Hef is undeniably one of the heavyweights (no offense) in Dutch hip-hop. His influence on the scene is undeniable, and Geit (translates to Goat) is another testament to his consistency. With his signature laid-back yet confident flow, he delivers what fans expect—street tales, flexing, and an effortless presence over well-crafted beats. It’s exactly the kind of album you’d want from Hef, but at the same time, that’s where its biggest strength and weakness lie.
The album ... read more
Rémi is often praised as Ronnie Flex’ magnum opus, the album that cemented his place at the top of the Dutch hip hop and pop scene. And while there’s no denying the impact it had, let’s be real—it’s far from a flawless project. Ronnie clearly had a vision with this album, blending hip-hop, R&B, pop, dancehall, and electronic influences into a polished sound. It’s smooth, vibey, and at times, genuinely enjoyable. But at its core, it also feels too ... read more
COLOURS 2 is a fine EP and exactly what you’d expect from PARTYNEXTDOOR. It's moody, smooth, and has those signature late-night vibes. It doesn’t break any new ground, but it does offer some solid tracks.
With just four tracks, the EP is short and sweet. The production is minimal but effective—deep bass, airy synths, and subtle percussion that let his vocals take the spotlight. It’s got that unmistakable PND atmosphere.
That said, there’s nothing here that ... read more
88GLAM's debut is a fine album, though nothing too crazy or groundbreaking at all. Sitting somewhere between trap and cloud rap, it's smooth and atmospheric, but it doesn't do much to set itself apart.
Tracks like Bali and Lavish show off the duo’s ear for catchy hooks and hypnotic melodies, and the chemistry between them is definitely there. The production leans heavy on dreamy synths and bass-heavy beats, creating that late-night feel that works well for what ... read more
Know No Better is one of those EPs that’s easy to vibe with but just as easy to forget. Major Lazer sticks to their usual blend of dancehall, reggae, and electronic beats, and while it’s a fun listen, it never really pushes things any further. The title track is okay and sets the mood with its bouncy, tropical beat and some nice additions from Travis, Camila and Quavo. Sua Cara is also a decent track, one that keeps the energy going and definitely brings the summer vibes. But the ... read more
21 Savage’s Issa Album is kinda a mixed bag. It’s got moments where you see his potential, but overall, it just doesn’t hit as hard as it could’ve. 21’s got that signature cold delivery, and the beats are minimalistic, but the whole thing feels a little one-note. It never really takes off.
The biggest highlight on the album is by far Bank Account, no question about that. The beat is vibeable, the hook is catchy, and it actually has a bit more ... read more
Well, it's not your typical Christmas album.. Running at just 9 minutes, this EP doesn't give you much, but it's fine for what it is. The tracks all have that signature dark undertone, and provide just enough to keep you engaged. The three highlights on the EP for me are the title track, with its rough edge, hate will never win with its more introspective message, and Indecision, which brings some sombre, but also aggressive energy to the EP. All in all, nothing too crazy, but ... read more
Jaden Smith’s debut album, SYRE, is a bit of a mixed bag, and unfortunately, it doesn’t fully live up to the hype and expectations. The main problem with this album is that he doesn’t seem to break free from the shadow of his parents. The album has its moments (e.g. Ninety and Fallen), but overall, it lacks the freshness and the spark needed to make it stand out from other albums in the genre.
From the start, SYRE feels somewhat lifeless and, at times also quite generic. ... read more
Some albums just get their concept so well that you can’t help but be pulled into their world, and The Turn of a Friendly Card is definitely one of them. Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson took gambling—not exactly the first thing you’d think of for a concept album—and turned it into something genuinely captivating. It’s all about luck, risk, and the inevitable downfall that comes when you push your luck too far. And while the lyrics paint that story, the music is ... read more
Three Imaginary Boys is a solid debut—not perfect, not fully formed, but undeniably intriguing. It’s The Cure before they actually became The Cure, still figuring out their sound but already showing flashes of what made them unique. At its best, it’s sharp, raw, and cool. At its worst, it meanders a bit, with several tracks blending together in a way that makes the middle of the album feel like background music at best.
Right from the start, you can hear the post-punk energy ... read more
I remember the first time I listened to ALL-AMERIKKKAN BADA$$ - it completely blew me away. I always knew Joey had the technical skill, but this album was on a new level. It’s easily his most polished and mature work, and you can tell how much thought went into every track.
What I love most about this album is how well Joey blends personal reflection with a bigger message. He’s not only rapping about himself, but he’s also telling about America, about what it means to grow up ... read more
After the success of TRAPSOUL, Bryson Tiller had a lot to live up to with his sophomore album True to Self. But honestly, this follow-up just doesn’t capture the same magic that made his debut so special. While he’s got a signature sound, this album struggles to do anything new or exciting with it.
Instead of evolving his sound and identity, it feels like Bryson is just trying to recreate what worked the first time around. And the result of that is a project that feels way too ... read more
With Witness, Katy Perry seemed to be at a crossroads in her career, trying to reinvent herself and shift towards something more mature. However, the end result is a rather lacklustre and inconsistent album that fails to deliver on those ambitions. Once one of the biggest pop stars, Katy Perry now feels lost, struggling to recapture the magic that made her a star.
The album is quite a mixed bag, to say the least. There are moments that hint at something new, but overall, Witness just falls ... read more
NAV’s self-titled debut album leaves much to be desired. While it certainly has its moments, the overall experience feels lacklustre and lacks any depth to make it memorable. NAV’s approach to rap, characterised by his monotone delivery, robotic flows and uninspired lyrics, never elevates the album.
There are a few bright spots on the album, notably Some Way, mainly because of The Weeknd’s feature, which delivers a bit of energy that the rest of the record sorely lacks. ... read more
Divide was impossible to avoid in 2017, dominating radio stations and playlists, but not that radio play has slowed down, it’s hard not to reflect on just how underwhelming the album truly is. While Ed Sheeran has proved himself as a talented songwriter in the past, Divide showcases some really lacklustre material that feels like he’s playing it too safe, resulting in a largely uninspired listen.
What the album suffers most from is its combination of corny, cliché moments ... read more
Perfect Timing brings NAV and Metro Boomin together, but it doesn’t quite live up to its potential. NAV’s robotic delivery and lacklustre lyricism don’t do him any favours. Most of his verses just drag on without much energy, making it very hard to stay engaged. The songwriting doesn’t help at all either, feeling quite shallow and just repetitive throughout.
Metro Boomin’s production is solid, as expected, but even he sounds a bit uninspired here. The beats do ... read more
Chosen is a pretty rough start for Måneskin. While this project showcases their potential, ultimately it falls short in terms of execution. The EP is mostly filled with covers, and unfortunately, these tracks don’t add anything new or exciting to the original. What’s even worse is that I think they tend to make songs feel even worse. While Måneskin does show some moments of energy and talent, it often feels too forced and doesn’t translate well into the music. ... read more
Seems like a nice teaser. It definitely gets you excited for the album. Hopefully, this time, Miley steps up her game, especially after Endless Summer Vacation, which was quite dull.
Something Beautiful is actually a pretty fine song. It starts off as a soft, easy-going, smooth ballad, but then out of nowhere it erupts into a fiery explosion. It’s quite a bold shift, but it works out very well. It’s nice to see Miley experiment more with her sound, stepping out of her comfort zone and trying something totally different. Near the end, the song reaches another peak, with an even grander explosion that makes for a thrilling finish.
Lyrically, it’s fine. ... read more
With Flower Boy, Tyler, The Creator took his artistry to a whole new level, and entered a new era which showed the world he was a special artist. Following the success of Wolf, Flower Boy marks a major turning point, one where Tyler fully shows his talent and evolution of his artistry, stepping away from the more abrasive, rebellious sound of his early work and delving into one that’s far more delicate, introspective, and genuinely beautiful. From here on, it’s clear that Tyler, The ... read more