Instead of acknowledging that they perhaps have something unique to offer and trying to put their own twist on rap, the Keys attempt to strip down their sound to fit within hip-hop genre norms--the result being the taming of many gifted rappers whose time would have been otherwise better spent.

Dr. No's Ethiopium combines two of the best things on Earth: Egyptian jazz and hip hop. This is a fantastic album, and one that improves upon "Dr. No's Oxperiment."

It is very dense and maybe needed more melodies to help digest it all. Adding to that, the production at times lets her down, ranging from excellent to average, with a couple of songs that could well have worked better as skits.

He's still solid with the flow and constructs rhymes that are both interesting and intense, making The Seventh Seal a worthy purchase and return for a man who was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, God without end--Rakim. Amen

Felt 3 is a work of art that unlike so many sequels in life exceeds what the originals had to offer, and indeed offers something everyone can appreciate.

On the lyrical side of things, 50 seems to have his edge back. Whether he's orchestrating a robbery or bucking (pun intended) shots at his foes, it seems apparent that the criticisms got to him. For the hard core fans, the softer songs are skippable, but I can't hold that against him too much.

The biggest problem with Wale's debut LP is that sure, the music is good, some of the concepts are interesting...But it is all very middle of the road, and Wale himself is an MC desperately in need of charisma.

Eleven tracks featuring Gift of Gab's superb rhyme writing, breath control and musical flow just don't seem like enough, but the amount of content he packs into that small space creates an energy density comparable to NOX, fueling this rocketship all the way to Mars and beyond to distant stars.

The members were certainly armed, and they seem to hit more than they miss.

It's not a new sound, and, at points, the tracks feel monotonous as they bleed into each other. Still, there are certainly standouts.

Tame and Del are like-minded rappers who have been heading in the same direction for years musically without having crossed paths. Now that they've finally linked their styles together in tandem, it's a blessing to all of their old fans and soon to be new ones.

Us is uplifting, thought-provoking, funny, heartbreaking, and bootyshaking.

All in all, Dizzee hasn't gone all out to make an artistic masterpiece, but it doesn't make the slightest bit of difference.

If you want to know further why this album is a classic you'll have to check it out yourself, but know for a fact it's well worth your fifteen dollars.

Welcome to a new classic.

The songs that were already previously available on "So Far Gone" are a winner and the new songs don't bring Drake down off the high cloud he's already on.

Jay-Z is trying to come across as brand new, but he only succeeds in looking like an old brand in need of a revamp.

One can't fairly make the claim that "Pt. II" picks up right where the original left off, but this is the best Raekwon we've heard lyrically and musically in a long time, and barring a late entry this should be the best Wu-Tang related album of 2009.

Rebelution will leave you shaken, but not stirred.

Her debut is musically brilliant--if a bit samey.

Every single cliche held dear with the English language appears to have been right-click-Synonymed here.

Whether you want to doubt it or not, there's just too much right about the self-titled Slaughterhouse for this album to be wrong.

Fabolous is borderline to being cornball with his jokes, but he's got the one hundred to pull it off when you add all the elements together. Add in the fact he pulls some of the hottest guest stars in hip-hop for albums like Loso's Way and you've got it made.

It's an emotional and creative masterpiece in the genre of hip hop.

The lion's share of Cage's fans will see this newly found exposure as Chris Palko taking steps towards getting his story out to a wider audience with this personal and quite exceptional release.

It may be that the only constant on Chemical Warfare IS Alchemist's beats, but that's enough to make it work--and like the futuristic battle it implies the album is filled with hits you'll never see coming.

Fish Outta Water is a bright, colorful album that does an excellent job of incorporating different styles into a cohesive whole.

In fact whether or not you consider this an actual Wu-Tang Clan album there's not much to hate about "Chamber Music" other than the fact it's a small dose of the dopeness instead of the full out Wu-Tang hit that fans undoubtedly wanted.