1) Zion I & The Grouch are Heroes in the Healing of the Nation (Z&G Music)

2) Pharoahe Monch W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) (W.A.R. Media/Duck Down Music)

3) Equipto & Michael Marshall Keep it Movin' 2 Love Changes-Solidarity Records

4) Raekwon Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang (Ice H2O Records)

5) Lupe Fiasco Lasers (Atlantic Recording Corp).

Thanks to Luis for this week's Amoeba Hip-Hop Top Five for the San Francisco store where the highly recommended new Zion I & The Grouch's latest collaborative album Zion I & The Grouch are Heroes in the Healing of the Nation is number one after only hitting Amoeba Music's shelves on Tuesday (March 22nd). A sequel to Zion I & The Grouch's similarly themed, successful 2006 collaboration, Heroes in the City of Dope, this latest teaming of hip-hop talent even surpasses that critically acclaimed release. Joining producer Amp Live and emcees Zumbi and The Grouch throughout this release are such guests as Fashawn, Casual, Mystic, Brother Ali, Eric Rachmany, Freeway, Roy Ayers, Jacob Hemphill of Soja, Eligh, Codany Holiday, The R.O.D., and Silk-E, whose soaring vocals elevate the single "Rockit Man," as seen in the brand new video above.

Another tight new release that came out this week is Pharoahe Monch's W.A.R.(We Are Renegades), which is only the third solo album in a dozen years (a long time by hip-hop standards) from the Queens, NY artist who first came to fame over two decades ago as one half of the renowned hip-hop duo Organized Konfusion. Released via Duck Down, the new album's release, which was delayed by several months, was first announced last year when Monch, who is probably best widely known as a solo artist for his 1999 hit single "Simon Says," was on tour with Slaughterhouse. Not surprisingly, the supergroup Slaughterhouse's Royce Da 5'9'' makes a guest spot here on the track "Assassins" alongside Jean Grae.

Other talents to join Monch include Immortal Technique, Vernon Reid, Styles P & Phonte, and Jill Scott. The album is tight and could well be a contender for one of the top five hip-hop albums of 2011. It packs socio-political tones alongside everyday in the hood observations and is sure to appeal to hip-hop fans from all walks and ages. Below is the video version of the album's second single, "Clap (One Day)," which was produced by M-Phazes and features Showtyme & DJ Boogie Blind. This extended ten minute video below, complete with a dramatic police raid gone dramatically wrong, was directed by Terence Nance and features appearances from Gbenga Akinnagbe (known for his portrayal of Chris Partlow in HBO's The Wire), Kim Howard and Josiah Small. If you cannot make it physically over to Amoeba to pick up this album, buy W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) online.