(CLICK ARTWORK FOR DOWNLOAD LINKS)
*
(From Left To Right, not in Ranking Order)*
1.
Self-Scientific - Trials of the Blackhearted - Overall the best free album released this month in terms of pure aesthetics. On some deeper, melancholic shit akin to an Atmosphere album, but definitely feels less Velveta (yes I'm taking shots lol). It's also not as one-sided featuring both high and mellow levels of aggression, and features great production that focuses on tight mastering and clean structures rather than messy overproduction and rapping as solid as any current rap standby. You've heard stuff similar, but nothing done quite as solidly like this in a while.
2.
Curren$y - Covert Coup - The very pinnacle of chill, weed rap. Let's be honest you don't need me to recommend this, if you haven't already downloaded this at the mere mention of Spitta and Alchemist you're probably in the wrong place.
3.
Trouble- December 17th - The hardest banging free album for the car released this month in terms of pure aggression and delivery. Trouble's southern sounding bravado is every bit as hype as Wacka without stooping to a braindead level of repetition.There are like two soft ass songs on this thing, but the rest goes. Just go ahead and delete that soft ass shit and put this on when you feel like slapping a motherfucker. Turn your shit up to 80, and if your shit don't go up to 80 get your system souped or something!
4.
Dee Goodz- Floetic Justice 2: B.O.T.H. (Actually missed this last month) - Dude has the flow of the century, he and Chuuwee rap so effortlessly shit is ridiculous. This is the usual smart, weed rap that Dee Goodz does so well. Just something you can kick back to light up a joint and cook up something productive while under the influence to, a warm cozy musical sounding mixtape/album.
5.
Rockwell Powers & Ill Pill- Kids in the Back 2 - Only second to the Alchemist joint in terms of overall best production for this month, this thing is greater than backpack rap. Rockwell is a real down to earth rapper, not super flashy, but has a great delivery and hits solidly on all levels. This is a real meat and potatoes album, with some intelligence, and near perfect mastering. This might be the safest winner, everyone should be able to appreciate it.
6.
Green Street - Don't Look Down - This might be the chillest release of the month, which is pretty surprising considering both DZA and Spitta released shit as well. Pretty much the perfect marriage of jazzy beats, catchy hooks, and reflective lyrics. And what's best is that these guys seem to have a great sense of humor as well, very conscious of the type of music they're crafting and of their listeners.
7.
M.I. - Prep Time - This album is a testament to how to make dope soft ass tracks, Wiz should take notes. Prep Time speaks to heart my heart, lol. No, but seriously these are soft-ass tracks without any of the cringe factor that don't sound mass manufactured or thrown together in two seconds. This is also a great album to throw on whenever, or if ever you have some females over for a little drinking/smoking.
8.
Aleon Craft - Mothership Decatur - Probably the best release to net an eight spot on one of my lists, but about one third of the songs are old to me, and the album seems to suffer from the same ups and downs as past AC releases. However, when Aleon Craft is on his shit he sounds like the missing link between Big Boi and Andre 3K. For example, Simplistic Expression is my most favorite track to come out on any of these releases this month, and yet I still chose to put this release near the bottom just because of how uneven this thing is. But I have to say this is by far the most ambitious release as well, in terms of creative expression it doesn't sound like much else being made today. It's soulful and it bangs at times. If you like southern rap I'm sure you'll find something to like on here.
9.
Fabolous- The S.O.U.L. Tape - Oh man if you know me you know I'm not usually a fan of mixtapes with a bunch of rehashed beats, but these are all so well picked that this thing flows like an album. Fabolous is also hungry as hell, far from that soft ass Baby shit, in any other month this would have been top two. Such a soulful tape as the tape implies, Fabolous shows what he can do with great production, instead of the pop shit he gets fed on many of his more recent album tracks.
10.
Smoke DZA - The Hustlers Catalog - Quintessential weed rap, but slightly more well-rounded than the usual DZA affair. Also the production seems a bit more varied, some of tracks actually bang pretty hard, like Fuck is You Talkin' About. DZA has swagger to cover up a few of the weaknesses in his rapping technique, just a guy that knows how to accentuate his strengths. However, he constantly gets overshadowed by his features on his albums. His style is like the middle ground between K.R.I.T. and Spitta with a NYC-flair...Although maybe that's giving him a bit too much credit. : )
