Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten: Don’t Sleep On These New Hip Hop Releases

Time waits for no man and no man waits for Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten list. At least that’s the way it seems around here. So many artists vie for placement on the chart, but everyone can’t make it. Each week, the staff edges nearer to the brink of insanity trying to compile the submissions. ‘Good thing our superstar “think tank” is in place to sort things out and keep the list on track. Now let’s break it down…

Screenshot 2015-01-18 at 8.40.30 PMScreenshot 2015-05-17 at 8.37.57 PM
1) SHEEK LOUCH’s “Hood Gone Love It” was a unanimous choice from our staffers, but it almost missed the list due to our “no freestyles/only songs” rule. In the end though, we determined the track fell under the latter category. This cut & the “Drunken Monkeys” freestyle are the supreme LOX spitter’s way of telling us that he’s taking no shorts on the forthcoming “Silverback Gorilla 2” project. When you want to experience real Hip Hop you listen to Sheek Louch!

2) RICK GONZALEZ has been dropping dope music for awhile now…but this Jansport J produced “Know My Name” joint is some next level ish! If this track was a living, breathing organism, soul would permeate out of every pore of its being. Rick flows over the immaculate production like a man possessed by the spirit of Hip Hop’s greatest lyricists. At the rate he’s going, we wouldn’t be surprised if he’s included in that category some day. It makes us excited over the forthcoming “Divine Mechanics” album…VERY excited!

https://soundcloud.com/rickgonzalezofficial/know-my-name-prod-by-jansport-j

3)With A$AP P helming the production reins, Montreal’s WASIU delivers another impressive entry to his collection of top quality tracks with “Picture Imperfect.” The lush, soulful backdrop pulls in the listener with a jazz-flavored, “scat” type vocal sample. The lyricist then proceeds to keep us tuned in with his smooth, playful flow. You can’t judge a book by its cover but we can definitely judge Wasiu’s future success. It’s all but assured…

https://soundcloud.com/w-a-s-i-u/picture-imperfect-produced-by-aap-p-on-the-boards

4) LUPE FIASCO drops dope cuts from the sky like manna from the gods. “Something That I Never Had” continues his penchant for cerebral lyrics with orchestral hooks. We love artists who always place extra effort into their music…and Lupe never falls short. It’s a thought-provoking piece of audio craftsmanship that deserves to go down in the annals as one of the lyricist’s best tracks to date.

5) YOUR OLD DROOG & STATIK SELEKTAH teamed up for “Unlimited Metrocard” and almost made us nostalgic for hot, sweaty, summer days being jammed up against 50 other people in a smelly subway car. ALMOST. Despite that, we loved the song & couldn’t think of a better pairing than YOD and production genius, Statik Selektah, for Hip Hop music that truly brings the heat!

6) CAMP LO keeps the excitement building for “Ragtime Hightimes” with another mind-blowing Ski Beatz production. “Cold Retarded” keeps the funk flowing & showcases the super-charged, unstoppable interplay between Sonny Cheeba and Geechi Suede that compels us to keep listening. If every Hip Hop song sounded this good it would create a movement to rival the genre’s golden era. Maybe other emcees will follow Camp Lo’s lead & step up their game!

7) BMAC THE QUEEN could sense the boredom & unrest stirring in the hearts and souls of her loyal subjects. Her trusted confidante, HazeBanga, also took note of this unsettling state of affairs. They soon entered the royal studio of hits and re-emerged with “Monsters & Goblins.” Not literal monsters and goblins, but a stirring new track that roused cheers and applause from the entire kingdom. THE QUEEN even left an open verse on the song so her loyal subjects could partake in the lyrical excitement. Peace and happiness was swiftly restored to her Highness’ palace. As the commoners bowed, BMAC smiled and thought to herself, “It’s good to be THE QUEEN.”

8) RUSS doesn’t allow any negativity to enter his domain in “Lapped.” Naysayers, skeptics, haters…whatever you choose to call them…none of these people can or will stop the lyricist from achieving his goals. We believe him. His lyrics and music are about as self assured as they come.

9)The incomparable Audible Doctor laced HUS KINGPIN & SMOOVTH with a killer track for “Shooting Gods.” Speaking of killers, KILLER BEN of Durag Dynasty joined the action for a star turn on the cut as well. We feed off of raw, gritty Hip Hop energy…and this joint from Hus & SmooVth’s upcoming Splash Brothers collabo project gave us so much of that power, it nearly shocked us into submission!

10) AGALLAH has no shortage of stand out cuts on his “Agalito’s Way” album & “Tip Toe,” featuring Mobb Deep’s PRODIGY, is yet another example of the fine gems you can find on this top of the line project. Not to tip toe around the point, but the joint is all about creepin’ around with that female you probably shouldn’t be with, but are with anyway. That devil may care attitude keeps Hip Hop exciting & when you mention excitement these two emcees most definitely deliver!

So that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON”T SLEEP!

– Kevin Keith