Boogie - Everything's For Sale

7.1

Debut studio album from Compton rapper Boogie holds true potential, displaying smooth and knacky instrumentals and beats while asserting at clever, lively storytelling and urban poetry.

Highlights

- Guest rappers are great features to the tunes involved.

- Versatility as well as power throughout the record.

- Interesting wordplays all around.

Lowlights

- While it's a good beginning, one cannot help but thinking his whole potential hadn't been reached out on this record. Time will only tell.

Standouts

- Soho

- Skydive

- Silent Ride

Country: USA

Released: January 25, 2019

Length: 38:59

Ariana Grande - thank u, next

6.8

Outbursts of empowerment, reflection and resilience are stubbornly paired up with underdeveloped and redundant trap pop tracks. But despite its turbulence and hurry, thank u, next stands as Ariana's most down-to-earth, sonically consistent and laid back record in her ever-ascending career.

Highlights

- It's good to know it's her first album with all songs co-written and produced by herself, and with no vocal guests at all.

- Most of the tracks are greatly formed and are undeniably catchy.

- The artist's emotional versatility and vulnerability pay off, especially on the slower parts.

Lowlights

- As tightly packed as it seems, there's little coherence in motifs and well-thought connectivity between songs.

- Some less impressive standouts seem equal between one another.

- Ariana's voice doesn't seem to be catching up with her full potential, not even by a half.

Standouts

- thank u, next

- needy

- ghostin

Country: USA

Released: February 8, 2019

Length: 41:10

Aesop Rock & TOBACCO Are Malibu Ken - Malibu Ken

7.7

The unsurprising duo fuses what we all were expecting: abstract, cathartic pieces of poetry made rap verses, all hung out into psychedelic, trippy synths and modulations. And besides that, Malibu Ken manages to sound both compact and full of charisma.

Highlights

- Aes' verses kill it once again, razor-blading with edgy alliteration and deadpan humour.

- Tobacco shines throughout most of the tracks, elevating the verses and giving enough space for them to grow.

- The record hardly ever loses momentum and sense of purpose.

Lowlights

- Distorted vocals at the end of each track is kind of an overused weapon after the first half.

- It seems like a couple of songs lack force or intuitive gut on and within them.

Standouts

- Corn Maze

- Sword Box

- Dog Years

Country: USA

Released: January 18, 2019

Length: 34:34