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We’re now halfway through May. A full third of 2013 is behind us and things are really beginning to heat up in more ways than one. Quality Hip-Hop is popping up with more and more frequency as the temperature rises, so we have new jawns to rock for sundress and cargo shorts season.

The main drawback to having multiple digital music venues and so many indie labels releasing quality music is it becomes difficult for the average Hip-Hop head to stay abreast of the material. Worry not, valued readers. That is where our Hip-Hop Wired feature “While You Were Sleeping” comes in handy as we inform you of all the quality indie and underground Rap projects that tend to fly under the radar without a huge hype machine promoting them. Feel free to go back and review my previous picks for the first three months of Hip-Hop releases in 2013. We are now more than a full third of the way through the year already. Time flies, doesn’t it?

The first two weeks of May featured 10 quality indie & underground Hip-Hop projects. Among them are new releases from the likes of Havoc of Mobb Deep, Talib Kweli, DJ Rhettmatic of Beat Junkies & Frank Nitt, Marco Polo, Count Bass D, Qwel & Maker, Chance The Rapper and several more.

Here’s what you all may have missed, while you were sleeping…

 

Marco Polo – Newport Authority 2 (Internet/Fat Beats) 5.1.2013

Canadian producer Marco Polo is back at it once again making this Spring fresher than it was by blessing us with the precursor to Port Authority 2, the free album Newport Authority 2. Marco Polo provides heater after heater for an impressive lineup of spitters to body including Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Large Professor, Das EFX, Artifacts, Tragedy Khadafi, Lil’ Fame, Torae & Jaysaun. Newport Authority 2 is so good that it’s ridiculous for it to be only a free download, for that reason Fat Beats is releasing a limited run physical version that you can purchase. You can stream & download Newport Authority 2 from AudioMack & pre-order it from Fat Beats. Be on the lookout for Port Authority 2 dropping this July.

 

Chance The Rapper – Acid Rap (Internet) 5.1.2013

Chance The Rapper is a young MC out of Chicago with an impressive stage show, a unique style that sounds like he’d be at home in the 90’s and a rabid following both on & off the internet. His new mixtape Acid Rap has quickly become one of the biggest events in Hip-Hop thus far this Spring. It’s loaded with guest appearances from Twista, Ab-Soul, Action Bronson, BJ The Chicago Kid, Childish Gambino & Vic Mensa and production from Jake One, Nate Fox, Brandun Deshay, Blended Babies and more. You can stream and download Acid Rap right now right here.

 

 

Timeless Truth x El RTNC – Rock-It Science (Fat Beats) 5.7.2013

If you’re a fan of New York Hip-Hop, quality bars, dope beats and Ralph Lauren gear then I have the perfect album for you! Timeless Truth & El RTNC (formerly known as Rthentic RTNC) released a well received album independently last December called Rock-It Science straight to iTunes & they offered it up for sale on cassette tape and CD via the internet. Response was so positive for fans that Fat Beats got behind the project and now it’s been re-released with wider distribution. The impressive project boasts guest appearances from Sean Price, Roc Marciano, Action Bronson, Meyhem Lauren and Large Professor. You can cop Rock-It Science via iTunes, Amazon, Fat Beats, UGHH, Sandbox Automatic and special bundles are available direct from Timeless Truth himself. Salute to Superstar Dave Dar on the mix!

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Photo: Javotti Media

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