Remember Kritikal's Late Nights, Early Mornings?

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or not, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com.

Kritikal (pronounced Kriti-cal) raps exactly like you'd hope a guy born in Texarkana but raised in Alief would rap: Free of pretense and full of fury. There are no metaphors or analogy or traces of lyrical trends. He's going to punch you in the chest, and there's not much you can do about it.

Late Nights, Early Mornings is actually his third official tape, but the first one he's released online. When asked why he chose to sell his first two tapes in the streets rather than upload them, he responded "I mean, it worked out." They do things differently in Alief, sir. And it's hard to ignore how likeable that is.

Y'allmustaforgotability: 91 percent

Read what Y'allmustaforgotability means.

Best Song on the Album: "My Luck," where producer GP of MidiMusic eagerly ties together a horn section with an En Vogue hat-tip and Krit moonwalks across it.

Most Unexpected Plot Point on the Album: On "Nobody," a mammoth apocalypto track the devil will likely play when he decides to destroy the Earth, Kritikal ponders the potential devastation of an instantaneous black hole that's begun swallowing planets. It's likely the story is a parable. Even if it's not, it's still pretty ill.

Most Expository Line On The Album: The "Why Are You Asking A Masked Man Who He Is?" monologue from the beginning of V for Vendetta that is used at the beginning of "V for Vendetta." Kritikal's not-entirely-indirect commentary seems pretty clear: I'm here, I'm counterculture, and you're going to pay attention to me. Or I'm going to stab you with this pointy, pointy knife."

Obscure Fact(s) You Can Pawn Off As Your Own To Make Yourself Look Smart:

• The first time Krit says that he got into anything music was 1988. He was four years old.
• The back of the CD is a picture of Krit performing live, which can adequately be described as a spectacle. We saw him perform recently at the Best Rapper in Texas competition. It appeared as though he wanted to stomp the ground into dust. Also, Doughbeezy is unintentionally in the picture as well, and he looks especially happy.
• In addition to gospel music, Krit's mother used to sing background for some blues singers as well. The influence is most readily evident on "Trill Hip-Hop," a wonderfully wonky track that all but drips molasses.