This is one of the harder albums for me to review, only in my unfamiliarity with two of the three artists in question. I have been following Prefuse for years, but haven’t spent any time with Jaytram or Epstein. Jaytram is the drummer for Yeasayer, who I haven’t cared for since I saw them at Fun Fun Fun Fest a couple of years ago, but maybe I’ll enjoy his solo material, if this is any indication.

Ever since I first heard Pacific Drift: Western Water Music Vol. 1, I knew that Nobody was a unique talent. He is one of the hardest artists to pin down, connecting musical genres like psychedelic, house, R&B, and West Coast hip hop, with nothing ever sounding out of place. He works with a subtle touch and extensive musical vocabulary that rewards upon repeated listens. His last album was Blank Blue: Western Water Music Vol.

Michael Schmelling is an esteemed photographer who has published in several magazines and collections, most notably The Wilco Book. Atlanta came about when he was trying to decide on a project to combine music and photography. He considered a project like Tallahassee by the Mountain Goats, but ultimately decided that Aquemini was going to be the inspiration and set out to shoot Atlanta. Schmelling has an excellent eye, and he has presented us with a visually arresting collection of photos to represent Atlanta.

Von Pea is a third of the group Tanya Morgan, and this is his debut solo album. Apparently, the idea behind this album came about when Pea found his journal from high school and he decided to set it to music. The result is an interesting mix of a mature adult making his way as a working musician and a young adolescent trying to sort out all of life’s changes.

People have written about the history of hip hop, and some have folded discussions of its business practices into those narratives, but none have so thoroughly explored the history of the business side of hip hop as Charnas has here. Some of it you have heard before, and some of it you haven’t. Charnas does an excellent job of bringing in as many substantial business practices as he can that influenced the shape of hip hop.

Canadian emcee Eternia has been plugging away for several years now, but has yet to make a big splash in the states. Now that I’ve been clued into her talents, I can only hope that her name quickly resonates among hip hop fans everywhere. At Last is her third full-length, and for the project she enlisted fellow Canadian MoSS as producer. He holds the distinction of being the first producer signed to DJ Premier’s Works of Mart production company.

Known as Sole’s backing band since their first album together in 2007, Skyrider was playing as a trio before that, and continue to write and record even when Sole is working on other projects. While we can expect a Sole and the Skyrider Band album next summer, we’ve got a full-length instrumental album to enjoy right now. The album is difficult to pin down, and its eclectic mix of genres does little to help.

After releasing the ambitious full-length Cosmogramma earlier this year, L.A.-based producer Flying Lotus comes right back to give us a seven-song EP. While it may not have the ambition of its predecessor, it’s a solid record any way you slice it. In a relatively short time, Flying Lotus proved he was capable of harnessing a wide array of musical influences. In less than twenty minutes, we’re taken on quite a journey.

Ninja Tune celebrated its twentieth anniversary this year. In that time, they’ve released a variety of experimental hip hop and electronic music and built up a large fan base. The anniversary has been celebrated in many different fashions, from concerts to box sets to books. This is all great, but none hold a candle to what King Cannibal has given us. A relatively new member of the Ninja Tune family, this London-based artist rose to the challenge to take the twenty-year catalogue and condense it into a 74-minute remix.

Moka Only might not be a household name in the States, but this Canadian hip hop artist has put out forty records since his debut in the mid-nineties, earning him the nickname “The Most Prolific.” This is the latest installment in a Christmas series he started in 2007. It definitely doesn’t sound like most Christmas albums I’ve come across, and for that I’m grateful. Hailing from Vancouver, Moka has led the way for Canadian West Coast hip hop.