Invincible

A teenage emcee from Roseville, Calif., Tony C wrote poetry as a child. He didn't turn to hip-hop until high school, when he competed in a pep-rally rap battle and set his sights on releasing an actual album. Produced by Z Rokk, Invincible is a 10-track effort that finds Tony taking a more humble approach, forgoing gangsta fantasies and rhyming mostly about everyday life and his love for real hip-hop. The beats are a surprisingly diverse mix of styles. Some are hard and rowdy ("Here Forever" and "The Letter"), while others are overtly mellow and somewhat melancholy ("Cold Winter" and the title track). The tracks brim with dramatic pianos, low-key drums, and lush hooks backing up wordy, hyper-annunciated verses that will appeal to fans of Slug, Eminem, Drake, and Mac Miller. Though he's still finding his niche, for a debut project from a complete unknown Invincible is an undeniably impressive start.