Top 12 Hip-Hop Albums of 2006 (D&D W/O)
Feb 06 '07
The Bottom Line Guess who's back, bitch?!
Before I get started, I want to send a special thanks to Kyle for his continuous encouragement. He's been anxious to see this list, which is what has kept me from not doing it at all.
INTRODUCTION:
Well, I know it was a month ago, but New Year's Eve/Day has come and passed. It is officially 2007. I hope you all had a good one... but, with the end of the old year and the coming of the new, with it comes a tradition for Epinions: Demon and Drew's Best of/Worst of 2006 Write Off (and yes, I know that the write off is over and Demon already took the entries off his profile, but I have a promise to fufill).
As a whole, Hip-Hop in 2006 wasn't really as disastrous as some people have said it was. But truthfully, the quality of the albums released this year just wasn't as good as those of last year. I mean sure, there were a few exceptions at the top of the list, but there really hasn't been that much that has really blown me away. That's one of the smaller reasons why this list is so much smaller than last years; the main reason is time constraints. My first plan was to list my top 30 albums, just like I did last year. But with everything going on, I couldn't put together a good one, so to save on time and get it out there sooner, I decided to limit my list to 20. Time kept creeping up on me so I decided to limit my list once again -- this time, to 15. And when time continued to creep, I decided to take after fellow Epinions reviewer MadTheory and limit my list to 12. Now before I start my list, I assure you my list is different from everybody else's on this site. A few picks may be the same, but some of these albums I have listed here have yet you be mentioned on this website. So there are a lot of albums that I've seen on other lists that DIDN'T make it on mine (I think my list is the only Hip-Hop related list on this site that doesn't include "Kingdom Come"). The fact is there were a lot of albums out there that I expected to be good that really disappointed me. That being said, let's get started with the ones that fufilled my expectations...
THE TOP 12 HIP-HOP ALBUMS OF 2006:
12. Pack FM - WhutduzFMstand4? (4 Stars)
Standout tracks: "I Can't Win", "Forevershine", "WhutduzFMstand4?"
Last year, QN5 labelhead Tonedeff released his debut album "Archetype", which would become the greatest Hip-Hop record of the year (and one of the most memorable Hip-Hop records in the past few years). With the label's boss breakthrough, it was time for some of the other acts to follow, and the first to do so this year was Pack FM. Previously known for being part of the group Extended F@mm, it was time for him to strike out on his own, and he did just that with the release of his solo debut, "WhutduzFMstand4?". The question obviously asks what the two letters in his name are supposed to mean (which he addresses on the title track) but it also has a different significance: the question is also asked to reveal what Pack's beliefs are and what he represents as an emcee, and that's what the entire album reflects. While he has the obligatory battle tracks (like "Forevershine" and "Spell it with a K") and tracks concerning women and love (like "Token Love Song", "Suzie", and "Ugly Women"), other interesting concepts are also covered, such as the difficulty in breaking into the rap industry ("I Can't Win), a night in the life of a graffiti artist ("Click, Clack, and Spray"), Pack's high school days ("Lessons"), and the kind of excuses people make to get out of sticky situations ("Excuses", featuring Icon the Mic King). The album is no doubt a good one, but a few certain tracks could've definitely been ditched, as they really aren't as spectacular as some of the others on here. Also, there are instances where the production just fails the track, such as the previously mentioned "Click Clack and Spray", where the simple beat makes it hard to pay attention. While the album has gone virtually unnoticed by both the mainstream crowd and the underground, it still shows a young emcee at his best, and definitely gives us something to look forward to in terms of future releases from Pack FM.
11. Vakill - Worst Fears Confirmed (4 Stars)
Standout tracks: "Acts of Vengeance", "Farewell to the Game", "Monstaz Ink"
Now I tell you what: Chicago, Illinois held it down for Hip-Hop this year; three of the albums on this list came from natives of the windy city. But somewhere along the way, "Worst Fears Confirmed" got lost in the hype of the other Chicago emcees that released albums this year. But that's not to discredit Vakill either -- without a doubt, he's got some of the sickest raps you'll ever hear. With his 2003 album, "The Darkest Cloud", he proved that he ain't nothin' to fuck with, and with his follow up, "Worst Fears Confirmed" he continued to do so. Vakill is a battle emcee, and that is painfully obvious as you listen to the album. Braggadocio raps make up the majority of the album, but while he may sound one dimensional, you can't help but be amazed at ill punchlines he delivers. The best of this can be seen on "Monstaz Ink", where he just comes after you with line after line of sickness that'll leave you wearing out the rewind button. But when he isn't talking shit about other people, he's giving us personal material about himself. Tracks like "Farewell to the Game" and "Serpents and the Rainbow" discuss his life vividly, leaving out no details about who he is and what he does. And of course, the darkness is never left behind, especially in "Heart Bleeds" and Man Into Monster", but the album's best track is "Acts of Vengeance". This track is a focused narrative about a pastor declaring war on drugs in his community, resulting in the pastor's children being murdered to 'teach him a lesson'. The ending raises a moral question: if someone put your family in harms way, would you take revenge on them yourself or wait to let the Lord do it in the afterlife? Needless to say, it surpasses any other storytelling track I've heard in Hip-Hop this year. As with many other braggadocio rappers, his production team often misses their mark in creating a perfect backdrop for Vakill to work his greatness. While the album isn't as good as "The Darkest Cloud" as a whole, it's shows that even now, Vakill ain't nothin' to fuck with.
10. Akir - Legacy (4 Stars)
Standout tracks: "Kunta Kinte", "Politricks", "No Longer My Home"
This is album that has been unfairly slept on. In an era where real heartfelt political rap is all but dead, Akir has released an album that's as rebellious as the early Public Enemy records. Throughout his career, Akir has been labeled as 'the next Nas', but with his official debut record "Legacy", he proves that like Transformers, there's more to him than meets the eye. You gotta appreciate the way Akir does it though -- he manages to flip through various topics, unlike other political rappers who stay one dimensional (Immortal Technique, anyone?). He's able to flip it between braggadocio ("Mood Music"), storytelling ("This is Your Life", "Change of the Seasons"), tracks revolving around his own life and family ("No Longer My Home", "Homeward Bound"), and even commercially appealing material ("Tropical Fantasy"), but of course the place where he shines the most is the politically charged raps. The major examples would be "Kunta Kinte" and "Politricks"; in the former, he compares the black working class to the slaves of old, while he speaks on the injustices faced by young black citizens in the U.S. in the latter. If you had any doubt about this dude's skill, take a look at this tongue-twisting couplet from the latter song, which also happens to be the album's first single: "Politicians that be gargling that garbage shit / bargain with anonymous officers of opposite doctrines / for the legal tender documents / pocketin' the profits off the rockets while they kick us out the projects". There are points in the album where the production falters, and a couple of the weaker tracks are just filler that drags the album out too long, but aside from these missteps, "Legacy" is a strong album overall. Akir's music has the ability to make you think, which is something Hip-Hop desperately needs at this point. While Akir proves he may be a little wet behind the ears, this is definitely an album worthy of your time and money, and worthy of being included in the top 10 albums of the year.
9. Rhymefest - Blue Collar (4 1/2 Stars)
Standout tracks: "Bullet (feat. Citizen Cope)", "Devil's Pie", "More (feat. Kanye West)"
This is the second of the 'Chicago Three' that I mentioned earlier. Rhymefest represents the archetypal 'everyman' persona that most people are familiar with: he is the working class hero who most people can identify with. Unlike a lot of Hip-Hop artists in the game currently, he didn't come up selling drugs on the streets; instead, he worked a number of jobs while he was making music. So it was no surprise that he would name his long-awaited debut album "Blue Collar". He reps the working class right off the bat with the album's first track "Dynomite": "Blue collar rap, why I call it that? / Shit, I know more real niggas at U-Haul than haul crack!". One thing you gotta give him props for is he never goes back on his word; he reps the working class throughout the album. "Blue Collar" evenly divides up its subject matter, but 'Fest easily excels the most in two specific categories: the conscious department (he speaks on the struggle of the working class in "Devils Pie", which is built off a sample of a Strokes song, and tears into the human's obsession with greed on the Kanye West-assisted "More") and the storytelling department (he gives three heartbreaking stories about people from his hood in "Bullet", which is a reworking of the Citizen Cope song "Bullet and a Target", and humorously conveys a story about a relationship between him and a high-maintenance girl in the ODB-assisted "Build Me Up"). The album also has its share of braggadocio as well as commercially-based material, with the latter being the only department where the album falters. But even so, "Blue Collar" was still an excellent debut that I'm glad to have purchased. he major purpose of "Blue Collar" is to show that the working class has their own rapper that they can look up to, and that not every rapper has to be a gangsta or a hustler. I can confidently say that Rhymefest has accomplished his mission, and I look forward to hearing how much better he can get in the future.
8. Outkast - Idlewild (4 1/2 Stars)
Standout tracks: "PJ & Rooster", "Hollywood Divorce (feat. Lil' Wayne and Snoop Dogg)", "When I Look in Your Eyes", "The Train"
Now, I know some people are just rolling their eyes at this point, but fuck them. While their move of the same name could've been a lot better, Outkast's new album "Idlewild" is an excellent release that brings them back to what they are known for: making dope music. The album itself is supposed to serve as the film's soundtrack, but it's not as much 'music FROM the film' and more so 'music INSPIED BY the film'; many of the songs on the album come from the viewpoints of the movie's main characters, Percival (played by Andre) and Rooster (played by Big Boi) or make references to the film, but only a select few are actually featured in the film itself. In fact, a large number of the songs from the film were originally on their 2003 double album "Speakerboxxx / The Love Below". Either way, the album succeeds where SB / TLB failed; see, "SB / TLB" were basically two solo albums packaged together and sold as a double album, so while they were decent records on their own, as an overall Outkast album, it was somewhat of a disappointment. Unfortunately, the incohesiveness is still somewhat present on "Idlewild", as Andre and Big Boi only appear on three songs together (four if you count the closer "A Bad Note", but that's simply a self-indulgent eight-minute guitar solo with little to no vocals from either of them). But thankfully, the three they do appear on are excellent and are the album's standout cuts. While Cab Calloway-inspired "Mighty 'O'" covers the braggadocio side of things, "Hollywood Divorce" is the major introspective song; on this track, Dre and Big Boi are joined by Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg as they speak on how the entertainment industry corrupts people. Even better is "PJ and Rooster", the track that sums up the entire film perfectly: a jukebox jam that gives the catchiness of "Hey Ya!" a run for its money. That's not to say the solo songs from this album are bad either: while Dre's singing may be a little grating on the ears, he's still able to carry a tune most of the time. And Big Boi is still holding shit down rap wise, period. While the album may not have the same impact as previous Outkast records, it's still an excellent record that was better than most of the Hip-Hop albums coming this year.
7. Kenn Starr - Starr Status (4 1/2 Stars)
Standout tracks: "Carry On (feat. Supastition and Darien Brockington)", "If (feat. Talib Kweli and Asheru)", "Middle Fingaz"
Y'all are gonna have to thank Kyle for this one again, as well as Marat, as they were the two who put me up on this one; I'm glad they did. Kenn Starr is a rapper I haven't really paid that much attention to, though he did make some high profile guest appearances on two of my favorite albums from 2004 (Foreign Exchange's "Connected" and Wordsworth's "Mirror Music"). On his debut album, "Starr Status", he shows he useful for more than guest appearances. Throughout the entire album, Starr glides over the low-key production with harsh lyrics and a smooth flow that's awfully reminiscent of Big Daddy Kane. Starr is extremely talented lyrically, and he shows it right off the bat, with the punchline-laden "Against the Grain" and even more so on "Middle Fingaz", where he mocks and attacks the gangsta gimmicks in Hip-Hop: "I don't care where you're from, where you're goin, where you been at / your manager, your DJ, the club that you spin at / the fact that you blame everything on the white man / your friend that can't rap, you made your hype man / how many mixtapes you drop on the reg' / how nice you freestyle off the top of the head / how many battles you won, how many ciphers you spit in / how many punchlines and metaphors you can fit in / you arrogant, fronting like you humble to death / all the empty threats that you mumble under your breath / see I don't care what you rep or how deep you roll / in the streets or how many of the your teeth is gold". But it's not just battle lyrics with this guy, he also constantly drops knowledge and offers insight into his own life, like on the major album standout "Carry On", which features North Carolina natives Supastition and Darien Brockington, and "If", which features underground superstar Talib Kweli and Asheru (the latter whom I had never heard a verse from outside of "The Boondocks" theme song). While there are some tiresome moments as well as some points where the production is too boring to keep the listener interested, the record is definitely a good first statement from a new artist.
6. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale (4 1/2 Stars)
Standout tracks: "The Champ", "Shakey Dog", "Whip You With a Strap"
In an attempt to imitate Burgess Meredith's 'Mickey' character in the "Rocky" movies, Just Blaze's growling voice screams "You ain't been hungry since Supreme Clientele!!" at the beginning of the album's first single, "The Champ". Whether or not you could agree with that statement, there is no doubt that Wu-Tang Clan member Ghostface Killah has regained whatever hunger he had lost. In March of 2006, he released "Fishscale", a dope album that brought both him and the Wu back to relevancy. The album's best track is easily the previously mentioned "Champ", where Ghost lays down some vicious battle rhymes, tearing into wack emcees, like D4L ("My arts is crafty darts while y'all stuck on 'Laffy Taffy' / wondering 'how did y'all niggas get past me? / I been doing this before Nas dropped the 'Nasty'"). But there are other excellent tracks here as well, including "Shakey Dog", which offers insight into the frantic life of a street hustler with an enormous amount vivid detail, and "Whip You With a Strap", where Ghost gives us tales about being beat as a child when he did something wrong, and advocates whipping kids' asses when they're bad. Of course, knowing Ghostface, the obligatory drug dealer tales were to be included, but "Kilo" turns out to be a pretty good record for the most part, as he teams with fellow Wu member Raekwon to give us a good look at the life of a drug kingpin. The production helps the track too, as the sung hook is catchy as hell. There are a few weak tracks that keep it from being rated higher on the list, not to mention the annoying skits, but for the most part, this record is worth buying. I dunno what to tell you about the sequel album "More Fish" (I haven't heard anything from the record aside from the singles "Ghost is Back" and "Good"), but "Fishscale" is easily Ghost's best work in years, and definitely a worthy inclusion on this list.
5. Chino XL - Poison Pen (5 Stars)
Standout tracks: "Skin", "Poison Pen", "Wordsmith", "Even if it Kills Me"
Now this one was originally leaked back in 2005, but didn't see an official release until March of 2006 so it's definitely viable for inclusion on this list. Chino XL is definitely a hit-or-miss artist; you can either enjoy his constant barrage of punchlines or hate the fact that he needs to be more conceptual. Either way, in the span of Chino's career, which has lasted well over ten years, he'd only released two albums. Chino had been promising his fans the release of his third album "Poison Pen" since 2003, and in that time span, the album has seen tons of release dates and was almost scrapped entirely. Thankfully for us, Chino decided to release the LP and it proves to be an excellent release, one that rivals his groundbreaking debut "Here to Save You All". For those of you who've wanted to hear Chino tackle more personal issues, this is definitely the album for you. The album DOES have its fair share of braggadocio, with the major standouts being the anthemic "Even if it Kills Me", and the bonus track "Nunca", originally from his second album "I Told You So". But even so, the rest of the material on here easily makes this his most personal album. He tackles his childhood and the beginning of his rap career ("Wordsmith"), his personal life ("She Can't Change Me"), and his accomplishments in the rap game ("Talk to You"). But the album's most personal track (and its best as well) is the extremely dark "Skin"; in this track, Chino recounts all his problems to a psychiatrist, who only speaks through the right channel when you listen to this track (meaning you can only hear him through your right speaker/headphone). He also manages to get extremely creative at times, like on the previously mentioned "Wordsmith", where he uses a multitude of homonyms to get his point across; he's even more so creative in the title track, "Poison Pen", where he plays the part of an author who predicts and plans the future of humanity through his writing. Though I will say the album has one major misstep ("All I Wanna Do (Bout Nothin')", a failed attempt at a club track), "Poison Pen" is a nearly flawless album. It has it all: excellent lyricism, outstanding production, original and concepts, and more versatility than his sophomore album. While I'm definitely not anticipating his commercialized effort "Confirmation" (I've hated everything that I've heard from it so far), I can definitely say that Chino has outdone himself here and has made a memorable album that I'll be listening to for years to come.
4. The Roots - Game Theory (5 Stars)
Standout tracks: "In the Music (feat. Malik B. and Porn)", "Atonement (feat. Jack Davey)", "Long Time (feat. Peedi Peedi and Bunny Sliger)"
The Roots have definitely been one of the more groundbreaking Hip-Hop acts in the longest time. They incorporate the use of live instruments in their recording and performances, giving them the label of a 'Hip-Hop band'. While I know some fans have doubted them in the past few years due to lack in quality of their most recent releases ("Phrenology" and "The Tipping Point"), they have easily returned to form with their newest album, "Game Theory", which is probably their second best record to date (behind the classic "Things Fall Apart"). Released on Def Jam Records, the album was referred to by drummer ?uestlove as their "most serious record to date", with topics ranging from the Iraq war to violence in music to Black Thought's family issues. It's definitely a departure from their previous two releases, which were more lighthearted. Former group member Malik B. has also made a major return, appearing on three of the album's 13 tracks. Just as ?uestlove said, the album is indeed very dark and overall, it's reflective of the political state in America. The album has a number of highlights, from the rapid-fire pace of "Here I Come" to the politically charged but still commercially appealing first single "Don't Feel Right" to the uplifting "Long Time", which features a surprising excellent verse from Peedi Peedi (yeah, that's Peedi Crack -- same guy who used to be on Roc-a-fella). But without a doubt, the album's best track is the anthemic "In the Music", where Black Thought and Malik B. beautifully articulate how music becomes a way for the youth to get away from this troubled world. The hook is catchy and has become a battle cry for myself, as I'm sure it has for other music lovers as well: "It's in the MUSIC, turn it up let it knock / let it bang on the block 'til the neighbors call the cops / the cops gone come, but they ain't gone do shit / They don't want no problems, what are y'all, STUPID?!". Most of the album is pure perfection, with a few blemishes here and there (the production of "False Media" was just too simple for me, and while the tribute to the late J Dilla on "Can't Stop This" is heartwarming, it could've definitely been trimmed down a bit). The only real track that doesn't really match up to the rest of the album is "Livin' in a New World"; it's not a bad track, but it wouldn't really be missed if it was left off the album. While The Roots are already working on their next project, "Game Theory" will remain a milestone for the group; it's been featured near the top of a lot of album lists for 06, especially here on Epinions. And yes, I can tell you it rightfully belongs there.
3. Lupe Fiasco – Food and Liquor (5 Stars)
Standout tracks: "Hurts Me Soul", "The Cool", "American Terrorist (featuring Matthew Santos)"
The final album of the 'Chicago Three' I mentioned earlier, this was the one album everybody had been anticipating ever since its original leaking back in mid 2006. The original leak of "Food & Liquor" was highly acclaimed by fans and online publications alike, with many people calling it a classic. With the bulk of his material already leaked, Lupe Fiasco decided to push the release date back; when it was, he went back into the studio and recorded a few new songs for the album, dropping several underground mixtapes to keep his name out there while he was doing so. When the album finally dropped in September, Lupe mostly fulfilled the expectations of his fans. He was able to perfectly mix introspection, storytelling, braggadocio, and creativity. He was able to take a few cliched storytelling ideas and turn them into classic tracks, like "The Cool" (where he follows a street-wise hustler who rises from the dead, trying to escape his inevitable fate of death), "The Instrumental" (where he discusses the control that the media has over impressionable youth, referring to both television and radio in two different verses as 'the box'), and "Daydreamin'" (where he imagines his project building as a Gundam-style giant robot, and speaks about everything he sees from it). He also takes the time to speak on things not covered in Hip-Hop often, such as skateboarding (the first single "Kick, Push" and its darker sequel, "Kick, Push II"). He also covers politics in the standout "American Terrorist"; subjects touched on here include the current war in the Middle East, poverty that affects whites as well as blacks, and discrimination against blacks and Native Americans. But the album's best track is easily "Hurt Me Soul", where he speaks on his love/hate relationship with Hip-Hop and attacks the mainstream in an extremely clever way. Overall, I can't really say whether "Food and Liquor" is a classic as of yet, but I will say it stands among some of the best Hip-Hop albums released in recent years. Lupe put out an album with no filler cuts, no retarded skits, just straight up heartfelt music coming straight from a real man's soul.
2. Cunnylinguists - A Piece of Strange (5 Stars)
Standout tracks: "The Gates (feat. Tonedeff), "What'll You Do?", "Brain Cell", "Nothing to Give"
Like "Poison Pen", this one also leaked back in '05, in the form of a promotional sampler no less, but didn't see an official release until January of '06. There's no need for me to talk about whether or not the South has any good Hip-Hop coming from it; right now all that needs to be said is the Cunnylinguists are one of the dopest Hip-Hop groups out there right now, and they would be regardless of where they came from. With two albums in their back catalogue, producer Kno and emcee Deacon the Villain returned better than ever with the album "A Piece of Strange". This time around, one-time member Mr. SOS has taken a break from the group and therefore has been replaced (for this album anyway) by Natti, who joins Deacon on seven of the sixteen tracks. I can pretty much sum this album up like this: this is what it would be like if Kno and Deacon made "ATLiens" instead of Outkast. The vibes of both albums are both very somber, and they both talk about the same type of subjects and themes. You can tell that these guys don't play, as we get into the braggadocio right off the bat with "Since When", where Deacon and Natti stand up for their region and clear up any and all misconceptions about Southern emcees while Kno provides the energetic production laced with a funky distorted guitar. Of course, the Cunninlyguists go beyond just creative braggadocio, which is evidenced by the rest of the album. They cover a multitude of subjects, including the evil things people do at night ("Nothing to Give"), the different kinds of imprisonment one can feel, which refers to more than just jail ("Brain Cell"), the public's infatuation with violence ("America Loves Gangsters") and the irresistible charms of marijuana, personified as a woman, ("Beautiful Girl"). It gets even better as the album goes on, as we suddenly switch to a thematic concept album. Starting with "Never Know Why" and ending with the interlude "Remember Me", the album then follows the story of a white firefighter whose wife (who was black) had died after giving birth to their daughter; when his daughter later gives birth to a child she made with a man of a different race, the man disowns he disowns his daughter and her child. The culmination of this entire suite comes with the albums best track, "The Gates"; in this track, Tonedeff plays the white firefighter, who has died and is at the gates of Heaven, but Deacon, playing an angel, refuses to let him in because of his blatant racism. Even if its only for a short number of tracks, its one of the best storylines I've heard for a Hip-Hop album. Nothing more needs to be said: This album is damn near flawless.
Well, here we are ... the number one album. If "Food and Liquor" merely 'stands among' some of the best albums of recent years and "A Piece of Strange" is 'damn near flawless', than the final album on our list must be a masterpiece. I dunno what y'all think but if you ask me ... it is.
And the weird part about it all is.... I'm not even that big of a fan of this guy, even though he's somewhat of a legend ....
1. Nas - Hip-Hop is Dead
Standout tracks: "Can't Forget About You", "Let There Be Light", "Black Republican (feat. Jay-Z)", "Not Going Back"
When Nas said he was going to name his new album "Hip-Hop is Dead" back in May, a lot of people were up in arms. It bothered me as well at one point, because Nas has had such an uneven catalogue, some that have really dealt huge blows to his career, that he has no right to be talking about Hip-Hop being dead. This same guy, who put out the disappointing double album "Streets Disciple", wasn't really making me turn my head. But as the album release date grew closer and closer in months, it was realized that Nas was on his A-game once again. And now that the album has been since dropped, I can honestly say that Nas has delivered a masterpiece that rivals even his 'untouchable' debut album "Illmatic". Its like that right off the bat, with the no-nonsense braggadocio track "Money Over Bullshit", where he exclaims that he's "afraid, not of none of you cowards, but of [his] own strength". The album kind of follows a trend of mentioning the aspects of Hip-Hop, such as "Carry On Tradition", where he attacks the young emcees who don't respect the old school, the title track "Hip-Hop is Dead", where he discusses what brought about the death of the beloved culture, "Where Are They Now?", a who's who list of old school rappers and what happened to them, "Who Killed It?", an interesting twist of the "I Use to Love H.E.R." concept, and "Hope", the closing track where Nas remembers how he fell in love with Hip-Hop -- done all acapella. The album also has its share of collaborations, with cats like Kanye West, The Game, and Snoop Dogg, but the only cat that is able to keep up with Nas and at least stand toe-to-toe with him is his former rival Jay-Z, and he does just that on the long awaited Jigga/Nas collabo, "Black Republican". The obligatory 'hood' tracks are here, in the form of "Not Going Back" and "Hold Down the Block", but they are both actually very good. The former especially, as he exclaims that he will always represent the projects but promises that he's never going back to that lifestyle as long as he lives. But without a doubt, the album's best track is the Nat King Cole-sampling "Can't Forget About You", as Nas delivers one of the best Hip-Hop 'nostalgia/ remembering good old days' tracks in years. Nas is definitely on top of his game here; lyrics are excellent, the beats are dope, the concepts are memorable. I just don't know how else to say it: this album is a masterpiece, plain and simple.
CLOSING:
In closing, I would like to thank everyone who has given me support. Now that I finally have this out of the way, I can finally get back to reviewing.
The new year has already started and it has brung a lot of promise. There's supposed to be a lot of dope Hip-Hop coming out this year; I'm personally anticipating a lot of projects, especially the ones from Canibus, eMC, Redman, Proof, and Raekwon. Anyway, here's to hoping that 2007 exceeds this last year and even the year before it.
Peace!
Headcase
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