A Look Into Brandon's Mind

Milestones: Teflon Don by Rick Ross Rick Ross did what few thought possible just a couple of years prior: he ascended to hip-hop’s upper echelon with an album so opulent and assured that it silenced nearly all doubters.

Rick Ross did what few thought possible just a couple of years prior: he ascended to hip-hop’s upper echelon with an album so opulent and assured that it silenced nearly all doubters.

Anniversaries: Take a Look Around by Masta Ace Take a Look Around moves between two moods: lighthearted battle rhymes and earnest commentary on ghetto life. Ace never wholly separates them; even his braggadocio carries a moral undertone.

Take a Look Around moves between two moods: lighthearted battle rhymes and earnest commentary on ghetto life. Ace never wholly separates them; even his braggadocio carries a moral undertone.

Anniversaries: Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 by Jill Scott Jill Scott opened that world to us with love, with laughter, with a poet’s pen and a powerhouse voice. Twenty-five years later, she showed us the way, and the culture is still catching up to her lead.

Jill Scott opened that world to us with love, with laughter, with a poet’s pen and a powerhouse voice. Twenty-five years later, she showed us the way, and the culture is still catching up to her lead.

New Music Drops: July 18, 2025 Here’s your upcoming rundown of albums/singles releasing on July 18th, featuring Raekwon, Joyner Lucas, Leigh-Anne, Anycia, and many others.

Here’s your upcoming rundown of albums/singles releasing on July 18th, featuring Raekwon, Joyner Lucas, Leigh-Anne, Anycia, and many others.

Album Review: The Emperor’s New Clothes by Raekwon By anchoring the new record, Raekwon accents fraternity with peers while asserting an individual blueprint: selective features, hand-picked beats, long-form storytelling, and veteran self-awareness.

By anchoring the new record, Raekwon accents fraternity with peers while asserting an individual blueprint: selective features, hand-picked beats, long-form storytelling, and veteran self-awareness.

Milestones: DS2 by Future Future helped solidify Atlanta’s dominance in mid-2010s hip-hop by marrying the city’s hard-edged trap sonics with a level of introspection rarely heard on that scale, as seen on Dirty Sprite 2.

Future helped solidify Atlanta’s dominance in mid-2010s hip-hop by marrying the city’s hard-edged trap sonics with a level of introspection rarely heard on that scale, as seen on Dirty Sprite 2.

Wednesday Roundups #110: 22 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time With Open Mike Eagle, Jane Handcock, TOBi, CARI, Masspike Miles, Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, Kokoroko, Yelawolf/J. Michael Phillips, Sækyi, and others, hit play on these projects released last week.

With Open Mike Eagle, Jane Handcock, TOBi, CARI, Masspike Miles, Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, Kokoroko, Yelawolf/J. Michael Phillips, Sækyi, and others, hit play on these projects released last week.

Anniversaries: The Show, The After-Party, The Hotel by Jodeci Jodeci’s third album was an ambitious concept record that captured the group’s gospel-fired vocals and hip-hop swagger in equal measure.

Jodeci’s third album was an ambitious concept record that captured the group’s gospel-fired vocals and hip-hop swagger in equal measure.

Album Review: Beside Myself by DJ Haram DJ Haram joins the instrumentation, proof that for all her curatorial skill, her story can no longer be told strictly in samples, then invites an insurgent guest list to ignite the mix.

DJ Haram joins the instrumentation, proof that for all her curatorial skill, her story can no longer be told strictly in samples, then invites an insurgent guest list to ignite the mix.

Anniversaries: Jazzmatazz, Vol. II: The New Reality by Guru With luminaries like Branford Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Ramsey Lewis, and Kenny Garrett on board, Vol. II upped the star-power ante, but did it elevate the music beyond mere novelty?

With luminaries like Branford Marsalis, Freddie Hubbard, Ramsey Lewis, and Kenny Garrett on board, Vol. II upped the star-power ante, but did it elevate the music beyond mere novelty?

Anniversaries: Miss Thang by Monica Miss Thang plays like the work of a young artist exuberantly fluent in the language of ‘90s R&B, yet already possessing the vocal authority of a seasoned pro.

Miss Thang plays like the work of a young artist exuberantly fluent in the language of ‘90s R&B, yet already possessing the vocal authority of a seasoned pro.

Clipse and Dismantling the Fallacy of Agism in Hip-Hop Hip-hop thrives when agism crumbles, fostering a future where creators endure beyond trends. Veterans pave paths for longevity, proving that maturity fuels innovation.

Hip-hop thrives when agism crumbles, fostering a future where creators endure beyond trends. Veterans pave paths for longevity, proving that maturity fuels innovation. Read over at Blackpolitan.

Milestones: ‘Til Shiloh by Buju Banton ‘Til Shiloh signaled a dramatic transformation in dancehall, blending spiritual roots reggae with the hard-edged energy of '90s Jamaican sound system culture.

‘Til Shiloh signaled a dramatic transformation in dancehall, blending spiritual roots reggae with the hard-edged energy of '90s Jamaican sound system culture.

Anniversaries: Lianne La Havas (Self-Titled) by Lianne La Havas By choosing to fully co-produce and self-title the record, Lianne La Havas made clear that this time, no one would dilute her vision. This took five years to craft a more pure expression of herself.

By choosing to fully co-produce and self-title the record, Lianne La Havas made clear that this time, no one would dilute her vision. This took five years to craft a more pure expression of herself.

Album Review: JACKBOYS 2 by JACKBOYS & Travis Scott Travis Scott and his Cactus Jack crew’s much-anticipated sequel promises “17 new tracks full of trunk rattling classics in the making,” all hosted by the legendary Bun B of UGK.

Travis Scott and his Cactus Jack crew’s much-anticipated sequel promises “17 new tracks full of trunk rattling classics in the making,” all hosted by the legendary Bun B of UGK.

Anniversaries: Miles: From an Interlude Called Life by Blu & Exile If Below the Heavens was about reaching for the skies, Miles is about digging into the earth below, unearthing the roots, and understanding how those roots shape the fruits of the present.

If Below the Heavens was about reaching for the skies, Miles is about digging into the earth below, unearthing the roots, and understanding how those roots shape the fruits of the present.

Album Review: Beloved by Giveon Giveon’s sophomore album, Beloved, arrives after a prolonged wait, promising a new level of honesty and zooming out to consider the lessons learned and how those experiences have shaped him.

Giveon’s sophomore album, Beloved, arrives after a prolonged wait, promising a new level of honesty and zooming out to consider the lessons learned and how those experiences have shaped him.

Anniversaries: Off the Hook by Xscape Xscape were never the most choreographed or market-blitzed quartet, yet Off the Hook shows four singers willing to cede spotlight to one another for the sake of blend.

Xscape were never the most choreographed or market-blitzed quartet, yet Off the Hook shows four singers willing to cede spotlight to one another for the sake of blend.

Album Review: Swag by Justin Bieber Swag marks Justin Bieber’s return after a four-year hiatus since becoming a Dad. From the title alone, it nods to his early “swag” era while incorporating more mature, introspective elements.

Swag marks Justin Bieber’s return after a four-year hiatus since becoming a Dad. From the title alone, it nods to his early “swag” era while incorporating more mature, introspective elements.

New Music Drops: July 11, 2025 Here’s your upcoming rundown of albums/singles releasing on July 11th, featuring Clipse, Giveon, Goo Goo Dolls, Craig David, and many others.

Here’s your upcoming rundown of albums/singles releasing on July 11th, featuring Clipse, Giveon, Goo Goo Dolls, Craig David, and many others.

Album Review: Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse Pusha remains relentless, Malice newly measured, and Let God Sort Em Out anchors not as a victory lap but as a living archive of choices, debts, and devotion.

Pusha remains relentless, Malice newly measured, and Let God Sort Em Out anchors not as a victory lap but as a living archive of choices, debts, and devotion.

Wednesday Roundups #109: 17 Albums/EPs You Should Listen to In Your Spare Time With Kae Tempest, Smoke DZA, Ramirez, The Colleagues/October London, GRIMM Doza & KGM Steezus, La Reezy/PJ Morton, Olympia Vitalis, and others, hit play on these projects released last week.

With Kae Tempest, Smoke DZA, Ramirez, The Colleagues/October London, GRIMM Doza & KGM Steezus, La Reezy/PJ Morton, Olympia Vitalis, and others, hit play on these projects released last week.

Anniversaries: Black Rose by Tyrese Tyrese doubled down on classic soul values, positioning Black Rose as both a personal swan song and a love letter to traditional R&B.

Tyrese doubled down on classic soul values, positioning Black Rose as both a personal swan song and a love letter to traditional R&B.

What the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Verdict Reveals About Our Justice System The Combs verdict reveals a system that still struggles to hold the powerful accountable, and a culture that still struggles to believe and protect those they harm.

The Combs verdict reveals a system that still struggles to hold the powerful accountable, and a culture that still struggles to believe and protect those they harm. Read over at Blackpolitan.

Anniversaries: Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty by Big Boi Big Boi’s left foot forward was a giant leap, and its funky footprint in hip-hop history is undeniable. It proved that the man who helped give us classics pushed the envelope even without his partner.

Big Boi’s left foot forward was a giant leap, and its funky footprint in hip-hop history is undeniable. It proved that the man who helped give us classics pushed the envelope even without his partner.

Anniversaries: Irons in the Fire by Teena Marie Irons in the Fire is not only a career pinnacle but also a manifesto: the moment Teena Marie became the boss of her sound and, in doing so, cleared a path for others to follow.

Irons in the Fire is not only a career pinnacle but also a manifesto: the moment Teena Marie became the boss of her sound and, in doing so, cleared a path for others to follow.

Album Review: Live and In Color by Juicy J & Logic When a Maryland technician links with a Memphis trailblazer, the album proves that respect and curiosity can bend genre lines without breaking them.

When a Maryland technician links with a Memphis trailblazer, the album proves that respect and curiosity can bend genre lines without breaking them.

Album Review: My Face Hurts from Smiling by Lizzo This three-day project finds Lizzo rapping as if she’s racing against a deadline, not chasing inspiration. What was billed as a carefree flex feels more like a public statement drafted under pressure.

This three-day project finds Lizzo rapping as if she’s racing against a deadline, not chasing inspiration. What was billed as a carefree flex feels more like a public statement drafted under pressure.

New Music Drops: July 4, 2025 Here’s your upcoming rundown of albums/singles releasing on July 4th, featuring Kesha, Kae Tempest, Chance the Rapper, Venna, and many others.

Here’s your upcoming rundown of albums/singles releasing on July 4th, featuring Kesha, Kae Tempest, Chance the Rapper, Venna, and many others.

Milestones: Brown Sugar by D’Angelo Armed with a Marvin Gaye-like honeyed croon and the streetwise swagger of a rapper, the young D’Angelo channeled the spirit of 1970s soul through a 1990s lens.

Armed with a Marvin Gaye-like honeyed croon and the streetwise swagger of a rapper, the young D’Angelo channeled the spirit of 1970s soul through a 1990s lens.