ALBUM REVIEW: Playboi Carti Gets Weirder on ‘Whole Lotta Red’
The highly anticipated album is, in many ways, an utterly fascinating trip from the iconoclastic rapper.
Hip-Hop/R&B
ALBUM REVIEW: Nas and Hit-Boy Unite on ‘King’s Disease’
Bottom Line: it’s the best Nas record in years.
ALBUM REVIEW: MIKE’s ‘Weight of the World’ is a Raw, Exceptional Eulogy for a Lost Loved One
The latest long player from the Bronx rapper/producer is a beautiful meditation on grief that shows how much he’s grown.
ALBUM REVIEW: ‘RTJ4’
Killer Mike and El-P’s glorious late-career renaissance continues with another profoundly timely, brilliantly explosive masterpiece.
ALBUM REVIEW: Chris Brown Still Sucks
Young Thug is carrying dead weight on ‘Slime & B’.
ALBUM REVIEW: Shabazz Palaces Gets Funky with ‘The Don of Diamond Dreams’
The new record from Ishmael Butler’s experimental rap venture is a delightful mix of psychedelic and corporeal funk.
ALBUM REVIEW: Boldy James Steps Out on ‘The Price of Tea in China’
The Detroit MC emerges from the underground on his Alchemized LP.
ALBUM REVIEW: Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Eternal Atake’ Lives Up to the Hype
And it was worth the wait.
ALBUMS OF THE DECADE: Kanye West’s ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’
MMC Writers reflect on their favorite records of the 2010s
Claire Brown’s Top 25 Albums of 2019
If you don’t know many of these, you’re probably over the age of 25.
Album Operator’s 10 Favorite Records of 2019
Including one new all-time favorite!
ALBUM OPERATOR’S CRATE CLASSICS: J-Live’s ‘The Best Part’
On “Crate Classics,” Album Operator dusts off the records of his college radio sets in Boston (’96-’00) and his days DJing NYC in the early ’00s.
My Experience at Kanye West’s Sunday Service
Three years ago, in September of 2016, I saw Kanye West perform at Madison Square
ALBUM REVIEW: Robert Glasper Expresses Both Sides of Himself on ‘Fuck Yo Feelings’
No one marries jazz and hip-hop quite as masterfully as Robert Glasper.
ALBUMS OF THE DECADE: The Roots’ ‘Undun’
MMC Writers reflect on their favorite records of the 2010s.
ALBUM REVIEW: The Gospel According to Kanye West
The man who once declared “I Am A God,” grapples with his version of what it means to be “Christ-like.”
ALBUM REVIEW: Gang Starr Comes Back to Life on ‘One of the Best Yet’
With Guru spitting from beyond the grave, ain’t a damn thing changed.
ALBUM REVIEW: Mahalia’s Debut is All Love, No Compromise
The U.K. R&B songstress displays intelligence and soul beyond her years on her full-length debut.
ALBUM REVIEW: Danny Brown Changes Up on ‘uknowwhatimsayin?’
With Q-Tip at the helm, the Detroit MC finds a new mode.
ALBUM REVIEW: JPEGMAFIA’s ‘Cornball’ is a Searing Manifesto for the Internet Age
The experimental rap firestarter returns with a fragmented, complicated work that capitalizes on the increasing hype around his name.
ALBUM REVIEW: Post Malone Draws No Blood on ‘Hollywood’s Bleeding’
The hitmaker may have gotten stuck inside his own formula.
ALBUM REVIEW: ‘We Love You Tecca’ is a Trap for Young Players
A little variety would have gone a long way.
ALBUM OPERATOR’S CRATE CLASSICS: Edan’s ‘Beaty and the Beat’
On “Crate Classics,” Album Operator dusts off the records of his college radio sets in Boston (’96-’00) and his days DJing NYC in the early ’00s.
ALBUM REVIEW: Jidenna Paves the Way for Retro-Afro-Futurism on ‘85 to Africa’
The Nigerian-American hip-hop crooner continues his trendsetting path.
Hidden Gems: Lil Ugly Mane’s ‘Mista Thug Isolation’
With Hidden Gems, we look back at great albums that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve.
ALBUM REVIEW: Kano Rolls Up His Sleeves on ‘Hoodies All Summer’
The Grime veteran is the voice the U.K. streets need.
ALBUM REVIEW: Young Thug Settles into His Throne on ‘So Much Fun’
Atlanta’s most ambitious iconoclast returns with a terrific record that plays to his many strengths.
Kiefer’s Music Mondays: Mac Miller’s ‘Swimming’
We lost Mac Miller a year ago this week.
YOU GOTTA HEAR THIS: bLAck pARty’s ‘Endless Summer’
The Los Angeles R&B artist encapsulates the sound of a California sunset.
ALBUM REVIEW: BROCKHAMPTON Hugs It out on ‘GINGER’
A minimalist meditation from the young hip-pop crew.
Kiefer’s Music Mondays: Banks & Steelz’ ‘Anything But Words’
When you think about it, the unlikely, underrated rap-rock collaboration makes perfect sense.
Kiefer’s Music Mondays: Wu-Tang Clan, “Enter The Wu (36 Chambers)’
’36 Chambers’ quintessentially terra-formed the topography of rap.
YOU GOTTA HEAR THIS: Channel Tres’ ‘Black Moses’ EP
The L.A. artist’s second project is the coolest damn thing you’ll hear this year.
ALBUM REVIEW: Black Milk Flexes on ‘DiVE’
The Detroit producer/MC shows off his multifaceted skills.
ALBUM REVIEW: MadGibbs Reunite in Perfect Sequel
‘Bandana’ is a razor-sharp, zealous and picturesque follow-up.
ALBUM REVIEW: Chance The Rapper’s ‘The Big Day’ is a Big Disappointment
Say it ain’t so, Chano!
ALBUM REVIEW: Dreamville Returns With Their Third (And Best) ‘Revenge’ Installment Yet
J. Cole’s crew combines for one of the most commanding collaborative efforts the year.
ALBUM REVIEW: Beyoncé’s Lion King Album Tries Too Hard
Quality performances and curation are marred by mixed execution.
‘Paul’s Boutique’ Turns 30
The commercial flop and sample-based masterpiece could have easily never happened.
Dev Del Molino’s Top 6 Hip-Hop Albums of 2019 So Far
MMC Writers look back at the last six months in music
ALBUM REVIEW: GoldLink’s ‘Diaspora’ is Diverse in Sound (and Quality)
The D.C. rapper’s eclectic second studio album is a mixed bag
EP REVIEW: Lil Nas X’s ‘7 EP’ is a Mixed Bag of Nothing
As it turns out, the viral wonder is a fairly versatile artist, but it doesn’t do him any favors.
ALBUM REVIEW: Steve Lacy Sputters to Moon and Back on ‘Apollo XXI’
When launching into space, small miscalculations can be fatal.
S.U.S.H.I EP 007: “Honey, I Smoked The Mids”
A bi-weekly playlist diary of “Stuff U Should Hear Immediately.”
ALBUM REVIEW: Denzel Curry Forgot to Try on ‘ZUU’
The South Florida sensation attempts to freestyle another masterpiece, and fails.
BAD ALBUM ANNIVERSARIES: Revisiting The Black Eyed Peas’ ‘The E.N.D.’
“I’m so 3008. You so 2000 and late.”
ALBUM REVIEW: ‘Flamagra’ is a Fascinating Next Step for Flying Lotus
Steven Ellison picks up where he left off on 2014’s ‘You’re Dead!’
‘Ill Communication’ Turns 25
Could Beastie Boys’ wildly entertaining 4th album in fact be their best?
Kiefer’s Music Mondays: ‘Straight Outta Compton’
They don’t call ’em “The World’s Most Dangerous Group” for nothing
ALBUM REVIEW: Ari Lennox Empties the Clip with Unforeseen Accuracy on ‘Shea Butter Baby’
Dreamville Records officially has their songstress supreme.