The second album from Kendrick Lamar, and the one that really helped bring his talents to the rest of the world – and maybe mark a whole new generation of hip hop in the process! At some level, Lamar is in the same territory as many of the south Cali rappers before him – with tales of rough life on the mean streets – but his approach here is very different, both in terms of the personal quality in the lyrics and the subtle drama in his presentation – and the lean production, which seems to strip things bare, and avoid the thuggish cliches that might celebrate such a background. Even the title alone hints at the tension that's made the record so durable over the years – and titles include "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "The Art Of Peer Pressure", "Money Trees", "Poetic Justice", "MAAD City", "Singing About Me I'm Dying Of Thirst", "Real", and "Compton". CD

Public Enemy at the height of their power – all the best cuts from their early years on Def Jam Records – from a time when they were really helping expand the scope and political power of hip hop! The group were essential in taking the music from the parties in the streets to the issues that really mattered to the people who were listening – and even after all these years, it's impossible to deny the impact and power of these cuts – many of which deal with issues that still haven't been resolved all these many decades later! Every track is a gem – and titles include "You're Gonna Get Yours", "Public Enemy #1", "Rebel Without A Pause", "Bring The Noise", "Don't Believe The Hype", "Prophets Of Rage", "Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos", "Fight The Power", "Welcome To The Terrordome", "911 Is A Joke", "Brothers Gonna Work It Out", "Can't Truss It", "Can't Do Nuttin For Ya Man", "Hazy Shade Of Criminal", "Shut 'Em Down", "By The Time I Get To Arizona", and "He Got Game". CD

A fierce 10th album from the Roots – hard hitting and straight up angry, without sacrificing the musicality that makes them the most unique crew in hip hop of the past 15 years! We'll do our best to recommend this vital LP without tagging it with the dreaded "concept album" tag (wish us luck on that) but it's for the most barbed commentary on the state of Philly – and the larger social and cultural landscape. The Roots are still bringing some truly exhilarating material after all these years! Titles include "Rising Down" feat Mos Def & Styles P, "Get Busy" feat Dice Raw & Peedi Peedi, "@ 15", "75 Bars (Black's Reconstruction)", "Becoming Unwritten", "Criminal" feat Truck North & Saigon, "I Will Not Apologize" feat Porn & Dice Raw, "Lost Desire" feat Malik B & Talib Kweli, "The Show" feat Common & Dice Raw, "Rising Up" feat Wale & Chrisette Michelle and more – plus a few unlisted bonus tracks on the CD version. CD