We are dedicated to celebrating milestones, unearthing lesser-known musical gems, and promoting discussions around albums and new music that might not receive ample attention in mainstream conversations.
| Platform |  | Pricing | Freemium | Publishes | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 2131 | Founded | 4 years ago | Last Issue | 3 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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shatterthestandards.comLatest Issues
Album Review: Depths of a Man: A Memoir by Sylvan LaCue
Courtesy of WiseUp & Co.
When his name was still QuESt, he was a promising underground rapper from Miami. The Searching Sylvan mixtape earned him respect and a label contract. But in 2016, Sylvan LaCue put the QuESt to rest; he left his la...
Album Review: Forgiveness by Mega Simone
Courtesy of Mega Simone.
Pale Jay is a falsetto soul singer who performs with his head wrapped in cloth. He’s done this his whole career, where his face, apparently, is a non-factor. Only the music does the talking. This album, except for...
Album Review: LA by Blu & Sndtrak
Courtesy of Nature Sounds.
Since 1988, when Ice Cube first exported it, South Central has been reselling itself, first as violence, then nostalgia, and now just as needed background in the form of daily rentals. Someone has to live on the...
New Music Drops: September 4, 2026
NMD (09.04.26)
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Beyoncé: B’Day 20th Anniversary Edition
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Ellie Goulding: I Know Too Much
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Adéla: Prima
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Rebecca Black: Age...
Lil’ Mo Was Never Meant to Stay in One Lane (2001 bmr Interview)
In the first half of 2001, if there were an award for guest appearances, it would have to go to Lil’ Mo.
Translator’s Note: Written by Minako Ikeshiro for bmr (Black Music Review) in an August 2001 magazine issue number 276. Originally wri...
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Authors
The writers behind this newsletter.
Shatter the Standards sparks discussion around albums and new music that mainstream outlets often overlook, elevates the next generation, provides context, and keeps hyperbolic industry chatter out of the room.
Murffey Zavier has been writing about rap as a hobby for his now-defunct blog. He is also an aspiring writer, film composer, and artist. Even more than that, he is a massive fan of jazz, all kinds of R&B, and hip-hop with an experimental bent.
the internet's biggest unknown Dilla fan
A healthy doctrine of wonder and beauty in the Imago Dei shapes our hearts not to date like a consumer and more like a complement. We embrace a Soul culture of open hands & hearts where Jesus does.
music writer at large
Amplify the global Black soundscape—connecting legacy, politics, and future-leaning music culture in one feed.
Celebrate the depths of modern soul—documenting the intimate frequencies of R&B, hip-hop soul, neo-soul, and groove-centered art across the diaspora.
\ud83c\udf0d Slow growth is better than no growth
Established in 1995, disbanded in 2007. Amplifying Black music stories for heads who live on the front line of hip‑hop and R&B culture—wherever they are.
The one and only associate staff writer for Words Past da Margin (Shatter the Standards)
Black Music Review (ブラック・ミュージック・リヴュー) was a Japan-based monthly magazine focused on Black music from 1981-2011. It was published by Space Shower Network and covered genres including R&B, funk, and hip-hop.
faith > fear
Veteran beat writer turned culture essayist; has a conversational authority that grounds experimental work.
Close reading, light on jargon, heavy on receipts. \ud83e\uddfe\ud83e\udee6
contributing writer for visual culture, cover art history, and salon-level critique
Serial creator, copywriter, fiercely proud father and husband, guitar addict and food enjoyer.
Documents the albums, writers, producers, and hustlers behind the hits. ✈️\ud83c\udf0d
staff writer \ud83d\uddfd
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