4 JYoung the General Black History Year: Installment Two (Blat Pack): This could be a manifesto for politically astute rappers nationwide and knowing that it comes from a Detroit native makes it even sweeter. 

 

5 Dum Dum Girls He Gets Me High (Sub Pop): Easily one of the best pop-punk releases of the year, second only to their proper album release, Only in Dreams.

 

6 One Be Lo Laborhood Part 1 (self-released): It was meant to be a run-up to Lo's full-length but between the rapping and the guest features, Lo actually put out a mixtape that competes with his own album. 

 

7 Jon Connor Season 2 (self-released): The Flint native offers a polarizing plate of polished grittiness that showcases what a hungry rapper sounds like while he's in the process of making it. 

 

8 Spoek Mathambo Afrika 21 The Mixtape Vol. 3 (Society HAE): This is an ongoing series and Johannesburg anti-pop star Spoek Mathambo only curates this version, but all the songs resonate like some African renaissance soundtrack. 

 

9 Tecla The Thank$giving Mixtape (self-released): New York City art-brat Tecla is creative and musically stylish enough to make a late night bumping mixtape with the likes of Das Racist, Gordon Voidwell and Fat Tony all guesting. 

 

10 T3 3illa Madness Mixtape (self-released): This long-awaited mixtape reminds listeners that ex-Slum Villager T3 is still lyrically astute and Detroit flashy. 

 

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