Thursday, February 14, 2008

My Top Albums of 2007

I have thought this one over and I think its time for a list. So these are my top 5 hip-hop albums of 07. Plus i give good reviews, take my word for it if you havent heard these then its time you check them out.

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5. Common- Finding Forever This album is very solid. The production is there and of course Common is legendary on the mic. He puts down some nice messages on the album most of which are social. This album is almost a continuation of his previous album BE. The production is an offering from his soulful friends such as Kanye West and the late J.Dilla, no complaints there. The album gives off subtle energy, bass and beats never too overbearing. The only gripe i have is that Common does not do any of the choruses ( a lot of features). He doubles back and forth with Kanye on "Southside" but that is really it. So i had to knock him down for that, however i still think this album gets a nod for a job well done. You can even play this album for your parents.

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4. T.I.- T.I. vs T.I.P. TI did a very good job finding production that worked well with his style. This album is versatile enough to expand pass his core southern audience. The concept of him fighting with himself went over well since he had been building it for years through his other albums. Good surface music (music that you don't have to pay attention to) and he had something to say on the majority of the tracks. Job well done TIP!

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3. Lupe Fiasco- The Cool This album is so full of content its ridiculous! Of course his flow and delivery are as detailed as they come. Once again there was a concept involved and that helps you follow the album. He didn't try to sneak this album past radio too much either, he used production and nuances that were tailored to who he is as an artist and the message he was trying to ge across. You can't lose with "the cool"

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2. Jay-z- American Gangster Jay stepped in with a huge offering. One of the things that got his album to my number two spot was his VH1 special that he had where he did some explaining. The way the album is sequenced is crazy, each track is part of a story and it goes in order. Have to get points for that. Jay was also giving you some story telling on here which is something he doesn't always do and he did it well. So the flow is immaculate, the concept is bananas, and he managed to keep every track relevant without boring us with the same story.

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1. Kanye West- Graduation The reason he gets my endorsement for my favorite hip hop album of 07 is because of his individuality and distinctiveness. The way some of his songs are put together is out of the box and revitalizing. He gives you a different sound than most hip hop albums. He softens the bars sometimes and lets you focus on the production. He spits it simple at times but punctuates it with nice sarcasm. Now he has an edge because he is a producer as well, because some of his beats like "stronger" have different stages that make it like another beat within the song. Musically the album is way more diverse than the others. Kanye wins. Plus i didn't want him beating down my door if he didn't win.

What you got?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I actually purchased all five of these albums and I must admit they all held a spot in my six disc changer for a long period of time, Lupe and Jay-Z is still in there. The order is up for debate, thats all I'm saying!