Classic Review #5

"Reasonable Doubt" by Jay-Z is a classic hip-hop album that showcases his lyrical prowess and storytelling ability. Released in 1996, it marked Jay-Z's debut and laid the foundation for his iconic career. The album's production, featuring contributions from DJ Premier, Ski Beatz, and others, is a blend of gritty beats and soulful samples. Jay-Z's lyrics on "Reasonable Doubt" delve into his experiences in the streets, touching on themes of hustling, ... read more

Classic Review #4

"Shout at the Devil" by Motley Crue, released in 1983, stands as a defining album in the glam metal era. This rebellious masterpiece exudes raw energy and charismatic swagger. The title track, "Shout at the Devil," kicks off the album with a bang, featuring powerful riffs and Vince Neil's distinctive vocals. It sets the tone for the album's unapologetically defiant attitude. “Looks That Kill" follows suit, blending catchy hooks with Mick Mars' ... read more

"2014 Forest Hills Drive" by J. Cole is a nicely crafted album that showcases the rapper's introspective lyricism, storytelling prowess, and production skills. Released in 2014, the album marked a significant moment in J. Cole's career. One of the standout elements of the album is J. Cole's honest and vulnerable lyricism. Tracks like "Love Yourz" and "Apparently" delve into themes of success, fame, and the inherent struggles that accompany them. The introspective ... read more

"Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous" by Big L is a seminal album that showcases the late rapper's exceptional lyricism and storytelling prowess. Released in 1995, the album is a gritty exploration of street life and the struggles faced by those in impoverished communities. One standout aspect is Big L's intricate wordplay and punchline-heavy verses. His delivery is sharp, and he effortlessly weaves together complex rhyme schemes that demonstrate his mastery of the art form. Tracks ... read more

“Aladdin Sane” is David Bowie’s sixth studio album, following his best album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust”. Yet, another artistic direction for Bowie what differs this record from his previous are the evocative piano melodies as well as the electrifying guitar riffs, his cadence and delivery is pretty similar to that on “Ziggy Stardust”. Despite all the pressure heaved upon him to follow up his magnum opus, he still delivered an excellent batch ... read more

“The Patience” was my first experience with Mick Jenkins, and I’ve got to say I was not disappointed. Mick has incredible energy on every track, the instrumentation is classy, soulful and just a nice backdrop for Mick’s semi-conscious semi-braggadocios verses throughout the LP. Every feature KILLED IT, especially JID, and bar for bar Mick is at minimum keeping up with these amazing MC’s such as Benny, Freddie and JID. A shorter run time of just 28 minutes with 11 ... read more

Often credited as the godfathers of metal, Black Sabbath was at least the gateway that made metal so popular. “Black Sabbath” is the debut of the band Black Sabbath, it has a relatively short track list with a runtime of 40 minutes, 8 tracks total. The album was spontaneously recorded in one 10-hour long session in October 1969, and it was predominantly recorded live in the studio. The band created a very unique and innovative sound on this record, definitely with a few elements of ... read more

Classic Review #3

“All Eyez on Me” is 2Pac’s 4th Studio Album, this record was released under the label “Death Row”. As of last year this album had 10 million album sales, making it one of the ten best selling Hip Hop albums of all time. “All Eyez on Me” is Pac’s commercial peak, just getting out of jail, signing to Death Row, and releasing “California Love” with Dr. Dre, put a lot of hype behind this album and everyone was ... read more

Classic Review #2

“What’s Going On” is an absolute masterpiece, and it couldn’t possibly have been released at a better time. This record was created when Marvin was going through personal issues and he let all of that emotion out into a one of a kind master class of an album. Marvin was clearly hurting as a citizen in the current society and as an artist, and it clearly shows; drugs, poverty, unemployment, the war, solace in god. Yet his sense of harmony and melody is ... read more

“Utopia” is Travis Scott’s long awaited fourth studio album. Honestly this is one of the wildest listening experiences I’ve had this year. This project is incredibly well produced, Travis deserves incredible praise for what he was able to do on this record. The production and instrumentals are so full and rich, with huge synths and loud drums that contribute to the atmospheric feel of the tracks. Travis did amazing here, and it’s even crazier the performances that ... read more

Well this is going to be my first classic review, and what an album to start with. “The Low End Theory” is one of the most important jazz rap albums, from the minimalist production and bebop instrumentals, to the smooth rhymes with conscious lyrics from Q-Tip and Phife Dawg. Of course one of my favorite feature performances is on here, Busta went off on "Scenario".

The vibe of this album is simply undeniable. Even though it’s relatively minimalistic and quite ... read more

I’ve been playing this record since it released and I’ve got to say this is my FAVORITE album to come out in 2023. “This Is Why” is the 6th album from the American rock band, taking the catchy pop grooves of “After Laughter” and integrating it into their best produced record to date. After 6 years since “After Laughter”, you would think things might wain for the band. That definitely isn’t the case here. “This is Why" is a great ... read more

The third studio album from Atlanta rapper JID, “The Forever Story”, sees him reach a height in hip hop that few have ever reached. JID put in the work and truly leveled up his game. I’m sure it’s safe to say that out of his previous work “The Forever Story” is peak in terms of quality and performances.
Both “The Never Story” and “DiCaprio 2” showcased his rapping ability and songwriting potential. His flows on those projects were ... read more