Now firmly back in the public consciousness after a stellar Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, legendary R&B vocalist Mary J. Blige smartly saw fit to capitalize on her momentum and drop her 14th studio album just a couple days before she was set to take the stage. Partially written in response to a divorce, Blige … Continue reading Mary J. Blige – Good Morning Gorgeous
Anderson .Paak
BensBeat Top 25 Albums of 2021
Finally, here are the best full-length projects this year had to offer. As the album format continues to valiantly fight onwards against a seemingly impending demise, many of the most innovative artists used the form to tell striking stories from front to back, flip the structure upside down, or simply load it up with the … Continue reading BensBeat Top 25 Albums of 2021
BensBeat Top 50 Songs of 2021
A sentiment I've seen crop up a couple times as year-end lists are published is that the year 2021 had such a consistent stream of great music, it was difficult to really sit with and connect to the best material like in years past before the next great thing came along. It's a strangely agreeable … Continue reading BensBeat Top 50 Songs of 2021
Silk Sonic – An Evening With Silk Sonic
What do you get when you combine one of the music industry’s most reliable hitmaking machines with a golden voice and an underrated and versatile rising star brimming with charisma? One of the year’s most anticipated projects that still somehow managed to exceed expectations. Give the credit to funk legend Bootsy Collins for creating this … Continue reading Silk Sonic – An Evening With Silk Sonic
Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
Back for the first time since 2015’s Reality Show album, esteemed R&B vocalist Jazmine Sullivan has returned with what is essentially a concept EP. Featuring eight tracks that stir up a wide range of important discussions regarding society’s attitude towards women owning their sexuality and the emotional implications of walking that complicated tightrope between displaying … Continue reading Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
Ty Dolla $ign – Featuring Ty Dolla $ign
One of the music industry’s most consistently versatile figures returns, and this time it’s with a self-aware and feature-heavy odyssey of an album. Two years after linking up with Jeremih for a great project full of confident R&B come-ons and continuing to contribute his vocals to numerous albums by diverse musical superstars, Ty Dolla $ign … Continue reading Ty Dolla $ign – Featuring Ty Dolla $ign
Big Sean – Detroit 2
Detroit rapper and GOOD Music affiliate Big Sean has never been away from the game for this long, but the time off has evidently given him quite a bit to talk about. With his fifth studio album, a sequel to an early 2012 mixtape that had a huge part in putting him on the map, … Continue reading Big Sean – Detroit 2
Nas – King’s Disease
Legendary New York City rapper Nas has returned with his first full-length album since 2012’s Life Is Good, with a brief 7-track project produced by Kanye West in the middle that many argued was actually the weakest of West’s five projects of summer 2018. On King’s Disease, he trades in West’s production for the reliable … Continue reading Nas – King’s Disease
BensBeat Top 25 Albums of 2019
Another decade of music comes to a close, and here are the greatest full-length projects this year had to offer. Happy New Year! Honourable Mentions: Cage The Elephant - Social Cues Cashmere Cat - PRINCESS CATGIRL EARTHGANG - Mirrorland Harry Styles - Fine Line James Blake - Assume Form Kaytranada - BUBBA King Princess - … Continue reading BensBeat Top 25 Albums of 2019
Bensbeat Top 50 Songs of 2019
While 2019 might have been missing the star-studded releases seemingly every week that last year provided, we witnessed the rise of quite a few promising rising stars, as well as some of the decade's biggest trends being stretched to their breaking point. The 2020s should be an exciting time full of new sounds. Hip-hop took … Continue reading Bensbeat Top 50 Songs of 2019
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 