Great, impactful lyrics. Love the grand metaphor comparing the streets to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, and how humanity still hasn't gone past this behavior. Ka's pen game is strong, and his delivery is potent. Virtually every line has a double entendre or a reference to something from the Bible. The samples and subject matter tie the album's lyrical themes together on each song, and the closing track is a powerful homage to his significant other, mother, and best friend. This doesn't ... read more

Pretty good album, and the short film to accompany it is fire.

Kanye West + Jon Brion = amazing. The album would be a true masterpiece if it didn't waste my time with useless skits in between tracks.
FAVORITE TRACKS: Hey Mama, Bring Me Down, Diamonds from Sierra Leone Remix, Gold Digger, Drive Slow, Roses
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Regular Diamonds From Sierra Leone.

This is basically a more accessible The Money Store but mixed with Kanye's typical production style.
FAVORITE TRACKS: New Slaves, Blood on the Leaves, Bound 2, Black Skinhead, I'm In It
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Send It Up

This album is a true hip-hop masterpiece from beginning to end. From the production to the lyrics to the choice of instruments, everything about this album is carefully and meticulously tailored to provide not only a beautiful auditory experience but to develop overarching themes of redemption, temptation, and self-reflection. Accompanying this classic album is a litany of visuals that match the tone of the album perfectly. That being said, it falls just short of perfection for me, mostly ... read more

This is, undoubtedly, Childish Gambino's best work. His production on this album is top notch, and the album really shows off his vocal range.
FAVORITE TRACKS: Me and Your Mama, Redbone, Terrified, Boogieman, The Night Me and Your Mama Met
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Riot (that shit's a hot mess ngl)

This is probably one of the albums I have listened to the most in my life. Nearly every track on this project is phenomenal, from singles to tracks like “All Alone”. There isn’t an apparent narrative to the album, but it contains thematic consistencies and lyrics discussing feelings of desperation and existentialism. Despite the gravity of much of the album’s lyrics, an air of hope becomes apparent in the sounds of the tracks and in their messages. Not to mention, ... read more

Definitely Beyonce's best album. The journey of self empowerment, and how she translates that to female empowerment and black empowerment is incredible. She experiments with a number of different sounds, all of which work well because she's, well, Beyonce.
FAVORITE TRACKS: Freedom, Sandcastles, Pray You Catch Me, 6 Inch, Love Drought
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Hold Up

Such an odd, but incredible album. You can tell that the band was so heavily inspired while making this album, and there is not one skip. I'm still not entirely sure what it is, but for the past few years I haven't been able to stop coming back to this album over and over again.
FAVORITE TRACKS: All
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: None

Definitely the best trap album, every song's a banger
FAVORITE TRACKS: Thought It Was a Drought, Slave Master, Groupies, Trap Ni**as
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Colossal

Not only is this album the ideal rapper/producer combo, but it spurred "The Story of Adidon," which is easily the best diss track of the decade.
FAVORITE TRACKS: Santeria, Come Back Baby, The Games We Play
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Infrared

The production on this album is immaculate, and the narrative that Tyler is telling is laid out so well. Easily the best project of 2019.
FAVORITE TRACKS: EARFQUAKE, PUPPET, ARE WE STILL FRIENDS, WHAT'S GOOD, NEW MAGIC WAND, IGOR'S THEME
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: RUNNING OUT OF TIME (if I had to pick)

Easily The Weeknd's best project. He perfectly blends the moody, atmospheric sounds of Trilogy with more pop friendly production and hooks. This is the album where Abel really came into his own lyrically and sonically. All of the features did their thing—even Ed Sheeran.
FAVORITE TRACKS: Real Life, Prisoner, Earned It, Tell Your Friends
LEAST FAVORITE TRACK: Losers (if I had to pick)

This album shows the perfection of Mac Miller’s sound, and the jazz-rap melodies and beats that Mac incorporates onto this project are nothing short of what the title suggests—divine. The instrumentals are truly beautiful, and Mac’s vocals perfectly match the sounds in the background. The beauty of the melodies makes even the most explicit of lyrics sound so damn smooth and angelic.

Favorite Tracks: Dang!, Skin, We, My Favorite Part
Least Favorite Track: Soulmate

To say that Swimming is a journey is an understatement. This hauntingly beautiful work from Mac Miller is one of his most poignant and heartfelt projects. Comparing this album to a lot of Mac’s earlier work demonstrates a high degree of evolution throughout his discography and an increased level of maturity over the years. This album, upon first listen, felt like Mac Miller telling the world that he was in recovery and doing fine, but following his death, it felt more like an attempt to ... read more

The single greatest mixtape of all time. This is the most introspective that Mac gets aside from Circles, and it allows the listener to delve straight into the mind of Mac Miller during some of his darkest times. The disjointed nature of the tracks on this project represents the whirlwind of emotions and experiences that he’s had due to his addiction to drugs. The songs detail Mac’s struggles with self-doubt and feelings of isolation resulting from his addictions and strained ... read more

Classic cloud rap album with stunning production and lyrics. This is the album where Mac truly found his lane, and from here he expanded upon his talents with his future projects.
Favorite Tracks: Red Dot Music, Objects in the Mirror, Gees, The Star Room
Least Favorite Track: Bird Call

Solid, gritty bars from Conway and great production from Big Ghost. The sound and lyrics fit well together thematically, and they fit the title. I like how Conway makes it very explicit he is not promoting the lifestyle of his lyrics and, instead, emphasizes the lack of empathy that the streets have for people like him. This project is incredibly cohesive, with each track featuring fairly similar, but distinct production and lyrical subjects. Though I've heard so many projects in this same ... read more

This is a great album if you're just looking for more of the same from Future—which I always am.
FAVORITE TRACKS: Trapped in the Sun, Touch The Sky, Solitaires, Ridin' Strikers, Hard to Choose One, Too Comfortable, Accepting My Flaws
LEAST FAVORITE TRACKS: HiTek Tek

This album is completely out of Fetty Wap's strengths. On the bright side, it makes me appreciate 2015 Fetty Wap even more than before.