Reviews

Aug
9
Review Roundup: Jay-Z & Kanye West – ‘Watch the Throne’

Watch the Throne

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.

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Jul
26
Review Roundup: Kelly Rowland – ‘Here I Am’

Here I Am

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.

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Jul
5
Review Roundup: Lloyd – ‘King of Hearts’

King of Hearts

Lloyd aims for the crown with King of Hearts, his fourth album and first since 2008’s Lesson in Love, boasting a royal lineup including André 3000, R. Kelly, Chris Brown, Trey Songz, and Keri Hilson. The smooth operator and executive producer Polow Da Don craft a star-studded set featuring everything from the hilariously raunchy “Dedication to My Ex (Miss That)” to the politically-minded “World Cry.” Did he deliver a winning hand? Find out below.

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Jun
28
Review Roundup: Beyoncé – ‘4’

4

Eight years after launching her solo career with her Grammy-winning debut Dangerously in Love, Beyoncé remains one of pop’s most formidable forces. With the release of her fourth album 4 in stores today, the 29-year-old singer explores new territory—mixing the hypnotizing sounds of Diplo and Switch (“Run the World (Girls),” “End of Time”) with Diane Warren’s big ballad (“I Was Here”) and Kanye West and André 3000’s old school anthem (“Party”). How did the critics grade her latest work? Find out below.

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May
23
Review Roundup: Lady Gaga – ‘Born This Way’

Born This Way

Lady Gaga gives birth to one of the year’s most anticipated albums Born This Way. After breaking records with the empowering title track and stirring controversy with the biblical-minded “Judas,” the 25-year-old pop provocateur pushes musical boundaries with her ’80s-inspired opus, weaving in themes of religion, sexuality, and politics set to bombastic electro-pop beats. Her Little Monsters will undoubtedly eat it up, but did the critics? Find out below.

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May
14
Odd Future Wreaks Havoc on Highline Ballroom

Tyler, the Creator

Odd Future brought the ruckus to New York City’s Highline Ballroom last night. The West Coast gang performed an adrenalized show for a raucous sold-out crowd, with members Tyler, the Creator, Frank Ocean, Hodgy Beats, and more inciting mosh pits and stirring up chaos.

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May
10
Review Roundup: Tyler, the Creator – ‘Goblin’

Goblin

Odd Future mastermind Tyler, the Creator unleashes havoc on the music industry with his much-buzzed-about commercial debut Goblin, landing in stores today. On the 73-minute set, the 20-year-old L.A. native stalks a girl as she showers (“She”), stabs Bruno Mars (“Yonkers”), and boldly conveys his sexual fantasies (“Bitch Suck Dick”). Did the critics award or abhor his outrageous behavior? Find out below.

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Mar
29
Review Roundup: Wiz Khalifa – ‘Rolling Papers’

Rolling Papers

Wiz Khalifa rolls out his Atlantic Records debut Rolling Papers to stores today featuring the No. 1 hit “Black and Yellow” and Stargate-produced follow-up “Roll Up,” plus appearances from Too $hort, Curren$y, and Chevy Woods. Did the weed-loving rapper spark a flame or burn out with critics? Find out below.

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