Blank Face LP isn’t Schoolboy Q’s first great album, but it’s the first one where he lives up to his utmost potential.

At the end of the day, Common creates a great album with such a pertinent and topical purpose. If nothing else, it’s a strong snapshot of the happenings in America right now and the promise of what the country could become.

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.

The album probably has more features than any other Budden project, but it’s not overbearing. Also, Joe does not move away aimlessly from what he is good at and what he enjoys.

The rapper coolly exceeds expectations in his artistic self-awareness and this go-round shines like his diamond-studded Fozzy Bear chain.

Kiss The Ring is brief and overrun with enough proven formulas and artists that the opportunity for a miss barely exists.

While there are moments where Cole comes off more as a condescending high school principal than earnest older brother, KOD is an overall strong effort that connects of emotional trauma, mental health stigma in the Black community and the real problem of drug glorification.

Brown displays real bravery in his willingness to merge the sacred with the profane, the independent with the arena-ready, the old with the new.

The project gives fans an answer to the hypothetical of what a full album between Drake and Future would sound like, right now, in 2015. It’s cutting and honest and self-congratulatory and vindictive. It’s fantastically decadent and brutally real at the same time.

Transformation suffers from a few forgettable beats, but not in a way that devalues the project. Add another four-star LP to Murs's solid catalogue.

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.

The Art of Hustle finds Yo Gotti sticking to his roots. His street-acclaimed catalog is what got him here in the first place and the project doesn’t veer off course.

Although some of its strongest cuts already appeared on its predecessor ("My God," "Alone In Vegas," "I Still Wanna"), Pusha ultimately leaves anticipation for his official solo introduction.

4eva Is a Mighty Long Time is arguably his most cohesive studio album to date. While mainstream superstardom may allude Big K.R.I.T., his legacy as one of the most lauded southern poets of his generation is very much alive and continues to grow with 4eva Is a Mighty Long Time, an admirable effort from one of rap's most resilient MCs.

Though the content of We The Best Forever is what we've come to expect from a DJ Khaled offering-grandiose odes to the grind and getting yours-that he understands how to create those better than most is what makes a DJ Khaled track, and album, worthwhile.

FM! is definitely more centrally focused than either of those EPs [2014's Hell Can Wait and 2016's Prima Donna]. And even if this is just an off-hand project Vince recorded quickly, it's a hell of a one-off album that's full of charm and lyrical depth paired with fantastic production. Tune in.

B4.Da.$$ should be seen as a huge step forward and a platform for Joey to progress even further.

Sonically separated by the four different seasons, Lupe has arguably released his most thematically layered and engaging album to date.

Campaign may not exceed the musical brilliance of Free TC but it’s a close runner-up.

The growth is unmistakable, with each song and new project, fans see his raw talent getting more finely tuned and concentrated. Hell Can Wait is the next step in the maturation process of Staples as a MC.

While The Diary has its shining moments, it also has some issues. ... For Dilla fans, The Diary proves to be an essential listening.

It may not be quite the full-marks classic he’d hoped, but Oxnard is an intriguing next step for the 2016 XXL Freshman that demands repeat listening and hints that he may have a Blueprint in him yet.

It is, simply, one of the best rap debuts of the year.

Fashawn’s lyrical assaults are just as potent as his moving commentary and his core fans would like to hear more.

All the way through, Dreams Worth More Than Money feels fresh and, more importantly, refreshing.

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.

Cilvia Demo was a taste of who he is, and now this album paints a complete picture of himself and where he is in his life right now. He lets his rhymes and observations do the talking, and the end result is one of the most refreshing rap records of the year.

There aren’t many who can effortlessly make the transition from mixtape rapper to hitmaker. For Kid Ink, it is proving to be an incredibly smooth one.