Da Youngsta's ILLY Funkstaz — I'll Make U Famous

The poor sales result of their previous effort convinces EastWest, which is currently switching from Atlantic to Elektra, to leave the young group of rappers. The boys find themselves without a label, and take refuge under the one founded over a decade earlier by their parents, Pop Art Records. This is considered Philadelphia's first hip-hop label, founded by Lawrence and Ann Goodman in the early 1980s. Da Youngsta's released their fourth studio album in four years, changing their name to ILLY Funkstaz (sometimes referred to as "Da Youngsta's ILLY Funkstaz" or "Da Youngsta's / ILLY Funkstaz"). Production is mainly done by Qu'ran and Emanuel Parks, with six and five beats respectively, Dante Barton produces a song, while Al B. Sure! and Kyle West are the authors of the final remix. Guests are Kim Branch, Mobb Deep, Mentally Gifted, and Big Tabb.

Benny the Butcher — Burden of Proof

About a month after Conway's last release and two weeks after Westside Gunn's third project of the year, Benny the Butcher is back to releasing a solo work 16 months after the last. The record immediately takes on more commercial contours, with guests such as Rick Ross, Freddie Gibbs, Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Dom Kennedy and Queen Nalja, in addition to the Griselda MCs Conway and Gunn; the production is entirely made by Hit-Boy, who during the year worked on the albums of Mick Jenkins, Lil Baby, Jay Electronica, Polo G, Nas, Big Sean, ASAP Ferg and Conway.