Sizzling summer albums dropping this month include T.I. vs T.I.P., Ear Drum, and Finding Forever.
10. Mike Jones - American Dream
Powered by the Snoop-assisted single "My 64," The American Dream is set to put Mike Jones back in the spotlight after a quiet year in Houston's hip-hop scene. Fans who get The American Dream in the first week of release will be rewarded with a bonus DVD of Jones's flick, also titled "The American Dream." The album is due out on July 10th.
9. Pastor Troy - Tool Muziq
Pastor Troy's new album was previously titled Saddam Hussein, but that idea was later ditched for obvious reasons. Unsurprisingly, one of the tracks on the album is still titled "Saddam." Tool Muziq is slated for release on July 3rd.
8. Wise Intelligent - The Talented Timothy Taylor
Remember Wise Intelligent from the Poor Righteous Teachers? Yep, he's back on the solo grind, with a new tongue-twisting album title in tow. The Talented Timothy Taylor will be in stores on July 17th.
7. Big Shug - Street Champ
Big Shug, member of the Gang Starr Foundation, will release his sophomore album--Street Champ--on July 17th. DJ Premier produced three songs on the album, with MoSS steering the production wheel for the rest of the disc. Street Champ also features guest appearances from Termanology, Lil Fame (of M.O.P.), and Sean Price.
6. Akir - Legacy (Re-issue)
When Akir dropped his politically-charged debut, Legacy, in March 2006, it garnered brief buzz before resigning under the radar. Akir has now teamed up with independent powerhouse Babygrande Records to re-release Legacy on July 17th.
5. Keith Murray - Rap-Murr-Phobia
Rap-Murr-Phobia is Keith Murray's fifth solo LP (excluding The Most Beautifullest Hits, that is). It'll be available in stores and on iTunes on July 31st.
4. Guru - Jazzmatazz...Vol 4: The Jazz Messenger
Guru--the emceeing half of Gang Starr--is back with the fourth installment in his Jazzmatazz series. But don't call it a Gang Starr comeback; Jazzmatazz...Vol 4 was produced by burgeoning beatsmith Solar and not DJ Premier. While the album is already out in Europe, U.S.-based fans will have to wait till July 17th to buy it.
3. Talib Kweli - Ear Drum
Ahh, finally...Ear Drum, the long-awaited sixth album from Talib Kweli, will now hit shelves on July 24th. As for the title, Kweli explains that it was inspired by the image of the ear and of the drum.
2. T.I. - T.I. vs T.I.P.
T.I. unleashes his double-personality assault on July 3rd, with contributions from Mannie Fresh, Just Blaze, and Eminem.
1. Common - Finding Forever
Common's seventh LP, Finding Forever, is due out on July 31st. The album was produced entirely by Kanye West, with guest appearances from Lily Allen and Dwele.
On a related note, Common is set to appear in "Wanted," a flick about a boy who learns that his father is an assassin upon his murder and becomes one himself after learning the ropes from a female assassin (played by Angelie Jolie). Sounds like a thriller.
