Aesop Rock - "Skelethon" 2012
What can I say? Another tight Aesop Rock album. It's not one of his best, or a near-classic or anything, but it's a damn good LP. Check the video for "ZZZ Top". Also check out "Grace" and "Tetra".
Whitechapel - "Whitechapel" 2012
A co-worker put me on to this one. Super tight new metal album. A lot of times it's hard for metal bands to impress me or stand out from the pack, but these guys definitely have a certain something that catches my ears. Check out the video for "I, Demetia". Also check out "(Cult)turalist" and "Dead Silence". Nice and aggressive.
Machinedrum - "Alarma" 2011
An EP from last year that I slept on. Not as impressive as most of his other stuff i've heard, but he's pretty awesome, so even his slightly lesser stuff is dope. Here's the title track. Also check out "Loveking", which is a low key club banger for sure. Also check "YNY"
Lunice - "Boiler Room Podcast" 2012
Nice sounding podcast from the other half of TNGHT. Here's the video footage of the entire set, with links to download just the audio for free as well.
Caspa - "Not For The Playlist EP" 2011
Not very impressive EP, but not unlistenable either. Check out "It Is What It Is"
Com Truise - "Cyanide Sisters" 2011
This one got put back in the main rotation right before I saw him in concert. Easily one of the best releases from last year. Check out "Sundriped", "Slow Peels", "Innerfacer", or "Iwywaw". He's one of those artists where a lot of his songs sound similar, but if you like the sound, then you'll probably like all or most of his songs.
The Alchemist - "Russian Roulette" 2012
This is really cool sounding for a modern rap album, and I really, really enjoy the direction that The Alchemist is taking with his career. Very sample heavy, but using relatively amazing sounding samples and EQing everything just right, and laying down just enough backbeat to let MC's rhyme over them sometimes. It's like his own twist on what Madlib and Oh No have been doing, but he seems to really have the knack for this style. Check out "Flight Confirmation" featuring Danny Brown and Schoolboy Q. Also check "Never Grow Up" featuring Evidence and "Apollo's Last Stand" featuring Ag The Coroner.
Richard Cheese - "Back In Black Tie" 2012
As with most of the last few releases he's made, it seems like he doesn't work as hard on his covers as he used to 6-8 years ago. These end up coming off as "just covers" to me instead of the comedic genius/satire that his older stuff had more of. Obviously, he's still pretty entertaining to me, or I wouldn't still listen to him. The theme of this album is people who are dead. Check out his version of Eazy-E's "Gimme That Nutt" or Sublime's "Doin Time". I can't find links for the studio versions, sorry.
Teebs - "Cecilia Tapes Collection" 2012
Nice and chill. Hissy and dreamy little EP. Check out "Track 05" and "Track 01"
Stevie Stone - "Rollin Stone" 2012
Newer Strange Music member comes with a decent debut. He kinda sounds like a combination of Krizz Kaliko and Kutt Calhoun, so he's definitely sticking with the crew's tried and true formulas, and honestly at this point, there's nothing wrong with that. This doesn't come off like the Big Scoob albums and some of Kutt Calhoun's stuff, where it sounds like they're struggling to come up with good new songs. Stevie sounds like he's ready for the big time. Check out the video for "808 Bendin" featuring Tech N9ne. Also check out "Goin Down" featuring Big Scoob and Spaide Ripper, and "Raw Talk" featuring Hopsin and Swizzz.
James Pants - "Hotel Collection" 2012
I couldn't even explain to you what his deal is, but James Pants is apparently just gonna keep hitting the world with awesome music in no particular style. Sadly, there is currently no clips of any of these songs on youtube for me to share with you. I highly suggest you check out any of his music though. In my eyes, you can't go wrong with any of his releases.
Piano Overlord - "Aninha Mission" 2012
Piano Overlord is Prefuse 73's alias that he uses for material that is made using strictly all piano-like devices. Meaning any bass tones that are on the album are created with keyboards, but there is very little low end at all in the sound of most of the songs. Just layered keyboards over loose drum beats. As with any of his stuff from the last few years, it's pretty unimpressive compared to what he used to do, but i'm still a big fan, and he hasn't lost it yet either. Check out "Reception" and "Somewhere South"
Machinedrum - "Nastyfuckk" 2012
Another dope EP from Machinedrum, who has been releasing stuff at the prolific pace of Madlib recently. Pretty jukey stuff. No complaints on that here, I can't seem to get enough of this style. Check out the title track. Insane. Also check "What You Wanted 2 Feel"
Dark Time Sunshine - "ANX" 2012
This album almost has a major label type sound quality while maintaining an "underground edge". There's some cool songs on here like "Look At What The Cat Did" featuring Busdriver and "Hosanna In The Highest" featuring Ceschi. Some of the lesser tracks on this album drag it down a bit to me, but maybe other people will like those songs more. There's definitely a wide range of appeal they are trying and succeeding to reach for on this one. Not a super typical rap release.
Isaiah Toothtaker - "Sea Punk Funk" 2012
Yet another free download EP that Isaiah is hitting the world with this year. This one is entirely produced by Sixtoo of Anticon and Ninja Tune fame, and the idea of that might have sounded a little tighter in my head than it ended up coming up, but I still thoroughly enjoy the end result. This is the type of new music that lets me know that hip hop will never die, it will just keep morphing into a million new forms as new creative people keep emerging. Check out "We Can't Miss" featuring Western Tink, Talkin Bout" featuring ShowYouSuck, "Labyrinth", and "LA Nights" featuring Murs. Download the whole album here for free.
Dam-Funk - "I Don't Wanna Be A Star" 2012
I'm guessing this might be the result of his recent boom in popularity, which I can only assume is growing even more, as he exposed himself to a whole new audience opening up for Ariel Pink on his last tour. It's so good to see someone as genuine and talented as Dam finally get his shine too. Check the video for the title track. Also check "17 Days" and "New Knock".
C-Rayz Walz - "All Blvck Everything: The Prelude" 2011
I don't really know the nature of this release, I just randomly found it, but it's pretty decent sounding. Some of these songs are new remixes of older songs i'm familiar with, but for the most part, this remains a strong album worth checking if you like his flows. Check out his dedication to Eyedea, "Blvck Rosaries" featuring Freddie Bunz and the comedy tinged posse cut "Blvck Like Burt Reynolds".
Rapewolf - "Shower BRB" 2012
More leftfield comedy rap from the man known as Rapewolf. Free Download from Bandcamp. Check it out if you like to laugh and aren't easily offended.
Flying Lotus - "Lovers Melt 3" 2012
Another dope mix/podcast from Flying Lotus, this one mostly sticking to the funk/soul/jazz regions of music, educating people about the samples their favorite songs are comprised of. Download or listen here.
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