1) Kid Cudi Indicud (Dreamworks)

2) Ghostface Killah Twelve Reasons To Die (Soul Temple)

3) Ghostface Killah Twelve Reasons To Die DeLuxe (Soul Temple)

4) Tyler, The Creator Wolf (Columbia)

5) Wu-Tang Clan Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) LP (Loud/RCA)

Special thanks to Edwin at Amoeba Hollywood for the latest top five hip-hop chart that includes the brand new, third official solo album from Kid Cudi which is a return by the hip-hop artist to a more straight up rap production after the Cleveland artist's last outing - the rock/rap crossover project, WZRD. It is also a break from his Man In the Moon series (initially this was supposed to be part three in that ongoing series). And while the new Cudi album has some guests throughout it is not overburdened with them - hence allowing its star to shine with minimum distraction from guests on the mic. Exceptions include Kendrick Lamar who joins Cudi on “Solo Dolo Pt. II," Too $hort who joins him on "Girls" which is about - you guessed it,  and RZA who joins Cudi on the killer track “Beez.” A more low profile guest is fellow Cleveland artist King Chip (aka previous collaborator Chip Tha Ripper) who is featured on  both “Brothers” and “Just What I Am.” Lyrically Cudi covers a lot of ground including being on the battle tip as in the album track “Cold Blooded” in which he calls out his detractors with lyrics like: “One two one two, assholes now please listen close. I live for the day to watch all you pussies roast. Woosah woosah, So I don't slit nobody throat. Aaww it ain’t my fault. Homie thought he had the juice!"

1) WZRD wzrd (Universal Republic)

2) Drake Take Care (Cash Money)

3 Tyga  Careless World: Rise Of The La (Cash Money)

4) Too $hort No Trespassing (Dangerous Music)

5) Madlib Medicine Show No. 13: Black Tape (Madlib Medicine Show)

Thanks to Michelle at the San Francisco Amoeba Music store for this week's new hip-hop chart which, with the exception of Drake's steadily selling sophomore album Take Care which was released four months ago, is packed with all brand new releases that dropped last week on Feb 28th. These include the number album of the week at the Haight Street store and the number 3 Billboard albums chart across the country this week: the self titled album from WZRD which is the highly anticipated and slightly overdue new new rock project from Kid Cudi along with producer Dot da Genius which draws inspiration from Pink Floyd and The Pixies.  and featuring songs like "The Upper Room " and "The Dream Time Machine" - both of which are below. Note this is technically not hip-hop music but rather more alternative/prog/rock music made by a rapper. I stress that because there's already been a lot of Cudi fans (ones used to his genre-bending) who are not feeling this album. But even if you are not you are not into the music you gotta give the guy props for always trying new things.

Above is the brand new video/song from NJ native Shawn Lov who has been hard at work to bring in the new year with a bang by releasing a music video as part of an underground Hip-Hop coalition of pioneering artists from Trenton, NJ area called 7 Immortals which consists of many members that regularly recorded with the late, veteran Trenton NJ producer (and emcee) Tony D who is best known for his work with Poor Righteous Teachers and YZ. Produced by The Custodian of Records "Thursday Night Live" is the lead single from the forthcoming 7 Immortals album - one of the many new releases to drop in 2012.

Welcome to the new year of 2012 in hip-hop when there should be some real good releases (and lots of them) dropping; albeit most will be digital files since, of all genres, hip-hop seems to be releasing the least physical copies - ironic considering that the genre was built on vinyl records. As with the past numerous years 2012 got off to a start with Skillz (formerly MC Skillz) doing his always fun, annual wrap of the main happenings (hip-hop and mainstream news) of the previous year in a nicely wrapped up rap song. Uploaded on January 1st below is Skillz' "2011 Rap Up" with references to such folks as white Oakland rapper Kreayshawn and the late great golden era hip-hop star Heavy D. 


Due out later this month is Kid Cudi's anticipated new album which will feature the popular Dot Da Genius produced-song "No One Believes Me" that was released in advance several months ago. The video below, directed by Craig Gillespie (Mr. Woodcock), was featured on Fright Night movie soundtrack. Note that the album is not the follow up to 2010's Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager but rather the first release from the rock band he and Dot da Genius formed called WZRD (formerly Wizard).

1) Kanye West
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
  
2) Cee Lo Green
The Lady Killer (Elektra Records)

3) Kid Cudi Man On The Moon 2: The Legend of Mr Roger (Universal/Motown)

4) Nicki Minaj Pink Friday (Cash Money/Universal)

5) (tie) Eligh Grey Crow (Legendary/Alpha Pup)
   Damu The Fudgemunk Supply For Demand (Redefinition Records)

1) The Grouch Three Eyes Off the Time (Legendary Music)

2) Souls of Mischief Montezuma's Revenge (Clear Label)

3) BlakRoc Blakroc  (V2/Cooperative)

4) Messy Marv & Berner Blow (Bern One Ent.)

5) Clipse Til the Casket Drops (SONY)

6) Messy Marv Highly Aggressive (Click Clack Records)

7) Snoop Dogg Malice N Wonderland (Priority/EMI)

8) Young Money We Are Young Money (Cash Money/Universal)

9) Gucci Mane The State vs. Radric Davis (Warner Bros/Asylum)

10) Timbaland Shock Value II (Blackground Records)

The Grouch from the Living Legends crew is back with a banger that went straight to number one on this week's Hip-Hop Top Ten from the Amoeba Music San Francisco store. Thanks to Luis for the chart. Titled Three Eyes Off The Time on Legendary Music, this latest release from The Grouch talks about a variety of subjects, including love in the digital age, which is explored in "The Dangers Of Online Dating." He also continues topics such as fatherhood, explored previously by the emcee on Show You The World. That album, with The Grouch pictured on the cover with his daughter on his shoulder, was released last year. And the profilic emcee, who a few years ago teamed up with Zion I to record an entire album (2006's Heroes In The City Of Dope) has not been idle. Earlier this year, along with Eligh, he released the great collaborative album Say G&E! Unfortunately, Eligh doesn't appear on Three Eyes Off The Time, but others do. Rankin Scroo and Marty James appear on the tracks "Daddy's Home" and "Make Em Think," respectively. And Fashawn and Mistah FAB both cameo on the track "Already," which is only available on this CD version of the album.