Similar in sound and content to fellow Minneapolis crew Rhymesayers, Doomtree is a hip-hop collective that goes out of its way to be different, taking a unique sonic approach that owes as much to punk and indie rock as traditional boom-bap rap. Live instrumentation, unorthodox time signatures, spazzy sound effects, and overtly personal lyricism are the order of the day, served up by seven core members (P.O.S., Lazerbeak, Cecil Otter, Sims, Dessa, Paper Tiger, and Mictlan), several of whom also have successful solo careers. No Kings is Doomtree's third group album (following False Hopes and Doomtree), and it's arguably the best yet, sporting a dozen tracks that let each member shine. Ideal for fans of Atmosphere, Sage Francis, and the old anticon gang, this is definitely a little too esoteric for many mainstream rap heads, but it's relentlessly compelling if you can get into it. Check out "Fresh New Trash," "Team the Best Team," "Bolt Cutter," and the MC Chris–esque "The Grand Experiment."