Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2013 Old Danny Brown ★★½ 54 Hip-Hop Old is both a step forward (Side A) and a step back (Side B) for Danny Brown. Compared to XXX, the production’s more electronic, dynamic and gripping, even though Danny continues to tackle (or maybe exploit is a better word) dark themesContinue reading “Old – Danny Brown”
Category Archives: Album Reviews
XXX – Danny Brown
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2011 XXX Danny Brown ★★½ 55 Hip-Hop A lot about Danny Brown stands out. He doesn’t hold back any punches lyrically, hitting you with vulgar sexual innuendos, detailed recaps of excessive drug use and intentionally cringey/inappropriate pop culture references. His nasally, hyper delivery is easily recognisable and hard toContinue reading “XXX – Danny Brown”
Camp – Childish Gambino
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2011 Camp Childish Gambino ★★½ 51 Hip-Hop Childish Gambino’s debut studio album Camp is a bit of a mixed bag. The sitcom writer and actor turned rapper puts his creativity and personality on display, hints at a wide range of different influences and utilizes different vocal styles, while showingContinue reading “Camp – Childish Gambino”
Cole World: The Sideline Story – J. Cole
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2011 Cole World: The Sideline Story J. Cole ★★½ 57 Hip-Hop On Cole World: The Sideline Story, J. Cole shows a base level of consistency and competence in all areas of his art: his lyrics, his production and his ability to craft an overall narrative across an entire work,Continue reading “Cole World: The Sideline Story – J. Cole”
The Heist – Macklemore, Ryan Lewis
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2012 The Heist Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ★½ 33 Hip-Hop Pop Hip-Hop I remember the first time I heard “Thrift Shop” on the radio. I was in the car with someone who didn’t like hip-hop but proclaimed, “This song is so fun!” The second time I heard it (aboutContinue reading “The Heist – Macklemore, Ryan Lewis”
Flockaveli – Waka Flocka Flame
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2010 Flockaveli Waka Flocka Flame ★★★ 65 Hip-Hop Southern Hip-Hop Crunk If after hearing the main singles from Waka Flocka Flame’s debut album Flockaveli you thought to yourself, “this record’s gotta be made up of dumb, mindless, hyper-masculine, repetitive nonsense with no depth and a bunch of beats thatContinue reading “Flockaveli – Waka Flocka Flame”
Ambition – Wale
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2011 Ambition Wale ★★★ 62 Hip-Hop In the opening moments of the second track of Ambition — Wale’s second album and first record as part of Maybach Music Group — Wale says he’s one of the best thinkers of his class of young emcees. I don’t know if I’dContinue reading “Ambition – Wale “
Rolling Papers – Wiz Khalifa
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2011 Rolling Papers Wiz Khalifa ★★½ 56 Hip-Hop Pop Hip-Hop Enjoy the great songs: The smoker vibes, lurking bass tones and ghostly, high-pitched synths on “On My Level.” The laid-back, repetitive guitar and plucky strings on reflective tracks “Hopes & Dreams” and “The Race.” The dark harmonies and contemplativeContinue reading “Rolling Papers – Wiz Khalifa”
Finally Famous – Big Sean
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2011 Finally Famous Big Sean ★★★ 63 Hip-Hop Pop Hip-Hop I think Big Sean’s Finally Famous is one of best sounding projects to emerge from hip-hop blog-era of 2008 to 2013 — which saw the genre frequently embracing and promoting new, young stars but also placed most of themContinue reading “Finally Famous – Big Sean”
Based on a T.R.U. Story – 2 Chainz
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2012 Based on a T.R.U. Story 2 Chainz ★★½ 51 Hip-Hop Trap While he had been making music for years as Tity Boi and part of Playaz Circle, Based on a T.R.U. Story is 2 Chainz’s official major-label debut. Released in 2012 — at the tail end of theContinue reading “Based on a T.R.U. Story – 2 Chainz”
Fresh Out The Deli 