The Top Local Recordings of 2008

7. Twin Monster, “The Lost Habitat EP”

Hip-hop rhymes not based on drugs, dollars or exotic dancers are worthy of attention. This year, Chicago’s Cool Kids turned heads by focusing on day-to-day minutiae.

The members of Indianapolis-based Twin Monster — MCs Aaron “Yeti-One” Coleman and Corey “Lorax” Salas with producer-DJ Neil “Ligyro” Cain — engage listeners via sci-fi beats and homespun philosophy.

Communal affirmation is heard in “The Natural Anthem”: “I don’t believe in karma, I don’t believe in luck, but I do believe in everybody out there with their hands up.”

Visit www.myspace.com/twinmonster.