Reviews

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

"We ain’t supposed to never have nothing/We ain’t supposed to never have shit,” Wale raps on his third LP. The MMG rapper speaks about his come up as if he’s still living that experience. You really can’t fault Wale for that. After his Interscope debut A...

In April 2006, before the start of T.I.’s legal troubles, DJ Drama introduced the world to Grand Hustle affiliate Young Dro with Day One. Dro, a wordsmith with a somewhat gargled country drawl, charmed listeners with witty wordplay and unmatched confidence. The ...

J. Cole could have called his sophomore set Confessions Of A Born Sinner. The hour-long offering plays like a recorded rip of a confessional box sit down with Jermaine, who pours out his signature “from-the-heart-shit” throughout the album’s 16-tracks. And while there’...

From the May 1 announcement of Kanye West's sixth studio album Yeezus—via a subtle Tweet from West simply reading "June Eighteen"—fans and critics knew it was going to be a different album, reflecting Kanye's ascension to rap godliness. Without re...