Steven Bernstein Releases Brilliant Twin Albums
For all the amazing horn playing that we finally hear from Steven Bernstein these two records remind us that he remains daring and highly conceptual.
hip-hop
Vince Staples Adopts a Rock-Leaning and Polemical Stance
Vince Staples comments on the injustices and genocidal tendencies baked into the US’s DNA, striking a balance between satire, rant, and attunement to the tragic.
The ‘World Cup 2026 Album’ Puts Afrobeats at the Center
Football is the world’s game because everyone can play it. The best moments on the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album understand that pop is, finally, the same.
Asake’s ‘M$NEY’ Is a Victory Parade and Quiet Prayer
Four years in, Asake is no longer arguing. He is content, and content, on a record this carefully made, turns out to sound like something close to grace.
Did Drake and Kendrick Lamar Kill Battle Rap?
The biggest rap battle in history between Drake and Kendrick Lamar blurred the line between victory and cultural collapse. Has hip-hop killed itself?
Kneecap’s Remarkable Sound of Righteous Fury
That Kneecap can move between righteous fury and profound tenderness without losing coherence is a measure of how much they have grown.
Thundercat’s Humor Undermines an Otherwise Radiant LP
By not fully letting his guard down, the genre-bending bass virtuoso Thundercat fails to harmonize with the profound beauty of his songs.
Wesley Joseph Is a Hugely Talented New Musical Voice
Wesley Joseph creates a sweeping, ambitious collection of tracks that serves as a vivid self-portrait of a hugely talented new voice in British music.
billy woods and Mickey Diamond Take a Bite Out of “Peter and the Wolf”
This is the story of an escape: billy woods, Mickey Diamond and the hip-hop fairytale that underground rap needed.
Planet B’s “War’s Coming Home” Tours Our Current Hellscape
Planet B’s Justin Pearson has accumulated a discography that impressively hangs together without repetition, and this is yet another powerful entry.
When Hip-Hop’s the LOX Reclaimed Their Power and Respect
Looking back on when Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch took matters into their own hands as the Lox to reestablish themselves as the voice of the people.
Johnel Builds Resonance From Chaos
Nigerian hip-hop artist Johnel creates what he calls “borderless music”, a synchronous vibration that resounds across nations and faith.