Plantlife / Plantlife
West Coast funk is in the house and it's better than ever thanks to Plantlife. Everybody from Mos Def to Prefuse 73 are talking about this band and their breakout brand of hip hop funk. Folks will sample from these guys a decade from now.-CounterFlowRecordings.com
Diesel Truckers / Kool Keith featuring KutMasta Kurt
Kool Keith is one of the most sarcastic MCs in hip hop and KutMasta Kurt is one of the most under-estimated West Coast Dj/Producers. The team has put out back-to-back classics: Dr. Octagon, Dr. Octagonecologist, and the Dr. Dooom album "First Come First Served." This future classic is no different.-Threshrecs.com
The Slickness / Prince Po
This half (with Pharoahe Monch) of golden-era rap group Organized Konfusion drops his full-length featuring beats and lyrics from Danger Mouse, Jemini, MF Doom, Madlib, J-Zone, Tha Liks, and Raekwon. Usually when you get this many cool people involved the hip hop gets spoiled. In this rare case the flavor is just right.-LexRecords.com
Only Time Will Tell / Triple Seis
Big Pun, Fat Joe, and Cuban Link stand aside while your Terror Squad crewmate sets his sights for the charts. He's definitely got the knack for putting down tight hooks-even helping Big Pun with his on the double-platinum Capital Punishment. Combine his hooks with the type of beats that pull ladies to the dance floor and it's an instant party.-MadRecords.com
Milk Me / The Beatnuts
Psycho Les and Juju come back with their branded style of brash humor and club jams. Old schoolers come out to play on this one: Greg Nice, Prince Whipper Whip, Tony Touch. New comers Akon and Chris Chandler join vets Freeway, Rahzel, and Triple Seis.-PenaltyRecordings.com
Self Titled / Awol One
Producers Evidence (Dilated Peoples), KutMasta Kurt (Linkin Park, Kool Keith), and Truly Odd (Everlast, Fasntastic Four) are merely music facilitators to Awol One's emo-rap revolution. Get used to his throaty style because this Emcee is no honorary member of Los Angeles' underground elite.-AwolOne.com
Summer / Johnny Five
North Hollywood native Johnny Five found local success in producing for acts like J5 Dilated Peoples and Black Eyed Peas, but his music found a number one position on a Billboard chart in France. Although this newly released project was recorded 3 years prior, it hits right on time.-BasementHipoHop.com