HipHopDx Reviews
Soulja Boy - iSouljahBoyTellEm
Granted, while our country is in turmoil we need inspiration and excitement but when the economy does get picked up, it's debatable whether happy-go-lucky dance rap follow suit
Ghostface - Ghostdeini The Great
Ghostdeini The Great isn't an album than it is a reminder of the indelible impression Tony Starks has carved in his career. Unfortunately for those who already own most of Ghostface's archives, heads may avoid this one.
Plies - Da REAList
Plies relies heavily on tricks that have worked in the past rather than develop more substantive music that is just as accessible. Da REAList delivers on Plies' tendency to target his core audience, but doesn't offer much else.
G-Side - Starshipz & Rocketz
Unlike so many of their peers, G-Side is actually concerned with such antiquated concepts like album cohesion and, more importantly, humility. Starshipz succeeds by staying down to earth.
Common - Universal Mind Control
Common provided uncharacteristically banal performances over bland production. Perhaps it was telling when he began talking about his next project before UMC even hit shelves - because after you hear it, you'll probably move on to the next thing as well.
EPMD - We Mean Business
From the very beginning, EPMD has never made a poor album. No longer with Def Jam and big studio and sample budgets, they still haven't
Ehustl.com Presents - Word Pimpin' 2
Perhaps really just a mixtape sporting a barcode, fleeting moments of Word Pimpin 2 result in some truly quality, enduring music, tucked away between spaces of rhyming words over bears.
Scarface - Emeritus
While there are some quality-filled tracks on the album, there isn't much to highlight as extraordinary or on par with Face's stature. Simply put, Emeritus is a fine addition to his catalog, but it doesn't do this professor the justice he deserves.
Akon - Freedom
Temporary threats aside, Freedom finds Akon focused on reaping the benefits of success. Whether singing about his family's immigrant struggles or his own misguided path, he just wants all roads to lead to a place of contentment
P. Casso - For Your Consideration
For Your Consideration is the perfect album to play on those days when you don't want to hear harsh noise, but don't quite want to be left in silence either.
San Quinn - From A Boy To A Man
The seventh solo album from veteran Quinn answers whether hyphy is dead or not, while making Tupac Shakur proud 12 years later.
Evidence - The Layover EP
It may not be a classic, but there isn't much to gripe on here. Whereas layovers can usually be dreadful, as we established earlier, this one manages to be an enjoyable one.
Nature - Pain Killer
Average music is always the most frustrating. It doesn't inspire the extreme emotions that truly transcendent or absolutely abysmal records do.
E-40 - Ball Street Journal
He sticks to the script, but E-40's ever-improving flow and ability to adapt should motivate some of the game's other elder statesmen to step their game up.
Ludacris - Theater of the Mind
Theatere may not be the classic Ludacris claims it to be, but when Hip Hop fans look back upon his legacy, this album will be the one that dissuades any notion that he is incapable of present a final product which truly speaks to his abilities.
Kanye West - 808's & Heartbreak
For many, auto-tune is only tolerable in small doses, if at all. Through little more than sheer talent Kanye still managed to make an album that begs repeated listens; even if it is only for 75% of it. Welcome to Heartbreak.
Junclassic - Overqualified
Either way it's more than academic when it comes to the album, Overqualified. Junclassic's skills and experience more than qualify when it comes to creatively getting the job done.
Lil Keke - Loved By Few, Hated By Many
Loved By Few, Hated By Many finds itself in a predicament. As we go past the era of going gold in Texas alone, rappers seek the out of region support needed to get recognition. Lil Keke does not find the means seen by UGK or Chamillionaire to do so
Ace Hood - Gutta
As we established already, originality is important, but it isn't everything. With enough bang and enough guest spots to make radio heads happy, this album is bound to attract some fans to the Floridian rapper's debut.
Reef The Lost Cauze - A Vicious Cycle
Despite A Vicious Cycle's quality material and its horrendous material, its biggest flaw is that too much of it falls right in the middle.
