Shatter the Standards

Shatter the Standards

Home
Album Reviews
BLAST
Blackpolitan
Lists
Milestones
NWSPRNT
Soulpolitan
Wednesday Roundups

Lists

The 50 Best Albums of 2025 (So Far…)
In the past few months, a very few different records have drifted into rotation, but even though there’s a lot to be desired in certain areas, here are…
The Best R&B Music of 2025 (So Far…)
This year didn’t deliver too many standouts in the mainstream. However, on the other side, they sketch a panorama of R&B’s present, rooted in tradition…
The Handguide to ‘70s Funk Albums (Beginners Edition)
These selected albums significantly influenced the history of funk, conveying its breadth and diversity.
 • 
Brandon O'Sullivan
 and 
Murffey Zavier
May 2025 Roundups: The Best Albums of the Month
With releases from billy woods to Kali Uchis, here are notable releases in April that stood out to us as the best albums of the month.
The Handguide to Backwoodz Studioz
These releases chart the moment when Backwoodz Studioz forged its signature alloy of literary street rap, deconstructed samplecraft, and…
 • 
Brandon O'Sullivan
 and 
Phil
April 2025 Roundups: The Best Albums of the Month
With releases from Bon Iver to Jane Remover, here are notable releases in April that stood out to us as the best albums of the month.
Revisiting the Year 1978 in R&B
Stitch these moments together and you get a year that didn’t add chapters to R&B’s saga but opened entirely new plotlines.
 • 
Brandon O'Sullivan
 and 
Phil
The Lineage of Miles Davis and Roy Ayers
Each guide is based on legendary musicians believed to be part of D’Angelo’s roots. It then branches out into post-‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Voodoo,’ drawn…
 • 
Brandon O'Sullivan
, 
Phil
, 
Tai Lawson
, and 
Imani Raven
R&B Albums That Basically Counts As Going to Therapy
Below is a hand‑picked R&B syllabus for the soul—seventy albums that feel less like casual listening and more like a guided therapy session.
 • 
Brandon O'Sullivan
21
The Lineage of Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and Minnie Riperton
Each guide is based on legendary musicians believed to be part of D’Angelo’s roots. It then branches out into post-‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Voodoo,’ drawn…
 • 
Brandon O'Sullivan
 and 
Phil
4
The Lineage of Roberta Flack, Nina Simone, and Billie Holiday
Each guide is based on legendary musicians believed to be part of D’Angelo’s roots. It then branches out into post-‘Brown Sugar’ and ‘Voodoo,’ drawn…
 • 
Brandon O'Sullivan
 and 
Phil
3
The Handguide to the Ladies of Hip-Hop
Presented chronologically to show the long march of ladies in rap music toward success and recognition, contains several types of projects.
 • 
Tai Lawson
, 
Jamila W.
, and 
Tabia N. Mullings
© 2025 Shatter the Standards, LLC.
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture