I only got into Apollo Brown] (the producer of this album) recently through 'The Reset', which I thought was banging, and had long-lasting appeal. This album is similar, in that while there may not be any extraordinary tracks, it keeps you going back to it. I think it lacks that two or three more distinctive featured rappers or beats to change up the feeling of the album, but it is a very cohesive release, lyrically largely focusing on the current rap industry. Best Tracks: Frozen, How We Live, The Melody, Desperation

Another few months, another Apollo Brown project. If you have heard The Left's 'Gas Mask' or Apollo Brown's solo albums, the sound this gives off will not surprise you. Boom bap, with some great sampling-along with some rehashed beats-and conscious lyrics from the rappers. This time it's Red Pill and Verbal Kent who aren't extremely engaging vocally, but the lyrics are enjoyable enough. Overall it's easy to play from front to back, with a couple of standouts. One of the most enjoyable albums so far this year. It would be great though to see Apollo work with some bigger rappers. Best Tracks: Good Things Die, Never Go, This Is Life, Impaired Judgement, Push

I enjoy most of the production on this with its southern soul vibe. Tracks like 'Da Game Been Good to Me' is great and one of my favourite tracks for the year. It's a fairly consistent album and I have to agree with most of the reviews I've seen. However, while I do enjoy Akon more than most, 'Hard as Hell' just doesn't really fit on the album as it sounds more like something Akon would have on his own project. It's an album you can enjoy from front-back but I don't love enough of it to give '4 Life' a higher rating. Best Tracks: Da Game Been Good to Me, Still on the Grind, The Pimp and the Bun, Used to Be

I'm surprised people are hating on this album and Bun B like his first two solo albums were classics. They each have their moments, but I find them to be very inconsistent. While lacking enough great moments, this is his easiest album to listen to from front to back, with twelve or so solid tunes. The weakest track for me is easily the T-Pain featured single, 'Trillionaire' - I'm not one of those autotune haters as such, it just isn't a very good song. But apart from that, you have some nice bangers including the best in 'I Git Down 4 Mine' which blends excellently from the previous track with "Bun B" chants. The DJ Premier produced, 'Let 'Em Know', is also nice and adds to a number of different sounds and different producers on the album which is around nine. Overall I find this his most consistent record with a few to go back to for years. Best Tracks: Chuuch!!!, I Git Down 4 Mine, Let 'Em Know, All a Dream

This is partly new material from R. Kelly and some old stuff. 50/50 to be exact - with tracks 6 & 9 being from 'U Saved Me' from 2004, 7, 10 & 12 being from 'R.' from 1998, and 'The World's Greatest' from the the 'Ali' soundtrack or the 'Chocolate Factory' bonus disc a couple of years later. While that's only six new songs, (some were meant to be part of the heavily bootlegged 'Loveland', that became 'Chocolate Factory'), one being a prelude and one a month or two old from the FIFA World Cup, all are quality and all add to the soul/ballad/build-up type of songs such as the well known 'I Believe I Can Fly' and 'Worlds Greatest'. 'Can You Feel It' is slightly more upbeat but maintains the same sort of uplifting feeling of the other tracks. 'I Believe' goes off! God damn! 'Heal It' and 'Victory' are other strong cuts that were from a planned album full of uplifting songs about/dedicated to Africa that the label didn't let him release. 'Sign of a Victory' and 'Fireworks' are both tracks inspired by the 2010 World Cup. While Kells has slipped off being able to make a consistent album, he still creates some great tunes and this is an example of it. If you enjoy tracks such as 'I Believe I Can Fly' and the 'U Saved Me' disc, then all the new songs should induce enjoyment on this album/compilation.