Not a classic for me. I appreciate the importance of this album, but this gets kind of exhausting after a few tracks, lyricism is super basic, and there are some filler tracks (like ‘Girls’). Production is really excellent, though.

People generally consider this one of the best albums of hip-hop history. Even I understand why this is considered classic, I don’t think it is really. Of course, Prince Paul’s beats are highly innovative and flawless, but members’ rap is the main problem here. Their flow, rhyme scheme, lyricism are all unbelievably basic even considering when this was released. De La Soul improved a lot after this one.

There is a type of album that sends you to the another dimension

One of the best albums of all time, regardless of genre.

Fun fact: I’m not even black.

Many people were disappointed with this release, but I consider this one of the AOTYs of 2022. The Alchemist’s cinematic beats combined with Rock Marciano’s immersive storytelling, which resulted in one of the most impressive album of this year.

One of the most overhated album of hip-hop history. Many people say this was a huge disappointment considering Illmatic, but it isn’t true. Nas even improved here, and rapped on some of the best beats that he ever chose. Nas’ 2nd best album

AZ’s first and last classic. Beats are mostly great, and AZ was on the top of his game. Plenty of stand-outs (unlike his other albums), most notably Pete Rock-produced ‘Rather Unique’.

The best hip-hop concept album of all time. This is really the one of the few albums that I can truly call ‘transcendant’.

The most ‘explosive’ rap album of 2010s.

Bit overrated, but excellent album anyway. Some beats are quite weak (I meant… ‘Ether’), and few tracks don’t really work, but Nas delivered some of his career-defining performances here. Production is generally better (even not really great) than it was on most of Nas albums, too.

AZ’s sequel to his classic debut Doe or Die turned out to be one of the highlights of 2021. His pen game is good as ever, and he finally found production that can complement his lyricism well again.

Dope chemistry between members is diminished with corny production.

Wack beats (listen to ‘Wet It Up’ bro!!), corny lyrics. Fortunately, there are few dope spots, especially the first 2 tracks.

Album that I tend to dislike while others seem to adore. Production sounds off-kilter for most times, and redveil is an amateur rapper who can’t flow properly yet. Can see potential in lyricism, but definitely not an AOTY contender that many say it is.

After the disappointment of K.R.I.T. Iz Here, Krit returned with one of the worst album of this year. Totally forgettable beats, horrible performance, corny concepts. Is it what we wanted from Krit?

Wait, it is return of King Kendrick, 5 years after his last album! It should be a masterpiece, right? Everybody is calling it “classic”, “AOTY”, “album without skips”, or even “better than TPAB”, “Kendrick’s best work”. However, unfortunately for Kendrick fans, this album is more like a huge disappointment that is not really terrible, but completely fail to meet the expectation.

With the length of 75+ minutes (even it is shorter ... read more

The great beginning to one of the rap’s most consistent duo

Short and sweet. Lupe’s tremendous bars and Soundtrakk’s jazzy beats created an immersive listen that is too good to be dismissed.

billy woods already created one of AOTYs with Aethiopes this year, but he returned even stronger with Church not even after a year. Messiah Muzik’s production may lack the ‘experimental-ness’ that made Preservation’s on Aethiopes highly praised, but it is equally good. billy woods is still getting better as a rapper in every aspects, and it is totally evident here. This may be less appreciated compared to Aethiopes, but for me, this is even better and one of the AOTY ... read more

One of AOTY contenders of 2022. Kno is an underappreciated but amazingly gifted producer who is a master at producing atmospheric and immersive beats, and Sadistik is a talented writer that could write beautifully emotional lyrics while keeping complex rhyme scheme (even his flow is not always great).