HipHopDx Reviews
Nicki Minaj - Pink Friday
Nicki has a knack for excelling lyrically when she's competing with others on the track. When she's left to her own devices though, her poppiness comes out.
Trill Fam - All Or Nothing
With a knack for making music for the Western Louisiana region, the troubled group endures, but the national and mainstream appeal appears deeply jeopardized.
Big L - Return Of The Devils Son
Return Of The Devils Son is rare songs that have only appeared on bootlegs, unreleased material and a handful of freestyles.
Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik 0 To 60
"Pop The Trunk" is Deliverance-meets-"Natural Born Killaz," as back-roads and slaughtered hogs make the listener fear for their life.
Eligh - Grey Crow
After fighting addiction, Eligh has been clean for five years and Grey Crow has emerged as his moment of clarity.
Nelly - 5.0
Nelly's rhyme game has not improved as his lyrics remain dull. It's hard to expect much from a rapper who made one of his biggest hits around a nursery rhyme.
Rihanna - Loud
It's evident Rihanna is working her way to the top, but she's been doing that for three albums now.
Cassidy - C.A.S.H.
Whatever the acronym's meaning, it's clear that money is on Cassidy's mind as most of the tracks end up taking on that C.R.E.A.M. subject matter.
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
West's fifth offering is an electric journey equipped with painkillers, a break-up letter, an overstuffed iPod and the latest "Penthouse" in his Prada duffle.
J-Live - Undivided Attention EP
J-Live's flow is on point over a strong production effort as he tackles issues ranging from Gay Rights to the environment.
Cap D - Poly Math
Like Mos Def or Wordsworth, D has a knack for community-based rhymes that flow effortlessly, and seem conversational enough to appear freestyled.
Zion I - Atomic Clock
By far, the star of Atomic Clock is AmpLive. The producer jumps from style to style so adroitly on the record that the listening experience is never dull.
Pitbull - Armando
While Armando is good news for club-going fist-pumpers, it does nothing for fans who expect substance filled rhymes from all emcees.
Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer
It sounds as though Cee Lo has thoroughly studied every classic James Bond title song, MJ's "Thriller", mixed with some early Rock & Roll and some 60s schmaltz.
Twista - The Perfect Storm
During the album's best moments, Twista showcases his specialty. But at its worst, it seems unnecessarily stuck to the formula of failing outside of his range.
Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager
A tortured soul, yes, but one with ingenious capabilities, Cudi has taken his progressive style and turned it into a sound that no one would dare replicate.
Skillz - The World Needs More Skillz
The only drawback seems to be when the messages on the album becomes too close to validating his O.G. status as a lyricist who is in desperate need of respect.
Lyrics Born - As U Were
As U Were fails as both an exercise in Electro-nostalgia and as a stylistic departure who's proven style is so inherently unique.
Devin The Dude - Gotta Be Me
This LP is sleek and consistently honest. It's simple yet introspective, unruly yet refined. As Devin embraces his many contradictions, he stays true to self.
Celph-Titled & Buckwild - Nineteen Ninety Now
With its crashing kicks and snares and dusty sampled grooves, Buckwild's creates the standard to which all Hip Hop producers should aim to achieve.
