Biz Markie performs at the Mecca Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Aug. 1, 1988. Photo: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images. Last week the world lost Biz Markie, the Clown Prince of Hip-Hop. I won’t go over everything from his obituary again but despite often being considered a one-hit wonder, Markie is…

Since the release of 2011 debut Black Up, Seattle duo Shabazz Palaces has essentially become the Sun Ra of jazz rap. Psychedelic, abstract and impressionistic, the band’s saga has had its ups and downs. The first outing remains the most universally impressive, maintaining cohesive production and thought-provoking lyrics within its unorthodox…

Few musicians today can compete with the resume of Stephen Bruner, better known as Thundercat. Bruner developed his virtuosic stringmanship alongside some of L.A.’s brightest talents. He was instrumental to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly (widely regarded as Lamar’s best) and collaborated on albums by Erykah Badu and jazz bandleader…

Meet Hozier. That’s “Ho-zee-ehr” to you. Probably. Photo: Abby Williamson. You know how they say time goes faster and blurs together as you get older? Apparently, they’re right, because that was absolutely the case here. There are a few songs from this list that I could’ve sworn came out…