https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6XIAum5FlOOtoxd6ShCZ6h?si=c4f04c6a35d2446d

The usual suspects dropped this month with Boldy James, Nicholas Craven & Ransom’s Salvation for the Wicked (gritty street tales over elite, menacing production) and Larry June, Curren$y & The Alchemist’s Spiral Staircase (smooth luxury rap with those organic, laid-back flows we love).

We share our thoughts on Baby Keem’s Ca$ino, the mini-doc series and its rollout genius, whether Keem’s evolved since The Melodic Blue, fave beats/features that slap, commercial predictions, and if he’s leading the new school or not.

Ledbyher - Elephant. Give it a listen. It’s worth it.

Looking ahead we’ve got Denzel Curry & the Scythe’s Strictly 4 the Scythe (6 March), Ms Banks’ South LDN Lover Girl (13 March), Brusier Wolf & Sheefy McFly’s Push & Paint (13 March), Elucid’s I Guess U Had to be There (13 March), Wesley Joseph’s Forever Someday (10 April) – plus, where’s Stove God Cooks hiding? We will see at the end of March.

Also Kiran adds his takes on J. Cole’s The Fall Off and answers whether this project is peak Cole or needs more time to marinate. Spoiler alert … His opinion changes every week and with every listen.

J. Cole's The Fall Off dropped – years of hype, no features (except those sneaky Future & Tems ones), double-disc introspection that could either cement his GOAT status or has he fallen off for good.

We share our raw takes and try to answer: Does this live up to the hype, or is it just J Cole Stan/Dreamville comfort food?

Track-by-track, we dissect if the album meets fans expectations pre-release, how the dual-disc "fall-off" concept lands (brilliant or bloated?), standout bangers (those mid-album heaters), elite production, favourite surprises, and real disappointments – sequencing slips, missed opportunities.

Is this Cole's best work? Can we call this an instant classic? How does it rewrite his legacy – is Cole the GOAT or is it time to pass the torch? Listen now for our unfiltered breakdown.

P.s. Listen to our J. Cole Discog Discussions episode if you haven’t already.

We get into the fallout from the latest Grammy Awards, with a spotlight on Kendrick Lamar’s historic wins and all the drama around the Best Rap Album category.

We talk about where the line sits between commercial success and real artistic merit, how much live performances should matter, and why UK rap and hip-hop still don’t always get the recognition they deserve.

From there, we zoom out and ask whether award shows actually reflect the culture, or if hip-hop needs more specific categories to properly celebrate different sounds and scenes.

We also dig into how international artists are finally starting to break through on the big stages, and what those cosigns mean for their careers.

We then switch gears into album talk, sharing our thoughts on Tyler, The Creator’s Chromakopia and Kendrick Lamar’s Let God Sort Them Out — from production and concepts to replay value and where they fit in each artist’s catalogue.

Along the way, we look at how fan culture in hip-hop has changed, and we wrap up by speculating on where the genre might be heading with the next wave of releases.

Takeaways

Kendrick Lamar is now the most awarded rapper in Grammy history with 27 wins.

The Best Rap Album category sparked debates about deserving winners.

GNX's commercial success raises questions about its artistic merit.

Kendrick's wins are sometimes viewed as politically motivated rather than purely artistic.

Tyler the Creator's nominations highlight the competition in the rap genre.

Live performances can significantly impact an artist's recognition at award shows.

The Grammys have improved in representing hip-hop but still have room for growth.

UK artists like Little Sims deserve more recognition at the Grammys.

The need for more specific categories in hip-hop is evident.

The conversation around awards often reflects broader industry politics. Little Sims deserves international recognition.

The Grammys often overlook global talent.

UK music awards have their own significance.

Album reviews can be subjective and varied.

Fan culture in hip-hop has become increasingly polarized.

The quality of music should be prioritized over awards.

Tyler the Creator's 'Chromakopia' is a standout album.

Kendrick Lamar's 'Let God Sort Them Out' has mixed reviews.

The future of hip-hop looks promising with new releases.

The Grammys may not reflect the true merit of music.