Lace Up is an imbalanced project that fails to establish MGK's grand message. His debut is decent at best.

The title-track to Meek Mill's album has all the makings of a classic opening.... And yet, what transpires on the rest of Dreams & Nightmares is an inconsistency of lyrical ingenuity and thematic execution that will haunt the Philadelphian rapper on his debut.

Ace Hood fails to deliver on Trials & Tribulations, and with four albums under his belt that have produced similar results, no rapper has arguably done so much and so little at the same time

Lucky 7 doesn’t deviate from the framework of Statik’s previous compilations, but it does highlight his masterful command of each individual track, without ever simplifying the approach or integrity of the album.

A heavy knock on Church in These Streets lies in its length; at 19 tracks, a few of the hustle-hard anthems, i.e. the lackluster “Hustlaz Holiday” would have better been served for the cutting room floor. And while most of Jeezy’s signature trap sound is enjoyable, the alarm sounds of “God,” are a jolting earsore. Fortunately, moments like this are the exception.

Although he’s far from a punk, the caricature we’ve come to know as Gucci Mane has shed a chunk of his unrepentant hood mentality in favor of a wiser narrator of the trap. Once he fully discovers how to convincingly put that into the music, the world had better brace itself.

A lot of the otherworldly iterations might make it difficult for some of his peers to grasp, especially if you don’t have the time to properly digest it. SYRE requires patience, a thorough listen and acute attention to detail otherwise it’s just going to sound like a strange pontification on existentialism that the casual listener simply doesn’t have the time to decipher.

Shlohmo creates reverential moments out of human gloom, and does so with a level of execution that invites multiple listens while defying comparisons, too.

There's noticeable growth from their EP and mixtape in both Majid's singing and Jordan's production.

"Stocking Cap" Sai may be no more, but Saigon proves that he still hasn't lost his touch on the mic.

K.R.I.T. IZ HERE is neither a career-defining album nor a complete flop. Instead of building off the creative momentum of 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time, K.R.I.T. is on auto-pilot. But thankfully, he’s still effortlessly exciting.

P3 doesn’t totally live up to the hype due to the excess sadness rendering it a tad boring but at the very least it gives us an explicit snapshot of where OVO’s second-in-command is at emotionally.

Attractive Sin, an album that is sure to add to his discography as another solid effort from Sir DZL.

With a tight-knit collection of features and palpable confidence exuded in his lyrics, Ambition is Wale's most cohesive and likewise enthralling project thus far in his brisk career.

There’s not much range here, just an excess of swag, but it’s worth a listen solely for the moments where Carti seems to accidentally stumble upon a wild flow (“Dothatshit!”), or an irresistible infection (“Half & Half”)

From mic to plug, Wu Block is a vintage Rap release only lacking in invention.

The seven-track offering spills alpha male-isms from a “money-over-bitches” point-of-view, yet remains sultry enough to appeal to the fairer sex. It’s a tenuous balance Ty walks like a seasoned tight rope artist.

Remember Me’s faults definitely hold it back, but it’s still largely likeable and satisfying when it comes to simply being festive West Coast party Hip Hop.

The rhythmic excellence of producer RIOTUSA and Ice Spice comes to a peak on “Actin A Smoochie.”

I Never Liked You continues his stagnation from High Off Life, settling for comfort rather than experimentation. The songs are rehashes he’s done more effectively in the past. His signature consistency is still there.

While Sail Out meets expectations of what Jhene fans have come to expect, it’s unlikely to convert doubters.

As with so many projects with Prince Paul at the helm, it’s a genuinely intriguing sonic excursion.

The final product is a solid debut that shows enough of Sean's skill and personality to keep listeners stay tuned, with the room for growth for higher expectations next time around.

His singular sound gives the project a wonderful sense of cohesiveness and gels Purpp's vision together with a maturity beyond his young years.

Frankly, it’s a listen that’s pretty enjoyable and well rounded. It could just stand to be a more tightly knit as a body of work.

Love & Danger leaves a confusing stain on the veteran's legacy and does little to strengthen the cause of loyalists with a vested interest in his haphazard easily misunderstood art.

Pink Friday was one of the most highly-anticipated albums of 2010, largely due to curiosity. The reality is that it could have never lived up to the hype it prematurely received. Still, there's room for growth, and Nicki Minaj has both the skills and the following to keep moving up.

The problem is that the album is creatively too safe even when taking on large gambles.