(Opinions might change)
God Does Like Ugly is one of JID’s most ambitious and polished projects yet. Blending gospel, trap, boom bap, jazz, and soul, the production is consistently rich and immersive with seamless beat switches and creative arrangements. Lyrically, JID digs deep into faith, loyalty, mental health, and personal growth, delivering verses with razor-sharp flows, emotion, and technical mastery. His versatility shines whether he’s singing beautifully, attacking a beat ... read more
Ghostface Killah still has impressive energy for his age, and a lot of his verses are solid throughout the album. Tracks like Love Me Anymore, The Trial, and You Ma Friend really stand out thanks to great beats and strong features from artists like Nas, Raekwon, and Method Man. The soulful, jazzy instrumentals make several tracks really enjoyable and emotional, giving the album some clear highlights.
That said, the album isn’t consistent. Some beats feel outdated or don’t match ... read more
Rich Brian’s WHERE IS MY HEAD? shows how much he’s grown as both a rapper and singer. The production is versatile, ranging from vibey and smooth to hard-hitting bangers, and Brian balances rapping and singing with ease. Tracks like “Timezones,” “Ma,” and “Took A Breath” showcase his strongest songwriting yet, with personal storytelling and emotional performances. The features are also very well placed and compliments Brian’s rapping/singing ... read more
Earl’s Live Laugh Love is a very impressive record to me. His rhyme schemes are sharp and some of the best in rap this year. Even on the shorter tracks, his intricate flows and clever writing keep things interesting. The production shifts between soulful, groovy, and experimental, which makes the project feel unique but sometimes uneven.
There are a few tacks where Earl’s monotone delivery and underwhelming beats drag down otherwise great verses. Still, the highlights like Gamma, ... read more
HYPERYOUTH by Joey Valence & Brae is packed with energy and variety, with Joey’s variety in production being great for the most part. The chemistry between the two is undeniable with songs like LIVE RIGHT and IS THIS LOVE showing just how good their balance of nostalgia and fresh sounds can be. Features also pop off, especially Rebecca Black and JPEGMAFIA (despite that song being just okay overall), who each elevate their tracks.
Still, this album has some misses. A few hooks ... read more
This is a weird and uncanny listen despite there being bangers.
| 100 | ||
| 90 - 99 | 3 | |
| 80 - 89 | 14 | |
| 70 - 79 | 14 | |
| 60 - 69 | 10 | |
| 50 - 59 | 8 | |
| 40 - 49 | 4 | |
| 30 - 39 | 6 | |
| 20 - 29 | 5 | |
| 10 - 19 | 2 | |
| 0 - 9 | 1 |