My favorite album so far from this great classic East Coast Hip Hop run from Mass Appeal. An impressive legacy/posthumous release from this legendary duo. The production handled by Havoc and The Alchemist is great for all 51 minutes of album. Every collab was super strong, with all 3 Nas features hitting at such a high level, along with the short but good Clipse appearance. Pour The Henny & Love The Way are 2 of the best songs of 2025.

This collab album is literally just insane flow after insane flow over perfect beat after perfect beat. Shittsville and Thuggin are possibly Freddie's best songs ever. I do wish the album could have been trimmed to 12-14 tracks for a more concise album experience.

UY Scuti is a mid 48/100 album that suffers from being bloated and uninspired, with only 7–8 worthwhile tracks and 4–5 truly save-worthy ones. The production feels disjointed and lacks cohesion, making much of the tracklist drag despite a few moments of energy. Also there are lots of creative decisions that weren't executed at all (horrible lyrics, weird flows, the horrible album cover). The real highlights come from the features—Travis Scott, Lil Baby, and Mariah the ... read more

So Much Fun is a great 73/100 album that fully delivers on its title with a loose, playful energy and a tracklist stacked with bangers. While the length drags it down with a few duds that could’ve been cut, the overall vibe makes it one of Thug’s most accessible and enjoyable listens. The features shine too, with Juice WRLD and J. Cole standing out as highlights.

Jeffery stands as Thug’s best project, a concise collection where his eccentric delivery finally meets a polished, cohesive sound. Every track feels like a highlight, with no wasted space and performances that show him at his most inventive and confident. The features all rise to the occasion, enhancing the album without overshadowing its star. It’s an amazing project that captures Thug at his absolute peak.

Barter 6 is a strong entry in the 2015 trap revolution, showing off Thug’s unique energy while keeping a concise, focused tracklist. The production from Wheezy and London On Da Track gives the album its backbone, with “Check” standing out as the clear highlight. While the features don’t add much for me, Thug’s unique delivery brings a fresh twist to the ATL trap sound, making it a solid 77/100 project.

2001 by Dr. Dre is a West Coast rap classic, showcasing some of Dre’s best and most cinematic production, with a tracklist full of iconic songs that defined an era. The beats and atmosphere are nearly flawless, but the heavy reliance on sexual and at times dated lyrical content holds it back slightly. Overall, it’s a landmark album that remains highly influential despite a few lyrical shortcomings.

This project is very raw and unpolished, but some the genre fusion shows Jim Legxacy's potential. It's such an intriguing mix of UK RnB and Pop Rap, this sound just feels so fresh. Projects in the future that have a more completed sound and feel more polished could make for some amazing music coming from Jim Legacy

Heaven or Hell by Don Toliver is a solid debut, showing off his unique melodic rap style that blends psychedelic trap with touches of alternative R&B. The production from Mike Dean, Sonny Digital, and Wondagurl shines throughout, giving the project a strong sonic foundation. However, a few skips and duller stretches keep it from reaching the heights of his later, more refined works.

Joey Bada$$ is at his most versatile while still leaning into his signature New York sound. The concise tracklist leaves little room for misses, with standout production from Kirk Knight, Chuck Strangers, and Statik Selektah fueling the highlights. The album could’ve benefitted from a darker, more cohesive soundscape and the inclusion of “ABK,” but it still stands as another great and consistent Joey album, although it would rank at the bottom of his catalog for me.

Hearts Sold Separately features such strong vocal performances all over it which make it a huge RnB standout this year. I loved how concise this tracklist, and it made for a great atmosphere on here. I feel like the atmosphere works especially well in the summer, most likely because of the airy synths.

Ghostface Killah’s Supreme Clientele is a strong display of classic East Coast hip-hop energy, with his sharp, high-octane raps showing little signs of age. The Wu-Tang presence, plus standout features from Nas and Conway the Machine, add a lot to the lengthy 22-track record (with 6 skits breaking things up). While very consistent, it doesn’t push beyond familiar territory, keeping it at a great but not groundbreaking 71/100.

Instead of leaning into the unique sound that makes him special, Cudi chases trends with a bloated trap and rage rap approach that mostly falls flat. Even high-profile features from Travis Scott, A$AP Rocky, and Lil Wayne feel underwhelming, with only 1–2 tracks providing any real standout moments.

A refreshing rebound, after the disaster of Insano. This tighter pop-rock project is a welcome return to form that plays to Cudi’s strengths while embracing the freedom of his sound that its title suggests. It’s not touching his MOTM classics, but it’s a solid reminder of what makes Cudi unique, though the polarizing soundscape will take me more time to fully digest.

A solid effort that blends some great trap with moments of vulnerability. The highlights are undeniable, Bodies w/ JID brings sharp energy, while Never Let Go w/ John Legend stands as a heartfelt and tasteful tribute to Takeoff. While the melodic tracks didn’t stick for me, Offset’s balance of bangers and honest reflection makes this a good project.

Plan A feels more like a filler album, with his melodic flows often blending into one another without much distinction. While there are flashes of catchy energy, the production and the already limited songwriting make it a very safe album from Tecca. It lands as a serviceable but forgettable listen.

The grand, orchestral, and cinematic production combined with her lyricism make for a masterpiece, and a 2020s classic. Simz's storytelling is introspective and vulnerable and touches many subjects. It is one of the most ambitious albums of the decade and cements her as a top tier artist.

An introspective project that balances raw storytelling with some cool production. Simz’s lyrical precision shines throughout, making each track feel purposeful making for a cohesive listen. Grey Area stakes a claim in as a 2019 rap AOTY contender

Chance returns with STAR LINE, a project that feels like a genuine reset. The album blends soulful instrumentation with thoughtful messages and showcases some sharp rapping performances, proving he’s still capable of crafting engaging music. While the mixing isn’t always clean and Chance doesn’t excel in any one category, the variety of sounds and overall cohesion make this a solid return to form.

A raw, but great debut that has sharp conceptual bars and seamless storytelling about JID's come up. It lacks the explosive replay value of DiCaprio 2 for me, but it more than makes up for it with consistency of the tracklist. Standouts like “NEVER” and “Hereditary” showcase JID’s versatility, w/ rapid-fire flows, emotional depth, and soulful singing.