Posted in A.M. News on January 11th, 2008 by beans
Beanie Sigel: The Solution
Is this his best release? No. Is Beanie one of the best in the game? Yes. It’s like Beanie had a coming of age on this album, and realized that jail fucking sucks so he’s keeping it popping the whole album. For some reason, I enjoy his single “All Of The Above” featuring R.Kelly of all pedophiles is more enjoyable then one would expect. There’s also a version of a track that samples Sabbath’s “War Pigs” that is dope. Beanie isn’t as gutter on this album, but is still one of the best lyricists in the game and still makes introspective tracks too; it’s just that you have to skip through a lot of shit. This is in my top 25 purely because he’s that awesome of an emcee.
Favorite Shit: “All Of The Above” “Rain (Bridge)” & Track 12
D.L. Jones: Wasted Talent
Hip hop underdog D.L. Jones drops a great debut that embraces Detroit and all genres of music. This is a producer record (ie: J.Dilla, Hi-Tek, Etc.) with a 50/50 mix of instrumentals and artist collaborations. The first track, “In These Streets” sets the tone for the whole album, and lets you know this project is special. D.L. and One Be Lo (Of Binary Star) create a classic with “Gray.” The track is also on One Be Lo’s solo release R.E.B.I.R.T.H. You can play the song rain or shine and feel good. “As Good As It Gets” featuring Midcoast Most is a song that stands out of the album as well. “Lonely” featuring Amp Fiddler shows the versatility of D.L. as a producer and Amp drives the track with a great vocal performance. You can get this locally, but it drops officially in 08.
Favorite Shit: “In These Streets” “Gray” & “As Good As It Gets”
Prodigy: Return Of The Mac
About to go to jail for three and a half years, Prodigy is already promoting for his upcoming release “H.N.I.C. 2″ but his stand out release is the Alchemist-produced “Return Of The Mac.” This is supposed to be a mixtape, but the original beats and classic P make this way more than that. “Stuck On You” is a creative way of breaking down money, bitches, & guns in three verses putting a spin on a played out topic. There are barely any collabos (except for Havoc) and G-Unit is nowhere to be found which is lovely. If you like classic Mobb Deep New York Shit, this is your rider music.
Favorite Shit: “Stuck On You” & “Mac 10 Handle”
Phat Kat: Carte Blanche
Great follow up to “The Undeniable LP” on a new label, LOOK Records. Production from only Detroit including J.Dilla, Young RJ, Black Milk, and Nick Speed. Ronnie Cash is a great representation of Detroit on the underground level. He hasn’t crossed over, and odds are won’t, but he’s making a name for himself overseas. Always consistent even though he’s not the best lyricist. “Cold Steel” featuring Elzhi is so crazy I can’t even explain it. “Lovely” featuring Melanie Rutherford is dope to chill to and get your girl in the right mood. He can make songs for the ladies and not sound soft, and songs for the guys that girls can enjoy as well. Phat Kat is a great mixture of vibe, voice, and production to introduce fans to Detroit hip hop.
Favorite Shit: “Cold Steel (F/Elzhi)” “Lovely (F/Melanie Rutherford)” & “Survival Kit”
Styles P: The Ghost Sessions, AND Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman
The Ghost has been on the Indie tip since Interscope made his follow up to the classic “A Gangster And A Gentleman” over four years later, thus making his “Time Is Money” album in the red. Although dope, there was never any promotion for the album once it actually dropped. “The Ghost Sessions” is a D-Block released album of all original material including “The Hardest” featuring AZ produced by Large Professor. It’s classic SP without any of the commercial filler, but what’s with the rock remixes? WTF? “Super Gangster, Extraordinary Gentleman” is Styles third official release, and is better than most mainstream shit. Unfortunately, there’s some commercial follies all over the album, and you have to sift to find the classics; even though “Blow My Mind” is a great single.
Favorite Shit: “The Hardest” “Pain” “Green Piece Of Paper” & “Gangster Gangster”
El-P: I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead
This is the most abstract and alternative album on my list. El Producto is a pioneer of underground hip hop and breaks new ground with his second vocal album. This record is for people in love with RJD2, DJ Shadow, Mars Volta, and El’s Def Jux fam. There’s even a collaboration with Trent Reznor on the single “Flyentology” although you wouldn’t know unless they told you. Mainstream isn’t going to touch it, and that’s why the underground loves it. The quality of the production is consistantly high, and it’s no wonder it took 5 years to follow up “Fantastic Damage.” El-P is stacking the loot with his label Definitive Jux, and is doing it on his own terms. By the way, he makes great shit.
Favorite Shit: “Tasmanian Pain Coaster” “The Overly Dramatic Truth” & “Smithereens (Stop Cryin’)”
