Nas, RBD, Ghostface Killah and Miguelito

Hip hop is floating face-down in the mainstream, according to the new album by Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, the American rapper better known as Nas. Thanks to the record's inflammatory title, Hip Hop Is Dead, the 33-year-old Queensbridge rapper is ruffling some feathers in the hip hop community. The title track is a hard-rocking banger that samples an Iron Butterfly bass line and mashes it with Billy Squier’s "The Big Beat." Nas’ collaboration with Jay Z on Black Republican – a meditation on loss, break ups, politics and their love for the hood – is already the stuff of legend, a majestic exchange between two of hip hop’s greatest. With this album – his first on Def Jam – Nas' cred is as solid as ever, confirming his status as one of the most respected artists in the rap game. Did someone say hip hop album of the year?

RBD releases its highly anticipated English language debut, Rebels. A handful of new sugar-coated tracks are rounded out by older hits – now sung in English. Rebels includes the Diane Warren-penned Tu Amor, which infiltrated non-Latino U.S. radio earlier this year. While one prominent critic has already faulted the album for being "flat and unfocused" as well as "often unintentionally funny" the group's fans will most likely ensure RBD's commercial success.

Wu-Tang Clan killer bee Ghostface Killa releases the sequel to his critically-acclaimed album, Fishscale. His second release in a year, More Fish is loaded with potential classics like Good and the Amy Winehouse cover You Know I'm No Good. The album continues Ghostface's trend of working with cutting-edge underground producers like Hi-Tek, MF DOOM and Madlib. The guest list includes Kanye West, Shawn Wigs, Ne-Yo, Redman, the Theodore Unit crew and Ghost’s own teenage son, Sun God. After such a productive year, Ghostface Killa is bent on pushing forward with yet another release slated for February '07, a collaborative effort with MF DOOM titled Swift & Changeable.

Más Grande Que Tú (Bigger Than You), is the debut album of Daddy Yankee protégé Miguelito. The seven-year-old reggaetonero has been the talk of the town since his track Móntala hit the charts a few months ago. While his sexually suggestive lyrics and risqué live performances – featuring dancers twice his size – may shock some audiences, it's not out sync in the world of reggaeton. The album was produced by DJ Memo and is available on Daddy Yankee’s El Cartel imprint via the mighty Machete Music label.