The album that has the Lab divided! Some are hating hard, some can't get enough. I can see both sides, but I gotta say... I'm in the second camp. Kon had me right from the Steely Dan sample in "Champion(1)," and even if there are a couple missteps here (I'll blame "Drunk and Hot Girls" on Jon Brion), there's also a lot on par with the monster "Stronger(2)" and "Can't Tell Me Nothing(3)" duo. "Everything I Am(4)" calls back to his earlier days, and even if Jay got "Beach Chair" out first, Kanye's Chris Martin collab ("Homecoming(5)") is better, with lyrics straight from a pre-Dropout mixtape. Speaking of Jigga... well, just check out "Big Brother(6)." 13 tracks total. Vinyl coming soon... Recommended.

reviewed by Larri Byrd