Expectation is the thief of joy

I’m actually digging this album but I find it hilarious how when people rate Danny it’s a +10 multiplier. Mfs will say parts of the album ain’t good and give it 80

Joey's albums have never lack great rapping and lyricism, but I can't help but feel he stepped back at his hottest because he was losing that hunger to create and break new ground. On this new album he raps as if his prime was a decade longer than it was, like he's doomed to sit back and reflect on himself as some sort of hip hop don when in reality the last 8 or so years is when he should've been cementing his legacy and reaching the potential everyone saw in the kid that ... read more

More good than not; but I am a bit turned off by it being decidedly more 2000s Ghost and sounding nothing like it’s namesake

I like it. Not sure if it was warranted or necessary

These guys are supremely talented. I can understand that the rapping style isn't for everybody but if you get past the teetering into parody the flows are so infectious and lyrics genuinely funny. The production on this album (which is done entirely by Joey Valence btw) is a throwback to 2000s era club music that's so fantastic that it demands praise on that merit alone. The first 3 songs in particular are incredible to start the album off.

There is something I have to cut points on. ... read more

Just for the record Cole spit like his life depended on it on this track

UnRocMarkable but not bad by any means. More interested to see what this can tell us about the Nas & Preemo album. Hope he gives God’s son some more upbeat beats

I’m really just keeping one song off of this (“Lisa” w/ 6LACK). The Eminem track is interesting too but not something you really want to play back after you hear it once.

There’s a few catchy songs. *checks spotify* OH this is 55 minutes long

Finally Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It promotion delivers some goods. This album is better than it has any right to be because Raekwon is 55 years old…let that sink in while you listen to this album. I don’t say someone “turns back the clock” often but this is an example of that. Rae and GFK sound better than they have in YEARS on this album. Nas drops in for perhaps the verse of the year and everything is good.

The tracks without features are kind of lacking from ... read more

The highs aren’t as great as the original (seriously go back and listen, Freddie was on fire from a rapping perspective on that album), and even when he’s not as inspired on here he’s still so easily an elite tier lyricist on his worst day. Gibbs is firmly in the status where his only competition is himself.

The overall vibe and production on this album is incredible and vastly superior to the original. Whereas the first album was more brash and gritty this one is a laid-back ... read more

Hip hop wins

EDIT: This is one of those records without a single wasted moment. Both Pusha and Malice know exactly what they wanted to accomplish on every track and it shows. A song like “Chains & Whips ft. Kendrick Lamar” where everything — the beat, the delivery and lyrics from all three rappers, is all specifically chosen to convey a message and idea that comes together so nicely that it makes for some pretty incredible moments.

The ONLY weak part of this album is ... read more

Hip-Hop by the Year: 1988
N.W.A – Straight Outta Compton

Ah, the legendary N.W.A and their — dare I say — mythical debut studio album. Along with Public Enemy’s 1988 record, these two stand as the most culturally relevant and beloved rap albums of the decade looking back nearly 40 years later. N.W.A. fit together like a puzzle with every member missing the exact piece of the next member. Dre and DJ Yella were of course never known for rapping, so naturally, they anchor ... read more

Hip-Hop by the Year: 1988
Public Enemy – It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

Public Enemy’s second record might be the most acclaimed rap album of 1988 — which is saying a lot, considering '88 is arguably the most foundational in hip-hop history. It Takes a Nation... marks a sharp departure from the albums that preceded it. It serves almost as a cultural reset that required everyone dropping after it to level up in order to keep pace. The voices are louder, the ... read more

It's Rico so of course not everything lands (plus the second half of the album is mostly forgettable singing tracks) but imma be a real, I really enjoyed the run of tracks 6-10 (especially "EAT ME!", that song is some heat). This is without a doubt the best body of work she's put out so that's a W in my book.

Hip-Hop by the Year: 1987
Ice-T – Rhyme Pays

Most people today know Ice-T for his role on Law & Order: SVU rather than his music, but you may be interested to know he is a true pioneer of the West Coast hip hop scene and one of the originators of gangsta rap music.

The production on this album is decidedly different and more electronic, dark, and smooth that the other albums I've reviewed (handled mainly by who Ice-T describes as "Bambaataa's son", Afrika ... read more

Hip-Hop by the Year: 1987
Boogie Down Productions – Criminal Minded

Alright — I was prepared for this take to feel a little blasphemous, but luckily, AOTY doesn’t hold the album in especially high regard either, so let’s get into it.

There are people out there who swear by this album. The oldheads who were around during this era treat Criminal Minded like gospel. These days it's more of a hip-hop deep cut that people bust out to flex their knowledge of the craft ... read more

There's 4 songs on the ep. The first track is a massive tease for 6 minutes and then Peggy doesn't even hop on it to rap. The next two tracks are meh. "The Ocean Is Fake" is the only keeper.

Hip-Hop by the Year: 1987
LL Cool J – Bigger and Deffer

It might sound cliche but the truth is if Rakim was the prototype for the rap lyricist, LL Cool J was the prototype for the commercial rap superstar. His charisma is off the charts—he had the look, the aura, and most importantly, the flow. The flow is undeniable and the biggest reason why LL works.

From the jump—tracks like “I’m Bad” and “Get Down”—LL’s delivery is so dynamic ... read more