Articles by Wesley McLean

'Ramona Park Broke My Heart' Is the Quintessential Vince Staples Album
PUBLISHED Apr 8, 2022
For better or worse, Vince Staples has always proudly been a product of his environment. The 28-year-old rapper has confidently claimed Lo...
Phife Dawg's 'Forever' Captures the Late Artist's Warm, Wise Spirit
PUBLISHED Mar 30, 2022
In November 2015, a Tribe Called Quest celebrated the 25th anniversary of their debut album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of...
The Weeknd Cements His Status as an All-Time Great on 'Dawn FM'
PUBLISHED Jan 10, 2022
It's rare to be able to acknowledge the presence of an all-time great while they're still in their prime, but when an artist has made it as...
Rick Ross Revels in His Signature Sound and Style on 'Richer Than I Ever Been'
PUBLISHED Dec 14, 2021
Rick Ross has spent almost twenty years mastering not only his craft, but his character and sound. Album after album, Ross has expanded his...
Andy Shauf Continues to Flex His Storytelling Strengths on 'Wilds'
PUBLISHED Sep 29, 2021
Andy Shauf crafted something incredibly special when he put together his 2020 release The Neon Skyline. The album was a tour-de-force for t...
Injury Reserve Give Stepa J. Groggs a Heartbreaking Memorial on 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix'
PUBLISHED Sep 13, 2021
On June 29, 2020, one of Injury Reserve's founding members, Jordan Alexander "Stepa J." Groggs, tragically passed away at 32 years old. The...
Isaiah Rashad Is at the Top of His Game on 'The House Is Burning'
PUBLISHED Aug 4, 2021
Top Dawg Entertainment has had a stranglehold on hip-hop for about a decade now, proving time and time again that their roster contains som...
Prince's 'Welcome 2 America' Is a Fantastic Album He Probably Wouldn't Want You to Hear
PUBLISHED Jul 27, 2021
In the modern music landscape, few things are as polarizing as the posthumous release. Most of the time, unfinished music gets pieced toget...