the first three numbers you learn
time is the speed at which the past decays
A cold, miserable December night is the perfect backdrop to post one of my most anticipated post of any given year. Without further ado, I present the 6th annual "END OF THE YEAR AWARDS to end all end of the year awards"!!!!!
Pt. 1
Rap
"Death before Bloc Party!!!"
Albums of the Year
Honorable Mention:
"Theater of the Mind" by Ludacris
"LAX" by The Game (Double honorable mention with "my life" on the Rap Singles of the Year list)
"Seeing Sounds" by N.E.R.D (Double honorable mention with "Everybody nose" remix)
"The Album" by Royce da 5'9"
Now, Dishonorable Mentions:
"Paper Trail" by T.I.
If I were going to jail for a stretch and had a chance to leave one lasting image to the world (there's no guarentee that the magic he has now will be there when he gets out. Just as Noreaga and Styles P...) it wouldn't consist of "take your Louis rag, wave it around in the air". That's just me... Fine, you need a catchy single, but the faux-introspective nonsense that screams out in "Live your life" is a blasphemy that has to offend even the most base, trl-teenie bopper. The contradictory message of "live your own life just like me" painted on the canvas of not focusing on secular entities while encouraging the pursuit of "getting money" isn't even laughable, it's just sad. T.I., I hope you take acting classes when you're in jail because you're far closer to being a competent actor than a musical artist... and I saw "A.T.L"
"Terminate on Sight" by G-Unit
The curious continued popularity of G-Unit frontman, Curtis Jackson, abroad is one of the more confusing trends that make me glad to be an American (along with Nutella and man capris). I'm just glad that his star is setting... unfortunately, we're about five years too late. I don't blame him for all the problems of hip-hop the past few years, but he doesn't help the case any...
"Exit 13" by LL Cool J
I really hope that this album was either the result of a lost bet or LL's sense of dry humor. The title should've been "Exit 13 years ago" as in when LL should've left the rap game... (daGreat's note: I realize that had he left 13 years ago that would've deprived the world of Canibus v. LL, but that was like Jordan scoring 54 with the Wizards... One pearl amongst a whole lotta empty oysters)
"The Quilt" by Gym Class Heroes
Like most musical groups, Gym Class heroes had a rocky, underwhelming beginning (see: Papercut Chronicles), but they capped this by releasing a "vastly underrated to the point it became vastly overrated" [you know, people kept saying that it was underrated so much that, eventually, it was getting more exposure than the quality warranted] album (see: As Cruel as School Children). Quilt was their next time up at the plate and well... I understand they all can't be homeruns, but I hope Travis and the boys were wearing helmets because they came crashing back to earth at Mach speeds...
Now... On to the rankings!!!
Singles
5. "Captain Cold Crush" by Canibus
4. "Brooklyn" by Jay-Z
3. "Handlebars" by Flobots
2. "Backstage Girl" by Phonte
1. "A milli" by Lil' Wayne
Albums
5. "The Carter III" by Lil' Wayne
Now here's the question: Should someone be rewarded for exceeding impossible to exceed hype?!?! I say "yes" and that's why Lil' Wayne is here on the list at #5... What makes this different than T.I.? One, Weezy F. isn't going to jail. Two, Wayne has no pretenses to some superior intelligence and just proclaims himself "the greatest rapper alive" because he just rhymes words (to great effect of wit and humor). Some will hate that I put the album here, but they can't deny the frenzy this album created (a milli in a short week!!) and credit Weezy for mixing amazing beat selection with experiment (not always so good... see: "Phone Home"). The album is incredibly listeanable and gets knocks for things Weezy can't control, well, he could write his lyrics down.
Favorite Track: "Tie my Hands"
Favorite lyric: I got summer hatin' on me 'cause I'm hotter than the sun, spring hatin' on me 'cause I ain't never sprung, winter hatin' on me 'cause i'm colder than y'all, and i will, i will, i will never fall
4. "Universal Mind Control" by Common
I can't fault the man. He stuck to the script and made another gem... However, I was hoping to get more philospher Common and not sexual savant Common... Oh well.
Favorite Track: "Gladiator"
Favorite lyric: Plant and grow 'em, for the young seeds to know 'em, trees is blowin', we see change in the wind, its a new day and I got to take it in, see a black man run, we need him to win... Young eyes search for a better tomorrow, let belief lead the way and the angels will follow
3. "Behind the Stained Glass" by Killah Priest
I don't know any rapper who mixes apochyrpha, gritty underground, and metaphors better. I feel like an idiot for overlooking his talents for so long (a decade, it seems). His songs are like reading the Old Testament... part storytelling, part parable, part historian. Truly unique in a world of followers and imitations. The only comparable is that Priest smacks of a more talented, cleaner version of Vinny Paz of Immortal Technique fame.
Favorite Track: "The World"
2. "Untitled" by Nas
If Lil' Wayne gets credit for exceeding the hype, Nas must be enshrined for authoring one of the most thought-provoking and intelligent rap albums... EVER. How did this not win album of the year? Three reasons. One, Nas is too self-indulgent to ever take the top spot in a poll of mine (there, I said it). Two, there are a few tracks that contradict the whole thesis of the album, Hi, "Breathe". Third, the album didn't go off as "Nigger"... I know he, ultimately, has no control over that (I respect him for not slapping up some other title and then releasing a mixtape of other songs called "The Nigger Tape"). Though, he shows daring and unapproachable intelligence and craftiness (though, sometimes rambling and off-topic) with painting the history of the word and, unlike his incomplete and cowardly Hip Hop is Dead, he paints a future and direction to navigate the quagmire he's built over the course of the album, no matter how loopy it may be. Thank you for cementing your place as one of the top 5 rappers of all-time...
Favorite Track: "Y'all my niggas"
Favorite lyrics: New improved JFK on the way, it ain't the 60s again, niggas ain't hippies again, we ain't fallin' for the same traps, standing on the balconies where they shot the King at, McCain got apologies but don't nobody want to hear that, we need honesty
1. "Rising Down" by The Roots
There simply isn't an album that flows from one dark, foreboding point to a satisfying conclusion. Even being the house band for Jimmy Failon won't deter these guys. This album never gets old...
Favorite Track: "I will not apologize"
Favorite lyrics: My city is full of, heartbreakers and stargazers, who puff garsh Vegas, So they "Gone with the Wind" like Clark Grable, Breathin' like Darth Vader, believin' in dark angels
A cold, miserable December night is the perfect backdrop to post one of my most anticipated post of any given year. Without further ado, I present the 6th annual "END OF THE YEAR AWARDS to end all end of the year awards"!!!!!
Pt. 1
Rap
"Death before Bloc Party!!!"
Albums of the Year
Honorable Mention:
"Theater of the Mind" by Ludacris
"LAX" by The Game (Double honorable mention with "my life" on the Rap Singles of the Year list)
"Seeing Sounds" by N.E.R.D (Double honorable mention with "Everybody nose" remix)
"The Album" by Royce da 5'9"
Now, Dishonorable Mentions:
"Paper Trail" by T.I.
If I were going to jail for a stretch and had a chance to leave one lasting image to the world (there's no guarentee that the magic he has now will be there when he gets out. Just as Noreaga and Styles P...) it wouldn't consist of "take your Louis rag, wave it around in the air". That's just me... Fine, you need a catchy single, but the faux-introspective nonsense that screams out in "Live your life" is a blasphemy that has to offend even the most base, trl-teenie bopper. The contradictory message of "live your own life just like me" painted on the canvas of not focusing on secular entities while encouraging the pursuit of "getting money" isn't even laughable, it's just sad. T.I., I hope you take acting classes when you're in jail because you're far closer to being a competent actor than a musical artist... and I saw "A.T.L"
"Terminate on Sight" by G-Unit
The curious continued popularity of G-Unit frontman, Curtis Jackson, abroad is one of the more confusing trends that make me glad to be an American (along with Nutella and man capris). I'm just glad that his star is setting... unfortunately, we're about five years too late. I don't blame him for all the problems of hip-hop the past few years, but he doesn't help the case any...
"Exit 13" by LL Cool J
I really hope that this album was either the result of a lost bet or LL's sense of dry humor. The title should've been "Exit 13 years ago" as in when LL should've left the rap game... (daGreat's note: I realize that had he left 13 years ago that would've deprived the world of Canibus v. LL, but that was like Jordan scoring 54 with the Wizards... One pearl amongst a whole lotta empty oysters)
"The Quilt" by Gym Class Heroes
Like most musical groups, Gym Class heroes had a rocky, underwhelming beginning (see: Papercut Chronicles), but they capped this by releasing a "vastly underrated to the point it became vastly overrated" [you know, people kept saying that it was underrated so much that, eventually, it was getting more exposure than the quality warranted] album (see: As Cruel as School Children). Quilt was their next time up at the plate and well... I understand they all can't be homeruns, but I hope Travis and the boys were wearing helmets because they came crashing back to earth at Mach speeds...
Now... On to the rankings!!!
Singles
5. "Captain Cold Crush" by Canibus
4. "Brooklyn" by Jay-Z
3. "Handlebars" by Flobots
2. "Backstage Girl" by Phonte
1. "A milli" by Lil' Wayne
Albums
5. "The Carter III" by Lil' Wayne
Now here's the question: Should someone be rewarded for exceeding impossible to exceed hype?!?! I say "yes" and that's why Lil' Wayne is here on the list at #5... What makes this different than T.I.? One, Weezy F. isn't going to jail. Two, Wayne has no pretenses to some superior intelligence and just proclaims himself "the greatest rapper alive" because he just rhymes words (to great effect of wit and humor). Some will hate that I put the album here, but they can't deny the frenzy this album created (a milli in a short week!!) and credit Weezy for mixing amazing beat selection with experiment (not always so good... see: "Phone Home"). The album is incredibly listeanable and gets knocks for things Weezy can't control, well, he could write his lyrics down.
Favorite Track: "Tie my Hands"
Favorite lyric: I got summer hatin' on me 'cause I'm hotter than the sun, spring hatin' on me 'cause I ain't never sprung, winter hatin' on me 'cause i'm colder than y'all, and i will, i will, i will never fall
4. "Universal Mind Control" by Common
I can't fault the man. He stuck to the script and made another gem... However, I was hoping to get more philospher Common and not sexual savant Common... Oh well.
Favorite Track: "Gladiator"
Favorite lyric: Plant and grow 'em, for the young seeds to know 'em, trees is blowin', we see change in the wind, its a new day and I got to take it in, see a black man run, we need him to win... Young eyes search for a better tomorrow, let belief lead the way and the angels will follow
3. "Behind the Stained Glass" by Killah Priest
I don't know any rapper who mixes apochyrpha, gritty underground, and metaphors better. I feel like an idiot for overlooking his talents for so long (a decade, it seems). His songs are like reading the Old Testament... part storytelling, part parable, part historian. Truly unique in a world of followers and imitations. The only comparable is that Priest smacks of a more talented, cleaner version of Vinny Paz of Immortal Technique fame.
Favorite Track: "The World"
2. "Untitled" by Nas
If Lil' Wayne gets credit for exceeding the hype, Nas must be enshrined for authoring one of the most thought-provoking and intelligent rap albums... EVER. How did this not win album of the year? Three reasons. One, Nas is too self-indulgent to ever take the top spot in a poll of mine (there, I said it). Two, there are a few tracks that contradict the whole thesis of the album, Hi, "Breathe". Third, the album didn't go off as "Nigger"... I know he, ultimately, has no control over that (I respect him for not slapping up some other title and then releasing a mixtape of other songs called "The Nigger Tape"). Though, he shows daring and unapproachable intelligence and craftiness (though, sometimes rambling and off-topic) with painting the history of the word and, unlike his incomplete and cowardly Hip Hop is Dead, he paints a future and direction to navigate the quagmire he's built over the course of the album, no matter how loopy it may be. Thank you for cementing your place as one of the top 5 rappers of all-time...
Favorite Track: "Y'all my niggas"
Favorite lyrics: New improved JFK on the way, it ain't the 60s again, niggas ain't hippies again, we ain't fallin' for the same traps, standing on the balconies where they shot the King at, McCain got apologies but don't nobody want to hear that, we need honesty
1. "Rising Down" by The Roots
There simply isn't an album that flows from one dark, foreboding point to a satisfying conclusion. Even being the house band for Jimmy Failon won't deter these guys. This album never gets old...
Favorite Track: "I will not apologize"
Favorite lyrics: My city is full of, heartbreakers and stargazers, who puff garsh Vegas, So they "Gone with the Wind" like Clark Grable, Breathin' like Darth Vader, believin' in dark angels