AltWeeklies Wire
Review: Clicks & Whistles' Serious Bidnessnew
Embassy Recordings; Release date: Sept. 17, 2012
Creative Loafing (Charlotte) |
Brittany Gaston |
09-18-2012 |
Reviews
Tags: review, hip-hop, trap, electronic, album, bass, CD, EP, freestyle, Jorge Hernandez, Petey Evans, Serious Bidness, Clicks & Whistles
Nicki Minaj: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (Young Money/Universal Republic)new
The politics of Roman Reloaded are fascinating and bewildering. On the cover, Minaj dons birthday-cake-frosted whiteface. She's Paris Hilton by way of FLCL.
Tucson Weekly |
Sean Bottai |
04-05-2012 |
Reviews
Ghostface Killah: Apollo Kidsnew
Ghostface talks a lot, but he's hardly all talk.
The Inlander |
Leah Sottile |
01-31-2011 |
Reviews
Reviewed: 'The State vs. Radric Davis' by Atlanta MC Gucci Manenew
Many have tried, but no other rapper quite matches Gucci’s reckless bravado and goofy charm. He’s got an uncanny ability to make light of the dazzling, chaotic storm that is his life.
Washington City Paper |
Ben Westhoff |
12-10-2009 |
Reviews
Ghostface Killah Goes R&B on 'Ghostdini'new
Like his excellent 2006 LP, Fishscale, Ghostdini demonstrates Ghostface's uncanny ability to take a single thematic unifier and present it from different angles over the course of an album. What Fishscale was to drug narratives, Ghostdini is to sex jams.
Charleston City Paper |
Bryan Reed |
09-30-2009 |
Reviews
Slaughterhouse's Four MCs Display Pure, Old-School One-Upmanshipnew
Composed of critically respected but commercially unheralded underground MCs Joell Ortiz, Royce da 5'9", Crooked I and Joe Budden, the group's self-titled debut serves mainly as a platform for each man to attempt to one-up the others through punchlines, dexterity and flat-out velocity.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Killer Mike Lets a Diverse Group Loose on 'Underground Atlanta'new
The two-disc set is charming and solid all the way through, and features highlights from such lesser-known talents as Rich Kidz ("Bowling") and Prynce Cyhi ("Don't Go Outside"), as well as winners from veterans including Pastor Troy and Trillville, whose "I Be Off Dat" recalls the group's crunk-era glory.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
09-22-2009 |
Reviews
Jay-Z's Latest 'Blueprint' is Still Less Inspired and Less Fluid than the Firstnew
Mostly, the album is Jay's attempt to get hip -- or hipster -- as he enlists a crop of fresh new talent discovered by Kanye West to help him sound relevant. Unfortunately, much like a 40-year-old divorcee who hits the town with her daughter's friends, it's clear that Jay doesn't quite fit in among this crowd, and The Blueprint 3 suffers for it.
Busdriver's Latest Album is Both Playful and Fiercenew
Like an auctioneer on speed, Busdriver's impressively fast rhyming skills help him stack the strange, intriguing Jhelli Beam with a word count generally reserved for major Russian literature.
Tucson Weekly |
Michael Petitti |
08-12-2009 |
Reviews
'If Tomorrow Comes ...' Doesn't Really Work as an Albumnew
Maino doesn't have enough variation in his style, too many of the songs sound alike, and the narrative skits throughout are not especially believable or interesting. Still, in an era when the traditional long-version album has all but disappeared as an art form, it's hard to hold these complaints against him.
Asher Roth Is 'Asleep'new
Being a privileged white guy from the Philly suburbs doesn’t disqualify Asher Roth from legitimate hip-hop MC status—not being able to spin an interesting yarn does.
Jim Jones: Jack of All Tradesnew
Dipset alum Jim Jones' many projects include an off-Broadway show, a workout DVD, a documentary and a mockumentary. Once in a while he actually puts out some music, and his major label solo debut Pray IV Reign is an often-decent, occasionally-excellent effort.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
04-10-2009 |
Reviews
The Dream Is a Hit Machinenew
Thank goodness for The Dream's (nee Terius Nash) ability to write and produce some of the most hypnotic smashes ever known to mainstream radio.
Metro Spirit |
Frazia Lee |
03-20-2009 |
Reviews
J Dilla's 'Dillanthology, Volume 1'new
Before he died from cardiac arrest three years ago, J Dilla was the quietest of hip-hop legends. Fortunately, he’s experiencing something of a posthumous renaissance, and some of the most popular cuts from his early career are captured nicely on Dillanthology, Volume 1.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
03-18-2009 |
Reviews
Much of 'iSouljaBoyTellem' Apes Its Predecessornew
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em charms the pants off of you, except when he's annoying the life out of you.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Ben Westhoff |
01-21-2009 |
Reviews
