Every year, I am always overwhelmed by the amount of new releases that drop. I try to pick up a few of the year's best from the artists that I'm checking for, but there never seems to be enough money to buy everything I want. I end up downloading most new releases, giving them one or two listens, and then archiving them to the vaults. Or, if I do pick something up, I am usually disappointed on some level, and end up with the album on the shelf, only to pull it out 2 years later and realize that I was sleeping. As a result, I've been spending less time buying new CDs and more time at flea markets buying tapes. It's hard to be disappointed with Muse-Sick N Hour Message when you paid $2 for it. It's easy to be disappointed when Public Enemy is coming off of 4 incredible albums and you drop $25 for the CD, which you've been patiently waiting to cop for 2 years. I've been lucky to find some serious gems this year, albums that I was caught sleeping on, so I'm pulling my own card and revealing albums that I've only discovered this year. Peep game - you can learn from my mistakes and cop these amazing joints next time you see them. The Click - Game Related: The Sic-Wid-It Family came correct on this Bay Area classic. E-40, D-Shot, B-Legit and Suga-T (cats who love their hyphens) and producers Studio Tone and Mike Mosely dropped straight heat in 1995. Featuring the sure shot single "Hurricane," 40 Water and his crew flamboast on everything you would expect on a hype Bay Area album - the game, player haters, flossin, and ballin. E-40 is on top of his game, dropping more new slang than Ghost and Rae. This was in rotation for a long time and gets my top recommendation. Son of Bazerk - Bazerk, Bazerk, Bazerk: The cover of this album looks like an early 90's Quality Records"! compilation of unknown soul hits, which caught me sleeping. One day I decided to check the album, which always appeared in the rap section of flea markets in Edmonton, and read four magic words: "Produced by Bomb Squad." If you don't know, now you know. The ultra-funk of Hank Shocklee gets dropped, with Bazerk on the mic and his crew, No Self Control and the Band, on the helpouts. Again, dope material. Nature - For All Seasons: This album isn't quite as dope as the two mentioned above, but still definitely one to check if it's available for a reasonable price. This is a great Queensbridge album featuring the forgotten member of very forgettable "supergroup," the Firm. At first I didn't get the hype surrounding Nature, especially with his taking the place of Cormega in the Firm's original line up. But I found his debut for cheap and decided to give him a chance; his album is fresh material. Thirteen tracks with only one guest, Nas, and featuring a great line-up of QB related producers - LES, Trackmasters, Ski, EZ Elpee, and Lord Jamar all providing joints. The album is relatively short, leaving little room for mistakes. There are a few less than dope tracks, but overall it's a very solid release. Tracey Lee - Many Facez: Dropping Many Faces in 1997, Tracey Lee was among the first artists in the "jiggy" era of East Coast rap. He takes a unique approach to the album, having a whole cast of characters that he uses as alter-egos to display different moods on different tracks. Tracey Lee plays the big willie pusher, wild out party man, ladies man, battle MC, and himself, using each character for different tracks on the album. Many Facez has some strange guest spots, including Biggie, who at the time of the album release was dead, and Busta Rhymes with one of his Flipmode crew. This album is jiggy, but in the Camp Lo dope way, and makes for a great unknown East Coast banger. The Psycho Realm - Self Titled: A strange B-Real project from 1997 that always showed up at used record stores but never got copped. One day I saw the album for $5 and decided to scoop it. The Psycho Ward (Sick Jacken and B-Real) did the majority of the production, on a serious Soul Assassins tip and dark, murky beats set the tone for some sinister rhymes. This album has a great mood, and makes for a great listen. Check game money. Other joints I picked up and enjoyed: Double X Posse - Ruff Rugged and Raw Positive K - Skills Dat Pay Da Bills E-40 - Federal (one of my favorite albums in a long time) South Circle - Anotha Day Anotha Balla (Thanks Chaps!) Michael Jackson - Invincible (Don't Sleep! Very good production) Project Pat - Layin Da Smack Down Ill Al Skratch - Creep Wit Me Timbaland - Tim's Bio