2) Big Boi Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors (Def Jam)

3) Wiz Khalifa O.N.I.F.C. (Atlantic)

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

5) 2 Chainz Based On A T.R.U. Story (Def Jam)

This latest hip-hop top five chart from the Hollywood Amoeba store features all current releases from the past month or more including the latest Big Boi and Wiz Khalifa albums (Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors and O.N.I.F.C. respectively) both released last month. Note that this week Def Jam also released a vinyl version of Big Boi's Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors. The other top five entries include Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' runaway indie success story The Heist, Kendrick Lamar's universally popular Good Kid M.A.A.D City --, and 2 Chainz' official debut Based On A T.R.U. Story which, since its release last August has been a steady seller at Amoeba. Both 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar are among the guests on the new A$AP Rocky full-length album Long.Live.A$AP on RCA: another hot new rap artist, whose official (as distinct from mixtures) debuted this week. More on it in the weeks ahead here on the Amoeblog. Another new release this week is DJ Mugg's Bass For Your Face on Ultra Music which finds the longtime hip-hop production talent venturing off into some electronic territory in addition to straight up hip-hop beats and includes cameos from a nice mix of talented emcees including Public Enemy's Chuck D, Dizzee Rascal, Freddie Gibbs, Danny Brown, and Roc Marciano.

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) Zion I & The Grouch Heroes in the Healing of the Nation (Z&G Music)
 
Not surprisingly, the new Zion I & The Grouch album has become a major seller at Amoeba’s Bay Area locations. Both Zion I & The Grouch command a huge amount of respect in the local scene, largely thanks to their work ethic and the consistent quality of their recordings. They’ve garnered a lot of national attention in recent years, but the Bay continues to remain their greatest supporters.
 
2) Pharoahe Monch W.A.R (We Are Renegades) (Duck Down)

Hot on the heels of the new Zion I & The Grouch album is the latest from Pharoahe Monch, one of the more technically talented MCs in hip-hop as far as voice and cadence go, and who has released a number of great recordings solo and in his group Organized Konfusion. This new one takes Monch back to his indie roots, pitting him against an exciting cast of producers and keeping things progressive in terms of his style and approach.
 
3) Lupe Fiasco Lasers (Atlantic)
 
Holding its major selling position from last week is Lupe’s new one, which continues to receive a large amount of media attention as it walks the fine line between radio friendly pop music and conscious hip-hop.
 
4) E-40 Revenue Retrievin: Overtime Shift (EMI)
 
E-40 is another Bay Area legendwho’s always on his grind, and his recent release of two new albums in the Revenue Retrievin series seems to indicate that he’s not planning on slowing down any time soon. The Overtime Shift of the series features Bay Area favorites J-Stalin, B-Legit and The Click, as well as a guest shot from the one and only Devin the Dude.  The last time E-40 put out two albums simultaneously, they both went through individual periods of selling quickly, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Revenue Retrivin': Graveyard Shift ends up on one of these lists in the near future as well.