if you liked what Drake was trying to do on "Honestly, Nevermind" but wanted something a bit stronger, give this one a try. Slick, catchy and fun as hell.

To me, this almost feels like the closest follow-up to "Summertime '06" we've gotten out of Vince's discography. Exploring a life of crime and violence from a unique perspective, Vince's knack for honest and clever writing shine through brightly here and deliver a story that I feel is stronger than his self titled from the year before. Fun, melodic and extremely specific to Vince's style, "RAMONA PARK BROKE MY HEART" is one of his best projects in years and one of my ... read more

I'm obsessed with this project. The songs are all uniquely original, introducing us to the world of heartbreak and toxicity that is Brent Faiyaz. Smooth and dark, you'll feel guilty singing along to this project but you'll love every minute of it. The skits are a little long at times but the quality of these five songs always take center stage. Still Brent's best work to date.

fuck I love this thing. these songs are so good

Tyler's masterpiece. The album I feel that changed the trajectory of his career and cemented himself as one of the most important artists of this generation. Beautiful, honest, clever and warm in a way that Tyler hadn't really been on his previous projects, "Flower Boy" is a perfect rap album for the modern age and already a classic.

"CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST" feels like the pinnacle of everything Tyler has been working towards these last few years. Confident and braggadocious, but also vulnerable at times, CMIYGL reveals the highs and lows of an artist working in their prime after years of highs and lows. Framed as a travel guide of sorts for Tyler's adventures around the world (and the love turmoil he's experienced during this time), the album sweeps you away in it's lush instrumentation and lyrics that bask in ... read more

THE album of my summer this year. Warm, inviting, adventurous and comforting, MAHAL feels like driving around your home town on a bright sunny day. Chaz puts his entire soul into this album and you can feel it; it's like you're sitting there in the passenger's seat with him. MAHAL reminds us that albums can still be FUN and evoke a certain feeling within oneself that you didn't even know was there.

Somehow her most accessible project while simultaneously full of some of the strangest ideas she's presented thus far, "CAPRISONGS" is an almost effortless collection of songs that feels like the genre-bending artist is simply having some fun. After the heavy emotional concept of "MAGDALENE," Twigs delivers some loose love songs that show off her lighter side.

Goddamn this thing is better than I thought it'd be. Stranger Things star Joe Keery declares his independence from the cycle of conformity that dominates much of mainstream life in a glitchy, ambitious, psychedelic rock project that is a hell of a lot more fun than one would expect. Great melodies and synth production match Keery's fun writing that prove his charisma goes further than his acting chops.

Finally, just what I had been waiting for: another full length, fully fleshed out Brent album - and it did not disappoint. In going into a Brent Faiyaz album, you mostly have an idea of what to expect, but that doesn't take away from the new ideas at play here. Brent's incredible voice once again takes center stage for another helping of experimental r&b, this time leaning fully into his classification as a toxic artist and loving every minute of it. While I do think he can come up with ... read more

Denzel looks inwards even further on "Melt My Eyez See Your Future," and looks to the golden age of lyrical hip hop as inspiration. While not my favorite Curry album (I don't know if anything will top TA13OO for me), it still successfully displays his brilliance, energy and incredible penmanship that he's developed over a long career that still feels like is just beginning to sprout.

While I would have appreciated a bit more cohesion and a larger scale from Lacy, it's incredibly hard to deny the often brilliance that shines through here. Appealing to the younger generation's taste of heartbreak ballads and easily-rememberable earworm hooks, Lacy plays to his audience well. With some of the best melodies in r&b today, Steve Lacy announces himself as a full-fledged solo star.

While it is incredibly easy to dismiss this album as lazy and bland, I do appreciate what Drake was going for here. While not even close to being the strongest dance album of the year, Drake swerves in an unexpected new direction that is somewhat refreshing after the mediocrity of his last few rap albums. But yes, many of the songs on here do come off as uninspired and too dependent on the production to stand on their own. While definitely not the worst thing you could be listening to out ... read more

Capitalizing on their laidback style while also displaying a sense of growing maturity in their lyricism, Peach Pit's third album is easily my favorite of theirs. Like sharing a beer with your best friends while watching the sunset; Peach Pit knows just how to put you at ease.

Beyoncé returns with diamond-level production and all the fun of a night out in the club. Honoring all genres of dance music, Beyoncé shows off her full range as an artist with ease and confidence. Incredibly entertaining, "RENAISSANCE" is a lively party and the best dance record of the year that celebrates and once again proves why Beyoncé is the best there is.

Favoring the chart-topping pop that made him one of the world's biggest stars over the dreary r&b he began with, "Starboy" goes big or goes home. Delivering more songs than ever before, Abel throws every idea he has at the wall and sees what sticks. While some believe the resulting tracks are a bit of a mixed bag, I think I'm in the minority here that loves this album and what he was trying to accomplish. Bouncing from pure pop reminiscent of the golden era of Michael Jackson to ... read more

The Weeknd becomes a full fledged star as he merges his trademark dark r&b ballads with more mainstream pop melodies. While a little uneven as a collective album, the highs on "Beauty Behind the Madness" far outweigh the lows, and there are a LOT of highs.

7 tracks that display the full range of artistry and creativity from two of hip-hop's most innovative trailblazers. West's production and lyricism meets Cudi's ear for melodies in a merging of the two that felt long overdue. With a focus on mental health and overcoming the mistakes of the past, "Kids See Ghosts" is a genuinely uplifting, honest and powerful project that makes a strong impression even with its quick runtime.

Aminé comes into his own on his strongest project yet. Bouncy, clever, and full of sly lyrics, Aminé's charisma is on full display as he steps into his place in the spotlight while looking back to where he came from. With some of the strongest voices in rap and r&b lending fantastic guest features, Aminé crafts a full, satisfying album that cements himself as one the most interesting artists on the rise.

Incredibly fun, catchy, and easy to replay. "Harry's House" is Styles' strongest and most enjoyable work yet, delivering pure pop with just an ounce of heartbreak for good measure. The problem for a lot of listeners however, is that that's ALL there is to enjoy, as the lyrical content here leaves not much to dive into. But bolstered by some great production, "Harry's House" is an easy listen and a nice pick-me-up for whenever you're feeling down.