Reviews
Thundercat Distracted Review: 15 Songs of Chaos, Feelings, and Cat Talk
Thundercat Distracted turns burnout into punchlines, falsetto apologies, and bass gymnastics—then acts surprised when it still hurts. Thundercat doesn’t sound like he “returned” with... more »
PRAY FOR ME Review: RAAHiiM Turns Church Guilt Into Bedroom Music
PRAY FOR ME is RAAHiiM using prayer talk like a pickup line—sweet, messy R&B where devotion and self-sabotage keep sharing the same bed. Courtesy of MNRK Records LP. RAAHiiM... more »
Machetes & Micheladas Album Review: Boom Bap With Lime and a Bruise
Italicized street-lit honesty: Machetes & Micheladas turns Hawthorne grit into sharp, funny rap that still bleeds when it lands. This album isn’t trying to be “important”—it’s trying to... more »
Santa Rosa Album Review: Fat Ray & Raphy’s Basement Gospel (Kinda)
Santa Rosa turns Detroit grit into tight, loop-heavy confessionals—where flexing and self-loathing share the same breath, and that’s the point. Some records introduce the “world.” Santa... more »
Shattered Glass Review: Daniel Son & Futurewave Make Hustle Sound Boring (On Purpose)
Shattered Glass turns Toronto boom-bap into paperwork rap—cold, precise, and weirdly human. Here’s why Shattered Glass sticks after the flex fades. Toronto has a funny habit of acting like... more »
AJRadico say it again Album Review: Horny, Clever, and Stuck on Repeat
AJRadico’s say it again album is a Queens-made plea for a text back—sharp beats, vivid scenes, and one habit that keeps derailing the point. This album doesn’t walk into the room. It’s... more »
6WA Album Review: BigXthaPlug’s “Gangsta” Pivot Isn’t Subtle—It’s the Point
BigXthaPlug’s 6WA album borrows West Coast DNA, then argues Dallas still owns the body. It’s brash, uneven in spots, and weirdly personal. BigXthaPlug doesn’t ease into 6WA. It kicks the door,... more »
Art Monk Review: Patty Honcho & Wiz Kelly Turn Gatekeeping Into Jazz
Art Monk is a bedroom-built rap album that worships craft, roasts tourists, and still slips up by admitting it wants love more than clout. This record doesn’t walk in politely. It... more »
bbymutha’s Rent Due Review: Paying Bills With Chaos (and Teeth)
bbymutha’s rent due sounds like a funny threat until you realize she’s dead serious—and the jokes are just a coping mechanism. rent due opens like a demand and stays that way. Not “a... more »
Boiling Point Review: Juvenile’s “Comeback” That Refuses to Behave
Juvenile’s Boiling Point isn’t nostalgia—it’s a loud argument with time, money, and desire, and it occasionally wins by being ridiculous. I put on Boiling Point expecting a polite legacy... more »
Knumears Directions Album: Screamo Therapy With a Compass That Lies
The Knumears Directions album isn’t “revival” so much as a panic-jog into adulthood—fast riffs, harsher truths, and a rare mid-record breath. Some records introduce a band. This one... more »
Omah Lay’s Clarity of Mind Review: Therapy in the Club Bathroom
Omah Lay’s Clarity of Mind isn’t “growth”—it’s a loop: weed, God-talk, money, regret, repeat, with just enough self-awareness to sting. Four years between albums is basically a... more »
POMPEII UTILITY Album Review: Earl, MIKE & Surf Gang Overcook It (On Purpose)
POMPEII UTILITY turns 33 tracks into a dare: accept the jagged Surf Gang noise, or admit “real hip-hop” is just a comfort blanket. Some albums want to be understood. POMPEII UTILITY wants... more »
Same Difference Review: Swae Lee Finally Shows Up… Then Ghosts Himself
Same Difference is Swae Lee’s long-delayed solo swing—half hypnotic confession, half luxury-rap autopilot. The voice wins, the intent wobbles. Swae Lee has been that guy for years—the... more »
Arlo Parks’ Ambiguous Desire Review: Club Therapy With No Exit Sign
Arlo Parks’ Ambiguous Desire swaps guitars for UK garage adrenaline, then dares you to call it healing while it’s still bleeding. Some albums want to “take you on a journey.” This one... more »
Thundercat Distracted Review: Pop Polishing a Bass Goblin (On Purpose)
Thundercat Distracted swaps FlyLo’s maze for Greg Kurstin’s spotlight—still messy, just cleaner. Here’s what that says about “Sober Steve.” Thundercat has always sounded like a virtuoso... more »
Elbows Out Review: Pet Needs Swing at Capitalism (and Don’t Miss)
Elbows Out turns folk-punk into a sweaty argument with the modern world—catchy enough to sing, bleak enough to mean it. Some albums “explore themes.” Elbows Out doesn’t explore... more »
Jozzy’s Soundtrack 2 Get Her Back Is an Apology Tour With Receipts (Mostly)
Soundtrack 2 Get Her Back turns R&B confession into a messy, adult repair attempt—until it gets bored and chooses chaos. Some albums want your attention. This one wants your... more »