Danny Brown Remains Unpredictable on ‘Stardust’
Despite the mixed results on Stardust, two things remain clear: it’ll be impossible to predict where Danny Brown goes next, and it will be appointment listening.
hip-hop
MADA Festival’s Psychedelic Delirium
At Brazil’s MADA Festival, a new generation of pop and hip-hop visionaries channel a serious madness and turn psychedelic delirium into art.
Armand Hammer and the Alchemist Deliver a Masterclass
For listeners drawn to the art of hip-hop, the music meant to stand the test of time, Armand Hammer and the Alchemist’s Mercy is a feast.
OutKast’s ‘Stankonia’ Uses Mirrors and Oppositions
OutKast’s Stankonia is a diptych that opposes and mirrors the duo; creating a stylistic reverence for an inimitable vision.
The Jewish Immigrant Song
Jewish immigrants music-saturated synagogues and rich theater, flavored with humor and lament, were a magical formula for the birth of the American Songbook.
Milo J Shows Off the Beauty of Argentine Folk
Milo J’s La Vida Era Más Corta is a display of youth inserting itself into an ancient landscape with more pride in its history than anxiety about modernizing it.
Doja Cat’s 1980s Extravagance Is Remarkable on ‘Vie’
On Vie, Doja Cat references the 1980s to prove that pop is one of many genres in her wheelhouse. Doja remains an elusive, genre-bending savant.
Bobby Brown’s Funkiest Last Dance
Although its release date was unfortunately mistimed, Bobby Brown’s Bobby presented the funkiest last dance of the entire New Jack Swing era.
Mariah Carey’s ‘Here for It All’ Is a Winning Return
Mariah Carey’s new LP is an affectionate and charming look at Black pop music of the ’70s and ’80s, evoking a charmingly retro feel without feeling stale or derivative.
Nova Twins’ New Album Is a Fascinating Polyglot
Nova Twins’ willingness to draw from essentially any music style of the last 40 years and incorporate it into their sound makes their music a fascinating polyglot.
Loyle Carner Is One of the UK’s Best Storytellers
Loyle Carner brings his trademark earnestness and affable rapping style to the forefront in a stirring record using jazz chords, breakbeat drums, and live guitars.
Rashid Brings Brazilian Rap to Lincoln Center
As Rashid prepares to step onto the stage at Lincoln Center where Rakim and Big Daddy Kane performed, he believes Brazilian identity opens doors for today’s hip-hop artists.