zackfree

The second collaborative effort from Long Island emcee Roc Marciano and it-producer The Alchemist is an engaging collection of dank, menacing tracks that highlight the pair's chemistry. Alc's soul chops are as bewildering as ever, and Marciano remains at the top of his class as one of underground hip hop's wittiest lyricists.

Best tracks: “Street Magic,” “Chopstick,” “Rauf”

The whopping fifteen track tack-on to SZA's standing opus, SOS, is a solid addition to her catalogue, showcasing a versatile pallet that highlights her singing talents. It feels like a collection of stray tracks rather than a traditional album, lacking the cohesion of her best works, and the quality of songs varies. But the highs are high - "30 for 30" is an engaging, Rich Boy-interpolating back-and-forth with Kendrick Lamar, and "BMF" is destined for radio ... read more

You could probably count on one hand the number of acts with the staying power and unyielding longevity of Yo La Tengo. An indie rock institution, the band has been making music for almost four decades now, rarely deviating from their core structure. Frontman Ira Kaplan is now in his mid-sixties, and the group’s seventeenth studio album, This Stupid World, carries a lifetime’s worth of angst and frustration. It surges with the same bristling overdrive as classics President Yo La ... read more

With his third studio album, Daddy Yankee broke through as the leading force in reggaeton. Barrio Fino pulses with star-making energy and determination, embedded with excellent production work from go-to beat makers Luny Tunes and in-house team Monserrate & DJ Urba. The album’s vibrancy starts to fade over its hour-plus running time, especially as it lapses into a series of uninspired stabs at New York gangsta rap, but there are copious standouts, including the smash successes of ... read more