With groovy R&B and ’70s soul-inspired beats, D.C. native RAtheMC’s debut album “Heart of a Champion” is one to watch.

The beat production on this album is put together incredibly well. Many of the beats are fresh and interesting, unlike some current rappers, who sample other peoples’ music to make their own seem better.

RA collaborates with other D.C. artists including AB the Pro and XO, who both add a lot to the album by giving a new take on some of the songs. Like most hip-hop albums, bringing new talent to the record makes it seem more varied and less dull. “Heart of a Champion” is no exception.

This album’s only problem is that it’s uneven. The first half of the album is very well developed, but by the seventh or eighth track the beats and melodies sound repetitive.  Unfortunately, guest artists can only go so far towards breaking up monotony.

Thanks to artists like Wale and Diamond District, the D.C. hip-hop scene is gaining recognition, and RAtheMC adds another talent to its impressive list of local rappers.