Top 10 Rap Albums, June 2012

In which a smoke-filled project becomes something bigger, thanks in part to the cloudy production of budding hitmaker Harry Fraud and the interesting medium of delivery. Rugby Thomspon is the first of many records to arrive on High Times Records, the music arm of High Times magazine. Only a matter of time before other deal-seeking weed-rappers DZA's lead. Looking at you, Domo.
Release Date: June 19, 2012

Oh No + Dolemite = Ohnomite. Album is based on samples from 1975 blaxploitation flick, Dolemite. Features: (MF) DOOM, Evidence, Alchemist, MED, Guilty Simpson, Roc C, Damani, Prozack Turner, Ea$y Money, Pok Dog, LMNO, Phife Dawg, DJ Romes, Chino XL, Erick Sermon, Rapper Pooh, Phil the Agony, Jose James, Frank Nitt, Wildchild, Sticky Fingaz, Termanology, and Roc Marciano.
Release Date: June 5, 2012

Professor @ Work is Extra P's first album since 2008, and he sounds reinvigorated as expected. Powered by the 2012 standout "M.A.R.S." with Cormega, Roc Marciano, Saigon, and Action Bronson. Album also features Busta Rhymes and M.O.P.'s Fame.
Release Date: June 26, 2012

Appealing to your compassion and tenderness, Wordsmith titled King Noah after his son, Kingston Noah. How ki-yooot. The single-poppa designed King Noah as a life blueprint for his kidlet to help him navigate issues like race, envy, politics and allathat. If you like Skinnyman, if you like Shad, if you like the thinking emcee, then this album is right up your zone. Here's the "Music for the Masses" video.
Release Date: June 19, 2012

Wordsworth needs no introduction. Unless you've never heard Mirror Music or The Show, his group project with Masta Ace, Punchline and Strickline, in which case you should stream both on Spotify, pronto. The guy even soundtracked a SpongeBob SquarePants movie. One legit reason you've never heard of Words: He's been quiet on the solo front since 2004. His latest, The Photo Album, sports collaborations with Torae and Masta Ace, among others.

Release Date: June 12, 2012

A new batch of musical adventures from the man of many names, and allegedly his swang song. (After two decades of entertaining us with his left-field style, he's earned an honorable retirement.) This one features Keith Murray, Megabone, and Mr. Sche. Bonus: See his hilarious Guide to Keiths.
Release Date: June 12, 2012

Ma Dukes is using Rebirth of Detroit as a platform to unite Dilla disciples, old and new. "It's a healing process for the city. For individuals, it's going to bring back the love and the passion for the music and for what hip-hop has to offer," she says. The guest list includes: Illa J (his brother), Amp Fiddler, Frank Nitt, Danny Brown, Phat Kat, Guilty Simpson, Jay Electronica, Asher Roth, Fat Ray, and more.
Release Date: June 12, 2012

Curren$y has like 700 albums out, yet Warner Bros. is calling this his "major" debut. LOL. Never mind that Weekend at Burnies debuted on the major label. Semantics aside, this is the first Curren$y album to feature a diverse cast of producers. Ski laced the Pilot Talk albums. Alchemist produced Covert Coup. Stoned Immaculate enjoys production from Justice L.E.A.G.U.E., Neptunes, Bink!, and a host of others.
Release Date: June 5, 2012

The full title is Total Breakdown: Hidden Transmissions From the MPC Era and it features MPC experimentations from the pre-Endtroducing era. So you're getting a peek inside the divine mind of a genius in his formative years (1992-1996). Here's your first treat: "Dreams of a Piece".
Release Date: June 19, 2012

Phew. It's finally here, and it's rife with the working man raps and cruise music K.R.I.T. is wildly known/cherished for. It also parades a who's who in Southern hip-hop: Bun B, Ludacris, Devin the Dude, 8ball & MJG, and 2 Chainz.

Release Date: June 5, 2012