FEBRUARY 28TH, 2014

Artist: Angel Haze
Song: Black dahlia
Album: Dirty Gold

Angel Haze had a difficult childhood. She continuously refers to her difficulties in her music, with her relationship with her mother being a key component. Black dahlia sees her addressing her issues with her mother head on to great affect.

FEBRUARY 27TH, 2014

Artist: Black Milk
Song: Monday's worst
Album: No Poison No Paradise

In all honesty, the artwork for this album pulled me in. And I am so glad that it did, because Black Milk is the type of rapper that makes you really listen to what he's saying.

FEBRUARY 26TH, 2014

Artist: K-OS
Song: EMCEE murdah
Album: Joyful Rebellion

"Money and fame could lead to emcee murder
You think you can escape but you can't take it any further
You call it writer's block
But you stop cause the vine is empty
Hip hop's not dead, it's really the mind of the emcee"

FEBRUARY 25TH, 2014

Artist: Jay-Z
Song: 99 problems
Album: The Black Album

Rick Rubin has a knack for jarring music that you want to play on repeat. And he does not disappoint with 99 problems. This song is easily the highlight of this album, which is no mean feat.

FEBRUARY 24TH, 2014

Artist: Roc Marciano
Song: Love means
Album: Marci Beaucoup

Roc Marciano's hip-hop is distinctly NYC. He languid delivery on this song just confirms that

FEBRUARY 23RD, 2014

Artist: Lil Wayne
Song: How to love
Album: Tha Carter IV

Wayne has no right to pull this off. His discography has more than it's fair share of misogyny, yet he completely pulls of this song about struggling to find love. This just adds to the complex character that is Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.

FEBRUARY 22ND, 2014

Artist: Clams Casino
Song: Bird call [Mac Miller]
Album: Instrumental Mixtape 3

Short, sweet, chaotic, and to the point. Clams Casino has an incredible ability to set the mood with his instrumentals.

FEBRUARY 21ST, 2014

Artist: Boldy James
Song: One of one
Album: Grand Quarters

"They don't make them like me no more". One of the first sentences Boldy utters on his 2013 EP. And it's a little difficult to argue with him. His laid back delivery and incredible ear for a thumping beat definitely make him someone to keep track of as his career progresses

FEBRUARY 20TH, 2014

Artist: Isaiah Rashad
Song: Cilvia demo
Album: Cilvia Demo

Isaiah's rawness on his debut album makes him an artist to watch for the future.

FEBRUARY 19TH, 2014

Artist: Clipse
Song: Momma I'm so sorry
Album: Hell Hath No Fury

Clipse were unapologetic and direct in their description of growing up in the ghetto, surrounded by drugs, guns and gangsters. This combined with the Neptunes' musical production made Hell Hath No Fury one of the album's of 2006.

FEBRUARY 18TH, 2014

Artist: Killer Mike
Song: Reagan
Album: R.A.P. Music

Coming up through Outkast's Dungeon Family, Killer Mike has shown that intellectual and politic rap can be delivered over huge beats and with a menacing gangsta tone. "Reagan" is an astonishingly potent attack on the money used on America's wars.

FEBRUARY 17TH, 2014

Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Song: The art of peer pressure
Album: Good kid, m.A.A.d city

Good kid, m.A.A.d city is a sprawling tale in album form of teenage life in compton. So it's a little difficult to pick one song since they all weave together to create a beautiful album. But if I had to pick one, this would be song I'd go with. If you enjoy it, I highly recommend giving the entire album a listen.

FEBRUARY 16TH, 2014

Artist: Step Brothers
Song: Step masters
Album: Lord Steppington

Step Brothers is made up of Evidence (of the Dilated Peoples) and The Alchemist, two students of rap. They seem to make a great pairing, which begs one to wonder why it took them this long to make a record together. Listen to this song with a good bass system.

FEBRUARY 15TH, 2014

Artist: Grieves
Song: On the rocks
Album: Together/Apart

Despite the intelligence in his rhymes, Grieves's emotional shtick can be hard to listen to over an entire album. That doesn't necessarily mean that one shouldn't listen to what he has to say.

FEBRUARY 14TH, 2014

Artist: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Song: Same love
Album: The Heist

Same Love may not have the most technical rap, or the most interesting beat. It has probably reached the point where it has been overplayed on the radio. But what it does to great acclaim is provide a message of sexual equality that has been sorely missing in hip-hop. For that alone, it deserves to be overplayed and choosing it on Valentine's day seems right. The most striking lyric: "If I was gay, I would think hip-hop hates me..."

FEBRUARY 13TH, 2014

Artist: Blu
Song: Amnesia
Album: Her Favorite Colo(u)r

If you enjoy rap with soul and a hint of jazz, Blu is the MC for you.

FEBRUARY 12TH, 2014

Artist: Homeboy Sandman
Song: Rain
Album: First of a Living Breed

In the same mould of Talib Kweli, Homeboy Sandman is one of the more intelligent rappers currently active.

FEBRUARY 11TH, 2014

Artist: Eminem
Song: Rap God
Album: The Marshall Mathers LP2

It's been sad to see Eminem's decline, given his immense musical work early on his career. Marshall these days still has his exhilarating lyrical skills, but is clearly unable to find a way to apply them. But every once in a while, his wordplay alone can be joyous to listen to. Rap God from his latest album does just that.

FEBRUARY 10TH, 2014

Artist: Drake
Song: Worst behaviour
Album: Nothing Was The Same

This song finds Drake identifying his worst habits, embracing them, and turning them up to 11. In turn, it reminds us that his braggadocia really could be unbearable if he so chose.

FEBRUARY 9TH, 2014

Artist: Outkast
Song: B.O.B
Album: Stankonia

Bombs over Baghdad is a perfect example of why Andre 3000 and Big Boi need to get back to together.

FEBRUARY 8TH, 2014

Artist: A Tribe Called Quest
Song: Buggin' out
Album: The Low End Theory

The Low End Theory is an album that flows seamlessly from beginning to end, making it difficult to single out a song. But Buggin' Out sticks out for me with it's thumping baseline and lyrical sparring between Q-Tip and Phife.