‘Forever’ serves as a fitting cap to the legendary lyricist’s career. It shows how much he had to give and leaves the listener grieving that there won’t be any more.
Read moreCypress Hill Return Revitalized with ‘Back In Black’ | Album Review
Cypress Hill’s tenth studio affair succeeds because the group not only honors their past, they also chart a course for its future.
Read moreLu Chin Chen Digs Deep Into the Many Dimensions of Addiction on ‘NA Meeting’ | Album Review
‘NA Meeting’ offers an unflinching look at addiction, with its creator showing arresting levels of depth as he plumbs the physical and psychological tolls associated with it.
Read moreEarl Sweatshirt Melds Intricate Lyricism with Intimate Narrative on Soul-Searching ‘SICK!’ | Album Review
On his fourth studio affair, the Odd Future alum applies the lessons he learned from his past troubles to create a road map for making it through the current hellscape.
Read moreNas & Hit-Boy’s Collaborative, Creative Symbiosis Casts a Stirring Spell on ‘Magic’ | Album Review
On his latest long player, the legendary emcee plays to his strengths as an artist, sounding as confident and self-assured as he’s ever been and every bit of the verbal assassin he was in the mid-1990s.
Read moreThe Du-Rites’ Distinctive Brand of Funk Flows and Flourishes on ‘Pressure’ EP | Review
Amidst the challenges of COVID, the duo of J-Zone & Pablo Martin have avoided creative complacency, in favor of getting stronger as a musical unit.
Read moreArmand Hammer & The Alchemist Unite for an Impressive & Inspired Musical Journey with ‘Haram’ | Album Review
Photo: Alexander Richter
‘Haram’ is another chapter in the increasingly impressive legacies of both Armand Hammer and The Alchemist, as they try new things as artists, but still remain true to their artistic identities.
Read moreMadlib Forges New Sonic Pathways on Eclectic Four Tet Collaboration ‘Sound Ancestors’ | Album Review
‘Sound Ancestors’ is the first of its kind for the acclaimed producer-emcee: a full-length, traditionally structured, instrumental album.
Read moreBlack Thought Enthralls and Enlightens on Lyrical Masterclass ‘Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane and Able’ | Album Review
It’s no longer surprising how Black Thought continues to astound as an artist, but ‘Cane and Able’ is still an impressive next step in his progression.
Read morePublic Enemy’s Words & Sounds Remain as Powerful as Ever on ‘What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?’ | Album Review
Bolstered by collaborations with an impressive crew of their hip-hop peers, PE’s new album proves that the messages in Chuck D, Flavor Flav and DJ Lord’s music still pack a potent punch.
Read moreRun the Jewels Encapsulate the Zeitgeist of America on the Brink with ‘RTJ4’ | Album Review
The fourth album by the team of Killer Mike and El-P couldn’t have arrived in a more timely and topical manner. It’s raw, politically charged, aggressive, and confrontational.
Read moreEnemy Radio’s ‘Loud Is Not Enough’ Captures the Power & Spirit of Public Enemy’s Most Salient Work | Album Review
Though regrettably overshadowed by the recent Chuck D vs. Flavor Flav conflict hoax, ‘Loud Is Not Enough’ is raw, confrontational, thoughtful, and poetic, just like the Public Enemy’s best work.
Read moreJay Electronica Rewards Our Patience with Intriguing, Better-Late-Than-Never Debut Album ‘A Written Testimony’ | Review
‘A Written Testimony’ isn’t the transformative album that so many hip-hop heads had been dreaming about for over decade. But perhaps such expectations were misguided to begin with.
Read moreExtra Prolific Surprises and Delights on Stellar Return-to-Form ‘Like It’s Supposed to Be’ | Album Review
Being mature and pious on record without being overly preachy is a difficult needle to thread, but Snupe succeeds with ‘Like It’s Supposed to Be.’
Read moreDJ Shadow’s Ambitiously Conceived, Expertly Executed ‘Our Pathetic Age’ Augments His Unshakable Legacy | Album Review
Divided neatly into “Instrumental” and “Vocal” suites, Shadow’s sixth studio album demonstrates his ability as a producer/arranger in all fields where he’s excelled throughout his career.
Read moreGang Starr’s ‘One Of The Best Yet’ Testifies to the Enduring Power of Hip-Hop’s Most Dynamic of Duos | Album Review
‘One Of The Best Yet’ definitely makes you miss the chemistry that DJ Premier & Guru shared during their collaborative recording career together.
Read moreBlu & Damu The Fudgemunk Showcase Their Compelling Chemistry on ‘Ground & Water’ | Album Review
‘Ground & Water’ brings out the best in both Blu and Damu, who stretch their artistic legs without compromising what makes them distinct.
Read moreLittle Brother Reconvene in Top, Triumphant Form with ‘May The Lord Watch’ | Album Review
‘May The Lord Watch’ sounds precisely like the Little Brother album that they would have recorded if they had never broken up in the first place.
Read moreCzarface Deliver Another Dose of Dopeness With Ghostface Killah Collaboration ‘Czarface Meets Ghostface’ | Album Review
The collaboration succeeds because all three emcees deliver what their longtime fans were hoping for: an album that is current, but harks back to their best moments in the past.
Read morePeople Under The Stairs Ride Off Into The Sunset with Style & Grace on ‘Sincerely, The P’ | Album Review
The L.A. duo’s final studio LP showcases their proven penchant for creating music that endures without ever compromising their vision, elevating their skills without ever chasing trends.
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