Sheldon Pearce
Chance The Rapper & Lil B - Free (Based Freestyles Mixtape)
"Free (Based Freestyles Mixtape)" is an exercise in exuberant, lighthearted fun from two of the most interesting artists in Hip Hop.
"Bang 3" is a reminder of everything Chief Keef has been and everything he can be.
"Dirty Sprite 2" is a highly entertaining cocktail of trap displaying the ability to resurrect.
Tyga - The Gold Album: 18th Dynasty
Tyga makes an effort at creating a well-rounded album but fails to double down on his strengths.
"Eat Pray Thug" speaks for the disenfrancished, fractured elements of Heem's post 9/11 New York.
PRhyme's "PRhyme" is a no frills, beats and rhymes buffet anchored by the duo's undeniable chemistry.
Logic's debut is more than a stirring lyrical symphony welded to superior production, it is a condensing of '90s grit and modern production into something new.
Childish Gambino's "Kauai" does an admirable job putting raw feelings before agendas or aesthetics, and it is easy to enjoy as a result.
Rich Gang - Tha Tour Pt. 1 (Mixtape)
The bizarre trinity of Birdman, Young Thug, and Rich Homie Quan makes for a surprisingly trap-love-fest that hypnotizes you for its entirety.
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.
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.
Majid Jordan - A Place Like This
Majid Jordan's "A Place Like This" is both affectionate and semi-seductive but lags at times due to an inability to mask its straightforwardness.
Cam'ron - 1st Of The Month Vol.1 (EP)
In addition to solid production, Cam'ron's "1st Of The Month Vol. 1" excels in the instances where it falls in love with its mythos.
PeeWee Longway - The Blue M&M (Mixtape)
PeeWee Longway is buttressed by signature production here and his dexterous flows show much promise, but the duds overwhelm you as much as the wins dazzle you.
50 Cent - Animal Ambition: An Untamed Desire To Win
50 Cent's "Animal Ambition" is marred by its own limitations and obsessive portrayal of self-worth amid a recitation of "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" buzzwords.
Kolley - Real Nigga Shit (Mixtape)
Despite grand production, Kolley's "RNS" stumbles because his delivery and his often basic rhymes leave much to be desired.
At maximal output, Iamsu! adventurously explores the Bay Area's established terrain with "Sincerely Yours," but it doesn't punch with the ferocity of past work.
Dizzy Wright - State Of Mind (EP)
Despite flashes of the creativity that powered his earlier projects, Dizzy Wright's "State of Mind" is plagued by subpar production and a lack of identity.
With "The God Complex," GoldLink explores fame and the perishable nature of the human flesh and pushes the boundaries of his brand of R&B-infused, Electro Rap.
SpaceGhostPurrp - BMW 2: IntoXXXicated (Mixtape)
Even with moments of magic, SpaceGhostPurrp's "BMW 2: IntoXXXicated" is too predictable and redundant to truly be good.