In Brief

*** Black Moon, “War Zone,” Duck Down/Priority. On its second album, the New York trio keeps its signature brand of gritty, hard-core hip-hop relevant. Lyricists Buckshot and 5 FT focus their nimble, menacing words on inferior rappers and shady relationships. Add moody, skeletal soundscapes, and it’s easy to understand why this Big Apple outfit remains an underground favorite.

*

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.