A month would not be complete without another dope drop from one of the Midwest’s finest rappers: Sankofa. 

Sankofa, aka Stephen Bryden, has a discography epic in scope and feel. Sankofa is a die-hard believer in the concept of collaboration. He comes from the philosophy that great art comes from working with talented friends, whether it be producers, beatmakers, graphic designers, or fellow rappers. Sankofa makes music via community.

On his June release, the killer 5 Mugs of Doom, Sankofa works with friend and producer 8Greg2. He gives Sankofa a healthy dose of killer beats and vibes to lay out some of his best rhymes yet. 

With guest verses from Sko, Nord1kone, Truck North, and longtime friend/collaborator JON?DOE, 5 Mugs of Doom is yet another epic hip hop release from one of the most prolific cats in the game.

You know this one is special since Sankofa has made 5 Mugs of Doom his annual vinyl release. And really, vinyl is the perfect media for this record. The needle drop, pops, and clicks are the perfect way to hear “Laying Siege,” featuring Sko, with a big beat, touches of soul courtesy of some horn samples, and the combination of Sko and Sankofa’s booming delivery make for a gut punch of an opener. “Paper Straw Suckers,” featuring Nord1kone, lays down some serious street vibe, so much so you can almost smell the asphalt burning in the hot summer sun. “Thankful for the Fire” has Sankofa going solo, spitting his usual thoughtful rhymes over a killer beat.

The 14 tracks never relent. Each one ups the ante as they hit your ears, from the funky soul of “Spreewell Jams” to the in-your-face melancholy of “Duracell” to the absolute killer “Lack of the Draw,” featuring Truck North, and its ’70s street vibe production (think Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad).

5 Mugs of Doom offers proof in Sankofa’s great taste in collaborators. 8Greg2 has given him a canvas to lay out some of his best work of the year.