Everyone has their own pace in finding who they are. It’s especially true when someone is finding that out in their art. Some hit the ground running with how they want to sound and go with their art. Others require time to figure out who they want to sound like, while simultaneously sounding like themselves. … Continue reading Ariana Grande – Sweetener
Midwest/East Coast wordsmiths milo and Elucid are at the very heart of the progressive hip-hop movement that has been beaming over the past five years. After a few track collaborations on each other's solo works, they've assembled to form Nostrum Grocers, a tandem that combines milo's off-kilter poetry with Elucid's inventive, New York persona to form … Continue reading Nostrum Grocers – Nostrum Grocers
What happens when the crown is threatened? There are many options but Nicki Minaj took one of the worst possible approaches to the problem. She panicked. After putting out her best album, The Pinkprint, she has come back with her worst record thus far. Nicki has always been painted as this artist to be hated … Continue reading Nicki Minaj – Queen
The Orlando two-piece is charmingly indie at heart who has recently seen increasing popularity, developing an affectionate fanbase all over the U.S. and beyond.
Miller's greatest hits and jammiest deep cuts coexisted in bluesy matrimony at his show last Saturday night in Los Angeles.
Houston, we have lift-off! I repeat! We have lift-off! The listener has landed on Travis Scott’s third studio album Astroworld. By now, Travis has been known to write and produce hits for all the stars. Eventually, after working with his musical influencer, Kanye West, he became an in-house producer for G.O.O.D. Music. Creating his lane as … Continue reading Travis Scott – Astroworld
“I just need a way out of my head”. When hearing words like this, one can’t help but wonder if the subject of their listening desire is in trouble or not. It’s internalized and not asked immediately because it is being gauged by you, the listener. But after that moment is over, your second question … Continue reading Mac Miller – Swimming
Almost exactly 22 years ago at the legendary 1995 Source Awards, when tensions between east and west coast rap outfits were at an all time high, a young Andre 3000 made a statement that announced Southern hip-hop as a force to be reckoned with. "It's like this, the south got somethin' to say," he proclaimed … Continue reading Denzel Curry – TA13OO
New music round ups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Florence + the Machine, Gorillaz, SALES and more. Florence + the Machine - High as Hope In approaching their latest release, Florence Welch's band seemed as big … Continue reading New Music Roundup: July
Their music is capable of going different speeds in different directions at the same time. Whichever way it's going and no matter how fast, it always evokes a magical, fully-realized feeling.
The 6 God has come down from his high Toronto tower after being pushed in the dark by villain Pusha T. Like Batman after getting his back broken, the hometown hero had to retreat to lick his wounds and come back to the light to face the enemy that was Twitter timelines and his own … Continue reading Drake – Scorpion
When this time of year rolls around, there’s always the argument for the “song of the summer”. The song that controls radio waves and playlists for the short, scorching three months of excessive traveling, beaches, barbeques, drugs and sex, until we get to our regularly scheduled lives and the leaves start changing color. But with … Continue reading The Internet – Hive Mind
Better late than never, right? Never late might’ve been better in this case. That’s been the general consensus when it came to most of the projects in Kanye’s G.O.O.D. Music releases. Who knew we were getting the real hidden gem of the projects at the very end? The project that had the most musical range … Continue reading Teyana Taylor – K.T.S.E.
Mention Kanye West and immediately music heads will conjure up their opinions over which of his first seven albums is his best and why. Over the past five years this exercise has been exhausted and beaten to death, so much so that the fun in discussing the greatness of Kanye's career usually sounds like more … Continue reading Kanye West – ye
If there was one Kanye West release this summer I could expect to be completely lackluster, it was his collaboration with Kid Cudi. It's not that I had zero hope for this project, but my personal interest in the career trajectory of both artists has long been going in the opposite direction. To my surprise, … Continue reading KIDS SEE GHOSTS – KIDS SEE GHOSTS
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition includes new releases from Courtney Barnett, Leon Bridges, Ski Mask the Slump God and more. Clairo - Diary 001 EP Diary 001 EP is as cute and charming as its title implies. Clairo's … Continue reading New Music Roundup: June
Josh Tillman's fourth commercial release as Father John Misty is his darkest creation yet. Written over the course of a six week period where Tillman was couped up in a hotel, estranged from his wife, seemingly embarked on a journey of binge drinking and self-destruction, God's Favorite Customer is a much more conventional set of songs than … Continue reading Father John Misty – God’s Favorite Customer
From the first moments of Pusha T's DAYTONA, one can sense the tight-knit display of bravado and artistry they are about to experience in the duration of the record. "Pullin' up in that new toy, the wrist on that boy rockstar like Pink Floyd," he raps on the opening lines of "If You Know You … Continue reading Pusha T – DAYTONA
Few bands in the modern era are as definitive to a particular sound and style as Beach House. The Baltimore duo, comprised of vocalist and keyboardist Victoria LeGrand and guitarist Alex Scally, has captured the hearts of indie music fans with their lush, ethereal soundscapes since the mid 2000s. Their first two records introduced them … Continue reading Beach House – 7
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month's edition includes new releases from Janelle Monae, Kimbra, Post Malone and more. Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino Arctic Monkeys take a 180 degree turn for their first record since 2013 … Continue reading New Music Roundup: May
Alternative and experimental hip-hop has always had a thriving underground scene since the early nineties and even into the new millennium. Today the genre continues to prosper thanks to fresh artists willing to experiment with sound and push the envelope with lyrical content. Whether its unorthodox beats, eccentric flow or radical bars, this niche section … Continue reading JPEGMAFIA – Veteran
Since his early days as an up and coming rapper-producer, Jermaine Cole seemed destined for greatness. After a solid stretch of raw, purist-friendly mixtapes, the once aspiring basketball player got his initial shot in 2009, signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation label with enormous expectations set for him. It took Cole a couple commercial releases to … Continue reading J. Cole – KOD
At 23 years old, it's easy to get caught up in the idea that Joey may still have his best music ahead of him, but don't sleep on the greatness of this early chapter in his career.
Social media celebrity turned trap-rap queen, Cardi B, has been dominating internet hip-hop culture since the arrival of her smash hit "Bodak Yellow" last summer. However, until early this year, it was hard to judge whether Cardi had what it took to turn the monumental success of her breakout single into sustained relevance or if … Continue reading Cardi B – Invasion of Privacy
Texas born singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves has long captured the hearts of contemporary country fans with an enchanting voice and stunning looks. In recording her newest album, Golden Hour, she set out to cross genres, documenting her growing personal life in the process. Her fourth release on Mercury Nashville Records diverts slightly from her country roots and … Continue reading Kacey Musgraves – Golden Hour
New music roundups are a monthly recap dedicated to covering the latest music in a series of short, descriptive reviews. This month’s edition is packed with hip-hop, including the latest from eclectic NY rapper Princess Nokia, Chicago up and comer Saba, The Weeknd and more. Chuck Strangers - Consumers Park In contrast to other Beast … Continue reading New Music Roundup: April
After struggling to make the leap from mixtape acclaim to commercial success on their debut, Beast Coast trio, Flatbush Zombies, find solid footing on their latest album: the raw and psychedelic-tinged, Vacation In Hell. Though it suffers from a long run time, the Zombies' new project sees them returning to their grimy New York roots, achieving an … Continue reading Flatbush Zombies – Vacation In Hell
It's been all of 16 days since the release of Kali Uchis' debut album, Isolation, yet it feels like she's been the music media's favorite R&B child for much longer. This is partially true, as few artists were poised for a breakout year like Kali. She scored major guest spots on multiple acclaimed projects in … Continue reading Kali Uchis – Isolation
Looking back on 2017, there is already quite a few indie records being remembered fondly. In the middle of that cluster is the sophomore effort from Julien Baker, Turn Out the Lights, an album that originally slipped through the cracks of my listening rotation. On her latest project, the Tennessee singer-songwriter showcases a promising pen, accompanied … Continue reading Julien Baker – Turn Out the Lights
Riffs & Rhymes 