HipHopDX's Scores

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For 889 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 64% higher than the average critic
  • 4% same as the average critic
  • 32% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.4 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Music review score: 73
Highest review score: 100 Undun
Lowest review score: 20 Neon Icon
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 723 out of 889
  2. Mixed: 164 out of 889
  3. Negative: 2 out of 889
889 music reviews
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    • 71 Metascore
    • 58 Critic Score
    From A Birds Eye View
    His rapping capabilities are clearly present and his newfound singing abilities hints at some more engaging possibilities down the road. But in order to translate those skills to his listeners, he’ll need to stray from the path already traveled, quit trying to prove himself and blaze his own trail rather than trying to please every rapper dead or alive he clearly wants to become.
    • 51 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    DS4EVER
    DS4EVER is proof he presumably won’t allow stardom to make him complacent, balancing improvements in song topics and technical skill, even if the drip talk has gone stale.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sick!
    The album takes a more digestible approach than its predecessor, Feet of Clay; while still heavy on metaphors and wordplay, it’s not buried under cryptic mystique, allowing one of rap’s most prominent enigmas to come out of the shadows.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Dawn FM
    The Canadian megastar avoids the pitfalls of cheap, nostalgia bait by earnestly repurposing and breathing life into deep cuts from a bygone era.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    Magic
    Despite how direct the lyricism is, it plays like two friends riffing in the studio and building off each other’s energy; listeners can hear how much Nas loves what he’s doing. The fact Hip Hop fans are getting appetizers of this caliber to hold us over until an inevitable third entry in the series is, in itself, Magic.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Heaux Tales
    She fills her brazen concept album with shared experiences to fully encompass what it means to be a Black woman dealing with love and relationships. Every tale might not apply to every listener, but Sullivan guarantees no experience is left unrepresented.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 58 Critic Score
    Live Life Fast
    The ambition is commendable but in the process of Ricch trying to slow things down, he’s relegated his lambo to autopilot.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Garbology
    Every spin is undoubtedly an exercise in active listening; an Aesop Rock album isn’t a casual affair. Close attention is required to grasp the nuances and cleverness of his writing. But for those who appreciate the creative lyricism he consistently slings and Blockhead’s dreamy, layered production, Garbology isn’t likely to end up in the trash.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    They Got Amnesia
    Like his previous albums, They Got Amnesia is a simple collection of songs with slightly more consistent performance and significantly lower peaks.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Fighting Demons
    Fighting Demons embodies Juice WRLD in that way: a flawed project with moments of brilliance that feels uncomfortable to listen to but isn’t ashamed of its naked humanity. And in that aspect, it becomes a balancing act of the man and the artist, melding the two to create a project that’s earnest and authentic — just like Juice WRLD.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 74 Critic Score
    LP!
    JPEGMAFIA is at his best and most focused when he has a specific target.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Still Over It
    Still Over It puts Walker into an elite tier of R&B artists who are able to balance personal vendettas and artistic execution. She pulls no punches, commanding attention through her ability to integrate her drama into tracks through beautiful storytelling.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    An Evening with Silk Sonic
    Clocking in at nine tracks and 31 minutes, Mars and Paak are in and out, delivering their best impression of ’70s funk, soul and R&B — albeit each track is so spit polished and clean, it noticeably lacks the raw charm of the original. But that in no way means An Evening With Silk Sonic doesn’t have its merits.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 64 Critic Score
    Life Of A DON
    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.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    By The Time I Get To Phoenix
    By the Time I Get to Phoenix has arrived, an album loaded with deep emotion and detailed texture that makes every track feel revelatory.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    GUMBO'!
    GUMBO’ is arguably Siifu’s greatest work to date. It’s an album that’s accessible but never treads on its underground street cred or lessens the dusty aesthetic to conform. It’s compact with moments of wonder, tenderness and fun folded into each other. GUMBO’! is as complete as it is essential to Siifu’s discography.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    Sometimes I Might Be Introvert
    Sometimes I May Be Introvert is an espousal on Black womanhood with deep emotional intelligence and refined insight from someone who’s ruminated on her pain and found catharsis through music.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 86 Critic Score
    to hell with it [Mixtape]
    The result is dangerously addicting and affecting, where modern relatability rests on top of nostalgic production, avoiding the pitfalls of corniness and imitation. Full of soul and life, PinkPantheress’ status as social media’s newest darling is secure, as she crafts a garage dreamland that may just stand the test of time.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Montero
    The end result sounds like a distillation of contemporary popular music, the kind of blockbuster pop album following the much larger footsteps of Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman or Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream, albeit not as polished.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    The Melodic Blue
    It’s a standard debut album, with plenty of flaws and high moments that flash greater potential but not much else.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    Trip at Knight
    A solid, but ultimately forgettable record despite its impressive sales numbers, a come and go affair with moments of brilliance but not enough originality to stand out in the crowded field that Trippie helped tillage years ago.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Certified Lover Boy
    CLB can feel formulaic, as if checking off boxes on an executive producer’s clipboard. Despite the frequent predictability, it’s exciting to see a consummate professional at work.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 62 Critic Score
    Donda
    There are times where Kanye recaptures the magic of his golden years. ... But there just isn’t enough good here to look past the flaws. The final result is a collection of songs with little binding energy other than a vague Gospel through line, which runs across the tracklist — chaotic like The Life Of Pablo but devoid of the magic.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    The House Is Burning
    The House Is Burning does exactly what it’s intended to do, it allows Rashad to dust off the cobwebs going back to the southern sound he so deeply admires, while also proving to listeners he hasn’t lost a step.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 84 Critic Score
    We're All Alone In This Together
    At its core, We’re All Alone In This Together is a meticulously constructed, well-balanced rap album. It’s an important landmark, placing Dave high in the best rappers under 25 conversation.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    USEE4YOURSELF
    IDK has demonstrated he already holds the keys to his own success through past releases and, in fleeting moments, on USEE4YOURSELF. The skills are there — the confidence just needs to follow.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Disco!
    DISCO! demands to be met halfway. Without listener buy-in – it’s just a collection of musings. However, when the listener allows MIKE to conduct his symphony of introspection, the album reveals itself to be a treasure trove of compassionate nihilism and a definitive body of work by one of rap’s most understated lyricists.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Back Of My Mind
    H.E.R. doesn’t push the genre or her artistry forward with this debut, but she more than proves herself a worthy torchbearer for the art of R&B balladry.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Temporary High in the Violet Skies
    It’s a safe follow-up to the previous breakout project, serving as an ideal reference point for when she fully decides to take wholesale risks with her sound.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Vince Staples
    This project takes the proper time and attention to fully digest. After repeated listens, it suddenly becomes crystal clear — this is mood music.
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