Homer Johnsen
Ghostface Killah's "36 Seasons" once again acts as an action-film meted out on wax, with ups and downs all its own.
Wu-Tang Clan - A Better Tomorrow
On "A Better Tomorrow," the Wu retain their legacy while preaching the power of contagious optimism.
Prodigy & Boogz Boogetz - Young Rollin' Stonerz
"Young Rollin' Stonerz" features a "Cheech & Chong" dynamic, and makes for an entertaining collaboration filled with half-baked cruising music.
Eminem & Various Artists - SHADYXV
Em, specifically, is the leader and master savant here, allowing each artist to come correct with an arsenal of lyrics.
Black Milk Says He And Pete Rock Inspire Each Other & A Random Axe Album Is In The Works
Exclusive: Fresh off the release of "If Theres A Hell Below," Black Milk talks about the strides hes taken since dropping his first LP 10 years ago.
Apollo Brown & Ras Kass - Blasphemy
Pointing a critical eye at our society through music, and the discussions of controversial taboos are what carry "Blasphemy" as a whole.
Black Milk - If There's A Hell Below
If Theres a Hell Below is an amalgam of different sounds flawlessly arranged and sequenced; a fine work of artistic exactitude.
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."
Dilated Peoples - Directors Of Photography
Production and rhyme patterns can be representative of time and era. Dilated Peoples' "Directors Of Photography" transcends the notion in the best way possible.
10 Things We Learned Reading "How To Rap 2" By Paul Edwards
Paul Edwards interviewed upwards of 104 emcees to dissect the importance and ingredients behind some of the best Rap flows. Here are 10 things we learned upon reading his "How To Rap 2."
DJ Premier Details Unreleased Gang Starr Tracks & New Site PremierWuzHere.com
Exclusive: DJ Premier chops it up with DX about fatherhood, "a couple secret albums" currently in the works and headlining Radio City Music Hall with Dave Chappelle.
A continuation of the artistry from "#Wakedafucup" is established on "#Turndafucup," but its attempts at current production trends lack as a whole.
eMC reintroduce themselves on "The Turning Point" and pick up right where they left off from "The Show."
"Southsiders" is solid through and through, but it doesn't easily separate itself from Atmosphere's previous works.
Mobb Deep - The Infamous Mobb Deep
With hard lyricism and simple, yet contagious production, "The Infamous Mobb Deep" is a successful continuation of "The Infamous" almost 20 years later.
Onyx puts forth a conservative effort on "Wakedafucup," but an abundance of thematic elements helps translate the time and effort put into making this album.
One For All: Hip Hop's Botched Racial Dialogue With Lord Jamar
Lord Jamar's comments on race in Hip Hop have had the potential to be constructive, but Hip Hop as a collective unit needs to do a better job of making this discussion a productive one.
Exile & Johaz Revisit Their Creative Process For The "E&J" Album
Exclusive: As Dag Savage, Exile and Johaz detail speaking for a faction of the West Coast that isn't exposed and challenging each other while recording.
The LOX can make good music in any decade, but on "The Trinity" their attempts to mold their sound into a contemporary one are rather noticeable.
Smif-N-Wessun - Born And Raised
It isn't much longer than an EP, but Smif-N-Wessun's "Born And Raised" succeeds at blending Hip Hop and Reggae into its own unique entity.
Marco Polo - PA2: Director's Cut by Marco Polo
Though it runs a bit long "PA2: The Director's Cut" successfully draws from its prequel, while maintaining its own originality.
