Lav's Music Corner

Last year I covered some of the biggest releases in rap music from the boys in one big rapid fire review. Now, the women have been throwing out some of the most notable moments of the year so let's dig into what they have to offer. MEGAN  - Megan Thee Stallion I like Megan Thee Stallion a lot but it isn't because of the quality of her projects. Calling someone a "singles artist" is deeply patronizing but there isn't really another way to explain why Megan has so many amazing songs and no full projects that I can say I genuinely enjoy. Savage , Thot Shit , Hot Girl Summer , Plan B , these are the kind of songs that launched her to fame, and yet all of the projects they landed on were muddled messes with as many bad ideas as good ones. That could have even been the case with this record, which featured one single in particular, the lethal diss track and opener HISS , that I absolutely love. Unfortunately though, MEGAN  has some of the same pitfalls that have plagued...

5.  Cobra  - Megan Thee Stallion Okay, this feels like a song we're gonna be working through for a LONG time. Firstly, the track sees Megan getting VERY raw about her mental health and how her fame and success haven't helped. If anything after the second verse it feels like it's all making her even more paranoid. She delivers a LOT of interesting thoughts to chew over on the song, but the presentation really hasn't changed much from almost any other Megan banger. It seems worth asking if this sonic style if the best way to deliver her message. I can't not talk about this song though. Listen 4.  i got the fear  - Torres The second offer from Torres' forthcoming album is a ballad which achieves a bit of a creeping aesthetic with the physicality of the acoustic guitar really seeping its way into every single strum. It also unfolds in a very patient manner that isn't afraid to use space between the refrains and work in a distant synthetic drum that feels like a ...

Rapsody is a North Carolina rapper who released her debut album in 2012 to an unfortunate lack of critical attention. After signing to Jay-Z's Roc Nation label she dropped her breakout project Laila's Wisdom in 2017 to critical acclaim, and despite being quiet since then, announced the upcoming release of her third album just days before it inevitably dropped. Review By Lavender: I was introduced to Rapsody a little bit earlier than most given that she resides in my home state of North Carolina and made more than one guest appearance at Raleigh's Hopscotch festival which I frequented. So when I saw her grabbing some much deserved attention with the lead single to her second record Power  which featured Top Dawg darlings Kendrick Lamar and Lance Skiiiwalker, O was excited and happy for her. When the record this track was promoting ultimately got released I was a pretty big fan of it as Rapsody was unrelenting in her individuality and unafraid to be herself. The only m...

1. Angel Olsen - All Mirrors Angel returns with her first new single since 2017 and her first proper album since 2016 to top one of the best release weekends of the summer. The Asheville based singer finally broke through with her 2016 record and after a B-Sides records she is back in full force with All Mirrors  and a #1 debut. 2. Ariana Grande  - boyfriend  (Feat. Social House) After dropping two great records in the span of six months Ari took a well deserved break from releasing music, but once again has seen fit to release a new single with massive waves of hype behind it, falling victim to a highly anticipated debut that keeps it from being her second #1 of 2019. 3. Rapsody - ibtihaj  (Feat. D'Angelo and RZA) Rapsody returns after dropping a great album and single in Power  in 2017 and she returns to the chart here with some eye popping features in legendary and reclusive R&B singer D'Angelo and Wu-Tang member RZA. 4. Brockhampton - I've Been ...