1)   DJ Nu-Mark Broken Sunlight (Hot Plate Records)

After releasing a series of sought after 10” singles, DJ Nu-Mark of Jurassic 5 drops his long-awaited official long-player.  The album pits Nu-Mark’s simple funky production next to a diverse range of soul and hip hop artists, including Charles Bradley, Aloe Blacc, J-Live, Quantic, and Large Professor!  Soul with a twist.  Broken Sunlight on Hot Plate Records is a triple disc release that includes a second disc with instrumentals, acapellas and clean versions and a DVD with a feature film on Nu-Mark’s life on the road.  All in time for the holidays!

2)  S3 Supa Soul Shit (Melting Pot Music)

This new import CD/LP is the brainchild of Kansas City soul singer Miles Bonny and European beat maven Brenk Sinatra.  Miles Bonny croons some smooth soulful tunes over Brenk’s equally buttery production, which mixes dreamy electronic beats with some nice soul samples.  Fans of Frank Ocean will likely lose their shit over this one!

1) JJ DOOM Key to the Kuffs (Lex Records)

2) 2 Chainz Based on a T.R.U. Story (Deluxe Edition) (Def Jam)

3) 2 Chainz Based on a T.R.U. Story (Def Jam)
 
4)  Nas Life is Good (Def Jam)

5) Aesop Rock Skelethon  (Rhymesayers)

The latest top five hip-hop chart from Amoeba Hollywood this week is pretty consistent with the last few weeks at each Amoeba with the top sellers including the highly recommended new albums from Nas ( Life is Good), Aesop Rock, (Skelethon ), and DOOM's (formerly MF Doom) latest outing with producer Jneiro Jarel as JJ DOOM - Key to the Kuffs which I was surprised to hear some DOOM fans were not feeling upon first listen. I really like it and believe it stands side by side in quality with his previous work and that Jneiro's production compliments DOOM - and the other guests - perfectly. My personal favorite tracks are "Banished," "Guv'nor," "Borin' Convo," Dawg Friendly," and the opening sample heavy, album intro track "Waterlogged."  Again on this week's Amoeba chart are both versions of 2 Chainz Based on a T.R.U. Story (regular and the Deluxe Edition) from the ever popular artist who was among those featured performers at last night's MTV's Video Music Awards (VMA).

           

Add to your list of must-attend summer concerts the just-announced Hiero Imperium Summer Tour 2012, featuring performances by Souls of Mischief, Pep Love, Casual, plus special guests along the way. The four-week Western US tour, that kicks off July 19th in San Diego at the House Of Blues, will take them from Cali to Washington, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and Nevada, winding up on August 18th at the Country Saloon in Las Vegas.  What makes this sixteen date tour worth attending is the fact that it is most prolific year yet from the two-decade old collective. Recently five of the Hieros have released solo albums - and they're real good too - including Casual (He Still Think He Raw), Pep Love (Rigmarole), Phesto Dee (Background Check), Opio (Vulture's Wisdom Vol. 2), and Tajai (Machine Language).

In addition to these new solo projects, they also have, as a crew, a grip of new songs to perform on this tour. "I'm looking forward to doing the new material the most, with the new albums from Pep, Casual, Opio, Phesto, and me," the Souls' Tajai said adding that of all the dates on the tour that their hometown show (the non nightclub stop on the tour and the only Bay Area show) on August 4th is one he is really looking forward to. "I'm excited to rock the hometown Art And Soul Festival. Oakland, USA!" For disappointed fans of Del The Funky Homosapien, whose name is noticeably absent from this Hiero tour line up, note that you can catch the most famous HIero in concert in the East Bay this weekend at the High Times 2012 Medical Cannabis Cup at the Craneway Pavilion at 1414 Harbour Way South. The event runs both weekend days but Del performs at the Saturday night party along with Smoke Dza, and others. For more info on the Cannabis Cup. And for more info on the Hiero Imperium Summer Tour 2012. 

1) Tyler the Creator Goblin (XL Recordings)

2) Beastie Boys Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (Capitol)

3) Bambu …Exact Change…Reloaded (Beatrock Music)

4) Blu Her Favorite Colo(u)r (Nature Sounds)

5) Del Tha Funky Homosapien Golden Era CD (Council)

Thanks to Luis at Amoeba San Francisco for this week's top five, which finds in the number one position the ever outspoken, no holds barred 20 year old Tyler The Creator of LA's much hyped collective Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (aka OFWFKTA) with the major label follow up to his attention grabbing debut two years ago. As this website so accurately writes of this new release: "He goes all in for riveting rap polemics—misogyny, tomfoolery, psychiatric ranting, and general anti-PC entropy—but his one constant is simply thought provocation. The spitter of alt hip-hop act OFWGKTA dropped his basement recording Bastard in late 2009 like lyrical shrapnel, a shrink chair diatribe that endeared itself to lovers of cerebral rap. That one went boom. His major label debut Goblin magnifies in intensity and raw verbiage, and if you don’t believe it, check out the video of the single "Yonkers" and prepare to have your cage rattled." The video for "Yonkers" -- currently at almost 10 million YouTube views is immediately below.

1) Atmosphere The Family Sign CD (Rhymesayers)

The new album from the most successful band in indie rap music expands upon the sound that they built with their live band on "To All My Friends/Blood Makes the Blade Holy.” The result? The Family Sign: A series of daring and memorable songs that take their musicianship to the next level.

These guys have built their fan base from the ground up through years of constant touring, so it's always nice to see them getting the support they rightfully deserve.






2) Del Tha Funky Homosapien Golden Era CD (Council)

Bay Area favorite Del’s new album is probably the best deal you’ll get on a hip hop CD in 2011. The package contains three full length CDs for the price of one, setting Del’s brand new unreleased recording Golden Era next to two albums previously only available in digital formats, Automatik Statik and Funk Man. The two free albums you get in the package are solid in their own right, and Golden Era continues the tradition of quality that Heiroglyphics fans have come to know Del for.