Tronic shows marked improvement in Black Milk as the total package; he doesn't excel by sacrificing his rhymes for the sake of the music, or vice versa.

He's a mover and shaker who has every right to look back in pride, in personal pride. Godfather is the reaffirmation of a status.

Dr. No's Ethiopium combines two of the best things on Earth: Egyptian jazz and hip hop. This is a fantastic album, and one that improves upon "Dr. No's Oxperiment."

The album is listenable, exciting and succeeds in reigniting interest in hip hop and rappers that dedicate their life to become great MC's, not just hustlers.

From the 'Intro' to the 'Outro' there's very little to not like about UGK 4 Life other than the fact it can never be done again, and any music videos released off this album won't feature Pimp doin' his thang.

For fans of RA The Rugged Man, this is essential. For fans of early Eminem, this is essential. For everybody else, if you can ignore the swearing and appreciate the intricacies of RA's rhyming, you'll undoubtedly enjoy this because at least 80% of this record is straight up dope hip hop.

The beats and rhymes give life to a truly cinematic experience, as though the Souls had been airlifted from Oakland to a Hollywood soundset. It's a short trip geographically but a long player musically that's worth revisiting many times after your initial purchase.

The rest of the album is rock solid, even if it takes a while to sink in. Whilst it does occasionally have a bit too much of an underground feel, it also chucks in a couple of more commercial numbers ("Confess" and "Out the Trunk") to help bring some ecological balance.

“Solid Gold” is Aesop at his most complex, but then tones it down on “Vititus”, a dedication to his late grandmother. With “Black Snow” closing out the album, it ends with “ITS is not a cult” to coincide with the concept.

It may be that the only constant on Chemical Warfare IS Alchemist's beats, but that's enough to make it work--and like the futuristic battle it implies the album is filled with hits you'll never see coming.

It is an album that pushes boundaries and yet is always listenable and relatable, even at its most intricate and complex.

Mac’s sixth studio album is a surreal experience that’s filled with opaque contemplation and tragic connotations. ... Loneliness may be our greatest fear other than death. Mac was able to explicitly re-establish this idea through reflective songwriting and gentle crooning. His genius and thoughtfulness will always be remembered. “Circles” is a stark reminder of that.

Even at its most mundane (like on the painfully repetitive title track), “uknowhatimsayin¿” represents an artist at his most polished and enthusiastic.

Us is uplifting, thought-provoking, funny, heartbreaking, and bootyshaking.

Being bold and different for Lupe pays off right from the jump.

"U N Or U Out", "Marcberg" and "Reloaded" means he has the three outstanding records in the bag, but his recent work hasn't quite reached those heady heights of uber-braggodocio.

Brown's self-awareness of his situation doesn't seem to have made him alter his intake. At least it has allowed him to make an incredible album.

There are plenty of unexpected surprises to be found.

Konnichiwa is proof of not only Skepta's skill on the mic, but also of his ability to put together a strong, solid album. As Grime continues to rise, its leaders are well worth watching.

There are no phony builds, no bass dropping, no obvious patterns. Faith in Strangers keeps listeners on their toes, and keeps their head nodding the whole time.

Until The Quiet Comes is another excellent album by one of the most interesting producers out there.

Positives of “The Goat” — it’s 47 minutes long, it’s slickly produced, and even when Polo’s voice is Tuned up it’s not to cover up him being mumble mouthed or syrup addled. Negatives — well there aren’t too many.

While most of the album is concerned with asserting that YG is still a G despite his fame, it closes with a trio of protest songs.

Don't go looking for the hidden meaning behind Hot Sauce Committee Part Two -- the Beastie Boys are just here to fight for their right to party.

Ill Manors, depressing, blunt and provocative, fulfills one of rap music's most noble tasks--to touch the sore spots.

This more cerebral music is interesting and challenging, but it is missing some of immediacy of his earlier work.

On “It’s Almost Dry”, Pusha T proves that while he is fixated on selling drugs (almost to an obsessive extent), he is also a truly creative and, yes, original artist.

A true original not to the game, but to rap music at its best.