Nobody’s Smiling is defiant, as full of commanding musicality as it is of Common’s own provocation.

While SremmLife is thin on substance, it’s built for clubs and late night adventures. Perfect for the time where sunglasses and Advil are eventually needed.

Late Nights shoots at the moving target that is modern rhythm and blues and scores, because sometimes sheer talent just can’t be denied.

Even with all the underwhelming guest performances and filler, Evil Genius demonstrates that Gucci Mane hasn’t completely lost it. That being said, it’s definitely time for him to disrupt the formula.

No Pressure is far too busy and easily distracted. ... When Logic just kicks back and shows off his skills, without trying to prove himself to anyone, No Pressure feels true to its title.

It’s quite good, and a good Freddie Gibbs album is an already high standard to match.

Stuffed with a handful of sub-two-minute tracks and a few interludes, The Age of Pleasure sounds more like a short week of longing and sexual liberation, the epilogue to a coming of age story.

At 28, he’s very much hitting his stride in Rap, using every transitional moment to add one more compelling chapter to his narrative.

HNDRXX provides a view into a modern rock star indulging in a side of himself that’s more thoughtful and dare one say, honest.

Habits & Contradictions may be no follow-up to fellow Kendrick Lamar's Section .80, but ScHoolboy Q definitively shines through as a formidable rapper with immense future potential.

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.

Ibeyi is executed expertly and encapsulates entirely its artists’ public narrative and ambitious musical inclinations up to this point. For now, that’s a blessing and all we know enough to ask for.

Cozy prioritizes the gifts of its star much more than that of the mob’s other henchman, but its game plan ultimately proves triumphant.

Not surprisingly, Kweli truly shines on the politically motivated tracks when he’s able to rap about things he’s passionate about.

He succeeds in creating a soul revival with a refreshing modern day twist done so right.

While it doesn’t push the envelope, this is a more than worthy follow-up to its predecessor — further solidifying his status as pound for pound, one of the better MCs breathing.

While other artists are constantly on the prowl for the latest trend that will keep their names relevant, Spitta never ventures out of his own lane, and yet, his latest material never seems to spoil.

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.

It’s a standard debut album, with plenty of flaws and high moments that flash greater potential but not much else.

Even with nothing to truly prove, Ty Dolla $ign managed to once again assert dominance in an overcrowded lane of crooners who get likened to rappers.

It’s a kaleidoscope of sounds that feels like a best of instead of a debut. It’s jarringly airy, flitting about and flouting conventions at every turn, and it’s sometimes so steeped in it’s 90s house past that it undermines its own velocity.

First Of A Living Breed is another powerful entry into the Good Sun's discography.

The album transpires without so much as a lyrical couplet--exchanging raps for electromagnetic soul and fluorescent funk--and will ultimately be remembered for its experimentation over its execution.

By Any Means is a lean 56 minutes, though Gates still finds room to entertain his schizophrenic tendencies.

This debut shines so brightly in comparison to what Aminé’s contemporaries are passing off that it may be easy to forget that it is not exactly a groundbreaking album. Regardless, the rookie should be commended for crafting an honest, entertaining and revealing album.

Full of political and social commentary, Pharoahe's W.A.R.-time performance will leave fans hoping he continues his trend of cutting the wait time between albums in half.

On Eden, a follow up to this year’s Ephorize, CupcakKe refines her lyricism, diversifies her subject matter, and proves why she shouldn’t be dismissed.

As a Wu-Tang project it is one of the most complete and consistent in the post-Supreme Clientele canon.... Iron Fists is also a compilation that wears its love of Asian cinema on its sleeve.