4:44 is my favorite album, and in my opinion, it's also the best album of all time, full stop.
I genuinely don't know where to start, since I basically hold this album sacred. To begin- obviously, JAY-Z needed a come back. After Magna Carta, he was considered washed, and the same went for his reputation, and that of Roc-A-Fella, and Roc Nation. This album was great because it was way Jay did best- a comeback record.
JAY-Z expanded upon this advantage with a clear, distinct creative ... read more
Dark Times has many of Vince Staples' darkest tracks in a long time... of course, which makes sense given the theme of the album- and while it may be easy to fall into the expansive darkness the album provides, you get a much better view from above, looking down.
FAVORITE SONGS: Black&Blue
RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART is exactly what it tells you. It's pop-flavored sometimes, it's pretty damn bleak at other points, but it's consistently well-made and performed.
FAVORITE SONGS: AYE! (FREE THE HOMIES), SLIDE
Oh No! He's Stuck In A Box! Will Someone Get Him Out?!
Vince Staples is another experimental record from Vince Staples, but it balances many of the ideas that would be expanded upon in Dark Times, years earlier.
FAVORITE SONGS: ARE YOU WITH THAT?
Kim Petras opts for a 2000s pop-sound, mixed with mod electronica- in a way that mixes seamlessly, leaving behind some emotional pop tunes, and beautiful progressive electronic instrumentals. While it's not all high points, it's fairly fantastic in it's majority.
FAVORITE SONGS: I Like Ur Look
Planet Frog may not be the most consistent album, and at times it struggles with being serious- but the highlights are incredible, and the emotional payoff is worth the runtime. Moreover, the amount of highlights is certainly compelling.
FAVORITE SONGS: CONDOR, SIMONE




