Pusha T: My Name Is My Name

Coke rap has been good to Terrence Thornton. The man known as Pusha T finally gets his debut solo album, a decade down the road from his stint with his brother Gene in the duo Clipse, rapping about selling drugs. (One business was apparently more successful than the other, given the "I sold more dope than I sold records" admission on Hold On.) There's a heavyweight crew in the gallery, including Kanye West, longtime champion Pharrell, Hudson Mohawke, Rick Ross and Kendrick Lamar. But the real star of the show is Pusha T, who dazzles with a fantastic flow, rhythmic dexterity and superbly pointed lines and barbs. Numbers on the Board is a scene-setting delight. Nosetalgia, with Lamar providing the counterpoint, is a moody delight. And S.N.I.T.C.H. with Pharrell kicks up a mighty storm. The real deal. pusha-t.com
Download: Numbers on the Board, S.N.I.T.C.H., Nosetalgia