All Up in the Biz
October 15, 2023
All Up in the Biz pays tribute to Biz Markie, whose tragically young demise remains fresh among the hip-hop community.
ALL: Reviews
Jay Worthy x Roc Marciano, Nothing Bigger Than the Program
June 20, 2023
On Nothing Bigger Than the Program, Roc Marciano’s engaging production can’t save Jay Worthy’s unconvincing performance.
DJ Muggs x Madlib x Meyhem Lauren, Champagne for Breakfast
April 19, 2023
On his collab with DJ Muggs and Madlib, Meyhem Lauren flexes a decent po-faced style and a capacity to crack a few fly bars.
The Legacy of J Dilla
April 15, 2023
The Legacy of J Dilla covers oft-trod ground, but there’s a poignancy in watching friends and family memorialize a lionized producer.
Lil Yachty, Let’s Start Here
February 3, 2023
On Let’s Start Here, Lil Yachty assembles a dusted symphony that feels more like a wispy breeze than a desert storm.
Thes One, Farewell, My Friend
February 1, 2023
Thes One’s Farewell, My Friend, a tribute to former People Under the Stairs partner Double K, is unabashedly soft and yearning.
Oddisee, To What End
January 27, 2023
On his first album in three years, Oddisee deepens his skill as an arranger and develops a warm, pleasant sensibility.
Skyzoo x The Other Guys, The Mind of a Saint: A Soliloquy
January 19, 2023
A collaboration between Skyzoo and the Other Guys, The Mind of a Saint explores the TV series Snowfall and the character Franklin Saint.
The 50 Best Rap Singles of 1982: Wayne & Charlie
December 11, 2022
Wayne Garland and Charlie Chucks’ parody of Kurtis Blow’s “The Breaks” is largely notable for Jigsaw Inc.’s monster boogie-funk groove.
The 50 Best Rap Singles of 1982: Treacherous Three
December 11, 2022
The Treacherous Three’s single finds Clifton “Jiggs” Chase’s Jigsaw crew turning the Pointer Sisters’ 70s chestnut into an electro groove.
The 50 Best Rap Singles of 1982: The SD’s Featuring Sherry Richard
December 11, 2022
With Sugar Hill-style raps from soul singer Shelly Richard, this may be the first rap record to emerge from New Orleans.
The 50 Best Rap Singles of 1982: The Packman
December 10, 2022
This single finds Master Don and Frank Heller capitalizing on the first wave of video arcade madness with an impressive vocoder hook.