1) Talib Kweli Prisoner Of Conscious (Blacksmith)

2) The Uncluded (Aesop Rock + Kimya Dawson) Hokey Fright (Rhymesayers)

3) Qwel & Maker Beautiful Raw (Galapagos4 Records)

4) Sunspot Jonz and BOAC Skywalkers (Outhouse Records)

5) Sole No Wising Up, No Settling Down (Black Canyon)

Thanks to E-Lit at Amoeba Berkeley for his run down (video and chart above) on all the latest in hip-hop releases at Amoeba Music this week that include such new joints as Sunspot Jonz (Mystik Journeymen/Living Legends) who teamed up with Bay Area producer BOAC (founding member of The Earthlings along with DJ Bootleg who used to book the hip-hop shows at the defunct SF venue Maritime Hall) for his latest release Skywalkers - released on the long running Living Legends label Outhouse Records. As E-Lit notes it is a fun, all killer, no filler hip-hop release.  Other new releases include the straight up hip-hop album from Qwel & Maker Beautiful Raw on Galapagos4 Records, and the much more alternative/adventurous hip-hop outing from The Uncluded: Hokey Fright on Rhymesayers Entertainment. The Uncluded is the pairing of Aesop Rock with Kimya Dawson who have worked together before this new collaborative full-length album. You may recall that Kimya Dawson made a cameo on Skelethon - the stellar solo album (following a five year gap) from Aesop Rock last summer (when he did a memorable in-store at Amoeba San Francisco), and that Aesop Rock in turn had made guest appearances on Dawson's album from the previous year Thunder Thighs. Released by Rhymesayers Entertainment it features the single "Earthquake." See the accompanying video below and you will immediately see why E-Lit describes it as like children's music in its production presentation of the 16 track album that, according to the publicity release from the label, "helps to tell the story of two people who are finding therapy through making art together."

Last Tuesday DJ Toure, DJ/producer and member of Oakland's longtime Hieroglyphics crew, released his long-awaited solo album, Toure's Theory: Session One, which initially was expected to drop last year but due to his busy schedule got bumped back until now. The prolific artist, who in addition to working with the Hieros crew including member Casual  has, over the years, produced tracks for the likes Too $hort, Freeway, Devin The Dude, Phonte, Father Dom, Beeda Weeda, The Grouch & Eligh, Goapele, E-40, and Forty Wata's rapper son Droop-E, has been down with the Hieros since day - initially joining the crew as the DJ for his (elementary school mate) Casual .

The above Dylan Freitas-D'Louhy directed electronic press kit video gives some insight into DJ Toure's rich history (coming up in Oakland upbringing with fellow Hieros (Casual, Tajai, Opio, and A-Plus) as well as some background on the new album that includes many of the aforementioned artists he's worked with including members of the Hieros - Opio, Pep Love, Del The Funky Homosapien, and Casual; plus such Bay Area artists as Too $hort (see new video below for the album track "Mind Yo Business" that also features Jacoria Marzett.), E-40, Mistah FAB, Clyde Carson, B-Legit, J. Stalin, Nio Tha Gift, and The Jacka, as well as such other guests as Philly rap star Freeway.

1) Black C Still Ruthless (Rightway)

2) Kendrick Lamar Good Kid M.A.A.D City  (Aftermath)

3) E40 & Too $hort History: Mob Music (Heavy On The Grindl)

4) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis The Heist (Macklemore LLC)

5) Wu-Block Wu-Block (Entertainment One)

Thanks to Michelle at the Haight Street store for the above latest Amoeba Music San Francisco Hip-Hop Top Five chart which features in the number one slot the brand new release from longtime hometown rap hero Black C of RBL Posse fame whose new solo album is Still Ruthless on Rightway Productions. As you know RBL Posse, who hailed from the Hunters Point district of San Francisco, released some popular rap albums back in the nineties including their 1992 debut A Lesson To Be Learned on In-A-Minute featuring the hit and future dank anthem "Don't Gimme No Bammer" (Black C's brand new video below for the new album track "I Smoke" is a kind of sequel to that classic even referencing its lyrics), and RBL Posse's second album Ruthless By Law" on In-A-Minute in 1994. Their next album, An Eye For An Eye on Big Beat came out in 1997, a year after Black C's partner in rhyme Mr Cee was shot and killed in cold blood on New Year's Day 1996.

1) Kendrick Lamar Good Kid M.A.A.D City  (Aftermath)

2) E40 & Too $hort  History: Function Music (Heavy On The Grind)

3) 9th Wonder & Buckshot The Solution (Duck Down Records)

4) E40 & Too $hort History: Mob Music (Heavy On The Grindl)

5) RZA The Man With The Iron Fists Score (Soul Temple Entertainment)

If you have not already been over to Amoeba Music (Hollywood, Berkeley, or San Francisco) this Black Friday weekend (through Sunday 25th) be sure to do so to avail of the many great deals and bargains like turntables on sale, the exclusive Black Friday RSD releases, and all of the releases on this latest hip-hop chart from the San Francisco Amoeba store.  These include Kendrick Lamar's phenomenally popular Good Kid M.A.A.D City which is selling equally well in its DeLuxe CD format (bonus tracks) of the Dr. Dre presented release on Aftermath that has put Compton back on the music map. Meanwhile across the country in NYC Duck Down Records, who have had both a very prolific and successful year to date, are back in the charts again this week with the 9th Wonder and Buckshot collaboration that finds the producer and emcee as the perfect match. The 12 track album includes a couple of guest spots on two different tracks: "You" with Dyme-A-Duzin, and "Shorty Left" with a nice feature from North Carolina female rapper Rapsody who is signed to Wonder's label.  Scroll down below to see the video for this track.

            
1) Too $hort No Trespassing (Dangerous Music)

2) Maxilla Blue Volume 3 (Galapagos4)

3) 14 KT A Friendly Game of KT ( A-Side Worldwide/Mello Music)

4) Busdriver Beaus $ Eros  (Fake Four Inc.)

5) Lee Bannon Fantastic Plastic (Plug Research)

E LIT'S PICK of the week: Ecid Werewolf Hologram LP

Special thanks to E-Lit at the Berkeley Amoeba store for taking time to give us the new Top Five list and to record the above video at the Telegraph Ave. store with a nice run down of all the new arrivals in Amoeba. E Lit will do reports each week on the latest hip-hop for the next three weeks here on the weekly hip-hop rap up Amoeblog. In the number slot this week is the latest (19th studio album) from Bay Area's godfather of rap Too $hort: No Trespassing on Dangerous Music.which includes such tracks as the lead single "Money On The Floor (feat E40)" (video below) the weed anthem "Cush Cologne" and the cautionary tale on cheating, "I Got Caught" with guest vocals by Bay Area soul singer Martin Luther.