Shatter the Standards

Shatter the Standards

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The Lineage of Michael Jackson (Vocal Groups)
Each guide is based on this run of albums, believed to be part of Michael Jackson’s roots. It then branches out into post-1995, drawn from that tree…
 • Shatter the Standards, Brandon O'Sullivan, and Phil
Album Review: Clarity of Mind by Omah Lay
A Port Harcourt singer prays to Jesus and chases ikebe in the same bar. He doesn’t bother separating them.
 • Shatter the Standards and Ameenah Laquita
Album Review: POMPEII // UTILITY by Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE & SURF GANG
A double album built on kinship and SURF GANG drums that dares both fanbases to keep up. It’s the noisiest, most generous thing either rapper has made.
 • Shatter the Standards and Koda Lin
New Music Drops: April 3, 2026
As new albums and singles get constantly flooded into our radar, look no further than skimming through the release week of April 3rd. We know it can be…
 • Shatter the Standards
Album Review: Same Difference by Swae Lee
Pop-rap’s best hired voice finally gets a proper solo album. Most of it sounds like the songs he used to give away.
 • Shatter the Standards and LeMarcus
Album Review: Ambiguous Desire by Arlo Parks
Parks traded the bedroom for the dancefloor and brought all her worst feelings with her. The songs are better for it.
 • Shatter the Standards and Charlotte Rochel
Album Review: Distracted by Thundercat
Sober and still scattered, Thundercat swaps Flying Lotus for an Adele producer and sounds more like himself than ever.
 • Shatter the Standards and Phil
Milestones: Donny Hathaway by Donny Hathaway
The 1971 self-titled sophomore album from the soul singer whose borrowed songs became indistinguishable from prayer. Atlantic wanted a crossover act…
 • Shatter the Standards and Imani Raven
Album Review: Soundtrack 2 Get Her Back by Jozzy
A hitmaker’s debut that sings to women without explanation. The pen was always there; the nerve is new.
 • Shatter the Standards and Darryl Keyes
Milestones: Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite by Maxwell
A self-taught Brooklyn kid made a concept album about monogamy while R&B chased hip-hop, and the label buried it for a year.
 • Shatter the Standards and Renée Holloway
Album Review: The Internet Killed the Neighborhood by Marlon Craft
His self-funded fourth album turns a Wi-Fi-addled grievance into something worth grieving. Nobody with a label would have bankrolled it.
 • Shatter the Standards and Quinn Baptiste
Album Review: STBC! III: "Shifa" by cunabear & Steel Tipped Dove
On a record titled after the Arabic word for healing, cunabear builds rooms for others to rest in.
 • Shatter the Standards and Lance “LX” Brooks
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