Desire
by Pharoahe Monch
  • Record Label: Umvd
  • Release Date: Jun 26, 2007
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 21 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 21
  3. Negative: 2 out of 21

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Hypocritics
    Apr 25, 2014
    10
    I am not a Stan of Pharoahe Monch. Someone just recommended I listen to this album as a must-hear for any hip hop head. At first, I was pleasantly surprised. I waited for the moment when the album takes a turn for the worst that would justify a 79 score, but it never came. Each track is ferocious verse after verse, creative samples, catchy beats, perfecty woven skits. This album is theI am not a Stan of Pharoahe Monch. Someone just recommended I listen to this album as a must-hear for any hip hop head. At first, I was pleasantly surprised. I waited for the moment when the album takes a turn for the worst that would justify a 79 score, but it never came. Each track is ferocious verse after verse, creative samples, catchy beats, perfecty woven skits. This album is the best one ive heard all year, and Metacritic seems to believe Teflon Don is a better album than this and MMLP. Wow.… Expand
  2. RodneyJ.
    Dec 6, 2007
    10
    Easily one of the best, if not the best, hip hop albums of the year and although I am a big Talib Kweli and Common fan this does top the both the Eardrum album as well as Finding Forever.
  3. DanA.
    Sep 23, 2007
    8
    One o the best rap albums of 2007. It's in contention with Graduation and arguably better, but EASILY superior to Ultimate Victory and Finding Forever.
  4. KyleZ.
    Sep 11, 2007
    10
    Not quite as good as Ear Drum, but better than Graduation. I think that is the best compliment I can give this album.
  5. Theologic
    Aug 1, 2007
    9
    Bananas! The energy and soul embodied in this collection of thought provoking, skillfully crafted, beautifully spat, songs is awesome. Definitely, a missing piece in today's world of Hip-hop. Go cop that.
  6. kyleidoscopeyeah
    Jul 29, 2007
    8
    8.5 This album doesn't blow your mind upon first lesson but if you give it a chance it starts to reveal why its so special. A few listens on and you start noticing all the musical and lyrical "ohhh damn" moments. The album has a nice almost funky vibe to and unlike many rap albums their genuine soul rather than the hard polished aesthetic that is so popular. Best of all the album is 8.5 This album doesn't blow your mind upon first lesson but if you give it a chance it starts to reveal why its so special. A few listens on and you start noticing all the musical and lyrical "ohhh damn" moments. The album has a nice almost funky vibe to and unlike many rap albums their genuine soul rather than the hard polished aesthetic that is so popular. Best of all the album is both fun and intelligent, tracks like the fun body abay are right next to quite moving tracks like guns draw...definately worth checking out… Expand
  7. haloedbmyname
    Jul 28, 2007
    8
    I bought the CD and listened to it on a trip down the coast from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. I was most impressed by the song
  8. addiction
    Jul 26, 2007
    8
    Not for the Dumb at heart!! This cd is not only has great beats but it subconsciously have you thinking about concerns and issues without being so in your face (like P.E.). It is great that Monch comes back wonderfully even after being M.I.A. for about 8 years. It is good to see that conscious rap can get great reviews from critics and fans alike.
  9. matta
    Jul 19, 2007
    8
    It is nice to see a hip-hop album getting good reviews finally. While it has been a pretty lukewarm year for hip-hop, there have still been a few gems. First and foremost, Brother Ali and Dizzee Rascal, both of which should be on the top 30 albums of the year list. Then Talib Kweli, then this record. We'll see how Common and Kanye deliver in a few weeks (especially after T.I.'s It is nice to see a hip-hop album getting good reviews finally. While it has been a pretty lukewarm year for hip-hop, there have still been a few gems. First and foremost, Brother Ali and Dizzee Rascal, both of which should be on the top 30 albums of the year list. Then Talib Kweli, then this record. We'll see how Common and Kanye deliver in a few weeks (especially after T.I.'s new disc was so disappointing).… Expand
  10. MycroftW.
    Jul 19, 2007
    8
    I'm still waiting for him to record something that will rival Organized Konfusions classic Stress: the extinction agenda, but this a rocksolid effort and that cover of Welcome to the terrordome is fantastic
  11. EddyH.
    Jul 17, 2007
    9
    Excellent gospel fuelled album. Inventive and full of listenable tracks.
  12. ThisIs
    Jul 13, 2007
    6
    This is a test, please forget about it!

Awards & Rankings

77
#77 Best Album of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. cokemachineglow
    77
    No matter how smartly sequenced these parts are in Desire’s segmented flow, they remain varying nascent coups without one distinct rallying cry to organize the din.
    Read full review
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    Monch stays versatile, political, and intellectual as he uses his many gifts to be at once motivational ("Hold On") and verbally ambidextrous ("The Trilogy"). A winner.
    Read full review
  3. Observer Music Monthly
    80
    Eight years after his last album, Pharoahe's return doesn't disappoint.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »