So, here is my first shot at wrapping up my personal best of ‘07 list of music.  I’m 100% sure I’ve left something off that I really shouldn’t have, but what can you do?  I also might mislabel a song, or call it “Track 4″ because I cop my fair share of shit, but that’s how I justify my bootlegging.   By all means comment and let me know if my taste is that of fecal….Here’s my top 25 favorite shit of 2007.  In no particular order:

Kanye West-Graduation
Let’s get the obvious over first.  Even if Kanye is an arrogant piece of Bush-hating shit, he makes some great music and even better beats.  Some think this is his worst, but I think it’s his best lyrically and production wise.  Also, he beat 50 that first week which is huge for good music in general (No pun intended).

Favorite shit:  “Flashing Lights” & “Big Brother”

Guilty Simpson-Stray Bullets Mixtape
In my top 3 in Detroit, and the only artist to drop a mixtape this year I really like from the Mitten.  Almighty Dreadnaughtz front runner Guilty is most known for his J.Dilla & Mr. Porter affiliation, but earns quality beats through realistic and entertaining wordplay.  Guilty’s been in my top 5 in MI for three years, and is now one of my favorite in the U.S.  Earned everything he’s gotten, and this mixtape is a beast of new shit, and a classic 15 minute mix of Guilty’s classic shit that put him on. 

Favorite shit:  “For The D” “Getting Riches” & “Rhetmatic Guilty Mix”

Atmosphere-Sad Clown, Bad Summer/Fall
Only five songs a piece per EP, but two releases makes this is a great in-between album for Atmosphere before their official sixth album is released.  Slug is one of the best and most underrated rappers mainstream or underground.  Found this online, so I don’t know how well it was distributed, but it makes due for my anticipation of their new album.  They also dropped a Sad Clown, Bad Winter (I just found out) and a free album Strickly Leakage as well.  Atmosphere putting in work in 2007 and blowing in 2008.

Favorite shit:  “Peyote” “Number One” & “Don’t Forget”

Aesop Rock-None Shall Pass
This is Tony’s number one album of the year.  He lost it and had a minor breakdown without his ears on it.  This to me is Ace’s best album since “Labor Days” and sounds great.  Joey Raia engineered and mixed the project;  it’s also amazing to actually understand what Aesop is literally saying which was hard for me before this release.

Favorite shit:  “None Shall Pass” & “Track 14″

Pharoahe Monch-Desire
This album is so overdue it’s ridiculous, (I think 7 years?) but is worth the wait.  Executive produced by Mr. Porter, he gives good direction as Pharaohe raps and sings his ass off throughout this whole piece.  Black Milk, Alchemist, Mr. Porter, and Monch handle most of the production and knock this bitch out.  Unfortunately, I heard it has cleared less than 30,000 soundscan.  What.  The.  Fuck?  Didn’t “Simon Says” go gold?

Favorite shit:  “Welcome To The Terrordome” “Desire” & “Let’s Go”

Seal-System
Seal is a flat-out player.  Period.  My man has an early born disease that affected his face to look burned, dresses to a T on some classy shit, took on his wife’s child of another father while she was still pregnant with the child, and his wife is Heidi Klum.  That’s not even music related.  Seal has been dropping quality albums since the early 90’s, and his three year hiatus was worth it.  Stuart Price, (who helped produced Madonna’s last album) keeps the tracks upbeat for “SYSTEM.”  This is a dance album for the most part, but isn’t gay in any way.  Seal is knocking out the music and has one of the best voices in the world to me.  I’m convinced if Seal was 20 years younger, rappers would be begging him to be on their hooks.  If Seal’s in the D, you can catch me at the show, no lie.

Favorite shit:  “Amazing” & “System”

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