The subtle wave of acoustics, sparse pianism and occasional bass bump work as an apt complement to Ella’s oration. The production also displays the underappreciated diversity of Mustard’s bottomless bag of beats.

Their chemistry is unquestionable and the music derived from that unique harmony is constantly improving.

Mike WiLL Made-It and Zaytoven construct a cinematic backdrop, but Gucci’s execution is a bit wanting. Regardless, it’s a clear step in the right direction, a completely different beast than the b-side littered mixtapes he’s sanctioned from behind bars over the past three years, and begs for repeat listens.

36 Seasons may not be Ghostface’s greatest project, but it is another notable addition to his extensive body of work. Rapping alongside Kool G Rap and AZ for the bulk of the album is certainly a treat, and the two have their own moments of glory. Production, on the other hand, simply does not hold on to the lyrical dynamism present between Ghost, Pharoahe Monch, AZ and G.

Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" are perfectly capable of standing on their own, but it's clear that even after all these years, they inspire something special in each other.

L&R's shots of riskiness and emphasis on contextual relevance propel this project past it's humdrum offerings like "International" and "West Side Love," keeping replay value intact.

It's not an understatement to call Carnivale Electricos one of the most fun, vibrant, and culturally-diverse albums in recent years.

Ultimately, fans looking for a solid but not necessarily classic addition to the Infamous Mobb Deep catalogue, should be satisfied with 13.

There are a great many moments that make Under Pressure feel like a feature film about Logic’s life, and when at its best, it is creating that sort of imagery.

Vibes succeeds in getting its listener to flourish in a world of champagne toasts, faceless women and impulsive dancing.

Admiringly, it’s taken him his entire career to get to this point and a project like this finds him breaking out of the box he’s occupied since arriving on the scene.

This album won’t go down as a modern day classic, nor will it slingshot NLE to the top of the charts, but it will give listeners a battery in their back for their next big gym session or block party.

When his conscious aligns with his songwriting We Didn’t Talk excels. He needs only seek himself and lead by example rather than trip over cliches.

Ultimately, Blackenedwhite is conflicted, but quality music.

The album is replete with humor, drama, and a satisfying sense of duality and resolution.

Gunz N Butta has all the makings of a classic Dipset banger, but like many of Cam'ron's albums, suffers from a lack of both direction and editing.

My Life II… The Journey Continues (Part 1) is one of Mary's most memorable albums.

As a whole, the feel-good album’s set of eclectic beats doesn’t disappoint, but it lacks diversity.

The 27-year-old Offset digs deep into his Atlanta Hip Hop lineage, crafting an album that’s equal parts rare in this climate (seeing it follows an unfolding narrative) and refreshing, given its telling content.

As its own EP, The Re-Up would help provide balance to the pop chart aspirations from last year. But as a tack-on for Roman Reloaded, it plays like a band-aid over a shotgun wound.

Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial is the type of debut every breakout artist strives for. The album flaunts commercial appeal with hints of immense potential when it becomes more thoughtful, gritty and shows off Roddy’s knack for songwriting.

Tyler, the Creator still achieves an engrossing dystopian vision of Hip Hop that refuses to compromise to what fans and industry critics demand of him.

While Ghost can tell a story and his skills are sharp (despite Action Bronson’s recent claims to the contrary), he’s sounded far more at home on this past winter’s Sour Soul LP with Hip Hop jazz band BadBadNotGood.

His sophomore solo set, God of the Serengeti, sticks to the script, and that's not a bad thing.

The creative process seems more organized and thought out, allowing Nas to do all the things he’s good at, without embellishing any of them.

General Patton walks a fine line between putting his troop of featured artists in their place, while still showcasing his own five star pedigree.

Overall, A$AP Ferg’s Trap Lord, is a solid, if an sometimes-uninspired effort.

Life of a DON shows Toliver has a clear understanding of the strengths that have made him into a star already. It’s not a wack album, more so it’s just there, destined to be nothing more than late night background music.