Organized Konfusion — Organized Konfusion

Excellent debut album by Organized Konfusion, duo composed of Larry "Prince Po" Baskerville and Troy "Pharoahe Monch" Jamerson, who presents himself here with a great alchemy. The production, made by the same duo, ditches a kind of masterpiece album: the rhythms are dark and hard funky, a little jazzy a little mediocre.

Remedy — Remedy Meets Wu-Tang

In 2021, Ross "Remedy" Filler released his third studio album, entirely self-produced together with Danny Caiazzo. The guests all come from the Wu universe with the notable exception of Griselda's spearhead Conway the Machine. At the mic, in addition to the aforementioned Conway, Remedy also features Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, Masta Killa, Method Man and RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, Killah Priest of Sunz of Man, Trife and Solomon Childs of Theodore Unit, Streetlife and Shyheim.

AAVV — Shady XV

For the 15th anniversary of Shady Records and his 15th album (excluding Mathers soloists), Eminem releases a compilation album, a double album of 27 tracks (+ 3 bonuses), some of which are original, for a total of over two hours of material. The production is signed by Eminem, Boi-1da, DJ Premier, Just Blaze, Statik Selektah, Dr. Dre, Mr. Porter, Luis Resto, Emile Haynie, Mike Elizondo, Conrad Clifton, John Hill, Marv Won, The Maven Boys, WLPWR, Apex, AraabMuzik, Jeff Bass, J-Praize, Katalyst, Witt & Pep, and Mr. Pyro. The performers are both the current members of the Shady Records roster, and the artists of the past: Eminem, 50 Cent, D12, Slaughterhouse, Yelawolf, Obie Trice, Bobby Creekwater, Ca$his, Stat Quo, plus guests Sia, Skylar Grey, Big Sean, Daddy Brown, Dej Loaf, Trick Trick, Kuniva, Kid Rock, Lloyd Banks and Nate Dogg.

Kryme Life — Juice Jones

Shaka Amazulu the 7th also resurrects the finished career of Kryme Life and allows him to print physical copies for his new project, limited to few dozen copies. The set of beats is put together by amateurs and the result is cheap, but not completely unpleasant, while the rapping of Kryme Life is not totally inspired. The other TMF members, Tommy Whispers and Trife da God, have one slot each as guests. Three quarters of an hour of material, thirteen tracks, not recommended.

Kryme Life — The Kryme Wave

Anthony "Kryme Life" Jones was born in Jamaica, Queens, and grew up in Stapleton, Staten Island, from an early age. Rapper of TMF (an acronym that takes on different meanings each time depending on how the sun turns), then a member of the Theodore Unit chaired by Ghostface, finally a solo artist who made his debut in 2007 with his own studio album financed through the independent label Ruffline, created by his uncle Triple OG, main guest, and Dan Bramley, main producer.

Machine Gun Kelly — Hotel Diablo

Refreshed by the new lifeblood that brought him the feud with Eminem, Machine Gun Kelly releases his fourth studio album.

Kryme Life — Krymewave 2

Second Kryme Life tape under Black Stone of Mecca in a few years. This is done as it should, from the finally good cover, to the melodic production to the energetic and concentrated rapping of Kryme Life, which brings some of his best songs here, between boom bap rhythms and more modern and closer to trap solutions. There are several highlights, despite a bit boring part at first, and the tape ends on a high note, with the rapper deciding to put a freestyle on the beat of "One", a song that Ghostface Killah has made iconic in 2000. Kryme Life makes a good impression here.

Hopsin — No Shame

Fifth studio album by Marcus "Hopsin" Hopson, rapper from Los Angeles, California. The production is entirely done by Hopsin, except "Black Sheep", produced by Harry Fraud. Eric Tucker, Joey Tee and Michael Speaks are the only guests. Published by Undercover Prodigy, distributed by 300 and Atlantic, it obtained a good commercial result, entering the first fifty places on the pop chart and in the first fifteen of rap records.

Statik Selektah & Termanology — Still 1982

Statik Selektah & Termanology's third studio album, six years after the previous one. The sound chosen by the beatmaker is acceptable and accessible, at times pleasant, East Coast boom bap with a jazzy flavor. The rapper is still in trouble when he's alone, so solo tracks are limited to two out of twelve. Guests are Kendra Foster, UFO Fev, Crimeapple, Haile Supreme, Mtume, CJ Fly, Nems, Beanz, Fame, Conway the Machine and Chris Rivers. Interesting is the song "It's on You" which features a ragga hook by Haile Supreme and the rapping contribution of Fame on an elegant jazz rhythm by Statik. Crimeapple flows well on one of the less successful productions here, while Nems delivers with a style that massacres the beat by overshadowing the other performers in the sixth song. Termanology, also passed from an agile UFO Fev, would also be present in "30 Shots": boom bap jazzy, drum downtempo, melodic sample, lounge vibes. The soundscape is Griselda house, Chris Rivers' professional attack, he destroys the track; Conway performs calm, fluid, cool, then follows the main rapper, quite bland. The tape has the same strengths and weaknesses as the previous ones released by the Boston duo, by now you know them after three LPs. 6/10.

213 — The Hard Way

Two One Three was born as a group in 1990, formed by Calvin "Snoop Dogg" Broadus, Warren "Warren G" Griffin & Nathaniel "Nate Dogg" Hale. The name of the trio derives from the telephone area code 213, which served the city of Long Beach at the time of the group's formation, a tribute to the Oakland group 415. After collaborating together on several albums, the trio manages to work on a single studio album in 2004. The production is carried out by DJ Pooh, Nottz, Terrace Martin, Lil 1/2 Dead, Hi-Tek, Fredwreck, Kanye West, Jelly Roll, Missy Elliott and Snoop Dogg credited as Niggarochi, among others. LaToiya Williams, Boki and Dave Chappelle are the only guests on the CD.

Snoop Dogg — Tha Blue Carpet Treatment

Six years later, Snoop Dogg brings back the blue on the cover for his eighth album, the whole project pays homage to the Crips, the music videos of the singles are permeated by blue everywhere. Production is performed by Dr. Dre, DJ Battlecat, DJ Pooh, Fredewreck, Jamie Foxx, Mr. Porter, Rick Rock, Nottz, The Neptunes, Timbaland, Stevie Wonder, Akon and Frequency, among others. Guests are Nate Dogg, George Clinton, B-Real, R. Kelly, Kurupt, Daz, Goldie Loc, MC Eiht, E-40, Damian Marley, The Game, Akon, Ice Cube, LaToiya Williams, Western Union, Nine Inch Dix, Jamie Foxx, War Zone, Stevie Wonder, D'Angelo and Dr. Dre.

Snoop Dogg Presents — Algorithm

In June 2021, Snoop Dogg is hired as an executive by Def Jam and four months later releases a compilation of twenty-five songs, in which he's present in eleven songs and reserves a single solo track for himself.

DJ Muggs — Winter 2

Ninth and last project in the 2021 season for DJ Muggs, producer from Los Angeles who in the last twelve months has released tapes together with Rome Streetz, Flee Lord, Yelawolf, Hologram, Crimeapple, and al.divino. This disc is a sequel that sees the return of several performers already present in the previous chapter (Meyhem Lauren, RLX, Crimeapple, Hologram), flanked by Roc Marciano, T.F, Rigz & Mooch and Ill Bill. The producer isn't placing his top rhythms into this effort nor are the rappers spitting out their most inspired bars or their tightest flows, which is why a somewhat gray and seesaw project comes out, decent overall. Rigz & Mooch don't disappoint, Roc is evergreen, the others are ok. 6.5/10.

French Montana — They Got Amnesia

French Montana's fourth studio album comes out almost by surprise, in mid-November, a few weeks after the announcement. There are over 30 people in production, but the music seems to be more punctual and focused than the rapper's previous mainstream releases: Hitmaka is the busiest beatmaker, alongside him appear French Montana himself, Harry Fraud, Diddy, Boi-1da and Cardiak. Guests are John Legend, Rick Ross, Kodak Black, Pop Smoke, Lil Durk, Saweetie, Doja Cat, Fivio Foreign, Fabolous, 42 Dugg, Col Leray, Ty Dolla Sign, Latto, Lil Tjay and Moneybagg Yo: most of these rappers and singers overshadow French. In particular, Rick Ross, Saweetie, Doja Cat, Fivio Foreign, Latto and MoneyBagg Yo.

2Pac — Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.

Tupac Shakur plans to release his second studio album in 1992, a year after the debut, but "Troublesome 21", the project's original title, is rejected by Warner. The artist creates half an album from the beginning, changes the title ("N.I.G.G.A." is an acronym for "Never Ignorant in Getting Goals Accomplished") and manages to bring some previous tracks into the new project, including "Souljah's Revenge", "Keep Ya Head Up", "Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...", "The Streetz R Deathrow" and "I Get Around", most of which will make up the final section of the album. Production is provided by a dozen different beatmakers: Live Squad, Stretch, Big D the Impossible, Bobcat, The Underground Railroad, Akshun, Special Ed, Truman Jefferson, DJ Daryl, D-Flow Production Squad, and 2Pac himself. As guests of the album, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Deadly Threat, Live Squad, Digital Underground, Wycked (2Pac's stepbrother, later known as Mopreme), Treach, Apache and Dave Hollister collaborate.

Dr. Dre — 2001

Seven years after his groundbreaking solo debut, Andre "Dr. Dre" Young releases his second studio album, one of the events in the hip-hop season. The album is a direct sequel to "The Chronic": the original title is "The Chronic 2000", Suge Knight isn't as powerful as in previous years, but he's still powerful, he can still be so annoying and decides to steal the title from Dre and use it for his compilation "Suge Knight Represents: Chronic 2000", in which, of course, there's no song realized by the former NWA. The producer chooses to change the name to "The Chronic 2001" and is again hampered until he gives up the word "Chronic". It comes out 2001. In 1999. The cover is a classic: entirely black, the author's name at the top left, the title at the bottom right, flanked by the marijuana plant ("The Chronic"), thus bypassing all obstacles. It's one of the few clever things in the whole project.

Statik KXNG — Statik KXNG

Collaborative studio album between Boston producer Statik Selektah and Long Beach rapper KXNG CROOKED. The rapper of the supergroup Slaughterhouse shows that he has an inspired pen and brings out texts on various topics, especially materialistic and bravado, as well as some socio-conscious and political extracts. Statik never really strays from his comfort zone, his loops are safe, calculated, melodic, still very good and his drums are lively and youthful. The production is fresh, jazz and soul, suited to Crooked's energetic, rough and fluid flow, capable of delivering some of his best solo tracks, having shown all his talent to the mainstream public on Slaughterhouse's best-selling albums. Distributed by Showoff, Circle of Bosses and Penalty, the project is crushed by some professional critics in a incomprehensible way: it's a solid and quality album, the beats in the ending are no longer great as in the beginning, nevertheless, it's one of Crooked I's best records. 7/10.

Amil — All Money Is Legal (A.M.I.L.)

Amil Whitehead is discovered by Jay-Z in 1997 as part of the Major Coins group, she debuts solo on his album "Vol. 2" (1998) and in the same year she signs solo for Roc-A-Fella: she's the first female rapper to agree with the label and becomes the "First Lady of Roc-A-Fella". Amil becomes Jay-Z protégé, he constantly engages in the promotion of her debut album, spending time and energy, the girl makes several appearances, the rapper writes her verses and prefers her to Foxy Brown. Between 1998 and 2000, Amil is in four Hova singles that make the charts, her career is launched with what should be a rousing major debut, but the girl, at 26, doesn't seem ready for the industry.

Joell Ortiz — Autograph

Sixth project by Joell Ortiz in the last four years, the Brooklyn rapper is committed to building a solid and coherent discography, releasing material with regular frequency. He has succeeded so far, excluding that EP with Salaam Remi, thanks to his own skills and a competent production that for a good part of his career, including the period with Slaughterhouse, he didn't get.

Snoop Doggy Dogg — Tha Doggfather

Calvin Broadus arrives to present his number two studio album after a very complicated life span. He creates his own label, which pays homage to his debut and becomes a subsidiary of Death Row Records, he's acquitted of his murder charge in February 1996 and only then decides to start recording this project. He abandons the gangster's life which could lead him to prison or death, and limits the violent content in his LP. Soon after, Dr. Dre leaves the Suge Knight label and in September of the same year, his friend and label mate Tupac Shakur is murdered. Snoop would like to continue working with Dre, but Suge stops him. Production is handled by DJ Pooh, Daz Dillinger, Soopafly, Sam Sneed, Snoop Dogg, L.T. Hutton, Arkim & Flair. Guests are Teena Marie, Charlie Wilson (new signing on Snoop's label), Kurupt the Kingpin, Soopafly, Too Short, Tha Dogg Pound, Warren G, Nate Dogg, LBC Crew and Tray Dee.

Statik Selektah & Nasty Nas — The Prophecy

Patrick "Statik Selektah" Baril released his first project in 2004, making a mixtape together with Nas. The tape consists of 28 tracks which also include AZ, Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, Cormega, Styles P, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Ludacris, Mobb Deep, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Lowkey, Large Professor, Kool G Rap, Termanology and The Isley Brothers.

Statik Selektah, Royce da 5'9" & DJ Premier — The Bar Exam [mixtape]

Released from prison, Royce da 5'9" must prove that he's the same talented rapper of the past years. To do so, he enlists Statik Selektah and DJ Premier in order to find twenty beats to spit braggadocio for over fifty minutes. The guests are Termanology, Jaretta, Rell, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson and his brother Kid Vishis. The Detroit MC proves to be one of the best lyricists of the season, bringing out one of the most successful projects of 2007. He really flows very well on Premier beats, proving that a collaborative album between the two could easily be a masterpiece, and is in confidence all the time. With all this battle rap tracks, Royce shines on finally good production, boasts a tight, fast, dominant flow and releases his best work yet. 7.5/10.

Kaze & 9th Wonder — Spirit of '94: Version 9.0

After releasing his debut independent album in 2003, Virginia-born rapper Kevin "Kaze" Thomas, who grew up between Virginia and North Carolina, releases a remix album entirely produced by 9th Wonder.

Kaze — Spirit of '94

Kevin Clarence "Kaze" Thomas writes, produces and self-releases his first album in 2003 via his Soul Dojo label. There are 70 minutes of material divided into 16 long tracks, many over four minutes and the last at eight. For the quality of the lyric material, the rapper doesn't stand out in the national circuit, having said that, the economic and simplistic production sinks the tape. Several tracks point to radio airplay and to the club, and excessive listening length takes away from the little replay value that the record might have. 5/10.

Ol' Dirty Bastard — A Son Unique

Somehow, Russell Jones manages to record his third and final studio album alive. It should be released in 2005, after his death, in a collaboration between Wu-Tang Records and Dame Dash's Damon Dash Music Group, a subsidiary of Roc-A-Fella with which it was about to start a split. It would be distributed by Universal via Island Def Jam.

Murs & 9th Wonder — Murray's Revenge

Almost exactly two years later, Murs & 9th Wonder release their second collaborative studio album. The two boys don't change their formula or the structure of the product, ten songs, about half an hour of listening, no skits, guests from the inner circle of Little Brother (Rapper Big Pooh, Joe Scudda). The Winston-Salem producer carves rhythms from soul and rnb samples, giving life to an unmissable half hour for fans of the chipmunk soul sound popularized by Jay-Z and Kanye in the early 2000s, even if aesthetes and specialists might notice the watered-down cherry flavor that this set of beats retains. The LA rapper Murs has never been in the fan's books as an all-time favorite, and if you don't know him, he might seem like a generic MC; here, he's not particularly surprising, but in fact, Nick Carter doesn't even disappoint, he boasts a competent and organic style, and he's quite fit with the liquid sound solution chosen by 9th Wonder. Released under the Record Collection, the effort is praised by critics, although it receives some less applause than the previous one, on the other hand, it improves in commercial results, entering several Billboard charts. In general, the LP sounds similar to the debut, where the two brought their respective best material. Not essential, 7/10.

Peedi Crakk — Welcome to the Crakk's House [mixtape]

A friend of Freeway since high school, the Philadelphia rapper got the fellow to sign with Roc-A-Fella Records in 2001, after Freeway had joined the label through a friendship he developed over the years with Beanie Sigel. The following year, Pedro Luis Zayas aka Peedi Crakk released his first single, "One for Peedi Crakk", a song created in collaboration with some guys who will later be part of the State Property group such as Sigel, Freeway and Young Chris: the single entered the rnb charts and ended up on the soundtrack of the film "Paid in Full", released the same year.

Raekwon — Cocainism Vol. 2 [mixtape]

Around "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt II" some of the best mixtapes released by Chef Raekwon have grown and formed. "Cocainism" shines among these and features the typical commercial move of artists of putting a vol. 2, 3, 4 or 50, when the former doesn't exist. Consisting of 21 short tracks and about 50 minutes of listening, the tape, edited by Brinks Boyz, features several guests who all leave a good impression: Noreaga, Tommy Nova, Mobb Deep and Mean Doe Green. Selasi is working on a ragga filler that I don't care about, but could please fans of the genre.

Gang Starr — One of the Best Yet

When Keith Elam died of cancer in April 2010, he had already stopped talking to Christopher Martin since 2004, and hadn't released an album with him since 2003. So, what would be the problem with two people stopping making music together? The answer lies in the fact that Elam and Martin aren't people like any other, under the pseudonyms Guru and Premier, they've made some of the best music of their kind, ever.