Northern State, with American Princes

Maybe, maybe, maybe there's a small chance you haven't heard of Northern State, the N.Y.C. white girls who are, bar none, the indie world's top all-female rap crew — if only by default. Sure, their early stuff was a little creaky. But their mike skills and hooky beats are rockin' it with the big boys on their latest album, Can I Keep This Pen?, which features production by the Beastie Boys' Adrock and dropped on Mike Patton's Ipecac label. And, if you haven't heard it, their cover of "No Surprises" was one of the highlights of Stereogum's tribute to Radiohead's Kid A. Lady Sovereign isn't gonna bust out that one.