This record is just perfect in every way. Perfectly paced, perfectly wrote, and perfectly delivered. The influence this record has had on the music scene since is near incalculable. This boom-bap debut from Nas just does not miss. This record was crafted and shaped with care. Every beat, every bar, lands. While you can tell it made was in the 90s, that hasn't really made it any less poignant. I struggle to think of anything else to say about Illmatic other than hip hop would not be where it is ... read more

If someone asked me where to start in The Weeknd's discography, I'd say with this compilation album.

I feel like many tracks on this record are decent with a few good or great tracks, but they really don't work together towards anything cohesive. It seems like Post couldn't decide what album he wanted to make, which is actually a common problem in his discography. If I had to describe this record in one word, it would be scatterbrained. One moment, Post is bragging on a trap beat, and the next, he is singing softly over a faint guitar. Clearly, there is talent here, but it is not focused in ... read more

Magic 2 adds to this incredibly consistent run Nas and Hit have been on, even if it’s on the weaker side. They played it safe. I think Magic 2 has it's highs and lows, meaning that I don't think anything here is too incredible or terrible. The trap boom-bap combination works as well as it ever has with Nas and Hit, but, I do wish Nas and Hit did some more things that we haven’t heard before, because I think they easily could. I think the listen is well worth it, especially if you ... read more

I genuinely despise this album. I convulse in agony just thinking about the cover. Very few redeeming qualities were heard. If someone plays this on the aux they are getting thrown out the car window.

Best Tracks: Champagne Poetry, Fair Trade, You Only Live Twice
Weakest Track: Girls Want Girls

There are pieces of something interesting, but Drake sounds so bored to the point where I can’t bring myself to care. Jimmy Cooks is ok though.

Since I just reviewed Khamari’s debut album, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit this EP. Unfortunately, this EP suffers from the same issues that A Brief Nirvana did, though to a much larger scale. However, since this is Khamari's first project, I can’t blame him too much, especially since it’s not THAT bad. Most of the tracks just have really bland production, and after 6 songs, that gets grating pretty fast. I do think the writing is pretty good, although, not ... read more

A Brief Nirvana is exactly what the title describes it as. It's pretty and it's brief. Though, a bit more probably could have been tweaked before it's release. I think it loses a bit of it's established momentum in the second half, and it can border a bit too close to derivative sometimes. Although, with that said, let me reemphasize just how pretty this album is. Khamari has a powerful voice, and the instrumentals are absolutely ethereal at points. It all just hits you in ... read more