So Blue With Weezer
The “Blue Album” takes me back to a time when I began to take the turn towards alternative music.
Suspenseful With A Pencil: The Eminem Show is 20
In the follow up to his masterpiece, The Marshall Mathers LP, Eminem responded to critics, exposed more skeletons in his closet, and delivered another monumental hit album.
Gimme That Dope Depressing Sh*t
It’s a carefully crafted suicide note, a look at the dark human psyche, a beautifully tragic story of unrequited love, everything that makes someone breakdown and then rebuild.
A Quick Hit: Cocodrillo Turbo
Action Bronson is back with a bizarre homage to reptilian apex predators that lacks bite.
Return of the Coke Rap King
It’s Almost Dry is a stellar follow-up to 2018’s album of the year, Daytona.
Grunge God
Layne Staley wasn’t the rock icon of his era, but he was the best voice in grunge music.
Life After Death: The Greatest Rap Album of the Golden Era
Sequels often suck, and sequels to game-changing originals rarely sniff the same rarified air, but Life After Death is a masterpiece that improves on the strengths of its predecessor.
Standard Issue: Punk, Vol. 1
Punk rock is hard to define, but this list captures its progression from crude inception to widespread domination.
Crooklyn’s Finest
“The greatest rapper alive died on March 9th.” Celebrating Biggie on the 25th Anniversary of his death.
Bloc Party Is Not So Silent
Silent Alarm was an electrifying debut, and it still kicks through your speakers.
Chromatica: The Beat and Life of the Dance Floor
Lady Gaga’s return to the club didn’t disappoint.
Siamese Dream: The Kickstart to My Love Affair
One of my most faithful lovers, my friend who holds all my teenage secrets, my longing for year’s past.
Work It Like A Pro: Echoes of Silence 10 Years On One
The final entry to The Weeknd’s mixtape debut, Trilogy, is as entrancing and eerie as the first offering, setting the stage for his inevitable superstardom.
“I embrace ya’ll with napalm”: Stillmatic at 20
On Stillmatic, Nas returned to form by merging the styles from his first two albums that put him on the scene and in the discussion of “G.O.A.T.”.
Redman Drowns Competition on Muddy Waters
Redman is the funky, nasty party guy who rips bongs and mics, and Muddy Waters is his pure essence.
The Drama Begins: Hell on Earth 25 Years Later
Rugged beats and dark yet introspective lyrics about living and dying in the Queensbridge Housing Projects.
2Pac, Makaveli, 25 Years
The Don Killuminati… gives us glimpses of 2Pac, rather "Makaveli", at his best in the wake of his tragic murder.
Ironman: Tremendously Obnoxious, No Blotches
Ironman is a snapshot of Staten Island as seen from the eyes of Ghostface Killah, and with a soundtrack composed by the Abbot, it becomes the best Blacksploitation hip-hop album to ever be recorded and rest in the upper echelon of Wu-Tang releases.
The Sun Always Rises: Morning View Turns 20
Enough edge to play while shotgunning beers and ripping bongs at off-campus ragers, it also down-shifts a couple gears into lava lamp chill mode for quiet dorm room kickbacks.