Rap Reviews
Read incisive reviews of the top fresh hip-hop releases
Akrobatik - Absolute Value (Fat Beats)
Akrobatik's Absolute Value is a spirited narrative session that seeks to establish him as hip-hop staple.
Akrobatik's Absolute Value is a spirited narrative session that seeks to establish him as hip-hop staple.
Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Sh*t Gold
Atmosphere's When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Sh*t Gold shines with levelheaded lyrics and brilliant production.
Atmosphere's When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Sh*t Gold shines with levelheaded lyrics and brilliant production.
AZ - Undeniable (Koch)
AZ's Undeniable is part celebration, part reflection.
AZ's Undeniable is part celebration, part reflection.
Buckshot & 9th Wonder - The Formula (Duck Down)
Buckshot & 9th Wonder go hard on their second collaborative album, The Formula.
Buckshot & 9th Wonder go hard on their second collaborative album, The Formula.
Estelle - 'Shine' (Home School/Atlantic)
Estelle balances honey-coated singing with brash rap stylings.
Estelle balances honey-coated singing with brash rap stylings.
Foxy Brown - 'Brooklyn's Don Diva' (Koch)
Foxy Brown's Koch debut is a solid effort.
Foxy Brown's Koch debut is a solid effort.
G-Unit - T.O.S. (Terminate On Sight)
'Terminate on Sight' is the second album from G-Unit featuring Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and "guest" appearances from the recently ousted Young Buck.
'Terminate on Sight' is the second album from G-Unit featuring Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo and "guest" appearances from the recently ousted Young Buck.
GZA/Genius - Pro Tools (Babygrande)
Does GZA's 'Pro Tools' live up to hype?
Does GZA's 'Pro Tools' live up to hype?
Ice Cube - 'Raw Footage' (Lench Mob/Koch)
On 'Raw Footage', Ice Cube highlights his famed career while proving that he can still hold his weight with contemporary peers. Here's an unbiased, unadulterated take on Ice Cube's 'Raw Footage.'
On 'Raw Footage', Ice Cube highlights his famed career while proving that he can still hold his weight with contemporary peers. Here's an unbiased, unadulterated take on Ice Cube's 'Raw Footage.'
Immortal Technique - The 3rd World (Viper Records)
On '3rd World', Immortal Technique keeps it gritty from start to finish.
On '3rd World', Immortal Technique keeps it gritty from start to finish.
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III (Cash Money/Universal)
Preview of Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III
Preview of Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III
N.E.R.D. - 'Seeing Sounds' (Interscope)
N.E.R.D. 'Seeing Sounds' CD review.
N.E.R.D. 'Seeing Sounds' CD review.
Nas - 'Untitled' (Def Jam)
Indepth review of Nas' untitled Def Jam album.
Indepth review of Nas' untitled Def Jam album.
Nicolay & Kay - Time:Line (Nicolay Music)
Nicolay and Kay collaborate for the first time on Time:Line.
Nicolay and Kay collaborate for the first time on Time:Line.
Prodigy - H.N.I.C. 2 (Infamous)
Prodigy - H.N.I.C. 2
Prodigy - H.N.I.C. 2
Rick Ross - Trilla (Def Jam)
Rick Ross is all style no substance on Trilla.
Rick Ross is all style no substance on Trilla.
Snoop Dogg - Ego Trippin'
Even at his most braggadocios, Snoop is more humble than Kanye on an average day.
Even at his most braggadocios, Snoop is more humble than Kanye on an average day.
The Game - 'LAX' (Geffen/Interscope)
Is 3rd time the charm on Game's LAX? See our verdict to find out.
Is 3rd time the charm on Game's LAX? See our verdict to find out.
The Roots - Rising Down (Def Jam)
The Roots raise the bar on Rising Down. See our CD review for details.
The Roots raise the bar on Rising Down. See our CD review for details.