El-P - Cancer 4 Cure

Featuring guest spots from Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, Danny Brown, and a snarling Killer Mike, El-P's first album since putting Def Jux on hiatus in early 2010 marks a break from the old order and another call to arms.

2012's "Best Album For Helping Raise Awareness of Cancer" in a year when it mattered was emcee/producer El-P's stellar release, Cancer 4 Cure, on Fat Possum (his own Def Jux label is on permanent hiatus), which was dedicated to his pal/former collaborator Camu Tao who died from cancer. The album came out in a year when hip-hop lost MCA of the Beastie Boys to cancer.