2008 was dominated by the South. With albums from the likes of T.I., Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Scarface and Killer Mike, it was a little Dirty South overkill for me, but there was still some really dope music released. The underground also had a lot to show with excellent releases from Murs, Atmosphere, Reks and Jake One. Also, there was an auto-tune album from Kanye West, that will not be on the list as it contained very little rapping. And while Kanye’s 808s & Heartbreaks got mixed reviews, I did enjoy the album as it grew on me over time. Definitely his worst effort in a storied career, but enjoyable none the less.
So let’s get on with the show…
Best Songs
20. “The Matrix” – Black Milk feat. Pharoahe Monch & Sean Price
Black Milk has proved his skills behind the boards and can hold his own on the mic, but he’s not quite in the league of Pharoahe and Sean Price. Pharoahe absolutely rips this track apart. DJ Premier also contributes the cuts for the track, with his signature samples. Dope underground hip-hop.
19. “Stay Up! (Viagra)” – 88 Keys feat. Kanye West
Very dope concept album from 88 Keys in the form of The Death of Adam. I knew of 88 Keys from his production on Mos Def’s Black on Both Sides, but like most producers, 88 Keys decided to pick up the mic on this project alongside the likes of Kanye, Redman, Phonte and Kid Cudi. The collaboration with Kanye was my favorite as both MCs trade humorous barbs about sex.
18. “Forgot About Me” – Scarface feat. Lil Wayne & Bun B
2008 was Wayne’s year, plain and simple. He was everywhere and he speaks on that in the final line of his verse saying, “And call me by my new name/Featuring Lil Wayne.” ‘Face came correct in typical fashion and Bun finishes the track off. If you love Southern hip-hop, this is a dream collaboration.
17. “Won’t Trade” – Q-Tip
So refreshing to get a full-length hip-hop album from Tip. This song grabbed my attention the first time I heard it and has held it ever since. There are lots of solid tracks on Renaissance, but I remember hearing the album for the first time and this song really sticking out. This is textbook Q-Tip on the mic.
16. “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em)” – Busta Rhymes
I remember not being excited for Back On My B.S. at all. I didn’t care for the songs I heard off it, I didn’t care for the guest list and I remember there being lukewarm reviews for the album when it dropped. But this song right here is ridiculous! Busta wyles out and proves why he’s one of the best in the game.
15. “God In The Building” – Killer Mike
People loved Mike’s I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind Pt. 2. I thought it had some terrific moments like “10 G’s,” “Can You Hear Me,” “Grandma’s House,” and “I Gotcha” but I wouldn’t deem it the classic that others have. From a production standpoint, some of it sounds a little too formulaic. “God In The Building” however is the brightest moment and a true moment of excellence. The beat is perfect, the hook is on point and Mike absolutely slays it on the mic.
14. “Pray For Me” – Reks
This shit is ridiculously raw. Reks speaks on the state of hip-hop and spits some angry lines. He actually discusses the takeover of the South which struck a chord with me and is exactly what I was talking about in the intro to this column. Check it out, “I ain’t come here to ‘Crank That,’ Joc or ‘Walk It Out’/Either I’m blind or hip-hop is dying in the South/And I love ‘Face, Bun B, ‘Kast and Goodie Mob/But I miss ‘Scenario,’ ‘Make ‘Em Pay’ and ‘How To Rob’/And New York is to blame/Where I’m from, we look to New York for what’s poppin’/Now New York’s droppin’/And I’m talking everything, no more classic shit/No more ‘Shook Ones’ to blast in the whip/Com, I used to lover H.E.R. too, now I’m like fuck this bitch.”
13. “Royal Flush” – Outkast feat. Raekwon
I don’t know where this song originated, but it is the second collaboration between ‘Kast and Raekwon and while I wouldn’t put it on the same level as “Skew It On The Bar-B,” it’s still really dope. All three MCs bring it on this one over a funky beat. Andre 3000 goes in for almost 2 minutes, spitting real line after real line. Peep it, “When all the other kids are fresh and they got new Nintendo Wiis/And your child is down on her knees/Praying hard up to God for a whopper with cheese.”
12. “Last Of A Dying Breed” – Ludacris feat. Lil Wayne
Wayne joins Luda for one of the hardest hitting tracks off Theater of the Mind. Ludacris is hungry as hell on this one, just ripping the mic apart. He is out to prove that he is a lyricist in every sense of the word, spitting punchline after punchline and sounding like he’s scrapping for every penny instead of being one of the most successful MCs in the game. Wayne keeps up with the energy, but doesn’t match Luda lyrically.
11. “Motown 25” – Elzhi feat. Royce Da 5’9”
I’ve been a huge Royce fan for a long time now, but I was late to party with Elzhi’s music. Dude is straight fire. This is two of Detroit’s finest rhyming over one of the D’s best producers in Black Milk. I didn’t cop The Preface (I know, I know, I suck), but it is on my Most Wanted Albums list. If this track is any indication, that album is probably straight fire as well.
10. “Criminal” – The Roots feat. Truck North & Saigon
Debated whether to go with this track or “Rising Down” featuring Mos Def and Styles P., so I went back and listened to both again and remembered why this song was my favorite off the album. Great performance from Black Thought, but Saigon steals the show. His verse to finish the song is outstanding and one of my favorites of 2008. “In a crime sense, n-ggas is infants/I’m like a senior citizen, still livin’ but gettin’ benefits/Put emphasis on hittin’ my nemesis in high percentages/Crooked ass cops is the reason for my belligerence.”
9. “Queens Get The Money” – Nas
Straight lyricism as Nas delivers the best lyrical performance of the year over a bare bones backdrop. The whole song is a quotable, but my favorite lines are, “I’m over they heads like a bulimic on a see-saw,” and “I’m the shaky hand that touched George Foreman in Zaire.” Again, the whole song is one 2-minute verse of raw lyrics that proves why Nas is one of the greatest to ever bless a mic.
8. “The Truth” – Jake One feat. Freeway & Brother Ali
I remember hearing this track for the first time at my boy D’s house. He said you gotta hear this shit as he was amped over Ali’s verse. He was right. Ali is a beast on this track. Freeway’s verse is nice, but Ali owns this head nodder from Jake One. Peep it, “Copped up squattin’ in a studio apartment/Food stamps up in the pocket/Mixin’ tuna with the Ramen.” The visuals Ali paints are remarkable.
7. “The Kramer” – Wale
All I can say about this song is WOW! Off his Mixtape About Nothing, Wale touches on racial tension using Michael Richard’s stand-up outburst as the setup for the conversation. Wale tackles a very serious topic here and really leaves you deep in thought. It’s an amazing performance about one of the most controversial topics there is. I can’t even quote it, because I’d have to write out the lyrics to the whole song. You really have to listen to this and let it all soak in. Left me with chills the first time I heard it.
6. “Yesterday” – Atmosphere
Speaking of goose bump inducing music, this song is so heartfelt you can hear Slug’s emotions come to life on the mic. It’s a song about a relationship gone sour and the regrets Slug has for letting it deteriorate and get to the point of no return, only to learn that he’s speaking about his relationship with his father that has since passed away. Makes you want to reach out to old friends or family members that you’ve lost touch with.
5. “Mr. Carter” – Lil Wayne feat. Jay-Z
I was never a big Wayne fan, but this song grabbed my attention and made me start to understand the talent Weezy possessed. The beat by DJ Infamous sounds like something out of the Just Blaze playbook and is one of the best of the year. Wayne unloads on the track and then Hov comes in for a stellar verse, before passing the mic back to Wayne who steps his game up to match the excellence Jay brought.
4. “No Matter What” – T.I.
This single came at a time when Tip was to start his prison bid and during a very difficult time in my life. Much as it served as his anthem to tell the world that he was going to stand on his own two feet despite his personal troubles, it allowed me a release and a feeling of hope in an otherwise dark period. The final bars of the song are among my favorites ever as T.I. spits, “I lost my partner and my daughter in the same year/Somehow I rise above my problems and remain here (No. 1)/Yeah and I hope the picture painted clear/If your heart filled with faith than you can’t fail/Wonder how I face years and I’m still chillin?/Easy, let go and let God deal with it.”
3. “My Life” – Game feat. Lil Wayne
I told you Weezy was on everything in ’08. Game seems to always have a song that just grabs you and this was the one from his third album, L.A.X. The production on this song is terrific, as he matches Game’s mood and tone perfectly. I love the first verse on this track, as Game spits, “And Game needs the equal/Hated on so much, Passion of The Christ needs a sequel/Like Roc-a-Fella needed Sigel/Like I needed my father, but he needed a needle...” And Wayne’s hook on this is excellent as he asks God why he’s still alive after all he’s done wrong.
2. “Brooklyn Go Hard” – Jay-Z feat. Santigold
I used to bump the ever living shit outta this song when it first dropped. Damn, this was getting daily rotation from me at one point. The shit hits hard and Jay unloads dope line after dope line. The production is raw and looping Santigold’s vocals throughout made the perfect soundscape for Hov to rip apart. “Fatherless child, momma pulled double shifts/So the number runners was the only ones to hang with.” I love when Jay takes it back to his roots and drops some street shit and this was no exception.
1. “Everything” – Murs
I featured this song as a Song of the Day back in March as it is one of my favorites. The James Blunt sample (James Blunt of all people!) could’ve been a risk, but it works perfectly. Kind of like M.O.P. sampling Foreigner for “Cold As Ice,” it doesn’t sound like a good idea, but there is no other sample that would’ve worked and the results are brilliant. Murs has hit on many topics over his career, including working a 9-to-5, throwing a house party at mom and dad’s, relationships, skate boarding, blowing money on Star Wars toys, etc. But this is Murs’ ode to the everyman and offers his perspective on overcoming everyday struggles. There’s a lot of uplifting lyrics here, as Murs spits, “What’s wrong with smilin’?, what’s wrong with peace?/What’s wrong with squashin’ beef before they label you deceased/Swallow your pride before you choke on your issues/I know you got family and folks that’ll miss you/So don’t misuse this gift you’ve been given/This life is but a dream, you are blessed to be livin’.”
Best Albums
10. Theater of the Mind – Ludacris
Luda brings a variety of sounds on this one, with mixed results. He of course makes his commercial, club bangers like “One More Drink” featuring T-Pain and “What Them Girls Like” featuring Chris Brown but both leave a lot to be desired. ‘Cris is at his best when he decides to get lyrical and rip up mics which he does to great results on “Undisputed,” “Last of a Dying Breed,” “MVP,” “I Do It For Hip-Hop” featuring Jay-Z and Nas and “Do The Right Thing” featuring Common and Spike Lee. Not my favorite effort from Luda, but the final four songs of the album are among his best songs ever.
9. L.A.X. – Game
This album started off in tremendous fashion and had me thinking big things. “LAX Files” opens the album in grand fashion, then Ice Cube joins for “State of Emergency” and Raekwon trades verses on “Bulletproof Diaries,” before “My Life” kicks the damn door down. Unfortunately the entire album couldn’t keep the momentum up as songs like “Ya Heard,” “House of Pain,” “Gentleman’s Affair,” and “Touchdown” are all throwaway tracks and flood the middle of the album with mediocrity. L.A.X. recovers with the Common assisted “Angel,” the Biggie, Pac and Eazy-E ode “Never Can Say Goodbye,” and the Nas collaboration “Letter To The King.”
8. Grey Hairs – Reks
I got this album late. Like 3 years late. But as they say, better late than never. I discovered Reks last year with the release of 2 mixtapes and consider his album R.E.K.S. to be amongst the best discs of 2011. But I had to go back and listen to his earlier stuff and Reks delivered the way I hoped he would. This is some straight up underground hip-hop that would make anyone who loved the glory days of hip-hop smile. Look no further than tracks No. 2 & 3 where Reks got production from Pete Rock on “The One,” and DJ Premier on “Say Goodnight.” You know you have something special when you got those two producing back-to-back tracks. “All In One (5 Mics)” features Lil Fame on the hook and has Reks delivering rhymes in the styles of Biggie, 2Pac, Big Punisher and Big L. The Big L and Pac verses are the best, but it shows how creative and talented Reks is on the mic.
7. The Renaissance – Q-Tip
Q-Tip was back to full fledge rhyming and I couldn’t be happier. This album had some of that vintage Tribe sound mixed with the hip-hop of today. It was kind of like The Love Movement mixed with “Vivrant Thing” and “Breathe And Stop.” The album intro “Johnny Is Dead” let you know immediately that you are in for a treat, before my favorite track off the album “Won’t Trade” kicks in. The entire album is soulful and head nodding hip-hop. “Official” may be the best example of that Love Moment sound, while “Move” is the sound we were hoping for on his solo debut, Amplified. “You” is another gem as Tip dissects a deteriorating relationship and discusses the internal mental battle of being in a non-trusting relationships.
6. Untitled – Nas
This album created a lot of controversy as Nas originally planned to call the project N-gger. The label turned down the idea, so Nas just left the album untitled. But he hits on the topic of the N-word throughout the album and gives the listener plenty to think about. Nas is completely on point on the opening track, “Queens Get The Money,” followed by the excellent “You Can’t Stop Us Now.” Nas remains topical throughout with tracks like “Sly Fox” which takes a look at Fox News’ slanted coverage, “Fried Chicken” with Busta Rhymes joining the fray as both break down their love for fried chicken and the dangers it poses to their health, “Project Roach” which is told through the eyes of, well, a project roach and “We’re Not Alone” where Nas speaks on a UFO sighting. There’s plenty to digest on this album as Nas doesn’t waste any words.
5. Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne
Quite simply it was Wayne’s year. He made cameos on seemingly every album and released perhaps his most polished, complete album in the form of Tha Carter III. Similarly to Game’s L.A.X., this album kicks the door down to start, before suffering a few speed bumps. The difference here is when Wayne’s on, this album has some of the absolute best hip-hop of 2008. The aforementioned “Mr. Carter” is an absolute banger, “A Milli” had everyone buzzing, “Let The Beat Build” has one of my favorite beats of the year, courtesy of Kanye, and “Tie My Hands” finds Wayne taking a heartfelt look at the aftermath of Katrina, which of course hit his hometown of New Orleans. I never thought much of Wayne, but he made me a believer on this album. If it weren’t for a few hiccups like “Phone Home” and “La La” this album would’ve moved up a few spots for certain.
4. Paper Trail – T.I.
I was torn on whether to put this ahead of Tha Carter III, as both album’s were great and both surprised me. Just as I wasn’t a Wayne believer, I didn’t care much about T.I. and this disc turned that all around for me. I liked “Rubber Band Man” and “Bring Em Out,” but that was about the extent of my T.I. fandom. Paper Trail changed all that as Tip released an album that came straight from his heart after losing his best friend, his daughter and facing jail time. It’s not all perfect (see “Porn Star” and “Swing Ya Rag”) but there’s plenty to like. “Live Your Life” was my anthem at one point, as was “No Matter What.” Both came at a tough time in my life and both boosted my spirits during an otherwise dark time. The Usher assisted “My Life Your Entertainment” is excellent, as is the John Legend crooned “Slide Show.” But the best two collaborations come on “Swagga Like Us” which brilliantly samples M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” and features verses from Lil Wayne (I’ll say it again, he was everywhere in ’08), Kanye and Jay-Z; and “Dead And Gone” with a tremendous hook from Justin Timberlake. T.I. brought content on this album for sure and converted me into a fan.
3. Murs For President – Murs
It’s hard for me to rank Murs’ albums, since there are so many installments of Murs and 9th Wonder albums that it’s hard to imagine him rhyming over anyone else’s music. However, I think this is may be his most well rounded as he broke out of his comfort zone a little and tried some different sounds to match his vast array of subject matter. “I’m Innocent” appropriately gets the album started with a 9th Wonder beat, before will.i.am takes over on “Lookin’ Fly.” The best efforts on this album comes in four song spurts, with “The Science,” “Can It Be (Half A Million and 18 Months Later),” “Everything” and “Road Is My Religion” getting the album off to a roaring start while “Love and Appreciate II,” “A Part Of Me,” “Break Up (The OJ Song)” and “Breakthrough” close out the album in grand fashion. “Sooo Comfortable” and “Me and This Jawn” are the only speed bumps on this ride and the only reasons this disc didn’t get in my top 2.
2. Rising Down – The Roots
The Roots have always made grown man music, but as their career progressed they seemed to hit more and more on politics and social commentary, which also brought a darker sound to their music. This album continues that trend with songs like “Rising Down” featuring Mos Def and Styles P., “Criminal,” and “I Will Not Apologize.” The most powerful of them all however is “Singing Man” as the verses are spit through the eyes of a terrorist. It’s really haunting and chilling music. That’s not to say all of it is dark and dreary, as Black Thought still proves how mean of an MC he is on “Get Busy” and the incredible “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)” which Thought just absolutely rips to shreds. The guests also bring a lot to the table on this disc as the likes of Mos Def, Styles P., Peedi Peedi, Talib Kweli, Common and Wale among others all bring their own unique and impressive talents to the best musicians in hip-hop.
1. When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold – Atmosphere
I loved the concept of this album. I just listened to it again the other day and every time I listen to it I take something new away from it. Slug spits every song from a different perspective, as the album serves as a soundtrack for every type of person. Whether he’s a working single mother on “Dreamer,” a hungover alcoholic on “Your Glass House,” a waitress looking for love on “You,” a homeless man yearning for a reunion with his daughter in the form of a diner waitress on “The Waitress” or a drug dealer’s daughter on “In Her Music Box,” Slug grabs you by the throat and makes you feel every emotion on this rollercoaster through life. Slug does the best storytelling of his life on this album, none better than “Yesterday” (see Best Songs above), “The Skinney” in which Slug compares cigarettes to a pimp that runs your life, beats you up and takes your money, but yet you can’t quit it, and “In Her Music Box” which finds a little girl riding in the back of her father’s car and using the gangster rap blaring from the car speakers as her escape from her parents constant fighting in the front seat. And musically this was the most advanced Atmosphere album at the time. You could see the transition to a new sound, mostly using live percussion and a synthesizer, that the group took a step further with 2011’s The Family Sign. If you’re expecting God Loves Ugly or You Can’t Imagine How Much Fun We’re Having, you’ll be disappointed with this album. But if you are open to your favorite artists trying on a different sound you’ll realize this album is excellent. I was guilty of the former, but quickly changed gears and the more I listened the more I recognized the brilliance of this album. It is best served as a full dish, but man is it filling.
So there you have it. 2008 was an interesting year, as there were a lot of different sounds from all different regions. Wayne really took over in 2008, and certainly won me over, as did T.I. And two of my favorite groups ever in The Roots and Atmosphere released some of their most advanced, mature and complete albums to date.
Only 2 more years to go before we’re caught up to speed. I have a ton of shit happening over the next few weeks, but I’m hoping to crank out the Best of 2009 and 2010 before the new year so that I can deliver you a Best of 2011 list shortly after the new year. In the meantime, take the time to go back and find some of this music if you don’t already own it!
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