The Rap-Up

At this point of the year everyone is throwing out their top 10 lists.  They're kind of cliche, but they serve as a recap/snapshot of the last twelve months.  I honestly don't have 10 LPs or songs I could come up with, but I do have some great highlights for 2011.

Best Summer Jammie/album (tie)

Polyester The Saint - "The El Co"

Polyester The Saint dropped one of the best summer time anthems I've honestly heard since "Nuttin' But A G Thang."  Please believe that I HATE AUTOTUNE.  I think it's one of those corny sounds that's going to define the last couple years like how you can tell a movie is from the late 70s when you hear disco music in the score.  Regardless... Polyester The Saint's "The El Co" is an example of just using something like that to add to the mix and not carry the song.  I stumbled across this cut over the summer and it quickly became one of my favorite tracks to listen to these last few months.  His LP, "Sumthin Ta Creez To," was an album packed to the brim with warm weather car bumps and late night cruising. 

Rusty Redenbacher & Mr. Kinetik - "Cashin' In"

Naptown held it down this year.  Indy's hip hop scene is one of the things I truly miss after heading back home to the 206.  Just as I left the 317 a slew of releases came out of Indianapolis that I hope will put the town on the map.  Rusty Redenbacher & Mr. Kinetik's "Professor & Hustler" LP was one of them.  "Cashin' In" was another song that demanded to be played with windows rolled down and BBQs in full effect.  I can proudly say that I dropped that track on KAOS 89.3 and injected the PNW with the dope ish that has been bubbling out of The Nap.

Up and Coming Artist (solo)

Mr. Kinetik 


Mr. Kinetik has been doing his thing in Naptown for a minute, but 2011 was when he became an artist that could not be ignored in Indy's hip hop scene.  (or any other for that matter)  With the back to back projects that were being released out of Naptown this year, Mr. Kinetik was part of at least 5 of them.  (and they progressively got better as the year progressed)  2011 started off with the collab "Green Hornet EP" with Eratic, then was followed with the ATFU comp and the Rusty Redenbacher & Mr. Kinetik "Professor & Hustler."  When most artists loose steam with back to back releases Mr. Kinetik rounded 3rd base and brought it back home with his opus "Sounds of Soul" LP and "Clockwork" mix.  "Sounds of Soul" is the kind of album that would fit in nicely next to your Mos Def, Bilal and Common albums and has the potential to be just as classic.  Easily one of the best albums to come out THIS year and easily one of the best albums I've heard in a LONG time.

Up and Coming Artist (Group)

The Proforms

Once again, another heat rock from the 317.  Made up of four members from other well established Indy acts, The Proforms don't come off as a "super group/collab" project, but as their own group with their own distinctive sound and vibe.  All four members have each released solid material, but as The Proforms I honestly think they have all found their groove and truly developed as artists.  Their LP, "Atavism," is like that tape you had in your system that you'd play nonstop with end to end burners.  I only hope this release will give Ace, Skittz, Joe Harvey and DJ Spoolz the attention that I know they deserve with their LP.  Strictly raw golden age boom bap to slap suckas silly.