A View With Four Eyes: The Top 15 Hip-Hop Albums of 2007 Dec 19 '07 (Updated Jan 20 '09)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music Revelation [Digipak] by Journey From $12 Machine Gun Etiquette by The Damned From $40 The Bottom Line The first year write-up in hip-hop music on epinions? I think so, right next to 205. One of the best years in hip hop for awhile. 2007. It starts out as any other year. A lack of spark with an album that will entice hip-hop fans to be excited about anything new. Just the hype of "so called" albums that will most likely not deliver, or be released. I really wasn't expecting anything of pristine quality, but I was wrong. 2007 had a lot of ambitious and incredible releases that make it one of the best years in the 2000's. A lot has happened this year. Jay-z contradicted himself for the second time to release the lukewarm and vastly overhyped "American Gangster." Kanye West battles 50 Cent in sales for superiority with both their albums, "Graduation" vs. "Curtis", which any hip-hop head will tell you that sales don't equal talent. The underground scene had the best year, with a lot of promise and talent. I don't follow celebrity gossip, Britney Spears current insanity, or reality shows, but I do follow music, so call this "the frog's mediocre write-up of his so called best albums of the year." So let's see what 2007 had to offer. Here in this ingenious (OK not really) write-up. 15. El-P - "I'll Sleep When You're Dead," 3.5 Stars Yeah I know I'll get comments about how much you hate him. I know I'll get comments saying that he's an underground nerd whose beats sound like "he threw pots and pans down the stairs and calls it music," but let’s try to not be so short-sighted this time around. "I'll Sleep When You're Dead" is quite a listen. The cosmic, atmospheric, and dark soundtrack that this creates lets you enter the possessed and often confusing world of El-P. The production mostly consists of ill drum programming, epic horn claps, spiraling sound effects, and other insane attributes that somehow add to a cohesive sound. Plus it doesn't hurt that Aesop, Cage, and Tame One drop by to elevate the status of this record. Perhaps El-P can be a bit too earnest at times, but it's hard to deny he makes great records. Best Tracks: "Habeas Corpses (Draconian Love)," "The League of Extraordinary Nobodies," and "Up All Night." 14. Marco Polo - "Port Authority," 3.5 Stars Yes. Ever since I heard the Pumpkinhead album he produced, I was eagerly waiting for a compilation of other artists to rhyme over his beats. With that desire, it was fulfilled in 2007 with "Port Authority." The Toronto, now Brooklyn Resident invites: Kool G Rap, Supastition, Masta Ace, O.C., Copywrite, Large Professor, Buckshot, and Wordsworth to name a few to have the honor of them rhyming over his production. It's hard to ignore such a roster of artists combined in one easy-to-listen-to experience. Not to mention Polo who is the main star of the album; with beats comprised of: celebratory sampling and drum kicks, integrated with that fresh boom-bap flipped with a more recent splash. Best Tracks: "Nostalgia" by Masta Ace, "Marquee" by O.C., and "Hood Tales" by Kool G Rap. 13. Common - "Finding Forever," 3.5 Stars Common has always been the most consistent artist of all time in my opinion, amongst Gangstarr and Outkast (maybe not?) While this album is quite a mixed bag, with more on-point occasions then the next, overall it is a solid listen. Kanye West is "The new Primo" supposedly (A little to early to be making such bold statements such as that) and does an OK job. Some beats are more consistent then the next, but Common is still lyrically intact, despite some lazy input from him. Especially that ear nabbing line "kind of like Vince Vaughn and Jennifer broke up." I felt like I was listening to second rate Kanye just then. Not the infamous "Resurrection" Common I grew to love, but it has that great old man making solid music type feel - not even close to as good as Masta Ace. Best Tracks: "Start The Show," "The People," and "The Game." 12. Army Of The Pharoahs - "Ritual Of The Battle." 3.5 Stars. Review Here Yes battle raps, battle raps, and more battle raps have never seemed more refreshing. I don't know if it's the ominous and sometimes predictable emcees and their verses, minus Reef, but the production on here is too extraordinary. The production is courtesy of 7L/Esoteric, Celph Titled, Snowgoons and Ill Bill. Most of the emcees in AOTP are quite monotonous and instantly dismissible, Celph Titled, Reef The Lost Cauze, and Doap Nixon should be enough to absorb the listener. It was very detrimental that Apathy was not on here, as he single handedly carried the predecessor with furious lyrical wordplay. Moreover, There's not much to say here, as theres not much on this album being said. But somehow it works. Best Tracks: "Dump In The Clip," "Frontline," and "Swords Drawn." 11. Blue Scholars - "Bayani," 4 Stars The Seattle duo, made up of emcee Geologic, and producer Sabzi, came up from the radar out of nowhere from the underground. Geologic is more then aspiring and Sabzi creates a sonic, yet varied approach in his beats. While the production is constantly consistent for the most part, It's Geologic's show he runs here. You can feel his dedication and unadulterated passion he has for hip-hop. Topically Geologic is introspective and battle rap rapping is mostly what you're going to get here. While this album seems to be revered higher then what I think it's actually worth from various online articles and fans, I still enjoyed this album. It will be one of the sleepers that 07 has to offer. Best Tracks: "Fire For The People," "North By Northwest," and "Opening Salvo." Now for the top 10. The best of the best that 2007 has to offer. The albums that will have more longevity, some of which can be added to my personal favorite lists. Let's explore, cliche but you aren't reading anyway. These albums will get more of an explanation then the former listings. Top Ten --------------------------------------------- 10. Percee P - "Perseverance," 4 Stars After 25 longing years of label trouble, Percee P finally releases his debut album "Perseverance.". Percee has been rhyming since 1979. After appearing on various singles, including his infamous "Throwback Rap Attack," which is remixed here, and guest appearances, it was time for Percee to finally release his long overdue debut. Percee absolutely masters the art of flowing, breath control, flawless rhyme sequencing, and impressive vocabulary. Madlib produces the album in its entirety, so the listener knows that the production is going to be first-rate. Not to mention elite lyricists that join P, including: Vinnie Paz, Chali 2na, Prince Poetry, Aesop Rock, Madlib (rapping also), and Diamond D, quite an impressive guest list. It's too bad that every single one of them get outshined by Percee P (Chali 2na actually spits a verse just as good as P). "Perseverance" shows that greatness can not be built in one day, time will eventually reveal true artistic ability. Best Tracks: "Throwback Rap Attack," "No Time For Jokes" ft/ Chali 2na, and "The Dirt & Filth" ft/ Aesop Rock. 9. Lupe Fiasco - "The Cool," 4 Stars I've always liked Lupe, from his mix tape circuit days, to his enjoyable debut "Food & Liquor" (I always thought that was a bit too Ludacris esque of a title for a lyricist like Lupe to title an album.)Anyway, back on task, "The Cool" continues where its predecessor left off. It's ("The Cool") is an album where you'll get that stereotypical Lupe fix that you are looking for, and that's by no means a bad thing. Instead of an album that you might place a "one-trick-pony" connotation on, you get an album rich in introspective, admirable production, those Lupe concepts which differentiate from most rappers, and battle raps which make Lupe the versatile artist he is. Granted this album isn't as complex as his mixtape material, it's still very commendable. I'm not sure how this album is doing on the mainstream market, but it easily surpasses anything on the radio and TV with ease, making Jay-z's and Kanye's album seem dim and forgettable. I wish Lupe the best in the future...as long as he provides listens such as these. Best Tracks: "Dumb It Down," "Paris Tokyo," and "Gold Watch." 8. Hell Razah/Blue Sky Black Death - "Razah's Ladder," 4.25 Stars I'll be the first to support that an album must have a balance between lyrics and production equally. But every once and awhile there will be an inadequate tilt to the favor for one or the other. On "Razah's Ladder," the production provided by Blue Sky Black Death is otherworldly. If I were to sum up BSBD's genius, it would be a mixture of Kno, Pete Rock, Stoupe combined into one man. BSBD really should've provided these beats to a more suitable rapper, like Vakill or Chino XL. Instead, we have Hell Razah who is seemingly average. He is very monotonous, has a non-changeable flow, yet has suitable lyrics. The album has great topical variety though. Hell Razah talks about struggle, overcoming adversity, provides battle raps, and Wu-tang tributes. Without BSBD, this album might not have been mentioned, but Hell Razah does sound exceptionally well over BSBD's soundscape, 10x better then he would on any other beats. Best Tracks: "Halos" feat/ Crooked I, "Stairway To Heaven," and "Audiobiography" featuring Shabazz The Disciple. 7. Grayskul - "Bloody Radio," 4.25 Stars I never would have anticipated that Grayskul would've released their sophomore effort in 2007. It came out of nowhere, floored as these guys are truly one-of-a-kind. JFK and Onry Ozzborn, both really abstract rappers, are truly dexterous with their out of this world experience they craft. The production is always potent when a Grayskul album is released. Really dark, yet not the over the top. It has its light hearted moments, as Grayskul want to keep the listener interested from the beginning to the very end. It is very interesting with the dissimilar rappers featured on here. Cage, Slug, Pigeon John, and Aesop Rock join JFK and Onry with stunning appearances. Very interesting concepts, well executed, especially the bonus track which discusses faith and religion. While this album will never top their magnum opus, "Deadlivers," it is a worthy contender for album of the year, yet falls shy of the top 5. Best Tracks: "The Office" feat/ Aesop Rock & Slug, "How To Load A Tech Up" feat/ Cage, and "Heaven Is Still Coming..." 6. Talib Kweli - "Eardrum," 4.75 Stars Who would've seen this one coming? Definitely not me. Talib Kweli is about as inconsistent as you can get. His debut, "Reflection Eternal," is my favorite album of all time, yet was followed by indolent releases, "Quality" and "Right About Now." Kweli is the most passionate rapper when he decides to go back in his prime, which he did for the entire duration of "Eardrum." The poetic honesty is evident, as is the introspection, topical variation, effective production, and great concepts can be found here. Remember how I said this album had effective production? Well, it's one of the best produced albums all year, with production courtesy of; Just Blaze, Kanye West, Madlib, and Will.I.Am. It's almost like a soundtrack to Kweli's mind, and he needed an album to a caliber like "Eardrum." He was walking the line between a success story and a has been. Luckily he delivered, and is back in my good graces. Best Tracks: "Soon The New Day" feat/ Norah Jones, "Hostile Gospel" and "Listen" Great! We have gotten this far and I've already lost your attention, with my less then engaging review! Just kidding I'm hoping. We've covered 10 albums, now let’s get into the top 5 albums of the year. *horns play* Top 5 -------------------- 5. Cunninlynguists - "Dirty Acres." 5 Stars.Review Here. "What??!?!? Cunninlynguists at number 5? I thought they were your favorite group foureyedfrog!" Well, so much for being bias huh! It's kind of pointless describing the album when I have posted a review on it already, but I'm going to. I'm also going to stay on task also. Cunninlynguists, consisting of Deacon, Kno, and Natti, is southern perfection at its finest. In a time in which southern music that isn't saturated in watered-down in filth and bling bling is scarce, CL deliver again and again. As described in the review, Kno has officially has entered the spectrum of elite producers. What I respect the most about CL is the diversity amongst their catalogue. They can be comical, or more earnest and execute it every single time. This album is darker then previous outings, but It has an ethereal feel to it. Many vintage Cunninlyguists songs are apparent. Whether it be criticizing and pointing fingers at the government, or being elated at their southern pride; CL twists concepts and carry out their intentions very well. Best Tracks: "Things I Dream," "K.K.K.Y.," and "Georgia" 4. Aesop Rock - "None Shall Pass." 5 Stars. Review Here. As stated earlier in the write-up, many people like to berate Aesop Rock. They call him a nerd that tries to sound smarter then he actually is, or anything else critics can spew at him. "None Shall Pass" is unlike anything Aes has released. It's cohesive as hell. Aesop Rock has tuned him voice differently, has production that compliments his vocals as if it's being tailor-made by Blockhead and himself. He has a very abstract and original style that is hard to get into, but it's much easier to get into him on this album. As stated in the review, Aesop haters will even appreciate this album. From a production standpoint, Blockhead, Aesop, and El-P pitch in for this effort and Aesop outshines them both. Cage, Rob Sonic, and Breeze join him, for that unorthodox style they exhibit. Plus the single "None Shall Pass" is very addictive, proving that he is not some underground, cyborg nerd who eats his fans and sprinkles their ashes on his window seal. Best Tracks: "None Shall Pass," "Catacomb Kids" and "Five Fingers." 3. Blu & Exile - "Below The Heavens." 5 Stars. Review Here Newcomer rapper Blu joins Exile (produces for Emanon) and create his debut album. Blu is the most ambitious rapper I've heard in many years. He reminds me of a young Reflection Eternal Talib Kweli. That sound is what makes this album in the top 3 of 2007. The beats are nothing short of deistic. Blu can be compared to the common man just trying to get by; very relatable. He discusses everything from his: Blue collared job, domestic issues, girlfriend problems, and just plain ol' enjoying life and taking life one day at a time. Exile nor Blu are the star on this album. They both are equally talented and create a listen that hasn't been visible in awhile. This is quite a progressive effort, and I can't wait to see if Blu can build upon it. This album, like mentioned before could easily be in the same ranks as Reflection Eternal, It's production surpasses it. Blu and Exile are both relentless, and they are working on making this album above the heavens. Best Tracks: "Blue Collared Worker," "Dancing In The Rain," and "No Greater Love." 2. Brother Ali - "The Undisputed Truth." 5 Stars. Review Here. Initially this was my favorite album of the year for 8 months, and it still has the potential to be, but it got shot down by an album you'll just have to wait to read, or most likely scroll down. Brother Ali, with "The Undisputed Truth," is officially one of my favorite rappers ever. Everybody can relate to him, anyone from all walks of life can. He's honest, playful, engaging and captivating, versatile, introspective, and REAL. No fake gimmicks or tactics to lessen his character, Brother Ali is all about integrity and brute passion as he describes. Ant joins him throughout the whole album to produce it, and is on his way amongst the greatest producers with this. Very rich samples, excellent drums and sequencing. Truly a visionary behind the boards. Brother Ali, as he notes on the Molemen's compilation "The Killing Fields" says he's "On that road to be one of the greatest of all time." Nobody can disagree with him when listening to this disc, unless you are a soulless cyborg. Best Tracks: "Whatcha Got" "Daylight," and "Uncle Sam Goddamn" --------------- and.... number... one... is.... --------------------------- 1. Panacea - "The Scenic Route." 5 Stars. Who and what is a Panacea? Isn't that a universal remedy for medication?, *as I look in the dictionary.* No folks, it is nobody but the Washington D.C. duo consisting of rapper Raw Poetic and idealistic producer K. Murdock create a modern day masterpiece entitled "The Scenic Route" in concept like form. A concept about somebody with a vividly different imagination, about someone who dreamt awake. You compare Raw Poetic to the likes of Black Thought of The Roots as they have a similar cadence, voice, and flow. As described from Panacea themselves, they described themselves as A Tribe Called Quest meets Final Fantasy, that's an accurate depiction. This album has some of the most mind blowing production I've heard in my whole life, with production so intricate I ponder if it was done by human. It's soulful and mind-bending, enjoyable, and has more replay value then most albums I've ever listened to. This album is also one of the greatest albums ever released, and now one of my favorites. This will not only be the sleeper of 2007, but the sleeper of hip-hop years from now. I hope that one day it is heralded as a classic ( I hate that word and I know this merits that status eventually.) I wish more hip-hop albums like this were created, then the cynics could never declare that "hip-hop is dead." Instead, they would be celebrating it's current life. Best Tracks: "Epiphany," "Pops Said," and "Walk In the Park" so there you have it, 2007's 15 greatest albums. Honorable mentions: Cilvaringz - "I" PNS - "Audiotronics" Mf Grimm "The Hunt For The Gingerbread Man" Rob Sonic "Sabatoge Gigante" Lifesavas - "Gutterfly" Black Milk - "Popular Demand" Prefuse 73 - "Preparations" Blockhead - "Uncle Tony's Coloring Book" Pharoahe Monch - "Desire" Slow Suicide Stimulus - "Slow Suicide Stimulus" Killah Priest - "The Offering" DJ Jazzy Jeff - "Return Of The Magnificent" Scarface - "Made" Styles P - "Super Gangster" Joel Ortiz - "The Brick" Madlib - "Beat Konducta 3-4 In India" The Demigodz - "The Godz Must Be Crazier" (re-release with 6 new tracks, but the 6 new tracks are stellar) -------------- So while you have that done, let's discuss 2007's top 10 greatest songs 10. "The Dirt & The Filth by Percee P feat/ Aesop Rock 9. "Virginia N.M.2." by Grayskul 8. "Halos" by BSBD/Hell Razah 7. "Faheem" by Brother Ali 6. "Nostalgia" by Masta Ace 5. "Take It Back" peformed by Galactic, vocals by Chali 2na 4. "None Shall Pass" by Aesop Rock, music video, "http://youtube.com/watch?v=l1u43KDiWD0" 3. "Dancing In The Rain" by Blu & Exile 2. "Pops Said" by Panacea 1. "Things I Dream" by Cunninlynguists ------------------ But wait, you forgot these! No I didn't, in fact, I'll name the possible albums you might think I forgot Kanye West - "Graduation." consistent production with mediocrity rapping, not enough for even top 15 status. Jay-z - "American Gangster." feeble attempt at a concept album. Lil Wayne is a detriment, simplistic lyrics, and inconsistent production sequence. Also Jay-z's delivery is rather sluggish, that unique flow he once possessed is forever gone. Havoc - "The Kush." Now I don't think that there will be anybody defending this, but I do want to disclose why it's trash. The beats are serviceable, but Havoc is a one man show, and I hear the show got two thumbs down. Mac Lethal - "11:11." Mac Lethal is typical, stereotypical white rap music (Mac, you need to take notes from Cage and Slug), and this album reflects that. Sean Price - "Jesus Price Superstar." So one demensional, I'm thinking about trading this in for Paper Mario. 50 Cent - "Curtis." Hasn't this robotic MTV poster boy ran his course? Little Brother - "Getback." Just because you get rid of the pest (9th Wonder) doesn't mean that your album is going to be any good. Phonte and Big Pooh sound like they freestyled this entire record. Uninspired would be a giving them too much credit. Hell Razah - "Renaissance Child." Not even half as good as "Razah's Ladder." Trite production, and it is a perfect demonstration that Razah needed Blue Sky Black Death. R.A. The Rugged Man absolutely kills his guest spot...though. Krs-One and Marley Marl - "Hip Hop Lives." No It doesn't. It's getting buried further and further into the ground with each bar that Krs continues to spit; butchering his legacy in the meantime. Canibus - "From Whom The Beat Tolls." Give it up. Computer rap is sooooo 1998. It's mostly production issues, I have no problem with Canibus lyrically. Chamillionaire - "Ultimate Victory." A victory it was far from. Chamillionaires flow is bothersome to me, plus his over the top singing hooks. Also the production is rather basic and unsuitable to me. I'm going to do a three in one punch with these albums... Timbaland's "Shock Value," Will.i.am's "Songs About Girls," and Swizz Beatz "One Man Show" all get the gas mask. UGK - "Underground Kingz." I'm not sold that Bun B and Pimp C R.I.P. are that great of emcees. I know Bun B can be technically good for what he does, but it's just not enough. Some nice production throughout, and Kool G Rap and Talib Kweli's guest appearances were appreciated. Devin The Dude - "Waitin To Exhale." Weed and bit-hes. T.I. - "T.I. vs. T.I.P." T.I. is horrible. That is all. Wu-Tang - "8 Diagrams." Disappointment. Wu-Tang is not forever, it seems like Wu-tang is dead forever. Somebody give them some life! Sage Francis - "Human The Death Dance. Humdrum. Ghostface Killah - "The Big Doe Rehab." This album is about 50% good. 9th Wonder - "Dream Merchant." 9th, it's about time you update your equipment. Those plastic drums aren't helping you any. One.be.lo - "R.E.B.I.R.T.H." Very average. Nowhere nearly as good as it's predecessor. RJD2 - "The Third Hand." This is definitely the biggest disappointment of the year for me, as RJD2 is one of my personal favorite producers. This is when experimentation goes completely wrong. Prodigy - "Return Of The Mac." Note to Alchemist: give your beats to someone who isn't a pseudo thug, who acts harder then he really is. I mean, he was a ballerina. Cormega - "Who I Am." Mega, release a solo album already. Wasn't "Urban Legend" suppose to drop in early 06'? Keith Murray - "Rap-Murr-Phobia." If I wanted to direct a listener to the most average album possible, I'd direct them here. ------------------ Damn, you must really think I'm some bitter underground fan don't you? Well I included some bland underground releases as well. Aren't I a little more balanced now? haha. So there you have it. 2007 in a nutshell. Hopefully 2008 will be just like this, but judging from a recent list, it looks like 2008 will surpass 2007 with ease. With 2008, you can expect reviews on upcoming 08 albums by: Louis Logic, Cage, Atmosphere, Reef The Lost Cauze, The Roots, and The Weathermen (Cage, Aesop Rock, El-P, Breeze, Camu Tao, Yak Ballz, & Tame One), and maybe Dr.Dre? Nah, Dre will die with the detox idea still in progress. Also Pep Love, Del The Funky Homosapien (if 11th Hour every reaches surface), Zion I, Rakim? And another mediocre Nas album. I know there will be others that I will anticipate. But for now I'm on a mini hiatus until those albums come out. I'll still be a commenter, but you'll have to wait for those albums, or maybe some obscure underground album will come out that I want to review. But for now, Have a very merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

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