Lord Steppington has it’s fair share of bright moments and even stronger swaths of production.

Though it runs a little long, Cats & Dogs is a banging, consistent platter that ought to satisfy backpackers and hard-rocks alike.

Rugby Thompson, an album that not only strips him of an unfair "weed rapper" label, but is also probably the best rap album to come out of New York this year.

Overall, Take Care's sum is greater than its parts.

ScHoolboy’s presence on Oxymoron is poised and confident.

Without Warning is more than a Halloween novelty. Offset and 21 Savage turn their differences in delivery into an undeniable chemistry, while Metro Boomin's production gives the project a proper Halloween-inspired sound so their comparisons to classic villains like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees aren't in vain.

Ultimately, 12 Reasons to Die is a pitch-perfect pairing of Adrian Younge’s soulful production and Ghostface’s invigorated rhymes.

Swimming merges enlightening, candid rhymes over funky beats, providing a transparent look at how Mac Miller hit a personal rock bottom and his vigorous climb to save himself.

P.T.S.D. takes listeners on a worthwhile journey from confusion and loneliness to bitterness and triumph.

Artistically, it’s a new and deeply concentrated side of the veteran MC we haven’t seen and, as a result, it comes off as one of his best albums yet.

For all his subtle lyrical techniques, the Drake experience at full throttle is only achieved with the aid of his criminally underrated usual suspects; Noah “40” Shebib, PartyNextDoor and Boi-1da dominate the instrumental duties.

HNDRXX is a reminder that no matter how hard he tries to shun his reputation as a hitmaker, Future remains one of the most reliable acts in mainstream music, his reluctance aside.

Ultimately, lyrical dexterity and a versatile delivery prove to be ScHoolboy's biggest assets.

Each member brings something fresh to the table whether it’s Ferg’s rapid-fire delivery, Nast’s layered lyrics, Ant’s hooks or Rocky’s swag-infused raps. When combined, Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends is solidified as a body of work that feels as real as it sounds.

He'll likely never reach the heights of albums such as Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star or Quality again, but Radio Silence proves that his voice is much needed and breaks through the noise.

The multi-talented artist has indeed gotten better, steadily working towards perfecting his crafts.

Beach House 3 truly is Ty Dolla $ign’s best work to date. He manages to please with his collaborative hits and hooks all while maintaining artistic integrity with his more introspective tracks.

The LP is fun and a return to what hip-hop started out as in the parks--a way to rock the crowd and have a good time.

Childish Gambino gets definite props for pushing the envelope and refusing to operate within any genre confinements on this refreshing 49-minute trip through the funkadelic 1970s. While these blurred lines make this album a little hard to follow, “Awaken, My Love!” proves his versatility as a rapper turning over a new leaf.

On By Any Means, he comes off worthy of the acclaim, spitting vivid street stories that range from gut-wrenching to endearing all while demonstrating a serious knack for songwriting.

Both releases have their hits and misses, but overall the music remains balanced. Longtime E-40 fans will find more than a few songs to mob to, while the decidedly West Coast sound may alienate newer listeners.

Aside from a few problematic miscues, the majority of Mr. Wonderful can be maneuvered without the skip button in tow.

Throughout, 7L can only be described as a “Rock Beast,” as he brings a consistency and ferociousness to the Czarface sound that comes off best in the track of the same name.

Black Milk’s versatility shines on Hell Below, even if at times some parts felt disjointed. This is a small complaint for an overall album that culminates in the talented musician effectively communicating a consistent concept through the LP.

Although it doesn’t pan out on every track, the cohesive work allows the listener to feel that they’ve plunged into the depths of Mick’s mind and come out with a soaked sense of clarity.

[An] urgent, wise and poignant fourth LP.

Mr. Davis is stripped-down, honest and straight to the point.

Six albums deep on the solo tip, Royce’s introspective side clearly shines through on Layers.