Here’s a quick rundown of some of the best and worst hip hop that you have and haven’t heard… from worst to first, check it!

(Expect full reviews of some of the better submissions on this list very soon)

Keys N Krates – Blackout EP

Elements of hip hop, dancehall reggae, alternative, electronica, and pop all come together on this release, unfortunately it tends to be the worst elements of each genre. Very interesting sound, that I can credit KNK for, but at times this EP is barely even listenable.

J-Po – Boats & Hoes

Not the worst album on the list, which is a step up for this Swag Puff. The production is miles and miles better than the last Swag Puffs release, but the lyrics are so juvenile that it’s not even laughable, it’s just pathetic. I appreciate that these kids keep trying and if they keep sending thepaintedman stuff to review, we’ll get on it, but… it’s time to grow up, if even just a little bit.

Comeback/!/Music – Camp/!/Skywalkers

A mixtape with beats from Gambino’s Camp, it’s much better than their last 2 mixtapes. The thing is that these kids have some solid vision, unique flow, and a tireless work ethic, but I wish they’d stop just cranking out tons and tons of tunes in favor of spending some more time on taking their production to a better place. A real producer truly takes this kids to another level. Clean up the production and this is a solid 7-8 star release.

The shoutout to Justin “thepaintedman” Harlan on the closing track does put this mixtape at a special place in my heart though. Check out this fun YouTube video with the kids, while you are here (unless you watched it a few months ago when I ripped Lazy)

Ty Bru – Triple Bypass: In The Ambulance

3 singles on this indie release have distribution deals with Island/Def Jam, so this cat is a heavier hitter than many in the underground hip hop world. Appearing on Christ Addams’ new album (available exclusively on TPM) and on Sulfur’s new solo(ish) effort noted below, Ty is a talented emcee. From his heart-on-sleeve “Bad Day” to the sing-a-long anthem “TKO” to the fantasy video game tinged “Bringing Danger”, the album feels like a hit hip hop album, but with the type of heart that most radio rap is missing.

Sulfur & Mikal kHill – Entropy

While both ThoughtCriminals have their names on this one, Sulfur is the star. kHill drops beats and produces, but for all intents and purposes this is Sulfur’s solo album. That said, it’s really dark in tone and feel. One thing that caught my ear on this go ’round was that despite hearing Sulfur on many, many occasions before, this was the first I noticed that his flow feels very West Coast despite being from NC. When I saw West Coast, I’m saying, fans of the flow of the NWA type cats, especially Dre and Cube, will dig on Sulfur.

Ill Hill Society – Rap Better EP

We already know that Kwalified and his crew of Hawaiian thugs are “Villianous” but on this EP, we also get to find out that they are “so cool you couldn’t keep the fridge closed.” The get down and funky on “Gettin’ Down”, which happens to be this guy’s favorite track. Check out their music video below… and the EP is free, so there’s that.

Mikal kHill & Romero Shaw – dust.

Like I noted above, while the producer is noted here (in this case Romero Shaw), kHill is the star on this one. Mikal kHill makes Survivalist Hip Hop, I don’t know what else to call it. He is a survivor, pushing forward, busting his ass, being a dope emcee, all the while being a husband and a dad. In the full review of this album, I full intend to figure out what the kickass track “I’ll Be Here” keeps bringing up in me… it reminds me of something, some emotive adult contemporary track that doesn’t suck to be specific… I will nail it down, I promise I will! For now, all you need to know is that Destiny’s Child have nothing on kHill, this cat is the real survivor.

Mark Dago – Kill Screen

Nerdy, fun, well produced, and free… that’s how I like my hip hop. This release features some of the best NES beats this side of K-Murdock’s beat on Forever Famicom, courtesy of Fisch. Like the aforementioned Megaran album, this blows away the inferior gimmicky crap like Heath McNease’s Straight Outta Console. The metallic “Something to Lose” is something not to be missed. Check Dago live on YouTube below.