Three years after the release of The Recession, Young Jeezy returns with his latest album TM:103: Hustlerz Ambition, available now. Since then, the landscape of hip-hop has shifted with the rise of artists including Drake, J. Cole, and Big Sean. Does Jeezy still have a place among the current crop of MCs? Find out what the critics had to say about his comeback.

Read the rest of this entry »

Rihanna doesn’t plan on going anywhere. With her LOUD album still sitting on the charts, the pop princess extends her reign with her sixth album in six years Talk That Talk, available now. Today’s biggest hitmakers including Dr. Luke, Bangladesh, Stargate, The-Dream, Ester Dean, Alex Da Kid, and No I.D. deliver their best on RiRi’s raunchiest record yet. Did she satisfy critics with tracks like the salacious “Cockiness (Love It)” and her chart-topping single “We Found Love”? Find out below.

Read the rest of this entry »

He achieved commercial success with his 2010 debut Thank Me Later, but that wasn’t enough for Drake. The 25-year-old Canadian rapper-singer digs deeper on his sophomore album Take Care, grappling with fame and pouring out his emotions over the moody collection, with contributions from Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and more. Did he win over critics the second time around? Find out below.

Read the rest of this entry »

After a two-year wait and mounting expectations, Jay-Z’s 26-year-old protégé J. Cole gets off the bench and steps into the spotlight with his Roc Nation debut Cole World: The Sideline Story, in stores today. The North Carolina MC assembles an all-star team of talent including Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Drake, and Trey Songz on the 16 tracks. Does the hip-hop freshman have what it takes to play in the big leagues? The critics weigh in.

Read the rest of this entry »

Lil Wayne puts on his graduation cap and marches into stores with Tha Carter IV, the follow-up to 2008’s multi-platinum Tha Carter III. The Young Money captain unleashes his long-awaited ninth album with help from Drake, Rick Ross, André 3000, John Legend, Nas, and more, who fill out the 15 tracks on the standard edition. After years of anticipation and several delays, did C4 live up to the hype or fall short? The reviews are in.

Read the rest of this entry »

There’s never a dull moment when it comes to Game. Whether he’s calling out his peers on his fiery record “Uncle Otis” or crashing the L.A. Sheriff’s phone lines with a tweet, he never fails to entertain. But the Compton MC puts aside the shenanigans and drops his fourth LP The R.E.D. Album in stores this week. The long-delayed effort features heavy hitters including Dr. Dre, Lil Wayne, Drake, Chris Brown, Young Jeezy, and Nelly Furtado. Did Game represent for the West Coast? Find out what the critics are saying.

Read the rest of this entry »

“Tonight, I want to tell you guys my story,” Beyoncé divulged to a sold-out crowd at New York’s Roseland Ballroom last night. The 90-minute, guest-free show, the first of four this week, found the 29-year-old diva splitting the difference between hushed torch singer and stadium belter, running through a 30-minute revue of her greatest hits before performing virtually all of 4, her latest album released earlier this year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Like a kid on Christmas morning, hip-hop fans rushed to iTunes to download Jay-Z and Kanye West’s blockbuster album Watch the Throne as soon as it went on sale Sunday night. The hip-hop kings assembled a royal lineup of collaborators including Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, The RZA, Swizz Beatz, The Neptunes, Q-Tip, and more to create the year’s biggest rap release. But was it able to live up to all the hype? The reviews are in.

Read the rest of this entry »

Kelly Rowland forges her own path with her third solo album Here I Am, hitting stores today. The Destiny’s Child diva calls upon hitmakers Rico Love, Tricky Stewart, Jim Jonsin, Rodney Jerkins, and RedOne, as well as Big Sean (“Lay It on Me”) and Lil Wayne (“Motivation”) for the collection of R&B-dance tracks. Did Kelly sing her way into the good graces of her critics? Find out below.

Read the rest of this entry »