Whether you like rap, rock, classical or country, you'll find your favorite music at the Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy, MA.
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on May 14th, 2013
“Compared to the albums he’s released under the name Tha Carter, Lil Wayne’s I Am Not a Human Being series is noticeably looser. The quality control is certainly above mixtape or street-release level, but stray tracks and Carter leftovers are given their homes here, while the overall album flow is allowed to be reckless…. [A]nyone [...]
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Mar 25th, 2013
“Laced with dialogue from Michael Mann, Woody Allen, Blaxploitation, and slasher flicks, as well as a few other sources, the productions maintain a steady low-key mood suited for bleary 3 a.m. listening… Grim and exultant at once, this is low-profile hustling on wax at its finest.” –All Music Guide Check Our Catalog
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Mar 5th, 2013
“A$AP Rocky comes off as rap’s Jim Morrison, offering an accessible, attractive, and brutish journey into darkness while remaining true to his spirit.” –All Music Guide Check Our Catalog
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop, Rock/Pop on Mar 5th, 2013
“Steeped in tradition but always looking for a better tomorrow, rapper Killer Mike already had an incredibly strong discography before R.A.P. Music landed, but here he hits harder than any of his fans could have hoped… Revolutionary stuff and absolutely no fluff, R.A.P. Music is outstanding.” –All Music Guide Check Our Catalog
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Feb 20th, 2013
“Cancer4Cure is about hip-hop like Glengarry Glen Ross was about sales, but these great works transcend their industries, offering solace and inspiration to anyone who would prefer a satisfied mind over a Cadillac Eldorado, or in current terms, an Escalade.” –All Music Guide Check Our Catalog
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Feb 20th, 2013
“The Money Store is an important record that’s also compelling, loaded with kinetic blows against the empire and fully stuffed with that attractive maverick spirit.” –All Music Guide Check Our Catalog
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Feb 19th, 2013
“[A] very ’70s and very psychedelic album — Russian Roulette is the Alchemist going solo and thematic, constructing tracks by sampling old Russian records — jazzy, psychedelic, soulful, and otherwise — and grabbing some dialog from ’80s movies that were cold war-themed. His final touch is the jaw-droppingly excellent guest list that contributes to these [...]
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop, Rock/Pop on Feb 13th, 2013
“Here, Eminem is plain-spoken and literal, intent on refuting every critic from Benzino at The Source to Triumph the Insult Comic Dog… While the album is a little long, it’s worth a listen to hear the moments that work really well, whether it’s full songs or flights of phrase.” –All Music Guide Check Our Catalog
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Feb 12th, 2013
“It’s an amazing, cool, and filling mix, and with Homeboy himself being that right mix of persuasive and challenging, First of a Living Breed is an easy recommendation for any lyric-loving hip-hop head.” –All Music Guide Check Our Catalog
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Jan 10th, 2013
“Having torn it up on the first two volumes of Maybach Music’s Self Made compilations, Philadelphia rapper and former Grand Hustle artist Meek Mill finally busts out on his own on Dreams and Nightmares… As far as graduations from mixtapes to major-label releases go, this one is still satisfying and a step forward, plus slicked [...]
Posted in Movies, Rap/Hip Hop, Soundtracks on Jan 8th, 2013
“Offered the opportunity to direct a karate flick — and with all the freedom, funding, and flash that an executive producer like Quentin Tarantino would allow — Wu-Tang leader and kung-fu fanatic RZA must have been like a kid in a candy store. Still, the soundtrack to his directorial debut is classic, restrained RZA, as [...]
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop, Rock/Pop on Dec 6th, 2012
“A predictably righteous volley of rhyme grenades on race and pop-culture politics, tinged with grumpy nostalgia, it’s startlingly potent. Grooves clobber, facts sucker-punch; and Flavor Flav lights up ’31 Flavors’ like a Christmas tree, riding a hot go-go groove. They’re still partying for their right to fight, hard as ever.” –Rolling Stone Check Our Catalog
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop, Rock/Pop on Dec 4th, 2012
“K’NAAN['s] 2012 effort, Country, God or the Girl, another grand step down the Wyclef and U2 road where you’ll find sincerity, grandness, poignancy, political anthems, and big productions. …K’NAAN’s a rock-solid songwriter with a charismatic delivery that rains down sparks of cool guy and clever, so call this familiar but rewarding one ‘Gracedland’ or just [...]
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop, Rock/Pop on Dec 1st, 2012
“This journey through the concrete jungle of Compton is worth taking because of the artistic richness within, plus the attraction of a whip-smart rapper flying high during his rookie season. Any hesitation about the horror of it all is quickly wiped away by Kendrick’s mix of true talk, open heart, open mind, and extended hand. [...]
Posted in R&B, Rap/Hip Hop, Rock/Pop on Aug 15th, 2012
“Ne-Yo is a real talent as a songwriter, and as a vocalist he is unmistakably more concerned with serving the song than his ego. He’s not the flashiest vocalist, but he’s able to put across contrasting emotions with slight adjustments, and he balances toughness with tenderness exceptionally well — all of which are uncommon traits [...]
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop, Rock/Pop on Aug 10th, 2012
“…[Nas] sells it all, delivering everything here as if its classic status was assured and will never fall into an embarrassment trap… If the game needed Illmatic, this is the one Nas needed to get out of his system, acting as a clearinghouse for all venom and bile, plus some gloss that doesn’t fit but [...]
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Jul 12th, 2012
“This is bold pop-rap at an “Arena” level, and while partying like a rock star means cohesiveness takes a hit, Strange Clouds is still thrilling and persuasive.”–All Music Guide Check Our Catalog
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Mar 12th, 2012
“Slaine doesn’t inundate listeners with a bunch of hedonistic, cartoonishly decadent lyrics about “getting crunk in the club” or how much hard liquor a groupie in daisy dukes or booty shorts consumed before she stumbled onto the dancefloor; instead, he keeps it street (although not gangsta) and spends most of this effort rapping about either [...]
Posted in Rap/Hip Hop on Mar 12th, 2012
“Native Sun is a cry of both joy and of pain that began in his roots in Accra, was forged in the African diaspora and is now fulfilled upon a hip-hop platform that stretches far beyond his homeland and transcends the idea of the conventional hip-hop album.” –PopMatters Check Our Catalog
Posted in R&B, Rap/Hip Hop on Feb 13th, 2012
“Take Care has the feel of a late-night R&B album, full of slow tempos, muted textures, impassioned crooning, and an introspective tone.” –All Music Guide Check Our Catalog