Queensbridge delivers one of the first hip hop albums this year. Big Noyd is not a rookie in this game and he proves us again he’s got skills. The Mobb Deep associate has recorded a compilation of songs that will make you think of last year Prodigy’s Return Of The Mac. There’s actually a lot of gangsta storytelling here too and some instrumentals sound quite like Prodigy’s. Anyway, no one can imitate Prodigy’s rude voice and tough flow, so it’s not exactly the same kind of music. This one sounds ‘soft’ if you compare it with what Mobb Deep usually releases. As one could imagine, Illustrious is not as good as Return Of The Mac, but it’s a lot of fun if you liked that mixtape. When it comes to collabos, there’s a bit of r&b and New York new values like Joell Ortiz (who released his debut album last year). Give it a chance. - Grey

Highlights / Things Done Changed feat. Kira (video)