HipHopDx Reviews
Chris Brown - X
Chris Brown's attempts at appealing to all corners of the urban pop spectrum at-present are commendable, but possibly a case of the vocalist doing too much.
Slimkid3 & DJ Nu-Mark - Slimkid3 & DJ Nu-Mark
Slimkid 3 and DJ Nu-Mark offer a solid but sometimes inconsistent product with their self-titled, collaborative effort. It's nostalgic but not progressive.
Lil Bibby - Free Crack 2 (Mixtape)
"Free Crack 2" is a step-up from its predecessor in both production value and expectations, but Lil Bibby swerves slightly, creating a fractured listen.
Jhene Aiko - Souled Out
Jhene Aiko's sterling debut brings a level of honesty, depth of feeling and candor to the R&B space, but stagnates just enough to cheapen its dreamscape.
Rittz - Next To Nothing
"Next To Nothing" finds Rittz at home over dynamic production, blending early mixtape strategy with new material which to appease old fans and gain new ones.
Curren$y - Saturday Night Car Tunes (Mixtape)
Curren$y's wit and wordplay are present throughout "Saturday Night Car Tunes," but a lack of cohesion and focus keeps the mixtape from reaching elite status.
Homeboy Sandman - Hallways
The frank, off-kilter "Hallways" is excellent "grown up" Hip Hop that has no interest in romanticizing or condemning Homeboy Sandman's shortcomings.
Gucci Mane - I Am Trap (Mixtape)
The appearance of a few rushed tracks doesn't detract from Gucci Mane impressively reverting to his early aughts form with the "I Am Trap" mixtape.
Problem - 354: Liftoff (Mixtape)
While containing a few hiccups, Problem's "354: Lift Off" is an entertaining blend of original material and reinterpretations of well-known hits.
Jeezy - Seen It All: The Autobiography
While Jeezy's "Seen It All: The Autobiography" is uneven in spurts, it feels like an honest, autobiographical retelling of Snowman lore.
Ty Dolla $ign - Sign Language (Mixtape)
While not as solid as his "Beach House tapes," "Sign Language" is a persuasive indicator Ty Dolla $ign will eventually smooth out the kinks in his approach.
G-Unit - The Beauty Of Independence (EP)
With a simple but winning formula of aggressive rhymes and production to match, "The Beauty Of Independence" revisits G-Unit's peak with an eye on the future.
Souls Of Mischief & Adrian Younge - There Is Only Now
If filmmaker David Lynch made a Hip Hop album, it would probably sound like this one Adrian Younge and Souls of Mischief's "There Is Only Now."
Mick Jenkins - The Water[s]
Mick Jenkins' "The Water[s]" is an incredibly challenging project that requires multiple listens to fully unpack its meaning.
FKA Twigs - LP1
Sultry urban Brit' FKA Twigs has created a stunningly beautiful, genre-less debut that will haunt you for weeks after you've stopped listening.
Statik Selektah - What Goes Around...
Statik Selektah enlists Hip Hop's best on "What Goes Around...," bringing a scratch-heavy, Jazz-tinged sound back into the spotlight.
Slaine - The King Of Everything Else
With "King Of Everything Else," Slaine sticks to his brash delivery, solid production, and understated wordplay adding another album to his growing catalogue.
Wiz Khalifa - Blacc Hollywood
Inconsistency prevents "Blacc Hollywood" from greatness, but for better or worse, Wiz Khalifa's latest sounds like a project from someone with nothing to prove.
Has-Lo & Castle - Live Like You're Dead
"Live Like You're Dead" is surprisingly experimental, with Has-Lo & Castle revisiting familiar territory only after freely kicking down underground Rap tropes.
Joey Fatts - Chipper Jones Vol. 3
Despite somewhat limited subject matter, Joey Fatts shines on "Chipper Jones Vol. 3" with heartfelt rhymes and diverse production.
