Nas, are you listening? When Premier talks, it definitely is worth hearing him out.
DJ Premier’s Top 20 Albums of 2008
January 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment
1. DJ REVOLUTION–KING OF THE DECKS (Duck Down)
2. EVIDENCE–THE LAYOVER EP (Decon)
3. STATIK SELEKTAH–STICK 2 THE SCRIPT (Showoff/Traffic)
4. SCARFACE–EMERITUS (Rap-A-Lot/Asylum)
5. D.I.T.C. presents THE MOVEMENT (D.I.T.C./Traf fic)
6. JAKE ONE–WHITE VAN MUSIC (RHYMESAYERS)
7. EMC–THE SHOW (M3/ TRAFFIC)
8. P BROTHERS–THE GAS (IMPORT)
9. LIL WAYNE–THE CARTER III (CASH MONEY/UNIVERSAL)
10. HELTAH SKELTAH–D.I.R.T.(Da Incredible Rap Duo) (DUCK DOWN)
11. LUDACRIS–THEATER OF THE MIND (DEF JAM/UNIVERSAL)
12. BIG SHUG–OTHER SIDE OF THE GAME (TRAFFIC)
13. TERMANOLOGY–POLITICS AS USUAL (NATURE SOUNDS/EMI)
14. GUILTY SIMPSON–ODE TO THE GHETTO (STONES THROW)
15. Q-TIP–THE RENAISSANCE (MOTOWN/UNIVERSAL)
16. ICE CUBE–RAW FOOTAGE (LENCH MOB/EMI)
17. CRAIG G–OPERATION TAKE BACK HIP HOP
18. EPMD–WE MEAN BUSINESS (EP RECORDS)
19. 88 KEYS– THE DEATH OF ADAM (DECON)
20. ILL BILL–THE HOUR OF REPRISAL (FAT BEATS)
HONORABLE MENTION—–(NOT IN ORDER)
1. GZA—PRO TOOLS
2. REKS—GRAY HAIRS
3. DEVIN THE DUDE—LANDING GEAR
4. LARGE PROFESSOR—MAIN SOURCE
5. NAS–UNTITLED
6. PRODIGY–HNIC 2
7. TRICK TRICK—THE VILLIAN
8. YOUNG MAYLAY—THE REAL COAST GUARD
9. THE GAME—L.A.X.
10. BLACK MILK—TRONIC
11. TORAE—DAILY CONVERSATION
12. VAST AIRE—DEUCES WILD
With that being said… there are few opinions about hip hop that I really respect and believe are worth reading… DJ Premier falls in that category. His top twenty falls much in line with my own with a few glaring exceptions. One album that I can’t believe is missing from the top twenty AND the honorable mention is the Foreign Exchange album. That album may very well be in my top five this year. Another worthy project that was left off was Generation Gap 2 by Ali Vegas. I’ll give Premier a pass on that though because it didn’t drop until the last month of the year. Aside from missing those two albums, his top ten is pretty much on point… EXCEPT Lil Wayne? I can’t deny that he moved a lot of units and his face is splattered everywhere in hip hop… but I find it hard to accept that Premo is falling for this fabricated suburbanite love affair with him. But it is what it is… I think Reks deserved a spot in the top twenty, as did Large Professor and maybe Black Milk… but as I said, overall, the list is the best I’ve seen from 2008. Peace to DJ Premier.
Torae and Skyzoo Live At AHH Breeding Ground
November 20, 2008 By Leave a Comment
If you are a true hip hop fan… I mean, if you have any ounce of this hip hop culture in you at all, then I shouldn’t have to tell you about these two artists… hit the archives and see what I’m talking about… seriously. This show looked crazy… its good to see crowd participation as well… Too many times I’ve been to these events and witnessed a whole bunch of dudes standing there looking miserable for fear that they might present themselves as a fan. There’s nothing wrong with networking at an event, but if you can’t act like a fan, what are you doing in hip hop to begin with? Check the video… Skyzoo and Torae… Brooklyn stand up you are the face of NY Hip Hop right now.