Republic Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Drake's For All The Dogs album from late last year is a heartfelt tribute to loyalty, perseverance, and the bonds shared between companions. With his signature introspection and smooth delivery, the divisive Canadian rapper navigates themes of loyalty, resilience and personal growth on an album that now arrives on vinyl for the first time. The record's poignant lyrics and emotive production create a poignant reflection on life's challenges and the importance of staying true to oneself all with plenty of his usual studio trickery and signature low ends.

Review: Only a year after concluding his ambitious 'Man On The Moon' trilogy, Kid Cudi is already reissuing the third and final instalment in the saga, 'The Chosen', in 2xLP format. Demonstrating the artist's bold sidestep into cloud rap (as opposed to stark classics like 'Day N Nite'), this album contains slow-chugging dreamers like 'Mr. Solo Dolo III' and playful gut-bouncers a-la 'Tequila Shots', spanning collabs with Trippie Redd, Skepta, Pop Smoke and folk pop sensation Phoebe Bridgers. For those invested in Kudi's artistic progression, this is a concept album finding the rapper in an internal struggle against his evil alter-ego, Mr. Rager - whether Cudi prevails is up to the listener's interpretation.

Review: More than a decade on from the release of her second album, Nicki Minaj enjoys a stratospheric reputation as one of the queens of contemporary American pop. It is in part thanks to this album, too, as it moved her away from there sounds of her debut into something more overtly fun. The first half is all hip-hop, the seance a mix of dance-pop, all of it with a variety of collaborators taking production credits. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and went on to be certified double platinum with singles like 'Starships' defining its sound.