While You Were Sleeping: Top 10 Underground Hip-Hop Albums Of May 2013 (Part 1)

We’re now halfway through May. A full third of 2013 is behind us and things are really beginning to heat up in more ways than one. Quality Hip-Hop is popping up with more and more frequency as the temperature rises, so we have new jawns to rock for sundress and cargo shorts season.

The main drawback to having multiple digital music venues and so many indie labels releasing quality music is it becomes difficult for the average Hip-Hop head to stay abreast of the material. Worry not, valued readers. That is where our Hip-Hop Wired feature “While You Were Sleeping” comes in handy as we inform you of all the quality indie and underground Rap projects that tend to fly under the radar without a huge hype machine promoting them. Feel free to go back and review my previous picks for the first three months of Hip-Hop releases in 2013. We are now more than a full third of the way through the year already. Time flies, doesn’t it?

The first two weeks of May featured 10 quality indie & underground Hip-Hop projects. Among them are new releases from the likes of Havoc of Mobb Deep, Talib Kweli, DJ Rhettmatic of Beat Junkies & Frank Nitt, Marco Polo, Count Bass D, Qwel & Maker, Chance The Rapper and several more.

Here’s what you all may have missed, while you were sleeping…

Marco Polo – Newport Authority 2 (Internet/Fat Beats) 5.1.2013

Canadian producer Marco Polo is back at it once again making this Spring fresher than it was by blessing us with the precursor to Port Authority 2, the free album Newport Authority 2. Marco Polo provides heater after heater for an impressive lineup of spitters to body including Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Large Professor, Das EFX, Artifacts, Tragedy Khadafi, Lil’ Fame, Torae & Jaysaun. Newport Authority 2 is so good that it’s ridiculous for it to be only a free download, for that reason Fat Beats is releasing a limited run physical version that you can purchase. You can stream & download Newport Authority 2 from AudioMack & pre-order it from Fat Beats. Be on the lookout for Port Authority 2 dropping this July.

Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap (Internet) 5.1.2013

Chance The Rapper is a young MC out of Chicago with an impressive stage show, a unique style that sounds like he’d be at home in the 90’s and a rabid following both on & off the internet. His new mixtape Acid Rap has quickly become one of the biggest events in Hip-Hop thus far this Spring. It’s loaded with guest appearances from Twista, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, BJ The Chicago Kid, Childish Gambino & Vic Mensa and production from Jake One, Nate Fox, Brandun Deshay, Blended Babies and more. You can stream and download Acid Rap right now right here.

Timeless Truth x El RTNC – Rock-It Science (Fat Beats) 5.7.2013

If you’re a fan of New York Hip-Hop, quality bars, dope beats and Ralph Lauren gear then I have the perfect album for you! Timeless Truth & El RTNC (formerly known as Rthentic RTNC) released a well received album independently last December called Rock-It Science straight to iTunes & they offered it up for sale on cassette tape and CD via the internet. Response was so positive for fans that Fat Beats got behind the project and now it’s been re-released with wider distribution. The impressive project boasts guest appearances from Sean Price, Roc Marciano, Action Bronson, Meyhem Lauren and Large Professor. You can cop Rock-It Science via iTunes, Amazon, Fat Beats, UGHH, Sandbox Automatic and special bundles are available direct from Timeless Truth himself. Salute to Superstar Dave Dar on the mix!

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Photo: Javotti Media

Qwel & Maker – Beautiful Raw (Galapagos4) 5.7.2013

Perhaps you haven’t been paying much attention to Chicago’s Typical Cats crew or the Galapagos4 label but Qwel & Maker (So Be It, Owl & 3) have released quite a bit of classic material in the past three plus years. I can tell you with no exaggeration that Beautiful Raw continues that streak. If you’re looking for straight up lyricism and great production or an album that you’ll be playing for years to come then check this out. Guest bars come courtesy of Grouch, Qwazaar, Swampburger, Biz Kid and more. You can acquire this new release via the following channels: iTunes, Amazon, UGHH, Sandbox Automatic or directly from Galapagos4. It’s beautiful. It’s raw. It’s beautifully raw.

Hannibal Stax x Marco Polo – Seize The Day (SoulSpazm) 5.7.2013

Marco Polo (Port Authority & The Stupendous Adventures Of Marco Polo) blessed us with a free album that was so good you can buy it if you want to kick off the month. The very next week he dropped a collaborative album with Gangstarr Foundation affiliate Hannibal Stax called Sieze The Day. The SoulSpazm release is reminiscent of Marco’s previous excellent collaborative albums Double Barrel (with Torae) and The Exxecution (with Ruste Juxx). Seize The Day knocks from beginning to end and if you love that raw, grimy Hip-Hop you need this album in your lives. You can procure it via iTunes & Beatport. Awaken from your slumber…

Talib Kweli – Prisoner Of Conscious (Javotti Media) 5.7.2013

Legendary Brooklyn MC Talib Kweli returns to the fray with his first release since 2011’s well received effort Gutter Rainbows. He does an excellent job of blending positive messages and addressing social issues while being witty and lyrical but still accessible to both genders and even those that might only be casual Rap fans. This new project features a diverse line up of guests, including Busta Rhymes, Kendrick Lamar, Curren$y, Miguel, Seu Jorge, Marsha Ambrosius, Nelly and Melanie Fiona. Production comes courtesy of RZA, Sean C & LV, Oh No, S1, J. Cole, Harry Fraud & more. You can find Prisoner Of Conscious on iTunes, Amazon, Fat Beats, UGHH & Sandbox Automatic. Don’t become a prisoner to unconsciousness and sleep on it.

Havoc – 13 (Nature Sounds) 5.7.2013

Havoc (The Kush) of Mobb Deep has stepped out into the solo realm once again. Mobb Deep are celebrating their 20th anniversary as a duo and Havoc released a brand new album called 13 on Nature Sounds. Fans of hardcore rap won’t be disappointed in either the production or the bars on Havoc’s first solo effort in 6 years. 13 features guest appearances Raekwon, Styles P, Royce Da 5’9″, Lloyd Banks, Twista and Masspike Miles. If you crave that authentic Queensbridge thug rap with hard bars and even harder drums then this album is for you. 13 can be copped either from iTunes, Amazon, UGHH, Sandbox Automatic or direct from Nature Sounds. You already know what to do, dun.

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Count Bass D x DJ Crucial x MF Grimm – In This Business EP (F5 Records) 5.8.2013

Producer/MC/instrumentalist Count Bass D got together with frequent collaborator DJ Crucial to drop a brand new EP in association with legendary MC and former Hoppoh Records compatriot MF Grimm. In This Business is vintage Count Bass D rhymes and production combined with DJ Crucial’s imitable sound, perfect for Hip-Hop heads to vibe to, especially on wax.  You can purchase the In This Business EP direct from F5 Records on vinyl. Make it your business to.

The Joint Chiefs (Rhettmatic x Frank Nitt) – The Smoke Musik EP (Rappers I Know/Bandcamp) 5.10.2013

May 10th is Rhettmatic of the World Famous Beat Junkies’ birthday so he always makes it a point release music on it whether it be a beat tape, a mix or whatever else. Years ago, he produced a collaborative project with friend Frank Nitt of Frank N’ Dank as the duo The Joint Chiefs. He hit up the homie FWMJ who did the graphic design and on May 10th, 2013 they released the EP via Rappers I Know. You can stream and download The Smoke Musik EP from the Rappers I Know Bandcamp. Roll that jawn. Light that jawn. Smoke it.

Killa Kali x Dirty Diggs – Poisonous Diggs EP (Gold Chain Music/Bandcamp) 5.13.2013

Killa Kali of Planet Asia’s Gold Chain Military outfit recently teamed up with producer Dirty Diggs to bang out a raw EP which was so underground that it completely flew under the radar with most Hip-Hop listeners. I happened to stumble on it by chance a few days ago and I liked what I heard so much that I included it in this post. Killa Kali and Dirty Diggs’ Poisonous Diggs EP is available for streaming and download from the Gold Chain Music Bandcamp. Vaya con dios…

While You Were Sleeping will be back in a few weeks to enlighten you all about the best releases in underground & independent Hip-Hop/Rap. Until then, this is Dart Adams saying “Don’t sleep”.

One.