Friday is Free Day at 206UP.COM, the day where I post whatever the hell I want, free of the encumbrances of Seattle’s small (but totally awesome) hip-hop scene and clear to wander elsewhere through the nation’s rap wilderness. I’ve done a better job at keeping up on new music so far in 2012 than probably any year prior, so allow me to pat myself on the back…

Ahh, that felt nice. Here then is a list of the five best albums (in no particular order) consumed by my ears three months inside the uno-dos:

De La Soul’s Plug 1 and Plug 2 Present: First Serve

Habits and Contradictions – Schoolboy Q

Brooklyknight – Sene

Bell Hooks – BBU

Live Okayplayer Mixtape – D’Angelo

Click to download.

“Left & Right (Live)” – D’Angelo