Cheat Code

Pivot Gang’s ‘You Can’t Sit With Us’ is pure fun and kicking back with the homies.

Omar Apollo chooses to be a new kind of pop star on 'Friends.'

Maxo’s vocals are clear, incisive stabs of reflective clairvoyance.

The great misfire of ‘Death Race’ is not that the album is too emotional, but rather that Juice WRLD has no idea how to pace his emotions.

‘Still Swervin’ may appear to be B-sides, but the album plays like a terror-filled rap clinic.

The ultimate problem of ‘We All Shine’ is not that YNW Melly is out of things to say, but rather that he is struggling to say them.

'Outer Peace,' is a fun, brisk project that finds the silver linings threading the analog and digital worlds.

James Blake tells a compelling tale of loneliness and isolation on ‘Assume Form.’

At this point in his career, there are no questions left for Aesop Rock to answer.

As a man of many skills, the Pro Era artist is his own life raft on his sophomore solo album.

On ‘Hood Favorite,’ Critch mainly focuses on setting trends over chasing hits.

After an extended wait, 'mō'zā-ik' feels even more like a special occasion.

'Drip Harder' is the 'Bad Boys' of 2018, with Lil Baby and Gunna operating on pure charisma and style like trap's answer to Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

'DROGAS WAVE' is typically complex for Lupe, and it's peppered with definitive greatness.

On her highly anticipated 'Telefone' follow-up, Noname's joy is inextinguishable.

The SaveMoney MC drops his first project since 2016's 'iiiDrops.'

The Louisville rapper continues forging his identity on his Atlantic debut.

‘tobi lou and the Juice’ is the procession for burying what we understood to be youth.

The Griselda Records founder's personality is as golden as his ear for beats.

Smith's 'Lost & Found' is not perfect, but its imperfections are captivating.

Black Thought's consistency is admirable, but in form, it makes the music a bit complacent.

Paige II reminds us that sometimes the worst pain can bring out the best art.

‘JP3’ is grand because Junglepussy makes it so.

With 'Good Thing,' Leon Bridges is moving soul forward with a bellied shout.