Busdriver/Clipping/Milo/DJ Kenny Segal

After dropping his 10th studio album earlier this year, Busdriver has once again proven his chops as one of hip-hops great eccentric writers. Problem is, his work falls too often on ignorant ears. "Honestly, I don't think that people are really paying attention," he told Scene in a 2007 interview. Years later, Busdriver’s stature in the hip-hop community hasn’t changed much, despite him churning out eye-opening albums this whole time. And that’s not a misnomer; Busdriver’s music is visual. He’s an imaginative lyricist, dwelling in metaphor and onomatopoeia more often than not. The new album is good, but the best entry point is 2005’s Fear of a Black Tangent. That one sees him at his most inventive and his most political. Cue up “Unemployed Black Astronaut” ASAP. You’ll never hear another rap song like that one. (Sandy)