LukeGibson
73 items
Reggie isn't near Red's best work, but fans would be remiss to turn their nose. When he is in his element, he spits harder, and flows better than any.
While Soulja is absolutely a star, he still hasn't delivered a concrete answer as to why.
Flo Rida - Only One Flo Rida, Part One
The finished project feels more Snooki than Snoop Dogg, it will have more people fist pumping than attempting to Dougie but it will get spins.
With a knack for making music for the Western Louisiana region, the troubled group endures, but the national and mainstream appeal appears deeply jeopardized.
Lost Ones: How Hip Hop Provides A Voice & An Ear To Foster Children
A Hip Hop journalist who works as a social worker in foster care looks life experience and the lyrics of 2Pac, Melle Mel, Xzibit, Game, Cormega and more to make sense of the "lost ones."
Foreign Exchange - Authenticity
Longtime fans of Phonte the lyricist may not get what they're expecting, but that's not to say they won't find satisfaction on this smoky Vocal Jazz album.
Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans
If we hold to the belief that a debut album is written from birth til' it's released, one could think that Bruno Mar's lived but a few moments in his own skin.
John Legend & The Roots - Wake Up!
The project doesn't disappoint and even more importantly it reintroduces classic protest songs to a generation that needs them more than ever.
"Levels" is a pure experimentation that channels Miles Davis' direction in the mid-'70's. It's the type of production that is seldom seen in the R&B world.
KRS-One & True Master - Meta-Historical
Not only does KRS demonstrate the ability to rhyme at level not seen since I Got Next, he does so over some of the better production he's seen in recent memory.
Lyfe Jennings - I Still Believe
With a one-of-a-kind voice and range, Lyfe will be remembered as an artist that defied the odds but ultimately hung it up before he reached the mountain top.
This is not Dogg Food, but DPG is one of the few '95ers not trying to make a sequel - just pay homage.
Though the means of getting his album havs changed, the Ras' abilities haven't. The album has some very visible flaws, but it's easy to understand each of them.
Cut Chemist - The Sound Of The Police
Listening to Sound of the Police, you can hear the origins of American music throughout - from the drums, to the instrumentation.
One writer looks at the hypocrisy and impulse rappers use to wave retirement. Does it say something about them, or about the yearning for appreciation that 2010 Hip Hop yields?
Bouncing from boutique to boutique, Curren$y finally delivers on Def Jam. It won't be mistaken as one of the year's best albums, but it is a solid debut from a 29 year-old that brilliantly connects with younger fans.
With the spotlight on her personal life slowly waning, she steps back into the public with what gave her fame to begin with, music. Signed to will.i.am's record label, the Black Eyed Peas influence on her latest, Flesh Tone, is apparent from the jump.
The-Dream is a chameleon. His ability to adapt his voice, production and confidence to fit a track or topic is impressive. On "Yamaha" and "Nikki Part 2" he is able to channel Prince-esque instrumentation in a Pop-friendly way that artists like Van Hunt c
Like depression, Z-Ro rides his highs and digs deep into his lows, and the art that comes of it is honest and telling. It doesn't mean that the beginning of the album isn't without flaws, but it does mean that those flaws seem deliberate.
Bizarre - Friday Night At St. Andrews
While an emcee like Eminem spits shock value one liners, he also tucks them away inside complex lyrical structures. His one-liners tend to sneak up on you out of nowhere. Bizarre doesn't have that luxury. The predictability of upcoming lines hampers his a
yU (of Diamond District) - Before Taxes
Several have attempted to rebel against a culture consumed with monetary status. yU manages to not only accomplish both, but also manages to do it with class. The project doesn't escape without its flaws but in some ways, that's the point.
