Looking Back At 2003.. Check Out Hip-Hop's Top 20 Albums! Jan 26 '04 (Updated May 01 '04)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line 2003's hip-hop is better than 2002's and 2001's combined. These 20 albums are evidence of that.. Well, 2003 finally came to a close.. and it has been a great one in terms of high-quality hip-hop releases. Sure, if you look at the surface of the hip-hop industry, you had Baby, Chingy, and G-Unit dropping abominations of albums, but beneath that, there were an incredible amount of good releases. Check all 20 of these out.. they all rule and are worth your time and money. New faces emerged and gained their first attention, while old faces came back with more great albums for us to enjoy.. Speaking of enjoy, find all these albums and enjoy them! Now. 20. Jay Z - The Black Album Ten years in the industry, several albums, a collabo with R. Kelly, an Unplugged album, getting ripped apart by Nas, and Jay-Z closes the curtains on his illustrious career. Taking a more personal touch, Jay Z reflects on his life as a hip-hop giant and various other topics. While he definitely ruined the whole "Black Album" thing by overhyping it and releasing singles, its one of Jay-Z's better releases, along with Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint. Using 10 different producers on various tracks got mixed results for the rap star who reaped millions of dollars and formed a mega-label, Roc-A-Fella. While producers like 9th Wonder do well, others like The Neptunes (what a surprise) mess up. Worth taking a listen to, even if he could have done better with his last. Look for remixes of this album by DJ Kno (of Cunninlynguists), 9th Wonder, and Danger Mouse to improve the lacking production.. 19. Outkast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below It was inevitable. You knew it was coming. With Andre 3000 and Big Boi's styles growing further and further apart, it was only a matter of time before they released their own solo albums. Showing that the Billboard isn't total crap, this double album has gone over 6 times platinum and counting. Big Boi, as expected, continues his consistent Southern hip-hop formula that has succeeded so well over the last ten years. Andre 3000, also as expected, went completely loco with his album, trying various different sounds and styles of music. The discs are so different it is hard to draw a comparison, but they both have their highlights and moments of filler. Though not up to par on previous efforts, Outkast's latest was not a disappointment and was a step forward in their music. If only they could put out a couple more duo albums.. 18. Tech N9ne - AngHellic Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne follows up his debut Absolute Power with this unique 2003 release. Hedivides his album into two sections, Purgatory and Heaven. He appropriately themes his songs towards those two areas, combining the production with his lyrics to dictate the feel of the album. While there's a couple of miscues in terms of quality, the majority of the album is excellent and worthy of taking the #18 spot on this list. If you are in the mood for something that isn't the run-of-the-mill unoriginal sound.. try this album.. its unusual. 17. Louis Logic - Sin-O-Matic Immature, Offensive, etc. This is how you could describe this album by Louis Logic, a member of the rap crew Demigoz. But regardless, its a great album.. unique, and creative. Louis Logic goes into all sorts of sins, from lust, to greed. His emceeing skills are good, and the production that backs him up more than suffices. With Celph Titled joining him on some tracks, as well as producing, the album has a great variety of theme, from dark to light, angry to happy. If you are oversenstive to racist comments and other stereotypical references, this album isn't for you. But if you're willing to take whatever insults Louis may hurl at you, check this album out.. 16. Paris - Sonic Jihad Longtime political rap artist comes out of a break from music to drop vicious rhymes criticizing the current Bush administration. With guest spots from some of the greatest political rap artists ever, including Dead Prez, Kam, and Public Enemy, this album could not go wrong. Paris handles both the emceeing and production on this record, lacing the tracks with heavy funk beats. Attacking everything thats wrong with today's society, from violence to empty commercial hip-hop, Paris' commentary is bound to open some eyes to the problems in the world today. Thoughts on 9/11 and the secrets of the media as well.. as Paris re-established himself as a leader in the political hip-hop scene. 15. Roscoe - Young Roscoe Philaphornia With longtime West-coast rap artist Kurupt falling under the rule of Death Row CEO Suge Knight, its time to look for a replacement. As chance would have it, we don't need to look very far. Kurupt's own teenage brother drops his debut album in a year full of great debut albums. This teenage rap phenom ain't your Lil Romeo or Bow Wow. You can see a lot of Kurupt in Roscoe, but he isn't a carbon copy. This album, titled Philaphornia as a combo of Philly and Cali, showcases Roscoe's pure hunger and aggression on the microphone. The production is up to the par set by Roscoe's commanding presence. Roscoe places himself in a group of rappers ready to be the next wave of West-Coast artists with his debut album.. check it out. 14. J Zone - $ick of Being Rich Following up on his acclaimed debut Pimps don't pay Taxes, J-Zone is back for more action in 2003. J-Zone handles the production himself, as well as his side-splitting rhymes. Starting off with an Intro where he "interviews" a female intern, the many tracks on this album are sure to get a l augh out of you eventually. J-Zone also shows he can hold his own behind the boards, seeing as the majority of the beats are very good and fit perfectly with his rhymes. In the mood for a laugh, a good time, or something different? Try J-Zone's 2003 Album.. leaves you looking forward to more of what Zone's got in store for us in the future. 13. The Last Emperor - Music, Magic, Myth Ever heard of a guy named Dr. Dre? And his rap "sensations" 50 Cent and Eminem? How about the others on his label? No? Thats what I thought. The Last Emperor is one of the several emcees who was placed in the back of Dr. Dre's schedule at Aftermath. Eventually, like Rakim this past year, he left Aftermath to find a label that could put out his album. Raptivism was the label he needed, as his anticipated debut is one to remember. Lyrically dominant and creative, The Last Emp rips the mic on song after song to create this amazing album. The production falters on about half the tracks, but when its on, its ON. Even when the production isn't at its highest, The Last Emp's lyrics save the song from completely sucking. This album has the song of the year for me.. One Life, the last song the late Poetic (aka Grym Reaper) ever appeared on. Like several of the artists on this list, the album is an optimistic view at the future of this MC's career.. 12. Lifesavas - Spirit In Stone Remember the underground label Quannum? Yeah, the one with the amazing duo Blackalicious. Well don't think they were silent this year.. Quannum's newest artist, the duo of the Lifesavas, released its debut album at the start of this year. Like the second coming of Blackalicious, Vursatyl and Jumbo the Garbageman live up to the standards Quannum has set as a label. The lyrics range from battling to political statements, as both MC's show that they can hold their own on the mic. With guest spots from Blackalicious and J-Live, and production being handled by the likes of Chief Xcel, this album is well-crafted and sure to keep you thinking and your head nodding. 11. MF Doom/Viktor Vaughan - Vaudeville Villain MF Doom is one unique character in this 2003 release. Taking on the persona of Viktor Vaughn, Marvel Comics' Dr. Doom's real name, MF Doom establishes himself as an elite emcee. Aggression on the mic and creative lyrics is what sets this album in a world of its own. The production does not fail here, with the heavy usage of sampling to back up Doom by producers like Heat Sensor and RJD2. Overall, the album is very dope and is in heavy rotation in my CD player, even among all the great releases. Look for several more MF Doom releases in 2004, including a collabo with producer Madlib.. 10. Brother Ali - Shadows on the Sun The Rhymesayers had their year this year, with two albums in the top ten. Albino rapper Brother Ali joins in the wave of great hip hop with this album. Highly introspective, and taking on a humbled personality in several songs, this album is nearly flawless. Atmosphere manages to pull off an impressive appearance here, with the production handled by Ant and a few guest appearances by Slug. Brother Ali surpasses his debut (Rites of Passage) with his personal 2003 album, Shadows on the Sun.. 9. D.M. & Jemini - Ghetto Pop Life Producer Danger Mouse and emcee Jemini team up for this amazing album. Don't be turned off by the title- I dare you to tell me you don't like great lyrics, unbelievable production, and catchy choruses. Varied song topics, from love to hip-hop, make this album a great listen and far from monotonous. Danger Mouse establishes himself as a great indie producer by being able to imitate any feel, east, west, whatever. The guest appearances here should ring bells to all hip-hop heads: I'm pretty sure you've heard of names like the Pharcyde, J-Zone, and Tha Liks. Virtually every aspect of this album is solid. Production. Lyrics. What more could you want? 8. Ayentee - The Manual One of rap's most honest artists, Ayentee follows up his ultra-personal debut Public Diary by releasing The Manual in 2003. The Bay Area rapper produces all of his own tracks, with a brilliant use of sampling techniques. As for the lyrics, Ayentee provides a manual for up and coming emcees, with songs like Record Label explaining the problems with labels and the business in general. You get the feeling Ayentee is trying to get you to relate to him, as he describes average hardships that the normal person faces, such as choosing a future career. Ayentee's sophomore album is one of the best in 2003, and majorly slept-on. Go check it out! 7. Soul Position - 8 Million Stories Facing tons of expectations and anticipation for their debut, Soul Position pulls off one of the best albums of 2003. With RJD2 dropping incredible beats increasing his rep by the second, and Blueprint making a name for himself in the underground, this was a very anticipated album from the Rhymesayers label. Blueprint acts as a down-to-earth, average mortal.. rapping about topics virtually anyone can relate to. Describing the problems of the average human at length, Blueprint's style is laid-back and witty, even if it is way out in left field. Meanwhile, RJD2 manages to match Blueprint's unusual styles with his amazing production skills. From banging, to jazzy and soulful, to even dark and grimy, RJD2 shows his versatility as a producer and lives up to his rapidly growing reputation. This is just the beginning for Soul Position.. Full Review 6. Rasco - Escape from Alcatraz Rasco, recently "released" from his old "prison," Copastik Records, finally releases a beautiful follow-up to Time Waits For No Man. Not forgetting to lay down attacks to his old label, Rasco's rhymes range from relaxed to angry. He doesn't just take shots at his former label, but also educates, urging people to try new things and break free from whatever is "imprisoning" them in life. The guest appearances here include Casual from the Hieroglyphics, Chali 2Na from Jurassic 5, and Planet Asia. Full of uplifting messages and soulful to bouncy production, Rasco's 2003 album is worthy of being on this list.. Full Review 5. Immortal Technique - Revolutionary Vol. 2 Immortal Technique, two years after releasing his widely ignored debut, joins hip-hop elite with this sequel. The Hispanic MC's aggressive, powerful delivery is reminiscent of Ice Cube, and his lyrics match the power of his mic skills. He addresses many conspiracy theories and blasts the U.S. government for repeated fallacies and mistakes. The beats here are generally good enough to match the lyrics and aggression, and Technique branches out into storytelling and heartfelt songs as well. While the majority of the album is politics, politics, and politics, the last few tracks are more emotional, proving he isn't just some lunatic conservative-hater. Get this album. Full Review 4. Little Brother - The Listening The rap trio of Phonte, Big Pooh, and 9th Wonder explode onto the scene from North Carolina with their debut album. 9th Wonder drops soulful, high quality beats to prove his growing rep as a great producer is not undeserved, while Big Pooh and Phonte are lyricially intelligent and calm. Braggadocio to hip-hop commentary, its all here. Combining the styles of various artists, Little Brother's brilliant debut has something of everything.. and it works out perfectly. They can only go up from here.. and its a great start to a promising career for this rap trio. 3. Vakill - The Darkest Cloud Vakill like columbians sitting in a circle, my name's got a dope ring to it. Damn. Affliated with the Molemen from Chicago, Vakill, known for his battle rhymes, drops his long-awaited debut LP in 2003. Brilliant punchlines.. Vakill's trademark, will have you pressing the rewind button to hear them again. His voice sounds similar to Ras Kass, and he's got even better beats, produced by Molemen figures like Memo, Mixx Massacre, and Panik. Guest spots include Slug from Atmosphere, and Copywrite and Jakki from MHz. Incredible creativity and ridiculously witty punchlines make this album one of 2003's elite. Don't sleep! Full Review 2. Cunninlynguists - Southernunderground The duo of DJ Kno and Deacon the Villain is back for another round, this time adding to their group emcee Mr. SOS. The Cunninlynguists pick up right where their debut, Will Rap For Food left off, improving it and refining their skills. There is a huge variety of songs on this album.. from Seasons, a metaphoric look at Hip-Hop's past, to Dyin' Nation, a commentary on the nation's government. The varied topics are backed up beautifully by varied production from DJ Kno, as well as others like RJD2 and Deacon. Combining witty punchlines with intelligence and brilliant, fun production, the Cunninlynguists drop one of 2003's most enjoyable albums. If you like this album, also check out Sloppy Seconds Vol. 1, a B-Side/Mixtape from the 'Lynguists, also released this year. Full Review 1. Canibus - Rip the Jacker You need ten times the enzymes to process my rhymes. Canibus' latest LP will definitely get your brain working hard to keep up with wave after mindblowing wave of intense lyricism. More of Bis' trademark battle rhymes that'll leave you saying "Wow" over and over again. And guess what.. Canibus finally got the perfect production! Handing over all board control to Stoupe from Jedi Mind Tricks, the beats finally match Canibus's aggressive flow and mentality. Stoupe lays down unusual beat after unusual beat.. and it blends in perfectly with Bis's vocals. People say Canibus needs to diversify? He adds in storytelling and social views on this album. Album of the year, and Canibus' best to date by faaaar. I know virtually everyone out there on EPS disagrees with this being the best album of 2003, but I'm sorry, its just too damn good.. Full Review ..And now, the menacing task of writing reviews on all of these begins. I'm glad 2003 was such a good year for hip-hop, I've added some very high-quality albums to my collection along the way. 2004 also looks very promising, with albums from O.C., Talib Kweli, Cormega, and loads of others set to drop. Let's hope it doesn't disappoint..

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