King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude

by 
AlbumDec 18 / 201510 songs, 33m 18s98%
Gangsta Rap Southern Hip Hop
Popular Highly Rated

Pusha T has one of the most ruthless—and most compelling—worldviews in modern rap. Featuring contributions from Kanye West (“M.P.A.”), Jill Scott (“Sunshine”), and Timbaland (the brilliant “Got Em Covered”), his lean second album is as tough as 2013’s *My Name is My Name*, crafting a world where villains become heroes, violence keeps the peace, and you might joke but you never—ever—laugh. “Leave your conscience at the door,” he suggests during the intro, and speeds off from there.

664

8.2 / 10

Pusha T's sophomore studio album is an exercise in pure craft for everyone involved. The beats sound like money, and the raps are whip smart and cleanly tailored; imagine Tony Montana slipping out of the country scot-free ahead of his career-ending Scarface raid, and you arrive at the cocktail of spite and incredulity fueling Darkest Before Dawn.

8.2 / 10

Pusha T's sophomore studio album is an exercise in pure craft for everyone involved. The beats sound like money, and the raps are whip smart and cleanly tailored; imagine Tony Montana slipping out of the country scot-free ahead of his career-ending Scarface raid, and you arrive at the cocktail of spite and incredulity fueling Darkest Before Dawn.

A-

As its name would suggest, King Push—Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude is a bleak, caustic, and at times unsettling listening experience. It is a 10-track twisted odyssey crafted by one of the most lyrically gifted rappers of the 21st century as he unloads on a range of specific enemies and larger issues both real and…

A-

As its name would suggest, King Push—Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude is a bleak, caustic, and at times unsettling listening experience. It is a 10-track twisted odyssey crafted by one of the most lyrically gifted rappers of the 21st century as he unloads on a range of specific enemies and larger issues both real and…

7 / 10

7 / 10

7 / 10

The G.O.O.D. Music head honcho and half of Clipse gives us another volume of high quality product, and while it isn’t his best work it’s still leagues above most drug rap.

7 / 10

The G.O.O.D. Music head honcho and half of Clipse gives us another volume of high quality product, and while it isn’t his best work it’s still leagues above most drug rap.

7.8 / 10

On King Push - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude, the show goes on.

7.8 / 10

On King Push - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude, the show goes on.

Check out our album review of Artist's King Push: Darkest Before the Dawn – the Prelude on Rolling Stone.com.

Check out our album review of Artist's King Push: Darkest Before the Dawn – the Prelude on Rolling Stone.com.

Pusha T has so much more to offer than before

Pusha T has so much more to offer than before

8 / 10

While many media outlets, including Exclaim!, already settled up their annual Album of the Year lists, veteran emcee Pusha T's latest effort...

8 / 10

While many media outlets, including Exclaim!, already settled up their annual Album of the Year lists, veteran emcee Pusha T's latest effort...

8 / 10

As one half of Clipse, Pusha T - together with his brother Malice - enjoyed a sterling run in the 2000s, rolling out at least two bona fide classic albums

8 / 10

As one half of Clipse, Pusha T - together with his brother Malice - enjoyed a sterling run in the 2000s, rolling out at least two bona fide classic albums

The veteran rapper and former Clipse man is compelling on the first of a duo of linked albums

The veteran rapper and former Clipse man is compelling on the first of a duo of linked albums

8.1 / 10

Review of King Push - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude by Pusha T. The full-length is now out via Def Jam/Good Music.

8.1 / 10

Review of King Push - Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude by Pusha T. The full-length is now out via Def Jam/Good Music.

Deploying an impressive lyrical prowess, King Push links ideas-driven hip-hop to commercial swagger

Deploying an impressive lyrical prowess, King Push links ideas-driven hip-hop to commercial swagger

4.0 / 5

Pusha T - King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude review: Adulation and recognition be damned.

4.0 / 5

Pusha T - King Push – Darkest Before Dawn: The Prelude review: Adulation and recognition be damned.