AltWeeklies Wire
Kanye's Latest is a Singular Testament to Indescribable Sufferingnew
Thematically, 808s and Heartbreak plunges deeper into West's usual neuroses (insecurity, spiritual unease, and the difficulties of celebrity). The death of his mother and a relationship fissure have brought these concerns into sharper focus.
N.E.R.D. Shows All Technique and No Soulnew
Human emotion cannot be created using ProTools.
Usher's Latest Doesn't Break the Rulesnew
On Here I Stand, Usher claims to be a player no more, making the album a bit of a snore.
The Roots Still Fight the Fightnew
The state of "conscious" rap is in serious flux right now, which is why the Roots' aggressive, disorienting Rising Down feels timely and urgent.
Foxy Brown Gets Too Predictablenew
Since her days as a 16-year-old prodigy on her multiplatinum debut Ill Na Na, her voice has lost all traces of vulnerability, and here she's morphed into a law-evading, fucking, materialistic caricature.
Inspired By Who?new
The press release for Alopecia claims that Why? ringleader Yoni Wolf was inspired "as much by MF Doom and Lil' Wayne as J. Newsom and Big Dylan."
Little Brother Splits with Atlantic Records and 9th Wondernew
Getback is largely a personal reflection on the past year's events, which also includes the duo's parting ways with producer 9th Wonder.
Tags: Getback, Little Brother
Is Ghostface as Dumb as He Wants You to Think He is?new
Ghostface Killah is a brilliant storyteller and lyricist, and is the only Wu-Tang Clan member still making relevant solo albums. He's also a cry baby.
