Childish Gambino, Camp (Glassnote)
Hands down this is one of the best debut albums in hip-hop, period. Honest and unpretentious, Camp simply hones the raw intensity of Gambino's EP without losing a thing.
Childish Gambino, EP (Independent)
Five free ferocious tracks from an Emmy-winner was all it took to put the hip-hop scene on notice, this untitled EP was easily the hardest hitting hip-hop album of 2011.
Classified, Handshakes and Middle Fingers (Sony/halflife)
Enfield's own Classified put together an instantly accessible record with such catchy hits that the folks at EA Sports came knocking and "That Ain't Classy" now appears on the Madden 12 soundtrack.
Manchester Orchestra, Simple Math (Columbia)
An ambitious concept record that is far from being an easily accessible pop album. That being said, it is easily one of the most interesting records of 2011.
Quake, The Myth (IV League) LOCAL
The Fairview MC recently dropped his debut album The Myth, a gritty slice of hard-hitting hip-hop showcasing an MC who is imminently poised to blow up.
Arkells, Michigan Left (Universal)
AWOLNATION, Megalithic Symphony (Red Bull)
City and Colour, Little Hell (Dine Alone)
Matthew Good, Lights of Endangered Species (Universal)
Radiohead, King of Limbs (XL)
Red Hot Chili Peppers, I'm With You (Warner)
Trevor is a self-proclaimed pop culture junkie, constantly over-caffeinated.
