billy woods is 2023's rap mvp and one of the best writers in the world. sure, some of the features don't nearly stand up to his performances and some of the hooks can be a bit overstated for what they are, but nothing can take away from the core of what billy and kenny achieve here. almost no one holds a candle to billy's presence on a track, not anyone on this album and not anyone in music period. his voice, flows, rhyme patterns, and cadences all ooze confidence and conviction and with the ... read more

poignant writing, dynamic vocals, creative and daring production, incessantly replayable; a treat on the ears and the heart.

"we traded scars, i hope mine are a good replacement."

earl is basically at the top of his game; alc is a bit below his. overall though, when their games are as high as they each are, you truly can't go wrong.

one of the most consistent and inventive artists of the century continues inventing once again. such a poignant collaborative showcase of beauty through words and sounds shouldn't be allowed. wishing him the absolute best with his health going forward as well. he deserves peace.

i don't know where to start with MIKE. he's been one of my favorite artists for 5+ years now and the immense improvement i've seen throughout his already groundbreaking discography is unexplainable. no one in the world can do what MIKE does. many have emulated his sound by this point, but everything is different when he taps into it. and now, with this record, he gives himself the range to experiment with 24 tracks, expanding instrumentally, lyrically, and sequentially with the cohesive flow ... read more

billy woods might be the best writer in music and this is also simultaneously the best i think E L U C I D has ever sounded. the two of them and peggy is a match made in heaven and every other piece of production definitely doesn't slack either. some of the guest verses hold this back for me slightly, and there's a few pockets that sounded awkward even for armand hammer, but for there to be those two identifiable critiques and the album still be this high is a statement. these two are geniuses.

ben continues to make it look effortless.

i struggled being able to "rate" this considering it's two tracks, but they're both wonderful in their own ways. U DON'T KNOW ME LIKE THAT is one of my favorite songs this year and A LA CARTE is the ben x brakence collab i'd been waiting for. this is a very welcome new direction post idmthy for ben.

ben stop improving challenge difficulty impossible

it's well written, well orchestrated, well structured, well performed, and just about as well done overall as anyone could ever hope for. this album knows exactly how mindlessly fun it is, which is why it can control and decrease that level of mindless fun at will, whether that be by inserting striking lyrical passages that make swift but strong statements or by shifting to swelling bunches of strings that are genuinely moving and beautiful.

there's just so much you can get out of this album; ... read more

multifaceted, self aware, effective in its succinctness, and one of the best mixed records of the year: yard is my first encounter with slow pulp, and it's the warmest welcome i could've asked for.

i've never been more frustrated at my opinion on a song; otherwise, there's hardly a misstep to be found here. sampha's voice is as warm and comforting as ever, the sentiments addressed are candid and fragile, and the production is so blissful you almost forget that it possesses some of the best drumwork on any album this year, almost.

if the second half matched the irresistible energy of the first, this would be rated much higher; even still, an incredibly fun record oozing charisma and charm.

while aesop may rap himself away from his own concept a bit here, he does so with such immense wit, humor, and songwriting ability that i'm forced to largely let it slide. paired along with 64 minutes of tight, relentless, completely unpredictable production done only by himself (minus track 6), i find myself unable to stop listening once i hit play. i'm consistently gripped by the storytelling, wordplay, vocabulary, and stream-of-consciousness writing; his personality oozes through on every ... read more

emo alt-dance that can expand a bit outside its means at times, but is undeniably infectious and endlessly replayable when everything's working together.

it's still impossible not to smile while listening to buck meek croon; with lyrics so human it sometimes hurts, buck, again, sings us soundtracks to life.

a shockingly dynamic array of sounds paired with doja combining her soft, musical side and hungry, aggressive side very successfully; this is a consistent record that, if condensed a bit to eliminate some non-contributive or repetitive tracks, could be even better.

spanning synthpop, dance-pop, balladry, drum and bass, and much more, dc focuses his efforts in a more bright, airy, colorful pop direction for most of this project and doesn't disappoint, even when he does turn the bass back up.

classic rock in 2023 with all of the updates i'd expect and many more that i happily welcome.

every time i think that peggy can't keep getting away with this he, once again, gets away with it. danny also continues to build his reputation as the rapper that can rap on absolutely anything and still sound like the best rapper you've ever heard while doing it.