Albums

“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.”

Five years later, we look back at ‘I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside,’ the album that helped Earl Sweatshirt see through the dark.

“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 lyrics across ‘grae’ express Moses Sumney’s contempt for stereotypical masculinity.

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

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

When done right, the posthumous album can serve to give fans necessary closure.

‘UNLOCKED’ is an exercise in gut and viscera.

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.

Mick Jenkins is a chess player, not a lion tamer. On ‘The Circus,’ the Chicago emcee reinforces his brand of thoughtful lyricism.

Here are the albums from 2019 we believe deserved more attention.