Float

A longstanding New York emcee who's been steadily making hits since the late '90s as a member of The LOX/D-Block, Styles P is nothing if not consistent. In the face of changing production techniques and assorted industry trends, he's never abandoned his hardcore Yonkers thug mentality, satisfying his core fanbase while paying no attention to modern rap fads such as techno beats, emo singing, or wannabe-nerd rambling. Following up last year's effort The World's Most Hardest MC Project, he connects with sample-heavy producer Scram Jones on Float, serving up a cool dozen tracks mostly about remorseless murder ("Bodies in the Basement"), his personal proclivities ("I Need Weed"), and the uselessness of haters ("Screw Y'all"). Scram's edgy, intrinsically East Coast beats are a perfect match for P's streetwise lyricism; we also get choice collaborations with his D-Block brethren Jadakiss and Sheek Louch, plus fellow New York icons N.O.R.E. and Raekwon.