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Re: again hmmmm.. (Reply to this comment)
by madtheory
I didn't overlook it... I didn't include it. Didn't impress me.
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Jan 17 '05
8:00 pm PST
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again hmmmm.. (Reply to this comment)
by mind_flow
what about Labor days?
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Jan 16 '05
9:05 am PST
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Re: Re: 2001... (Reply to this comment)
by bdog08
What about Cormega The realness. My favorite album of the year over stillmatic. Have you heard that one yet?
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Jan 10 '04
9:29 am PST
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Re: 2001... (Reply to this comment)
by madtheory
yeah, a lot of the CDs I bought that were released this year I sold back to CD warehouse. I can't get rid of that damn Mystikal Tarantula though because it's a promo copy. I should run a contest on my site to give it away...
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Feb 06 '02
11:18 am PST
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2001... (Reply to this comment)
by imokliel
...is the first year that I have ever bought less than 10 CDs since I've owned a CD player.
Music sucked this year. Almost ALL music.
Everything was a 'fuse this genre with that', 'forget originality', 'we've got money to make' deal that I just have no interest in.
The CDs I bought in 2001:
Iron Flag - Wu-Tang
Bulletproof Wallets - Ghostface (blah)
The Cold Vein - Cannibal Ox
Soundtrack - O Brother Where Art Thou
Greatest Hits - Bob Dylan
Tidal - Fiona Apple (lost my original)
Next CDs I plan to buy
Disposable Arts - Masta Ace
That new Swollen Members
So 2 out of the 6 albums I bought from 2001 weren't even recent albums and one of the ones that was I didn't really like.
And yes, I realize that I have strange tastes in music.
imokliel
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Feb 05 '02
8:49 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by madtheory
I wasn't feeling Bulletproof Wallets either. I'm glad I passed it up.
I forgot Saul Williams had dropped something. But if I keep passing on that Ursula Rucker, I probably won't get that either. I wish I had more money...
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Jan 23 '02
7:10 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Issues issues issues (Reply to this comment)
by madtheory
Oh, OK. I see what you're saying now.
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Jan 23 '02
7:08 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by churst
I didn't think Bulletproof Wallets was [i]nearly[/i] as strong as Supreme Clientele. I can't put my finger on why - might be the distressing lack of GZA and the unnecessary remake of "Walking Through The Darkness", which should have just been left alone, whereas Supreme Clientele has maybe - MAYBE - one wack song. And I can't even remember what it is called.
I also forgot - Saul Williams would rank in the top 5 easily, assuming you can stand incredibly pretensious lyrics and his almost overboard-amount of intensity. It's very obscure stuff, but that makes it stand out all the more. Some of his rhymes are incredibly clever, and at times he makes Killah Priest sound perfectly normal. Good stuff.
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Jan 22 '02
10:30 pm PST
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Re: Re: Issues issues issues (Reply to this comment)
by MagnumForce
Nah nah...when I said gimmick I was referring more to the fact that this is basically a best of compilation, that doesn't even have the best of Jay-Z. I mean, using that reasoning, if the Wu or Nas, or anybody with a dope library came out with a best of unplugged next year, it'd be a top ten album as well. One of the reasons I don't put stuff like that on lists....it's too easy.
My 2 cents.
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Jan 22 '02
2:46 pm PST
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Re: Issues issues issues (Reply to this comment)
by madtheory
It's not a gimmick when The Roots or KRS or some rock group put out a live album, so I try not to distinguish there either.
I understand that the situation's different since this is an MTV project, but I'm not exactly a big fan of Jay-Z or MTV and I liked it. So I put it on the list.
I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.
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Jan 22 '02
7:25 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by madtheory
Party Music was OK, but I wasn't feeling Bulletproof Wallets. Just personal preference I guess.
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Jan 22 '02
7:22 am PST
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Re: Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by MagnumForce
Can Ox was easily the most overrated album of the year. A couple of good tracks, with the majority of it masquerading as "abstract", when it was actually just "a pain in the a** to listen to"
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Jan 21 '02
2:48 pm PST
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Issues issues issues (Reply to this comment)
by MagnumForce
A best of unplugged compilation in the top ten? Come on! Unplugged was aight, but it was more a gimmick, in that it was fun to hear the Roots interpret the Jigga songs, than an actual good album. As for other iffies, I'd say that the Red album bordered on poor, and the De La album is sleep inducing. Otherwise, dope selections.
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Jan 21 '02
2:47 pm PST
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Re: Re: Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by repulsemonkey
Everyone else seems to be comin' in here and giving you hassle about what you left off, so I will too...
I thought Party Music was easily the hip-hop album of the year: tight rhymes, funky progressive beats and an ambitious political agenda. I dig it something fierce.
I also would've tossed in Bulletproof Wallets, but then I'm pretty partial to Ghostface.
And, yeah, you gotta check out Cannibal Ox when you can.
monkey
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Jan 21 '02
1:42 pm PST
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ALRIGHTY THEN! The explanation for Unplugged over Blueprint... (Reply to this comment)
by madtheory
Wow, y'all are really getting after me on the whole Unplugged/Blueprint thing. I'll explain it right here.
Why I didn't like The Blueprint:
1. "Sensitive" Jay - anyone who's listened to Jay-Z's work has listened to song after song of "I don't love women" "only money matters" stuff. He's good at that. Then on this album he tries to get in touch with his feelings? No. He's a rapper. The "street poet" stuff should stay with people who can pull it off sincerely like Nas & Ghostface.
2. It's an obvious attempt at making a "classic" album - He was so obviously trying for 5 mics with this, it was pathetic. First he straps on the "sensetivity" and mostly drops the "money aint a thing" aesthetics. Then he tells his producers to avoid the "jiggy" loops and sample old soul music. Essentially he was trying to build something that sounds classic in the hopes that the fans and critics would agree. Apparantly, he succeeded, just not with me. It's like he was trying to hustle fans into believing this was a classic LP, when it was just above average. If Epinions' system would have allowed it, I would have rated it maybe a 3.5.
Why I like Unplugged
1. The Roots - They did a stellar job on this. Loops are recreated with feeling, and they add to them with thier talent. Just listen to the way they dropped "Shook Ones", "Oochie Wally" and "I Wish" in there, plus the way they blended in segue music after a few tracks.
2. ZERO bad tracks - Yes, they're all mostly his commercial songs, but they're all solid. His best stuff. "Commercial" doesn't necessarily mean "wack".
3. Live instrumentation - Live instuments do a much better job at relaying emotion and feeling. Just listen to "Heart of the City" and "Song Cry". I didn't like these on the Blueprint, but they sound great on Unplugged. Jay himself almost breaks down at the end of "Song Cry". I wanted to hand him a hanky. ;)
4. I just like live performances - So many rappers come up as "studio rappers" that they couldn't rock a show if you dipped the mic in CRACK (that might be my favorite line ever). One of the qualities I think an emcee should certainly have is the ability to give a great performance infront of the crowd, not just perform his songs to a DAT or house band and leave. Jay does a nice job of it on Unplugged. He's no KRS, but there are some high points.
So those are my reasons. In my opinion, Jay-Z Live... MTV Unplugged is better than The Blueprint. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Y'all are certainly welcome to your own opinions.
Peace!
-mad
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Jan 20 '02
10:17 am PST
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Picking nits... (Reply to this comment)
by churst
Possible ommisions - I'd kick off "The Blueprint" and "Malpractice" in a heartbeat to make room for these:
Killah Priest's "Priesthood" - production=still suffering, but lyrics=damn!
Swollen Member's "Bad Dreams" - reviving the lost art of battle-rapping, and doing so with really dark underground beats.
And, uhh....De La at #3, Wu at #1, Ace at #4.
Now on the 'd00d major propz' tip, major propz for tipping me to the Masta Ace album, something that I must admit I would have completely overlooked otherwise. I guess this means I should also check out Sticky Fingaz, huh. (Although I thought Onyx fell off in a huge way after their hilarious debut.)
And I agree, that DJ Shadow song "Why Hiphop Sucks in '98" could be applied to 2001 quite easily. It's the money...
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Jan 19 '02
10:38 pm PST
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Hmmm... (Reply to this comment)
by paulyoungotti
I'd say the omission of Cold Vein is my primary query, but if you haven't listened to it then that's ok. However, like everyone else has said, Unplugged over The Blueprint?
Interesting anyway
Pau;
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Jan 19 '02
11:38 am PST
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getting yer #1 choice ASAP (Reply to this comment)
by Daniel_Rf
...and I'm glad someone agrees with me that De La can still rock the house!
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Jan 19 '02
4:45 am PST
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by cletta1201
Well, I gotta try and remember everything. Did tjolims say he didn't like any of Jay-z's albums? Ummmmm ...yeah, okay. Unplugged isn't better than the Blueprint, in my HUMBLE opinion. What's with the bolded completely overrated on the blueprint. Because the blueprint and stillmatic both got 5 mics I have abandoned my readership of The Source, I can no longer support their made men enterprise. Anyways, interesting list, I was expecting something way different from you, but good job. Carletta
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Jan 18 '02
3:44 pm PST
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Re: Re: Re: Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by madtheory
To be honest, I had trouble putting The Blueprint that high on the list. I'm still not feeling it that much.
But Unplugged is a different story. Regardless of whether the tracks are commercial or not, they're performed by the Roots very well. Plus the vocals from Wright and Blige put it over the top for me.
Anyway, to me all of Jay-Z's isht is commercial. It's just a difference of degrees. If I have to listen to commercial rap, I'm going to listen to the version that has bangin' music laced by the Roots.
Peace!
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Jan 18 '02
3:28 pm PST
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Re: Re: Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by DVON
I agree with that list, but Unplugged above The Blueprint? Lay off the rock my negro. Unplugged had all of his whack commercial tracks on it. If it wasn't for The Roots, that album would make a nice frisby for the stray dogs. But the rest of the albums I agree with. Just remember, everytime you say paper doesn't mean its God's way of telling you to hit the chronic.
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Jan 18 '02
3:10 pm PST
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Re: Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by madtheory
Quick run down:
Cannibal Ox - Haven't heard The Cold Vein yet. Anything of substance you have to scrounge for here in TX.
The Coup - Party Music is OK, but that's it.
Atmosphere - Haven't heard thier new album yet, but it seems like I'm the only person not swinging off the Rhymesayers n*ts anyway.
Mr.Len - Haven't heard Pity the Fool all the way through yet.
Prefuse 73 - Not my type of hype. I'm not feeling that Uprock Studies thing.
Princess Superstar - Uhhhhhhh no.
Thanks for the comment.
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Jan 18 '02
1:18 pm PST
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Hip-Hop in 2001 (Reply to this comment)
by e-kleptic
I'll agree with madtheory on this one. 2001 was a pretty boring year for hip-hop, but there were some glaring omissions, in my humble opinion: Cannibal Ox? The Coup? Atmosphere? Mr.Len? Prefuse 73? (if you consider him hip-hop) Princess Superstar? Here's to 2002.
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Jan 18 '02
12:46 pm PST
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Ooh! I get to leave the first comment! (Reply to this comment)
by tjolims
Great job. I'm with you on everything but the Jay-Z--although I haven't heard the Unplugged album, I haven't liked any of his other albums.
Thanks,
Mel
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Jan 18 '02
11:50 am PST
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