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”
Category Archives: Throwback Albums
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”
Lasers – Lupe Fiasco
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2011 Lasers Lupe Fiasco ★½ 39 Hip-Hop Pop Hip-Hop In one of the worst efforts ever by a record label to elevate a talented artist, 2011’s Lasers — Lupe Fiasco’s third album — pairs one of hip-hops most serious, lyrically gifted and smooth artists of the late 2000s withContinue reading “Lasers – Lupe Fiasco”
Disc-Overy – Tinie Tempah
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2010 Disc-Overy Tinie Tempah ★★ 44 Hip-Hop Pop Hip-Hop I wouldn’t say Tinie Tempah’s debut record Disc-Overy is good, but I wouldn’t say it’s bad either, and like so many other hip-hop records with pop-leaning production of the post-blog era, there’s a fair amount of mindless fun to beContinue reading “Disc-Overy – Tinie Tempah”
Careless World: Rise of the Last King – Tyga
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2012 Careless World: Rise of the Last King Tyga ★★½ 53 Hip-Hop Listening back to Careless World: Rise of the Last King a decade later, I’m sure a lot of the enjoyment is due to the nostalgia that comes from immersing yourself into the post blog-era “up-and-comers” movement TygaContinue reading “Careless World: Rise of the Last King – Tyga”
B.o.B. Presents: The Adventure of Bobby Ray – B.o.B.
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2010 B.o.B. Presents The Adventures of Bobby Ray B.o.B. ★½ 38 Hip-Hop Pop Hip-Hop Of all of the post blog-era debut albums hat popped up from 2010-12, B.o.B. Presents: The Adventure of Bobby Ray is the most sterilized, generic and pop-radio ready. Simple, repetitive hip-hop drums play behind soft,Continue reading “B.o.B. Presents: The Adventure of Bobby Ray – B.o.B.”
Remind Me Tomorrow – Sharon Van Etten
Year Album Artist Stars Score Genre 2019 Remind Me Tomorrow Sharon Van Etten ★★★★ 80 Pop Indie Pop Remind Me Tomorrow is not as intimate as some of Sharon Van Etten’s other albums — like 2014’s highly personal Are We There or 2011’s indie-influenced Tramp. Instead, her 2019 release it’s probably her most accessible andContinue reading “Remind Me Tomorrow – Sharon Van Etten”
Fresh Out The Deli 