Fifteen short months after her critically acclaimed smash hit Sometimes I Might Be Introvert topped countless year-end lists, UK rapper Little Simz continues her hot streak with a holiday-season surprise drop – and while it might be a sacrilegious position to take online, dare I say, it might be even better than Introvert. Simz injects … Continue reading Little Simz – NO THANK YOU
Conscious Hip Hop
JID – The Forever Story
Steadily building his profile in recent years through collaborative efforts with fellow members of the Dreamville label headed by J. Cole, JID hasn’t put out a proper project of his own since back in 2018. Arguably the label’s most talented member – certainly, its most technically skilled – The Forever Story serves as a sequel … Continue reading JID – The Forever Story
Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
A long five years after fully establishing himself as one of the biggest artists in the world and taking home a Pulitzer Prize for his album DAMN., Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar has returned with his most polarizing and controversial project yet. Split up into a double album for narrative purposes, Mr. Morale & The Big … Continue reading Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Cordae – From A Birds Eye View
When I saw Cordae in concert touring his last project years ago, it was already clear that he had massive ambitions. In a critical moment, he predicted that the next time he arrives in the city, he’d be playing at its biggest stadium. While Cordae might not quite be there yet, his profile has still … Continue reading Cordae – From A Birds Eye View
Nas – King’s Disease II
After a six-year hiatus following 2012’s polarizing Life Is Good, legendary NYC rapper Nas has dropped three projects in the last four years, all with quite a few instances of accolades and acclaim to back them up. Returning after almost exactly a year with the sequel to last year’s Grammy-winning King’s Disease project, Nas once … Continue reading Nas – King’s Disease II
G Herbo – 25
As New York Drill continues to take over as a dominant new subgenre in the world of hip-hop, more and more eyes have been turning to the city that started the whole trend close to a decade ago and elevating many of Chicago’s most prominent rappers to superstar status. G Herbo is just one of … Continue reading G Herbo – 25
J. Cole – The Off-Season
After teasing a (potentially final?) album entitled The Fall-Off since the day his last project dropped back in 2018, global superstar J. Cole has elected to drop something entirely different in his triumphant return to racking up gargantuan stream counts. Dropping a couple teasers last year and getting himself into hot water with Noname over … Continue reading J. Cole – The Off-Season
NF – CLOUDS (THE MIXTAPE)
Michigan rapper NF might have one of the most ride-or-die fanbases in the music industry at the moment, and it’s a huge reason why quite a few listeners (admittedly, this one included) have approached his music without the most open of minds over the years. With his popularity continuing to grow and his third straight … Continue reading NF – CLOUDS (THE MIXTAPE)
Various Artists – Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album
This might be a music blog, but we’re deep into Oscar season – and a star-studded soundtrack from one of the year’s frontrunning films has broken into the public consciousness in a big way. Curated by all-star hip-hop producer Hit-Boy, a wide array of rap and R&B’s young rising stars and absolute legends come together … Continue reading Various Artists – Judas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album
REASON – New Beginnings
While the world waits patiently for the return of its flagship artist, Top Dawg Entertainment rapper REASON is here to fill the void with his debut, New Beginnings. One of the more obviously similar artists on the label to Kendrick Lamar himself, REASON dots his album with musings on society delivered in a similarly earnest … Continue reading REASON – New Beginnings
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 