While Aesop Rock may not be every hip-hop fan's cup of tea, you must respect the man's grind. All-in-all The Impossible Kidis like (yet unlike) any Aesop Rock release: Ill underground beats and a lyrical prowess that yields rewards with each willing listen.

Once you listen, you'll never be able to look at rap's landscape the same way again.

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

The Cool picks up right where "Food & Liquor" left off, once again using his Muslim background and Chi-Town sensibilities to inform his perspective without being rigidly bound by either.

They were just waiting for the right time to kick precisely the right rhyme, so that "The Grind Date" would go down not just as an important date in rap history but in the pantheon of all musical endeavours since the dawn of mankind. It's that damn good.

The magic in "The Craft" is that whether you're a student of the craft of hip-hop or not, you'll always enjoy the experience. The magic in "The Craft" is that it doesn't get stale with time - the beats and rhymes only get fresher and fresher.

Lupe Fiasco doesn't present tracks that are just a hot beat and some memorable bars--he's aiming for cinematic moments and drawing you into the atmosphere he seeks to create.

It's the depth of lyricism that continues to impress, months after release.

Nas has made a passionate album to reawaken your love of the art and if your heart isn't thumping in your chest by the end then it's not hip-hop that's dead, it's you.

There is very little that doesn't work, with both Marley (obviously) and Nas (surprisingly) meshing flawlessly into practically everything.

Welcome to a new classic.

It is, really and truly, an experience.

The end result sure looks promising from the moment you hit play, with over an hour of music and 18 tracks to look forward to, the kind of full length project all those [Kickstarter] backers have demanded.

Talib Kweli has made the career-defining work that his fans have been expecting for nearly a decade.

Easily one of the best records released in 2019, superlatives only go so far. ... “May the Lord Watch” only solidifies Little Brother’s place in the pantheon of great rap duos.

Felt 3 is a work of art that unlike so many sequels in life exceeds what the originals had to offer, and indeed offers something everyone can appreciate.

It's easily among the best of his work in his entire career.

Eleven tracks featuring Gift of Gab's superb rhyme writing, breath control and musical flow just don't seem like enough, but the amount of content he packs into that small space creates an energy density comparable to NOX, fueling this rocketship all the way to Mars and beyond to distant stars.

Nas sounds like he’s regained his confidence as the king once more. He sounds like the king. He’s in that “Ether” mindset once more – not necessarily as vicious, but simply sounding like he’s willing to name names and it feels like he’s genuinely having fun with his writing.

There's not a single track on Imperius Rex that I didn't dislike or even skip.

Even though some might miss Slug's angst-ridden diatribes (Lucy Ford is nowhere to be found on this album), he manages to toe the line between rapper and griot better than he ever has before on this new effort.

If you want to know further why this album is a classic you'll have to check it out yourself, but know for a fact it's well worth your fifteen dollars.

'So Far to Go' embodies everything great about Common--his witty delivery, smooth flow, loquacious lyrics and perfect sense of timing --but then the same could be said for virtually any track on Finding Forever.

So Far Gone is unquestionably one of the most cohesive, atmospheric hip hop records in recent memory--which is almost the antithesis of what one expects from a mixtape.

The chemistry is undeniable and “The Elephant Man’s Bones” is the culmination of this partnership. This is an album that gets better with each listen and yet, despite capturing everything great about previous Roc Marciano albums, sounds remarkably fresh and current.

The reason ArchAndroid is so good is because, from minute one, it is so apparent that its author loves music. And for those of us that love music, that's a real treat.

P.O.S. has created something that sounds vibrant and alive, and stretches the narrow limits of the genre.

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

Overall, "No Said Date" is the collective combination of stellar performances across the board.

Illmatic by Nas is a 10/10 classic hip hop album. It's essential, and that's undeniable. Illmatic XX when taken as a whole, isn't.

There's something magical about pairing Talib with Hi-Tek on production that transcends his already almost unlimited lyrical potential and creates an extraordinary experience.

There's a decade of depth to D. Swain that shows in every bar, note, and beat of this Payback, one which should hopefully give the music biz a big smack in the face.

Saigon has had the time to craft an epic hip-hop album that's a fitting testament to his skill and his sheer force of will.

The only downside to "Feedback" is that by the time you reach the swinging latino rhythms of the instrumental finale "Canto de Ossanha" 52 minutes of hip-hop soul just won't seem like enough.

When nostalgic old-timers lament the golden age of hip-hop, for those championing our current era, Under Pressure is the album to point to.

The first overwhelmingly happy Atmosphere record.

This is the most satisfying P.E. album in over fifteen years, both a throwback to their glory years and a hopeful sign of more great years to come.

Years from now these "Donuts" will still be just as fresh as the day they first hit the store.

There won't be another album in 2015 with so much of the artist invested in it: mind, body and soul.

The only thing you really need to know is that no matter how you cop RTJ2, whether it's as a free digital download, a physical copy from Mass Appeal or the super-expensive "I'm On The Guestlist" supporter package you're getting more than your money's worth.

It showcases Rapsody's indisputable excellence as a lyricist and rapper, and it sets up the next stage of a career that will keep everyone in the industry watching closely.

There's just enough to be cut that this could have been one outstanding album instead of two discs that overall make a pretty damn good release.

Akrobatik and Lif are the ideal lyrical yin and yang.

Both the length and the effort he put into it justify why it took over three years for it to come out and all the bases are covered here. ... It’s hard to find anything to complain about.

In short, it is one of the best albums of the year, and could be one of the best albums of the decade.

Big K.R.I.T. does a good job of separating the two personas at the end of the day. If the album was about 5 or 6 minutes shorter, it could have fit on a single disc but perhaps at the expense of the narrative. The double disc format really helps to drive home the point when the listener wants to switch from Big K.R.I.T.'s "Get Away" to Justin Scott's "Keep the Devil Off."

Many worry that the Cadillactica theme might go over the heads of some and alienate fans but rest assured, at the core of it all, there's still the 808 bang, jazzy, soulful music and the same Big K.R.I.T. that so many have come to know, respect and love--on second thought, he's better.

Jake knows Freeway's strengths and plays to them with so much grace it's almost unfair to rappers who've got to piece records together with a hodgepodge of producers who craft their tracks with no one in particular in mind.

There are plenty of unexpected surprises to be found.

With very little filler and a strong selection of songs from start to finish, the hype that this is potentially "album of the year" according to Atlantic Records may ACTUALLY be true.

"Certified" treads a fine line between keeping it real and selling units, but Banner treads that line very well.

Here's an album of beautiful R&B songs, and she's chosen to intersperse them with messages of black empowerment.

While no album may ever top his debut's brilliance, this one comes close enough to make even his most passionate haters happy to hear the raw essence of hip-hop revealed in all it's true glory.

Pharoahe Monch has always been among the most talented rappers in the game, and now with PTSD, he has an album that showcases not only his lyrical prowess, but also his ability to craft a fully focused and theme driven album.

There's nothing boring about the tracks on Ego Trippin' though, from the hard hitting Neptunes produced "Sets Up" to the soft-spoken Polow Da Don produced "Why Did You Leave Me."

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."

To say "Things Go Better with RJ and Al" is as great as some of their earlier work would be an overstatement, but to say it's a dissapointment in any way shape or form would be a colossal lie.

Whether you want to doubt it or not, there's just too much right about the self-titled Slaughterhouse for this album to be wrong.

With "The Undisputed Truth," Brother Ali improves as a rapper, while sacrificing none of the unique, personal touch that made "Shadows on the Sun" so impressive.

Those who have slept on Wyclef Jean's catalogue may need to give it another look after listening to Carnival Vol. II.

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

In its best moments, Made in the Manor transcends time--and even place--and attains universal meaning.

It might be too early to call Cut Chemist's "The Audience's Listening" a masterpiece in 2006, let alone in the pantheon of all-time great turntablist albums like "Wave Twisters," but Cut Chemist defintely proves here that branching out from Jurassic 5 to pursue a solo career was anything but a mistake.

Overall, And I Love H.E.R. is as good of a conceptual album as hip-hop has ever seen.

The Documentary 2 & 2.5 prove that he is back, and yes, better than ever. This isn't based on a cursory listen: the evidence is all there. His lyrics are more considered; his flow is varied and on point pretty much throughout; the choice in music is superb; there are concepts that deserve your attention.

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

It's easily one of the best albums of the year so far, and has the sound and feel of a classic.

The Game shows lyrical improvement over his major label debut, and even though some accused him of being a "name dropper" back then and still will today, the references seem more in keeping with his "soldier of the West" philosophy and less like a filler for lack of content.

Big Boi has exquisite taste in music, guests, lyrics and choruses--not to mention the knowledge and expertise of how to put a classic album together. And whoever bet against him just lost. Big time.

It is more expansive and daring--resulting in more highs and lows than "Arular."

His lyrics are more considered; his flow is varied and on point pretty much throughout; the choice in music is superb; there are concepts that deserve your attention. The Game has delivered one of the greatest hip hop double albums in history.

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

Nelly's taste in beats for "Sweat" is almost impeccable, and it's easy to imagine three or four of these songs all being singles.

While most of these songs probably can't stand out alone, the project on the whole is a great addition to an already great catalog of one of hip hop's finest artists.

One listen is all that is needed to convince you that the Clipse have dropped one of the best rap albums of the year.

With II Trill Bun B's ensured the legacy of U.G.K. will exist for decades to come, but more importantly he's created the album that every hip-hop head from North to South with have rattling out of their trunk all summer long.

Reloaded is a brilliant album but it is one that requires a certain mood.

Sampa the Great may be defined by where she hails from, but she also defines herself by making heartfelt songs with a universal appeal. Although this new album is my first chance to listen to her, I somehow feel like I’ve been listening to her my whole life.

Apart from these misgivings [middle-core sequencing issues and "Nasty" not making the grade], it must be said that Nas has truly delivered.

Black Messiah is an incredible album, and an essential addition to D'Angelo's discography.

Francis is on a level where even next shit is two steps behind.

The Roots aren't just cashing in from their newfound Jimmy Fallon fame, they're doing what they do best that nobody else in or outside the Illadeph-side can do.

In a year of political and social upheaval in 2016 he reached deep down to make a very personal statement from beginning to end on Black America Again and it shows in every word he wrote.

The Odd Couple [is] thirteen songs chock full of honest, unabashed, experimental self-expression that isn't afraid to take chances.

It's an emotional and creative masterpiece in the genre of hip hop.

Ultimate Victory is everything one could have hoped for as an official sophomore album follow-up to "The Sound of Revenge"--there's no slump here.

There are those who employ cheat codes just for the hell of it. Lyrically and musically, Black Thought and Danger Mouse used theirs here to get one up on their peers in their respective mediums.

“Magic 3” continues to strengthen the argument for Nas as the GOAT and his legions of fans who appreciate his output in 2023 will clearly agree with this take.

While Ludacris may be professing loudly to do it for hip-hop on his latest album, it's refreshing to know he can do it for hip-hop and still do it for the mainstream who may not realize just how artful he really is.

The songs that were already previously available on "So Far Gone" are a winner and the new songs don't bring Drake down off the high cloud he's already on.

Nelly pushes crossover so far on a few of these tracks a few of his more hardcore fans may be turned off, but frankly since this is a concept album songs like "N Dey Say" are what I expected from "Suit."

It’s remarkable how these beats all have their own feel yet still work as a cohesive whole. The well-worn joke in hip-hop circles that Nas picks bad beats is effectively wiped. Nas is, in his own words, reincarnated, but with an additional self-awareness that is more grounded than his last few performances. There’s no cryptocurrency chatter or verses shoehorned into trap instrumentals. There are no skips, this is simply good ol’ Nas distilled.

Stop wasting time and go to the store to get Rising Down right now.

We've come to expect nothing less than near-perfection from K.Dot and he comes pretty damn close on his most recent effort.

Gibbs and Alc show no signs of allowing the credits to roll.

Through over 70 minutes of Lamar’s latest, every facet of life for the young Compton rapper is held up to the light. Love, pain, hope, despair, triumph, defeat, it’s all there. ... He’s a rapper who understands rapping is more than just a good beat, a good punchline, or a good vocal tone. He’s blessed to have all of that but he takes the platform he got from it and makes art that will last a lifetime.

Sean Price has rarely if ever lost a step and Mic Tyson is not going to be the time that he did.

"Beauty and the Beat" is a rare, valuable record that channels two markedly different types of music into a new one, a collage of sounds that hasn't been heard in a very long time.