Justin Schell

In December, Heidi Barton Stink released a free EP, The Familiar Pattern. Her work as a queer- and trans-identifying MC certainly breaks the pattern of hypermasculine—and often grossly homophobic—hip-hop. Featuring production and guest appearances by Soce the Elemental Wizard, Skullbuster, and others, The Familiar Pattern goes far beyond the catchphrases of most so-called "conscious rap," targeting audiences and injustices with lyrical dexterity and focused rage.

Equal parts witty, candid, ruminating, and ferocious, M.anifest's new mixtape, The Birds and the Beats—available for free download on the artist's

For you know, and I know, good horse ´mongst the rich ones
How oftimes we go there an unwelcome guest
-Woody Guthrie, “The Unwelcome Guest”

Earlier this year, Minneapolis MC and spoken word poet Guante told me that he was working on an album that was “about immigration.” This vague, yet full-of-potential germ has resulted in An Unwelcome Guest (TrúRúts), the debut album from Guante and producer Big Cats!. The album is a follow up to the group’s Start a Fire EP, also on TrúRúts, which was released in May of this year. The duo will celebrate its release Saturday, December 12th at Bedlam Theatre, with support from Kristoff Krane, No Bird Sing, and The Tribe.

The first MC heard on Brother Ali's third full-length, Us, is not the Rhymesayers heavyweight but rather one of his icons, Chuck D. Chuck intones an introduction for Ali, listing off divisions that plague humanity and offering Ali as "a soldier/ in the war for love," one who carries "a message of true hope/ and true peace" that might overcome these divisions.