'R.A.P. Music' (2012) by Killer Mike

R.A.P. Music 

Medium: Album

Artist: Killer Mike
Label: Williams Street
Country: United States
Released: May 15, 2012
First Consumed: May 17, 2012
Genre: Hip-Hop
Rating: 8.5/10

The first of two El-P related albums released in May. He functions as produced on R.A.P. Music, and the combination of his bass-heavy, synth-y music with Killer Mike's Southern drawl is an unexpectedly successful one. Extremely successful.

As much as I love El-P, and as great as the production is, the lion's share of credit should still go Killer Mike. He comes off as a man who's had a lot on his mind, much of it having to do with social injustice (hear the album's stand-out tracks "Reagan" and "Don't Die"). But like any southern gentleman, he manages to mix in the fun, non-politcal content also. This balance is important to what makes the album work. He's never straight beating you over the head with the message songs, and the slighter tracks give Mike a showcase for his incredible rapping skills and the fantastic beats.

For the next couple Consumption journal entries, this is the album of the year so far.