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The Ascent Wiley 2kn6j
An incoherent album from the grime godfather, but one full of loveable eccentricities.
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Wrath of Caine Pusha T 493x5y
Virginia rapper successfully expands his skill set on this lean mixtape.
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To Dust Alice Russell 3c6w3y
Russell deserves to move from cult concern to a queen of British soul.
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Open Mic Mic Righteous 6fo72
An introductory taster on which the Kent MC displays sufficient flashes of talent.
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Kiss the Ring DJ Khaled 6c1c1h
A sadly formulaic slugging match between some true rap heavyweights.
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Liquid Swords: The Chess Box Genius/GZA 4m2b1t
Expanded edition of what is perhaps the most celebrated Wu-Tang album to date.
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How Not to Make a Living Rewd Adams and The Last Skeptik 1e4p4
The London rapper and producer pal pioneer a new style: recession rap.
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Skelethon Aesop Rock 66k42
Rap that can the unflinchingly candid with the unfalteringly compelling.
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MICroscope Riz MC 4ke29
The equivalent of setting up a city-sized PA system and cranking it to maximum.
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The maverick rapper’s latest has lyrical lunacy to spare.
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Blue Slide Park Mac Miller 345j2p
While it’s evident how he’s won hearts, Miller’s not the complete package yet.
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The Biz Never Sleeps Biz Markie 3r5s3a
Markie’s mostly good-humoured second studio set has stood up to the test of time.
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Quakers Quakers 195f4x
Cult vocalists and complete unknowns trade the mic on this Earth-shaking hip hop set.
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Rich Forever Rick Ross 3l2p3y
Ross continues to count the cash on this high-profile mixtape release.
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Tripper Hella 1g5u5o
A focused fifth album that takes the dynamic duo into newly accessible territories.
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MICroscope Riz MC 4ke29
The actor-and-rapper’s debut is a warts'n'all affair of absolute conviction.
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The Dragon of an Ordinary Family Jehst 13183e
Brit-rapper maintains his cult reputation for introspective, finely-weaved wordplay.
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The Family Sign Atmosphere 171b17
Minnesota hip hop duo document emotionally-testing experiences on album six.
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Or, the collaboration otherwise known as Spaghetti Western Soundtracks Updated.
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Dubstep duo’s second LP hums with a menacing darkness.
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Cherish the Light Years Cold Cave 6q412n
Reboots Scott Walker and the androgynous end of 90s Britpop into distinctive darkwave.
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Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam Ghostpoet 1a3x
An early contender for 2011's finest out-of-leftfield long-players.
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Face Tat Zach Hill 1p3469
Drummer’s second solo LP is among the most rewardingly challenging listens of 2010
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No Name No Color Middle Class Rut 1b615l
An impressive coherency is on display across this debut long-play set.
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Pink Friday Nicki Minaj qg2v
When she’s on fire nobody in hip hop can extinguish her talents.
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Funny Times Harry Hill 6l5x4v
As a one-off trip through a madcap brain this will split several sides.
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Mood Swings Stig of the Dump 351j3j
The prize-winning battle-rapper comes good on record.
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Make a Change Maddslinky 5p1w2u
A living dubstep artefact from one of the scene’s pioneers.
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The Preview Chiddy Bang 633t5
The pair exhibit qualities that could elevate them to the top of the charts.
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I Am the West Ice Cube 15x1s
The gangsta rap legend isn’t going down without a mouthy fight.
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Eskmo Eskmo 5y2p27
A hotter property than that chilly moniker might immediately imply.
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Adventure We Go Muchuu 2f261s
Twee brother-sister duo’s debut album twinkles with an innocent sweetness.
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Business Casual Chromeo 631i25
Despite starting promisingly, the duo’s latest finds their funky shtick wearing thin.
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Good Things Aloe Blacc 5g721v
Excellent recession-inspired second album from Californian hip hop/soul vocalist.
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Sugar Hill Rap Classics Various Artists l3v4i
Exhaustive brilliance is spread across this double-disc label retrospective.
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W.ants W.orld W.omen Dwele 9y25
More smooth sounds from Detroit’s crown prince of velvety soul jams.
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Duppy Writer Roots Manuva meets Wrongtom 442448
Accentuates the lolloping Jamaican flex at Rodney Smith’s musical heart.
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Tweak Bird Tweak Bird 2a6hv
Leaves you mentally exhausted yet unable to wipe a goonish grin from your face.
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Total 11 Various Artists 5l5j2q
Kompakt’s latest compilation is a great gateway into the Cologne label.
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Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3 El-P 5p4l11
This could represent the greatest thinking man’s beat tape of all time.
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Let Em Ave It Giggs h6j1z
This debut for XL is full of unashamed thug rap to cement Giggs’ rising status.
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Slash Slash 651n2h
More of a fender bender than the disastrous musical pile-up it could have been.
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Monster Head Room Ganglians 1e424
Dreamy psych-pop meets tropical desert island indie-rock jangle.
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93 Mowgli 2mo41
The London MC aims to bridge the gap between underground UK hip hop and the mainstream.
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Cosmogramma Flying Lotus 384y11
Cosmogramma proves itself to be as mind-meltingly boundless as a black hole.
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Hologram Jams Jaguar Love 16716s
As guilty pleasures go, Hologram Jams has plenty to secretly revel in.
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Ear Drums and Black Holes Starkey 11v2g
Saddle up for an intergalactic sonic journey, moving both air and brain-cells.
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Close Calls With Brick Walls / Mother of Mankind Andrew WK 1t652b
Two hours of predominantly upbeat outpourings from the white-shirted rocker.
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Oversteps Autechre 3v3o3k
They continue to test themselves and listeners alike with stunningly intricate results.
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Return of the Wu: Mixed by Mathematics Wu-Tang Clan 136ef
A mix of old and new that hits robustly yet classily, like a fine malt.
