Marco Polo Port Authority 2

Toronto's Marco Polo appeared to hit quite the stride in 2009 after dropping the successful hardcore boom-bap album Double Barrel with rapper Torae. Following that, the producer linked up with another grimy MC, Ruste Juxx, to craft 2010's The eXXecution. Not to be outdone, Polo then put together another 2010 record -- a compilation of unreleased, left-over tracks called The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo. And that collection served as the precursor for Port Authority 2, which is his proper sophomore solo LP. The line-up remains to be announced, but it's likely he will be again joined by, among others, Large Professor, Torae, Sadat X, and Masta Ace.

Abstract by Andrew Martin