click here to listen to the album on spotify
Iridescenceis the fourth studio album by American collective Brockhampton, released on September 21, 2018 by Question Everything, Inc. and RCA Records, as their major-label debut and the first installment of their The Best Years of Our Lives trilogy. The self-produced album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London, as well as the group's own studio in Hawaii. It is their first album since rapper Ameer Vann's departure from the group following sexual misconduct allegations. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, becoming the group's first chart-topping album.
Iridescence is an enjoyable mix of the heartache from saturation 1, the alternative and abstract production of saturation 3 and the heavy use of autotune from the saturation trilogy as a whole. These elements have come together to create an interesting and very enjoyable album. The main question being asked is if it is as good as the previously trilogy which I believe is a bit harsh of a comparison as each saturation album had its own unique theme and sound. However, I do feel that there was a large lack of structure with the album which may have lead me to enjoying this project a little less than the previous albums.
| Source | Score |
|---|---|
| AllMusic | |
| The A.V. Club | B |
| Consequence of Sound | A- |
| DIY | |
| HipHopDX | 4.1/5 |
| The Line of Best Fit | 9/10 |
| The Needle Drop | Light 7/10 |
| NME | |
| Pitchfork | 6.6/10 |
| Sputnikmusic | 4.5/5 |
click here to listen to the album on spotify
FM! is the third studio album by American rapper Vince Staples, released on November 2, 2018, by Def Jam Recordings. The album is primarily produced by Kenny Beats, with further production by Hagler, Cubeatz and KillaGraham, and features guest vocals from Kamaiyah, E-40, Jay Rock, Kehlani, Earl Sweatshirt, Buddy and Tyga, among others.
Vince's new album is another wild and different experience that is added to his discography once again. The album focuses on the theme of the importance of radio and how it has paved the way for music today through not only lyrics but skits taken from a hip-hop radio show. Vince has fused his dark style of music with summer-esc production which most of the time is pulled-off extremely well. However, it does fall short for a couple of tracks where it became quite mediocre with its repetitive 808s. The album could have done with a bit of a different direction in terms of feature artists as most just made a boring beat sound more and more like a mediocre trap/r&b track.
| Source | Score |
|---|---|
| The Needle Drop | light 7/10 |
| Pitchfork | 8.2/10 |
| NME |
click here to listen to the album on spotify
Khadimoul Rassoul Cheikh Fall, known professionally as Sheck Wes, is an American rapper, songwriter, and model. Wes is known widely for "Mo Bamba", his 2017 song that went viral in 2018. Wes is jointly signed to Travis Scott's Cactus Jack Records and Kanye West's GOOD Music record labels, under the aegis of Interscope Records and Polydor Records.
Mudboy is one of the oddest hip-hop albums of the year. It compiles itself on hard hitting 808s over weird yet enjoyable lyrical flows. It is a good first showing, especially given the conception of many vis-à-vis the musical talents of one hit wonders. But it does have the feel of a first album, in that Sheck seems to still be looking for his style and sound. Hopefully sheck will come into his own more in the near future
| Source | Score |
|---|---|
| The Needle Drop | light 6/10 |
| Pitchfork | 8.2/10 |
| Sputnik Music | 3.0/5.0 |
| Exclaim! | 7/10 |
| The 405 | 7.5/10 |
click here to listen to the album on spotify
Die Lit is the debut studio album by American rapper Playboi Carti. It was released on May 11, 2018, by AWGE and Interscope Records. The album features guest appearances from Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, Skepta, Lil Uzi Vert, Bryson Tiller, Travis Scott, Chief Keef and Pi'erre Bourne, among others. The production on the album was handled by Pi'erre Bourne, Don Cannon and IndigoChildRick, among others
Die Lit is extremely intoxicating in its simplicity. The melodies throughout the song were so simple with eerie and high pitched sounds playing these melodies that were complemented by deep 808s and overall bass that left me in a trance. Then when I heard the album more all I wanted to do was dance and smile while singing along with Carti's almost adorable delivery of very trap lyrics about money, ice tattoos and women. Among the first listen it did feel repetitive it after taking my time with the album it produced a large versatility of sound.
| Source | Score |
|---|---|
| AllMusic | |
| The Needle Drop | Decent 7/10 |
| Exclaim! | 6/10 |
| Highsnobiety | 4.0/5.0 |
| HipHopDX | 3.0/5 |
| HotNewHipHop | 79% |
| Pitchfork | 8.5/10 |
| Pitchfork | 8.5/10 |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.8/5 |