'08 so far...this years 10 essential Hip-Hop albums.

Orizio

Thread to see qwhat people have been listening to in Hip-Hop in '08. My fave ten albums so far in alphabetical order...

Elements (Fire) - All Natural

For years Chicago’s Cap D has been consistently dropping dope underground gems, culminating in last years unheralded Return of the Renegade. The first album in a four part series, Fire continues this hot streak, offering a fierce flow over boom bap beats that manage to be both fresh and nostalgic. If you want straightforward Hip-Hop, then you can’t do much better then this slice of Chicago boom bap.

You Know My Name - All Natural

Louder - Ayatollah

In Louder, NY’ s Ayatollah - better known as the dude who produced Mos Def’s Ms Fat Booty - has produced yet another top quality instrumental album. His soulful beats are oddly addictive and his incredible samples stick in the head long after you’ve finished listening. Louder is the perfect example of what an instrumental album should be, made up of head nodding beats that are perfect for a wannabe MC to spit over.

The Set Up - Black Milk & Fat Ray

First and foremost, The Set Up is proof that Black Milk is the best beat maker in Hip-Hop right now. Mixing soulful and original samples with the heaviest of drums, Black Milk’s explosive sonic landscape is perfectly exploited by his own arrogant rhymes, Dilla esque hooks and by Fat Ray’s grimy flow. The Set Up is exactly how Hip-Hop should be made, uncompromising MC’ing over heavy jaw dropping beats.

To Serve With Love - Black Spade

More so then anything else, Black Spade’s debut is ambitious. The St Louis veteran mixes Hip-Hop, soul and electronic together to produce a truly original sound that is his own. He is just as flexible with the mic in his hand, rhyming like Common used to, touching every topic possible, from politics to romance to friendship. Black Spade is music strictly for fans interested in hearing a new sound that is still undeniably Hip-Hop.

Evil Love - Black Spade

The Short List - Dert

First of all, The Short List is good summer music. The LA beat maker has put together a short beat tape featuring all sorts of different genres besides Hip-Hop - from jazz to soul to electronic - that is undeniably uplifting and fresh. For the fledgling MC the beats are asking to be rhymed over and tracks like Dancin Butterfly 5 are a master class in sampling for any beginner producer.

New Amerykah Part. 1 - Erykah Badu

Working with some of the best indie producers in Hip-Hop in 9th Wonder and Madlib, Erykah Badu has produced an album worthy of her talent and bursting with soul and life. Driven by the theme of creating a new Black elite (hence the title), her lyrics cover the usual ground of love and spirituality but also explore politics over the heavily layered beats. If beautiful female vocals that mean something are your thing, then New Amerykah is a must.

Honey - Erykah Badu

Shape Shifters - Invincible

A rarity in a Hip-Hop artists these days, Invincible has something to say. Spitting rhymes about the Israel/Palestine conflict, about urban life and poverty over beats from the finest producers in Detroit (including Black Milk and Waajeed), Invincible is a determined lyricist in the truest sense, crafting stories and approaching well worn subjects from refreshing angles. For the Hip-Hop fans who cherish MC’s who take their art seriously, Shape Shifters is essential.

Locusts - Invincible

…and Justus For All - Little Brother

Making albums is an art, something lost on most Hip-Hop artists today who ruin the integrity of their album with filler and skits. With Little Brother at least, this is not a problem as …and Justice For All is as tight and consistent Hip-Hop album you will listen to, compromising of those head nodding beats and engaging rhymes that make Little Brother so easy to love.

H.N.I.C. 2 - Prodigy

H.N.I.C. 2 continues NY’ s most entertaining gangster rapper’s mini revival after ‘07’s Return Of The Mac. Supported by grimy bangers from The Alchemist and Sid Roams, Prodigy doesn’t disappoint, spitting his violent lyrics and unrelenting nihilism. He isn’t the lyricist or MC he was a decade ago, but his cockiness and paranoia are too entertaining for this reviewer to care. H.N.I.C. is proof that at least one MC can still produce an proper hardcore NY rap album.

The Life- Prodigy

Rising Down - The Roots

Like every new Roots album, Rising Down sees Questlove and co exploring a new sound, mixing instruments with electronic effects creating their darkest album since Things Fall Apart. Black Thought’s tortured lyrics, and the balanced guest list including the likes of Talib Kweli, Styles P and a stunning Mos Def appearance, add to an album heavy on political and social rhymes. Rising Down isn’t exactly The Roots best album but continues to show off The Roots ambitions and ability to evolve.

Get Busy - The Roots

Link.

Makaveli

I'll have to go back through my albums to see what was actually released this year. Nothing has stood out particularly to me. The Roots album is the only one I can even put my finger on that came out this year that I really liked. Oh, and the eMC album.

Orizio

I presume you probably liked the Atmosphere album as well. The eMC album was nice but pretty unremarkable and arguably a step back for Ace.

How many of the above albums have you gotten to listen to? Some of its pretty obscure I'll admit, like Dert and Black Spade. I don't see this year as any better/worse so far then past years this decade.

Makaveli

The Atmosphere album was ok, I didn't warm to it as much as I thought I would. I actually prefer more of the stuff on the Sad Clown EPs.

The Black Spade album was actually top notch forgot about that. They're the only two I've heard from your ten (Rising Down being the other). I'm not a fan of Erykah Badu and quite indifferent to Prodigy. The Little Brother album I've been meaning to check out. I'll give some of them a listen, I think Black Milk is pretty damn good and his name of stuff is a good endorsement.

Neamhshuntasach

Without putting anything in order:

The Show - EMC
Rising Down - The roots
When life gives you lemons, you paint that **** gold - Atmosphere
Black Snow - Snow Goons
The 3rd World - Immortal Technique
Behind the stained glass - Killah Priest
Absolute Value - Akrobatik
Thug Angelz - Hell Razah
Push - Rashan Ahmed
The IV Edition - Braile


Some other close contenders are;

From now until forever - Astonish
Brokelore - Grip Grand
Elements - All Natural
The Prelude - Mighty Underdogs
And the Jazz Liberatorz album. Can't remember the name

Orizio

I can't believe I forgot about the Jazz Liberators album, definetly one of the best this year.

The Killah Priest was terrible imo. An absolute snoozefest imo. When did that Thug Angelz album leak?

eamonhonda

agreed on the black spade album. did y society's album come out this year if so it should be there......just cjecked it was 2007 act a few nice albums were released in 2007 come to think

Orizio

Yeah lot of nice stuff in '07, although this year hasn't been as far off.

Two more good albums just leaked. One is Danny!'s 'And I Love HER' and the other is Shawn Jackson's 'First Of All...', both are brilliantly produced even if the MC'ing can be somewhat generic at times, particurly from Danny!.

I recommend both highly.

Jay Ru

that black spade album is defintiley one of my favourite albums of the year, and even though its really a mixtape i think Elzhi's "Euro Pass" is worth a mention here, with tracks like "Motown 25, Audio Cinematic and The Reason" its certain miles ahead of most hip hop albums released this year!

Orizio

I'm glad people are liking that Black Spade album, people should check out Shawn Jackson, similar kind of vibe.

Jay, any news on sorting out the errors on Chop Shop? I don't seem to be able to edit a post with multiple pictures in it.

Jay Ru

Orizio check ur email!

Neamhshuntasach

Orizio wrote: »

I can't believe I forgot about the Jazz Liberators album, definetly one of the best this year.

The Killah Priest was terrible imo. An absolute snoozefest imo. When did that Thug Angelz album leak?

For me Priest is just one of them artists i can listen to regardless of the production. I thought it was a really deep album and quite soulful in a way. I can see why people would say it's boring. But with tracks like God's time, I am, The beloved, I believe, for tomorrow, Vintage, Profits of man and A crying heart i just can't rate it less than 4/5.

I don't think the welcome to red hook houses album has been leaked yet. I know Holocaust (warcloud) from back when i lived in California. He still cool with some of the old wu affiliates and i got a listening to a few upcoming albums a few months ago when in NY.

Orizio

Thats cool man, I'm a huge Hell Razah fan, and with Ayatollah behind the boards that album should be one of the years best.

I might check out the Killah Priest album again, but after the ferocity of last years The Offering, his newest just seemed like a huge letdown.

Parrish_Crooks

"Red gone Wild"-- Redman. Anymore fans?

Orizio

Came out last year I think.

Blisterman

NERD - Seeing Sounds is the Only Hip Hop Album, this year, that I've loved.

Still plenty to look forward to though.
Common's got one out soon, so does Big Boi. And hopefully Dr Dre's Detox will be out this year.

Orizio

Seeing Sounds didn't do much for me really.

If you like Common then definetly check out Black Spade. Can't wait for the Big Boi album, hopefully Andre 3000 will have something out late this year as well.

Neamhshuntasach

One album i left off by mistake is Future retro legacy by Kanser. One of the most chilled out and summertime type albums i've heard in a long time. The production is done by Big Jess which means lots of funky soul type almost motown like beats. Been playing it all day in work.

Jay Ru

Blisterman wrote: »

NERD - Seeing Sounds is the Only Hip Hop Album, this year, that I've loved.

Still plenty to look forward to though.
Common's got one out soon, so does Big Boi. And hopefully Dr Dre's Detox will be out this year.

don't think u cud strickly call nerd hip hop, tbh their lyric's souhnd like they where written by some rich teenagers that aren't really into music. i've heard 2 tracks off the new common album so far and i'm lovin both of em.

kwestfan08

Lupe Fiasco - The Cool

Pretty good album I thought.

Orizio

The Kanser and Lupe albums were last year, as far as I can tell.

The new Hell Razah album is out and has leaked, sounded pretty cool when I heard. Definetly worth checking out if you like his work or the Wu.

Parrish_Crooks

Went to Lupe last night. Was a fan already, but now a bigger one. Which album is best to get first, Food & Liquor or The Cool...?

Orizio

Get F&L first, its easily the superior album.

Parrish_Crooks

Orizio wrote: »

Get F&L first, its easily the superior album.

Cool. I notice you're from Cork! Did u make it to the gig?

Orizio

Didn't even know he was playing. Not a big enough fan to spend that much money of seeing him.

Parrish_Crooks

Got a couple of freebies so it suited me fine

Neamhshuntasach

Orizio wrote: »

The Kanser and Lupe albums were last year, as far as I can tell.

The new Hell Razah album is out and has leaked, sounded pretty cool when I heard. Definetly worth checking out if you like his work or the Wu.

Lupe's was last year. December i believe. But Kanser's new album was only April of this year or maybe early May at the latest.

Orizio

Parrish_Crooks wrote: »

Went to Lupe last night. Was a fan already, but now a bigger one. Which album is best to get first, Food & Liquor or The Cool...?

All Lupe fans should check out Nieve & Cook's 'Away With Words'.

The MC sounds and rhymes just like Lupe, and the production is pretty gorgeous.

Nieve (Myspace)

Nieve & Cook (Last FM)

Orizio

The new Killer Mike album is nice as hell. A must for those fans who like the re-up gang and UGK, it takes a gigantic dump all over the 3 6 and wayne albums, and cuts a gorgeous balance between southern bangers and smooth pop.

Boom_Bap

Orizio wrote: »

All Lupe fans should check out Nieve & Cook's 'Away With Words'.

The MC sounds and rhymes just like Lupe, and the production is pretty gorgeous.

Nieve (Myspace)

Nieve & Cook (Last FM)

Thanks for directing me to Nieve, quality stuff.

There haven't been too many albums this year that I can think off that really stood out for me. When Life Give's You Lemon is great, but I'm an Atmosphere junkie so I'm biased in that regards. But when the missus likes it then I know it must be good.

Living Legends - The Gathering isn't half bad either although I find I'm just waiting on Murs or Luckyiam to appear on the song.

Lyrics Born - Everywhere At Once - Brilliant album apart from one or two tracks midway through. This guy is seriously underated.

I'll have to scratch the head and see what else has been out this year.

Neamhshuntasach

If you wanna check out some albums from this year that haven't been metioned much then look out for:

Torae - Daily conversations
Archetype - Unfolding
Guilty Simpson - Ode to the ghetto
Blue Sky Black Death - Late night cinema (Instrumental album but off the hizzzzhook)
Little Vic - Each dawn i die (really solid album and one to watch out for)
Ayotolah - Louder (instrumental album)
The Terrorists - Detonate the landmines
Elzhi - Europass
Randam Luck - Conspiracy of silence
Kwel and Kip Kilagan - The new wine
Mighty Joseph - Empire state
Opio - Vultures wisdom
NY Oil - Hood treason
Ransom - Street cinema
Presto - State of the art

Orizio

I had the Ayatollah album on my list, really dope, second best Hip-Hop album I heard this year.

NYOIL re-issued his album but essentially it came out last year. BSBD and Opio albums were pretty cool too, Guilty Simpson was very disapointing though, very ordinary as were the Torae, Elzhi and Mighty Joesph album imo.

Another interesting album that just leaked is Fakts One 'Long Range'. The tracklisting goes...

1.) Ridin’ Dirty

2.) Grown Folks f/ Little Brother

3.) Life Music f/ Rocklyn & Maya Azucena

4.) OK f/ Kingsize & Outerspace

5.) Born For This f/Chan

6.) Don’t Stop f/Boot Camp Clik

7.) The Showstarter f/ The Perceptionists (Mr. Lif & Akrobatik)

8.) Audiovisual f/ J Live

9) U From The Q f/ Universal

10.) Set The Mood f/ Grayskul

11.) Moments Matter f/ Tajai (of Souls Of Mischief)

12.) Selfish f/ Akrobatik & Iyadonna

13.) Longevity f/ Rasco, Planet Asia & Shakes Da Mayor

14.) The Showstarter (Walkman Remix) f/ The Perceptionists (Mr. Lif & Akrobatik)

Jay Ru

Neamhshuntasach wrote: »

If you wanna check out some albums from this year that haven't been metioned much then look out for:

Torae - Daily conversations
Archetype - Unfolding
Guilty Simpson - Ode to the ghetto
Blue Sky Black Death - Late night cinema (Instrumental album but off the hizzzzhook)
Little Vic - Each dawn i die (really solid album and one to watch out for)
Ayotolah - Louder (instrumental album)
The Terrorists - Detonate the landmines
Elzhi - Europass
Randam Luck - Conspiracy of silence
Kwel and Kip Kilagan - The new wine
Mighty Joseph - Empire state
Opio - Vultures wisdom
NY Oil - Hood treason
Ransom - Street cinema
Presto - State of the art

i was very disappointed with the Guilty Simpson album, thought the beat cud of been a hell of a lot better and the rhyme content seamed lazy at times. i've got a few pieces from Guilty that i've picked up on vinyl which blew me away but i kinda got bored with the album fairly quickly.

Boom_Bap

I'll be interested in hearing the Fakts One album, I have a CD of his from a few years back that I picked up for $3 in a record store in the back ar*E of Michigan which is dope.

Also excited to hear the new Doomtree album, heard a few tracks so far and it sounds bananas.

Also gonna try pick up these 2 that Neamhshuntasach mentioned:
Kwel and Kip Kilagan - The new wine
Mighty Joseph - Empire state

The new Vast Aire album is getting some solid reviews also.

BOOM

Neamhshuntasach

Jay Ru wrote: »

i was very disappointed with the Guilty Simpson album, thought the beat cud of been a hell of a lot better and the rhyme content seamed lazy at times. i've got a few pieces from Guilty that i've picked up on vinyl which blew me away but i kinda got bored with the album fairly quickly.

I thought the production on Ode to the ghetto was grade A. I could understand if someone didn't like the content. But i don't get the beats could have been better comment. Some great beats from Denaun Porter , Oh No, DJ Babu, Black Milk, Madlib and Dilla. It comes off as really gritty. Something like a crossover album where gangsta meets underground. I'm not that sold on his lyrical content and i actually feel a better MC could have done the beats more justice. But he is from Detroit after all. So no surprise what he raps about.

Orizio

Basically, Guilty lacks the charisma or personality to keep me interested over one track, nevermind an album. He is a good guest MC, great to bring in to your album for a verse but beyond that not up to it. Its not a matter of him being a hardcore MC, he is just not a particurly interesting/entertaining MC.

Plus the Fat Ray/Black Milk and Invincible albums were better produced imo.

Orizio

Plenty of good **** has leaked over the last month...Danny!, Shawn Jackson, THUG Angels, Killer Mike, Reks.

Orizio

The day just got very bright...Buff1 and Elzhi's albums have just leaked.

Orizio

Review of the Killer Mike album...

What is your favourite attribute in an MC? Is it the ability to flow at a Twista like speed or to tell stories and use concepts like Nas? Maybe you want an MC that you can relate to, someone who has gone through the same experiences and difficulties. Hell maybe even your one of those pathetic specimen of Hip-Hop fans who like their rappers sparkling from head to toe with blood diamonds, constantly spitting lies and with the vocabalury of a two yearold. Whatever you look for, honesty - an MC’s ability to relate to all on a pesonal level, the refusal to bull**** or patronise the listener and to tell the truth whatever the consequence - is essential in any great MC. Unfortunately, in a times of formulaic tracks, a strong aversion to taking isks and a geneal lack of artistic confidence, honesty is something that Hip-Hop lacks the most. Thankfully there is hope for those of us who like our Hip-Hop to the point and bereft of bull****, and it comes in the form of ATL’s Killer Mike.

Killer Mike should be well known to most Hip-Hop fans, appaering as he has on a number of OutKast albums, and releasing his debut Monster on Columbia records to some acclaim. Like many talented Hip-Hop artists who debut on a major label, Killer Mike had hsi fair shareof label frustration before setting up his own indie print called Grind Time Official. His newest album very much follows in the vain of southern hardcore beat wise - bass and drum heavy beats that invariably explode out of your speakers/ headphones. The albums production is essentially tight throughout and a nice balance is struck between the southern bangers (10 G’s), the smooth pop (Super Cean/Super Hard) or a mix of both on the albums finest moment ‘I Gotcha’. Invariably though, you’ll keep listening to this album for the MC’ing rather then the beats, an oddity in most new Hip-Hop.

Killer Mike half rhymes, half rants his way through the album with the kind of authority that most MC’s would kill for. Focusing completely on the streets he grew up on, the drug stories, the violence and so on, Killer Mike lyrics cover well worn subjects but the listener rarely gets bored. As some kind of cross between Bun B and Devin The Dude, showing the formers pure arrogance and the latters earnestness and personal touch, Killer Mike regurly throws out verses and lines that demand attention. When approaching the subject of politics, most notably on the Ice Cube assisted Pressure, he does so on his own terms and with the utmost conviction, rather then wandering into conspiracy theories and confusion like many MCs. On ‘Can You Hear Me’ he pre-empts the listener who judges his lifestyle ‘Ok yeah like most black males/I made my cash here out of crack sales/How could you ont want to see me prevail?/How could you want to see me locked in jail?’ and on ‘I Gotcha’s second verse ‘And if you ain’t from the streets that we travel on/You will never understand why we carry bombs/ of crack rock in our young black palms/Stress just killing our young black moms/So moma going to pray, and boys stray/And I just want to be the sound track for the day”. Understand this is an angry, painfully honest MC, explaining and demanding understanding for the situation he once was in. These are not the lies of a studio gangster or hipster, but frustraion exorcised through music. Maybe the best compliment of Killer MIke is that when he makes a call for action and work from the listener on the intro, you believe he does out of selfishness and sincerety, because he actually cares.

However, ‘I Pledge Alliegance…’ is flawed on some levels. For one, the guests are largely useless(Ice Cube, Rochelle Fox and Chamillionaire aside), particurly MJG and 8Ball who mumble their way though a pair of verses with the most played out lyrics ever concieved, while Shawty Lo pops up sounding possibly even more retarded then usual. Every once and a while Killer MIke sounds tired, the intensity drops and the misogyny and glorification in his cocaince raps begin to sound generic. Killer Mike isn’t an lyricist on the level of a Pusha T, he works best off honesty and ferocity, and so some times his homages to the grind and streetlife come across as forgottable gansgter rap, none more so then on the ludicrous ‘CIty Of Dope’ where Killer MIke tells a tale involving a drugdeal and a couple of lesbians. Interesting in the hands of Kool G Rap, but Killer Mike isn’t on that lyrical level and at times it shows.

However these are minor flaws on what is an otherwise perfect example of what southern Hip-Hop does right, heavy beats with straight to the point, uncoprimised rhymes. Carrying on the tradition of people like Bun B, KIller Mike deals in real matters, explaining his life and circumstances in an entertaining manner thanks to the production and that brutal dominant flow and voice. Most importantly, Killer Mike has that ability that too few MC’s possess, the sincerety, that ability to appear honest and connect with the listener. For that reason alone, ‘I Pledge Allegiance…’ is a perfect example of how Hip-Hop can get back to its best - less bull****, more honesty.

Rating: 4/5

I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind II - Killer Mike

Boom_Bap

Deltron 3030 got a re-release this year....does this count?

seanhynes

THE GAME LAX IS D 1 2 LOOK OUT 4 GET UR BLACK WALL STREET CLOTHING ONLINE NOW

Cullo

your forgetting this http://www.myspace.com/cullobeats chaps release in september...some quality **** on there!!!

Lett

Almighty - Original S.I.N. (Strength in Numbers)
Almighty are Killah Priest, Bronze Nazareth plus more

Lords of the Lo-Fi meets the Wu Corp Army

Boom_Bap

I think there should be room made on the top 10 list for the new DOOMTREE album, its excellent.

galwayfeen

some dope wanns that stood out for me this year so far:
RZA - Digi snacks
WU - 8 diagrams
The game - l.a.x (i use to ignore him but he's definately surprised me)

Boom_Bap

A few others that i've listened to recently that are worthy of the top 10 list:

Mighty Joseph - Empire State
Vast Aire - Dueces Wild (still have VAST MAN ringing in my head!)
Del - 11th Hour
Mac Lethal - Love Potion Collection

Orizio

Wow thought the Eleventh Hour was awful. Put me to sleep. Karnage has some nice beats on the Mighty Joseph album though.

The last few months have been very dry, very little of any worth being released. Thankfully, the likes of Blu, Ayatollah, Black Milk, Big Boi and Rhymefest have albums on the way.

Oh and Doom is dropping a new album as well sometime.

Boom_Bap

Anyone heard the Cecil Otter album yet called Rebel Yellow?

Boom_Bap

Orizio wrote: »

Wow thought the Eleventh Hour was awful. Put me to sleep. Karnage has some nice beats on the Mighty Joseph album though.

The last few months have been very dry, very little of any worth being released. Thankfully, the likes of Blu, Ayatollah, Black Milk, Big Boi and Rhymefest have albums on the way.

Oh and Doom is dropping a new album as well sometime.

As fans scrambled over recent turmoil regarding MF DOOM's touring URL="http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.7524/title.the-cunninlynguists-dj-kno-calls-out-mf-doom"]click to read[/URL, the masked emcee has reportedly been hard at work in the studio.
Now simply called DOOM, the KMD frontman will release his first new album in over three years, titled Born Into This, according to Prefix Magazine. The effort will be released on Lex Records, the label responsible for Danger DOOM's Mask & The Mouse album in 2005 URL="http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/reviews/id.576"]click to read[/URL.
Born Into This will feature production from Dangermouse and J Dilla, as well as appearances from frequent collaborator Ghostface and now Raekwon. The album is presently intended to be released on October 21.
Between 2002 and 2005, DOOM released nearly a half-dozen projects, including duo albums, instrumental series and various alias-titled projects for labels included Rhymesayers, Stones Throw, Big Dada, Nature Sounds and others.
In related news, next month will also feature the re-release of DOOM's critically-acclaimed solo debut, Operation Doomsday, on his own Metal Face Records. Initially released on Fondle 'Em Records, the release was re-released in 2001 on Doom's imprint, and has been heavily bootlegged by other manufacturers.

interesting

Orizio

Definetly a few very dope albums out over the last couple of weeks. The new Madlib and Dela (French producer with features from Talib Kweli, J-Live etc)plus more obscure stuff, with Onra (again French Hip-Hop) dropping an eclectic Donuts-esque LP and British beatmaker Black Grass also has a very nice album out. Both Onra and Black Grass's albums are up in complete form on their LastFM pages, so check them out.

The new Murs is just after leaking as well.

Orizio

Things definetly beginning to pick up. The Blue Sky Black Death/Jean Grae collab album is excellent, a perfect marriage.