Prof

In a hip-hop scene that’s sticky to labels like “avant-garde” and “conscious,” rapper Prof is something of an aberration. He’s an unabashed party MC who will drop a dick simile as readily as Lil Wayne does. That’s not to say there isn’t substance in what he does. Cocky and capable, Prof has a penchant for braggy, mainstream-aligned raps that don’t yield trashy throwaways. The dude’s whip smart, a trait that’s necessary when scaling the Twin Cities rap hierarchy. His latest, Recession Music, comes with the budget-friendly price of free online; high-profile guests like Yelawolf and Slug from Atmosphere; and smart, fun beats like those on “Horses In The Ghetto” and “Kelly Kapowski.”

Updated 02/15/2012