Its focus on breadth is also part of its charm, and although the project is 18 songs deep it does not feel rushed through, but rather lived through.

The end result is an album that is as much a wild party as it is brutally honest.

While some may be upset that Murs isn’t the unruly rapper he once was, he’s managed to craft a project that remains true while growing up enough to talk about life in a radiant, maturity tinged glow.

Where this album excels is in the celebration of youth’s insecurities and dichotomies.

The production is exquisite. A lush, cosmopolitan collection of sounds spread out and allowed to coalesce. The album is quiet, subtle and monastic.

Aside from “Run Away,” none of the tracks on Bush are utter drag-and-recycle-bin drop material, the album is a surprising letdown from two legendary artists who have (literally) a platinum track record.

They make poignant soul that’s fresh sounding at all angles. Most importantly, Choose Your Weapon stands on its own as one of the year’s best albums.

Shlohmo creates reverential moments out of human gloom, and does so with a level of execution that invites multiple listens while defying comparisons, too.

At times the style itself feels like a copy of Rae’s hits instead of an organic creation, but The Chef does a good job of balancing the radio-friendly Rap with material his diehard fans crave.

When Love Story is great, it’s when the unique pieces of Yelawolf’s life discover similarly off-kilter spaces in which to manifest a new voice.

On it’s own merit; Barter 6 is the definitive mainstream strip club album of the modern era.

Musically, he is maturing before our very eyes.

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.

When Wale showcases his growth in being able to link his classic skillset with modern content, the album unequivocally succeeds. However, in attempting to placate current mainstream tastes, he falls short of the album being the unique and iconic success of the mixtape that truly launched his career to another level five years ago.

His seemingly unshakeable integrity and forthright spirit in music making shrouds Ludaversal in serious tones, marking a stark departure from the Georgia emcee’s status quo, making this one a novel and welcome addition to his catalog.

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.

Mr. Wonderful isn’t everything for everybody, but it seems to belong completely to Bronson.

To Pimp A Butterfly is ambitious in its attempt to inspire a generation to change the world for the better and poignant enough to actually do so.

Eat Pray Thug is a remarkably moving opus condemning ethnocentricity and wallowing in relational grief.

Fashawn’s sophomore release is a strong follow-up, six years in the making, that hits hard while preaching perseverance.

Blade of the Ronin is a dense collection of music. Fans of lyricism will appreciate the wordplay, as well as the contributions from artists like Elzhi and DOOM, among many others.

With a sound that’s one-third punk, one-third underground and one-third Yeezus, Doomtree’s All Hands is a work of lyrical importance covered up by synth notes and drum crashes, its messages left to be decoded by their fans.

There is still enough variety in styles that make it a successful conjuring. And, once there, the free-form melting pot of production and vocals continues to satisfy.

The inclusion of a small handful of featured emcees spices up the pot appropriately and where and when they cook are choiced well.

Fan of a Fan reads like a mimicking of that, missing a key ingredient in the Pop-Rap alchemy it takes to create something truly ingenius and infectious.

With Dark Sky Paradise, Big Sean is prepared to leave his mark.

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.

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