Following our reveal of the best major label hip-hop albums of 2014 earlier in the week, we now present our favorite indie LP’s of the year. As per usual, it was hard to find 10 inclusions for the major label list, and hard to narrow it down to only 10 on the indie list.

10. Step Brothers (Evidence + Alchemist) – Lord Steppington – Rhymesayers - Lord Steppington is unlike anything either Al or Ev have done thus far, which is testament to their versatility. It doesn’t sound like a Dilated album without Rakka, nor does it sound like, say, Albert Einstein from a production standpoint. Evidence and Alchemist have challenged themselves here, and ended up producing a dope, unconventional underground rap album, most likely dreamed up in the smokiest of atmospheres. Here come the lords.

9. Bishop Nehru + MF Doom – NehruvianDOOM – Lex Records – MF Doom teamed up with rising star Bishop Nehru for NehruvianDOOM, a solid collaborative album that found him laying down tracks for the young emcee. While some complained about re-used beats, we didn’t mind, as we don’t really listen to Doom’s beat tapes anyway. Sewn together brilliantly with Doom’s off kilter samples from various different sources, it’s rare we find Doom producing a whole album for someone, which made this a real treat.

8. Your Old Droog – Your Old Droog LP – Droog Recordings – It started off as some kid on Reddit proposing the idea that Droog was actually Nas in disguise, leading to a whole bunch of people accidentally checking for the Coney Island, NY rapper. What we found was an incredibly solid LP from a budding emcee with an airtight flow and classic, sample based production. Released on “Droog Recordings” this is the definition of an indie success story.

7. Apathy – Connecticut Casual – Demigodz Recordings – Connecticut Casual is a concept album, but isn’t as heavy as say, The Roots …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, for example. It’s a pretty straight-shooting, classically styled hip-hop record, but Ap ties the entire thing together by using his home state as a backdrop. Using the New England area’s rich history as a blueprint, he examines the state’s dichotomy of its Yacht-owning upper class, and it’s seedier crime ridden underbelly. Another well put together album, with very interesting, unexplored territory in hip-hop music.

6. Ras Kass + Apollo Brown – Blasphemy – MelloMusicGroup - Ras Kass and Apollo Brown’s, Blasphemy, is a concept LP that is more or less a crusade against organized religion. It’s also one of the best albums of the year, and quite possibly the most concise album that Ras has ever recorded. Ras has finally been given an equally yoked producer to match his sharp lyrical prowess.

5. Ghostface Killah – 36 Seasons – Tommy Boy – Where the Wu failed with A Better Tomorrow, Ghostface delivered with a literal “better tomorrow” releasing his excellent 36 Seasons LP just a week later. An incredibly tight-knit concept album with fresh, original live production from The Revelations, Ghostface Killah has long proven to be the Wu-Tang Clan’s most consistant member.

4. DJ Premier + Royce Da 5’9 – PRhyme – PRhyme Records – American dream team of DJ Premier and Royce Da 5’9 reunited after the success of their classic single “Boom,” for Preem’s first group project since the dissolution of Gang Starr. While the album showed both artists doing what they do best, we’d love to see how they mature as a group with consecutive albums as time goes on.

3. Statik Selektah – What Goes Around – Showoff - While not as high-profile as some of the other releases on this list, Statik Selektah’s What Goes Around was easily one of the most consistent LPs of 2014, especially considering its length. Stat has matured into one of the best producers in the game, able to zero in on that “golden age” sound, with an extensive guest list to help drive it home.

Pharoahe Monch – PTSD – W.A.R. Media – In his most focused and consistent LP since Internal Affairs, Pharaohe Monch has taken a real-life bout with depression and turned into one of the strongest independent LP of the year. He doesn’t try to recapture the success of “Simon Says”, nor does he try to crossover with Cee-Lo-esque gospel/soul tracks, despite his obvious singing chops. This is an unapologetically dark, incredibly well-written, musically sound LP that finds the emcee returning to greatness. Pharoahe Fucking Monch, ain’t a damn thing changed.

1. Run The Jewels (Killer Mike + El-P) – RTJ2 – Productomart / Mass Appeal – RTJ2 is a worthy sequel to the original that gets consecutively better with each listen, topping many of the industry’s year end lists across all music genres. It’s so far removed from what major labels have been pushing on us for the last few years, yet it sons them all with a smart, progressive, politically minded, and musically dope album that challenges the status quo, and reminds us why we still love hip-hop after all these years. It is possible that this album could mark a turning point for hip-hop music, so bump this shit like they do in the future.

We Play Records: “Follow up release from the boutique Australia labe, We Play! Records. This limited edition 7″ release features Connecticut’s own, Apathy (Demigodz/AOTP)This release is limited to 500 units worldwide and comes on blue transparent vinyl.”

Official label description: “As rap takes new forms with its various players and influencers, it’s important to pay dues to those who’ve paved the way. While some will disregard this rule in favor of ignorant ideals, those who make it aware that they stand on the shoulders of giants will more often than not last longer than the one hit wonders and trend followers. If you rep the East Coast and can relate to the hustle and struggle of cats like Diabolic, then allow Fightin Words to be the soundtrack to get you to where you’re headed. Part razor sharp rhymes and part sinister sounding beats, this album will speak volumes to underground heads both old and new, as Diabolic speaks his story, even if the Long Island emcee has to make some enemies in the process.

Released through his own War Horse Records label, ‘Fightin Words’ is Diabolic’s attempt to claim the throne. With a history of battle rapping against underground favorites such as Immortal Technique and Rhymefest, Diabolic concocts a lethal dose of Hip-Hop on an LP that finds the LI native joined by Sean Price, R.A. The Rugged Man, Vinnie Paz, Apathy, Celph Titled, Locksmith, Nino Bless, Coast, amongst others, with production credits from the likes of DJ Premier, The Snowgoons, Brooklyn’s 5th Seal, and more. Fans of Wu Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) will appreciate the well-placed opening samples which are akin to The RZA’s method of production. ‘Fightin Words’ is now available through iTunes via digital download, or through Fat Beats, on either CD or 2xLP.”

Brand new Apathy song “Summer Of Sin” produced by Apathy. From the forthcoming EP CC: Weekend At The Cape.

Blacastan and Stu Bangas are Watson and Holmes. The new album out July 29th on Brutal Music. Here is the first single featuring Apathy.

Apathy has been putting it down for almost twenty years now, with Connecticut Casual marking his fourth solo album in the can, not counting various projects with The Demigodz, The Get Busy Committee, and Army Of The Pharaohs. We’ve seen him kill it multiple times with his vocabulary rich, breathless brand of lyricism, so there’s no doubt of his skill on the mic, nor his taste in beats, for that matter. So what does Ap do for his fourth LP? A concept album, naturally.

As far as this type of thing goes, Connecticut Casual isn’t as heavy as say, The Roots …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, for example. It’s a pretty straight-shooting, classically styled hip-hop record, but Ap ties the entire thing together by using his home state as a backdrop. Using the New England area’s rich history as a blueprint, he examines the state’s dichotomy of its Yacht-owning upper class, and it’s seedier crime ridden underbelly.

So songs like “The Curse Of The Kennedys” and “Jack Ruby” are built around New England’s more notorious and well-known events, while tracks like the Wham-sampled “Martha Moxley (Rest In Peace)” and “Local Only!” explore its more offbeat, unsolved mysteries. Yet it’s not a boring, lyrical Wikipedia reading of the history of his home, just more of a set piece for his still super-lyrical onslaught.

The production and song-writing is top notch, as tracks like “Back In New England”, “Beefin’ Over Bitches”, and the title track explore the neighborhood’s local color, from the perspective of a man that’s obviously lived through it. He gets a little more personal on “The Grass Ain’t Greener” and “Money Makes The World Go Round”, both of which examine his place in the game. Another standout is the pirate song “Don’t Give Up The Ship”, with a memorable hook from local rapper Kappa Gamma.

Rock sampled “Underground Chick” is the perhaps the only thing that seems a bit out of place with the rest of the album, yet this may be the song that resonates with the crowd-going fanbase the most at shows. The Freemasonry examination “The Grand Leveler” is an honest look at the fraternal organization, but may scare off hip-hop’s large Illuminati-fearing massive.

Most rappers or rap acts ultimately have two or three strong releases in their catalog, when all is said and done. However Apathy is quickly showing his strength for longevity in this game, especially considering all the industry ups-and-downs he’s been through. Connecticut Casual is another well put together album, with very interesting, unexplored territory in hip-hop music. As they say in the yacht clubs, “Well done, old chap.”

From the album Connecticut Casual in stores June 3rd. Video directed by Andrew Camacho.

Apathy took to Facebook to announce that he and O.C. have joined together to form a supergroup called Perestroika. The term refers to, “a political movement for reformation within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the 1980s (1986), widely associated with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his glasnost (meaning “openness”) policy reform. The literal meaning of perestroika is “restructuring”, referring to the restructuring of the Soviet political and economic system.”

Ap and O.C. are currently recording an album together as Perestroika, he revealed today via Twitter.

“We’re about 5 songs deep,” Apathy told HipHopSite.Com exclusively. “I’ve been the biggest O.C. fan since he first came out, so it’s beyond an honor for me. This is classic O.C. and Apathy. Hard lyrics. Concepts and classic beats. High expectations will be met and exceeded.”

Meanwhile, Apathy is just about to drop his newest solo album, Connecticut Casual, on June 3rd. The solo project will include production from Da Beatminerz, The Doppelgangaz, Teddy Roxpin, Smoke the World and Apathy.

Announcement: Apathy & O.C. (DITC) have formed a group called "Perestroika" and are recording an album right now.

— IG: ApathyDGZ (@ApathyDGZ) April 27, 2014

Apathy took to Facebook to speak on a topic that has been bugging him for a while, monetary support from his fans. This came after he reposted a post from Bette Midler, who was expressing her own disappointment in the music industry, in the face of piracy. Some fans took issue with this, and he responded. He writes:

Lemme say first, that my REAL fans have held me down for years and supported me. They always anticipate and support my releases, which makes me feel appreciated and wanting to continue this rap shit. Makes me want to MURDER every beat I get on. I’ve been in the game for 17 years now. I’ve also been a fan who supports.

Peace to the real fans. You already know I spend my entire night after a show signing every single CD, answering questions and taking hundreds and hundreds of pictures.

Stealth Bomb Records own Merkules teams with Apathy and Celph Titled of the Demigodz for the lead single off of Vanderslice’s “Everything’s Awesome” project. “The Bottom Line” stars the Vancouver emcee, who is as handsome as he is talented, with the backdrop provided by Vanderslice and his partner Green Steez.

Produced by Smoke The World. From the album Connecticut Casual, due June 3rd, 2014 on Dirty Version Records.

Apathy took to Twitter today to announce the release schedule for both his next solo LP, Connecticut Casual, as well as the next Army Of The Pharaohs album, In Death Reborn. Ap’s album is expected for May, while ATOP’s is expected in April. Check out the tweets and tentative cover art below.

"Connecticut Casual". May.

— Apathy (@ApathyDGZ) January 29, 2014

AOTP "In Death Reborn". April.

— Apathy (@ApathyDGZ) January 29, 2014

F.E.B.’s own Freak Tha Monsta and Apathy join forces to sink their teeth into this eerily smooth, hard-hitting banger. The point is undoubtedly driven home with precision-like cuts from DJ Kwestion of Jedi Mind Tricks. “I Am That” is the first single off Freak Tha Monsta’s entirely self produced debut solo EP titled Jackson Brolick. The project is slated to drop February 11th.

From The Snowgoons’ Black Snow 2 dropping december 13th.

Man Bites Dog Records is proud to present the first video off of Esoteric & Stu Bangas much anticipated project Machete Mode. This song, like the album is produced by Stu Bangas. Esoteric enlisted the help of his fellow A.O.T.P. members Vinnie Paz, Celph Titled & Apathy to round out the track. The video is directed & edited by R.M.L. & shot by Jason Rose.”Machete Mode” title by J5. Completely shot around the great city of Philadelphia and in the studios of Found Sound Recordings, the video pays homage to the grittiness of the production.