Joe Budden's sixth proper studio album was released during a year in which the rapper feuded with
Meek Mill and
Drake. Produced in its entirety by
AraabMuzik,
Rage & the Machine is nonetheless strictly business as usual. Though
Budden has had conflicts with significantly younger MCs, he embraces his elder statesmen status on "Uncle Joe," gloating "I wear that age like it's a three-piece suit."
Budden later gets help from
Tory Lanez, whose music was introduced to him through his son, as well as
Fabolous, on "Flex," a velvety track with some replayed elements of
Idris Muhammad's soul-jazz classic "Piece of Mind" and a vocal reference to
Bobby Brown's 1988 hit "Roni." On the tougher end, there's the battling "By Law," where he addresses "young kiddies" and requests "Play this record if they kill me, yes, the five-O." If not revelatory, this is a strong and inspired addition to
Budden's discography. ~ Andy Kellman