HipHopDX's Top 25 Albums of 2012

Take a cue from biting tracks like \"Pineal Gland\" and \"SOPA\"—rapper Ab-Soul is as clever as he is crass, as sharp as he is straight-forward. Indeed, *Control System* is the high-concept dramedy to the unflinching drama of fellow Black Hippy member Kendrick Lamar\'s *good kid, m.A.A.d city*. (The refrain from \"Mixed Emotions,\" for example, is \"Who got a Sprite?\") Ab\'s rhymes can be unapologetically out-there at times, such as when he\'s rapping about Sumerians or nodding to *Seinfeld* on \"Nothing\'s Something,\" a song about, well, nothing. But a heart beats resoundingly at the center of *Control System*. You hear it most affectingly on \"The Book of Soul,\" on which Ab mourns the suicide of ex-girlfriend Alori Joh; she guests on multiple tracks here.

A golden-era favorite who continues to deliver impressive new music, New York legend and Diggin in the Crates representative OC is back with another outstanding collabo album (following his recent project *Oasis* with AG). This time around, he hooks up with Apollo Brown, a Michigan-based producer who\'s been bubbling up over the last few years, signed to Mello Music, and working with acts like Big Pooh, Oddisee, Boog Brown, Black Milk, and MED, among others. His classically minded beat style perfectly complements OC\'s bold and wordy flow, overflowing with chunky beats and soulful, midtempo samples. Devoid of guest appearances, *Trophies* is a near-perfect example of the recently resurgent one-rapper/one-producer formula. It\'s also proof positive that OC hasn\'t lost a step, more than 20 years after his debut. Whether you\'re an old-school D.I.T.C. fan or just down with quality storytelling and dope, loop-driven tracks, this comes highly recommended. Check out \"The Formula,\" \"Options,\" \"The Pursuit,\" and \"Caught Up.\"

First of a Living Breed is Homeboy Sandman's first full length album for Stones Throw. Artwork by Jeff Jank, Photo by Joel Frijhoff.

West Coast hip-hop elders like Snoop and Dre have virtually anointed Kendrick Lamar to carry on the legacy of gangsta rap. His second studio album *good kid, M.A.A.d city*, conceptual enough to be a rock opera, certainly uplifts the genre with its near-biblical themes: religion vs. violence and monogamy vs. lust. Verbally nimble, Lamar experiments with a variety of different lyrical styles, from the Bone Thugz-type of delivery on “Swimming Pools (Drank)” to the more straightforward orthodox G-funk flow on “m.A.A.d. City feat. MC Eiht.” Like prog rock, Lamar’s tracks have songs within songs—sudden tempo changes with alter egos and embedded interludes, such as unscripted recordings of his parents asking for their car back and neighborhood homies planning their latest conquest. These snippets pepper the album providing an anthropological glimpse into his life in Compton.

Nearly six years ago, a skater kid from Chicago made his solo debut with the excellent *Food and Liquor* and created a bona fide manifesto that spoke to socially conscious ’80s babies. Now, with the release of *Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1*, Fiasco reveals the extent of his evolution. Against a background of synthesized future pop, Fiasco deconstructs heavyweight topics with an undeniable flow.

This debut full-length from Seattle’s Macklemore & Ryan Lewis catapulted the duo to international stardom and helped them earn several GRAMMY®s, including Best New Artist and Best Rap Album. From the jump (“Ten Thousand Hours”), the quick-witted Macklemore tips his cap to Malcolm Gladwell as he professes his love of art and paints a picture of his musical journey. Macklemore proceeds to flex lyrical skills (“Can’t Hold Us\"), flaunt a passion for budget fashion on the GRAMMY®-winning smash “Thrift Shop,” reveal uncompromised goals (“Make the Money,” “Jimmy Iovine\"), and intelligently deliver endearing stories that further distinguish Macklemore & Ryan Lewis from the rap pack (“Same Love,“ ”Wing$”).

Two superstars of indie hip-hop, 9th Wonder and Murs have been putting in work for many years. Hailing from North Carolina and Los Angeles, respectively, they were originally best known for their group projects: 9th is the main producer behind Little Brother, while Murs is a top-shelf emcee and founding member of the mighty Living Legends crew. They teamed up in 2004 for the universally jocked *Murs 3:36 the 9th Edition*, which led to a series of collabo albums including *Murray\'s Revenge*, *Sweet Lord*, and *Fornever*. Billed as their last record together, *The Final Adventure* is loaded with the soulful, sample-driven beats and intelligent, autobiographical lyricism we\'ve come to expect. Murs sounds off about dead gangbangers (\"Funeral for a Killer\"), the pros and cons of L.A. life (\"Tale of Two Cities\"), and various relationships with the ladies (\"Dance on Me,\" \"Walk Like a Woman\"). A strong finish for one of the most consistently dope pairings in the game.

For the last several years, North Carolina\'s Rapsody has been steadily dropping quality projects, including *Return of the B-Girl* and *The Black Mamba*. Down with 9th Wonder\'s Jamla Records, she returns with *The Idea of Beautiful*, giving us another batch of exceptionally smooth tracks that showcase her lyrical gifts. While many female rappers focus on their bedroom schools and designer-label preferences, Rapsody goes the other way, with autobiographical stories about life and love and triumph and struggle, delivered over chilled-out, sample-centric beats from the usual suspects (9th, Khrysis, Eric G, AMP, and others). Ideal for fans of Jean Grae, Bahamadia, Ladybug, and staHHr, this is great. Guests include Raheem DeVaughn and Alb-Soul (\"NonFiction\"), Mac Miller and The Cool Kids (\"RoundTable Discussion\"), and BJ the Chicago Kid (\"Good Good Love\"). Don\'t miss \"Kind of Love\" and \"Believe Me.\"

On the acclaimed independent album that preceded his mainstream breakthrough, Quincy Hanley developed his gruff voice and reluctant gangsta persona with complex, emotionally ambivalent songs like “Sacrilegious.” Q and A$AP Rocky also establish what would be a fruitful chemistry on the hedonistic cult hit “Hands on the Wheel.”

Longstanding indie-rap favorite Sean Price has been around since the mid-\'90s, when he debuted (under the name Ruck) as half of the Boot Camp Clik group Heltah Skeltah. Both of his previous solo albums (*Monkey Barz* and *Jesus Price Superstar*) were embraced by the underground, which is still intoxicated by P\'s relentlessly ruffneck verses. Effortlessly balancing Brooklyn trash talk and chuckle-inducing punchlines, he\'s one of New York\'s most charismatic emcees. And he keeps getting better with each release. On *Mic Tyson*, he hits us with another batch of hardcore but funny and streetwise wordplay, attacking corny rappers and tight pants–wearing cheeseballs. He rides neck-bending beats while collaborating with like-minded homies Buckshot, Ill Bill, Ruste Juxx, Pumpkinhead, Pharoahe Monch, and Torae. If you\'re already a fan, this has everything you know and love about P. If you\'re new to his BK style, this is a perfect intro. Don\'t miss \"Price & Shining Armor,\" \"Frankenberry,\" \"Bar-Barian,\" and \"The Hardest N\*gga Out.\"

Unquestionably the most popular all-star supergroup in hip-hop today, Slaughterhouse return with their heavily anticipated second full-length, following up their classic 2008 debut, a 2009 EP, and this summer\'s mixtape *On The House*. Now signed to Shady Records, the majority of tracks here are produced by Eminem, who has mastered the art of crafting tracks that perfectly balance radio-ready catchiness with off-kilter funkiness, working alongside other well established beat maestros like No I.D., Boi-1da, and Mr. Porter. As solid as the music is, it\'s the lyricism that really shines here, as the whole crew (Joel Ortiz, Royce Da 5\'9\'\', Crooked I, and Joe Budden) deliver a whirlwind of highly quotable verses that address everything from what it means to be a real emcee (\'\'Our House\'\') to rocking your girl (\'\'Frat House\'\') to being clinically insane (\'\'Asylum\'\'). Guest features come courtesy of Em, Swizz Beatz, B.O.B., Cee Lo, and Busta Rhymes, while other highlights include \'\'Flip A Bird,\'\' \'\'Walk Of Shame,\'\' and \'\'Hammer Dance.\'\'