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February 2026 Roundups: The Best Albums of the Month
February’s best albums came from people who had been holding something back. Jill Scott returns in a decade, Tiana Major9 left Motown and came back…
 • Shatter the Standards
Album Review: Soul Woman by Michelle David & The True-Tones
On her eighth album, Michelle David stops diagnosing the world and starts diagnosing herself, and the gospel-soul she builds with The True-Tones has…
 • Shatter the Standards and Imani Raven
The Lineage of Michael Jackson (Kids / Young Stars)
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: According To... by RJD2 & Supastition
On their collaborative effort, Supastition spends an entire album saying the things most rappers are too proud or too young to admit, and RJD2 builds…
 • Shatter the Standards and Rian Frost
New Music Drops: February 27, 2026
As new albums and singles get constantly flooded into our radar, look no further than skimming through the release week of February 27th. We know it can…
 • Shatter the Standards
Album Review: The Mountain by Gorillaz
Gorillaz finally stop curating and start mourning, producing their least polished and most necessary album since Plastic Beach.
 • Shatter the Standards and Phil
Album Review: With No Due Respect by Foggieraw
Foggieraw’s Mercury debut is a sweet charm offensive where the bars land faster than the feelings do, and the Bible verses sit right next to the booty…
 • Shatter the Standards and Nia Lattimore
Album Review: The Romantic by Bruno Mars
A Chicano soul valentine from a pop star who’s never sounded less interested in proving he’s a pop star. Mars and D’Mile bet everything on sweetness and…
 • Shatter the Standards and Chiamaka Boudreaux
Falling in Love with Bruno Mars All Over Again
A world-class superstar who needs no introduction enters a new chapter in romantic mode. The biggest release of 2026, an overwhelmingly entertaining…
 • Shatter the Standards and Darryl Keyes
The Breakout Rap and R&B Artists of 1996, Pt. 1
A LaFace newcomer who plays like a one-person unit meets a Bronx singer who can stand next to rappers. On the rap side, Queens detail and Brooklyn…
 • Shatter the Standards and Cierra Marcel
Album Review: BLACK ASS KUNG-FU FLICK by Mick Jenkins & greenSLLIME
Jenkins and greenSLLIME trade Chicago blocks across a concise, cohesive collaborative effort of South Side specificity. The best underground rap…
 • Shatter the Standards and Kevin Matthews
Wednesday Roundups #138: 14 New Projects You Should Listen to Now
Listen to new releases from Misha & BeMyFiasco, Chino XL, Lynae Vanee, Dave East & Scram Jones, Nnena, Fiend & DeeLow Diamond Man, 3ee, Pomrad, KUR…
 • Shatter the Standards
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