Reviews

Ohio native Stalley has flown under the radar for the last couple years while under contract with Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group. While artists like Wale, Meek Mill, and even Gunplay have flourished under the MMG umbrella, Stalley has struggled to find his place, releasing just one mixtape as a solo artist since inking his deal. With...

It's no secret that consistency can be a dangerous thing for a rapper. Though sustainability is an admirable and enviable quality in a business, it can be destructive for an artist, especially one working in a genre that places such a strong emphasis on ingenuity...

Pete Rock is a man who knows his strengths. Of course, at this point in his life he should. The legendary producer/sometimes-MC has made a career out of leftfield choices, and 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s Part 2 is no exception. The mixtape’s tightly produced, jazz-inspired beats blend well with Camp Lo’s 90’s rap styles, making it an excellent blueprint for how older hip-hop influences can be brought

It took over 15 years, but the Long Beach, Cali. MC finally released his first studio full-length album. He faced loads of label drama, going from Virgin Records to Death Row Records to Treacherous Records and Shady Records. He joined forces with Joe Budden, Royce Da 5'9", and Joell Ortiz to form the supergroup Slaughterhouse...

Few rappers can say they have been in the game for over a decade and consistently shown their progression as artists. Tech N9ne is on his 13th studio album, where he’s managed to raise the stakes once again. Bringing established names along with newcomers has always been his thing, but the KCMO native stands out for delivering lyricism, covering a wide swath of topics and blending genres to make a

Everyone should be familiar with Alchemist’s prolific output in recent years, but Gangsta Grillz affiliate Willie The Kid has had a more subdued year despite his increased productivity. He’s already dropped two short projects this year, but his latest collaboration with Alchemist, Masterpiece Theatre, is some of 2013’s best music. Willie’s got ...

Clocking in at a relatively brief 40 minutes, King Louie’s Jeep Music, is a familiar yet enjoyable and comforting dose of new material from one of the preeminent figures at the front of Chicago rap’s recent resurgence. It’s become easy to lump the hotbed of talent coming out of the Windy City into one singular subgenre known as “drill music,” but Louie has always maintained a conscious balance bet

Cash Money's Birdman-helmed posse album Rich Gang finally hits stores this week after several delays from its original Spring release date, and with it comes an album full of synth beats and guest appearances. The majority of the YMCMB roster fills out the features list—Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Busta Rhymes, Mystikal, Cory Gunz, Limp Bizkit, Ace Hood, Mack Maine and Tyga all show up at various poin

Baton Rouge native Kevin Gates has come out with his debut retail album, Stranger Than Fiction. After years of building regional acclaim with a slew of mixtape releases, Gates transcended to a national level thanks to his standout appearance on “Trust You” by Pusha T, off his Wrath Of Caine mixtape, and the critical acclaim of his 2013 mixtape, The Luca Brasi Story. On Strange...

Ace Hood is still trying to figure it out. After releasing three albums and a bevy of mixtapes, the Florida rapper has yet to find a winning formula for success, both in terms of the quality of his music and in album sales. Certain projects, like last year’s reflective Starvation mixtape, have shown glimmers of promise, while others, including his latest mixtape, Starvation II, have been a step ba

What Freddie Gibbs has managed to do very well on ESGN is showcase his signature sound. Tales of Gary, IN. street life are peppered in an album of hard-hitting trap beats, making it clear that he hasn’t compromised his aesthetic in order to sell albums. Whil...

As much as Kanye West might've wanted Yeezus to be the cultural high water mark of the summer, even he can't compete with the sheer magnitude that accompanies every Jay-Z release. And while Yeezus garnered plenty of headlines for its marketing rollout, only Jay could game the system to the point that the RIAA changed their policies, sending his twelfth album to Platinum status even before it was r