DrewDown's Best 10 Albums of the Year & a few bad ones

In no particular order, sort of:

1. Elzhi - The Preface


Hands down. Classic. 5 stars. The whole Enchilada. This album will go down in history. Probably a sleeper too. Not to say anyone is going to underestimate the man's skill or anything, just guessing I won't see it on a lot of top 5 lists. Just know like they say at the end of Guessing Game "and by the way, Elzhi, That Niggas Better than You! Elzhi's better than you. He's better than you." lmao.

2. 88 Keys - The Death of Adam / Cold Case Files



Fuck it, the mixtape was classic, and so was the album. Mixtape was better than 90% of albums this year. I love music that I can relate to. Sadly both these gems had a lot of the skirt chasing stories of my past. I felt like there were some tracks I woulda traded from the tape to the album, and I was annoyed as hell that 88 keys won't rap without his altered voice but at least it wasn't auto-tune. I love albums that tell a whole story and actually succeed.


3. Solange Knowles - Sol-Angel & the Hadley St Dreams


Surprised the hell outta me. This album bangs.

4. The Roots - Rising Down


One of my favorite albums to drive fast with. Uptempo but dark and moody. Very different from the other roots albums. Killer.

5. Nas - Untitled


I kinda bump the Mixtape more than the album, but this was still a classic. I love it when artist touch on subjects that are kinda uncomfortable to talk about but need to be brought up. Like Kanye USED to with his self conscious shit. Now you can't tell him nothin. You can't even tell him he can't sing. lol.

6. Jake One - White Van Music


Not on here because he rep'd Seattle so damn hard. But on here because he spent like 2 years making a DAMN good album. The Truth was one of the best singles of the year. The release party was off the hook too.

7. Ne-Yo - Year of the Gentleman


I really enjoy this like I enjoy Kingdom Come. Not all the tracks are the best, but the content is mature and none of this "shake your junk" shit that happens too much. Hip-Hop needed this album. It just happened to be an R&B album.

8. Murs - Murs for President


Not up to par for a man who's last couple albums have been classics, but still a great album. The Hip-Hop version of Ne-Yo's joint?

9. Ludacris - Theater of the Mind


A great rebound album from Luda. The last one screamed 'gimmie a grammy' to me, and I wasn't feelin the whole runaway love stuff. He got it, so now he's back to his old self.

10. Common - UMC / Q-tip - The Renaissance



These albums were both so damn short. I had to count them as 1.

Honorable Mentions:
NERD - Seeing Sounds
Blu & Mainframe - Johnson & Johnson


Ok. A few bad ones:

Lil Wayne - Tha Carter 3


It had a few good joints, a few ok ones and a few bad ones, but it shouldn't be on ANYBODY's top 10 list.

T.I. - Paper Trail


Why does it seem I hear a lot of people saying this is T.I.'s Best Album? Did you guys ever listen to KING? Or for that matter ANY of his albums before that (except Ti. vs T.I.P.)

Ray J - All I Feel


You like to Trick? Really? See ya later Alligator. lmfao.

Bun B - II Trill


Rest in Peace PIMP C, but this was one of the worst albums I ever attempted to listen to all the way through a couple times just because I love Bun that much.

G-Unit - T.O.S.


More like P.O.S. - This goes under the Carter 3 definition but just a little bit worse. A few good tracks, not a lot of decent ones, a whole lot of bad ones. yyyyeeaaaaaNOOOO (c) Jim Carrey.

Kanye West - 808 & Heartbreaks


Give Kanye some singing lessons, Turn the autotune down just a tiny bit, change a few songs around and you've got a classic album. Don't do that, you've got a close but no cigar album. It didn't bug me as it bugged a lot of people I know that Yeezy can't sing. Cause this album definitely wasn't bad just wasn't that good.

There it is, folks. MINE. Agree? Disagree? Change? Way off Base? Mostly on Point? cuz it is fuck me, dwag, than you know its fuck you (c) DMX

EDIT:

Forgot to include probably the WORST album (no Trilla) of the year.
The Game- L.A.X.

I know it's a crowd favorite but this album was GARBAGE. MY LIFE was probably one of the worst songs I've heard in a long time. I fucked with the Dope Boys joint. Gotta love Beatles Samples.

Souful Sundaes: Elzhi - The Transitional Joint

I've always been a fan of Slum (No Little Brother) but his solo album was RIDICULOUS. I think I have a new favorite MC. Anyway. Cop the preface. Peace.

Sample of the Week (Elzhi)

Back again. Been bumping Elzhi allllll week. Figured I'd drop a sample from the album. This track from KRS is just crazy. Who dreams they're a blunt about to get smoked? I'd be scarred as fuck if that ever happened to me though. lol. Hey, I got an idea for the next Freddy movie.

Writer: KRS-One - I Can't Wake Up


Biter: Elzhi - Talking in my Sleep

Jake One & Elzhi - Glow (Demo Version)

Jake One puts out more music from his upcoming CD "white van Music" this is a different version than the one on the album. He's acknowledged on his blog that the edited CD has leaked. So just go buy that shit when it comes out if you like it. Seattle!

Elzhi - Glow (Demo Version)

The Red Bull Big Tune Week

Music lovers in Seattle. I hope your RTB hangover is cured because the Hip-Hop love CONTINUES ALL WEEK LONG!!

Monday, Sept. 8th: Red Bull Big Tune Kick-Off (flyer)
The War Room
722 E. Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98122
Featuring DJ Maseo of De La Soul and special guests
9pm, 21+, $5 cover

Tuesday, Sept. 9th: Educational Outreach - Producer workshop with Jake One & Vitamin D
Vera Project
305 Harris Street, Seattle, WA 98109
4pm - 6pm
Free and All Ages

Red Bull Big Tune Film Premiere (flyer)
Screening and Live performance by Brainstorm of Dyme Def with special guest DJ DV-One
Nectar
412 N. 36th Street, Seattle WA 98103
9pm, 21+, $5 cover

Wednesday, Sept. 10th: Youth Workshop with “Aim for Peace” program
Buttermilk Studios
1108 13th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
4pm - 5:30pm
Free and All Ages

Thursday, Sept. 11th: Red Bull Big Tune In-Store featuring Black Milk & Elzhi
GOODS
1112 Pike Street, Seattle, WA 98101
4pm - 5:30pm
Free and All Ages

Friday, Sept. 12th: Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle (flyer)
Beat Battle and special performances from Elzhi & Black Milk
Neumos
925 E. Pike St, Seattle, WA 98122
8pm, All Ages, $5 cover

Shout out to my Man DJ Hyphen for the info.