Sadat X – Never Left
January 20th was a big day – and not just because it was my birthday. While a lot of heads were busy checking for the new Lupe and Joey Bada$$ albums, I was checking for my pre-order of...
Lupe Fiasco – Tetsuo & Youth Review
Sometimes we often forget about the dedication and time an artist and their team put into a project. Here at Above Average Hip Hop we applaud every musician that we cover. Today, Lupe Fiasco blessed the community with...
B4.DA.$$ Review
On his 20th birthday, Brooklynite Joey Bada$$ delivered a gift to the hip-hop world in the form of his highly anticipated debut album, B4.DA.$$ (pronounced “Before Da Money). Early on in the listening experience, the “Badman” claims to...
DMX’s Illegitimate New Album
Nothing makes us not look forward to an album like when the main artist themselves talk extensive shit about it – can you blame us? Their heart clearly wasn’t in it. Often it comes down to the fact...
Big Pun – Bronx Legends Never Die
Last night when I made my way to my mailbox I had only one thing on my mind – Big Pun. A week earlier, after hitting up producer Domingo on Twitter, I was about to receive a USB...
Special’s Top 5 of 2014: #1 Freddie Gibbs x Madlib
Former CTE records artist has a habit of making deep introspective music. Madlib has a habit of being an OCD producer who makes brilliant soulful beats that are so dope they can stand on their own without any...
Special’s Top 5 of 2014: #2 PRhyme
PRhyme may have been one of the most anticipated albums of year in many circles, but it was far from the first collaboration by the duo of Royce Da 5'9 and DJ Premier.
Special’s Top 5 of 2014: #3 J.Cole
J.Cole is kind of a polarizing artist – and for what reason I don’t know. You love him or you don’t listen to him (I refuse to categorize that as hate). I admit, I slept on him for...