Neh'mind

A Kansas City rapper closely affiliated with Tech N9ne and signed to his Strange Music label, Krizz Kaliko has been around since the late '90s and got his start rhyming and singing on assorted projects from Tech, as well as Kutt Calhoun, Prozak, and Kottonmouth Kings. He's released four solo albums since 2008, including Vitiligo and last year's Kickin' and Screamin'. For his latest EP, New Mind, he switches things up a bit, coming with a bizarro hyperactive flow that's even more bugged-out than usual. Teaming up with Tech, Show Tha Project, Oobergeek, and 816 Boyz, he serves up seven tracks that sound like nothing else in hip-hop today; it's an undeniably original sound that you'll think is either totally awesome or head-scratchingly random. He gets his Cee-Lo on for the soulful "Gumbo," while the rocked-out "Way Out" sounds like it could be a Rage Against the Machine outtake. The reflective closer, "Proof of God," borders on gospel.