Waleoyejide: Africa Is Hot! - The Afrofuture Sessions
Put on your dancin shoes, or perhaps not. It would be more better to dance with one’s feet naked touching the rich earth. All ailments healed by the sun while vibrations pulsate thru your being. Welcome to the world of Waleoyejide, Africa Is Hot (play, download) and there’s an afrofuture session going on where you’re welcome to be entertained and also empowered by the words of these griots of color with an even more colorful culture and history. This album manages to rock yah body, sprinkle some rhyme into your ear lobes and remind you the world has many pressing issues but, that doesn’t mean you have to stop dancing. The only way to combat negative is to first assess it, then make progressive moves to pulverize it into oblivion. - Intel Sole

Wade Waters: Return Of The Kings the Mixtape
Why not combine forces and form a duo to combat the monotony that is mainstream Hip-Pop music? Soulstic and Haysoos have done just that, ushering forth a mixtape that actually sounds like two individuals that enjoy rhyming. You won’t find any corpses lying around after Wade Waters: Return Of The Kings has stopped spinning. The title track Return Of The Kings is a cool tune that’s smooth enough to rock in the background at your mid-summer family function while having ample boom and bap to get all heads within range of the hi-fi to nod in agreement. Don't sleep on D.C. and Chicago, together there's nothing stopping them from locating you and waking you up. (Album production furnished by; Analogic, Arsenal, Father Scott, Oddisee, SBE Audiologist, Shuko, Speaks & 9th Wonder. Also guest appearance by Cuban Link on 'Rock Solid'.) - Choice Live

Scienz of Life: The Blaxploitation Sessions
My attention is immediately grabbed by slick album art, black and white collage leaning on a less is more approach. Scienz Of Life let's us know that they're 'Still Standing', and remind us to 'Respect The Pioneers' (play, download) while proving through their lyrics and genuine delivery that they 'Represent People' especially their peers in this diverse hiphop community, as well as make strides to play model roles for the future emcees, doctors & teachers. Oh yeah, the beats ain't too shabby either. (The Blaxploitation Sessions features appearances by; Miracle, Tiffany Paige & Ta'Raach.) - Jenine K.