Welcome To Rap Album Reviews.com!
A site where you can find reviews on albums by your favorite rappers, from Nas to Bigge to Pac.
NOTICE: Rap Album Reviews.com is still in its preliminary stage. Be patient!
NOTICE: Rap Album Reviews.com is still in its preliminary stage. Be patient!
LATEST REVIEWS
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
Reasonable Doubt was excellent, Vol. 1 was good, Vol. 2 was very strong and Vol. 3 was decent. So what about Jay-Z's fifth studio album, The Dynasty: Roc La Familia in which Hov - releasing his first album of the new millennium - spends a lot of time establishing the cred of some of his disciples, among those Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel and Freeway. It is by far Jay's least solo production; only two songs do not feature a guest, and big names like Snoop Dogg, Scarface and R. Kelly are present as well. Of course, as with any album that features a lot of albums, the question is how the original artist - and the man who's supposed to be in charge - handles the collaborations and whether he can hold his own or not. Jay mostly does that, but while the album has a few gems it is less impressive than Hova's first four productions, causing some fans to perhaps (See artist page for full review)
Nastradamus
I Am... The Autobiography was a commercial success despite not being nearly as strong as rapper's first two albums, but Nas must have been feeling some sort of pressure as he released his fourth album, Nastradamus less than a year afterwards. Perhaps he felt disappointed with his last effort, or perhaps he had been hurt by a particularly scathing review. Perhaps he just needed another record to cement his status as one of NY's kings, along with Jay-Z and DMX. Sadly, he would've done better to wait a while, as Nastradamus failed to achieve the commercial success Nas's other albums had received. In fact, Nastradamus - as it had been released shortly after the less-than-spectacular I Am... - actually led some to believe that the 26 year-old MC was beginning his decline.
The 2nd track, "Life We Chose" is an encouraging sign, as Nas goes back to the sound that made him popular, rapping critically about the street and the street mentality. Unfortunately... (See artist page for full review)
The 2nd track, "Life We Chose" is an encouraging sign, as Nas goes back to the sound that made him popular, rapping critically about the street and the street mentality. Unfortunately... (See artist page for full review)
Vol. 3: The Life And Time Of S. Carter
Before the release of Vol. 3: The Life And Times Of S. Carter (which is actually the fourth album released by Hov), Jay-Z had already released three highly successful albums, so the expectations were high. Unfortunately, Jay could not meet the lofty expectations; despite releasing a strong CD in Vol. 3, he failed to match both the lyrical brilliance and successful production that he had on his first three productions: Reasonable Doubt, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life. Despite that, Vol. 3 was still a highlight of 1999 and was certified triple-platinum.
Perhaps the first thing that jumps out at the listener is that the jazzy sound Jay had been gradually whittling down in his music in pretty much gone; however, the album is for the most part not mainstream, with a few exceptions ("Things U Do" featuring Mariah Carey... (See artist page for full review)
Perhaps the first thing that jumps out at the listener is that the jazzy sound Jay had been gradually whittling down in his music in pretty much gone; however, the album is for the most part not mainstream, with a few exceptions ("Things U Do" featuring Mariah Carey... (See artist page for full review)
Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
In the months before his debut album Get Rich Or Die Tryin', 50 Cent became one of the most infamous figures in the rap game despite not having released an actual album yet (he had already released two mixtapes, Guess Who's Back and the unreleased Power Of The Dollar, the former of which had attracted the attention of rap juggernaut Eminem). He had apparently been shot nine times, including in the jaw, and he boasted about selling crack and murdering enemies in the hood. He even looked like a typical East-Coast rapper - a foul-mouthed, muscular presence who was never seen without he trademark bulletproof vest. Most other rappers would falter amidst all the hype and would deliver a disappointing album. 50 Cent thrived... (See artist page for full review)
I Am... The Autobiography
Illmatic was legendary, It Was Written was a fantastic followup and Nas's third studio album, I Am... The Autobiography was... well, disappointing. Once again, he gathers and army of producers, yet this time the beats and rhythms sound out-dated and old, as if Nas and his team were out of ideas but were pressed to put something together. It had been three years since It Was Written and as a result I Am... was lapped up by fans and critics alike, yet it was not like the Queens native's first two albums. After an intro sampling older Nas tracks comes "NY State Of Mind, Pt. 2", a follow-up to one of the best songs in hip-hop history. Unfortunately, the second installment is not like the genius of the original - Nas tries to find (See artist page for full review)
The Massacre
So, you've just risen to the top of a rap scene with a 8x platinum debut, you're signed by Eminem and you've cemented your place in hip-hop lore with a classic picture of you rocking a bulletproof vest: what next? Well, for 50 Cent, after spending two years working with Em and developing his G-Unit Empire - already formidable - The Massacre was the next step; an album in which Fiddy returns to what made him famous - the usual charade of guns, sex and machoism with some witty lyricism and a lot of great beats. 50 is clearly trying to top his 1st album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin', and he doesn't manage to do so but still turns in a top-mark effort that continued the legacy of Queens native Curtis Jackson.
The intro is basically a soundtrack for the title; lots of shooting and screaming that depicts a "Valentine's Day Massacre". After that... (See artist page for full review)
The intro is basically a soundtrack for the title; lots of shooting and screaming that depicts a "Valentine's Day Massacre". After that... (See artist page for full review)
