When Eminem’s bar-for-bar freestyle obliteration of America’s Dotard-in-Chief went viral in October, the expectation was that his next album would be epic. Trading in his Slim Shady persona for more anti-Trump “Woke” Shady lyrics, Marshall Mathers seems to have found a worthy theme in the release of his ninth LP, … Continue Reading →

CNN once labeled him a “thinking man’s rapper”. As a social activist and revered MC, Talib Kweli is definitely one of the standard bearers for conscious rap. Teaming up with his comrade in the struggle, Talib Kweli and Mos Def sealed their fate as hip-hop legends almost 20 years ago … Continue Reading →

11:11 is not just titled like this in reference to the eleven tracks created for this album in eleven days. In numerology, these numbers have always been associated with mystical powers evoking synchronicity, higher vibrations, and a special spirit presence. The type of spiritual elevation in feel-good music served by … Continue Reading →

Hot on a mission for Beelzebub, Taylor Swift singes her wings and unleashes her fallen angel with new album, Reputation. The 15 tracks see the “Queen of Hearts” overthrown by the “Queen of Clubs”. And she enjoys swinging the weapon. From euphorically announcing her own death to the anthemic, sweaty, … Continue Reading →

Most people will never know the difficulty of living in the public eye, and even fewer of us will experience having to endure the aftermath of a center stage public meltdown. But this would explain why Yelawolf has been off the radar for nearly a year following a disastrous string … Continue Reading →

Going for a pimped-up-spacesuit look, Pink snatches the microphone and mauls her way through new album, Beautiful Trauma. Effortlessly caustic and feral, the “toughest gal in pop” sounds like she hasn’t eaten in a month, and savages the 13 tracks. Pink doesn’t sing. She sacrifices. And given the five-year hiatus … Continue Reading →

Don’t call Lecrae a Christian rapper. He wants you to let his music breathe. He wants it to go as far and as wide as it can go without being boxed in as “Gospel rap”. Let it touch whomever it will touch, however it moves them. Though he is known … Continue Reading →

A year before he would meet longtime collaborator Ryan Lewis, Macklemore released his first solo album, The Language Of My World, while building a name for himself around Seattle. He and Lewis would go on to become the four-time Grammy Award winning hip-hop duo, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, known for … Continue Reading →

It’s difficult not to compare all of Wyclef Jean’s solo albums to his ‘97 debut The Carnival. I remember when it hit the streets midsummer following the Fugees’ last studio album, but for me The Carnival really represents the end of the Fugees era, more than 1996’s The Score. I … Continue Reading →

When it comes to collaborations, The Isley Brothers and Santana as one legendary creative unit is pretty awesome. We’re talking over six decades of hit makers across the spectrum of American popular music between Ron and Ernie Isley, and Carlos Santana. But what is more noteworthy is how much members … Continue Reading →