The Year’s Best in Review: The Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums of 2002!Jan 03 '03 (Updated Jan 08 '03) Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line If you’re looking for Nelly or someone whose name begins with “Lil,” click ‘back’ before you get upset. Well, it’s that time of year again – time to look back at another recently retired year of music and sift through the chaff for the best and brightest albums to drop in 2002. Last year was a definite improvement over the previous year in regards to Hip-Hop; a great thing because in 2001, music truly could not get much worse. In fact, so many more worthwhile albums came out in 2002 that it didn’t seem fair to only list the top ten best rap albums like last year. So without further ado, I present The Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums of 2002. I hope you didn’t already spend that music store gift card you got for Christmas… 25. The Fix – Scarface Though he may have been elevated to the plush, exalted offices of Def Jam South, 2002’s The Fix proves that despite the success, Scarface is still in touch with the cold street life that made him famous. One of rap music’s most respected veterans, Mr. Brad’s latest LP features more of his unhurried, fluid delivery and raw rhymes that he’s been spitting since the days of the Geto Boyz. Plus, collaborations with Nas, Jay-Z, Faith Evans, and the Neptunes help the album to appeal to a wider range of listeners. A few hits of The Fix and you’ll be hooked for life. 24. Scribes of Life – Journalist Canibus fans remember Journalist from when the Philly flame-spitter traded verses with ‘Bis on “Life Liquid” off Canibus sophomore LP. This year, Journalist stepped out on his own with Scribes of Life, an impressive album filled with graphic street stories, serrated, battle rhymes, and ill guest spots from the likes of Floetry and M.O.P. If you missed this, then you slept. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_70821645956 23. Spiritual Minded - KRS-ONE “KRS doing gospel rap? Say word, son!” Yep, this year the Teacher added the prefix “Sunday School” to his nickname, delving into matters of spirituality and faith with his tenth LP Spiritual Minded. This Christian direction is an extremely bold move for any secular artist, but KRS-ONE manages to pull it off, while still maintaining the edutainment-directed identity that his fans have come to expect. Those expecting to hear a “softer” KRS will be out of luck though; with bangers like “South Bronx 2002,” the remake of his classic old-school jam, Kris remains as hard as ever. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_53860077188 22. Won – Pacewon Arguably the most popular member of the rugged rap group The Outsidaz, Pacewon becomes the second from this grimy rap collective to drop a solo LP (Rah Digga was the first). Fans of the “rah rah” already know what to expect - hard beats, ill rhymes, no nonsense. The CD cover art may look like a PhotoShop homework assignment, but everything else surrounding Won is professional quality. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_64004918916 21. The Eminem Show – Eminem Undoubtedly one of the most overrated releases of this year came from the man everyone loves to hate, Marshall Mathers. Generally handling the production himself, Eminem proved that he was capable behind the boards, though not nearly as adept as he is in front of the mic. The Eminem itself is a ubiquitous mix of skilled braggadocio and self-deprecation over a mix rap, rock, and pop-influenced beats. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_65447693956 20. Watermelon, Chicken, & Gritz - Nappy Roots This impressive album by Kentucky rhymers Nappy Roots is further proof of the validity of Dirty South rap. Their raps are original, humorous, and well performed, plus, the group’s penchant for utilizing music with thick blues and country influences greatly compliments their musical identity. The numerous lyrical references to being country (vertical grilles, soul food, etc…) do grow tiresome pretty quickly, but still Watermelon, Chicken, and Gritz is a superb musical and lyrical confirmation of their Southern roots [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_58717671044 19. Built from Scratch – The X-Ecutioners Anyone doubting that the backbone of Hip-Hop is the deejay should spend some serious time with Built From Scratch by the four-man deejay collective, the X-Ecutioners, formerly known as the X-Men. On this effort deejays Rob Swift, Mista Sinista, Total Eclipse, and Roc Raida shred vinyl to create lush Hip-Hop soundscapes and devastating beats. Plus, with collaborations with Linkin Park, Large Professor, and M.O.P, the album definitely keep heads nodding. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_58114543236 18. Paullelujah! – MC Paul Barman Is rap ready for palindromes? MC Paul Barman believes so. After waiting years for his time to shine, Barman jumps into the water feet first with this interesting release. His raps wildly run the gamut of topics, from the sociopolitical subjects to sexcapades that would make Kool Keith blush. Backed with beats by MikeTheMusicGuy and the legendary Prince Paul, MC Paul B trumpets some “white geek rap” that definitely deserves a listen. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_78732037764 17. The Chosen Few - Boot Camp Clik It’s impossible to not have in some way been exposed to the Boot Camp Click. Though rooted firmly in the underground, the group’s skill and longevity has allowed their influence to reach into the most distant corners of the rap world. After an extended stint rebuilding on the indie scene, Buckshot, Tek, Steele, Starang, Louieville, Top Dog and Sean Price once again come together as one with their new album, The Chosen Few. As par for the group, the production is sharp and each of the members have a magnetic mic presence, honed from years of experience rocking crowds. This album has deservedly given rap fans another reason to look at the Boot Camp Clik. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_83528552068 16. Revolverlution - Public Enemy This year, the P.E. came back, and came back hard. Revolverlution proves without a doubt that the renowned revolutionary rap group still has the ability to put together banging tracks while still remaining socially and politically oriented. The crew digs into a variety of relevant topics, including ripping the Commander-In-Chief a new one on the forceful “Son of a Bush.” Chuck, Flav, Griff and the crew sweeten the deal by including live performances and internet remixes of classic Public Enemy jams, so this one is unquestionably not to be missed. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_75138895492 15. Heather B - Eternal Affairs While other female rappers wasted far too much time on the mic rapping about sex and eroticism, Heather B returned to the mic to prove that in Hip-Hop, being hardcore has nothing to do with the girth of the booty or depth of the… ahem. Heather B’s music exemplifies the hardcore aesthetic; solid, minimalist beats, powerful drums and captivating rhythmic accompaniment. Lyrically, the femcee is capable and versatile, spitting serrated battle raps and crafting engaging, honest stories with superior skill and intensity. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_75332423300 14. From Tha Roota to Tha Toota – Field Mob Take a solid foundation of beats and rhymes, season them with excellent production and witty lyrics, add a rhythmic blend of singing and rapping, and fry it in a big vat of dirty south vegetable oil, and you’ll have From Tha Roota to Tha Toota by Field Mob. The sophomore effort from this Georgia rap duo, this album is overflowing with skilled and creative rap tracks, but without beating you over the head with Southern themes like many other rap groups. However, regardless of what region you hail from, you’ll be sure to find From Tha Roota to Tha Toota a very tasty treat. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_82302570116 13. Electric Circus – Common One would think that after the platinum success of his last album Like Water for Chocolate, Chicago emcee Common would try his best to give his fans more of what they loved so much. Such is certainly not the case with his follow-up, Electric Circus. Best summarized as Common’s psychedelic Hip-Hop acid trip, he departs radically from the soul, jazz, and blues-derived Hip-Hop, and embraces a more eclectic sound, borrowing from classic rock, glam funk, and even turn of the century jazz. Though the man remains as sharp as ever lyrically, this new musical direction doesn’t always produce agreeable results on the album. Still, Electric Circus is a sound effort that pushes rap music’s envelope so hard, it turns around, mean mugs and says, “excuse you.” [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_84127944324 12. Jurassic 5 - Power In Numbers The essence of the old-school lives on in the rap collective known as Jurassic 5. This year the sextet of Chali 2na, Zaakir, Marc7even, Akil, DJs Cut Chemist, and Nu-Mark dropped their second LP Power In Numbers. The new album further expands on the vibrant traditional rap sound they killed fans with on their first album Quality Control, complete with a driving radio-ready single “What’s Golden.” If there’s truly power in numbers, then the magic number is five. 11. Skilligan’s Island – Thirstin Howl III This year, that insane Brooklyn Boricua returned with his ‘Lo Life affiliates in tow to quench his thirst with a new release on Landspeed Records. Most fans of Thirstin became hip to his style of emceeing from mixtapes, so the emcee wisely adopts a similar feel for this album. All the songs on Skilligan’s Island are short and intense from start to finish, and have zero wack hooks and no gimmicks. But, anyone familiar with the work of this Unsigned Hype alum knows what to expect with this album; killer rhymes, phat beats, crazy humor, and of course, more Polo. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_71406882436 10. Mic Club – The Curriculum – Canibus Everyone who thought Canibus was over with the abysmal C! True Hollywood Stories needs to put themselves in check. By no means a flawless release, Mic Club – The Curriculum shows that ‘Bis is still alive and kicking and desperate to put together a respectable LP. From track to track he tears down the mic in his signature style, even allowing his “Ripper” alter-ego to verbally abuse him on the innovative “Bis vs. Rip.” Canibus still has a ways to go before being able to fully reclaim his career, but this LP proves he’s on the right track. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_81470787204 09. Attack of the Attacking Things - Jean Grae While the Jean Grey of Stan Lee’s X-Men universe has the power to manipulate minds and move objects, femcee Jean Grae has the power to… well… manipulate minds and move objects – specifically, make heads nod. With this solo album, Grae makes spectacular use of her special ability, crafting intricate personal lyrics and spitting napalm battle verses while simultaneously dropping serious knowledge. Backed by refreshingly rough production by Mr. Len, the Beatminerz, and others, it will take much more than ten-story tall sentinels to protect Hip-Hop from The Attack of the Attacking Things. 08. Turn Off the Radio - Dead Prez If this one fell under your radar this year, don’t be too disappointed. The album dropped very unexpectedly in late November with almost no marketing hoopla behind it. On top of that, the name “Dead Prez” is nowhere to be found on the covers of the CD, replaced by the unfamiliar “DPZ” which no doubt served to further confuse consumers. It’s unfortunate that Dead Prez marketing dept wasn’t more on point; this album definitely deserved more hype. M-1 and Stic construct Turn Off the Radio to mimic the feel of a mixtape, even “taking over” classic jams from Biggie and Aaliyah. Still, the group’s revolutionary mindset and fiery production remains, making this an impressive sophomore album. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_81596026500 07. Phrenology – The Roots Though they were known early in their careers for marrying jazz and rap through an organic medium of live instruments, the Roots collective has never been satisfied with being classified that easily. Throughout the years they’ve continued to grow and evolve, experimenting with different sounds, styles, and genres. In 2002, the Roots return to the set with their new album Phrenology, and the years of experimentation has apparently brought them to a point where they’re just as comfortable playing jazzy Hip-Hop loops as churning out pulse-quickening punk and electronica. Yet despite all the change, one thing about their music remains constant: it’s still some of the best isht you ever heard. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_82655153796 06. Legend of the Liquid Sword – Gza The Genius returns to bless us with another chapter to the Legend of the Liquid Swords. Wu-fans have been foaming at the mouth for this one, and with good reason. Gza’s sophomore album is highly regarded as one of the most superlative rap albums ever, and he attempts to recapture that greatness with this LP. Though the keyboard-driven tracks falter occasionally, his rhymes remain sharp and fluid as the album’s name implies. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_83627773572 05. God’s Son – Nas With all the waffling Nas has done since his battle started with Jay-Z, it’s amazing he has any fans left at all. Few artists would are able to get away with claiming undying loyalty to the underground in one breath, then trying to sign with Murder Inc. in the next. But somehow, Nas pulls it off, though he thankfully disregards his Ja Rule/Irv Gotti affiliation for his latest release, God’s Son. Though not nearly as sharp as last year’s Stillmatic Nas’ music is still on point; he moves fluidly from sharp battle raps, to perceptive street poetry, plus he’s backed by some of the better producers in the business. A solid effort, though certainly not the perfection that the album’s name implies. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_83880939140 04. All Of the Above - J-Live Having already lost one album to the shark-infested waters of the rap industry, J-Live certainly wasn’t playing around when he dropped his “sophomore debut” All of the Above. The East coast rhymer is the epitome of the “true school” emcee, able to rip down mics with faultless braggadocio as demonstrated in the ode to his craft “MCee,” yet still scribe stories that rival the most descriptive narratives of Slick Rick or Nas, exemplified in the lyrical choose-your-own-adventure “One For the Griots.” Even the insightful and introspective topics don’t exceed his grasp; he skillfully composes astute 9/11 verses on “Satisfied” and reflects autobiographically at his youth on the jazzy “A Charmed Life.” In addition, J is an extremely skilled producer more than capable of lacing his own vibrant tracks, an exclamation point to an already impressive Hip-Hop resume. All of the Above is nothing less than an outstanding demonstration of what dedication and determination can accomplish when tempered with talent and ability. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_64870321796 03. The Magnificent – DJ Jazzy Jeff While Will Smith went off to Hollywood to protect the world from evil aliens, DJ Jazzy Jeff stayed in Philly to protect the world from wack music. There, allying with his formidable A Touch of Jazz production crew, he’s been making the tunes that make heads groove, backing the work of artists like Musiq, Jill Scott, and Floetry. The Magnificent is an outstanding BBE project that allows fans to hear more of Jeff Townes’ inviting musical fingerprints, complimenting artists that range from the mellow vocal work of Shawn Stockman, to the gruff, hardcore raps of Freddie Foxxx. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_73846722180 02. Quality – Talib Kweli His name in Arabic means ‘student of truth,’ so it seems that an existence overflowing with intelligence and relevance was predestined for skilled rapper Talib Kweli. Having made a respected name for himself in a relatively short time thanks to his earlier Black Star and Reflection Eternal projects, Kweli returned to rap’s forefront with his new album and first true solo LP, Quality. On this sparking effort, Kweli flows fluidly with politically and spiritually themed lyrics like in the socially aware “The Proud,” and the vulnerable “Won’t You Stay,” then smoothly switches to venomous battle raps typified in “Shock Body” and “Guerilla Monsoon Rap.” With watertight beats forged by some of today’s premier producers including Ayatollah and Jay Dee, and featuring such elite mic-rockers including as Common and Pharohe Monch, Quality should be regarded as a seminal release for Talib Kweli. Never has an album been more aptly named. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_81879338628 01. Blazing Arrow – Blackalicious Arguably the single best rap album released this year, the West Coast duet of Chief Xcel and Gift of Gab, also known as Blackalicious, have turned their major label debut into a major triumph. The fourth album from the Quannum duo, Blazing Arrow features high-quality emceeing from Gab and proficient musical architecture from Xcel, in addition to sparking collaborations with the likes of Saul Williams, Keke Wyatt, and Dilated Peoples. Always growing and evolving, the group introduces impressive new musical ideas such as the multi-dimensional “Release,” but still is not afraid to offer re-inventions of signature concepts like the confrontational “Paragraph President” and lyrical firestorm “Chemical Calisthenics.” Blazing Arrow hit the “bulls-eye,” raising the standard of excellence for all the subsequent Hip-Hop this year. [full review:] http://www.epinions.com/content_62727949956  |
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