'08 so far...this years 10 essential Hip-Hop albums.

Jay Ru

i thought onra was from japan?

Orizio

I thought Vietnamese/French. Or something like that. Doesn't really sound like Japanese Hip-Hop at all.

Doesn't matter anyway, its a must for fans of instrumental Hip-Hop.

Boom_Bap

#1 spot on the top ten essential Hip Hop albums 08 for me has been filled. And its probably in at #7 or #8 on the top 10 hip hop albums of all time. Cecil Otter - Rebel Yellow is a fantastic album, I dont know where to start ddescibing it....so i'm just gonna listen to it again instead.

BoomTree!! haha

Orizio

He sounds like Ant's little brother.

ghostface ste

Orizio wrote: »

The new Murs is just after leaking as well.

Haven't had time to get it yet, any good? Been looking forward to this album for a while

Orizio

The Murs album is pretty tight, doubt it will disapoint anyway.

The new Kano is suprisingly good too. Very consistent, dark up tempo beats and flow. Not grime though.

Boom_Bap

A few other albums from 08 i've checked out lately and been more than happy with:

Qwel & Kip Kalligan - The New Wine.....really tight album
Esoteric Vs Japan - Very impressed with this, Eso seems to have matured even more and shows how diverse he is

Bring on Black Milk, DOOM and Murs

The-Game

L.A.X one of the best of the year so far and this is with Blueprint 3 / Before i Self Destruct and possibly DeTox hitting shelves by January!!!

Anyone who has not heard L.A.X needs to pick up a copy, Game really takes control on this album, collabs with Raekwon to not miss a beat!

Orizio

I just released Blak Twang has a new album out. Anyone listen to it yet?

New Devin The Dude has leaked as well.

The-Game

Devin im not a huge fan of, thought he would go to big things after hearing his work with Dre but never impressed me.

Between Cube and Game they have two of the top albums so far!

Boom_Bap

The-Game wrote: »

Between Cube and Game they have two of the top albums so far!

Haven't heard the Games album so cant comment on that, but Cube's album was terrible. Same delivery in every song, simple lyrics, predicatble rhyming, poor production.....there was nothing creative or positive about it for me.

The-Game

Boom_Bap wrote: »

Haven't heard the Games album so cant comment on that, but Cube's album was terrible. Same delivery in every song, simple lyrics, predicatble rhyming, poor production.....there was nothing creative or positive about it for me.

Really? i liked the variety in it, thought there was a nice mix of heavy and lighter production and lyrical variety in there, Get Used to it was great, along with the Gangsta Rap and Do Ya Thang

Boom_Bap

Yeah man, listen to that album, then listen to Death Certificate/Lethal Injection/The Predator and you'll see how boring the record is. It appears to me that he wants to have his beats similar to the mainstream chart hip hop which i dont think suits him at all.

The-Game

In fairness id get bored if he kept banging out the same kind of stuff to back then, his older stuff is good but it wouldn't work now, at least he didnt end up like LL Cool J, fell off big time

Orizio

I don't know...I'd find his racism and hate filled raps pretty entertaining right about now. At least he was honest.

Theres nothing worse then mediocrity and insincerity.

Orizio

Orizio wrote: »

Thread to see qwhat people have been listening to in Hip-Hop in '08. My fave ten albums so far in alphabetical order...



Link.

wow thanks for the black spade hook-up.i was a serious hip-hop fan for a good few years but lately i found there hasn't been anything worth a damn. black spade is just the kind of squiffy skewed hip-hop that i used to like. i just bought the album used on amazon, st£4.27 including postage SWEET.

Orizio

Its been a slowish enough year, but if you go to the right blogs and look at the right magazines you'll always find some good stuff. Keep an eye on Chop Shop, I'll put up another, bigger, list in December.

Glad you enjoyed the Black Spade album. Anyway else check it out?

The-Game

Orizio wrote: »

I don't know...I'd find his racism and hate filled raps pretty entertaining right about now. At least he was honest.

Theres nothing worse then mediocrity and insincerity.

i think Nas cornered the market on that this year!!

Orizio

So the new Foreign Exchange has leaked. Listening to it right now.

Very smooth chilled out R'n'B album. Vey little MC'ing.

The-Game

Not a retail album but i recommend checking out Crooked I - The Block Obama Mixtape.

ghostface ste

Haven't read thru the entire thread, don't know if Akrobatik - Absolute Value has been mentioned. On of the better albums i've heard this year. Might as well throw in Murs for President as have had it on rotation the last few days

Boom_Bap

Listening to Blu & Mainframe's new album Johnson & Johnson at the moment and it is dddooooppppeee!

tdc

I'm still listening to Game's LAX, not the album of the year but defenitely is among the best.

itsjaybud

For me it has to be Lil Waynes album Tha Charter III pure genius, really only one track on the album that shouldn't be there imo!


Lyrically the man can't be touched!

tdc

I can see Wayne is the hottest rapper right now but I cant really see his appeal. Lyrically, he literally doesnt make sense to me a lot of the time? I dont know, maybe its just me...

Makaveli

I find it's hard to understand what he's saying a lot of the time and most of his lyrics are metaphors so you have to pay even more attention to what he's saying. He is a bit like Ghostface in that he says stuff that really doesn't make any sense but he is a good lyricist. I couldn't stand him for a long time because of his voice and the whole Hot Boyz/Cash Money stuff wasn't for me but I've listened to Tha Carter III a few times now and I quite like it.

ghostface ste

and i thought i was the only one that didn't get Lil Wayne at all! Don't really get why people think he is best around at the moment but each to their own i suppose. Have listened to Carter 3 a few times but nothing special imo save for a couple of tracks. Think he has a nice flow but a lot of his lyrics really dontmake any sense/point at all.

As for albums of the year was listeing to Rising Down again yday, quite good

itsjaybud

I can understand why Lil waynes style isn't liked by every hip-hop fan and i found myself only able to listen to 4/5 tracks off Tha Carter II, but this new album really is top drawer stuff imo.


I can hear the majority of the words he says on each track but i would agree that understanding it is a different story. I think thats why i like listening to the album so much as i find myself picking up on something different each time and i guess i make my own mind up on by what he means!

The October issue of XXL has a really good spread on Lil Wayne which i found a great read on getting a better insight into the artist and what he is trying to put across on his album. His freestyle skills are next to none.


I like listening to so much of the album i find it hard to pick a favourite! Mr. Carter, A Milli, Phone Hom', Tie My Hands, Let the Beat Build and You Ain't Got Nuthin are all great tracks!;)


The last few albums i've bought have included Tha Carter III, L.A.X. and Papertrail and this coming from a Big Game fan i would have to say Tha Carter III is top of the pile!:cool:

tdc

Just got Paper Trail and listened to the whole album on the drive home tonight, really good album.

Might have to invest in Wayne's CD, Ive only got 3 or 4 tracks from Carter 3 on the pod but sounds good and a million people that got it in the first week cant be wrong :pac:

Have to say I have started buying less and less albums over the last few years (i got 1 during the whole of 2007). Got LAX a few weeks back and Paper Trail tonight im looking forward to getting the new ones from dre, eminem, jay and fabolous. Probably have to get Carter 3 too...:pac: Anyways just happy to see some quality albums heading our way!

Orizio

People still buy albums. Well I be damned. They just freakishly turn up on my iPod. :P

Orizio

My review of the excellent Jean Grae/Blue Sky, Black Death album.

ghostface ste

Orizio wrote: »

People still buy albums. Well I be damned. They just freakishly turn up on my iPod. :P

+1

The-Game

tdc wrote: »

Just got Paper Trail and listened to the whole album on the drive home tonight, really good album.

Agreed, T.I dropped a banger.

tdc wrote: »

... and a million people that got it in the first week cant be wrong :pac:

haha yes, yes they can!

Orizio wrote: »

People still buy albums. Well I be damned. They just freakishly turn up on my iPod.

Ewww Ipod but yeah ive bought one album in the last 8-9 years and its been L.A.X purely for support!!

Boom_Bap

I still buy a lot of CDs.....but the internet pixies make new music appear on my computer.

Orizio

Yeah I've bought some stuff this year as well, because certain artists deserve it. Going ot have to get the new BSBD/Jean Grae. Stacy Epps, Dela and Murs albums soon.

The internet pixies allows one to bypass **** artists who don't deserve a penny. Always a good thing imo.

ghostface ste

Orizio wrote: »

Yeah I've bought some stuff this year as well, because certain artists deserve it. Going ot have to get the new BSBD/Jean Grae. Stacy Epps, Dela and Murs albums soon.

The internet pixies allows one to bypass **** artists who don't deserve a penny. Always a good thing imo.

Actually meant to bring this up earlier, dl'd the murs album and then went out to buy the cd as a show of support i suppose (and to play in the car!) and can't find it anywhere. It should have been out by now for sale, anyone know has this been pushed back from the original date?

Orizio

Wikipedia says it was released 30th September. Thing is, depending where you are, the chances of it being in Zavvi or HMV aren't that high. Maybe a independent music store? Amazon?

ghostface ste

Good call, i see it there now. I was checking another couple of sites i usually use and its still not there. It'll be on its way soon now

Orizio

If your in Cork city, you should give Plug'D a check, have a lot of indie Hip-Hop.

Orizio

Need to get this up and running again, things will get busy over the next couple of months. Plus I'm planning on writing up a top 50 list for '08 Hip-Hop on the ChopShop, so any suggestions would be useful...

A History Of Violence - Jedi Mind Tricks

Not being a huge JMT fan, I can't measure this up against their earlier work. Anyway, the beats are decent but Jus Allah is terrible and Vinnie Paz is going through the motions. Already deleted off my iPod.

A Mind On A Ship Through Time - Panacea

The 'conscious' MC'ing here isn't up to much, but the production is really distinctive and interesting with an almost ambient vibe, dense and dreamy. Worth a download.

A New Bloodline - Sir Smurf Lil'

Probably the best UK Hip-Hop album I have heard this year, the production is very consistent, dark and just very well done. Not entirely sold on the MC'ing, which doesn't really do justice to the quality beats but again, well worth a look.

Stick 2 Tha Script - Statik Selektah

Fans of his first will enjoy this, consistent with two of the best beats of the year on 'Got Out of the Way' and 'Talkin' About You'. Features Talib Kweli, Bun B, Little Brother, Consquence etc.

The Golden Hour - 14KT

Nice instrumental Hip-Hop from Detriot, soulful, consistent and different.

Load of other stuff out recently as well.

ghostface ste

Have been listening to Elzhi - The Preface for the last couple of weeks and without doubt i consider it to be the No. 1 album i've heard this year. Also throw Murs for President in there at No. 2/3 for top 10 list.

I see from below i forgot to pick up the Jean Grae album, will have to get it later

Boom_Bap

Orizio wrote: »

Need to get this up and running again, things will get busy over the next couple of months. Plus I'm planning on writing up a top 50 list for '08 Hip-Hop on the ChopShop, so any suggestions would be useful...

A History Of Violence - Jedi Mind Tricks

Not being a huge JMT fan, I can't measure this up against their earlier work. Anyway, the beats are decent but Jus Allah is terrible and Vinnie Paz is going through the motions. Already deleted off my iPod.

I havent bothered listening to them since after Violent by Design, wont be looking this one up either...unless it appears magically i might give it a listen

A Mind On A Ship Through Time - Panacea

The 'conscious' MC'ing here isn't up to much, but the production is really distinctive and interesting with an almost ambient vibe, dense and dreamy. Worth a download.

A New Bloodline - Sir Smurf Lil'

Probably the best UK Hip-Hop album I have heard this year, the production is very consistent, dark and just very well done. Not entirely sold on the MC'ing, which doesn't really do justice to the quality beats but again, well worth a look.

Stick 2 Tha Script - Statik Selektah

Fans of his first will enjoy this, consistent with two of the best beats of the year on 'Got Out of the Way' and 'Talkin' About You'. Features Talib Kweli, Bun B, Little Brother, Consquence etc.

The Golden Hour - 14KT

Nice instrumental Hip-Hop from Detriot, soulful, consistent and different.

Load of other stuff out recently as well.

Havent heard any of the others you mentioned.

The Mighty Underdogs (Lateef + Gift of Gab + Headnodic) "Droppin Science Fiction" is getting some killer reviews, havent had the pleasure of listening to it yet but it by all accounts it supposed to be great.

And if Cecil Otter isnt on your top 50 list i'll be extremely disappointed!

Orizio

Isn't that the dude thats a carbon copy of Slug...

Boom_Bap

Not at all, i can see that there may be some small similarities but CO is unique. Also handles all of the production which is refreshing.

BLITZ_Molloy

Downloaded Q-Tip's new album The Renaissance last week and it's fantastic. Nice to hear an underground emcee who can do good hooks and keeps a nice upbeat positive vibe throughout.

You can stream the whole thing off his myspace. I particularly recommend Getting Up:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=28952862&blogID=445024437

Orizio

I don't think its right to call Q-Tip an 'underground' MC. He is just an MC, full stop. He makes music that appeals to pretty mcuh everything, beyond the whole underground/commercial bull****.

Boom_Bap

A new EP from Illogic has just dropped called 'One Bar Left'. Its pretty darn tooting good. And it is available for free (and legally) from http://www.divshare.com/download/5906891-722

Also includes the artwork.

pinder

been listening to common market recently,the new album ''tobacco road'' is definitely worth a listen,bought it there ,havent stopped listenin to it.blue scholars off the same label are good too,their album butter an guns could only get it on itunes.thought 'when life gives you lemons' was a good un aswell.but if you havent listened to common market i STRONGLY recommend them

pinder

youll find alot of people dont like lil wayne.im definitely one of them,look up lil wayne is a swagger jacker on youtube and youll see why,he took a whole verse from aliyaah word for word.also took ''honeys play me close like butter play toast'' from juicy,that took the biscuit for me.apparently he has a writer aswell,i mean i might be crazy but writing your own stuff is one a the main things i like about good hip hop,if he doesnt do that and imo doesnt have a good flow what does he have?besides calling himself the best rapper alive,scandalous

Orizio

A lot of big names leaked lately, so I'll just summarise them like this...

EPMD, Clipse (pre-album mixtape), Scarface = good.

Common = bad.