Top 5 Hip Hop Releases: April

Each month, tons of new music from many taste-spanning genres is released into a fast-consuming, unforgiving market; it can be tough to get a handle on what’s new before it’s on to the next. In an attempt to highlight the standout releases, at the end of each month, AUX staff re-cap the month in Punk, Metal, Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, Electronic, and Pop with the top five releases in each. Consider it your cheat sheet for year-end lists.

So, the guy from Portishead decided he wanted to make a hip hop album and this is it. The only question going into this project were whether the raps would step up to the plate to match what was sure to be, and is, some great beats. The answer is a resounding yes, as the collective doesn’t lean too heavily on any one rapper and thrives on flashes of excellence from over a score of separate acts. The 41-track monster of an album has loads of replay value which might come in handy considering the gaps of time Geoff Barrow and co. likes to wait between releases.

Key track: “Fitta Happier” with Guilty Simpson and M.E.D., an insane Radiohead flip that pulls a sample from an adaptation by the University of Arizona’s marching band. (By the way, I thought Drumline was pretty cool before I watched this.)

The idea that Death Grips might be experimental hip hop is absurd. This is an example the pure raw unabashed hip hop; a bunch of dudes coming together using any sound or style to move the crowd, by any means necessary. Listening to Death Grips how you should might destroy your favourite speakers but it’ll be worth it.

Key track: “System Blower”, loud please.

Future’s guest appearance on 2011's “Racks” blazed a path for the self-aware knucklehead to start actually stacking it up just like he says he does on that song. After a few mixtapes, here comes his album which features some of the popular songs. It’s a bit of a safe release but these anthems still boom, regardless of their age. Sprinkling them in along with the new ones makes this a perfect place to start for those unfamiliar with the mixtapes.

Key tracks: The recklessly raucous new single “Same Damn Time” and the already classic “Tony Montana” featuring Drake.

One of the most impressive things about Stalley’s releases so far are the tight themes that hold them together. Stalley does a perfectly disjointed homage to Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas as he tells a parallel story about his journey as a musician. He wins again with a set of lavishly-produced instrumentals as the back drop to paint his narrative upon. The concept mixtape is a fairly popular practice as they’re usually recorded in a briefer time period which allows the artists to stay in the same headspace. It’s a shame that this doesn’t carry over to albums more often.

Key track: “Hammers & Vogues” on which Stalley repays Curren$y for his induction on 2010's Pilot Talk.

This PWYC release comes with some interesting tiered packages to reward those that spend more on the album. The $10,000 package comes with an opportunity to executive produce an EP with Del, barring artistic differences of course. Let’s face it, this is super weird but it’s great to see Del still around making great music. He’s doing what he has to do to keep it coming.

Key track: Enjoy Del’s classic smooth flow on “Up Early”

Surprises, disappointments and tracks/albums to watch for next month

Surprise of the month: Kendrick Lamar “The Recipe” featuring Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre has been continuously fucking up for the last five years but Kendrick Lamar gives him a hand (with a pen in it) here to a much better result. “The Recipe” is due to be one of the most successful rap tracks of the year, especially as we move into the summer months when the whole continent can bask in the California sunshine that is this track. As far as AUX is concerned Kendrick is already at the top of the game, so it’s we’re actually a bit freaked out as to where this sure-shot hit will take him. Dre better not fuck this one up.

Disappointments: Diggy – Unexpected Arrival

This squeaky clean glossy release might play to the pre-teen female demographic it was recorded for but Diggy Simmons is ready to make a real album. Dude can rap. Unfortunately, this doesn’t sit at the forefront of his official debut. The laid-back R&B approach taken with the majority of the tracks don’t align with vivacious passion a 17-year-old kid like Diggy should be able to deliver. While comparisons to his father, Reverend Run, aren’t really fair, with almost 3 decades between their respective debuts, it would do Diggy well to follow in his dad’s footsteps and find some personality and energy. He should be fine though, time is on his side. Hopefully this generic batch of radio-friendly ditties can be forgotten when he decides to realize his potential.

Out next month: El-P releases a pair of projects, one, his first album in 5 years, the other, a Killer Mike record completely produced by him.