Cuts for Luck & Scars for Freedom
Mystic is the one folks have been waiting for. The Bay Area singer/rapper exudes the kind of bona fide b-girl bravado that,  underneath their macho posturing, very few male MCs can match. Not a  holier-than-thou granola dreamer, Mystic is a rhyme rebel who assesses  harsh realities unflinchingly, with nerve and tenderness at the same  time. She's a skilled MC, as evidenced by the intricate wordplay and  cadences that she showcases on hardcore cautionary tales such as "The  Gottas." She's also a great singer, with a smoky alto that captures  lovesickness on "You Say, I Say."Cuts for Luck and Scars for  Freedomis low-key and lush, with production by Left Coast  luminaries such as the Angel and A-Plus. This album is b-womanhood at  its best.--Lizz Mendez Berry