Bas - Too High to Riot (2016)

Abbas Hamad believes the best artists reveal more of themselves with each release so here he sheds the bullish armour of 2014 debut Last Winter to unveil a more thoughtful side. The Queens-based MC’s detail and wordplay uphold New York hip-hop’s tradition for captivating storytelling as he confronts grief and guilt (“Live For”), self-awareness (“Penthouse”), and racism (“Black Owned Business”). The beats are sober and woozy when the mood demands it but “Methylone” still constructs infectious euphoria from Bas’s inner conflicts.