Doja Cat review – pop superstar or true freak? US iconoclast plays the tension to perfection

Moving seamlessly through extravagant choreography between bubblegum–rap and darker, rockier material, the singer is always in full command

Drake: Iceman / Maid of Honour / Habibti review – ​triple-album comeback is a boring, bloated disaster

It’s possible that the world’s biggest rapper is using this epic content drop to get out of his record deal, but aside from some bright spots on Iceman, should the public really be subjected to it?

Kneecap: Fenian review – their new album is terrific, triumphant yet tortured

With strong words for Keir Starmer, the Irish rave-rap trio remain unbowed by the controversy around them – and yet this is a more ruminative record than you might expect

Earl Sweatshirt, Mike and Surf Gang: Pompeii // Utility review – rap radicals’ appealing study in contrasts

Earl’s post-Odd Future career swerved the mainstream to follow the path laid out by NYC underground rapper Mike, and their first double album lets both shine

Wu-Tang Clan review – still bringing the ruckus even on their farewell tour

This is slicker than their thrillingly chaotic early gigs, but the veteran New York hip-hop crew’s flows remain feral after 30-odd years

Dave review – prodigiously skilled rapper conjures thrilling intimacy on a grand scale

Showcasing chart-topping album The Boy Who Played the Harp, Dave charismatically switches between heavy beats, rock-show grandeur and searching introspection

The Streets review – semi-theatrical staging of A Grand Don’t Come for Free resurrects a British classic

Deadpan recital of the era-defining album of downbeat English rap suits the full-album format, presented with a formidable band

Cardi B review – ambitious spectacle and sizzling choreography

Kia Forum, Los AngelesGrammy-winning Bronx rapper electrifies LA with pugnacious lyrics and vivid set pieces on her first arena tour

J Cole: The Fall Off review – rap legend’s final album is a self-obsessed hip-hop history lesson

(Interscope)Bowing out after six consecutive US No 1 albums, Cole references rap greats and even conjures a convo between Biggie and 2Pac – but the lens rarely strays from himself

A$AP Rocky: Don’t Be Dumb review – a charismatic, playful return, but it’s no slam dunk

Now a father of three and burgeoning actor, Rocky finally comes back to music with his strongest album since his 2013 debut – though there’s plenty of flab

Kendrick Lamar review – with Doechii revving up the crowd, this is an extraordinary show for the ages

Rap’s ‘swamp princess’ has the crowd in the palm of her hand before Lamar dazzles with pyrotechnics and Drake disses

Danny Brown: Stardust review – hyperpop-rap powered up with post-rehab positivity

The Detroit rapper feared his music would get dull after he went sober, but no-one could be bored by this guest-stuffed, chaotically swaggering new album

Dave: The Boy Who Played the Harp review – ​it’s clearer than ever what a stunningly skilled rapper he is

Returning with his first album in four years, the arena-filling UK rapper is still such a smart, sharp lyricist as he explores a series of existential crises

Fridayz Live Sydney review – Mariah Carey is impeccable but Pitbull steals the show

Dual headliners capped a R&B festival with fever-dream energy, including self-help sermons and Pitbull cosplayers everywhere you looked

Little Simz review – hip-hop visionary radiates joy and Gallagher-level swagger

Switching from full-arena singalongs to horn-blaring funk to sweaty Detroit techno club vibes, the rapper is at the very top of her game