RIFF’s best albums of 2023 include the Rolling Stones, Blink-182, Cleo Sol, Miley Cyrus, Allison Russell, Victoria Monét, Kali Uchis, Fall Out Boy, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Manchester Orchestra, Janelle Monáe, JPEGMafia with Danny Brown, Blondshell, Doja Cat, Andre 3000, Mick Jenkins, Sir Chloe, Ryuchi Sakamoto, James…

Our list of the 20 best hip-hop albums of 2021 includes (L to R): Row 1: Lil Nas X, Polo G, Tyler, the Creator, J. Cole, Nas. Row 2: Little Simz, Meek Mill, Isaiah Rashad, Czarface & MF DOOM, Backxwash. Row 3: Vince Staples, Wale, Your Old Droog, BROCKHAMPTON,…

BROCKHAMPTON, “Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine.” Hip-hop’s favorite boy band, BROCKHAMPTON, has announced it is on the way out. The band’s newest release, Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine, is the first of two albums set to drop this year as a swan song. The group’s catalog grows its legendary status, as…

There’s something to be said regarding the rise of awareness regarding mental health in hip-hop over the last few years, with an array of artists covering it with grace or with all the tact of a bull in a china shop. JPEGMAFIA followed up to his November EP! with the similarly…

Our list of the 20 best hip-hop albums of 2019 includes Danny Brown, Post Malone, ECCO2K, Tinashe, Little Simz, Malibu Ken, DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, slowthai, Maxo Kream, Billy Woods & Kenny Segal, Rico Nasty & Kenny Beats, Clipping., YBN Cordae, Kate Tempest, Quelle Chris, Denzel Curry, Injury Reserve,…

Clockwise from top left: Alice Merton, Jenny Hval, Jpegmafia, Jessica Pratt, Kingfish, Kim Petras, Cate Le Bon, Swans, Ty Segall and Bad Wolves. We’ve reached the halfway point of RIFF’s top 50 albums list! It only get harder from here, but we can certainly guarantee a wealth of quality…

Tim Darcy of Ought performs at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles on March 19, 2018. Photo: Kyle J. Kohner. We’ve almost arrived, everyone! However, if you are just joining us, do not spoil the surprise for yourself and just go back to parts one, two and three to catch up before…

Mitski Kyle Kohner’s top 100 songs countdown reaches the finish line, with his 25 favorites. Catch up with part one, part two and part three here. 25. “4th Dimension” – Kids See Ghosts (Kid Cudi and Kanye West) Opened by an eerily distorted, but well-placed sample of Louis Prima’s “What Will…

Phoebe Bridgers performs at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Nov. 27, 2018. Photo: Chloe Catajan. The end has finally arrived—the end of 2018 that is. That means it’s year-end list time. With great albums comes great songs, and in a year that brought us plenty of great singles,…

Jpegmafia Here we finally are, at my top 10 albums of 2018! If you’re just now joining me, check out part one, part two, part three and part four before diving in. Ready for the grand conclusion? Let’s unearth these incredible albums! 10. Deafheaven – Ordinary Corrupt Human Love After spearheading mainstream…