Young Jeezy - TM:103 Hustlerz Ambition

Young Jeezy is back with the third in his Thug Motivation series of albums, and the tracks on this album would not sound out of place on either of the previous two TM albums. That's a good thing; TM:103 is filled with the type of street anthems that made Jeezy his name, and in a world where the likes of Drake are dominating with R&B tinged efforts, it's refreshing to hear a straight up, banging hip hop album. Jeezy is not the most thoughtful lyricist around but that has never been his strength. What is his strength is charisma and delivering anthems for the street, and he has done that superbly on TM:103, a fitting addition to an excellent series of albums.

Rating: 8/10
Top Tracks: What I Do (Just Like That), OJ, Trapped, F.A.M.E.
Release Date: 20 December 2011

The Black Keys – El Camino

The Black Keys’ breakthrough into the rock mainstream came with last year’s album Brothers, which included hits like Tighten Up and Howling For You. Whilst that album was brilliant, El Camino is even better. The twosome’s dirty blues-rock has been honed and sleeked up with the help of producer Danger Mouse, and they have delivered an album of eleven massive rock tunes, full of energy, building-sized riffs, pounding drums and huge choruses. That two people can make such a racket is quite astounding, and that they can keep it up over the course of a whole album even more so. Every track is as brilliant as the last and the songs have clearly been made with intention of rocking the arenas they now routinely fill like they have never been rocked before. Mission accomplished.

Rating: 9/10
Top Tracks: Lonely Boy, Gold on the Ceiling, Sister, Nova Baby

Release Date: 6 December 2011

The Roots - Undun

It takes a lot to be both innovative and consistent, and The Roots are the most innovative, most consistent hip hop act in the world bar none. They have been around 20 years and have barely ever put a foot wrong, releasing classic album after classic album. Undun could just be their best one yet. It is the story of a street hustler’s life and early death, told backwards from death to birth. The production by ?uestlove is flawless and suits the depressing subject matter perfectly – Undun is probably the most downbeat album The Roots have ever released, but it’s also the most beautiful and engrossing. Rapper Black Thought is an intelligent and engaging MC and he tells the story vividly through his rhymes, with the help of a few guests who also contribute impressively. The Roots have been the go-to men for intelligent hip hop for almost two decades now, and with Undun they have set the bar higher than it’s ever been. A late contender for album of 2011, in any genre.

Rating: 10/10

Top Tracks: Make My, One Time, Kool On, Stomp, Lighthouse

Release Date: 6 December 2011