Mobb Deep feat. Raekwon, Ghostface Killah & Big Noyd - "Right Back At You"
So far this week I've listened to I Phantom, Illadelph Halflife and Illmatic, so naturally the next choice was Infamous, the classic album from Mobb Deep. I started it on the way home from work last night and got to hear favorites like "Survival of the Fittest" and "Eye For An Eye," but today while I was out running errands this banger came on and I couldn't be happier. The beat is classic Havoc production and all MCs bring it hard. Ghost and Rae going back and forth sounds like something from 36 Chambers or the Purple Tape. So damn dope!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Song of the Day
Mr. Lif feat. Aesop Rock - "Success"
Listened to I Phantom the other day and damn that shit is dope. I've had it since it came out, but I think I may've listened to it once or twice and then it got lost in the mix. Thankfully I found it again and popped it in, because I should've been listening to this regularly for a while. This is my favorite track from the album as Lif breaks down getting a job, getting married, having a kid and then overworking to provide for a family he no longer knows due to the long hours he's working which then leads to divorce and having his son taken away from him. It's something that people go through all the time and it's a damn shame. Aesop's hook is terrific as well, "Daddy had a nametag that said Busy Worker/Mommy had a milk carton that said 'Missing Person'/John had a new baseball glove, but nobody to learn with/That's oil and water trying to mix on the same surface."
Listened to I Phantom the other day and damn that shit is dope. I've had it since it came out, but I think I may've listened to it once or twice and then it got lost in the mix. Thankfully I found it again and popped it in, because I should've been listening to this regularly for a while. This is my favorite track from the album as Lif breaks down getting a job, getting married, having a kid and then overworking to provide for a family he no longer knows due to the long hours he's working which then leads to divorce and having his son taken away from him. It's something that people go through all the time and it's a damn shame. Aesop's hook is terrific as well, "Daddy had a nametag that said Busy Worker/Mommy had a milk carton that said 'Missing Person'/John had a new baseball glove, but nobody to learn with/That's oil and water trying to mix on the same surface."
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
New Release Tuesday
Another easy choice this week as Pete Rock and Smif-N-Wessun team up to release Monumental. The album is chock full of guest appearances ranging from BCC collaborations, Raekwon, Freeway, Bun B, Memphis Bleek, Hurricane G. and Black Rob. Don't know how that will help or hinder the album, but a full disc of Pete Rock beats can never be a bad thing. 
And Smif-N-Wessun have always been fantastic on the mic. The only thing that has held back their other releases (aside from Dah Shinin' off course!) is the production. If there's no Beatminerz, Pete Rock is one helluva substitution. Sounds like a dope disc to me.
And Smif-N-Wessun have always been fantastic on the mic. The only thing that has held back their other releases (aside from Dah Shinin' off course!) is the production. If there's no Beatminerz, Pete Rock is one helluva substitution. Sounds like a dope disc to me.
Song of the Day
The Roots feat. Common - "UNIverse At War"
I've been spending a lot of time relistening to older albums that I haven't heard in a while and it's been so refreshing. As I've aged and my ear has matured, I've definitely rediscovered some great music and it's been a blast. I listened to Illadelph Halflife today and when this song came on it grabbed me. I remembered this track, but I love "Clones," "Ital," "Concerto of the Desperado," "Respond/React," and "What They Do?" so much that I don't think I've ever given this track it's just due. Damn is Common hungry on this one. And Black Thought goes stride for stride with him. Great MCing on this one. Just some classic hip-hop.
I've been spending a lot of time relistening to older albums that I haven't heard in a while and it's been so refreshing. As I've aged and my ear has matured, I've definitely rediscovered some great music and it's been a blast. I listened to Illadelph Halflife today and when this song came on it grabbed me. I remembered this track, but I love "Clones," "Ital," "Concerto of the Desperado," "Respond/React," and "What They Do?" so much that I don't think I've ever given this track it's just due. Damn is Common hungry on this one. And Black Thought goes stride for stride with him. Great MCing on this one. Just some classic hip-hop.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Song of the Day
Artifacts - "Turn It Out"
They're BAAAACCCKKKK! The Artifacts reunion rumors are true. At least for one more track. Not sure what the future holds, but I'll take it. This ain't "Wrong Side of the Track" or "31 Bumrush", but it's great to hear El and Tame One on a track together again. Hopefully this is the first step in a reunion album.
They're BAAAACCCKKKK! The Artifacts reunion rumors are true. At least for one more track. Not sure what the future holds, but I'll take it. This ain't "Wrong Side of the Track" or "31 Bumrush", but it's great to hear El and Tame One on a track together again. Hopefully this is the first step in a reunion album.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Song of the Day
Eric B. & Rakim - "Eric B. Is President"
How many times has this song been sampled, quoted, recycled, mentioned, etc. in hip-hop? This is one of the most influential hip-hop songs ever made from one of the most influential hip-hop albums to ever be recorded. Rakim was on a level that no other MC could see at the time. Rakim drops quotable after quotable on this track and of course the beat is a hip-hop classic. I was very excited when this came on my iPod this afternoon. Had to share it with y'all.
How many times has this song been sampled, quoted, recycled, mentioned, etc. in hip-hop? This is one of the most influential hip-hop songs ever made from one of the most influential hip-hop albums to ever be recorded. Rakim was on a level that no other MC could see at the time. Rakim drops quotable after quotable on this track and of course the beat is a hip-hop classic. I was very excited when this came on my iPod this afternoon. Had to share it with y'all.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Song of the Day
Random Axe - "Monster Babies"
I told you to cop the Random Axe album on Amazon the day it dropped for $1.99. Definitely worth the $2 download. Black Milk brings some dope beats on the album, although not quite as strong as Album of the Year. Guilty Simpson and Sean Price do most of the heavy lifting on the mic. Simpson has some really dope lines on the album. This one showcases all three on the mic over a banging beat from Milk.
I told you to cop the Random Axe album on Amazon the day it dropped for $1.99. Definitely worth the $2 download. Black Milk brings some dope beats on the album, although not quite as strong as Album of the Year. Guilty Simpson and Sean Price do most of the heavy lifting on the mic. Simpson has some really dope lines on the album. This one showcases all three on the mic over a banging beat from Milk.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Song of the Day
Nas - "Nasty"
Nas drops another super dope, raw lead single for his new album Life Is Good. This reminds me of "Made You Look" which of course isn't a good thing, it's a GREAT thing. I've been listening to this track like crazy lately. Nas is one of the best of all-time and this is another sterling example of what makes him so nice on the mic. Looking forward to his new disc.
Nas drops another super dope, raw lead single for his new album Life Is Good. This reminds me of "Made You Look" which of course isn't a good thing, it's a GREAT thing. I've been listening to this track like crazy lately. Nas is one of the best of all-time and this is another sterling example of what makes him so nice on the mic. Looking forward to his new disc.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Song of the Day
Brother Ali - "Good Lord"
This is from Ali's 2009 EP The Truth Is Here. When it comes to Ali, there's not much that needs to be said. Dude is a beast. One of the best MCs in the game, PERIOD! The piano offers a nice backdrop for Ali to spit over. Always insightful and always a meaning behind his rhymes. "I'm so beautifully human that I'm proud of it."
This is from Ali's 2009 EP The Truth Is Here. When it comes to Ali, there's not much that needs to be said. Dude is a beast. One of the best MCs in the game, PERIOD! The piano offers a nice backdrop for Ali to spit over. Always insightful and always a meaning behind his rhymes. "I'm so beautifully human that I'm proud of it."
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Song of the Day
Wale feat. Mac Miller - "So What"
This dropped back in April, and I remember it being fresh, but it popped up on my iPod again the other day and has been stuck in my head since. Wale brings it as always, nothing new to report there, but I'm really feeling Mac Miller's flow on this one. I was not a fan of his at all, but he's starting to win me over. Between this, "82-92" and his "People Under The Stairs" track, Mac has been showing some lyrical prowess. I may give him a second chance.
This dropped back in April, and I remember it being fresh, but it popped up on my iPod again the other day and has been stuck in my head since. Wale brings it as always, nothing new to report there, but I'm really feeling Mac Miller's flow on this one. I was not a fan of his at all, but he's starting to win me over. Between this, "82-92" and his "People Under The Stairs" track, Mac has been showing some lyrical prowess. I may give him a second chance.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Song of the Day
GLC feat. Curta!n$ & Rakaa - "The Road House"
Dope track that dropped earlier this year. Curtains opens the track in fine fashion, calling out Jay, Nas & 50 for the throne. GLC's up next and Rakaa brings it home. The beat is nice and it's a tight lyrical showcase from all three.
Dope track that dropped earlier this year. Curtains opens the track in fine fashion, calling out Jay, Nas & 50 for the throne. GLC's up next and Rakaa brings it home. The beat is nice and it's a tight lyrical showcase from all three.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Song of the Day
Bad Meets Evil - "Welcome 2 Hell"
The first track off their EP that dropped Tuesday. I've been listening to it repeatedly and it's growing on me more and more with each listen. There are a few tracks that leave something to be desired, but this one is fire. Em and Royce go back and forth raising the bar with each verse, until they start spitting the final lines together. It's dope shit.
The first track off their EP that dropped Tuesday. I've been listening to it repeatedly and it's growing on me more and more with each listen. There are a few tracks that leave something to be desired, but this one is fire. Em and Royce go back and forth raising the bar with each verse, until they start spitting the final lines together. It's dope shit.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Best Hip-Hop Songs & Albums: 2001
2001 brought some great music, including two classic albums and a whole host of great songs. It saw the Jay-Z/Nas beef highlighted by “Takeover” and “Ether” respectively, Jadakiss and Beanie Sigel exchanged words, some familiar faces made a return and there was a good balance of “mainstream” and underground hip-hop to enjoy.
Before we even get started, I have been trying for years to get my hands on J-Live’s The Best Part. I guarantee it deserves a spot on the Best Albums list based on the reputation of the album and based on J-Live’s abilities. But I can’t get the damn thing anywhere. Online doesn’t have it, unless I want to shell out $20 for it and iTunes is asking for $19 for the reissued double album with instrumentals. Not that that wouldn’t be cool to have, but I want the original version in CD form. I’m just stubborn like that.
Alright, now let’s get into it.
Best Songs
20. “What We Do” – De La Soul feat. Slick Rick
Great collaboration between hip-hop legends. The beat courtesy of Megahertz is fantastic as De La and Uncle Rickey speak on puberty and sexual discovery. The three pass the mic back and forth and flow together beautifully. Pos drops, “Ain’t gotta drug problem, but a love problem/But then again that may be one in the same.”
19. “Worst Comes To Worst” – Dilated Peoples
Alchemist uses William Bell’s “I Forgot To Be Your Lover” to perfection as Evidence and Rakaa go back and forth effortlessly. What else is new? The two have great chemistry. As the Mobb Deep-sampled line “when worst comes to worst” drops, Evidence jumps right in with “Set up shop and write a verse/Actually, that’s best come to best.”
18. “Keepin’ It Gangsta” – Fabolous
I’m not a big fan of Fabolous. Sometimes he impresses me and then his next track is more radio fluff. I know he’s regarded as a great spitter, but I’m indifferent. His debut dropped the same day as Jay-Z’s The Blueprint and I really had no interest in it. My roommate at the time did cop it and I will say that this song grabbed my attention right away. If Fab made more songs like this one I’d be a fan.
17. “No Escapin’ This” – The Beatnuts
The ‘Nuts bring it again with the lead single from Take It or Squeeze It. I remember my brother telling me about this song while I was on the pay phone in the hallway of my flat during my time studying abroad. Made me souped to hear it. No question that the production was going to be tight and having Greg Nice back for some ad-libs was a great touch. Psycho Les and JuJu bring some braggadocio as JuJu spits, “Don’t be humble, it’s better to pull/Believe you eligible/Get left like a vegetable.”
16. “Un-Hunh!” – Jadakiss feat. DMX
This shit is hard. X opens the track saying “I only gave you the crown so I could shoot it off your fuckin’ head,” and brings his normal energy throughout the track. Lyrically, Jada brings the heat, which you would expect and airs out his beef with Beanie Sigel on the third verse, “Had to stop eating red meat cause I ate too many Beanie Macs.”
15. “Beanie (Mac Bitch)” – Beanie Sigel
Speaking of Beanie Mac, Sigel dropped this as the first single to his second album, The Reason. Just Blaze brings a banger and Beans rips it to shreds with street tales and street slang on all three verses. Beans has a way of spittin’ similar words and flipping them that’s different then most MCs. I’ve always been partial to his way of rhyming and this song is a great example of his style.
14. “Bad Boy 4 Life” – Diddy feat. Black Rob & Mark Curry
This song has more sentimental value to me than most which is what got it on the list in the first place. This was the theme song of our house my senior year of college and you would’ve had to have lived it to understand the messed up dynamic of that house which makes this song what it is to me. Anyway, the song is dope regardless and Black Rob steals the show with his verse (not that it was too difficult sharing the mic with Diddy and Mark Curry, but still).
13. “Uzi” – Wu-Tang Clan
I knew the Wu was back when this song dropped and I couldn’t have been more excited for a new Wu album. Unfortunately the album was a bit of a letdown, but this single was classic Wu-Tang. Rza didn’t bring the old grimy sound of the early Wu albums, but he still provided a tremendous beat and the whole clan (sans Ol’ Dirty) was back in tact on this one.
12. “The Woman With The Tattoeed Hands” – Atmosphere
Slug is a tremendous storyteller. One of my favorites, in fact. And this song is a terrific example of his ability to craft a narrative on the mic. Slug discusses a night spent with a woman who gives him a spiritual eye opener tied in with a sexual experience. The lyrics are vivid and clever and the production sets the perfect tone for Slug’s story.
11. “The Burn” – Mobb Deep feat. Big Noyd & Vita
This song was my shit when it dropped. Just some straight up raw, hard hitting hip-hop from M-O-B-B. This belongs alongside the likes of “Shook Ones Part II”, “Survival of the Fittest”, “G.O.D. Pt. III” and “Quiet Storm” as one of Mobb’s greatest songs. Noyd has my favorite verse with, “But wait, you don’t think I live a pop life now/’Cause hey, you could get popped right now.”
10. “Cross The Border” – Philly’s Most Wanted
I loved, loved, loved this song when it first dropped. I bought the CD single and played the shit outta it. It was another big song during my senior year of college, so it had sentimental value to me, but that value became even greater during the 2008 MLB playoffs as it became part of a 3-song soundtrack I had to listen to before each game of the Phillies postseason run. Great beat, catchy hook and a party banger that lyrically probably shouldn’t have been a party song. It just worked.
9. “Let’s Get It” – G. Dep feat. Diddy & Black Rob
The Al Green sample on this is just phenomenal. And while Dep had made other appearances before this song, this is what really introduced him to the hip-hop world. Dep spits dope verse after dope verse, before Diddy joins the fray with the memorable line “Not guilty and I’m filthy” regarding his trial that sent Shyne to jail. B.R. has another solid verse to finish the song out calling himself the “Eastside Soprano.”
8. “We Right Here” – DMX
When I think of artists that bring the most energy to a hip-hop track I think: 1. M.O.P. and 2. DMX. If I were to round out my top 5, I’d probably go with Onyx, Busta Rhymes and Redman. X has never been that super lyrical MC but his energy is virtually unrivaled. This song brought that energy is every way. X brings a style similar to “What’s My Name?” on this one and the formula works perfectly.
7. “Fuck You” – Pharoahe Monch
The electric guitars start off the track just right and then Pharoahe starts bringing it lyrically through the eyes of a crooked cop (inspired by Denzel Washington’s “Lorenzo” from Training Day). The production on this track would’ve been overpowering for a lesser MC, but Monch has such control whenever he spits that he makes the beat work for him not the other way around.
6. “Heart of the City” – Jay-Z
So many great songs to pick from off The Blueprint. When I made my Best of ’01 mix back in early 2002, I chose “Hola Hovito” to represent the album. At the time “Izzo” was overplayed, “Girls, Girls, Girls” had seen plenty of radio rotation and “Takeover” got worn out by me. In hindsight, the right track all along was “Heart of the City.” Kanye produced five songs on the album, all of them great, but this was the true standout. So much soul on this track and I think it really started to stand out for me when I saw Jay and The Roots perform this on MTV Unplugged. That shit was ridiculous.
5. “Daylight” – Aesop Rock
This is my favorite Aesop song ever. It contains some of the best lyrics you will ever hear and the production is off the charts. “No Regrets” grabbed me by the throat the first time I heard it, but after having time to sit down and digest the album, no song impressed me more than “Daylight.” Here’s the best line of 2001 (and one of the best lines of all-time): “Life’s not a bitch, life is a beautiful woman/You only call her a bitch because she won’t let you get that pussy/Maybe she didn’t feel y’all shared any similar interests/Or maybe you’re just an asshole who couldn’t sweet talk the princess.” Damn that shit is nice!
4. “Bottom Feeders” – Smut Peddlers feat. R.A. The Rugged Man
Smut Peddlers Porn Again was cool but left me a little disappointed and this song is the reason why. I got this song on a promotional disc and absolutely loved it. It gave me such high hopes for Cage & Mr. Eon’s collaboration that it was probably impossible for the album to live up to my own hype. Oh well. This song was sick. So many great punchlines on this one. R.A. has my favorite verse, “I live in Long Island, with a house of retards/And illegal aliens that need green cards/I’m a rap legend to little weird white kids/That carve shit in their arms like ‘I don’t wanna live.’”
3. “Break Ya Neck” – Busta Rhymes
Bussa-Buss over some Dr. Dre production? You damn right. This song was a club banger, a party starter, a song you could wyle out to in your car, it just knocked! Busta rhymes in perfect sync with the speed of the beat and keeps the energy up for 4+ minutes. I once DJ’d a formal and was forced to play some pop shit and some hip-hop songs that I would never listen to on my own personal time. But that music was what got this group of people on the dance floor, so I had no choice. During those songs, I threw this on and it kept the party going. Not even the Britney Spears/Shakira/Enrique Inglesias crowd could resist this song.
2. “Fight Music” – D-12
“Purple Pills” was my favorite song on D-12’s Devil’s Night at first, but “Fight Music” would go on to be one of my favorites to this day. The energy is off the charts. Proof’s verse would’ve been the best on the song, but Em absolutely rips this song apart. It’s one of my favorite Em verses of all-time. When he starts his verse, I have to stop and spit it along with him every time. “If I could capture the rage of today’s youth and bottle it/Crush the glass from my bear hands and swallow it/Then spit it back in the faces of you racists/And hypocrites who think the same shit, but don’t say shit.”
1. “One Mic” – Nas
On the Best of ’01 mix I mentioned earlier, I chose “Ether” as my selection from Stillmatic. And while “Ether” is still a highly referenced song to this day, it has lost a little steam due to Nas and Jay squashing the beef and collaborating. Again, still a dope diss track, but not the same now that things are cool between the two of them. “One Mic,” on the other hand, has actually grown for me since its release 10 years ago. I can’t think of a better example of a hip-hop song from 2001. The production was terrific, the lyrics are on point and Nas’ decision to go from almost a whisper to building momentum as each verse progresses and then just straight out fire at the end of each verse was genius. And then switching it up and starting the final verse with the amped up flow to slowing down back to a mellowed voice and minimalist beat, that’s crazy. No other MC could’ve done this as effectively as Nas. This song is brilliant in every sense of the word.
Best Albums
10. I Told You So – Chino XL
If you want punchlines, you want Chino XL. The dude drops great line after great line. I’ve heard him do live acapella freestyles and the audience just hangs on every word. Much like Canibus and Ras Kass, he’s a lyricist in every sense of the word that producers just can’t match up to. Chino has plenty of swagger on songs like “What You Got,” “Nunca,” and “I Told You So,” but he also brings some great subject matter on songs like “Sorry” which finds Chino confessing his infidelity to his girl.
9. The Cold Vein – Cannibal Ox
I’ll admit it, I was late to the Can Ox party. I knew about the hype surrounding this album, I just didn’t take the time to give the album a quality listen when it came out. Aside from “The F-Word” I couldn’t tell you much about The Cold Vein in 2001. 10 years later, I have a better understanding of the album and while I think it’s a terrific effort, I’m not going to declare it a classic like so many before me. It’s dope music, no doubt and Vast Aire is certainly the star of the show, but to rank it among the likes of Illmatic, Ready To Die, Enter The 36 Chambers or The Chronic is off base. Still it deserves to make this list as it has a sound all to itself, which will bring listeners back for a long time to come.
8. Take It Or Squeeze It – The Beatnuts
If it’s a Beatnuts album, you know that you’re getting dope beats right off the bat. And of course this album is no exception. Great production from start to back and some really nice guest spots from Sean Black, Willie Stubz, Al Tariq, Problemz and Method Man. The ‘Nuts did try a more radio friendly sound on “Let’s Git Doe” featuring Fatman Scoop and missed, but it’s a rare miss in a great career. Standouts include “Prendelo,” “Contact,” “Yo Yo Yo,” “If It Ain’t Gangsta,” “No Escapin’ This,” and “Se Acabo (Remix)” with Mr. Meth.
7. AOI: Bionix – De La Soul
More good music from De La, which is par for the course. This was the second installment in the AOI series and I liked it slightly more than the first. The title track sets the tone nicely, as De La is on a feel good vibe for most of the album. The first single, “Baby Phat,” featuring Devin The Dude, may be the worst of De La’s singles, but it’s still good, which says a lot about De La’s career. The standouts are “Held Down,” “Watch Out,” “Special,” “What We Do (For Love),” “Peer Pressure” which features B. Real on the hook and “Trying People” which closes out the album perfectly.
6. Genesis – Busta Rhymes
I’ve always been a Busta fan and this is my favorite of his solo albums. With production credits from Just Blaze, The Neptunes, Pete Rock, Jay Dee, Dr. Dre, Nottz, Diamond D and Battlecat, it’s a who’s who of beat making. The only thing missing was a Premo beat. The album gets off to a fantastic start with banger after banger, until finally hitting a bit of a speed bump in the latter half of the album. “As I Come Back” was a great play on his “Scenario” verse and The Neptunes provide a great beat for the track, “Shut ‘Em Down 2002” uses the Pete Rock-remix of the Public Enemy classic from ’91 and lets Busta pay homage to the original in fine fashion. “Betta Stay Up In Your House” with Rah Digga, “We Got What You Want,” “Truck Volume,” “Pass The Courvoisier” and “Break Ya Neck” are all gems and among Busta’s best cuts.
5. Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs – Atmosphere
I had heard a few Atmosphere songs, but didn’t have any access to their albums. This is a collection of their EPs that was originally released as a tour only disc. Thankfully, this fantastic 15-song disc sold so well, it became a available in retailers as well. Some of my favorite Atmosphere songs live on this album including “Guns and Cigarettes,” “Don’t Ever Fucking Question That,” “If I Was Santa Claus,” “Mama Had A Baby and His Head Popped Off,” “The Woman With The Tattoeed Hands,” and “Nothing But Sunshine.” This offered a glimpse of what Slug would become as a storyteller on the mic and a much better example than their debut Overcast! of how good their music could be.
4. Stillmatic – Nas
2001 was the year of the Nas-Jay-Z beef and served as a return to form for Nas. After 1999’s forgettable Nastradamus, fans craved the Nas of old. You know, the Nas who released Illmatic. So Nasty Nas responded with Stillmatic, an ode to his classic opus. The title track, which is the album intro, lets the listener know that Nas is back in a major way. He follows with the aforementioned roasting of Jay-Z on “Ether” before the album’s lead single and Sopranos-influenced “Got Ur Self A…” kicks in. The rest of the album stays on the same level with the slick “Rewind,” which finds Nas telling a story in reverse, the Song of the Year in “One Mic,” and the Amerie assisted “Rule.” Hov isn’t the only MC under attack, as Nas also rips into Prodigy, Cormega and Nature on “Destroy & Rebuild.” Nas was hungry on this release and the end result was another great album. No, it wasn’t Illmatic, but it’s certainly a worthy sequel.
3. Devil’s Night – D-12
While I was studying abroad, my flatmate constantly wanted to listen to hip-hop music with me and he loved D-12’s “Shit On You.” He was also a big fan of “Under The Influence” from Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP. When I went back home that summer, he decided to come visit me, so I went out and got the D-12 album because I knew he’d want to hear it. Well the whole album turned out to be my favorite disc of the summer and one of my favorites of the year. I knew Em would bring it, but I wasn’t sold on the rest of the group. All 6 hold their own on the album and their chemistry is evident. There are a few throwaway tracks in “Nasty Mind” and “Pimp Like Me,” but otherwise the rest of the album is fire. Em absolutely rips “Shit Can Happen,” “Fight Music,” and “Revelation,” while the rest of the group stars on the excellent “Pistol, Pistol” and “That’s How…”
2. Labor Days – Aesop Rock
I couldn’t be happier that I picked this album up at my college bookstore on a whim. I had heard a little about Aesop from my brother, but that was it. When I saw the disc sitting there, I decided to pick it up and popped it in my discman for the walk back to my house. Great decision! If you don’t know Aesop Rock, shame on you. And if do know Aesop Rock, but haven’t heard this album, then you need to renounce your love of hip-hop immediately. Lyrically, this is one of the sharpest and most complex hip-hop albums you’ll find. And Blockhead’s production is the perfect backdrop for Aesop to spit over. “Daylight,” “Flashflood,” “No Regrets,” “The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3,” “Battery” and “9-5er’s Anthem” could all be on the Best Songs list. They’re just that damn good. “No Regrets” is story telling at its finest and anyone who’s ever worked a shitty job just to pay the bills can easily relate to “9-5er’s Anthem.” Seriously, if you haven’t heard this album, stop reading right now and go find it. I don’t care how you get your hands on it, just do it!
1. The Blueprint – Jay-Z
This album will always have special meaning to me as it was released on Sept. 11, 2001. I remember driving to Best Buy after my 8 a.m. class to pick up the album and listening to Howard Stern after the Twin Towers had collapsed. It was one of the most surreal days of my entire life and one I will never, ever forget. The fact that a hip-hop classic dropped the same day is mere coincidence. But what this album did for me and my roommate on that awful day goes beyond words. We needed an escape. We needed a release. And the greatest CD of Jay-Z’s storied career allowed us a diversion from the horrible events that took place that day. Of course we never really stopped thinking about what was going on in New York City and Washington D.C. But when life started to return to normal we always looked back on this album and thought of that day. As for the album itself, it’s a hip-hop classic, plain and simple. Every track is tremendous and it was the perfect way for Hov to ditch the commercial bullshit he was putting out (“Money Ain’t A Thang,” “Can I Get A…” ring a bell?) and return to the top of his game. Going with in-house production from two relatively unknown producers named Just Blaze and Kanye West was a ballsy move for a No. 1 artist, but boy did it ever pay off. Kanye blessed Jay with beats for “Takeover,” “Izzo,” “Heart of the City,” “Never Change” and “Girls, Girls, Girls (Remix),” while Just Blaze was responsible for “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “U Don’t Know,” and “Song Cry.” And of the 14 tracks, those are 8 of the top 9. The other? The Eminem produced and assisted “Renegade,” which led to Nas’ famous line from Ether, “Eminem murdered you on your own shit.” I talked about Em’s verse from “Fight Music” being one of my favorites of his, but this is the best guest spot Em’s ever done. There’s no need to hit the skip button at any time during this album, just let it play from start to finish. Thank you Jay for this classic album. It came at a time when we desperately needed it and it has withstood the test of time as an all-time great.
So there’s 2001. I had the pleasure of finding a few new favorites in Atmosphere and Aesop Rock, was pleasantly surprised with D-12’s offering and got to see Nas and Jay, two of the best that have ever done it, regain their form.
Before we even get started, I have been trying for years to get my hands on J-Live’s The Best Part. I guarantee it deserves a spot on the Best Albums list based on the reputation of the album and based on J-Live’s abilities. But I can’t get the damn thing anywhere. Online doesn’t have it, unless I want to shell out $20 for it and iTunes is asking for $19 for the reissued double album with instrumentals. Not that that wouldn’t be cool to have, but I want the original version in CD form. I’m just stubborn like that.
Alright, now let’s get into it.
Best Songs
20. “What We Do” – De La Soul feat. Slick Rick
Great collaboration between hip-hop legends. The beat courtesy of Megahertz is fantastic as De La and Uncle Rickey speak on puberty and sexual discovery. The three pass the mic back and forth and flow together beautifully. Pos drops, “Ain’t gotta drug problem, but a love problem/But then again that may be one in the same.”
19. “Worst Comes To Worst” – Dilated Peoples
Alchemist uses William Bell’s “I Forgot To Be Your Lover” to perfection as Evidence and Rakaa go back and forth effortlessly. What else is new? The two have great chemistry. As the Mobb Deep-sampled line “when worst comes to worst” drops, Evidence jumps right in with “Set up shop and write a verse/Actually, that’s best come to best.”
18. “Keepin’ It Gangsta” – Fabolous
I’m not a big fan of Fabolous. Sometimes he impresses me and then his next track is more radio fluff. I know he’s regarded as a great spitter, but I’m indifferent. His debut dropped the same day as Jay-Z’s The Blueprint and I really had no interest in it. My roommate at the time did cop it and I will say that this song grabbed my attention right away. If Fab made more songs like this one I’d be a fan.
17. “No Escapin’ This” – The Beatnuts
The ‘Nuts bring it again with the lead single from Take It or Squeeze It. I remember my brother telling me about this song while I was on the pay phone in the hallway of my flat during my time studying abroad. Made me souped to hear it. No question that the production was going to be tight and having Greg Nice back for some ad-libs was a great touch. Psycho Les and JuJu bring some braggadocio as JuJu spits, “Don’t be humble, it’s better to pull/Believe you eligible/Get left like a vegetable.”
16. “Un-Hunh!” – Jadakiss feat. DMX
This shit is hard. X opens the track saying “I only gave you the crown so I could shoot it off your fuckin’ head,” and brings his normal energy throughout the track. Lyrically, Jada brings the heat, which you would expect and airs out his beef with Beanie Sigel on the third verse, “Had to stop eating red meat cause I ate too many Beanie Macs.”
15. “Beanie (Mac Bitch)” – Beanie Sigel
Speaking of Beanie Mac, Sigel dropped this as the first single to his second album, The Reason. Just Blaze brings a banger and Beans rips it to shreds with street tales and street slang on all three verses. Beans has a way of spittin’ similar words and flipping them that’s different then most MCs. I’ve always been partial to his way of rhyming and this song is a great example of his style.
14. “Bad Boy 4 Life” – Diddy feat. Black Rob & Mark Curry
This song has more sentimental value to me than most which is what got it on the list in the first place. This was the theme song of our house my senior year of college and you would’ve had to have lived it to understand the messed up dynamic of that house which makes this song what it is to me. Anyway, the song is dope regardless and Black Rob steals the show with his verse (not that it was too difficult sharing the mic with Diddy and Mark Curry, but still).
13. “Uzi” – Wu-Tang Clan
I knew the Wu was back when this song dropped and I couldn’t have been more excited for a new Wu album. Unfortunately the album was a bit of a letdown, but this single was classic Wu-Tang. Rza didn’t bring the old grimy sound of the early Wu albums, but he still provided a tremendous beat and the whole clan (sans Ol’ Dirty) was back in tact on this one.
12. “The Woman With The Tattoeed Hands” – Atmosphere
Slug is a tremendous storyteller. One of my favorites, in fact. And this song is a terrific example of his ability to craft a narrative on the mic. Slug discusses a night spent with a woman who gives him a spiritual eye opener tied in with a sexual experience. The lyrics are vivid and clever and the production sets the perfect tone for Slug’s story.
11. “The Burn” – Mobb Deep feat. Big Noyd & Vita
This song was my shit when it dropped. Just some straight up raw, hard hitting hip-hop from M-O-B-B. This belongs alongside the likes of “Shook Ones Part II”, “Survival of the Fittest”, “G.O.D. Pt. III” and “Quiet Storm” as one of Mobb’s greatest songs. Noyd has my favorite verse with, “But wait, you don’t think I live a pop life now/’Cause hey, you could get popped right now.”
10. “Cross The Border” – Philly’s Most Wanted
I loved, loved, loved this song when it first dropped. I bought the CD single and played the shit outta it. It was another big song during my senior year of college, so it had sentimental value to me, but that value became even greater during the 2008 MLB playoffs as it became part of a 3-song soundtrack I had to listen to before each game of the Phillies postseason run. Great beat, catchy hook and a party banger that lyrically probably shouldn’t have been a party song. It just worked.
9. “Let’s Get It” – G. Dep feat. Diddy & Black Rob
The Al Green sample on this is just phenomenal. And while Dep had made other appearances before this song, this is what really introduced him to the hip-hop world. Dep spits dope verse after dope verse, before Diddy joins the fray with the memorable line “Not guilty and I’m filthy” regarding his trial that sent Shyne to jail. B.R. has another solid verse to finish the song out calling himself the “Eastside Soprano.”
8. “We Right Here” – DMX
When I think of artists that bring the most energy to a hip-hop track I think: 1. M.O.P. and 2. DMX. If I were to round out my top 5, I’d probably go with Onyx, Busta Rhymes and Redman. X has never been that super lyrical MC but his energy is virtually unrivaled. This song brought that energy is every way. X brings a style similar to “What’s My Name?” on this one and the formula works perfectly.
7. “Fuck You” – Pharoahe Monch
The electric guitars start off the track just right and then Pharoahe starts bringing it lyrically through the eyes of a crooked cop (inspired by Denzel Washington’s “Lorenzo” from Training Day). The production on this track would’ve been overpowering for a lesser MC, but Monch has such control whenever he spits that he makes the beat work for him not the other way around.
6. “Heart of the City” – Jay-Z
So many great songs to pick from off The Blueprint. When I made my Best of ’01 mix back in early 2002, I chose “Hola Hovito” to represent the album. At the time “Izzo” was overplayed, “Girls, Girls, Girls” had seen plenty of radio rotation and “Takeover” got worn out by me. In hindsight, the right track all along was “Heart of the City.” Kanye produced five songs on the album, all of them great, but this was the true standout. So much soul on this track and I think it really started to stand out for me when I saw Jay and The Roots perform this on MTV Unplugged. That shit was ridiculous.
5. “Daylight” – Aesop Rock
This is my favorite Aesop song ever. It contains some of the best lyrics you will ever hear and the production is off the charts. “No Regrets” grabbed me by the throat the first time I heard it, but after having time to sit down and digest the album, no song impressed me more than “Daylight.” Here’s the best line of 2001 (and one of the best lines of all-time): “Life’s not a bitch, life is a beautiful woman/You only call her a bitch because she won’t let you get that pussy/Maybe she didn’t feel y’all shared any similar interests/Or maybe you’re just an asshole who couldn’t sweet talk the princess.” Damn that shit is nice!
4. “Bottom Feeders” – Smut Peddlers feat. R.A. The Rugged Man
Smut Peddlers Porn Again was cool but left me a little disappointed and this song is the reason why. I got this song on a promotional disc and absolutely loved it. It gave me such high hopes for Cage & Mr. Eon’s collaboration that it was probably impossible for the album to live up to my own hype. Oh well. This song was sick. So many great punchlines on this one. R.A. has my favorite verse, “I live in Long Island, with a house of retards/And illegal aliens that need green cards/I’m a rap legend to little weird white kids/That carve shit in their arms like ‘I don’t wanna live.’”
3. “Break Ya Neck” – Busta Rhymes
Bussa-Buss over some Dr. Dre production? You damn right. This song was a club banger, a party starter, a song you could wyle out to in your car, it just knocked! Busta rhymes in perfect sync with the speed of the beat and keeps the energy up for 4+ minutes. I once DJ’d a formal and was forced to play some pop shit and some hip-hop songs that I would never listen to on my own personal time. But that music was what got this group of people on the dance floor, so I had no choice. During those songs, I threw this on and it kept the party going. Not even the Britney Spears/Shakira/Enrique Inglesias crowd could resist this song.
2. “Fight Music” – D-12
“Purple Pills” was my favorite song on D-12’s Devil’s Night at first, but “Fight Music” would go on to be one of my favorites to this day. The energy is off the charts. Proof’s verse would’ve been the best on the song, but Em absolutely rips this song apart. It’s one of my favorite Em verses of all-time. When he starts his verse, I have to stop and spit it along with him every time. “If I could capture the rage of today’s youth and bottle it/Crush the glass from my bear hands and swallow it/Then spit it back in the faces of you racists/And hypocrites who think the same shit, but don’t say shit.”
1. “One Mic” – Nas
On the Best of ’01 mix I mentioned earlier, I chose “Ether” as my selection from Stillmatic. And while “Ether” is still a highly referenced song to this day, it has lost a little steam due to Nas and Jay squashing the beef and collaborating. Again, still a dope diss track, but not the same now that things are cool between the two of them. “One Mic,” on the other hand, has actually grown for me since its release 10 years ago. I can’t think of a better example of a hip-hop song from 2001. The production was terrific, the lyrics are on point and Nas’ decision to go from almost a whisper to building momentum as each verse progresses and then just straight out fire at the end of each verse was genius. And then switching it up and starting the final verse with the amped up flow to slowing down back to a mellowed voice and minimalist beat, that’s crazy. No other MC could’ve done this as effectively as Nas. This song is brilliant in every sense of the word.
Best Albums
10. I Told You So – Chino XL
If you want punchlines, you want Chino XL. The dude drops great line after great line. I’ve heard him do live acapella freestyles and the audience just hangs on every word. Much like Canibus and Ras Kass, he’s a lyricist in every sense of the word that producers just can’t match up to. Chino has plenty of swagger on songs like “What You Got,” “Nunca,” and “I Told You So,” but he also brings some great subject matter on songs like “Sorry” which finds Chino confessing his infidelity to his girl.
9. The Cold Vein – Cannibal Ox
I’ll admit it, I was late to the Can Ox party. I knew about the hype surrounding this album, I just didn’t take the time to give the album a quality listen when it came out. Aside from “The F-Word” I couldn’t tell you much about The Cold Vein in 2001. 10 years later, I have a better understanding of the album and while I think it’s a terrific effort, I’m not going to declare it a classic like so many before me. It’s dope music, no doubt and Vast Aire is certainly the star of the show, but to rank it among the likes of Illmatic, Ready To Die, Enter The 36 Chambers or The Chronic is off base. Still it deserves to make this list as it has a sound all to itself, which will bring listeners back for a long time to come.
8. Take It Or Squeeze It – The Beatnuts
If it’s a Beatnuts album, you know that you’re getting dope beats right off the bat. And of course this album is no exception. Great production from start to back and some really nice guest spots from Sean Black, Willie Stubz, Al Tariq, Problemz and Method Man. The ‘Nuts did try a more radio friendly sound on “Let’s Git Doe” featuring Fatman Scoop and missed, but it’s a rare miss in a great career. Standouts include “Prendelo,” “Contact,” “Yo Yo Yo,” “If It Ain’t Gangsta,” “No Escapin’ This,” and “Se Acabo (Remix)” with Mr. Meth.
7. AOI: Bionix – De La Soul
More good music from De La, which is par for the course. This was the second installment in the AOI series and I liked it slightly more than the first. The title track sets the tone nicely, as De La is on a feel good vibe for most of the album. The first single, “Baby Phat,” featuring Devin The Dude, may be the worst of De La’s singles, but it’s still good, which says a lot about De La’s career. The standouts are “Held Down,” “Watch Out,” “Special,” “What We Do (For Love),” “Peer Pressure” which features B. Real on the hook and “Trying People” which closes out the album perfectly.
6. Genesis – Busta Rhymes
I’ve always been a Busta fan and this is my favorite of his solo albums. With production credits from Just Blaze, The Neptunes, Pete Rock, Jay Dee, Dr. Dre, Nottz, Diamond D and Battlecat, it’s a who’s who of beat making. The only thing missing was a Premo beat. The album gets off to a fantastic start with banger after banger, until finally hitting a bit of a speed bump in the latter half of the album. “As I Come Back” was a great play on his “Scenario” verse and The Neptunes provide a great beat for the track, “Shut ‘Em Down 2002” uses the Pete Rock-remix of the Public Enemy classic from ’91 and lets Busta pay homage to the original in fine fashion. “Betta Stay Up In Your House” with Rah Digga, “We Got What You Want,” “Truck Volume,” “Pass The Courvoisier” and “Break Ya Neck” are all gems and among Busta’s best cuts.
5. Lucy Ford: The Atmosphere EPs – Atmosphere
I had heard a few Atmosphere songs, but didn’t have any access to their albums. This is a collection of their EPs that was originally released as a tour only disc. Thankfully, this fantastic 15-song disc sold so well, it became a available in retailers as well. Some of my favorite Atmosphere songs live on this album including “Guns and Cigarettes,” “Don’t Ever Fucking Question That,” “If I Was Santa Claus,” “Mama Had A Baby and His Head Popped Off,” “The Woman With The Tattoeed Hands,” and “Nothing But Sunshine.” This offered a glimpse of what Slug would become as a storyteller on the mic and a much better example than their debut Overcast! of how good their music could be.
4. Stillmatic – Nas
2001 was the year of the Nas-Jay-Z beef and served as a return to form for Nas. After 1999’s forgettable Nastradamus, fans craved the Nas of old. You know, the Nas who released Illmatic. So Nasty Nas responded with Stillmatic, an ode to his classic opus. The title track, which is the album intro, lets the listener know that Nas is back in a major way. He follows with the aforementioned roasting of Jay-Z on “Ether” before the album’s lead single and Sopranos-influenced “Got Ur Self A…” kicks in. The rest of the album stays on the same level with the slick “Rewind,” which finds Nas telling a story in reverse, the Song of the Year in “One Mic,” and the Amerie assisted “Rule.” Hov isn’t the only MC under attack, as Nas also rips into Prodigy, Cormega and Nature on “Destroy & Rebuild.” Nas was hungry on this release and the end result was another great album. No, it wasn’t Illmatic, but it’s certainly a worthy sequel.
3. Devil’s Night – D-12
While I was studying abroad, my flatmate constantly wanted to listen to hip-hop music with me and he loved D-12’s “Shit On You.” He was also a big fan of “Under The Influence” from Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP. When I went back home that summer, he decided to come visit me, so I went out and got the D-12 album because I knew he’d want to hear it. Well the whole album turned out to be my favorite disc of the summer and one of my favorites of the year. I knew Em would bring it, but I wasn’t sold on the rest of the group. All 6 hold their own on the album and their chemistry is evident. There are a few throwaway tracks in “Nasty Mind” and “Pimp Like Me,” but otherwise the rest of the album is fire. Em absolutely rips “Shit Can Happen,” “Fight Music,” and “Revelation,” while the rest of the group stars on the excellent “Pistol, Pistol” and “That’s How…”
2. Labor Days – Aesop Rock
I couldn’t be happier that I picked this album up at my college bookstore on a whim. I had heard a little about Aesop from my brother, but that was it. When I saw the disc sitting there, I decided to pick it up and popped it in my discman for the walk back to my house. Great decision! If you don’t know Aesop Rock, shame on you. And if do know Aesop Rock, but haven’t heard this album, then you need to renounce your love of hip-hop immediately. Lyrically, this is one of the sharpest and most complex hip-hop albums you’ll find. And Blockhead’s production is the perfect backdrop for Aesop to spit over. “Daylight,” “Flashflood,” “No Regrets,” “The Tugboat Complex Pt. 3,” “Battery” and “9-5er’s Anthem” could all be on the Best Songs list. They’re just that damn good. “No Regrets” is story telling at its finest and anyone who’s ever worked a shitty job just to pay the bills can easily relate to “9-5er’s Anthem.” Seriously, if you haven’t heard this album, stop reading right now and go find it. I don’t care how you get your hands on it, just do it!
1. The Blueprint – Jay-Z
This album will always have special meaning to me as it was released on Sept. 11, 2001. I remember driving to Best Buy after my 8 a.m. class to pick up the album and listening to Howard Stern after the Twin Towers had collapsed. It was one of the most surreal days of my entire life and one I will never, ever forget. The fact that a hip-hop classic dropped the same day is mere coincidence. But what this album did for me and my roommate on that awful day goes beyond words. We needed an escape. We needed a release. And the greatest CD of Jay-Z’s storied career allowed us a diversion from the horrible events that took place that day. Of course we never really stopped thinking about what was going on in New York City and Washington D.C. But when life started to return to normal we always looked back on this album and thought of that day. As for the album itself, it’s a hip-hop classic, plain and simple. Every track is tremendous and it was the perfect way for Hov to ditch the commercial bullshit he was putting out (“Money Ain’t A Thang,” “Can I Get A…” ring a bell?) and return to the top of his game. Going with in-house production from two relatively unknown producers named Just Blaze and Kanye West was a ballsy move for a No. 1 artist, but boy did it ever pay off. Kanye blessed Jay with beats for “Takeover,” “Izzo,” “Heart of the City,” “Never Change” and “Girls, Girls, Girls (Remix),” while Just Blaze was responsible for “Girls, Girls, Girls,” “U Don’t Know,” and “Song Cry.” And of the 14 tracks, those are 8 of the top 9. The other? The Eminem produced and assisted “Renegade,” which led to Nas’ famous line from Ether, “Eminem murdered you on your own shit.” I talked about Em’s verse from “Fight Music” being one of my favorites of his, but this is the best guest spot Em’s ever done. There’s no need to hit the skip button at any time during this album, just let it play from start to finish. Thank you Jay for this classic album. It came at a time when we desperately needed it and it has withstood the test of time as an all-time great.
So there’s 2001. I had the pleasure of finding a few new favorites in Atmosphere and Aesop Rock, was pleasantly surprised with D-12’s offering and got to see Nas and Jay, two of the best that have ever done it, regain their form.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
New Release Tuesday Part 2!!!
HOLY SHIT! The new Random Axe album is available as an MP3 download on Amazon for $1.99 right now. I knew there was another album out today along with Bad Meets Evil and I couldn't remember which one. 
Then I remembered Random Axe, a group consisting of Sean Price, Black Milk & Guilty Simpson, and found it on sale for $1.99. The album just dropped today and I don't know how long it will be that price, but seriously, if you like hip-hop music, you need to own this. What a great deal!!! I felt it was my duty to inform you of this ASAP!
New Release Tuesday
Pretty easy choice today as Bad Meets Evil release their EP Hell: The Sequel. Of course you already know that Bad Meets Evil is Royce Da 5'9 and Eminem. I've already listened to the entire album and I'm pretty happy with it. 
I've only had time to hear it once, so I need more time to really digest the disc, but first impression is that it's good, not great.
Lyrically, there are plenty of highlights and the production is solid. If this would've dropped in '99 when the Bad Meets Evil concept was at it's height, I'd probably be more excited, but both artists have grown so much and changed over the past 12 years that I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.
This will be one of the better releases of the year, but it'll fall somewhere in the middle of Em's catalog (again, that's only based on my first listen). It's definitely worth adding to the collection if you're on the fence.
With the Slaughterhouse EP that dropped earlier this year, this disc, Royce's solo effort Success Is Certain, Joell Ortiz's Free Agent, Crooked I's solo album and the rumored Slaughterhouse LP, and Yelawolf's album it looks like a huge year for Shady Records.
Lyrically, there are plenty of highlights and the production is solid. If this would've dropped in '99 when the Bad Meets Evil concept was at it's height, I'd probably be more excited, but both artists have grown so much and changed over the past 12 years that I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.
This will be one of the better releases of the year, but it'll fall somewhere in the middle of Em's catalog (again, that's only based on my first listen). It's definitely worth adding to the collection if you're on the fence.
With the Slaughterhouse EP that dropped earlier this year, this disc, Royce's solo effort Success Is Certain, Joell Ortiz's Free Agent, Crooked I's solo album and the rumored Slaughterhouse LP, and Yelawolf's album it looks like a huge year for Shady Records.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Song of the Day
Kanye West - "Everything I Am"
"Damn, Common passed on this beat I made it to a jam/Everything I'm not made me everything I am." Great beat on this one and as much as I love Common, I'm glad he passed on it so that Kanye could cook up this joint. Lyrically Kanye is at his best here and the track is just so laid back and soulful. I put on Graduation today and smiled the instant this song came on.
"Damn, Common passed on this beat I made it to a jam/Everything I'm not made me everything I am." Great beat on this one and as much as I love Common, I'm glad he passed on it so that Kanye could cook up this joint. Lyrically Kanye is at his best here and the track is just so laid back and soulful. I put on Graduation today and smiled the instant this song came on.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Song of the Day
De La Soul feat. Redman - "Oooh!"
I knew that I would forget some songs for my Best Of lists and this is a major oversight. How I forgot this song is beyond me. So this belongs on the Best Songs of 2000 list without a doubt. I'll probably reedit the column because I can't let little shit like this go. In the meantime, here it is as the Song of the Day. My apologies to De La. Make sure to peep the video link as well. Great video for this track as De La reenacts The Wizard of Oz with help of Rah Digga, Dave Chappelle, Redman and others!
I knew that I would forget some songs for my Best Of lists and this is a major oversight. How I forgot this song is beyond me. So this belongs on the Best Songs of 2000 list without a doubt. I'll probably reedit the column because I can't let little shit like this go. In the meantime, here it is as the Song of the Day. My apologies to De La. Make sure to peep the video link as well. Great video for this track as De La reenacts The Wizard of Oz with help of Rah Digga, Dave Chappelle, Redman and others!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Song of the Day
Jay Electronica - "Exhibit C"
This came on my iPod yesterday and DAMN! It was dope the first time I heard it, but I don't think I ever gave it the proper attention. For what ever reason it really sucked me in yesterday and will remain in heavy rotation. Jay flexes his lyrical skill and Just Blaze brings a banger. This is just so fresh.
This came on my iPod yesterday and DAMN! It was dope the first time I heard it, but I don't think I ever gave it the proper attention. For what ever reason it really sucked me in yesterday and will remain in heavy rotation. Jay flexes his lyrical skill and Just Blaze brings a banger. This is just so fresh.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Song of the Day
50 Cent - "Back Down"
Listened to Get Rich or Die Tryin' today for the first time in a while. Album's still hot. Wish 50 would've dropped more music like this, instead of "Candy Shop" and "Amusement Park" which are both trash. 50 had beef with everyone thanks to "How To Rob" but he straight up rips Ja Rule apart on this track. "You sing for hoes and sound like the cookie monster." I love that line. Apparently Ja's making a comeback album, but seriously who cares at this point? Ja sucks and I hate to say it but 50 went the same route some what. His new shit just does nothing for me. At least he has a classic under his belt.
Listened to Get Rich or Die Tryin' today for the first time in a while. Album's still hot. Wish 50 would've dropped more music like this, instead of "Candy Shop" and "Amusement Park" which are both trash. 50 had beef with everyone thanks to "How To Rob" but he straight up rips Ja Rule apart on this track. "You sing for hoes and sound like the cookie monster." I love that line. Apparently Ja's making a comeback album, but seriously who cares at this point? Ja sucks and I hate to say it but 50 went the same route some what. His new shit just does nothing for me. At least he has a classic under his belt.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Song of the Day
Royce Da 5'9 - "Second Place" (Prod. By DJ Premier)
Royce and DJ Premier back together! You already know how dope this is going to be without even listening. Royce spits punchline after punchline as Premo brings another banger. The scratches for the hook are classic Premier and Royce is as lyrically sharp as ever. I'm looking forward to Royce's next solo album, as well as the Bad Meets Evil EP and the next Slaughterhouse disc. Damn, Royce is taking over in 2011.
Royce and DJ Premier back together! You already know how dope this is going to be without even listening. Royce spits punchline after punchline as Premo brings another banger. The scratches for the hook are classic Premier and Royce is as lyrically sharp as ever. I'm looking forward to Royce's next solo album, as well as the Bad Meets Evil EP and the next Slaughterhouse disc. Damn, Royce is taking over in 2011.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Song of the Day
Wu-tang Clan - "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'"
Listend to Enter The 36 Chambers on the way home from work today. It's so damn good. Of course it's my favorite album of all time and 18 years later it sounds better than anything out there. Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa have my favorite verses on this and of course Ol' Dirty is fantastic. I remember hearing this song for the first time and knew I was listening to a hip-hop classic.
Listend to Enter The 36 Chambers on the way home from work today. It's so damn good. Of course it's my favorite album of all time and 18 years later it sounds better than anything out there. Inspectah Deck and Masta Killa have my favorite verses on this and of course Ol' Dirty is fantastic. I remember hearing this song for the first time and knew I was listening to a hip-hop classic.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Song of the Day
Haiku D'Etat - "Still Rappin'"
Gave a shout out to Haiku d'Etat's album in my Best of 2000 wrap up, so I thought it fitting to pick one of the standouts for today's Song of the Day. Aceyalone, Mikah 9 and Abstract Rude are a true underground hip-hop supergroup and they delivered on this disc. This song has a great vibe to it and all three MCs flow effortlessly over it. If you haven't checked out their music, get on that ASAP!
Gave a shout out to Haiku d'Etat's album in my Best of 2000 wrap up, so I thought it fitting to pick one of the standouts for today's Song of the Day. Aceyalone, Mikah 9 and Abstract Rude are a true underground hip-hop supergroup and they delivered on this disc. This song has a great vibe to it and all three MCs flow effortlessly over it. If you haven't checked out their music, get on that ASAP!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The Best Hip-Hop Songs & Albums: 2000
New decade begins and a few new faces emerge in 2000. After the ‘90s brought us Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie, 2Pac, Outkast, Wu-Tang and so on, what will the ‘00s bring us? Let’s find out.
Best Songs
20. “X” – Xzibit
Perhaps his biggest commercial single, X made a huge splash in 2000 with the full backing of Dr. Dre, who gained executive producer credit’s for Xzibit’s Restless. The beat on this one is tremendous and Xzibit brings the heat to match the production.
19. “Southern Hospitality” – Ludacris
Truthfully, I hated “What’s Your Fantasy?” when it first came out. I really don’t like it still. I know that it’s one of Luda’s biggest songs and it’s the song that started his career, but it does nothing for me. This track, on the other hand, with the Neptunes on the beat, is an absolute banger. Luda made his debut in 2000 and remains one of the biggest stars in hip-hop today.
18. “The Ultimate High” – Nature feat. Nas
I always preferred Cormega over Nature as the fourth member of The Firm, but Nature was no slouch. The beat on this is terrific and Nature and Nas both shine over the flutes. Nature’s debut album was decent, but what the hell ever happened to his career? Apparently he dropped his third solo album in 2008. Who knew?
17. “Platinum Plus” – Big L feat. Big Daddy Kane
Two years after his murder, Big L’s second album dropped in 2000. Lots of great tracks on this, including his classic “Ebonics” which first dropped in 1998 or 1999 (hence not making it on any of the “Best of” lists since I couldn’t hammer down the actual release date.) L brings it as per usual on this one and Kane drops punchline after punchline to create a dream collaboration.
16. “Eternalists” – Reflection Eternal
One of my favorite Hi-Tek beats. The whole album is fantastic (more on that later), but this song has always stuck out to me. This song reminds me of the Native Tongues sound, just with a more modern twist to it. Talib of course brings it as you can’t help but nod your head as Kweli flows effortlessly over Hi-Tek’s production.
15. “Big Bang” – Aesop Rock
Say hello to one of the dopest new MCs of the decade. Aesop is on a whole other level when it comes to lyricism. Dude is complex. He has some of my favorite metaphors of all time. Admittedly he’s over my head at times too. The beat on this is one of my favorites from 2000 and Aesop IS hip-hop. This is one of his best songs ever.
14. “Change The Game” – Jay-Z feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek
I love this song. I just do. I don’t give a damn what anyone else says about it. Beans is a beast and of course Bleek’s “Who the fruck want what?” is a great opening line (and no, that’s not a typo for the f-bomb). Hov’s final verse is the best, “Grammy Award winner/Ballin’ repeatedly, highlights on SportsCenter/Please repeat after me, there’s only 1 rule/I will not lose.”
13. “The 6th Sense” – Common
Common over DJ Premier? Oh hell yeah! The results are what you would expect: Greatness. Bilal provides the hook as Common rips into a Premo track. Common spits, “In front of 2-inch glass and Arabs I order fries/Inspiration when I write, I see my daughter’s eyes/I’m the truth/Across the table from corporate lies/Immortalized by the realness I bring to it/If Revolution had a movie, I’d be theme music/My music you either fight, fuck or dream to it…” Dude has always been a great lyricist.
12. “Quality Control” – Jurassic 5
A true throwback to the old school, Jurassic 5 delivered another great track with the lead single off their debut full-length album. I love the beat on this with J5’s perfectly in sync hook. Chali 2na brings my favorite verse. One of the best voices in hip-hop and he’s always brought it lyrically. “You baby MCs drink Pedialyte/While underground doesn’t like you, the media might/But we be the elite, we’ll change that/As we bridge gaps/In this lyrical grudge match/Brothers we slug back.” Fantastic video for this song as well.
11. “Bad Boyz” – Shyne feat. Barrington Levy
The Biggie sound alike, I didn’t want anything to do with Shyne when I first heard about him as I figured it was a cheap marketing trick by Diddy trying to sell records based on the legacy of the Notorious B.I.G. Then I saw the video for this song and actually listened and decided it was worth giving Shyne a chance. This is a hard hitting track, not the commercial fluff that Diddy was bringing at the time. Barrington Levy was the perfect choice to accompany Shyne on this song, as was his appearance on Shyne’s other standout “Bonnie & Shyne.”
10. “What Your Life Like?” – Beanie Sigel
This is a very in-depth, graphic depiction of what life in prison is like. Beanie doesn’t spare any details and this song should make everyone want to stay far, far away from jail. The production on this is cinematic and dark and compliments Beans’ vocals perfectly. It sounded like a movie theme song, so I just checked and it is. It’s a sample of the theme from Hard Rain. So there you go.
9. “You Don’t Know Me” – Black Rob
This shit always reminded me of the music for a boxing movie or something. Not surprising that Black Rob throws in the “You can’t win” reference from Rocky IV. Joe Hooker on the hook and on production as B.R. brings an uptempo banger. Could’ve gone with “Whoa!” for this list, as that of course is Black Rob’s biggest single and was the biggest phrase of the year, but it didn’t have the legs to hold up over time. It’s still a pretty dope song, but this was my favorite Black Rob song when it came out and it remains so to this day.
8. “Y’all Don’t Wanna” – Capone-N-Noreaga
An absolute, 100% banger. This shit is the definition of “thugged out” as N.O.R.E. would say. Nokio brings a hard hitting beat and Capone and Noreaga both rip it apart. “My life is nothing like a sitcom/You see I sip Dom/I rock Jordans/And can’t stand Pippens.” It’s not lyrical genius, but the way Nore spits it, it just sounds dope.
7. “The Way I Am” – Eminem
I’ve gone back and forth on whether to use this song or “Stan” 100 times. I came close to choosing “Stan” based on the concept alone, but decided to go with “The Way I Am” instead. The Marshall Mathers LP gave us a real look into Em’s life and this song was the perfect example. Eminem vaulted to the height of his popularity at a time of boy bands and teeny boppers and was thrust into the mix of the TRL favorites, as well as gaining rotation on rock stations and still maintaining his position as one of the best new MCs in the game. Not sure any hip-hop artist has ever stirred up the controversy or commotion the way Em did. And all the while he played it perfectly which is depicted in this track.
6. “Hip-Hop” – dead prez
One of the dopest beats ever. Completely raw and stripped down and it’s perfect. Interesting title as dead prez don’t make the normal ode to hip-hop music. Instead they discuss the state of the music industry and expose rappers that chose fame over creativity. “Would you rather have a Lexus or justice?/A dream or some substance?/A Beamer, a necklace or freedom?” Casual fans will know the beat as the theme song for Chappelle’s Show, but this song is so much more than that.
5. “Oh No” – Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg
Tremendous collaboration off the Lyricist Lounge II album. Nate Dogg (R.I.P.) is perfect on the hook and I love that Mos starts his verse with Destiny’s Child “Say my name/Say my name.” Dope usage of that shit right there. Pharoahe’s verse is on a whole other level. He absolutely murders this song. I have to stop and listen to his verse every time this song comes on because it’s microphone mastery.
4. “Apollo Kids” – Ghostface Killah feat. Raekwon
Okay, so I still don’t know what the hook means (“This rap is like ziti/Facing me/Real TV”), but the song is incredibly dope, so it doesn’t really matter. Hassan brings a murderous beat and Ghost and Rae tear it apart. Seriously, if this track doesn’t get you amped up, you don’t have a pulse. The best song off of one of the Wu’s finest solo albums.
3. “Keep It Thoro” – Prodigy
If I had to pick my favorite beat of 2000, this may win outright. It’s tough, but Alchemist came correct on this one. Prodigy’s solo album was largely disappointing, but this song was top of the line. If P put out an album’s worth of “Keep It Thoro” caliber songs, he’d have a classic on his hands. “I break bread, ribs, hundred dollar bills…” Great opening line. “Bang this, cause I guarantee that you bought it/Heavy airplay, all day with no chorus.” Great closing line.
2. “Cold As Ice” – M.O.P.
Here’s how much I love this song, “Ante Up” came out the same year and I still picked “Cold As Ice” from M.O.P.’s Warriorz. “Ante Up” is a fucking classic. It’s one of the best hip-hop songs ever. It’s just flat out nasty. I love it. I could listen to it every day and never get sick of it. And yet, I chose “Cold As Ice.” That’s how much I love this song. The sped-up Foreigner sample is brilliant, the beat is an absolute banger and Lil’ Fame and Billy Danze bring great line after great line, all while sounding like they’re ready to hit someone with a brick. “Pardon me/How the fuck you gonna start with me?/I’m a heavyweight in this game, you just spar with me.”
1. “B.O.B.” – Outkast
One of the most original hip-hop songs you’ll ever hear. 10 years from now, this song will still sound ahead of its time. Outkast have always pushed the envelope and recreated themselves, so this could’ve been expected, I guess, but I’m not so sure anyone saw this genius creation coming. Andre 3000 rhymes over a beat that’s going at 100 miles per hour. The track grabs you from the second the first drum kicks and never lets go. This is some futuristic funk shit that is beyond description. Outkast has made dozens of classic songs, but none as good as this.
Best Albums
10. Like Water For Chocolate – Common
Production from DJ Premier, Dilla and the Soulquarians, as well as guest spots from Mos Def, The Roots, Bilal, Slum Village, D’Angelo and Cee-Lo created a winning sound for Common as he finally gained some commercial exposure. Considering “The Light” is what brought him radio rotation, that’s quite alright with me. Common’s career has skyrocketed from where he was in 2000, but he’s still as sharp lyrically as he was when he was an underground favorite.
9. The Truth – Beanie Sigel
I’m a big Beans fan. I love the rawness and authenticity he brings to his songs. The album featured great production from Just Blaze, Rockwilder, Buckwild and an unknown producer by the name of Kanye West. Kanye’s production on the title track got the album rolling on the right foot, and standouts like “Stop, Chill,” “Mac & Brad” (featuring Scarface), “What Ya Life Like” and “Die” followed. Solid debut from the Broad Street Bully.
8. Restless – Xzibit
There’s a lot to love on this album. But it resonates even more for me as it was played often by my flat mate when I studied overseas. He loved the tracks “D.N.A.” and “Alkaholik.” The production team on this album is star studded with beats from Rockwilder, Battlecat, Dr. Dre, Nottz, Erick Sermon & DJ Quik. The standouts are “Front 2 Back,” “U Know,” “X,” “Don’t Approach Me,” “Get Your Walk On,” and the ode to his son “Sorry I’m Away So Much.”
7. Train of Thought – Reflection Eternal
This is the essence of a hip-hop album. Outstanding production from Hi-Tek and the lyricism to match from Talib Kweli. “Move Somethin” starts the album off with a bang, followed by great track after great track. “The Blast” got some much deserved attention for the album, while Mos Def (“This Means You”), Xzibit and Rah Digga (“Down For The Count”) and Kool G. Rap (“Ghetto Afterlife”) all make valuable contributions on the album. The album touches on love, race, politics, and the state of hip-hop as Kweli delivers tons of messages to go hand-in-hand with his punchlines.
6. Nia – Blackalicious
I picked this album up on a whim at a local CD store and couldn’t be happier that I found it. In fact some of the best kept secrets (Ugly Duckling, Pigeon John, etc.) have been discovered for me at the mom and pop stores. This album is fantastic. Gift of Gab may be the most underrated MC in the game as he can command a beat in any style or speed. The entire album is great, but my favorites are “The Fabulous Ones,” “Do This My Way,” “Deception,” “Shallow Days,” “You Didn’t Know That Though,” “Making Progress,” and “Sleep.” Discovering this album also allowed me to go back and find “Alphabet Aerobics,” from their A2G EP, which is one of my favorite songs and one of the greatest MC performances in the history of hip-hop.
5. Stankonia – Outkast
After hearing “B.O.B.” I knew that Outkast was about to bring something new to the table. This is a fantastic offering, however, it was the follow-up to the classic Aquemini, so I think it fell a little short of my expectation. That’s not to say it’s a bad album, because it’s still very good. Of course “Ms. Jackson” went on to be Outkast’s biggest single up to that point (later to be surpassed by “Hey Ya”) which is still quoted today. The song went on to win a Grammy and really launched Outkast into the mainstream. The album features standouts such as “Gasoline Dreams,” “So Fresh, So Clean,” “Xplosion,” “Humble Mumble,” and “Red Velvet.” At 24 tracks long, there is some filler on the album (mostly the 6 interludes), but the good far outweighs the bad.
4. The Dynasty: Roc La Familia – Jay-Z
This album dropped the same day as Stankonia, so I had a tough choice of what to listen to first. I remember popping this in the car and then switching to Stankonia on the way to a Halloween party. Not sure how that’s relevant, but I decided to share it. This album seemed to get better and better the more I listened to it and was one of my go-to discs during my time abroad. I remember really loving “Streets Is Talking” and “Stick 2 The Script” blasting from my headphones as I would board the bus to go to school. Just listened to the album again yesterday and it’s really solid. The first five songs are all fantastic, including the intro, and the subject matter on this ranges from Jay’s legal drama (“Guilty Until Proven Innocent” featuring R. Kelly), dealing with the loss of loved ones on the Kanye produced “This Can’t Be Life” which includes a showstealing verse from Scarface, and a song about runaway dads on “Where Have You Been,” which finds Beanie Sigel getting choked up during his opening verse.
3. Warriorz – M.O.P.
M.O.P. is one of my favorite groups of all time and this is my favorite album of theirs, just edging out Firing Squad. The album has so much energy and is as raw as can be. With production from DJ Premier, DR Period, Laze E Laze and Nottz, as well as production credits for Lil’ Fame, the album is full of great beats that match M.O.P.’s intensity. I already described my love of “Ante Up” and “Cold As Ice,” but it also features great songs like the title track, “G-Building,” “Nig-Gotiate,” “Follow Instructions,” “Calm Down,” “Power,” and “Home Sweet Home.” If I were to make a top 10 list of my favorite M.O.P. songs, “Ante Up,” “Cold As Ice,” and “Calm Down” would all make the list, and all three of those songs deserved to be on the Best Songs of 2000 list if I didn’t pick one song per album.
2. Supreme Clientele – Ghostface Killah
In my opinion, this is the last of the “classic” Wu albums. I know some have deemed Only Built For Cuban Linx II as a classic, but I disagree. This is what a Wu album should sound like, as Ghost gets contributions from RZA, Raekwon, Method Man, GZA, Masta Killa, U-God and Cappadonna to create a cohesive Wu banger. “Nutmeg,” “One,” “Apollo Kids,” “Buck 50,” “Mighty Healthy,” “Child’s Play,” and “Wu Banga 101” are as good as they come and then there’s the outstanding “Cherchez LaGhost,” which is an absolute club banger, without any of the fluff of a commercial single. This album got 2000 started on the right foot, as it dropped in January and remains in my rotation to this day.
1. Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem
Most consider this to be Em’s greatest album (I am not among them), and it’s understandable. Em grabbed us all by the throat with “Kill You” and never lets go. The shock value rhymes of The Slim Shady LP continued on songs like “Kill You,” and “I’m Back,” but it was Em’s more introspective and personal songs that set this album apart. “The Way I Am” and “Marshall Mathers” discuss his meteoric rise to fame, his disputes with XXL magazine and the Insane Clown Posse, as well as his reaction the media backlash his music received. “Stan” is one of the most original ideas you’ll find and I remember hearing it the first time and then hitting repeat to listen again. It was absolutely gripping and was put together masterfully. “Kim” was a little too over the top, as the prequel to “’97 Bonnie & Clyde,” “Drug Ballad,” sounded like a leftover from The Slim Shady LP and the D-12 assisted “Under The Influence” didn’t do much for me, but otherwise the album doesn’t miss.
So that’ll do it for 2000. Want to give special recognition to Jurassic 5’s Quality Control, Capone-N-Noreaga’s The Reunion, Big L’s The Big Picture and Haiku d’Etat’s self-titled debut album. All of these were excellent releases, but I had to go with the albums that have meant the most to me over time. But the others definitely deserve props for delivering terrific albums in 2000.
And while I know it took me a lot longer to get this list out, I’m going to do my best to get 2001 to you all in a timely fashion. Life happens and it prevents me from getting time to really put my thoughts on paper, well, more like my laptop, but you get the point.
‘Til next time….
Best Songs
20. “X” – Xzibit
Perhaps his biggest commercial single, X made a huge splash in 2000 with the full backing of Dr. Dre, who gained executive producer credit’s for Xzibit’s Restless. The beat on this one is tremendous and Xzibit brings the heat to match the production.
19. “Southern Hospitality” – Ludacris
Truthfully, I hated “What’s Your Fantasy?” when it first came out. I really don’t like it still. I know that it’s one of Luda’s biggest songs and it’s the song that started his career, but it does nothing for me. This track, on the other hand, with the Neptunes on the beat, is an absolute banger. Luda made his debut in 2000 and remains one of the biggest stars in hip-hop today.
18. “The Ultimate High” – Nature feat. Nas
I always preferred Cormega over Nature as the fourth member of The Firm, but Nature was no slouch. The beat on this is terrific and Nature and Nas both shine over the flutes. Nature’s debut album was decent, but what the hell ever happened to his career? Apparently he dropped his third solo album in 2008. Who knew?
17. “Platinum Plus” – Big L feat. Big Daddy Kane
Two years after his murder, Big L’s second album dropped in 2000. Lots of great tracks on this, including his classic “Ebonics” which first dropped in 1998 or 1999 (hence not making it on any of the “Best of” lists since I couldn’t hammer down the actual release date.) L brings it as per usual on this one and Kane drops punchline after punchline to create a dream collaboration.
16. “Eternalists” – Reflection Eternal
One of my favorite Hi-Tek beats. The whole album is fantastic (more on that later), but this song has always stuck out to me. This song reminds me of the Native Tongues sound, just with a more modern twist to it. Talib of course brings it as you can’t help but nod your head as Kweli flows effortlessly over Hi-Tek’s production.
15. “Big Bang” – Aesop Rock
Say hello to one of the dopest new MCs of the decade. Aesop is on a whole other level when it comes to lyricism. Dude is complex. He has some of my favorite metaphors of all time. Admittedly he’s over my head at times too. The beat on this is one of my favorites from 2000 and Aesop IS hip-hop. This is one of his best songs ever.
14. “Change The Game” – Jay-Z feat. Beanie Sigel & Memphis Bleek
I love this song. I just do. I don’t give a damn what anyone else says about it. Beans is a beast and of course Bleek’s “Who the fruck want what?” is a great opening line (and no, that’s not a typo for the f-bomb). Hov’s final verse is the best, “Grammy Award winner/Ballin’ repeatedly, highlights on SportsCenter/Please repeat after me, there’s only 1 rule/I will not lose.”
13. “The 6th Sense” – Common
Common over DJ Premier? Oh hell yeah! The results are what you would expect: Greatness. Bilal provides the hook as Common rips into a Premo track. Common spits, “In front of 2-inch glass and Arabs I order fries/Inspiration when I write, I see my daughter’s eyes/I’m the truth/Across the table from corporate lies/Immortalized by the realness I bring to it/If Revolution had a movie, I’d be theme music/My music you either fight, fuck or dream to it…” Dude has always been a great lyricist.
12. “Quality Control” – Jurassic 5
A true throwback to the old school, Jurassic 5 delivered another great track with the lead single off their debut full-length album. I love the beat on this with J5’s perfectly in sync hook. Chali 2na brings my favorite verse. One of the best voices in hip-hop and he’s always brought it lyrically. “You baby MCs drink Pedialyte/While underground doesn’t like you, the media might/But we be the elite, we’ll change that/As we bridge gaps/In this lyrical grudge match/Brothers we slug back.” Fantastic video for this song as well.
11. “Bad Boyz” – Shyne feat. Barrington Levy
The Biggie sound alike, I didn’t want anything to do with Shyne when I first heard about him as I figured it was a cheap marketing trick by Diddy trying to sell records based on the legacy of the Notorious B.I.G. Then I saw the video for this song and actually listened and decided it was worth giving Shyne a chance. This is a hard hitting track, not the commercial fluff that Diddy was bringing at the time. Barrington Levy was the perfect choice to accompany Shyne on this song, as was his appearance on Shyne’s other standout “Bonnie & Shyne.”
10. “What Your Life Like?” – Beanie Sigel
This is a very in-depth, graphic depiction of what life in prison is like. Beanie doesn’t spare any details and this song should make everyone want to stay far, far away from jail. The production on this is cinematic and dark and compliments Beans’ vocals perfectly. It sounded like a movie theme song, so I just checked and it is. It’s a sample of the theme from Hard Rain. So there you go.
9. “You Don’t Know Me” – Black Rob
This shit always reminded me of the music for a boxing movie or something. Not surprising that Black Rob throws in the “You can’t win” reference from Rocky IV. Joe Hooker on the hook and on production as B.R. brings an uptempo banger. Could’ve gone with “Whoa!” for this list, as that of course is Black Rob’s biggest single and was the biggest phrase of the year, but it didn’t have the legs to hold up over time. It’s still a pretty dope song, but this was my favorite Black Rob song when it came out and it remains so to this day.
8. “Y’all Don’t Wanna” – Capone-N-Noreaga
An absolute, 100% banger. This shit is the definition of “thugged out” as N.O.R.E. would say. Nokio brings a hard hitting beat and Capone and Noreaga both rip it apart. “My life is nothing like a sitcom/You see I sip Dom/I rock Jordans/And can’t stand Pippens.” It’s not lyrical genius, but the way Nore spits it, it just sounds dope.
7. “The Way I Am” – Eminem
I’ve gone back and forth on whether to use this song or “Stan” 100 times. I came close to choosing “Stan” based on the concept alone, but decided to go with “The Way I Am” instead. The Marshall Mathers LP gave us a real look into Em’s life and this song was the perfect example. Eminem vaulted to the height of his popularity at a time of boy bands and teeny boppers and was thrust into the mix of the TRL favorites, as well as gaining rotation on rock stations and still maintaining his position as one of the best new MCs in the game. Not sure any hip-hop artist has ever stirred up the controversy or commotion the way Em did. And all the while he played it perfectly which is depicted in this track.
6. “Hip-Hop” – dead prez
One of the dopest beats ever. Completely raw and stripped down and it’s perfect. Interesting title as dead prez don’t make the normal ode to hip-hop music. Instead they discuss the state of the music industry and expose rappers that chose fame over creativity. “Would you rather have a Lexus or justice?/A dream or some substance?/A Beamer, a necklace or freedom?” Casual fans will know the beat as the theme song for Chappelle’s Show, but this song is so much more than that.
5. “Oh No” – Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch & Nate Dogg
Tremendous collaboration off the Lyricist Lounge II album. Nate Dogg (R.I.P.) is perfect on the hook and I love that Mos starts his verse with Destiny’s Child “Say my name/Say my name.” Dope usage of that shit right there. Pharoahe’s verse is on a whole other level. He absolutely murders this song. I have to stop and listen to his verse every time this song comes on because it’s microphone mastery.
4. “Apollo Kids” – Ghostface Killah feat. Raekwon
Okay, so I still don’t know what the hook means (“This rap is like ziti/Facing me/Real TV”), but the song is incredibly dope, so it doesn’t really matter. Hassan brings a murderous beat and Ghost and Rae tear it apart. Seriously, if this track doesn’t get you amped up, you don’t have a pulse. The best song off of one of the Wu’s finest solo albums.
3. “Keep It Thoro” – Prodigy
If I had to pick my favorite beat of 2000, this may win outright. It’s tough, but Alchemist came correct on this one. Prodigy’s solo album was largely disappointing, but this song was top of the line. If P put out an album’s worth of “Keep It Thoro” caliber songs, he’d have a classic on his hands. “I break bread, ribs, hundred dollar bills…” Great opening line. “Bang this, cause I guarantee that you bought it/Heavy airplay, all day with no chorus.” Great closing line.
2. “Cold As Ice” – M.O.P.
Here’s how much I love this song, “Ante Up” came out the same year and I still picked “Cold As Ice” from M.O.P.’s Warriorz. “Ante Up” is a fucking classic. It’s one of the best hip-hop songs ever. It’s just flat out nasty. I love it. I could listen to it every day and never get sick of it. And yet, I chose “Cold As Ice.” That’s how much I love this song. The sped-up Foreigner sample is brilliant, the beat is an absolute banger and Lil’ Fame and Billy Danze bring great line after great line, all while sounding like they’re ready to hit someone with a brick. “Pardon me/How the fuck you gonna start with me?/I’m a heavyweight in this game, you just spar with me.”
1. “B.O.B.” – Outkast
One of the most original hip-hop songs you’ll ever hear. 10 years from now, this song will still sound ahead of its time. Outkast have always pushed the envelope and recreated themselves, so this could’ve been expected, I guess, but I’m not so sure anyone saw this genius creation coming. Andre 3000 rhymes over a beat that’s going at 100 miles per hour. The track grabs you from the second the first drum kicks and never lets go. This is some futuristic funk shit that is beyond description. Outkast has made dozens of classic songs, but none as good as this.
Best Albums
10. Like Water For Chocolate – Common
Production from DJ Premier, Dilla and the Soulquarians, as well as guest spots from Mos Def, The Roots, Bilal, Slum Village, D’Angelo and Cee-Lo created a winning sound for Common as he finally gained some commercial exposure. Considering “The Light” is what brought him radio rotation, that’s quite alright with me. Common’s career has skyrocketed from where he was in 2000, but he’s still as sharp lyrically as he was when he was an underground favorite.
9. The Truth – Beanie Sigel
I’m a big Beans fan. I love the rawness and authenticity he brings to his songs. The album featured great production from Just Blaze, Rockwilder, Buckwild and an unknown producer by the name of Kanye West. Kanye’s production on the title track got the album rolling on the right foot, and standouts like “Stop, Chill,” “Mac & Brad” (featuring Scarface), “What Ya Life Like” and “Die” followed. Solid debut from the Broad Street Bully.
8. Restless – Xzibit
There’s a lot to love on this album. But it resonates even more for me as it was played often by my flat mate when I studied overseas. He loved the tracks “D.N.A.” and “Alkaholik.” The production team on this album is star studded with beats from Rockwilder, Battlecat, Dr. Dre, Nottz, Erick Sermon & DJ Quik. The standouts are “Front 2 Back,” “U Know,” “X,” “Don’t Approach Me,” “Get Your Walk On,” and the ode to his son “Sorry I’m Away So Much.”
7. Train of Thought – Reflection Eternal
This is the essence of a hip-hop album. Outstanding production from Hi-Tek and the lyricism to match from Talib Kweli. “Move Somethin” starts the album off with a bang, followed by great track after great track. “The Blast” got some much deserved attention for the album, while Mos Def (“This Means You”), Xzibit and Rah Digga (“Down For The Count”) and Kool G. Rap (“Ghetto Afterlife”) all make valuable contributions on the album. The album touches on love, race, politics, and the state of hip-hop as Kweli delivers tons of messages to go hand-in-hand with his punchlines.
6. Nia – Blackalicious
I picked this album up on a whim at a local CD store and couldn’t be happier that I found it. In fact some of the best kept secrets (Ugly Duckling, Pigeon John, etc.) have been discovered for me at the mom and pop stores. This album is fantastic. Gift of Gab may be the most underrated MC in the game as he can command a beat in any style or speed. The entire album is great, but my favorites are “The Fabulous Ones,” “Do This My Way,” “Deception,” “Shallow Days,” “You Didn’t Know That Though,” “Making Progress,” and “Sleep.” Discovering this album also allowed me to go back and find “Alphabet Aerobics,” from their A2G EP, which is one of my favorite songs and one of the greatest MC performances in the history of hip-hop.
5. Stankonia – Outkast
After hearing “B.O.B.” I knew that Outkast was about to bring something new to the table. This is a fantastic offering, however, it was the follow-up to the classic Aquemini, so I think it fell a little short of my expectation. That’s not to say it’s a bad album, because it’s still very good. Of course “Ms. Jackson” went on to be Outkast’s biggest single up to that point (later to be surpassed by “Hey Ya”) which is still quoted today. The song went on to win a Grammy and really launched Outkast into the mainstream. The album features standouts such as “Gasoline Dreams,” “So Fresh, So Clean,” “Xplosion,” “Humble Mumble,” and “Red Velvet.” At 24 tracks long, there is some filler on the album (mostly the 6 interludes), but the good far outweighs the bad.
4. The Dynasty: Roc La Familia – Jay-Z
This album dropped the same day as Stankonia, so I had a tough choice of what to listen to first. I remember popping this in the car and then switching to Stankonia on the way to a Halloween party. Not sure how that’s relevant, but I decided to share it. This album seemed to get better and better the more I listened to it and was one of my go-to discs during my time abroad. I remember really loving “Streets Is Talking” and “Stick 2 The Script” blasting from my headphones as I would board the bus to go to school. Just listened to the album again yesterday and it’s really solid. The first five songs are all fantastic, including the intro, and the subject matter on this ranges from Jay’s legal drama (“Guilty Until Proven Innocent” featuring R. Kelly), dealing with the loss of loved ones on the Kanye produced “This Can’t Be Life” which includes a showstealing verse from Scarface, and a song about runaway dads on “Where Have You Been,” which finds Beanie Sigel getting choked up during his opening verse.
3. Warriorz – M.O.P.
M.O.P. is one of my favorite groups of all time and this is my favorite album of theirs, just edging out Firing Squad. The album has so much energy and is as raw as can be. With production from DJ Premier, DR Period, Laze E Laze and Nottz, as well as production credits for Lil’ Fame, the album is full of great beats that match M.O.P.’s intensity. I already described my love of “Ante Up” and “Cold As Ice,” but it also features great songs like the title track, “G-Building,” “Nig-Gotiate,” “Follow Instructions,” “Calm Down,” “Power,” and “Home Sweet Home.” If I were to make a top 10 list of my favorite M.O.P. songs, “Ante Up,” “Cold As Ice,” and “Calm Down” would all make the list, and all three of those songs deserved to be on the Best Songs of 2000 list if I didn’t pick one song per album.
2. Supreme Clientele – Ghostface Killah
In my opinion, this is the last of the “classic” Wu albums. I know some have deemed Only Built For Cuban Linx II as a classic, but I disagree. This is what a Wu album should sound like, as Ghost gets contributions from RZA, Raekwon, Method Man, GZA, Masta Killa, U-God and Cappadonna to create a cohesive Wu banger. “Nutmeg,” “One,” “Apollo Kids,” “Buck 50,” “Mighty Healthy,” “Child’s Play,” and “Wu Banga 101” are as good as they come and then there’s the outstanding “Cherchez LaGhost,” which is an absolute club banger, without any of the fluff of a commercial single. This album got 2000 started on the right foot, as it dropped in January and remains in my rotation to this day.
1. Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem
Most consider this to be Em’s greatest album (I am not among them), and it’s understandable. Em grabbed us all by the throat with “Kill You” and never lets go. The shock value rhymes of The Slim Shady LP continued on songs like “Kill You,” and “I’m Back,” but it was Em’s more introspective and personal songs that set this album apart. “The Way I Am” and “Marshall Mathers” discuss his meteoric rise to fame, his disputes with XXL magazine and the Insane Clown Posse, as well as his reaction the media backlash his music received. “Stan” is one of the most original ideas you’ll find and I remember hearing it the first time and then hitting repeat to listen again. It was absolutely gripping and was put together masterfully. “Kim” was a little too over the top, as the prequel to “’97 Bonnie & Clyde,” “Drug Ballad,” sounded like a leftover from The Slim Shady LP and the D-12 assisted “Under The Influence” didn’t do much for me, but otherwise the album doesn’t miss.
So that’ll do it for 2000. Want to give special recognition to Jurassic 5’s Quality Control, Capone-N-Noreaga’s The Reunion, Big L’s The Big Picture and Haiku d’Etat’s self-titled debut album. All of these were excellent releases, but I had to go with the albums that have meant the most to me over time. But the others definitely deserve props for delivering terrific albums in 2000.
And while I know it took me a lot longer to get this list out, I’m going to do my best to get 2001 to you all in a timely fashion. Life happens and it prevents me from getting time to really put my thoughts on paper, well, more like my laptop, but you get the point.
‘Til next time….
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Song of the Day
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony - "Down 71 (The Getaway)"
Listened to E. 1999 Eternal again today. It's the first time I've heard that album in years. This track is one of the standouts. Absolutely dope. Bizzy's first verse is the standout, but the whole thing is tremendous. Sinister beat and great story telling from Bone.
Listened to E. 1999 Eternal again today. It's the first time I've heard that album in years. This track is one of the standouts. Absolutely dope. Bizzy's first verse is the standout, but the whole thing is tremendous. Sinister beat and great story telling from Bone.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Beats, Rhymes & Life Trailer
Oh snap! The official trailer for Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest. This documentary is going to be the SHIT! I hope, hope, HOPE Tribe can put out another album together. How fresh would it be to hear a new Tribe album? Until then, I'm stoked for this documentary.
Song of the Day
Laws - "Dear Boy"
Laws rhymes alongside Paul McCartney's vocals. We've heard plenty of Beatles influenced music, as well as Danger Mouse's incredibly dope Grey Album, so the concept is nothing new, but this song is fresh. Laws holds his own. Third verse is the best as Laws picks ups the pace with his flow. Don't know much about Laws, but I'm looking forward to hearing this project.
Laws rhymes alongside Paul McCartney's vocals. We've heard plenty of Beatles influenced music, as well as Danger Mouse's incredibly dope Grey Album, so the concept is nothing new, but this song is fresh. Laws holds his own. Third verse is the best as Laws picks ups the pace with his flow. Don't know much about Laws, but I'm looking forward to hearing this project.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Song of the Day
Lords Of The Underground - "Funky Child"
Just heard the Lords rhyming along with a Belgian duo on a new track. They sound way different now. I'm not sure how I feel about it. On one hand I'm happy to hear DooItAll and Mr. Funky spit again, but it also made me sad that they didn't have the career they deserved. This track is a spectacular old school jam. The beat is great, the horns are terrific and the Lords bring a ton of charisma to the track.
Just heard the Lords rhyming along with a Belgian duo on a new track. They sound way different now. I'm not sure how I feel about it. On one hand I'm happy to hear DooItAll and Mr. Funky spit again, but it also made me sad that they didn't have the career they deserved. This track is a spectacular old school jam. The beat is great, the horns are terrific and the Lords bring a ton of charisma to the track.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Song of the Day
Action Bronson - "Barry Horowitz"
Bronson has impressed me. I've heard several of his tracks and I'm excited about his upcoming collaboration with Statik Selektah. Dude loves pro wrestling, which scores him even more points with me. His voice sounds a little similar to Ghostface, but Bronson has a style all to himself. Great shout out to the suspender wearing, self back patting Barry Horowitz, perhaps the most famous jobber of all time. "It's Barry Horowitz rap/I pat myself on the back."
Bronson has impressed me. I've heard several of his tracks and I'm excited about his upcoming collaboration with Statik Selektah. Dude loves pro wrestling, which scores him even more points with me. His voice sounds a little similar to Ghostface, but Bronson has a style all to himself. Great shout out to the suspender wearing, self back patting Barry Horowitz, perhaps the most famous jobber of all time. "It's Barry Horowitz rap/I pat myself on the back."
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