12. Pharoahe Monch – PTSD
Released: April 15, 2014 ~ Reviewed: N/A
When you’ve reached the point when you are known as rocking shows, a locked in must see in Hip-Hop circles, you’re a lot of rappers favorite rapper, and your name “rings bells” in the game, what’s left to do? What does it take to make an impact anymore? I almost question of some artist get more joy of going deeper underground as they get deeper roots in the game. PTSD slipped by most folks, myself included, when it dropped way back in April as an indie release. As a theme album, you get a few twists and turns in production as we go from rock stylings to Hip-Hop and maybe those production choices keep folks struggling to find the common ground. Maybe the concept of picking up from the W.A.R. album and continuing here was too obscure or maybe the constant, unrelenting lyrical onslaught is too much for the mainstream, but PTSD is no less an amazing album than it’s predecessor. In fact, it’s better. When it comes to lyrics and flat out rapping, I can’t think of many albums better than this album this year. – Saule Wright