Friday, July 11, 2008

TOP ALBUMS OF 2008; PART ONE (1/1-6/30)

WELL AS PROMISED HERE IS A COMPILED LIST OF MY FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2008 PT. 1. THIS WAS A TOUGH PROCESS, BUT I THINK I FINALLY DID IT. 2008 HAS BEEN A GREAT FOLLOW-UP TO THE AMAZING YEAR OF 2007. AS FAR AS MAINSTREAM RAP/HIP HOP GOES, NOTHING SPECTACULAR, (ONLY ONE MAINSTEAM ALBUM IN THE TOP 10) BUT UNDERGROUND AND INDIE HIP HOP HAS NEVER BEEN HOTTER!! IVE SAID IT ONCE AND ILL SAY IT AGAIN...HIP HOP AINT DEAD--IT LIVES UNDERGROUND! I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS AND THOUGHTS ON THIS REVIEW...SO THE LINES ARE OPEN...LET ME HAVE IT!

TOP 10 ALBUMS
1. J-Live - Then What Happened      A-
Ive been following J Live for a minute now, and on this one he did it! This is probably my favorite album from J. Not to bad for
an old middle school English teacher, huh. Pretty good guest list on this and much better beats then a usual J Live album.
Top 3 tracks:
The Zone f. Chali 2na (Jurassic 5)
You Out There
The Upgrade f. Posdanous & Oddisee


2. Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold      B+
Probably my most anticipated album so far of 2008. I couldn't wait for this album to drop. I got exactly what I was expecting
from an Atmosphere album...creativity, crossing genres, and dope lyricism...but on this one you also get dope beats. I swear Ant is getting better everyday. Whats Next?
Top 3 Tracks
Yesterday
Guarantees
Carry Me Home


3. Kidz In The HalL - The In Crowd      B
This is a solid album from start to finish, not to many stand out tracks, but solid all the way thru.
Top 3 Tracks
Middle of The Map Pt. 2 f. Black Milk & Guilty Simpson
Let Your Hair Down f. Skyzoo & Lil Eddie
Paper Trail f. Phonte


4. The Roots - Rising Down      B
Usual roots album...full band, indie sound and the usual dope lyrics. I dont think this album is as good as Game Theory, but definitely a solid album.
Top 3 Tracks
Rising Down f. Mos Def & Styles P
Rising Up f. Chrisett Michelle & Wale
Criminal f. Saigon & Truck North


5. Everliven Sound Freedom      B
CyMarshall & Skit Slam combine to form Everliven Sound for the release, Freedom. This is an unbelievable album with mellow
beats and great lyrics...hip hop with something to say.
Top 3 Tracks
Here To Stay
Que Sera Sera f. Ty Chee
The Past


6. The Camp - The Campaign      B
This crew from Boston, MA has been doing it for awhile, although they are yet to break thru as a major group, this album is
putting them on the underground scene.
Top 3 Tracks
Why
Walk On By
Return of Boom Bap


7. Sound Sketch - Sketched In Stone      B
I would be willing to bet that most of the people reading this blog have no idea who Sound Sketch is...I dont blame you...it is
hard to find any information about this group, even online. And let me be the first to say, WATCH OUT! This is an amazing
soulful album and I guarantee that with a couple more listens it will continue to get better. Beatwize does an incredible job on
the beats and Sound Sketch has arrived! Be on the lookout for more from these guys on this blog...shot outs to HEAPS for this one...
Top 3 Tracks
Listen
Packin Bags
Do It Over


8. The Grouch - Show You The World      B
My favorite Living Legends release in awhile! Grouch has always been gifted on the beats, but he brings this on lyrically to. A most own for any LL fan.
Top 3 tracks
The Time f. Marty Jones
Breath
The Bay to LA f. Murs


9. Born Talent - The Essence      B
Another one you are probably thinking...who?? Born Talent is a very talented MC/Producer who takes very mellow beats and is lyrically on top of his game. Three very amazing tracks on this album, seriously people don't sleep on this.
Top 3 Tracks
Bad Side
Used To Be
Just a Dream


10. Snoop Dogg Ego Trippin      B
I have to be honest with this one...I was expecting to be upset after listening to this album. I thought this would be another crazy experiment of an album for Snoop, he would try to do to much and he would ultimately fail, but after giving it a spin I was pleasantly surprised. This album is much better then Snoop's latest few efforts.
Top 3 Tracks
Deez Hollywood Nights
Can't Say Goodbye f. Charlie Wilson
My Medicine

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I decided to break it down a little bit more so all the readers with different tastes and pleasures can get there fix...I rated the
top 5 of each category; Underground, Semi Underground & Main Stream.


UNDERGROUND (UNKNOWN)
These are the underground artist that get little to none press. And its a damn shame to...these are some great albums.

1. Everliven Sound - Freedom B
2. The Camp - The Campaign B
3. Sound Sketch - Sketched In Stone B
4. Born Talent - The Essence B
5. Freddie Joachim - In With Time B-

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Honorable Mention
Common Market - Black Patch War B-
Muneshine - Status Symbol C
Elemental Zazen - The Glass Should Be Full C


SEMI-UNDERGROUND (INDIE/SEMI-KNOWN)
For as great of a year 2007 was, 2008 is shaping up nicely in the Indie hip hop scene. This was by far the toughest category
for me to judge. There were 10 solid albums that I have came across so far.


1. J-Live - Then What Happened? A-
2. Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold B+
3. Kidz In The Hall - The In Crowd B
4. The Roots - Rising Down B
5. The Grouch - Show You The World B

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Honorable Mention
EMC - The Show B
Torae - Daily Conversation B
9th Wonder & Buckshot - The Formula B-
Lyrics Born - Everywhere At Once B-
Living Legends - The Gathering B-
Nicolay & Kay - Time Line B-
Akrobatic - Absolute Value B-


MAINSTREAM (GANGSTA/KNOWN)
These are the mainstream artist that everyone knows...if you dont, then you probably shouldn't be on a hip hop website in the first place...

1. Snoop Dogg - Ego Trippin B
2. Sheek Louch - Silverback Guerilla C
3. Rick Ross - Trilla C
4. Bun B - II Trilla C
5. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter, III C-

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Honorable Mention
Bone Thugs N Harmony - Still Creepin On A Come Up C-


WORTH MENTION
Solid tapes, but not studio albums. These are the top 3 compilation, tour albums or EP's of 2008.

Atmosphere - Sad Clown Bad Spring 12
A five song EP that Ant and Slug thru together for shits...solid 5 tracks

Elzhi (of Slum Village) - Euro Pass (An Exclusive Tour CD)
This would have made the list, except it is not an official album, more of a compilation/tour album. Great stuff!

Blu - Below The Heavens (B Sides)
A follow up to Blu & Exile's Below The Heavens (one of the best albums of 2007). The B Sides is the tracks that didnt make the album, but still some great tracks on this.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Trilla was at least a B-...just because of hov's maybach music verse alone

Beatwize said...

Hey man, this is Beatwize. I just wanted to say props for the shout, really appreciate the support!

Heaps said...

Glad you like Sound Sketch!!

JeppE said...

Hey. "Below the Heavens" is my 2nd favorite hiphop album of all time, I need to get a hold on the B-Sides. How/where can I get it??
Dope blog too cuz'