Album Reviews7.1/10
J. Cole’s ‘Born Sinner’ Is a Record About Being Judged — and Proving Himself Beyond It
A review of J. Cole's Born Sinner, a dense 21-track statement about fame, family, and the sins others see in him.
CLAY TRIBUNE / THE ARCHIVE
Tag: hip hop
Album Reviews7/10
Little Simz’s Alice-In-Wonderland Frame Finally Delivers the Payoff
Little Simz frames her life as Wonderland in Stillness in Wonderland, a dense 16-track album of introspection and force.
Album Reviews8/10
Run the Jewels Review: El-P and Killer Mike Refuse to Let a Joke Become a Comfort
Two men of rage and wit refuse to let a jest become a comfort upon this record of twenty songs.
Album Reviews8.4/10
Vince Staples Refuses to Let Go on Summertime ’06
A rapper's second record tells a single summer's story of being stuck, boredom, and growing up too fast.
Album Reviews8/10
Migos & Migos Double Down on Trap Formulas Across 23 Tracks on Back to the Bando, Vol. 2
Migos & Migos pile twenty-three tracks of heavy bass and layered ad-libs into Back to the Bando, Vol. 2 — a strong, consistent record.
Album Reviews7/10
Vince Staples Trades Long Beach for the Whole Country on Cry Baby
Vince Staples trades Long Beach for America on Cry Baby, a sharp, short record that turns personal pain into political fury.
Album Reviews7/10
Watching Movies With the Sound Off Review: Mac Miller’s 2013 Solo Statement Earns a 7/10
A look back at Mac Miller's 'Watching Movies With the Sound Off,' a bedroom pop record about loneliness and comfort.
Album Reviews7/10
Mac Miller’s ‘The Divine Feminine’ Turns Romance Into A Slow, Rewarding Study
A look back at Mac Miller's slow-burning soul record The Divine Feminine, track by track.
Album Reviews7/10
Mac Miller and Madlib’s Maclib Is a Fascinating Failure
A sketchbook of beats and voices, brief and brilliant in fragments, wherein two producers leave the rest to themselves.
Album Reviews8/10
Travis Scott’s Rodeo Announces His Presence Loudly, Unevenly
A review of Travis Scott's debut album Rodeo, a loud, brash, and ambitious statement about his Southern roots.
Album Reviews8/10
Nine Years On, Days Before Astroworld Still Sets the Standard for Travis Scott’s Ambition
A look back at Travis Scott's Days Before Astroworld, a bridge between his past and his future, track by track.
Album Reviews8.1/10
Pusha T Steps Into the Light on My Name Is My Name
A grim, precise record of striking depth — Pusha T's statement of arrival, backed by Kanye West's production.