The Weeknd
Trilogy
Universal Republic; 2012
Score (Potholes In My Blog scale): 4.0 / 5.0
The Weeknd’s major label debut is simply a compilation of 2011’s three heralded EPs: House Of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes Of Silence. While there are still thrills to be discovered by those unfamiliar with the group, there’s not much new for the already initiated. The Weeknd’s devoted fans are left with the question: What’s next?
Click here to read my full review.
The good folks at Potholes In My Blog occasionally run retrospective pieces on the milestone anniversaries of landmark albums. They asked me to do such a piece for Jay-Z’s sophomore LP, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1, which turns 15 today. Click here to read my thoughts.
Kendrick Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d. city
Interscope Records / Aftermath Entertainment; 2012
Score (Potholes In My Blog scale): 4.5 / 5.0
Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city is one of the best hip-hop albums of 2012. But you already knew that. Click here to read my review at PiMB.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
The Heist
Self-released; 2012
Score (PiMB scale): 3.5 / 5.0
Seattle rap superhero Macklemore and his production partner Ryan Lewis released their debut album last week, The Heist. Read my full album review at Potholes In My Blog, here.
Bambu
One Rifle Per Family
Beatrock Music; 2012
Score (Potholes In My Blog scale): 4.0 / 5.0
Click here to read my review of Bambu’s new — and, according to him, final — full-length, One Rifle Per Family.
For seven nights now, Jay-Z has paid his respects to the borough that birthed him: Brooklyn. I was in the crowd on Monday night when he got all wistful an’ shit. Read my thoughts on the matter, here.
Homeboy Sandman
First Of A Living Breed
Stones Throw; 2012
Score: 3.5 / 5.0
Super lyrical Homeboy Sandman drops more left-of-center knowledge on his first LP for Stones Throw Records. Click here to read my review at Potholes In My Blog.
Click image to download.
The estimable folks at heavy-on-the-independent Potholes In My Blog (conflict of interest alert!) collaborated with Seattle super-producer Jake One for this 12-track mix. Local representation via The Physics and Vitamin D. Click here to find the review I wrote for The Physics’ Tomorrow People.
The Physics
Tomorrow People
Independently released; 2012
Score (Potholes In My Blog scale): 4.0 / 5.0
The Physics deliver yet another well-rounded and accomplished album in Tomorrow People. Read my thoughts here.
Nas
Life Is Good
Def Jam; 2012
Score (Potholes In My Blog scale): 4.0 / 5.0
A SEATTLE HIP-HOP BLOG 