Cuts for Luck & Scars for Freedom

Mystic is the one folks have been waiting for. The Bay Area singer/rapper exudes the kind of bona fide b-girl bravado that, underneath their macho posturing, very few male MCs can match. Not a holier-than-thou granola dreamer, Mystic is a rhyme rebel who assesses harsh realities unflinchingly, with nerve and tenderness at the same time. She's a skilled MC, as evidenced by the intricate wordplay and cadences that she showcases on hardcore cautionary tales such as "The Gottas." She's also a great singer, with a smoky alto that captures lovesickness on "You Say, I Say." Cuts for Luck and Scars for Freedom is low-key and lush, with production by Left Coast luminaries such as the Angel and A-Plus. This album is b-womanhood at its best. --Lizz Mendez Berry