G-Eazy, “These Things Happen Too.” Everyone has regrets, and G-Eazy holds his share. His fourth LP, These Things Happen Too, finds G-Eazy having to grapple with the fallout of his failed relationships, the toll that drug abuse has taken on him artistically and personally, as well as the self-doubt that he’s…

Much to the glee of Odd Future fans, Tyler, the Creator is back with Call Me If You Get Lost. Announced just a week earlier, the album follows 2019’s IGOR and maintains the experimental stylings of the rapper teetering back and forth between his more meditative and thoughtful sides while diving back into his earlier aggressive…

Hall of Fame, the third album from Chicago drill rapper Polo G, presents a veneer of glamour and success, from the artwork and title suggesting prestige to the robust number of notable features—DaBaby, Young Thug, Pop Smoke, Nicki Minaj, Roddy Ricch and more—all evoking the sense of an induction into a titular…

A bold and bittersweet closing chapter for one of the greatest rappers of all time, the long-awaited album from DMX, Exodus, comes a little over a month and a half after his death. His first release in nine years (following 2012’s Undisputed) and his first on Def Jam since Grand Champ, Exodus is…

As the country continues to struggle with the pandemic, a dipping economy and unrest over a lack of justice, many share a collective sense of dread. John Carpenter’s “The Thing” comes to mind—in particular, the scene where Kurt Russell’s character records an audio tape to leave behind in the…

Hip-hop has always held a dichotomy between socially conscious lyricism and party-hard bars. The latest album from A$AP Ferg, Floor Seats II embraces the latter, with bombastic club bangers that are sure to receive plenty of spins when nightclubs open back up. Floor Seats II A$AP Ferg RCA, Sept. 25 5/10 The…

The city of Detroit personified as “the struggling artist” feels apt—especially when considering the number of incredibly talented and influential artists who have come from the Motor City that have faced hardships themselves. Big Sean addressed the topic in 2012 with Detroit and now follows that mixtape with full-length album Detroit…

Lil Wayne performs at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco during the Outside Lands Music Festival on Aug. 9, 2019. Joaquin Cabello/STAFF. As I write this, I am on a plane to New Orleans. This means two things: If a far better column topic has appeared between now and…

The title of Blink 182‘s newest album is slightly tongue-in-cheek and open to debate, as the band’s official discography starting point is often questioned. Considering the band’s 1994 demo Buddha as its first official studio release, diehard fans understand why the number is what it is. NINE builds on the foundation…

Twenty One Pilots perform at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco during the Outside Lands Music Festival on Aug. 9, 2019. Photos: Joaquin Cabello, Holly Horn and Roman Gokhman. SAN FRANCISCO — The annual Outside Lands Music Festival kicked off Friday with Twenty One Pilots, The Lumineers and dozens…