Today is special. Why? Because I have new AWOL One to share from his forthcoming The War of Art (great title). Really, I was going to try to hold off on this until next week. But, damn, it’s pretty dope (do the kids still say that?).

You know AWOL is part of one of the hottest LA crews around, right? That’s the Shape Shifters, an eight-man collective of emcees, graf writers and all-around innovative guys. Their album The Shape Shifters Was Here (buy here) was a highly overlooked album in 2005.

AWOL’s got one of the more distinctive vocal stylings out there: His cool, raspy tone calls to mind Lyrics Born of Latyrx. It’s a little more understated – kind of conversational until you realize … oh, snap: He’s rippin’ it! His delivery isn’t very breathy either, one of my pet peeves (see also, Kanye).

For anyone headed to SXSW next week, you can peep AWOL on Thursday at Flamingo Cantina. Get more information here.

Still not convinced? KRS-One makes a guest spot on a track. … Yeah, that’s what I thought. The War of Art drops April 11; use your tax refund check on some good music.

AWOL One | Casting Call (highly recommended; such a great beat)
AWOL One (feat. 2Mex and KRS-One) | Underground Killz

BONUS:
The Shape Shifters | Circuit City
(Yeah, that’s Eddy Grant’s Electric Avenue on the sample.)