“RENAISSANCE” review: Beyoncé celebrates disco on her most consistently exciting album

We’ve come a long way from the “Disco Sucks” movement of the 1970s. Back then that reactionary position was pretty commonplace, amongst white music consumers anyway. Now we can easily see the ugliness of the phrase’s implications: it implies straight-up…

‘Twelve Carat Toothache’ review: Post Malone punches below his musical weight

There is an evident progression to Post Malone’s music over the last half decade. From the slow shedding of the hip-hop influence that defined his artistry early on, to the continuous growth of his inner voice appearing more frequently in…

‘Forever’ review: the return of Phife Dawg is an honorable and memorable salute

Posthumous albums are already a tall order to manufacture, ensuring that the artist’s history, distinct aura and, artistic style are all imbued into quality performances and sufficient new material. But it’s quite another task to encapsulate all of these components…

Some Rap Songs: Polo Perks, Jordaine Grant, Gao the Arsonist, and more

Tape of the week: Polo Perks <3 <3 <3 – Punk Goes Drill +** While Babyxsosa’s celestial vocals have soundtracked the majority of my quarantine, it has been another Surf Gang affiliate that has been on repeat for me over…

‘Nightmare Vacation’ review: Rico Nasty shows off all she knows on her LP debut

After a six-year musical career with zero full-length LP’s, Rico Nasty encapsulates the breadth of her experiences on her debut, Nightmare Vacation (2020), while reminding everyone of the patented, chaotic bad bitch she truly is. In a project that utilizes…

Some Rap Songs: Packy Marciano, Mo Money, Young Slo-Be, and more

Project of the week: Packy Marciano – Catalina Wine Mixer The Catalina Wine Mixer became stuff of legend after Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly gave the performance of a lifetime at the end of Step Brothers, a film that…

Interview: Master Kato on his bright solo future

Master Kato’s music is genetically different from Shoreline Mafia’s. The former member of the legendary west coast group is paving the way for his own solo career. Born and partially raised on the south side of Chicago, Kato moved to…