Return of the Coke Rap King
It’s Almost Dry is a stellar follow-up to 2018’s album of the year, Daytona.
Grunge God
Layne Staley wasn’t the rock icon of his era, but he was the best voice in grunge music.
Life After Death: The Greatest Rap Album of the Golden Era
Sequels often suck, and sequels to game-changing originals rarely sniff the same rarified air, but Life After Death is a masterpiece that improves on the strengths of its predecessor.
Standard Issue: Punk, Vol. 1
Punk rock is hard to define, but this list captures its progression from crude inception to widespread domination.
Crooklyn’s Finest
“The greatest rapper alive died on March 9th.” Celebrating Biggie on the 25th Anniversary of his death.
Bloc Party Is Not So Silent
Silent Alarm was an electrifying debut, and it still kicks through your speakers.
Chromatica: The Beat and Life of the Dance Floor
Lady Gaga’s return to the club didn’t disappoint.
Siamese Dream: The Kickstart to My Love Affair
One of my most faithful lovers, my friend who holds all my teenage secrets, my longing for year’s past.
Work It Like A Pro: Echoes of Silence 10 Years On One
The final entry to The Weeknd’s mixtape debut, Trilogy, is as entrancing and eerie as the first offering, setting the stage for his inevitable superstardom.
“I embrace ya’ll with napalm”: Stillmatic at 20
On Stillmatic, Nas returned to form by merging the styles from his first two albums that put him on the scene and in the discussion of “G.O.A.T.”.
Redman Drowns Competition on Muddy Waters
Redman is the funky, nasty party guy who rips bongs and mics, and Muddy Waters is his pure essence.
The Drama Begins: Hell on Earth 25 Years Later
Rugged beats and dark yet introspective lyrics about living and dying in the Queensbridge Housing Projects.
2Pac, Makaveli, 25 Years
The Don Killuminati… gives us glimpses of 2Pac, rather "Makaveli", at his best in the wake of his tragic murder.
Ironman: Tremendously Obnoxious, No Blotches
Ironman is a snapshot of Staten Island as seen from the eyes of Ghostface Killah, and with a soundtrack composed by the Abbot, it becomes the best Blacksploitation hip-hop album to ever be recorded and rest in the upper echelon of Wu-Tang releases.
The Sun Always Rises: Morning View Turns 20
Enough edge to play while shotgunning beers and ripping bongs at off-campus ragers, it also down-shifts a couple gears into lava lamp chill mode for quiet dorm room kickbacks.
Nevermind: Glorious Grunge Synergy
An album that roars with Pacific Northwest thunder and caused a tectonic shift in the sound of rock music.
20 Years: The Blueprint and 9/11
Inextricably tied to 9/11, The Blueprint was medicine for my soul during the most horrific of national moments.
Can’t Knock His Hustle: Reasonable Doubt 25 Years On
Reasonable Doubt was supposed to be a one-off joint for Jigga. We know how that played out.