Tais, one-fifth of Sacramento’s Righteous Movement, has a flow reminiscent of a young Talib Kweli—dexterous and full of message—and his inflated personality barely fits within the confines of a song structure. “Outside,” a heartfelt collaboration with Flo-Real, does for introspection what “Times Like This” does for joy and what “Party People” does for celebration. Tais never lets his uplifting message get weighed down in rap stereotype. In other words, this mix tape sizzles with love of life. Keep track of Tais at www.

Read more about Tais on Last.fm.