EDIT: i under-scored this album. its actually pretty great after some more listens. i was just expecting a lot more because of all the praise thrown at the beatles from people who grew up with them.

it was fine i guess?! i don't see the hype behind this, maybe it's because i'm much younger than those who knew the beatles in their generation, but i just think this is a fine album. as far as pop-rock goes, it's just fine. the concept doesn't have a point, and the songs have some stupid ... read more

EDIT: Still think this is an amazing album. Honestly, I can't see anything topping this in pop or r&b within this decade. There's pretty close to nothing wrong with Channel Orange, but god I really wish Fertilizer was a full track. It has such an infectious and upbeat melody and terrific production. Frank had the potential to be this generation's Michael Jackson, but unfortunately that never came to fruition. He's still one of the most talented pop artists of the 2010's though, and ... read more

there is a reason i never really listened to lil wayne. the topics of his material, and his delivery (high pitched and annoying mostly), but this album changed my opinion of him. i didn't like it a ton, but it was good. the production was nicely done, with kanye on a few tracks, and it gave a decent variation. nothing was awful on this project (except lollipop) and it was a pretty enjoyable listen. i only got bothered by, again, his topics. pussy this, pussy that. its not for me i ... read more

el-p cements himself into hip-hop history with this LP. i love his futuristic production style that is showcased in Cancer 4 Cure, but this awesomely unique style is what i have found myself to prefer. el has some songs with almost nonstop rapping, and some with only a couple verses. the aesthetic of this album shows not only some art-pop but as well as some hardcore hip-hop. the features, although not too many, were a huge contribution to this project, and gave a change of direction at ... read more

i'm not really big on instrumental stuff. it can be really enjoyable when studying, working out, or doing tasks that don't require a lot of focus. but this album was much different. in my opinion, this needs to be listened to as a whole instead of as individual songs, due to the fluid production and thorough instrumentation. flylo did a great job of making an experimental/instrumental hip-hop album. this only makes me more excited to listen to his newer LPs
fav tracks: comet course, ... read more

this was the first lil wayne project that i had heard in entirety. i was a little disappointed. lil wayne definitely has an incredibly unique delivery, and his flow is extremely clean. however, his topics are monotonous, almost always about "pussy" and "hoes" which makes this tape a bit of a chore to get through after the first 5 or so songs. i enjoyed the production, there were some satisfying drops and hooks, and lil wayne was surprisingly well written. overall, a ... read more

edit: this is the one record from EL-P's solo discography that i continuously go back to. this is so much different compared to the rest of the hip hop released in 2007. very ahead of it's time.
experimental and futuristic as fuck, el-p has here one of the most well-produced albums of the decade. i think of him as one of the best producers of the 21st century, and this backs up my point. his raps were nice, and still better than many of the rappers of this time period. my only complaint ... read more

perhaps the most abstract DG project. each beat is very different from the next, and the vocals, as always, are agressive and deep-cutting. ride and hill establish their band with a great debut, which only let to some even better, more insane LPs.
fav tracks: beware, guillotine, lord of the game, takyon

killer mike comes up huge with a (at the time) breakthrough album. it may be a much later peak in his career than it is for the usual artist, however his skill is even better than many younger rappers. his ability to tell a clear story with his words is a gift, and that is exemplified in R.A.P. Music. El-P has some top-tier behind the boards work, and the gritty street tone of this album leaves it like no other.
fav tracks: big beast, southern fried, reagan, dont die, r.a.p. music

fucking insane starter to a fucking insane band. has a little more of a hip hop feel than their newer albums, and i like it a lot. has some more toned down instrumetals, but some harsher and seeper cutting lyrics.
fav tracks: full moon, takyon, where's it at

i really am not sure how i feel about this album. obviously it isnt nearly as good as dumhile's original work in the late 90's thru early 2000's, but its decent, better than a lot of the rap from 2009. none of this blew me away, as it had a different feel than his other LPs. it was darker, and not as fun as the other ones. my only huge complaint is batty boyz. it might just be one of the most homophobic songs that i have ever heard. i totally get that doom is a "villain" and he ... read more

milo had some great verses on this LP, but the production was off the charts. it had a relaxed jazz sound and allowed the raps to really stand out. there was a deep meaning behind his lyrics and they had a relevant theme to the issues of today.
fav tracks: souvenir, an encyclopedia, yomilo

EDIT: again, the seer is a terrific project that broke new ground for swans, but i just havent found myself going back to it all too much.

after listening to "the seer" i understand that swans is much more than music. this is a whole art piece that could be played at any museum anywhere. the sheer length of the LP makes it intimidating, but it adds to the meaning. the seer shows just how much progression can be made from a band that started in the 80's and still relate to the ... read more

ice cube, in my opinion the best rapper in NWA, has an insane first solo album. he has a great word choice and variation, as well as terrific delivery and flow. the best themselves were not outstanding, but cube gave a great performance. some of the songs where he told a story had a really deep feel and nice fluidity. this is the epitome of 90's gangsta rap.
fav tracks: amerikkkas most wanted, you cant fade me/jd's gaffilin, endangered species, the bomb, 89

justin vernon has something about him. he has an impeccable voice, and his production quality is at the top. the instrumentals give some of the slower lyrics and upbeat vibe, and creates something very special. vernon's projects have been very entertaining in my opinion, i have yet to be disappointed by him. the folk-pop theme he has is appealing and makes his projects friendly to listeners that are interested in other genres
fav tracks: skinny love, the wolves, for emma

bjork comes up with one of the best electronic albums of all time. the mix of electronic production with strings and other instruments was an incredible fusion, creating one of the most memorable albums ever. bjorks lyrics are very entertaining and real, they vary in tone, so it isnt the same whine that she often has, she has some deeper cuts on this LP.
fav tracks: joga, 5 years, alarm call, bachelorette,

a very satisfying listen. i really enjoyed the soulful production and instrumentation, it gave the raps more character and made them stand out more than the production, which i did not mind. i liked how this was largely joey on this LP, with few features, although bj the chicago kid had a great one. the rhymes had a sentimental meaning to them, and told a nice story of his life. his voice varied throughout the album, and really gave it some nice diversity.
fav tracks: paper trail$, like me, ... read more

this wasn't an awful album. i enjoyed it, but i thought it was too long. the theme changes about halfway through from some solid rapping to slow sing-raps. a couple bangers were on this LP, however its a yelawolf album, and because hes from Alabama hes probably inbred. which means this will have some faults. and by faults i mean love songs. the songs about women and his "sex addiction" were the toughest to listen to, and got to be very monotonous and annoying. however, the ... read more

nas has some of the best lyrics ever on this album. he has stories of his life, tales of struggling. i like the production, and felt that each beat fit perfectly with the respective lyrics being rapped over it. i dont necessarily agree with all of the 100s, but can easily see why this is such a praised album.
fav tracks: life's a bitch, the world is yours, memory lane

before i review, let me say something... i absolutely love yelawolf as a rapper. i think his early projects are okay, and his delivery and speed is insane. his verse on tech n9ne's worldwide choppers is one of my favorites.
but this record is an extreme disappointment. the first problem is that its called love story, and the cover is a pretty mean looking wolf. then the music completely contradicts the cover, and somewhat follows the title. love story is not at all a hip-hop record, more ... read more