After his solid debut album, Justin came back and had everyone in a chokehold with this one. You just couldn’t escape these songs back then, he was literally everywhere. And rightfully so. He teamed up with Timbaland again, and they absolutely delivered some huge bangers. This album is slick, sexy, playful, seductive, I fully get why people were going crazy for it.

Compared to Justified, this one feels way more distinct. It has a sound of its own, kind of futuristic, kind of weird, and ... read more

Chris Brown’s second album picks up right where his debut left off: same sound, same vibe, no real evolution. It’s fine for what it is, like, he’s got the voice and some clear talent. But overall, Exclusive is just a pretty standard R&B record. It’s smooth, polished, and has a few catchy moments, but nothing that really stands out or surprises. Not bad, not great, just very safe.

David Guetta has always been kind of a love-hate thing for me. And Pop Life just confirms again that he’s not really an album artist. Sure, he knows how to make hits, but as a full project, there’s just not much to grab onto. Most of the tracks feel like generic, by-the-numbers EDM and house productions. There's barely anything memorable here, and it honestly just fades into the background after a while. He’s better at singles than albums, and this one proves it again.

Giorgio Moroder really is that guy. A straight-up legend, especially when it comes to electronic and dance music. With From Here to Eternity, he basically laid down the blueprint for so much of what would come in electronic, synth-pop, house, techno, you name it. This album isn’t just an important one, it’s an insanely fun one too.

The moment that title track kicks in, From Here to Eternity, you’re already in full-motion. The groove is so amazing and that gorgeous synths work ... read more

This one’s such a blast, but only the first half to be honest. Empire of the Sun’s Walking on a Dream is like stepping into some glam-synth, cosmic fantasy world. And yes, maybe it’s everyone’s guilty pleasure, but honestly, why feel guilty? It’s catchy, it’s weird, but it totally owns it. The first few tracks are among the best pop songs of the late 2000s/begin 2010s: Standing on the Shore, Walking on a Dream, Half Mast, and We Are the People, I mean, that ... read more

After three already solid albums, Coldplay came back with Viva La Vida, and honestly, this one might be their most refined and focused effort yet. I’ve never been their biggest fan, but credit where it’s due because this album is pretty good. It feels a bit more adventurous than their earlier work, both musically and thematically. There's this grand, almost orchestral feel to a lot of the production that really lifts these songs. The title track Viva La Vida is, of course, the ... read more

Larry June is back with another collab tape with Cardo, and this album is just them doing what they do best. It’s smooth, laid-back, and packed with classic Cardo production. Larry brings his usual relaxed delivery, and the whole thing just cruises along in that signature vibe they’ve built together.

Now, it’s not anything groundbreaking — it kind of sticks to the formula — and at times the production and delivery can start to feel a bit repetitive. But if ... read more

Boldy James is back again with his seventh (LOL) project of the year. While most of his 2025 run has been pretty hit or miss — some albums even being straight-up forgettable — there were a couple pretty decent ones in Token of Appreciation and Conversational Pieces. But with Late To My Own Funeral, he’s finally back with quite a solid one.

This one’s produced entirely by Nicholas Craven, and he delivers yet again. Those soulful loops are just really beautiful. Rich, ... read more

After all the teasing and build-up, JACKBOYS 2 finally dropped. And… I wasn’t sure what to expect. The recent snippets didn’t do much for me, but I went in with a blank slate.

The opener, CHAMPAIN & VACAY with Travis and Don, kicks things off pretty well. The production is slick, Travis sounds like himself, and Don’s hook is catchy. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s a decent start. That said, the track feels too short, just one verse and a hook/outro? ... read more

Giveon is finally back again, and better than ever.

He’s always had that incredibly rich, smooth, warm voice, and when he first came onto the scene with those EPs, it really felt like he was one of the most promising voices in contemporary R&B. But then came Give or Take, and while it wasn’t bad at all, it just didn’t quite hit the way it could’ve. The production was a bit safe, a bit too sleepy at times, and even Giveon’s delivery didn’t leave the ... read more

Everyone hating, but… it actually isn’t that bad???

So out of nowhere, and after a bunch of speculation and fuss about his recent social media activity, Justin Bieber surprise dropped his seventh album. I’ll be honest: his recent output, and honestly most of his career output, hasn’t been that great. He’s obviously a massive pop star, but quality-wise? There’s not that much greatness in his catalogue. Sure, he’s got some really solid songs, but as ... read more

It’s pretty evident from these first two singles that Cudi’s trying something different yet again. This time, it seems he's leaning more into pop direction again with more stripped-back and guitar-centric production. And, I really keep admiring his willingness to challenge himself and reinvent his sound, even if the execution isn’t always top-tier.

With the first single, Neverland, I had mixed feelings. It was a decent track, but nothing too groundbreaking or anything. ... read more

STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. THE KINGS HAVE FINALLY RETURNED. CLIPSE IS BACK.

After all the teasing, all the waiting, the legends have finally returned. And good lord, I was really hyped going in, and rightfully so. They already dropped two insane singles with Ace Trumpets and So Be It, so expectations were sky-high. And somehow, they still absolutely smashed those expectations. Honestly, they might’ve just dropped one of the best albums of the 2020s.

Let’s talk about ... read more

What an introductory run. After the legendary College Dropout, Kanye came right back with Late Registration, and somehow, somehow, he managed to top it, or at the very least, match it. This album is just magical. You can really tell he levelled up in terms of production, vision, everything. It’s still got that soulful, boom-bap vibe, but it’s bigger, bolder, more orchestral. It feels like he went all-in, and it absolutely paid off.

Right from Wake Up Mr. West into Heard ’Em ... read more

Be is just so beautiful. Common really came through with this one. He was already a big name by this point, but this album just solidified his status even more. With Kanye and Dilla on the boards, you already knew the production would be insane—and it is. Soulful as hell, smooth, warm, layered. The beats wrap around Common’s voice so perfectly.

Common just sounds so in-pocket here. His delivery is calm but commanding, his lyricism is sharp, thoughtful, poetic. Every track on here ... read more

This was the starting point where the whole Kid Cudi wave began. And even though it’s technically a mixtape, A Kid Named Cudi already shows so much of what made Cudi special. The mood, the melodies, the introspection, the spacey production, it’s all here in early form. There are some real gems too such as Down & Out, Man on the Moon (The Anthem), The Prayer, Embrace the Martian, Is There Any Love, and of course Day ‘N Nite, which would go on to become his breakout hit. ... read more

The Fame was a wild introduction to Lady Gaga. This was her big break-out moment, and it’s loud and full of hits. I’m not going to lie, it’s not really my thing sonically. The electropop style feels super over-the-top now, very much a product of its time. But even if it’s not totally my cup of tea, I’ve got to admit: the production is clean, Gaga’s vocals are strong, and she knew exactly how to make a pop song blow up. Just Dance, Poker Face, Paparazzi, I ... read more

This one’s rough. One of the Boys kind of feels like the poster child for everything that went wrong with mainstream pop at the end of the 2000s. It’s got that overly polished, plastic production, auto-tuned-to-death vocals, and lyrics that just feel painfully try-hard. It’s like the label tried to turn rebellion and sass into a pop formula, and it just didn’t work, at least not for me. There’s very little soul or authenticity here. It sounds like a parody of pop ... read more

I don’t even know what to say here. I listened to this and genuinely didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It’s so bizarre it becomes kind of fascinating. I bet if Michael Jackson had heard this, he probably would’ve reconsidered his entire legacy out of fear. Just… wow.

Well… The E.N.D. is a pretty fitting title, honestly. Not because it was the end of the group’s career — if anything, it was their commercial peak — but because it marked the end of the Black Eyed Peas as we knew them. They went full pop-electro here, chasing that club sound that was huge around 2009, and, it worked in terms of numbers. Boom Boom Pow, I Gotta Feeling, Meet Me Halfway, those songs were literally everywhere. You couldn’t escape them. They were ... read more