The Knux

On their excellent self-produced debut, New Orleans brothers Krispy Kream and Rah Amillio proficiently blend elements of rock and rap without sounding contrived. Their love of rock is evident on guitar-heavy tracks like "Life Is a Cage (Electric)," where they spit guttural, confrontational raps, and "Roxanne," which features a jarring six-string solo. Overall, fun party anthems like "Powder Room" are in abundance, but with songs like "Shine Again," an intricate story about lost souls, the duo proves they think below the surface. If hip-hop is dead, albums like this will fuel its rebirth.