We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our... Read more

We have our opinions on the best releases of 2018, but rather than simply tell you our pick for #1, we thought it would be more interesting to hear what you, the readers, believe is the Best Rap Album of 2018. With that in mind, we decided to make our... Read more

Gang Starr's Guru once professed on "Moment of Truth", “Cultivate, multiply, motivate or else we’ll die.” Twenty years later in a progressively demanding and often times burdensome social climate, these lyrics ring truer than ever. To remain positive, inspired, and purposeful in an atmosphere that can easily wear you down... Read more

In the eyes of some, Kendrick Lamar's #1 status and fast-track to platinum with DAMN. suggests that lyricism, clever songwriting, and album-making is winning. Clearly, for one Compton, California creative master, it is. However, it took Kendrick some years and quite a few apparent setbacks to get that spot. At... Read more

Joell Ortiz, Chris Rivers, and Whispers have a close working relationship. These three New York City MCs share an affinity for hard-nosed, in-your-face raps that combine wit, arrogance, and a ton of swagger on the microphone. Teaming with a producer each work with often (Domingo), they go as hard as... Read more

Earlier this year, the Fugees celebrated the 20th anniversary of The Score, an album whose sonic story was in large part shaped by producer Salaam Remi. In the years since, the Queens, New York legend has worked across the musical spectrum, helping to steer successful trajectories for artists including Amy... Read more

Joell Ortiz knows a thing or two about forming high-profile groups. In the late 2000s, Slaughterhouse was born out of mid-2000s friction between Joe Budden and Royce 5'9." They would go on to make amends, and invite two other under-valued MCs (Joell and Crooked I) to the fold. Since then, that... Read more