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 Brittany Howard, The Highwomen, Men I Trust and more. Adam Green - Engine of Paradise Adam Green's oddly charming poetry exudes of everything wonderful about the New York's … Continue reading New Music Roundup: September
The Southern-based producers and songwriters have teamed up for a new instrumental project that explores and embraces the THC experience.
The tandem's new collaboration is a motivational boom-bap cut that seeks out growth amid struggle and hardship.
Hip-hop is full of colorful characters, but none quite like Danny Brown.
Lyric: I was always told think before you talk, I jogged alongside my train of thought Song: Blu & Fa†e - “Think” Album: Open Your Optics to Optimism (2016) Background: One of the most celebrated underground MCs of the new millennium, Blu has built an extensive discography of densely layered concept albums that pay homage … Continue reading Lyric of the Week: Blu & Fa†e – Think
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 Leslie Stevens, Shura, Young Thug and more.
One of the most inherently gifted MCs of all time, this week’s Riffs & Rhymes classic artist is legendary Harlem rapper Lamont Coleman, aka Big L. Emerging from Harlem, NY in the early 1990s, Coleman became well known in underground circles for his freestyling ability. He once showed off his rhyme skills for renown producer … Continue reading Classic Artist of the Week: Big L
Lyric: Looking at the situation plainly, will you remain G or will you be looked upon strangely? Song: Gang Starr - "Moment of Truth" Album: Moment of Truth (1998) Background: Often credited as the pioneers of jazz rap, Gang Starr originally started releasing demos in 1986 when Boston-born rapper Guru (then known as MC Keithy E), DJ 1, … Continue reading Lyric of the Week: Gang Starr – Moment of Truth
After arriving earlier this decade with two stellar mixtapes and an unmistakably charismatic persona, Chance the Rapper seemed poised to be one of the most special hip-hop artists of the 2010s. He fulfilled that promise with 2016's Coloring Book, an album that furthered his unique style of gospel-infused pop-rap and polished it enough to blow up … Continue reading Chance the Rapper – The Big Day
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 Big K.R.I.T., Blood Orange, Thom Yorke and more. Ada Lea - what we say in private Are there really still naysayers out there who claim the creative state … Continue reading New Music Roundup: July
Every introduction to any "best of" type post must make some sort of attempt at quantifying the greatness (or lack thereof) of any given 12 months, but being that this particular year marks the end of the 2010s, it is understandable that these kind of write ups may carry a little more significance this time … Continue reading The Best Albums of 2019 (so far)
After five years of anticipation, Gary, Indiana rapper Freddie Gibbs and Los Angeles beat maestro Madlib have returned with the follow up to their 2014 gangsta-jazz-rap masterpiece Piñata. Their new LP, Bandana, has been on the minds of critics and fans alike since it was first teased in 2016. As Gibbs has regained his footing since being … Continue reading Freddie Gibbs & Madlib – Bandana
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 Bruce Springsteen, Kirin J Callinan, Polo G and more. Bedouine - Bird Songs of a Killjoy Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Azniv Korkejian's sophomore release Bird Songs of a Killjoy, which … Continue reading New Music Roundup: June
Riffs & Rhymes commemorates the 100th project and 14th studio album of iconic East Atlanta artist, Gucci Mane. It is hard to ignore the influence Gucci has had over the last decade of rap, and since we first heard “Lemonade” on the radio in 2009, he has shown no signs of slowing down. The sheer … Continue reading Gucci Mane – Delusions of Grandeur
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 Carly Rae Jepsen, Mac DeMarco, Vampire Weekend and more. Carly Rae Jepsen - Dedicated What does a new Carly Rae Jepsen album mean? Lovesick synth-pop anthems by the … Continue reading New Music Roundup: May
Few, if any, rappers this decade have endured as significant a personal and artistic evolution as Tyler, The Creator. His last record, 2017's Flower Boy, was a true coming-of-age album. After a half-decade of anti-establishment antics and abrasive hate-raps, Tyler's complicated persona unearthed a previously unknown side of vulnerability and openness that widely changed his public perception … Continue reading Tyler, The Creator – IGOR
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 Foxygen, Kevin Morby, ScHoolboy Q and more. Foxygen - Seeing Other People The always unpredictable and infinitely enigmatic duo returns with their latest venture, Seeing Other People, a … Continue reading New Music Roundup: April
Largely in thanks to his undeniable talent and increasingly likable persona, Anderson .Paak's Oxnard, the third studio album from the West Coast rapper-singer-producer extraordinaire, ranked among the most highly anticipated records of 2018. Less than half a year later, Paak has returned with yet another beach-titled LP, the soul-infused Ventura. After relinquishing creative control to Dr. Dre's … Continue reading Anderson .Paak – Ventura
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 Hand Habits, Kyle Dion, Stella Donnelly and more. Choosey & Exile - Black Beans LP The long awaited full length collaboration from the CA duo is as jazzy … Continue reading New Music Roundup: March
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 Gary Clark Jr., Julia Jacklin, Panda Bear and more. Blu & Oh No - A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night When it comes to west coast … Continue reading New Music Roundup: February
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 Boogie, Bring Me The Horizon, James Blake and more. Boogie - Everything's For Sale Honesty. It’s the quality that Shady Record’s newest star, Boogie, is showcasing on his … Continue reading New Music Roundup: January
Atlanta rapper Future needs little introduction. The trap-rap powerhouse has been one of the leading faces of the current rap generation for much of this decade and a highly influential figure on both the commercial and artistic fronts of mainstream hip-hop for many years now. Known for his signature auto-tune croon style of rapping, Future's … Continue reading Future – Future Hndrxx Presents: The Wizrd
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 21 Savage, Bad Bunny, Jeff Tweedy and more. 21 Savage - i am > i was 21 Savage returns with his sophomore album that truly shows he was … Continue reading New Music Roundup: December
In 2018, I had the pleasure to come on board at Riffs and Rhymes and give my opinion about multiple artists and styles of music. With that being said, 2018 was such a great year for music! The amount of music that was covered this year was very constant and diverse. No matter what week … Continue reading Best of 2018: Matthew’s Top 10 Albums
By this point, I suppose 2018 hardly needs an introduction. There's a lot going on outside and today's music reflects that, as art always tends to do. If there's one positive thing we can all agree on is that there is truly an infinite amount of great music being released into the world on a … Continue reading Best of 2018: Roberto’s Top 10 Albums
What defines a classic record? For a lot of people, it varies. Some people think it comes down to strictly the music and that it needs to be exceptional to be called a classic but in today’s increasingly short attention span and lifespan of an album’s relevancy, it’s hard to really call anything a classic. … Continue reading Best of 2018: Potential Classic Rap Albums
To put it plainly, 2018 was a lot. Parts of my self and sanity were tested because life came around so fast and I didn’t know how to cope in healthy ways. I finished my last semester of undergrad and graduated, got into the best relationship of my life, moved to a new city, and … Continue reading Best of 2018: Tyler’s Top 10 Albums
Since the 1990s, the list of underground hip-hop stalwarts to gain cult-like followings runs deep and potent. Punchline specialists like Big L and slick spitters like Mos Def and Talib Kweli of Black Star emerged as prominent figures on the East Coast prior to the turn of the century. Come the early 2000s, Atmosphere and … Continue reading Earl Sweatshirt – Some Rap Songs
An inside look at the prolific SoCal outfit and their creative inspirations.
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 Action Bronson, Mike WiLL Made-It, Rosalía and more. Action Bronson - White Bronco Amidst filming his ongoing television show (highly recommend for foodies and weed-heads) and other out-of-booth … Continue reading New Music Roundup: November
