Like its ambitious title, Can’t Rush Greatness manages to fully deliver on its promise, resulting in an album that feels more like a reaffirmation of Central Cee’s okay status rather than a meaningful artistic downgrade. Along with moments of sharp lyricism and introspection, the project has the momentum and depth needed to make a lasting impact. Cench’s ability to blend global appeal with his UK roots, that alone is enough to carry the album. There’s little here that ... read more

Tyler’s newest album is an ambitious but ultimately unfocused effort that drowns in its own excess. While the album aims for bold experimentation, it instead collapses under chaotic production choices and an unclear message, resulting in a frustrating listening experience. The album’s sound is “deliberately messy,” which is a choice that might have been intriguing if it weren’t so incoherent. The overarching theme of distrust feels underdeveloped, coming across as ... read more

Kendrick Lamar’s latest album is an ambitious misstep, weighed down by an overly polished sound and a narrative that feels more performative than personal. While Lamar remains a technical master with an undeniable presence, the project lacks the rawness and urgency that never set him apart. Lamar’s pursuit of authenticity feels forced rather than natural. The production, though crisp, is too synthetic, stripping the music of the organic energy that made his past work so compelling. ... read more

Ice Spice's latest EP is an interesting mix of hard drill beats and over-the-top bravado, making it catchy enough with just enough hooks to keep it pop-friendly. It definitely takes some steps forward, giving fans something fun to latch onto. But let’s be real—while there are some fun parts, the 13 minutes of music feels like it's desperately trying to chase that lightning-in-a-bottle vibe of her biggest hit. It gets a little hard to pay attention when it feels like ... read more

Honestly, it’s pretty rough; there aren’t really any standout moments, and Thug’s vocal skills seem to have improved from Barter 6. The production feels stale, with generic beats that do nothing to keep my interest. If this mixtape were any shorter, it wouldn’t have the chance to redeem itself. The features? They just ruin the vibe; instead of adding anything, they take away from Thug’s style and make the whole thing a drag. Overall, I was just waiting for it to ... read more

Genre: Sadboy is a masterpiece. It has a raw authenticity that hits right, making it an interesting listen. The album strikes a cool balance, mixing unfinished ideas with a gritty edge that people will really vibe with. It nails the emo rap feel, and it fixes all of the genre's weaker sides. The album does an incredible job blending rap and pop-punk, showing off what makes that combo work and feel relevant. Overall, Genre: Sadboy brings a legendary spin to emo rap, with sounds that pull ... read more

Wilfully trashy, brief, and throwaway. It doesn’t stick around long enough to bore you, but let’s be real: it’s going to be remembered as one of the greats. It’s fun while it lasts. It has wickedly infectious energy, wit, and filth. While the album has worries, it’s pushed away by incredible cuts. It’s a masterpiece that will silence the haters, nda it won’t put the brakes on her rise either. The album’s short length works in its favor, letting ... read more

Slime Season 3 is a major letdown, it’s far from a good intro for anyone trying to get a feel for Southern hip-hop. While there are a few moments that show some promise, the mixtape mostly just fizzles out instead of giving fans a satisfying finale. There are no standout tracks to be found, making it feel like a half-assed effort. Young Thug completely avoids anything emotionally deep here. Without any introspection, SS3 comes off as shallow and forgettable. The project doesn’t ... read more

Both Future and Young Thug feel far from their worst here. Instead of destructive chemistry, the album mostly settles for a middle-of-the-road vibe. The last few tracks are the real highlights, while the collaborations mostly feel like they’re just going through the motions. Even when the verses and hooks aren’t boring, they seem thrown together with little flow. Still, there are a couple of solid moments—like on "4 Da Gang" and "Group Home"—where ... read more

If you actually start to think about Young Thug’s music, it’s hard to enjoy. The casual misogyny, like using "Pussy" as an insult, just reminds you that Thug's lyrics aren't trying to be progressive. But if you're just after some bass to rattle your speakers and auto-tuned vocals that border on R&B, tracks like "The London" and "Hot" with Gunna might scratch that itch. Alienated, crass, dirty, dissolute, funny, hedonistic, mumbly, ... read more

Yeah, you really need to ask what the fuck you're doing! Cactus Jack comes through with a pretty underwhelming collection that doesn’t quite hit the mark. Seeing just 7 tracks, I thought we’d either get something experimental and cohesive, like Owl Pharaoh, or maybe just a few bangers with solid replay value. But instead, this lands awkwardly between the two. It’s definitely not on the level of something like Huncho Jack or Owl Pharaoh, but unfortunately, it doesn’t ... read more

A desperate reach for past glory that falls flat. Kid Cudi and Kanye might think they've got chemistry, but I isn’t buying it—everything feels forced. The lyrics are all over the place, they cram a bunch of half-baked ideas into 23 minutes, like they’re in a rush to sound deep without actually trying. Instead of pushing boundaries, the album just flails around, showing Kanye as someone lost and out of touch. This is yet another mess from the Wyoming sessions. I feel its ... read more

Let me tell you about Damn.—it's an album that completely misses the mark when it comes to showcasing Kendrick Lamar's talent. You can't really see any growth in him as a lyricist or rapper; it’s like he’s stuck in place. Damn. clumsily mixes the old and the new, struggling to find any decent vibe. This album fails to strip down the rhythms the way it should, and the guest spots from Rihanna and U2 feel more like distractions than anything worthwhile. Honestly, ... read more

Honestly, this album has some serious issues. Lamar still can’t figure out how to make his dense lyrics work with the music. It’s like he’s drowning in clutter, and it totally suffocates the vibe. And then you’ve got how erratic the music is and calling out the self-indulgent crap, like that snooze-fest “Alright” and Lamar whining about fame. It feels like he’s trying to show off without actually saying anything important. Overall, it’s a mess ... read more

Honestly, this album doesn’t quite cut it for me. It feels like it’s missing the raw energy of C4, which is a bummer. Plus, Lamar’s portrayal of downtrodden women just comes off as cheap and unconvincing—like, what was he thinking? And yeah, Christgau pointed out that the dramatic flair has some musical drawbacks, which I totally get. Sure, the atmospheric beats from Dr. Dre and his crew provide some decent background noise, but they don’t really do much to save ... read more

In my less enthusiastic opinion, Young Thug sounds somewhat lazy on Barter 6. It feels like he’s just sitting around, waiting for inspiration to strike, and with such a laid-back, inscrutable flow, he might need to take the initiative to activate that change himself. Most of the songs come off as both boastful and sad at the same time, abandoning the frenzied tunefulness that characterized his earlier work in favor of indistinctly syrupy tracks. While the album does offer some cohesion ... read more

In my view, this mixtape is unexciting and unnecessary, easily ranking among the weakest rap releases of 2016. There’s a distinct lack of freshness here, which makes it his least thrilling and least mainstream project to date. Compared to what most mixtape-bred rappers produce, this major-label effort feels less satisfying. Despite attempts to push boundaries, it seems to be less extreme than his previous work, and I’d argue that Jeffery is his least pop-oriented tape since ... read more

Vultures 1 is a mixed bag. Yeah, West throws in some great moments, but he also makes it hard to really enjoy them. The mixing is a mess, and let’s not even get started on the misogynistic lyrics. Still, “Hoodrat” is a solid track, and “King” is another one that actually stands out. After 20 years, West is finally a top-notch producer and curator. I think Ty Dolla Sign is the perfect fit for this project, with their vocals blending pretty well with West’s ... read more

Vultures 2 is an absolute win, and it’s all about the killer chemistry between Kanye West and Ty Dolla Sign. These two create something special that just clicks. Ty’s vocals really pop, and Kanye’s lyrics are sharp and engaging, making the whole album feel packed with substance. While Kanye’s albums can sometimes feel unfinished, this one shows he’s seriously leveled up as an artist. Yeah, the mixes might be a bit out there, but that just gives the tracks a unique ... read more

Astroworld is a total flop, and I’m not here for it. Larry Fitzmaurice from Pitchfork nailed it when he called it Scott’s weakest album. Instead of creating something immersive, it feels like a jumbled mess where Scott is trying to be the ringmaster but can’t even hold the spotlight. The production? Just flashy nonsense with weird quirks that feel more like cheap gimmicks than anything original. With 17 tracks, it’s overloaded with filler. The Drake feature “Sicko ... read more