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.

Gemini Rights is a coming of age album where Lacy asserts that whatever journey he’s been on, it’s clear he now knows who he wants to become.

Boosie’s eighth studio album is ambitious in scale, and contains some of his best work to date. The message and content aren’t always constant, but the ebb and flow of the experience enable a strong diversity of sound, and Boosie adapts to the beats like a chameleon with different colors.

Through the first 11 tracks on Diamond In The Ruff, Freeway is near flawless, showcasing an array of styles and fresh patterns while refusing to peddle shallow perspective. And then, over the course of the final five songs, the album nearly falls off a cliff.

His self-expression is supported by an album mostly produced by him (a.k.a.. randomblackdude) and Left Brain, where the entire production is minimal, dark and contains rare interludes. It's the glue that holds all his confessions and retrospective bars together.

So, all in all, Ty delivers a light, layered debut, with more depth than we thought could be drawn out of the trap&B sound he helped usher into the mainstream.

Overall, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God is a welcoming addition to Busta Rhymes’ extensive catalog.

It's not an understatement to call Carnivale Electricos one of the most fun, vibrant, and culturally-diverse albums in recent years.

Component System with the Auto Reverse is no landmark of rap music, but it is rock solid, and contains enough pearls of wisdom and displays of swagger to justify Open Mike Eagle’s endless tenure.

There are a few holes--the project’s length and forgettable appearances (Wiz Khalifia on “See Me”)--but overall, it’s an incredible album that will keep that hint of burgundy in the sky.

While the compilation deejay/producer album tends to have it’s share of woes as too many cooks spoil the broth, Statik Selektah balances out this tendency with solid production that invokes images of the days of Hip Hop yore.

He finds beauty and peace in allowing himself to experience his own emotions. It’s an honest, matter-of-fact account of the grey areas of his life and mind. On Circles, Mac shows the unexpected joy that can be found in the darkest of times.

Overall, Bobby has bars for days--and days--and as a consistent top to bottom play, YSIV has vibrant energy.

StereoType finds both Statik and Strong Arm Steady breaking new ground that is free of expectations and limitations, proving themselves capable of making relatable music that can't be boxed in and assigned a personality.

If you consider the particular goals each artist sets out to accomplish--Madlib with sonic compositions that will have everyone scratching their heads on their origins, Blu with the West Coast lean in his muffled step, and MED with his boom bap flow--they did an impressive job without stepping on anyone's toes, having lines and beats worth remembering, and bringing a few friends and family along for the ride.

The 27-year-old Offset digs deep into his Atlanta Hip Hop lineage, crafting an album that’s equal parts rare in this climate (seeing it follows an unfolding narrative) and refreshing, given its telling content.

Don’t Smoke Rock appeals to old and new heads alike, for its rooting in traditional NYC production and attention to contemporary details. Smoke DZA and Pete Rock prove to be a formidable duo on their first official outing, and the guests joining in on the fun comprise the collective cherry on top of the proverbial sundae.

With Food & Liquor 2: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1, Rap's resident Judo master of juxtaposition sounds inspired again, dishing out shifting dichotomies through a scattering of deliveries without encroaching on petulance.

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.

With a tight-knit collection of features and palpable confidence exuded in his lyrics, Ambition is Wale's most cohesive and likewise enthralling project thus far in his brisk career.

Even with its melancholy closing, Dark Comedy is an incredibly fulfilling listen.

Unquestionably, this is one of the most complete works of music made this year, and absolutely speaks volumes about what cohesiveness and attention to detail can do for a project.

Williams isn’t here for you to simply digest his art and move on. He wants it to stick to you, to stay in your heart, mind and soul, the same way it does with him as the artist. And MartyrLoserKing accomplishes just that without question.

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

The Family Sign is a heavy, moody album. There's not nearly as much humor here as with Atmosphere's previous two releases, but that doesn't make it any less of a quality addition to the group's catalogue.

Overall, it’s an album embedded with enough humor, knowledge, and obscure Hip Hop references that will force listeners to keep this one in rotation.

Sounds Of Crenshaw Vol. 1 feels like the ideal soundtrack to the iconic 23-mile street named after the real estate banker George Lafayette Crenshaw. It won’t transcend to other hoods but Martin and crew win by developing a project that’s sonically ambitious from beginning to end.

This may be one of Roc’s most energetic yet and puts him foot down as one of Hip Hop’s most influential underground rap hitmen in the digital age.