EDIT: was a 68, but while I was writing this he said:

"So when that pond thaws and it's no longer Gretzky"
"That's when we jet ski"
....

Lupe got bad when he stopped using braggadocio for the sake of some sort of rap savior complex. The topics here are generic and redundant at this point. And the production is kinda cringe too, still bearing the pop rap scars of Lazers. He's vying for Drake levels of publicity with a quarter of the production talent behind him. ITAL ... read more

LEMME PUT YOU ON GAME REAL QUICK

This is Food & Liquor's college educated cousin coming back to the hood. Fantastic record, a praise and scathing review of all things cool and the shining emblem of the entire Lupe pantheon of music. However, it's also the sad beginning of the end, with really weak songs wedged between god tier tracks. The songs break under the weight of the super meaty lyrics when held up by so-so production. Beats really seem like an afterthought to topics here sometimes, ... read more

THE DEFINITIVE LUPE AND THE 5th ANNIVERSARY EDITION IS A 95.

it sucks because his best verse is on Touch The Sky, but everything else great about the man resides here, and if you have a chance to check out the 5th Anniversary version, he holds it through and through. This was before he became generically woke, and actually utilized his technical abilities to back up what he was saying. It also has his most heart-wrenching, wise, and creative songs period. He tackles gentrification, poverty, ... read more

I didn't have any reviews in the 10's yet, but then I remembered this pseudo-woke commercialized disappointment.
COULD'VE BEEN A 30 BUT YOU DIDN'T SPELL IT LAZERS

fave tracks: Words I Never Said played 100 times at the Obama Gala, All Black Everything

HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENT THE ALBUM
that's hispanic literature much recommended if yous a dingle

Dude, this album is so stupid smart. It's a concept album about a Hispanic woman in New York who has no connection to the struggle of her ancestors, and their individual plights that got her to her place of privilege today. It sets an example for all the youth of today. And the music is grandiose, somber, and intriguing conceptually, blending afro-cuban soul, Americana folk, and New ... read more

A homegrown love and soul on the national stage. It's very poetic in execution alone, but the music brings both tears and joy to my eyes. This is my mom's favorite record, and even though she's Puerto Rican-Dominican, she cheers for the success of her LatinX brothers. And honestly both the live and studio versions are excellent in their own right, with some songs sounding way better on each. And with the Spanish language at the heart of my upbringing, it's really encouraging and lovely, with ... read more

A homegrown love and soul on the national stage. It's very poetic in execution alone, but the music brings both tears and joy to my eyes. This is my mom's favorite record, and even though she's Puerto Rican-Dominican, she cheers for the success of her LatinX brothers. And honestly both the live and studio versions are excellent in their own right, with some songs sounding way better on each. And with the Spanish language at the heart of my upbringing, it's really encouraging and lovely, with ... read more

IF YOU RATE UNDER 90 YOU NEED A NAP

fave tracks: So What, All Blues, Flamenco Sketches

If Boards of Canada made jazz music.

HOLY HELL. I've listened to this for years, and it's definitely my favorite jazz record. Like most of the genre, the longer cuts take a more patient listen and analysis, but when you really are attentive, or have it playing while you're writing, working or playing a mindless game, the experience is extremely rewarding. I really just love the awkwardness of each song, and the eccentric out of pocket harmonics and themes mashed into each one. And it's the ... read more

It is EPIC, and uncanny in this day and age. Dazzling, hypnotic, and extremely exciting, when many jazz records can feel like a crawl. I mean, this is a crawl in other ways, but if you take it track by track, which I did, Kamasi's talents and distinctive features really shine, and each track is a rush of energy and color. Heaven & Earth would later expand on his individual character, but this stands as a great homage to the greats and black excellence in general.

fave tracks: Final ... read more

MY QUEEN IS DANIELE GENTILE (my profile pic)

move aside Kamasi, at a little more than a quarter of the the length, Sons of Kemet succeed here with a record fuzing jazz, reggae, hip hop and world music to an extravagant degree. It's exciting, engaging, familial, inspiratory and succinct. Deeply thematic and political, I feel like I'm listening to a jazz album with real character when most others can really fall into the background after a while. And it really makes you want to get out of your ... read more

I went to this after Garden of Delete and was mesmerized but a little underwhelmed. I really appreciated the varied sonic textures, and the anxious and tense, albeit subdued atmosphere it created. It was beautiful, poetic, and extremely seamless. Well, maybe too seamless. While Garden of Delete stood out to me with each track having its own character, tempo, organization, and process, the songs here occasionally felt monotone and strikingly similar to several other tracks. Obviously, these are ... read more

THIS MIGHT JUST BE A PERSONAL FAVE BUT DONT CRUCIFY ME JUST YET!!!!

I feel like this is easily Cudi’s most INTRIGUING album. I felt like MOTM was solid but very generic after a while, and the simplistic poppy beats felt like sugar overload sometimes. But here, try or fail, Cudi goes for a more spacious (no pun intended) slow burner filled with exciting ideas even if many of them demand more attention and better execution.

Just Whst I Am is now my favorite song of his, from the powerful ... read more

RIP MACRIANA MILLANDE

honestly I like the more serious, poetic and drawn out formula. And the theme is really enthralling as he confronts his internalized misogyny and overall love for his gf, his mom and grandma, and women in general. And these might have his best, or at least most intentional and purposeful production yet. Very interesting concept album from the most unlikely source.

fave tracks: Congratulations, Dang, Stay, God Is Fair Sexy Nasty, Skin

Mac hits a decent average here. Very consistent and some really memorable tracks in the midst of it all. Not a lot of great stuff in his catalog, but at least this is proof he hasn't completely fallen off.

fave tracks: Brand Name, 100 Grandkids, Rush Hour, When In Rome, Perfect Circle/ God Speed, Two Matches

alt-right pandering rap music that does nothing for rap culture

fave tracks: FRICK PARK MARKET RELUCTANTLY, Loitering

I think there's such a thing as beats being too weird now.The production rarely compliments what he's doing on the track, and are not overall cohesive for me so say it's well executed instead of just tossed in there. Exciting to listen to though, and a lot of great ideas, but as usual with Mac his best stuff gets lost in the mire.

fave tracks: Goosebumps (which is a bonus track!, Watching Movies, Suplexes Inside of Complexes, Gees, Red Dot Music, Objects In The Mirror

MILLER MAC'S BEST JAWN DON'T @ ME!

His best songs are on here, but I definitely admit that there are some real boring songs that take away from the overall greatness. I wish he saved many of these for a more commercial release, but I'm glad they exist at all.

fave tracks: Here We Go, Friends, Angel Dust, Polo Jeans, New Faces v2, Funeral, Insomniak

heaven's only wishful this was more fleshed out. Can't wait to hear more from him.

Fave tracks: the singles

SNOBBY ELECTRONIC MUSIC NOW WITH NEW VOICE MODULATION

Where as Garden of Delete sounded like the last sounds before the end of the world, Age Of feels like the post-apocalyptic findings of a society holding on. The tracks feel less formed sometimes, but I'm glad that OPN's sticking more to that individual characterization of his music instead of the lovely, but ultimately repetitive sonic palettes of his earlier work. Definitely one of the top records of the year.

fave songs: Age Of, Babylon, ... read more