HipHopDx Reviews
YG - My Krazy Life
While not the most technically sound rapper, YG's introspective moments, catchy singles and A-list cameos make "My Krazy Life" a solid major label debut.
Young Money - Rise Of An Empire
Where "We Are Young Money" portrayed Young Money as one big Playboy-Mansion-style party, "Rise of an Empire" offers a gloomy portrait of a house divided.
Aloe Blacc - Lift Your Spirit
Aloe Blacc's "Lift Your Spirit" showcases a wide range of influences, yet also feels impersonal at times by seemingly pandering to Blacc's booming audience.
Black Milk - Glitches In The Break
"Glitches In The Break" adds another notch to Black Milk's belt as an equally talented emcee and producer across multiple genres.
Chali 2na - Manphibian Music (ATC: EP2)
With "Manphibian Music" Chali 2na continues his artistic evolution as a bona fide veteran who has adapted to Hip Hop's modern era.
Prodigy & Alchemist - P=MC2 (Bonus EP)
The lack of a standout track on the deluxe version of Prodigy and Alchemist's "P=MC2" leaves it better suited to longtime fans than the casual listener.
Pharrell Williams - G I R L
Pharrell Williams' "G I R L" scans as pop with little happening lyrically, but there's just enough soul beneath the album's smooth surface.
Rick Ross - Mastermind
"Mastermind" is simply a hodgepodge of classic Rick Ross tropes thrown into one and tagged with a title more fit for super-villainy.
Kid Cudi - Kid Cudi Presents SATELLITE FLIGHT: The journey to Mother Moon
Flaws and all, "SATELLITE FLIGHT: The journey to Mother Moon" stands as one of Kid Cudi's biggest accomplishments.
Ashanti - Braveheart
Ashanti returns with "Braveheart," mixing pop, R&B, and the club. Is it a formula that still works for the Murder Inc. chanteuse?
Major Lazer - Apocalypse Soon
Major Lazer's "Apocalypse Soon" is a modernized and very listenable journey to the heart of a several genres expertly merged together.
CyHi The Prynce - Black Hystori Project (Mixtape)
"Black Hystori Project" is a well thought-out piece of work that marks a distinctive change in CyHi The Prynce's creative outlook.
Homeboy Sandman & Paul White - White Sands
Homeboy Sandman and Paul White's "White Sands" seesaws between upbeat and downtrodden tracks to describe haunting aspects of our daily struggles.
ScHoolboy Q - Oxymoron
At its best, "Oxymoron" showcases ScHoolboy Q's dark rhymes and ear for production, but a handful of ill fitting singles prevent it from being a superior album.
Pro Era - The Secc$ Tap.e 2 (Mixtape)
Pro Era's "The Secc$ Tap.e 2" loosely peruses romantic themes, but it completely lacks an understated touch or much in the way of innovation.
Curren$y - The Drive In Theatre (Mixtape)
The consistency displayed on "The Drive In Theatre" makes for one of the more solid projects dropped by Curren$y in some time.
Juvenile - The Fundamentals
Juvenile lacks context to justify his fixation on thuggishness, making "The Fundamentals" depressingly desperate in its efforts to remain hip to the game.
The Doppelgangaz - Peace Kehd
With quality production to offset the sometimes repetitive themes in their obscene raps, "Peace Kehd" is another enjoyable listen from The Doppelgangaz.
Verbal Kent - Sound of the Weapon
"Sound of the Weapon," is Verbal Kent's most damning proof that he's devoted notepads to mapping out lyrical obstacles.
Vado - Sinatra (Mixtape)
"Sinatra" isn't so much a mission statement of Vado's recent progress, but rather a reiteration of what initially made the Harlem rapper such an exciting act.
