It was once said that hip-hop is dead. I’d like to believe that she was on life-support after taking a R. King beating by her hater half-sister Rap-sputia and her goons of suits and execs. 2009 though may see a resurgence of the MC as a host of newcomers break through the glass-ceiling of trendy gimmicks and bring back actual music to an art form over-run by business models. These first two mixtapes dropped in early December, but I figured some of y’all who don’t live on the Internet are on CP time and haven’t been introduced.  Sometimes it takes awhile for the good stuff to reach the masses, so I’m extending my music player.

 

Charles Hamilton, “The Pink LavaLamp”

 

Armed with one of the most compelling deliveries of the new millennium and a bravado that would even make Kanye embarrassed, this Harlem-based rapper uses his impeccable wordplay and brutal honesty to deliver a mixtape that could have very well been released as an LP. Though he has a soft-spot for sampling, crediting it to his eclectic upbringing and appreciation for the tunes of yore, you can’t help but get the feeling that Hamilton knows exactly what he’s doing.

 

Verdict: Cop. Listen here:

 

Standout tracks: “Loser” & “Live Life to the Fullest”

 

Drake, “Heartbreak Drake” (Best of Drake)

 

 

Fresh off the set of the melodramatic “Degrassi” series, Jimmy aka Drake has been making a buzz online not for his acting chops but for his talent behind the mic, whether spitting venomous punchlines or working out his ambitions as a crooner. With a co-sign and a number of collaborations with Weezy, Drake delivers a solid effort with enough versatility to keep him relevant as the world anticipates his next move.

 

Verdict: Cop. Listen here.

 

Standout tracks: “Brand New,” “Ransom” feat. Lil Wayne…BONUS: “A Little Bit” (remix) feat. Lykke Li

 

BONUS MIXTAPE (aka “If you haven’t heard this yet, crawl from under a rock and get your life together.” Thanks.)

 

 KiD CuDi, “a KiD named CuDi”

 

Some of y’all may have first met Kid Cudi on Kanye’s “Welcome to Heartbreak,” but he’s been blowing up on the Internets last summer. The midwest MC  has a knack for fusing alternative rock, hip-hop and R&B to create a sound scape for the new generation.

Verdict: Cop. Listen here:

Standout tracks: “Down & Out,”  “Man on the Moon (The Anthem),” and “T.G.I.F (feat. Chip the Ripper)”

Tags: Charles Hamilton, CP Time, Degrassi, Drake, Kid Cudi, Mixtape Roundup