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konspirator01's Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums of 2002Jul 02 '03 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Better late than never.
Real music's gonna last / All that other bullshit / Is here today and gone tomorrow I've been meaning to post this up six months ago, but I never seemed to get around to it until now. Nevertheless, I think this list will still hold relevance because great music is still great music no matter what year it came out in. Some of these albums still have hip-hop heads talking so if you missed out on any of these albums it's not too late to head over to your favorite music store and pick it up. Don’t listen to anyone else; this IS the definitive list. 10.) Nas - God's Son & GZA/Genius - Legend of the Liquid Sword (tie) (Ill Will/Columbia & MCA, respectively) Both albums have their missteps, but the emotional depth of God's Son and the lyrical mastery displayed on Legend of the Liquid Sword can not be overlooked. Nas took no time off to bask in the praise for Stillmatic; instead he hit fans with a worthy follow-up album and a collection of B-sides. I guess his beef with Jay-Z revitalized his work ethic. Both albums suffered slightly from bland production, but Nas and GZA made up for it with their lyrics. In the case of GZA, this manifested into bountiful wordplay and edgy manipulation of language. If anything, it’ll make you pull out your Liquid Swords album for another spin. 9.) The Streets – Original Pirate Material (Vice/Atlantic) This blend of electronic, garage, and hip-hop found wild success in 2002 among many music critics. Though this reviewer finds the album to be slightly overrated, Mike Skinner brings to hip-hop a breath of much-needed fresh air. His heavy London accent is the most obvious difference, but a closer listen reveals tales of urban British youth that are both honest and clever. The excellent production completes the stylish package. 8.) Talib Kweli – Quality (MCA) This well-received album finds Talib Kweli branching out with a variety of producers and topics. Quality is complete with energy-filled tracks and mellow personal pieces. I was never really a fan of Kweli’s voice, but his lyrics, whether boasting, reflective, or political, make all of his albums winners. 7.) J-Live – All of the Above (Coup D’Etat) Maybe it has something to do with him being a teacher, but J-Live is one of the most literate MCs in the industry. There are a lot of jazzy, soothing grooves on this album, but J-Live’s flow actually provides the melody for many tracks and his lyrics almost always steal the spotlight. A rapper will have a very hard time trying to craft political songs better than "Satisfied?", alliteration songs like "MCee", or storytelling raps like "One for the Griot". For intelligent and confident hip-hop, look no further than J-Live. 6.) Sage Francis – Personal Journals (Anticon) If there was anything that can be called emo-rap, Personal Journals is it. This is deeply personal poetry converted into hip-hop form. It gets murkily abstract sometimes, but oftentimes than not Sage Francis’s lyrics resonate with emotional depth and range. In a time where reality TV and webblogs are all the rage for the voyeuristic public, let’s do away with the garbage and hear someone do it eloquently and with haunting power. 5.) Mr. Lif – I Phantom (Def Jux) Who can make a concept album so bold that it dares to analyze life with microscope and dissecting knife from the beginnings to apocalyptic end? Def Jukie Mr. Lif ties up some themes from previous EPs into the crowning achievement that is I Phantom. Few albums have the real-life relevance of this album; Mr. Lif addresses the issues of the working class all under an unique light. 4.) Count Bass D – Dwight Spitz (Day by Day Entertainment) A lot of songs have you wishing they didn’t drag on forever. Not a lot of songs have you wishing for more, but Dwight Spitz has a lot of those songs. Admit it, you’ve never heard of this guy. But heads gotta stop sleeping on this album because you’ve never heard production quite like Count Bass D does it. The beats will keep your head nodding, the samples are cool, and Bass D has a nice flow on the mic. This solid album isn’t easy to find, but trust me, it’s well worth the effort. 3.) El-P – Fantastic Damage (Def Jux) The man who brought you Funcrusher Plus hasn’t been slacking off. He’s done production for practically every Def Jux album you own and in 2002 he’s coming at you with an LP of his own. The world’s not the pretty place your mommy would have you believe and El-P is out to prove it. Abrasive and bizarre production follows mind-bending lyrics like a shattering one-two punch to a listener’s utopian dreams. Best believe, this is some heavy shit. 2.) Blackalicious – Blazing Arrow (MCA) El-P can spit complex phrases at a head-spinning rate, but the Gift of Gab can sure give him a run for his money. That’s where the similarities pretty much end. Blackalicious is all about the positive vibe and songs like "Make You Feel That Way" hit the mark so well that I’d describe it as uplifting. Blazing Arrow shows us a more musically diverse Blackalicious. Guest artists make the album shine even brighter instead of hindering it like so many typical rap albums. This album was definitely the record to have last summer and I’m certain it’s going to sound just as good this summer. 1.) J-Live – The Best Part (Seven Heads/Triple Threat) J-Live finally getting to officially release this underground classic despite all the setbacks is probably one of the most important (yet overlooked) events of hip-hop in 2002. People need to hear this. Fans of All of the Above will love this album. The lyricism is even better and the album as a whole has a distinctly different vibe that sets it apart from its successor. Every song on this album is simply excellent. Whether he’s rapping about love, battling MCs into submission, or wielding metaphors, J-Live is one of the finest specimens in the species of the MC.  |
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