= 86.8 =

I used to dread getting older because I worried I would be too out of touch to appreciate new artists. Now that I am older I find that I don't want to listen to most fawned upon new artists let alone appreciate them. I'm too old to be truly cool, too cool to be truly bought by hype. You can shove The Weeknd up your ass, child.

Kendrick is different though. I get this hype. I get why he's so revered. I'd already put him alongside the best hip hop artists of all time. Maybe this ... read more

= 89.8 =

It's probably Common's most accessible album due to its short length and Kanye's easy-listening beats. The album dabbles in themes such as love, religion, and street life.

Common is such a poetic rapper. He isn't very technical, but he spits witty lyrics throughout the album. Common simply oozes passion through these expressive lyrics and his engaging vocal delivery. His flow perfectly compliments these Kanye beats; this is especially impressive on "Testify".

While we are ... read more

= 92.8 =

The College Dropout is "the world sucks but we don't care."
Late Registration is "though we don't care, the world still sucks."

Variety is what makes this album the gem I think it is; variety, and its rare quality of being consistently good despite this variety. West is a hustler and party-monster but he also shows his tenderest side, he is interested in SPAs and jewelery but he has a social conscience; he's confident and strong but the devil's always breathing on ... read more

= 90 =

This album, is so hilarious. DOOM is one of the only rappers that when they try to be funny, it's actually funny and doesn't come off as corny, because his punchlines are always clever and creative as well as his concept
Just look at this one, an album with a concept of.. Food. What? And yet it worked.
It might be DOOM's peak as a producer, I'm not sure if this or Doomsday, I love both soul and Jazz samples. Well either way the jazz samples here are awesome, and the Madlib beat on One ... read more

= 94 =

Proof that sample-based rap production is a high art. I honestly cannot name an album that synthesizes a wide range of influences into a cohesive, focused work in one genre better than The College Dropout. Combine this stellar production with some incredible and personal lyricism ("Spaceship," "Jesus Walks," "Never Let Me Down," "Through the Wire," "Family Business"), and you have a winning formula for a [don't panic] masterpiece. ... read more

= 90.6 =

Blessed with El-P's production, it really wouldn't matter what Vast Aire and Vordul Mega did with their lines on this album because it would still be excellent. Of course they've both absolutely nailed it and the result is one of the most sublime hip hop albums I've ever heard. The lyrical content on this album is general exceptionally, but it takes a few times to pick up on most of them because the so smoothly run along the beats that it almost feels like they're just another layer ... read more

= 89.6 =

Obviously, the one weak part of this album seems to be the rapping, and even while it may be subpar in comparison to the quality of the beats, it serves it's purpose extremely well. Madlib isn't a rapper who tries to sound better than he actually is. The intention of this album is to establish the character of Quasimoto, Madlib's alter-ego. This alter-ego gives insight to what's going on within Madlib's head throughout all the drug use and crate digging. It's really a great sonic ... read more

= 91.2 =

Truth be told, I'm not big on OutKast. I understand the importance of their music, and I appreciate them, I just don't really find myself pushing play on their albums. But Stankonia was one of those formative hip-hop albums, and all of these years later, I find it stands out above their other, more agreeably classic LP's.

Maybe it's the cleaner production, the more mainstream songs, the rock influence, but at the same time it's just as dynamic and deep as the prior OutKast classics. ... read more

= 92.6 =

After appearing on Handsome Boy Modeling School's debut album So…How's Your Girl? a year prior, both Hieroglyphics leader Del the Funky Homosapien & DJ Kid Koala join forces with one of the duo's members Dan the Automator as the supergroup Deltron 3030 & this is their self-titled full-length debut (which is a concept album about Deltron 0 in a post-apocalyptic world set in the year 3030). Del & Kid Koala have had their own individual success as well prior this album ... read more

= 88.6 =

The first time I listened to this, I was blown away. The second time I listened to it I wasn't quite so sure about it. At this point, I'm still not entirely sure, but I'll say that this is either a great album or a really good one. There are two flaws with it that kind of don't work for me. For one, the album feels a little bit like "classic" hip hop in terms of the beats, which is something I've never been a huge fan of. Secondly, the features on it largely don't feel like ... read more

= 92.2 =

As a style I'd say this is like Illadelph Halflife 2.0, but no complains because this is my favorite kind of Roots. Don't get me wrong I'm glad they're so diverse and changed they're style so much, as well as made more creative and experimental projects, but this is still my favorite kind of Roots.
The style here is pretty simple, the production is some of the best boom bap known to man, with elements of jazz mainly, and Black Thought spitting amazing verses.
So even thought I overall ... read more

= 92.4 =

Gang Starr.. It's always good when a top tier producer and a top tier producer get together. Gang Starr over the years gave us one of the strongest discographies in hip hop. But I have no doubt that this is their peak.
As for Guru, he style was always build on conscious and extremely intelligent lyrics, and I'd be lying if I said I think this is his peak because I don't really think he had an obvious peak, because the lyrics he wrote on Step In The Arena and Daily Operation were just ... read more

= 88 =

Coming completely from the left field in the land of shiny suits, Company Flow provided an alternative to that in 1997 with their "abstract" debut album, Funcrusher Plus. Company Flow consists of El-P, Bigg Jus and Mr. Len. This trio hated the direction hip-hop was taking with the increased materialism and posturing, so they declare themselves as anti-mainstream and do everything the opposite way of what was charting at the time. There are no 70s hits sampled, no talk of cars ... read more

= 88 =

After their 1994 debut passed by without much fanfare, the New Jersey trio of Wyclef Jean, Lauryn Hill and Pras, better known as The Fugees, rethought their strategy before striking back in 1996 with their second effort, The Score. While the previous album was on par with the riggity-rough trend in the east, they flip the script here and take on a more poppy Native Tongues style. The rapping is mostly based around bragging and battle rapping but they also talk about police corruption ... read more

= 91.8 =

I must begin this review by saying that I'm not huge Jay Z fan. There is only so many times you can say "I'm the best" until it gets really old. However Jay Z is a talented rapper who has put out 3 legitimately great albums. Reasonable Doubt is one of those records.
This was Jay Z's debut album and was heavily influenced by the sounds of Biggie and Nas. The beats very much sound like a product of their time which isn't a bad thing because most of them are great. The song ... read more

= 89.4 =

Totally a missing classic. This album had all the qualities to become influential and a loved one. What happened? You know what happened. People preferred listening to 2pac and friends (don't get me wrong. I love the B.I.G for instance) and the underground stuff was basically forgotten because of the incredible gossip wave that the advertisment on the deaths of some singers created to sell more. But that happens. Ask Dinosaur Jr if they feel inferior to Nirvana. And then we know how ... read more

= 89.8 =

Definitely a classic. Consistent mic presence, complicated flow, beautiful production, what more can you ask for? This was a gem for 1994, and not known. Not as good as stuff like Illmatic, but damn close. Producer "Buckwild" did alot of tracks on here, and I really like his style with the hard drums, and jazzy backgrounds. If you want jazzy hip-hop, this is an excellent taste, as it is 13 tracks with absolutely no filler. I honestly cannot describe many flaws here. I guess ... read more

= 90.2 =

This is easily one of the most consistent rap albums...ever. Jeru and DJ Premier make such a great pairing, and this is album full of fantastic beats and fantastic verses. It's easily one of the more overlooked projects of the '90s and one you should check out.

For a start, Jeru is a really enjoyable rapper to listen to. He utilizes a lot of witty wordplay and metaphors, making him sound very original. He has a gritty delivery and a flow that sounds smoother than a satin pillow. His ... read more

= 90.6 =

This is the most technical Common got in his career, the rhyme schemes here are mind blowing, Resurrection (the track) being the best example.
And the wordplays.. Man Common just have so many amazing wordplays here it's amazing:
"I’m hype like I’m unsigned"
"Peep, I’m gettin' old and this a cold, cold world"
"I dilate pupils that’s cornea than a retina"

And a lot more, and OF COURSE, he had Communism that is one of the most ... read more

= 91.2 =

Well it's now well established that Pete Rock is one of the best producers ever but where did he get his start? Well this is the first album released that he was affiliated with and it did a lot in establishing his now well-known reputation. Jazz rap was on the rise in the early '90s and Pete Rock was one of the reasons. He laces these beats with a soul-inflected jazz sound that is uniquely his. (although there are similarities to DJ Premier and we often hear comparisons) The beats ... read more