the 2008 Year End Wrap-Up.After a strong 2007, at first glance it would seem that 2008 was pretty lackluster. But if you paid attention, you must admit that were some fresh gems added to the overall Hip-Hop legacy this year. Lil Wayne's milli first week seller is the easy choice but don't sleep on T.I. entry, which a delivered a more conscious and reflective King of the South.
Facemob continues to threaten retirement (hard to do when dropping an album) and while Q-Tip's return from an absence a strong comeback.
Here's our Top Albums:
T.I -PapertrailUntitled by Nas (Def Jam)The Renaissance by Q-Tip (Universal/Motown)
Emeritus by Scarface (Rap-A-Lot/Asylum)
Rising Down by The Roots (Okayplayer/Def Jam)
Theater of the Mind by Ludacris (Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam)
The Carter III by Lil Wayne (Cash Money/Universal)
The Recession by Young Jeezy (C.T.E./Def Jam)Murs For President by Murs (Warner Bros.)
Trilla by Rick Ross (Slip N Slide/Atlantic)Non Commercial/Not under MajorWhen Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold by Atmosphere (Rhymesayers)
Raw Footage by Ice Cube (Lenchmob Records)
The Preface by Elzhi (Fat Beats)Tronic by Black Milk (Fat Beats)
The Layover EP by Evidence (Decon)
Ode to the Ghetto by Guilty Simpson (Stones Throw)
The In Crowd by Kidz in the Hall (Major League/Duck Down)
White Van Music by Jake One (Rhymesayers)
Pain Language by DJ Muggs & Planet Asia (Gold Dust)
NY's Finest by Pete Rock (Nature Sounds)
Death of Adam by 88 Keys (Decon)
D.I.R.T. by Heltah Skeltah (Duck Down)
Johnson & Jonson by Johnson & Jonson [Blu & Mainframe] (Tres Records)
Politics As Usual by Termanology (Nature Sounds)
Landing Gear by Devin the Dude (Razor & Tie)
I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II by Killer Mike (SMC)
Jeanius by Jean Grae & 9th Wonder (Blacksmith)
HNIC 2 by Prodigy (Voxonic)
Killer by Tech N9ne (Strange Music)
Best ProducersKanye West: Lil Weezy “Let The Beat Build,” T.I. & Jay-Z “Swagger Like Us”
Drumma Boy: Rick Ross “Here I Am,” Young Jeezy “Put On”
DJ Premier: Fat Joe “That White,” Ludacris “MVP,” Termanology “How We Rock”
Black Milk: Elzhi “Motown 25,” Black Milk “Give the Drummer Some”
Bangladesh: Lil Wayne “A Milli,” Busta Rhymes “I Got Ba**”
Just Blaze: T.I. f/ Rihanna: “Live Your Life,” Jamie Foxx "Number One (Let's Get Dumb)"
Cool & Dre: The Game f/ Lil Wayne “My Life,” Scarface “Forget About Me”
DJ Toomp: Nas “N.I.*.*.E.R. (The Slave and the Master),” Ludacris f/ T.I. “Wish Ya Would”
The J.U.S.T.I.C.E League: Rick Ross “Luxury Tax,” 2 Pistols “Let's Ride”]
BEST MIXTAPEWe Got It 4 Cheap, Vol 3 by The Clipse & DJ Drama
Bar Exam 2 by Royce Da 5'9" & DJ Green Lantern
Block Obama 1&2 by Crooked I
Return of the Body Snatchers by G-Unit
Daily Conversation by Torae
Caltroit by Black Milk & Bishop Lamont The Mixtape About Nothing by Wale
Mixtape Messiah 4 by Chamillionaire
Road To Til The Casket Drops by The Clipse
Viva La Hova (Jay-Z & Coldplay) by Mick Boogie & Terry Urban
Mood Musik 3: For Better or Worse by Joe Budden
Sweet Lord by Murs & 9th Wonder
The N****r Tape by Nas & DJ Green Lantern
Man in the Mirror by Rhymefest
The Yes We Can Mixtape by Russell Simmons & DJ Green Lantern
Halfway House by Joe Budden
Elephant in the Sand by G-Unit
Best Slept On AlbumsD.I.R.T. by Heltah Skeltah (Duck Down)
The In Crowd by Kidz in the Hall (Major League/Duck Down)
Loved By Few, Hated By Many by Lil Keke (Universal)
The Elephant in the Room by Fat Joe (Terror Squad)A History of Violence by Jedi Mind Tricks (Babygrande)
State of the Art by Presto (Concrete Grooves)
Undeniable by AZ (Quiet Money/Koch)
Worst AlbumsUniversal Mind Control by Common (Geffen) 808s & Heartbreak by Kanye West (G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam)
We Global by DJ Khaled (Terror Squad/Koch)
Brooklyn's Don Diva by Foxy Brown (Def Jam)
The Greatest Story Ever Told by David Banner (SRC/Universal)
T.O.S. by G-Unit (Shady/Aftermath/Interscope)L.A.X. by The Game (Interscope)
Still Da Baddest by Trina (Slip N Slide)
Bra** Knuckles by Nelly (Universal)Best RookieWale
Asher Roth
Drake
Charles Hamilton
88 Keys
U-N-I
Bishop Lamont Alfamega
Tax Write Offs/Albums with short lifespanMy Turn to Eat by Big Kuntry King (Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
My Life: The True Testimony by Blood Raw (C.T.E./Def Jam)
Exit 13 by LL Cool J (Def Jam)Still The Baddest by Trina (Slip N Slide)
Gutta by Ace Hood (Def Jam)
Look What You Made Me by Young Berg (Epic/Koch)
Last 2 Walk by Three 6 Mafia (Columbia)No Introduction by Tyga (Young Money/Decaydance)
Best Annoyingly Catchy Singles"Dangerous" by Kardinall Offishall f/ Akon
“Mrs. Officer” by Lil Wayne
“My Dougie” by Lil Wil
“Marco Polo” by Bow Wow f/ Soulja Boy
Just about anything featuring T-Pain
"Stanky Leg" by G-Spot Boyz
“Luv Me” by Damm D
“Lookin' Boy” by Hot Stylz
Best One Hit WondersShawty Lo — "Dey Know" was a smash, but we don't know if he can do it again.
2 Pistols — Getting 2-pieced then releasing a press release about it isn't gangsta.
Flo Rida — Make a hit without T-Pain and we'll gladly take this back. V.I.C. — Did you know he dropped an album this year? Exactly.
Soulja Boy — We'll take this back if album numero dos is cla**ic material. Fail.
Chance & Real — You know, the VH1 reality TV dudes. Do. Not. Drop. An. Album.
Yung Berg — He was on this last year so we can't disregard his persistence. However, he made more noise for catching L's than for his actual music.
Lil Wil — Hope you enjoyed the fame, say hello to DJ Unk
Biggest Songs“Live Your Life” T.I. f/ Rihanna (Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
“Put On” by Young Jeezy (C.T.E./Def Jam)
“A Milli” by Lil Wayne (Universal)
“Dey Know” by Shawty Lo (Asylum)
“Whatever You Like” T.I. (Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
“Lollipop” by Lil Wayne (Universal)
“The Boss” by Rick Ross f/ T-Pain (Slip N Slide/Def Jam)
“Swagger Like Us” by T.I. & Jay-Z f/ Kanye West & Lil Wayne (Atlantic/Def Jam)
“Pop Champagne” by Jim Jones & Ron Browz f/ Juelz Santana (Asylum)
“Here I Am” by Rick Ross (Slip N Slide/Def Jam)
BEst Collabos“Out Here Grinding” by DJ Khaled f/ Akon, Lil Boosie, Trick Daddy, Rick Ross, Ace Hood & Plies (Koch)
“Swagger Like Us” by T.I. & Jay-Z f/ Kanye West & Lil Wayne (Atlantic/Def Jam)
“Wish Ya Would” by Ludacris f/ T.I. (DTP/Def Jam)
“My Life” by The Game f/ Lil Wayne (Interscope)
“Mr Carter” by Lil Wayne f/ Jay Z (Universal)
“Royal Flush” by Big Boi f/ Raekwon & Andre 3000
Worst BEEFS Yung Berg vs. Maino & Trick Trick & Ne-Yo & you get the idea...
T.I. vs Shawty Lo
Ice-T vs. Soulja Boy
50 Cent vs Young Buck — Crying...taped phone calls...money owed...crying...bad beef records...again, crying.
Rick Ross vs the truth — Disparaging the real Rick Ross, denying photographic evidence and beating up DJ's is not going to erase the fact that you never knew Noriega...the real Noriega.
T-Pain vs. People that use the autotune without asking — You didn't invent it. Everyone uses it. Everyone has always used it. You just used it for a whole album. You're good but you're not that good. Let it go.
Cam'ron vs Jim Jones (Juelz Santana and Dipset in general) — What would you have said if someone told you five years ago that the scruffy dude that ad libs behind Cam'ron would be more prominent than him in 2008)
50 Cent vs Whoever starting a beef with can lead to boosted sales.
WOrst PeopleJesse Jackson— Here we have the first viable African-American candidate in ages (note: male Black civic leaders with perms can only get so far) and instead of bigging the guy up, you threaten to castrate the man, on Fox New no less. The crocodile tears when Obama won the big one didn't move us to give this award to anyone else. We really want to stop calling you Messy Jesse. Do better.
But let's not forget...
Sarah Palin
Fox News
Rush Limbaugh
John McCain's entire campaign
And finally, George W. Bush; good riddance and please let the door smack ya where the good lord split ya on the way out of Barack Obama's new digs. Pause.
Worst EntourageYung Berg’s crew — while busting guns on YouTube Berg was getting smacked up and having his chain tooken in clubs. Let's prioritize people.
The Roots' Tour Bus Driver
Whoever is with Katt Williams — You're already holding his weed...hold his gun too.
Whoever is with Plaxico Burress — Hold his gun...and get him some clothes besides sweatpants.
John McCain's campaign staff — Thank You...for running the absolute worst campaign ever ...but you really need to slap whoever agreed with you and said, "Yeah, that Sarah Palin is a maverick."
Still Waiting.....At some point all these albums were supposed to drop in '08—some...ONCE AGAIN, Detox...were even supposed to drop years before. Here's hoping we'll finally hear new albums from...
Dr. Dre, M.O.P., 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, OutKast, Eminem, Eve, Saigon, Peedi Peedi, Raekwon, Cannibal Ox, The Fugees, The LOX, Juelz Santana, Mos Def, Joell Ortiz, Tru Life, and so on and so on...
Also, we're waiting on Shyne to get out and for Kanye West to make a Hip-Hop album. Pow.
