Abbas Hamad believes the best artists reveal more of themselves with each release so here he sheds the bullish armour of 2014 debut Last Winter to unveil a more thoughtful side. The Queens-based MC’s detail and wordplay uphold New York hip-hop’s tradition for captivating storytelling as he confronts grief and guilt (“Live For”), self-awareness (“Penthouse”), and racism (“Black Owned Business”). The beats are sober and woozy when the mood demands it but “Methylone” still constructs infectious euphoria from Bas’s inner conflicts.