I get that not everyone’s gonna be into Don Toliver over this type of Synthpop production. But I kinda dig it. There’s something about his voice floating over these synths that just sounds great. I wouldn’t mind a full Synthpop album from him at all. Doja also did her thing as always. Don't think it's a stand-out verse per se, but it works well though. My favorite part of the song has to be the chorus — when their voices come together. That chorus just works so ... read more

It’s just really insane when you look back and realise how easily bands used to drop masterpieces. In just a year and a half, Led Zeppelin delivered three albums that most bands couldn’t even dream of achieving over a full career. Led Zeppelin I was raw, explosive, and heavy as hell. Then Led Zeppelin II came through with even more character and identity. That was the album where they truly became Led Zeppelin, no longer just blues rock prodigies, but full-blown pioneers of the ... read more

Sam Smith was everywhere in 2014. Most of us probably first heard of him on Latch with Disclosure, and then In the Lonely Hour dropped, and he became a global name overnight. The British singer really poured his heart out here, giving us a collection of emotional ballads and comfort songs that definitely feel inspired by the likes of Adele. His voice is undeniable — smooth, strong, and honestly pretty remarkable considering he was only 21 at the time.

The album has some beautiful moments ... read more

Even after all these years, XSCAPE still feels a little complicated to me. It’s the second posthumous MJ album, and while it’s definitely more respectful to his legacy than Michael (which honestly felt like a scam), it still raises some uneasy feelings. Posthumous records are tricky — especially when you're dealing with unfinished music that the artist might never have wanted released in the first place.

That said, XSCAPE isn’t bad at all. There are a few genuinely ... read more

Kauai is a nice little EP from Childish Gambino that leans into easy summer vibes. It’s light, carefree, and just really pleasant to have on in the background. The major standout here is definitely Sober — that song just breathes summer. The rest of the project is fine too; nothing groundbreaking, but it fits the vibe it’s going for. It’s not an essential listen in his catalogue, but it’s an enjoyable one for sure.

My Everything marked a big step forward for Ariana Grande. Her sophomore album felt more focused, more confident, and you could tell she was really starting to carve out her own lane. Her voice shines throughout, and there are some genuinely great tracks here like One Last Time, Break Free, Love Me Harder with The Weeknd, and the title track My Everything. Sure, it’s not the most groundbreaking pop album ever, but it’s a solid and enjoyable project that showed Ariana’s massive ... read more

After already dropping a great project with Take Care, Drake came back again with another banger with Nothing Was The Same. Drake sounds hungry on this album, you can really hear it. It’s some of the best rapping he’s ever done, and you can tell he was quite focused back then.

With just 13 tracks, the album is tight and cohesive, exactly what an album should be (and what you'd desperately wish for Drake to
finally do again — though he probably won't ever release ... read more

Coming off a great debut that really showed his special talent and sound in the dark R&B lane, PARTYNEXTDOOR kept it going with the second instalment. PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO sticks to those same late-night vibes, and PND just floats through them effortlessly. It’s smooth, it’s easy, it’s the kind of album that makes you want to drive around town with the windows down at 2AM.

The soundscape here is so mesmerising. This album always lets me just sit back and relax. Tracks like ... read more

Well… this was long overdue. After three years of hype, delays, leaks, re-uploads, stem player releases, Donda 2 is finally released. And while you'd think all that time would’ve led to something finished, refined and polished… nope. Not with Ye.

That said, there are a couple of nice songs — or at least great raw ideas. True Love, Flowers, Too Easy, Pablo, Happy, Security, Burn Everything, and We Did It all have something going for them. These songs had massive ... read more

Genius, simply genius. The way Kanye switched things up and delivered something so completely unexpected from his earlier work... he really was on another level. Yeezus is as bold as things can get, it’s raw, it’s industrial, it’s hard-hitting. The album contains some of the hardest production hip hop has ever seen. It literally sounds metallic, like iron grinding against iron. And Kanye absolutely goes off on these tracks with some of the most aggressive, intense performances ... read more

Random Access Memories feels like the perfect send-off for Daft Punk. The duo came back one last time and just dropped this absolutely gorgeous record. It’s not as experimental or wild as some of their earlier stuff, but man, it’s so polished, so stylish, and it just breathes quality from start to finish. You can tell they really put their heart into it.

It’s like they managed to combine every side of their career into one big final statement. You’ve got the funky ... read more

Now this is what hip hop is all about. I was really astonished when I first listened to The Infamous, what a hell of an album it is. From start to finish, it’s gritty, raw, and full of that eerie, cold-blooded Queensbridge atmosphere. The production is absolutely insane on here. Those dusty and sinister drum loops, the perfect boom bap sound. It all hits like a ton of bricks but still feels so smooth at the same time.

Prodigy and Havoc really did something special here. Their chemistry ... read more

J. Cole really delivered one of his best with 2014 Forest Hills Drive. The album is just really enjoyable throughout, with great tracks like Wet Dreamz, 03’ Adolescence, Fire Squad, No Role Modelz, and Love Yourz. Cole really takes you on a ride with this one, moving like a guide, sharing his thoughts and memories in a way that feels super genuine. His rapping and lyricism are really strong here, and the production is nice and smooth too, fitting the whole vibe of the album.

It’s ... read more

Man... little did we know what a superstar this man would become. But with Days Before Rodeo, Travis already showed huge potential. Coming off his first mixtape Owl Pharaoh, he really turned things up a notch here and delivered something that truly started defining his distinct sound. You could really hear that he was crafting his own lane, blending trap with darker, more atmospheric production, heavy autotune, and that signature chaotic energy. And there's just always something about this ... read more

Talking Book is where Stevie Wonder really stepped up his game. After already dropping great albums like Where I’m Coming From and Music of My Mind, Talking Book is where he truly solidified his place as one of the greatest artists ever. It’s the album where everything clicked perfectly, and Stevie took his sound to new heights. From this point on, he delivered some of the best albums ever made, and this one definitely stands as a top contender.

What makes this album so special is ... read more

What a mixtape Faces is. Just beyond amazing. Mesmerising, psychedelic, a full-fledged journey through the mind of Mac. With 24 tracks and a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes, it’s pretty extensive — but honestly, that’s a blessing here. Because Faces is an experience like never seen before. It’s drenched in psychedelic production, deep introspection, and emotional performances by Mac that feel so raw and real you can almost touch them.

You can feel every sound, every ... read more

How great Coldplay started their career… and how flat things became in the 2010s. After the already somewhat mixed bag that was Mylo Xyloto, Ghost Stories doesn’t exactly mark a return to form either.

There are some highlights — Magic stands out as a solid track with some of that old Coldplay charm. But beyond that, the album just kind of drifts. It feels dull, a bit lifeless, and way too safe. The emotional weight they usually carry doesn’t quite land here, and the ... read more

One of the very few decent Chris Brown albums — and even then, it's far from great. Chris has the voice, the dance moves, the fanbase, the whole package in terms of being a star. But when it comes to making quality, lasting music, he’s often fallen short. A lot of his discography just ends up feeling repetitive, like you’ve heard it all before after a few songs.

That said, X does have some solid moments. Tracks like X, Loyal, New Flame, and Autumn Leaves are definitely ... read more

After the enjoyable 18 Months, Calvin Harris returned with Motion. But does it carry the same energy? Not quite.

To be fair, Calvin does know how to make bangers. He’s a hit machine — and on this album, you’ve got tracks like Under Control, Blame, Outside, and Summer. These songs were everywhere back in the day, and for good reason. They’re catchy, well-produced, and made to dominate the charts.

But once you get past those big singles, the rest of the album starts to ... read more

G-Eazy really was a thing back then — and to this day, I’m still not entirely sure how. He’s never been a particularly great rapper, and this debut album leans heavily into that radio-friendly, pop-rap space that’s designed to appeal to a broad audience. It’s slick, polished, and marketable… but that’s also kind of where it ends.

These Things Happen does have a few solid tracks here and there, and as a debut, it’s not the worst introduction. But ... read more