Hip-Hop Reviews
To Pimp a Butterfly Review: A Hip-Hop Epic with Jazz and Funk in Its Veins
Kendrick Lamar's ambitious third album fuses jazz, funk and spoken word into a major statement on race and identity. Our verdict.
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back Review: Hip-Hop's Loudest Wake-Up Call
Public Enemy's second album is a furious, dense blast of political hip-hop. Our verdict.
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Review: Maximalist Hip-Hop at Its Peak
Kanye West's opulent fifth album mixes grandeur, guilt and brilliant guest spots. Our verdict.
Blue Lines Review: The Birth of Trip-Hop
Massive Attack's debut fused hip-hop, soul and dub into something new and Bristol-born. Our verdict.
Odelay Review: A Collage of Sounds
Beck's 1996 album mixes hip-hop, folk, funk and noise into a playful, genre-hopping blast. Our verdict.
3 Feet High and Rising Review: Hip-Hop's Daisy Age
De La Soul's debut is playful, sample-rich and refreshingly weird. Our verdict.
Endtroducing..... Review: A Sample-Built Masterpiece
DJ Shadow's debut was assembled entirely from samples and it's an instrumental hip-hop landmark. Our verdict.
Paul's Boutique Review: A Sample-Laden Masterpiece
The Beastie Boys' second album trades frat-rap for a dense, funny, sample-heavy collage. Our verdict.
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) Review: Staten Island's Kung-Fu Hip-Hop Collective
Wu-Tang Clan's debut is a gritty, raw and endlessly influential rap album. Our verdict.
Straight Outta Compton Review: Gangsta Rap's Explosive Arrival
N.W.A's debut album is fierce, controversial and hugely influential. Our verdict.