Reviews

Farhot

Kabul Fire Vol. 2

Beats, Rap/Hip-Hop

Aghani beat maker Farhot's latest album represents Kabul through music and showcases Afghanistan's untold stories .

Farhot

Kabul Fire Vol. 2

Beats, Rap/Hip-Hop

The Diasonics

Origin Of Forms

Funk, Soul

Origin Of Forms finds Moscow funk outfit The Diasonics building on their "hassar funk" sound to craft a world where Eastern rhythms meet LSD-laced psychedelia and hip-hop stylings.

The Diasonics

Origin Of Forms

Funk, Soul

Jeff Parker

Forfolks

Experimental, Rock

With Forfolks, Jeff Parker crafts an ethereal solo guitar album for jazz fusion fans that's also ripe for devouring by indie rock devotees.

Jeff Parker

Forfolks

Experimental, Rock

J Dilla

Donuts

Beats, Rap/Hip-Hop

On the 16th anniversary of J Dilla's final album, we look back at the swan song from one of hip-hop's most important artists.

J Dilla

Donuts

Beats, Rap/Hip-Hop

Kahil El’Zabar Quartet

A Time For Healing

Jazz

The leading force in Chicago jazz returns with an album to heal and uplift the soul.

Kahil El’Zabar Quartet

A Time For Healing

Jazz

AJ Suede & Televangel

Metatron’s Cube

Rap/Hip-Hop

With enough creativity and nuance to keep any hip-hop fan interested, Metatron’s Cube hestablishes AJ Suede and Televangel as a duo to watch.

AJ Suede & Televangel

Metatron’s Cube

Rap/Hip-Hop

Lady Wray

Piece Of Me

Soul

Lady Wray's sophomore album finds her emerging with a sound that mixes deep analog soul with melodic hip-hop.

Lady Wray

Piece Of Me

Soul

Soul Supreme

Award Tour (We Gettin’ Down)

Funk, Jazz, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul

Dutch producer Soul Supreme properly honors A Tribe Called Quest's legacy by covering a choice cut and adding his own flair.

Soul Supreme

Award Tour (We Gettin’ Down)

Funk, Jazz, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul

L'Eclair

Confusions

Jazz, Soul

With Confusions, L’Eclair presents a fully formed sound, full of light and shade, flowing effortlessly from start to finish.

L'Eclair

Confusions

Jazz, Soul

Curtis Harding

If Words Were Flowers

Soul

If Words Were Flowers is another soul music masterclass from Curtis Harding that constantly shifts in style and production.

Curtis Harding

If Words Were Flowers

Soul

Various Artists

Ritmo Fantasía: Balearic Spanish Synth-Pop, Boogie and House (1982-1992)

Electronic

Ritmo Fantasía is the compilation that dance music obsessives have been waiting for, even if they didn’t know it.

Various Artists

Ritmo Fantasía: Balearic Spanish Synth-Pop, Boogie and House (1982-1992)

Electronic

Earl Sweatshirt

Sick!

Rap/Hip-Hop

After a lengthy hiatus, Earl Sweatshirt returns with his best work yet.

Earl Sweatshirt

Sick!

Rap/Hip-Hop

Ambient Warrior

Dub Journey’s

Electronic

Recently reissued on Isle of Jura records, Dub Journey's is a lost gem that combines classic dub with a smattering of styles from around the world.

Ambient Warrior

Dub Journey’s

Electronic

Nation of Language

A Way Forward

Rock

With A Way Forward, Nation of Language continue to develop a grand style indebted to the past.

Nation of Language

A Way Forward

Rock

Turnstile

Glow On

Rock

Glow On is Turnstile's most accessible - and enjoyable - album yet.

Turnstile

Glow On

Rock

Westside Gunn

Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B

Rap/Hip-Hop, Rap/Hip-Hop Albums

Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B, is an extension of Westside Gunn's insular, hallucinogenic sound

Westside Gunn

Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B

Rap/Hip-Hop, Rap/Hip-Hop Albums

Benny The Butcher

Plug I Met 2

Rap/Hip-Hop

Plugs I Met 2 is a natural extension of the resurgence of New York street rap and a prime example of what makes Benny The Butcher so exciting.

Benny The Butcher

Plug I Met 2

Rap/Hip-Hop

Mach-Hommy

Balens Cho

Rap/Hip-Hop

Balens Cho marks the rise of a masked MC here to usher rap into a new era

Mach-Hommy

Balens Cho

Rap/Hip-Hop

Boldy James & The Alchemist

Super Tecmo Bo

Rap/Hip-Hop

With Super Tecmo Bo, Boldy James and The Alchemist show why they're one of the best teams in rap.

Boldy James & The Alchemist

Super Tecmo Bo

Rap/Hip-Hop

Best Albums of 2021

A look back at our favorite albums of the year.

Best Albums of 2021