Some random thoughts on some of last years albums

Just gave a few albums from last year some spins

Cormega - Born and Raised
This was a really dope album from Mega. Not his best but the song sequence is really good and its just a tight album you can listen to all the way through


Del and Tame One - Parallell Uni-Verses
At first this may have seemed like a disappointment, but listening again its a pretty good album. Its not groundbreaking but it was a refreshing throwback type album that sounds good basically all the way through. Really dope lyrics and verses throughout this one and these two sound good together.

DOOM - Born Like This
Another really solid album from a veteran, nowhere near his best album but tracks like Gazzillion Ear, Thats That, Absolutely, and Cellz are vintage Doom tracks. This album came out early and kind of flew under the radar for a Doom album. Still dope to me and will still get spins.

What are peoples thoughts on these albums or other albums from last year that have had time to sink in (or out lol)?

That Mega album still gets spins from me. I might even go as far as to call it a personal classic.

UGK 4 Life is still on the border of 5 stars for me. Same with Solitary Confinement.

Crooked I's After The Inauguration mixtape is the best mixtape I've heard since The Bar Exam, still

To begin, OB4CL2 was my pick for best album of 2009, coming in @ 4.5 stars. Jay's Blueprint 3 was an excellent album to me, 4 stars. Fabolous' Loso's Way was another great album, coming in @ 4.5 stars IMO. Although I didn't buy it until my birthday a few weeks ago, Em's Relapse didn't impress me when I first heard it this year, but when I listened to it again, I found myself liking it a little more. M.O.P.'s Foundation was slept on. UGK 4 Life was an excellent album, another 4.5 star album. 50's Before I Self Destruct surprised me, in a good way (his second best album). Slaughterhouse was incredible. Ghostface's GhostDeini album was very good, nothing spectacular. Jada dropped his excellent 3rd album, Last Kiss. Just to name a few, lol.

"M.O.P.'s Foundation was slept on."

Indeed. I forgot all about this album. Definitely a dope album

Shaun wrote:

"M.O.P.'s Foundation was slept on."

Indeed. I forgot all about this album. Definitely a dope album

Yep, 4 star album.

yep Foundation is 4 stars still
OBFCL was also my AOTY
and Relapse is still >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Recovery

Mos Def - The ecstatic was the best he has sounded since black on both sides by far. Brother Ali - Us was dope. Wale and Cudi both dropped good debut albums. Blackout 2 was way overrated. Slaughterhouse was good but seemed rushed (as it was, recorded in two weeks I think) which just makes me more excited for the next one, OBFCL2 was good but not nearly as much replay value as the first. Born like this was short and had some skip tracks which makes it pretty forgettable, and K'naan just does not do it for me so Troubadour is getting lost on the shelf.
That is what immediately dropped to mind when thinking back to last year.

Slang Editorial wrote:

and Relapse is still >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Recovery

Indeed

I did forget to mention Blackout 2. Very good album IMO.

Felt was honestly my favorite shit last year.

Some of my favorites that haven't been mentioned:

Tanya Morgan "Brooklynatti"
Diamond District "In The Ruff"
O.C. & A.G "Oasis"
Tech 9 "K.O.D"
Blaprint "Blaqout"

Both of the Strange Journeys were slept on last year. I spun Diamond District for the first time last month, and WOW.....incredible album. I can't believe I slept on it for so long. UGK 4 Life was my favorite album last year. Fashawn's Boy Meets World and Mos Def's The Ecstatic also rank up there.

Kid Joe wrote:

Felt was honestly my favorite shit last year.

Felt was honestly my least favorite shit last year.

Thease weren't my favorites of '09....just albums that have surprised me with great replay value since I bought them.

Rise & The Avid Record Collector "Risen": I play this shit all the time. TARC's beats have everlasting replay value for me. Arguably the greatest production of the year.

Inverse "So True" EP: Among my favorite EP releases of all time. Like top 10 good.

B Real "Smoke N Mirrors": My first purchase of '09. Great album every time I give it a visit.

J Dilla "Jay Stay Paid": Honestly, this didn't thrill me a ton when I first bought it, but then really grew on me after repeat listening. Enough to cop it on wax. One of his finest.

After a almost full year with some of these my top 10 has changed a good amount:

Slaughterhouse- 4.5 this is still my fav album from '09. Hasn't lost replay value yet.

Brother Ali- US- 4.5 this one moved from my top 10 to top 5.

Jay-Z- Blueprint 3- 4.25-4.5 this would be rated higher if it wasn't for the two trks I always skip. This one has actually gained tons of replay value for me.

UGK- 4 Life 4.25-4.5 I honestly don't play this as much as I did when it dropped but when I do its alll good.

K-Rino- Solitary Confinement- 4.5 this album is just getting better and better. One of his best efforts to date.

Bro Ali Truth Is Here- 4.25 this was in my top 3 but US has passed it now.

Fabolous- Loso'sWay- 4.25-4.5 this one was not in my top 10 at the end of the year but it has returned. Just a dope as album with all the elements needed: beats, lyrics, guest, hooks, nice trk order.

Fashawn- Boy Meets World- 4.25 this one was not in my top 10 at all last year. Matter of fact I was a tad disappointed at first. Well time has been very kind to this and it has truly became a fav of mine.

Ghostdini the Wizard of Poetry - 4.0-4.25 this one really crept up on me. But save for that wack ass song with Ron Brownz this thing is smooth as hell. Funny what a year can bring.

Rakim- The Seventh Seal- 4.0-4.25 it slipped down a few spots but still one of my fav's. Glad to him pick better beats and upgrade his sound.

Albums that were top 10 but fell out but I still got love for:
Em- Relapse 4.0-4.25 (just lost a little replay value right now)
Raekwon- OB4CL 2 4.25 (the flow of this album could have been better)
dead prez- Pulse Of The People 4.25 (still lovin this one)
Jadakiss- Last Kiss 4.0-4.25

2009 for me was one of the best years for overall dope material in a long time. I still can't believe how many just way above average cd's dropped that year.

Marco Polo and Torae's Double Barrel was another dope album too. Forgot to mention that one also.

2009 was a very good year IMO for hip-hop music and I haven't been able to say that in awhile...as for some of my favorites:

My album Of The Year was O.C. & A.G.-Oasis-this one is a top 50 of all-time album from the east for me...this shit just bangs and bangs and bangs....kinda like Swizz did to Alicia
just a throwback type of album the way they used to make 'em...


Also:

M.O.P.-Foundation (4 stars) a pretty good album from the old yellers and screamers...the production was tight too..


Jay-Z-Blueprint 3 (4.50 stars) is it a commercial effort?? yeah, but so what this shit is hip-hop all the way through IMO....Jay's lyrics tell a bunch of tales and if your not paying attention and running your mouth, then your bound to miss most of the messages and subliminals...the production was dope too!


X-Clan-Mainstream Outlawz (4.25 stars) this one was pretty dope and forgotten about all at the same time.....Brother J hasn't lost a step and that joint on here with Bun B is a complete classic....dope hip-hop...go get it if you haven't already....


Grand Puba-Retroactive (4.50 stars)-another hidden gem...Puba hasn't lost a damn thing either...dude is still spittin like it's 1990 and the production here was very good...another slammer to add to your collection


Jadakiss-The Last Kiss (4.50 stars)...again is it a commercial effort?? yeah but so what Jada is a lyrical fuckin king and he doesn't fuck this one up IMO....and his production is pretty dope too...again dope hip-hop baby bubba...it's not that hard!


Ghostface-Ghostdini (4 stars) this one was a change kinda for Ghost....he has done r&b oriented stuff in the past but to bless an entire album this way was a change for him and it showed some maturity in his approach which I liked...the artists whom he chose to work with were some good picks as well...he had some bangers on this one!


UGK-UGK 4 Life (4.75 stars)- damn man......the last one we will get from these 2 superheroes together...well what a way to go out that's for sure....the lyrics are still holding your interest and that production is delivering as well.....another banger for '09 no doubt about that!

Great thoughts Powell.

Some more great albums that haven't been mentioned

Souls Of Mischief- Montezuma's Revenge: I fail to see how this album has flown under the radar. It's completely BANGIN from front to back and has still maintained it's replay value. This is a personal classic for me. Anyone here who hasn't peeped this album should definitely do so. If you like 93 Til Infinity, you'll like this album. It's not quite on the level of 93 Til, but it's not that far off IMO. It bangs big time and still remains my 2009 AOTY.

Skyzoo- The Salvation: This dude is the TRUTH and represents the next generation of concious MC's. I can't see why anyone would rank this album less than 4 stars. It's at least 4.5 IMO and dudes got lyrics that will make you hit the rewind button. I tried to rec this album to everyone last year and only a few took the rec, SMH. I think Wayne Maye would definitely love this album. When Jay-Z said "If skills sold truth be told, I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli" Well, Skyzoo's style is like Jay's mixed with Kweli's IMO. This is essential listening.

Blaq Poet- The Blaqprint: This one originally fell under my radar, but when I finally got around to peepin it, I loved it. For those of you who may think Primo has fallen off, think again. His beats are still as crisp as they used to be and Poet is a very good MC, easily the best guy Primo executive produced album since The Ownerz IMO. 4.5 stars easily and recommended for everyone on this forum who hasn't heard it.

Royce Da 5'9''- Street Hop: I'm actually surprised that nobody has mentioned this album yet given that he's got tons of fanboys in this forum. It's definitely a banger. I honestly wasn't feelin Royce all that much prior to this album save for his guest appearances but this album proved in my mind that he can definitely hold an LP down. He's got some really deep and thought provoking lyrics on this joint and the production was excellent as well. It kinda reminded me of something Joe Budden would drop, only that Royce is a better pure lyricist. Without question one of the better albums of 2009. 4.5 stars.

I bumped loso's way for the first time the other day... commercial, pop, R&B piece of shit if you ask me.

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

I bumped loso's way for the first time the other day... commercial, pop, R&B piece of shit if you ask me.

Respectively disagree, but it's all good.

Yeah, Loso's Way isn't all that. Aside from Breathe and Fab's debut, he doesn't get too many spins from me.

T. Myers wrote:

Yeah, Loso's Way isn't all that. Aside from Breathe and Fab's debut, he doesn't get too many spins from me.

I'm one of his biggest fans on the forum.

Wayne wrote:

T. Myers wrote:

Yeah, Loso's Way isn't all that. Aside from Breathe and Fab's debut, he doesn't get too many spins from me.

I'm one of his biggest fans on the forum.

I know Wayne. Fab's far from a bad MC, but his albums don't always do his skills justice.

T. Myers wrote:

Wayne wrote:

T. Myers wrote:

Yeah, Loso's Way isn't all that. Aside from Breathe and Fab's debut, he doesn't get too many spins from me.

I'm one of his biggest fans on the forum.

I know Wayne. Fab's far from a bad MC, but his albums don't always do his skills justice.

You think his debut is his best?

yes, his debut is my favorite

T. Myers wrote:

yes, his debut is my favorite

My favorite from Fab is Loso's Way.

Street Hop is a sure fire album and made top 50 midwest for me. It sits at a 3.75-4.0

I even like that SOM so I know some on here would...3.75.

And Skyzoo is dope just does not have the charisma to hold down a full length with that many trks imo. 4.0-4.25.

I agree with what Terry said about Fab. He's better at freestyling than making albums, basically on the same level as Cassidy. I did like his debut and Real Talk though. Those are both 4 star albums.

And Kev, Souls Of Mischief isn't really your style so I'm not surprised that you gave him a 3.75 (not a bad rating but too low IMO). That said, I respect the fact that you at least checked them out.

Fab's debut and Real Talk are easily his best. He definitely has skills and has some dope mixtapes. But Loso's Way is not different in production, hooks, or anything than any gucci mane, rick ross, or any other commercial CD out last year and FAB's lyrics on that one weren't that dope.

3.75 is a pretty good rating...

Southern Rap Pro wrote:

Fab's debut and Real Talk are easily his best. He definitely has skills and has some dope mixtapes. But Loso's Way is not different in production, hooks, or anything than any gucci mane, rick ross, or any other commercial CD out last year and FAB's lyrics on that one weren't that dope.

I have no problem with comm. hooks, production, or anything along those lines when done with taste. Or if I can fathom the rapper on those trks. A Fab completel.y showed his ass on Loso's Way. His best album to date.

I can't see more than 3.5 for Loso's Way personally.

Has anyone changed their view on the Wu Chamber Music album?

I think Chamber Music is dope. I don't like how only half the tracks are songs, but to me every single one of those songs is top notch wu. I would easily take those 8 tracks over basically anything on wu-massacre any day.

booerns wrote:

I would easily take those 8 tracks over basically anything on wu-massacre any day.

I kind of cosign on this one.

booerns wrote:

I think Chamber Music is dope. I don't like how only half the tracks are songs, but to me every single one of those songs is top notch wu. I would easily take those 8 tracks over basically anything on wu-massacre any day.

Double cosign!

Wayne, Loso's Way? The best Fab CD?

Yep, and I agree...but I wish Throw It In The Bag was never created. That stays on skip and maybe one or two more trks.

See Kev that is what keeps me away from buying some Cds. From Nothin To Somethin' had 15 tracks on it and 12/13 had a singer on the hook or a guest rapper. So after hearing Throw It In The Bag and seeing the same type of tracklisting for Loso's Way, I chose to stay away from it. My favorite Fab CD is Ghetto Fabolous

I feel you but I don't hold every rapper to the exact same criteria or rules if you will. Some rappers I already know will have r&b hooks or commercial appealing beats and hooks and i'm cool with that. So when I see Fab feat. Kelis or Jay-Z feat. John Legnd it doesn't keep me away because I know thats there thing and they do it well most of the time. But if I see Immortal Tech feat. Keri Hilson or talib Kweli feat. Black Eyed Peas I really start to worry..lol.

Highsmith wrote:

Wayne, Loso's Way? The best Fab CD?

IMO, yes.

I can understand that assessment Kev and I am pretty sure that From Nothin' To Somethin' made me feel that way about Loso's Way. I may eventually check it out but right now I am still going to stay away from it. That's the only Fab CD that I don't have. I'll spin Real Talk and Ghetto Fabolous soon.

Those 8 songs on Chamber Music are a must have for any Wu fan IMO. However, I like Wu Massacre just as much.

Street Dreams and Ghetto Fabolous >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Losos Way

Wayne wrote:

Has anyone changed their view on the Wu Chamber Music album?

ive loved Chamber Music from the start and still do, for sure better than Wu Massacre (which is still solid)

"or talib Kweli feat. Black Eyed Peas I really start to worry..lol."

Well, Talib and Will.I.Am have done a track together... lol

Shaun wrote:

"or talib Kweli feat. Black Eyed Peas I really start to worry..lol."

Well, Talib and Will.I.Am have done a track together... lol

Lol yeah I know but that one I can semi tolerate. What the one he did on Beautiful Struggle that sounds like his best BEP impression was terrible.

Highsmith I truly feel you on your comments about From Nothing To Something. That album was a good example of trying too hard to get hits. I hate I bought that cd and had swore I would never buy anymore of his albums. Until I heard the bootleg of Loso's Way. He bought the lyrics back with the mainstream vibe and it worked.

Street Dreams was my fav Fab album followed by Ghetto Fab.

Someone should organize polls for 07 - '10 best albums. Top 10 for the forum. Obviously we'd wait for this years.

Albums from last year ya'll shoulda peeped but didn't cuz ya'll homos is homos, homo:

Liquid Assassin-Apocolypse
Alex King-Reincarnated
Wildstyle (of Crucial Conflict)-That Was Then, This Is Now
Guerilla War Tactix-The Invasion
Blitz The Ambassador-Stereotype
Illogic-Diabolical Fun
Jared Evan-Radio In My Head (free)
Dan-E-O-Dilla Pickles (free, every song has a Dilla beat)
Mr. Serv-On-Gangsta 1 More Time
Kurupt/Roscoe-Tekneek Files
Sick Jacken-Stray Bullets
Stevie Stone-New Kid Comin


And Slang, I really still think that Del/Tame 1 cd sucks...but it's mostly because of the beats, and they're lack of chemistry. I think the verses on their own are good, but together they just don't blend well and the lack of a dope producer REALLY hurts the project.