Supastition – The Blackboard EP
Most lyricists give you the impression that they are either reciting a journal entry, or bragging to no one in particular. Supastition is the rare rapper who seems to be speaking directly to his audience about his experiences and aspirations. (Download)
Silent Knight – Busy Is My Best Friend II
I never heard of Silent Knight before I started researching mixtapes for this column. This EP is a solid collection of old-school beats and rhymes. (Download)
Vado – Slime Flu 3
Juelz Santana’s latest mixtape might have gotten more hype, but Vado’s Slime Flue 3 was easily the better Dipset-related project released this month. (Download)
Raekwon – Lost Jewlry
It’s not Cuban Linx quality (almost nothing is) but the Chef is still one of the best lyricists of all-time and Lost Jewlry is a nice reminder of that. On “New Day” Rae and Freddie Gibbs tear apart a soulful Roads-Art beat to great effect. (Download)
Slum Village – Dirty Slums 2
This isn’t the same Slum Village that J Dilla came up with (Elzhi is gone now too), but Dirty Slums 2 still delivers some of the best boom-bap you’ll hear this year. (Download)