Tote King - Un Tipo Cualquiera (2006)

Born in Sevilla, Spain in 1978, Manuel Gonzalez Rodriguez a.k.a Tote King started his career in the legendary Andalusian Hip-Hop collective "La Alta Escuela". In 2004 he dropped out of university and released his first solo record, "Música Para Enfermos". Unlike other Spanish rappers who usually tend to imitate the hedonist approach of American Gangsta Rap, Tote King prefers profound, intelligent lyrics; many of them delivered  in the style of angry rants and poetry slams. The instrumentals by Big Ozone (who samples anything from roots reggae to Rage Against The Machine on this record) are as minimalist as memorable, many of them reminiscent of early DJ Premier. "Un Tipo Cualquiera" is a pleasure to listen to and (along with Tote's debut) arguably the most impressive Spanish Hip Hop album of the 00's.

1.) Empezamos

2.) Nosotros Mismos

3.) Ni De Ellos Ni De Ellas

4.) Bumm!

5.) Un ano mas

6.) Mentiras

7.) Interludio Osr

8.) Acuestate

9.) Merece La Pena

10.) Potines

11.) El Primer Día Del Resto De Tu Vida

12.) Lo Hacemos Asi

13.) Woh!!

14.) Progres

15.) Cuatro Minutos Te Escupo

Busdriver - Temporary Forever (2002)

Now this is a rap album you won't hear every day. Megalomaniac, hyperactive and sharp as a knife, Temporary Forever is a capricious collage of clever lyrics and batshit insane samples. With a flow like explosive diarrhea farts, the L.A. underground rapper delivers his lines machine gun style. What this guy does with his voice - half musical instrument, half human beat box - is simply mindblowing. Balancing serious political issues with funny, almost dadaist rants, the lyrics are all killer no filler. And so is the rest of this record.

1.) New Aquarium

2.) Imaginary Places

3.) Along Came a Biter

4.) Idle Chatter

5.) Gun Control

6.) Mind Crossing

7.) Suing Sony

8.) Stylin' Under Pressure

9.) Single Cell Ego

10.) Somethingness

11.) Driver's Manual

12.) The Truth of Sponatneous Human Combustion

13.) Opposable Thumbs

14.) Unplanned Parenthood

15.) Jazz Fingers

16.) Reality Sandwich

17.) Wrong Route

18.) Post-Apocalyptic Rap Blues

Strong Arm Steady - In Search of Stoney Jackson (2010)

Strong Arm Steady is a Los Angeles-based rap trio founded in the mid 90's. They initially gained fame by circulating mixtapes all over the L.A. area and didn't release their first album 'til 2005. Stoney Jackson is their second album and the first to feature a wide range of guest stars, from underground rappers to Blacksmith label boss Talib Kweli. The most notable aspect of the record is the incredible beats. SAS got the legend that is Madlib to produce the entire record, and he delivered 18 instrumentals full of magic and old soul samples.

1.) Best of Times

2.) Cheeba Cheeba

3.) Chittlins & pepsi

4.)  Telegram

5.) Questions

6.) Smile

7.) New Love

8.) Get Started

9.) Interlude One

10.) Pressure

11.) True Champs

12.) Needles in the Haystack

13.) Interlude Two

14.) Ambassadors

15.) Chants

16.) Bark Like a Dog

17.) Two Pistols

18.) Outro