Despite Colombian singer Kali Uchis still chasing the peak in quality she achieved on her debut album, 2018’s Isolation, her commercial breakthrough actually happened when she decided to fully embrace her Spanish-language roots on her sophomore effort, the dreamy track “telepatia” breaking through to the radio waves. Apparently sitting on two finished albums, one in … Continue reading Kali Uchis – Red Moon In Venus
Soul
Little Simz – NO THANK YOU
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
SZA – SOS
After a lengthy five-and-a-half-year wait with a rollout dating back as early as September 2020, SZA fans finally got to open an early Christmas present with the release of SOS, a follow-up to her transcendent Ctrl album that brought a refreshing new voice to the R&B genre and ignited the summer of 2017. With more than an … Continue reading SZA – SOS
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
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
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
Brent Faiyaz – WASTELAND
The path to R&B artist Brent Faiyaz being able to score a six-figure first week debut while still being an independent artist is rather impressive – taking his time between studio albums after dropping his debut back in 2017, Faiyaz has been steadily building a dedicated fanbase through a series of EPs and featuring alongside … Continue reading Brent Faiyaz – WASTELAND
Chris Brown – Breezy
Everything considered, it’s quite incredible that Chris Brown is still able to muster the popularity to warrant a review on this website 17 years and 12 major projects into his career – despite the quizzical outbursts he’s posting to social media about it not doing as well as he hoped. Truthfully, he might be doing … Continue reading Chris Brown – Breezy
Kehlani – blue water road
While it’s always been clear that Kehlani’s near-hypnotic vocal talents are far and away their greatest strength, they’ve seemingly been struggling to land on their artistic identity with their past couple of projects – collections of tracks which often provide a pleasant first listen, but don’t leave much in the form of memorability. With their … Continue reading Kehlani – blue water road
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 