In truly unusual fashion, Trippie Redd didn’t release any full projects in the year 2022. Returning with the new year’s first hit album, the prolific rapper isn’t changing things up too much – though it’s certainly a step in the right direction after his completely intolerable Trip At Knight project capitalizing off of the burgeoning … Continue reading Trippie Redd – MANSION MUSIK
Travis Scott
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
Metro Boomin – HEROES & VILLAINS
Now nearly a decade since first rising to fame and becoming one of the most influential figures in shaping the trap music takeover of the years since, the original trap maestro is one of the only people left continuing to innovate with the genre – something that he continues to show on his solo and … Continue reading Metro Boomin – HEROES & VILLAINS
Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss
After a lukewarm reception to the dance-oriented Honestly, Nevermind – save for the 21 Savage-featuring closing track, of course – Canada’s biggest hip-hop star decided to double down and release a full collaboration project with the Atlanta trap titan. Make no mistake though, this feels like a Drake album, and it’s his best one since … Continue reading Drake & 21 Savage – Her Loss
NAV – Demons Protected By Angels
After a lengthy break – by his standards – of nearly two years, it seems like the ongoing criticism of NAV’s work might have finally gotten to him. He’s long been thought of as a wallpaper musician coasting off of the fame of his more popular labelmates, but on his fourth studio album, NAV actually … Continue reading NAV – Demons Protected By Angels
Young Thug – Punk
While his influence on the rap game cannot be understated, Young Thug can be so eccentric and off-the-wall with his ideas and vocal inflections at times that he lapses into inconsistency. As he releases his second project of the year, it seems that he saved all of his best ideas for the hard-hitting and undeniably … Continue reading Young Thug – Punk
Don Toliver – Life of a DON
A signee to Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Records, psychedelic melodic rapper and singer Don Toliver continues to capitalize on his momentum by releasing his sophomore project only about a year and a half removed from his inconsistent debut, Heaven or Hell. While so many are drawn to Don for his completely distinctive and downright infectious … Continue reading Don Toliver – Life of a DON
Baby Keem – The Melodic Blue
Smartly capitalizing on his sudden wave of momentum, 20-year-old Baby Keem releases his debut studio album when interest in his work is at the highest – it dropped only a couple weeks after Keem appeared on tracks by both Kanye West and cousin Kendrick Lamar. Drawn to his eccentric vocal inflections, spastic style and outlandish, … Continue reading Baby Keem – The Melodic Blue
Drake – Certified Lover Boy
Although there has been no shortage of content from the man they call The 6 God in the interim, Drake hasn’t actually released a proper full-length studio album in over three years — the longest gap of his entire career thus far. After a couple lengthy delays, anticipation for Certified Lover Boy was at a … Continue reading Drake – Certified Lover Boy
Kanye West – Donda
After over a year of delays, three stadium-sized listening parties, back-and-forth online arguments about which versions of the many songs were the best, and a reignition of a longstanding feud with Drake, Kanye West’s 10th studio album finally dropped unceremoniously – or perhaps, appropriately – last Sunday morning. Long regarded as one of the most … Continue reading Kanye West – Donda
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 