet scattered vibes for the playlist generation.
Big K.R.I.T. '4eva Is a Mighty Long Time' 1 Listen Album Review
I’ll save the classic label for years to come, but on this day, the first word that comes to mind is masterpiece.
Snoh Aalegra’s Debut Album 'FEELS' Bends Space and Time
A record to live and grow with, one that will continue to surprise you and connect with you from week one to week 52.
Future & Young Thug 'SUPER SLIMEY' 1 Listen Album Review
Future and Thug’s 'SUPER SLIMEY' isn’t very super, but it is an event.
Review: dvsn's R&B Potential is Fully Realized on Multi-Layered 'Morning After'
Baby-making, lover-worshipping, quiet storm-musing—'Morning After' has a song for every matter of the heart.
Brent Faiyaz Boldly Marks His Arrival With Excellent Debut ‘Sonder Son’
Sonder Son is the final notice: 2017 was the year that Brent Faiyaz proved the future was his for the taking.
IDK Dropped “Jay,” But ‘IWASVERYBAD’ Is the Gripping Story of Jason Mills
IDK may have dropped “Jay” from his name, but his new album is a formal introduction to the artist and man born Jason Mills.
Hustle & Flow: Lute's 'West 1996, Pt. 2' Is a Gift to Patient Dreamers
Dreamville's newest signee delivered a working class rapper mixtape with a happy ending.
Review: Rapsody's ‘Laila’s Wisdom’ is a Gorgeous Panorama of the Modern-Day Black Woman
The Roc Nation emcee's new album, 'Laila’s Wisdom' is the black soul sister that hip-hop has been missing.
Macklemore’s ‘Gemini’ is as Refreshing, Imperfect & Conflicted as the Artist Himself
True to the album's title, Macklemore's newest full-length album sans Ryan Lewis heads down divergent paths.
Knox Fortune’s ‘Paradise’ Perfectly Captures the Final Days of Summer (Review)
The goal of the debut album: to distill your musical identity. In that sense, 'Paradise' might be perfect.
Review: Daniel Caesar's Soulful Debut 'Freudian' Will Make You Melt
"Daniel Caesar may not inspire a newfound faith in God, but 'Freudian' will make you believe in love."