Brown Study

While hip-hop music has been around over 40 years now, there remains a serious shortage of top-tier female MCs. Boog Brown looks to change that conception, serving up an impressive album produced entirely by fast-rising beatmaker Apollo Brown. Personal stories and down-to-earth rhymes are her stock in trade, delivered in a direct flow over lush tracks full of layered loops and sparse drums, reminiscent of 9th Wonder or Khrysis. Guests include indie-rap vets Kam Moye (a.k.a. Supastition), Invincible, and Kenn Starr, but mostly it's Boog's show here, and she shines throughout. Whether she blows up remains to be seen, but Brown Study is a very good start. Don't miss "Just Be," "Friends Like These," and "Understanding.” Fans of Jean Grae, Shorty No Mas, and Melina Jones should be checking for this immediately.