5. Fabolous – Loso’s Way – This album is responsible for the hip hop remix of the year, “Throw It In The Bag Remix” ft Drake, which unfortunately wasn’t on the album (but you know I got my hands on it). What was on the album? Some other bangers to ride to, such as “Pachanga”, “The Fabolous Life”, “Imma Do It” and “Last Time” ft Trey Songz. Fabolous is definitely above average with the lyrics and takes a fresh approach to common topics. To top it off the production is consistent which makes it hard to skip a track other than the over played, “Throw It In The Bag” ft Dream.
4. Clipse – Til The Casket Drops – Two of my favorite songs of the year are on this album, “I’m Good” and “Kinda Like a Big Deal.” Honestly, if you haven’t heard these songs I feel bad for you. “I’m Good,” produced by the Neptunes, is exactly what the title suggests, a feel good summer anthem that just puts a smile on my face every time it comes on. “Kinda Like a Big Deal”, is a braggadocios track that features this years guest verse killer, Kanye West, and the Clipse over a dynamic, guitar heavy DJ Khalil produced beat. Despite these singles, the albums opening track “Freedom,” produced by Sean C and LV, might be the most honest, insightful, and lyrical song I’ve heard all year. The Clipse talk about their career in music and how it has changed their lives for better and for worse over a sample heavy beat.
3. Kid Cudi – Man on the Moon: The End of Day – Alright, I know I’ll probably catch some hate for this, but this is a great album. Cudi is no where near my top ten list of MC’s right now and I highly doubt he ever will be but, the diversity of sounds/beats and melodies on this album earned him this spot. Introducing the hip hop world to groups like Ratatat and MGMT, on “Pursuit of Happiness” will open a lane for more hip hop/ indie-electronica collaborations. Don’t forget how the original sounds of “Day N Nite” and the “Day N Nite Crooker’s Remix” took the world by storm this year. Other amazing tracks on this album include his ode to weed “Hyerr,” “Enter Galactic,” and “Cudi Zone.”
2. Jay-Z – Blueprint 3 – Honestly, do I need to go into detail about this? Probably not, but I will point out some of my favorites. The production is great on this album except for the regularly skipped “Reminder”—what’s with the girl on the hook? Hov should have hit the ProTools delete button with the quickness. Now that “Reminder” is out of the way lets get to the good stuff. The beat and his last verse on “Already Home,” are ridiculous. “Run This Town,” which in my opinion has the guest feature verse of the year by Mr. Kanye West and the beat just get me ready to go to work everyday. “Thank You” has a great beat and his last verse is the reason why I listen to lyrics. “A Star Is Born” ft J Cole, the break down of stars in hip hop is great, while introducing one the best freshman in the game. “Empire State of Mind” ft Alicia Keys is the Yankees anthem and the example of a perfect collaboration. Do I need to mention the rest of the album?
1. Mos Def – The Ecstatic – This right here in my opinion is hip hop in its purest form. No music for pop/rap corporate executives, just music for people that enjoy the culture. Music that stays true to the essence of hip hop with that, trend setting, innovative “Oh everyone is doing that, then I’m gonna do this” attitude. Even with the majority of production going to Mad Lib and Preservation, The Ecstatic brings different flavors and sounds throughout the entire album. The album’s lead single “Casa Bey” is a Brazilian influenced track produced by MV Bill, where Mos rides the beat perfectly. The horns and piano on this song are ridiculous by the way. “History” reunites the Mos with his Blackstar brother, Talib Kweli, over a J Dilla produced track. Bringing back that classic Blackstar knowledge dropping flow, reminiscent of “Definition,” Mos and Kweli start dropping gems from the beginning of the track, reciting “Everybody acts according to the season that they born in.” “Pretty Dancer” produced by Mad Lib, Mos channels the fighting spirits of the greats, Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali, to emphasize how far his skills are above the rest. “Revelations” also produced by Mad Lib, is Mos’ ode to one of his favorite MCs, MF DOOM, which means no chorus, mind bending lines with detail only a microscope could duplicate. Last but not least, Mos puts it all in perspective over the Preservation produced “Priority,” reciting “Peace before anything, God before everything, love before anything, real before everything…” In addition to all of the previously mentioned tracks, Mos bringing Slick Rick back to the mic, raps in Spanish and produces a track with the Neptunes. All of theses things make Mos Def’s The Ecstatic true to hip hop in every way and the album of the year.
Honorable mentions: Royce Da 5′9 Street Hop, Slaughter House Slaughter House, Wale Attention Deficit, BlakRoc BlakRoc
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Tags: clipse, fabolous, jay-z, kid cudi, mos def
LADY GAGA ft. BEYONCE – “TELEPHONE”
Handsome Men’s Club
KESHA + STAR WARS Tik Tok Music Video Spoof
Yea man I agree with everything except for Kid Cudi, I bought it and I tried to like it, but I couldn’t do it. A little bit weird for my taste. But it can be replaced by that Royce Da 5′9 Album (definitely hot) or Ghostface’s Ghostidini album (I know you could argue that it is R&B but whatever).
blue print 3 . . . shouldn’t have even been there.
but #1 .. defines why uR my fave B.
loso’s way might not of broke top five in ‘09.
but def loved the “throw it in the bag remix”.