Continuing an impressive release pace, the woman known as the Houston Hottie has been gifting fans with mixtapes, studio albums and extras with at least a yearly project since exploding onto the mainstream hip-hop scene back in 2019 with her Fever mixtape. Racking up the awards and accolades in the meantime, Megan has set out … Continue reading Megan Thee Stallion – Traumazine
Rod Wave – Beautiful Mind
Still only 23 and now releasing his fourth studio album in as many years, Florida’s Rod Wave might be the single person who truly best fits the “melodic rap” description applied to many artists as of late. Inspired by abundantly emotional pop and R&B singers – and often interspersing samples from unexpected places into his … Continue reading Rod Wave – Beautiful Mind
Lauv – All 4 Nothing
California alt-pop singer Lauv is just about one of the last bastions of the bland and bro-approved world of self-pitying sadboi pop who hasn’t yet migrated over to the burgeoning pop-punk scene. Racking up collaborations with globe-spanning acts like Anne-Marie and BTS and writing songs for acts as diverse as Charli XCX and Celine Dion, … Continue reading Lauv – All 4 Nothing
Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2
In what might be the ultimate exercise in “be careful what you wish for,” stadium-sized Scottish DJ and producer Calvin Harris’ long-awaited sequel to the soundtrack of Summer 2017 has arrived, even after Harris himself was adamant that he wouldn’t make another one. Still holding up as an ideal summer playlist five years later, the … Continue reading Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2
Maggie Rogers – Surrender
Three and a half years after a viral video of Pharrell reacting to her music made her one of pop’s most promising new figures overnight, Maggie Rogers is back with a new sound, a new haircut and a degree from Harvard. Sharing its name with her thesis in religion and public life, Surrender finds Rogers trying out … Continue reading Maggie Rogers – Surrender
Beyonce – RENAISSANCE
While she hasn’t exactly taken time off, RENAISSANCE is the first proper Beyonce album we’ve received in nearly six and a half years in the wake of the ground-breaking and culture-shifting Lemonade back in 2016. Scoring The Lion King, dropping one of history’s finest headlining slots at Coachella, teaming up with her famous husband for … Continue reading Beyonce – RENAISSANCE
Joey Bada$$ – 2000
After dabbling in various acting projects like Mr. Robot and the Oscar-winning short film Two Distant Strangers for a while, New York rapper Joey Bada$$ returns to the studio after five years. The sequel to his widely celebrated debut mixtape 1999, Bada$$ takes things into a new millennium on its 10-year anniversary, bringing back his … Continue reading Joey Bada$$ – 2000
ODESZA – The Last Goodbye
Potentially the modern electronic act with the biggest cult following, Washington DJ duo ODESZA have been out of the spotlight for nearly 5 years after hitting #3 on the charts with A Moment Apart – save for an uneven team-up with Golden Features as Bronson back in 2020. Known primarily for their sweeping, awestruck world-building … Continue reading ODESZA – The Last Goodbye
Steve Lacy – Gemini Rights
With just how long it feels like Steve Lacy’s name has been in the liner notes of tastemaker artists across a wide span of genres, it’s incredible that he’s still only 24 years old. A member of California R&B and funk collective The Internet since his late teens, he’s since crossed over with acts like … Continue reading Steve Lacy – Gemini Rights
Lizzo – Special
It truly doesn’t feel like we’ve been waiting nearly 3 and a half years in between Lizzo projects. Ever since breaking through to the mainstream after the public finally discovered her catalogue of charming, meme-able and empowering pop-rap chaos, she’s been a nearly omnipresent cultural force. Breaking through to acting, appearing on scores of reality … Continue reading Lizzo – Special
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 