Sitting at 11 tracks and clocking in at a relatively short 40 minutes, the project is an exciting blend of vibes. The project’s sound is diverse, traversing a lo-fi, basement aesthetic, A$AP-level soundbeds and Yeezy-esque ambient experimentation. The glue is the careful curation of the listening experience and--without question--his lyrics.

Through a more respectable body of work--is unlikely to win over any naysayers.

The album is full of minute details that highlight Durk’s complexity as a character and a writer, wielding pain with a skill far beyond others who call themselves melodic rappers. However, too often the production formula runs stale as the piano-led instrumentals mush tracks together.

Stay Dangerous could have benefitted greatly with more personal touches as opposed to the conventional gangsterisms that bulk up the album.

Overall, Saaab Stories is the meeting of two artists who push the old Hip Hop formulas to new places unlike other ‘90s era revivalist types who would rather cling on.

Dom Kennedy once again makes another solid effort that’s perfect for the mid-summer kick-back.

The fact that it’s 22 songs only highlights how disorganized the project is. There are some tracks that I actually like scattered throughout, but none that really compare to the best from his previous projects. His two mixtapes were also similarly eclectic, but these collaborations feel less exciting and more calculated. ... The Big Day will go down as one of the biggest disappointments in rap in recent memory, in no small part because Coloring Book was so great.

Neither timeless nor immediately disposable, Rather You Than Me is an above average outing that displays why he’s steadily remained within the public eye without having a long line of record-breaking hits.

Bold and indulgent, God Forgives, I Don't embodies why Rick Ross has become a fixture that listeners can depend on, as well as an executive who can strategize success for not only himself but others around him.

The flows are slicker, and the hooks more engaging. His writing is still standard fare for Gucci, but he doesn’t hesitate to play with his delivery.

At its very best, Seen It All is a glimpse into how Jeezy can make his living on the back nine in a crowded subgenre with no use for him anymore: By recalling the most chilling details of his drug dealing past with a flashback-like crispness.

While Vol. 2 provides instrumentation that commands each track. Most of the beats consist of rattling snares and melodic 808 drums that drive a uniform basis without sounding totally identical.

Together/Apart is musical therapy for those who find themselves caught under the pressures of life.

More Beautiful Than Silence, is one of the year's most authentic rap collections.

Though not the blow away success that meets the considerable hype surrounding its debut, What A Time To Be Alive certainly features 2015’s top-selling rap superstar duo turning up and having a helluva lot of fun.

It’s the subtle sequencing--deliberate to show his progression--that elevates the project from merely a delinquent to being the tale of a reformed man.

The listenability is at an all-time high, but the writing itself is still lackluster.

The L.I.B.R.A. could have benefitted from a few snips here and there, but overall it’s a reasonably satisfying listen and a tangible reminder that the self-proclaimed King Of The South hasn’t lost his edge.

Southsiders is a solid album. The production is consistent and there are moments of enlightenment from Slug. But due to Atmosphere’s already extensive catalog, it doesn’t easily separate itself from previous works.

He can use his voice for rapping and singing, but he’s still getting the hang of using it to truly deliver a message.

udas and the Black Messiah: The Inspired Album could’ve benefited from more carefully curated content (like Polo G’s surprisingly poignant take on the plight of Black men on “Last Man Standing”) instead of some of the tone-deaf material that wound up on the project.

There are no deep layers to be uncovered on Queen. No methodical analysis responding to her critics for her reliance on sexual ploys. Nary a mention of any mental anguish the grave allegations her brother faces.

Weighing in at 19 tracks and 86 minutes, PP&DS sprawls to a fault, but it sticks true to its branding.

He succinctly gets his point across by instilling that much needed old-school nostalgia lacking in music today with nine tracks. Instead of diving into the album with a bloated guest list, Bruno and his production team, Shampoo Press & Curl (with assistance from longtime collaborators The Stereotypes) ensure 80s babies stay forever young.

Scarlet is an album worth hearing but not listening to. It’s still arguably Doja’s most gripping body of work to date because it sounds amazing, but it lacks the integrality to secure a legacy.

The Pinkprint runs a middle path between pop over exertion and real lyricism, creating an everything for someone aesthetic that Nicki doesn't allow to shift into wastefullness. As such, it is an ambitious undertaking Nicki has wrangled in highly entertaining fashion.

He gives a worthy addition to the series and continues his reign as one of rap's best.

With production wizards such as Mustard, Hit-Boy, Cubeatz and more on deck, the production checks all the boxes as steroidal bass and encompassing synths permeate the project for modest results.