2008 Picks
At the beginning of every year we take a look back at all our new albums and ask ourselves which ones will stick with us. Here I have gathered what some others are saying about 2008 but I am also offering my own picks—with a twist.
For most of 2008 I was on the move in South America, where quality hip hop and the internet weren’t readily available. Trust me, I didn’t mind it a bit. As a result though, I didn’t pick up a lot of new albums until the end of 2008. Some good came of this. I was forced to listen to my Ipod a lot. I mean a lot! It burned out just as I returned home.
By the end, I couldn’t take another second of most albums. However, some survived the hundreds of repeated plays. Many of them had been forgotten for years but by the time I got back home they had all got hundreds of plays. You can revisit them or check them out for the first time. Here are the survivors:
- Little Brother (& Mick Boogie) – And Justus For All
This actually got re-edited and re-released in 2008 so you can chalk it up as a new mix tape. Although it’s a mix tape, it contains all original beats on which Phonte and Big Pooh give their poignant thoughts on the state of hip hop. Besides Mick Boogie’s intrusive “Mick Boogie!” on every track this is one rewarded by repeat listens. Everything LB touches right now turns to gold.
2. UGK – Too Hard To Swallow
Bun B and Pimp C…need I say more? A must have for all UGK fans, especially since Pimp C’s death a year ago. This is a solid album all the way through.
3. Dead Prez – Revolutionary But Gangster
I just noticed that I am all about the duos on this list. A must have for anyone who can stand DP’s political views. Everything is clean, even their beats which are often weak on their mix tapes.
4. RBL Posse – A Lesson To Be Learned
A classic that I had totally forgotten for years. Simple in its melodies and lyrics, it is easy listening from plays one through 99. At the very least check out “G’s by the 1, 2, 3’s.”
5. Devin The Dude – Just Tryin’ To Live
There are so many great guest appearances on this album that you could mistake it for a Dr. Dre CD.
6. Dr. Dre – Chronic 2001
Speak of the Devil. I know I don’t even have to add this to anyone’s collection but it really is good on the millionth play. Plus, when I was living in Buenos Aires, there was one club that would play hip hop one night a week. In reality they just played Reggaetone and Electronica remixes. Tracks off of this album were the only unmolested tunes they would play.
7. Zion I – Break A Dawn.
Amp Live does such a great job of coming up with original beats on this album. Coupled with Zion’s lyrics it is a truly unique product in an industry where everything sounds the same.
8. Koopsta Knicca – De Inevitable
How can a man who hates Three 6 Mafia as much as the Koopsta sound so much like them? For anyone craving Three 6 beats and lyrics of old pick this up. Koopsta is really versatile –on this album he even sings—and this is his best work. If you can’t stand the direction D.J. Paul and Juicy-J have taken with songs like “Shake that Lolly” get back to basics with this.
9. John Legend – Get Lifted
Stop hating John Legend and admit that you like his catchy tunes. “Let’s Get Lifted” is as awesome as it is simple. Before every R&B and Rap artist was “equalizing” there voice to sound like a pubescent robot, John Legend was just doing his thing. A great CD to unwind to.
10. Project Pat – Crook By Da Book—The Fed Story
This isn’t really a classic but similar to Koopsta Knicca, Project Pat and the boys of Three 6 Mafia stay true to their old selves on this one. Maybe it is because I waited for it for so long but I can’t stop listening to this album.
What The Others Are Saying:
From across the pond…usually Stop Me’s favorite tracks sound very, very different but they are a lot of fun.
7. A-Trak feat Lupe Fiasco –mastered
8. Estelle feat Kanye West – American Boy
19. FELLA VAUGHN – Sardines For Dinner
31. THE BUG (FEAT. KILLA P & FLOWDAN) – Skeng
40. K-THE-I??? – Lead The Floor
47. MR OIZO (FEAT. CARMEN CASTRO) – Two Takes It
48. MICK BOOGIE Vs ADELE (FEAT. 6TH SENSE) – Chasing 1988: The Intro
51. EAST IS EAST – Da Encore
53. ALPINEKAT – The Large Hadron Rap
65. DR. RUBBERFUNK – Dr. Rubberfunk’s Fantasy Funk Band
67. JOHN LEGEND (FEAT. ANDRE 3000) – Green Light (MSTRKRFT Remix)
80. MARVIN THE MARTIAN & DJ JACK NIMBLE (FEAT. 50 CENT) – You So Tough
83. R$STIFORM BOD1ES – Panic Shopper
91. PRODUCERS WITH COMPUTERS – Summer 98 (Remix)
96. MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Soundsystem
99. ROOTS MANUVA – Again & Again (Matt Helders Remix)
Rolling Stone’s Top 50 for 2008 (They let us preview entire albums over 20 times)
3-Lil’ Wayne –The Carter III
6-Santogold –self titled
19-Erykah Badu –New Amerykah: Part 1
24-Girl Talk –Feed The Animals
28 – The Knux –Remind Me In Three Days…
33 – Ne-Yo –Year of The Gentleman
43 – Nas – Untitled
48 – Raphael Saadiq – The Way I see It
Stink Weed’s Hip Hop Picks
Usually very alternative but I am rarely disappointed by their end of year lists.
Find their hip hop picks on pages 12, 16, 18, 24, 41, 43.
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