Photo Credit: Obidigbo Nzeribe The agreement that Nas’ Illmatic – which will turn 30 next year – is a classic unites almost all hip-hop fans. To so many, it represents the pinnacle of ’90s rap music – a heartfelt, intelligent, and conscious boom-bap record that crowned a 20-year-old an instant legend of his genre. But opinions… Read more
Photo Credit: Christopher Polk for Variety Well, well, well, look who’s back at it again with another killer soundtrack. Metro Boomin has done it once more with Spider-man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack. This album is a must-listen not only for fans of the Spider-Man franchise but for lovers of good music. Let’s start with Coi… Read more
Photo Credit: Swizz Beatz via YouTube Swizz Beatz is back with his latest EP release Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2, which he recorded as part of Mass Appeal’s celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. The six-track EP features a star-studded line-up of veteran rappers, including Nas, Jay-Z, Jadakiss, and Lil Wayne, along with current rising stars… Read more
Photo Credit: Max Montgomery In 1994, Nasir “Nas” Jones burst onto the frontiers of hip hop seemingly out of nowhere with Illmatic (though, in reality, his first major break occurred when he featured on Main Source’s 1991 debut LP). Now considered the “gold standard” of conscious, boom-bap rap, it captured something profound, incredibly timely, and… Read more
#10. Lil Nas X – ‘Montero’ Lil Nas X is a one in a million kind of artist, in that he elevates the game for everyone whether you like him or not. Tracks like “Montero (Call Me By My Name” and “Scoop” featuring Ms. Doja Cat show us why Lil Nas X is here to… Read more
Photo Credit: @shotbyjacques The posthumous album as a memorial is a concept that has played out in public several times over the last two years. DMX was prolific and well-connected, but hadn’t released a proper album in nine years at the time of his death at 50-years-old. Exodus was executive-produced by Swizz Beats who collaborated… Read more
Photo Credit: Getty Images for The Recording Academy (All Photos) The 2021 Grammy’s were one to remember. During the COVID-19 pandemic, award shows like the Oscars, Emmys, and Golden Globes were struggling to adapt to a blend of in-person and virtual acceptances, and pulled off their respective shows with varying degrees of success. The Grammys… Read more
Photo Credit: Isaac Sterling Chilombo is Jhené Aiko’s third studio album. The title comes from Jhené’s last name, which is not Aiko, – her father called himself Chilombo, and his children took it as their last name. It means “wild beast” in African. Starting with a meditative piano intro on the track “Lotus”, the album… Read more
Photo Credit: Sarah Bahbah “WE THE BEST!” is the motto and on DJ Khaled’s Father Of Asahd, he is absolutely that. Boasting a roster of twenty-nine total featured artists combined on fifteen tracks is the most we’ve ever seen from the former Terror Squad producer. Marking his eleventh album release in thirteen years, Khaled does… Read more