TAG / Album Review
J. Cole – Born Sinner
J. Cole – Born Sinner Roc Nation: 2013 You know the ironic sincerity of clichés? Like how you can’t take an expression seriously because of how overused it is, but there must be a reason it became so clichéd and…
Statik Selektah – Extended Play
Statik Selektah - Extended Play Show Off/Duck Down: 2013 There’s a special place in my heart for albums like Reasonable Doubt and Hell Hath No Fury that start with a Latino guy talking shit. I’ve realized that since I can’t rap, it’s my only chance…
Iamsu! – Kilt II
Iamsu! - Kilt II Self-released: 2013 Iamsu’s music is made with the the building blocks of party rap, sparse and percussive beats that emphasize rhythm and negative space to move a crowd. It embodies the ghost of the Bay Area’s mid-oughts…
Action Bronson – Saaab Stories
Action Bronson – Saaab Stories Self-released: 2013 Big Body Bes, Action’s cousin-cum-hypeman, summed up Saaab Stories in a recent tweet: “FORGET ABOUT BUYIN UR BABY DAT SIMILAC , GO GET @ActionBronson SAAAB STORIES..” This is not as much of an…
Boards of Canada – Tomorrow’s Harvest
Boards of Canada - Tomorrow’s Harvest Warp: 2013 There’s a point about halfway through “Split Your Infinities”, the eleventh track on the new Boards Of Canada record, where you start to wonder if you’ve lost your mind. After all, it’s certainly…
The White Mandingos – The Ghetto Is Tryna Kill Me
The White Mandingos - The Ghetto Is Tryna Kill Me Fat Beats: 2013 “Hardcore hip-hop with some punk in it.” That’s how The White Mandingos introduce their new record The Ghetto is Tryna Kill Me. So is it a revolutionary reunion…
Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire – Kismet
Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire - Kismet Self-released: 2013 Prior to the release of Kismet, Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire was known, for the most part, in the rap world as the guy who commandeered possibly one of the best collaborative tracks of all time,…
Disclosure – Settle
Disclosure – Settle PMR: 2013 Disclosure, the duo of brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence, have already succeeded in ways that their peers, or elders for that matter, couldn’t imagine. At the ages of 19 and 22 they’ve taken the sounds…
Aceyalone – Leanin’ On Slick
Aceyalone - Leanin’ On Slick Decon: 2013 The first track off of Aceyalone’s new album, Leanin’ On Slick, is called “30 And Up.” Thanks to Aceyalone for explaining the audience for this album straight away. This album is not for hysterical…
Mount Kimbie – Cold Spring Fault Less Youth
Mount Kimbie - Cold Spring Fault Less Youth Warp: 2013 Young UK production duo Mount Kimbie haven’t made it easy for themselves. Being nearly single-handedly responsible for the term “post-dubstep” coming about, their 2010 debut full-length Crooks and Lovers was one…
