T.Q.D: T.Q.D's Corner

The first decade of this millennium saw Hip Hop come of age.  While Hip Hop still gets the “you’re ruining society” treatment", this decade saw Hip Hop for better for worse, pretty much become a dominant force in pop culture.  The sound of what is considered “mainstream” Hip Hop also changed.  It’ll take a whole other column to explore that deeper, but simply put, I think the 00’s could be classified as Hip Hop’s “hair metal” decade.

Regardless of your opinion on the quality or lack thereof, in the past decade of Hip Hop, it wasn’t tough to walk away with some personal favorites.  Here are my personal favorites when it comes to top albums of the decade.

1. J-Live – 'All Of The Above’

As an admitted Public Enemy fanatic, I always wondered if I’d ever enjoy an album more than ‘Fear Of A Black Planet’ (yes, I think it’s better than ‘It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back’…way better).  In 2002, I found it from someone I’d never thought I’d hear it from: J-Live.  This is hands down, my favorite record in Hip Hop.

The songs are sequenced perfectly and the subject matter is varied enough to keep me interested throughout.  The only slip up in my opinion comes courtesy of the lone song with guests, “3 out of 7”.   Oh well, every album has at least one dud.  I could discuss most of the tunes, so I’ll spare you the long essay, although I will say the title track is my personal favorite. 

2. Scarface - 'The Fix'

Contrary to what a certain Atlanta emcee self-proclaims, the true king of the South is from Houston, TX.  When I heard this album back in 2002, I was sure this would be the album of the decade…until I heard J-Live a couple months later.

Scarface is one of the all time greats in my opinion and while his catalog is legendary, this is head and shoulders above anything he’s done before or since.  Even the interludes are worth listening to.  Scarface dug real deep on this one.  “In Between Us” feat. Nas is my personal favorite.  However, “Someday” feat Faith Evans and and “Heaven” are also highly noteworthy.  The only weak link was "I Aint The One" feat. WC.  Even the CD digi-pack design is crazy.  For those who only have a digital version, they are missing out.

I remember Scarface announced what ended up being a short-lived retirement due to believing he “couldn’t make a record better than this”.  He was absolutely right.  If you add up the solo records and Geto Boys albums that led up to this, he already made plenty of music.  To me, that makes this album even more impressive as proof that age doesn’t have to mean a decline.

3. Micranots - 'Obelisk Movements'

Unlike the rest of the albums on the list, I was totally unfamiliar with Micranots when I first heard this album, so I had no expectation either way  This album totally blew me away and still does.  Kool Akiem's beats on the surface, seem a tad basic, but I'm a firm believer that lyrics or beats alone don't make a song.  The question is do they compliment each other?  The answer on this album is yes.

This is not an album for those who just want to nod their head.  I Self Divine, who happens to be a local main stay (and a somewhat underrated one here in Minnesota) doesn't waste a single song.  Every song is deep.  There are personal songs, political songs, and everything in between. 

This album is the thinking Hip Hop fan's dream.  And I must say, it's thoughtful music that you can wrap your head around.  You may or may not agree with all of the views and opinions, but they are expressed in an artful way: not too simplistic/bumper sticker, but also not so tough to understand.

At first I thought it was good, but with each listen over the years, it gets better.

4. Q-Tip - 'The Renaissance'

Like most Hip Hop fans who wax nostalgia about A Tribe Called Quest, I was dumbfounded when I heard the embarrassment known as ‘Amplified’.  Well, many years and record label politics later, Q-Tip released the solo album we expected 'Amplified' to be.

With the exception of one J Dilla beat, Q-Tip does all the production himself.  It is nothing short of great.  Q-Tip also regained his touch with the pen.  There are some fun tracks, social commentary tracks, and relationship tracks among other things.  It's very well balanced.  It’s truly an album, which in these days and times becomes harder and harder to find.

The standout tracks to me would be “Johnny Is Dead”, “You” (one of the best break up songs ever), and the lead single “Gettin Up”.  There isn’t much more I can say about this record.  It’s is simply great.

5. De La Soul - 'AOI: Bionix'

I beg to differ with many folk, and will confidently argue that the best De La Soul music (save for my favorite ‘Stakes Is High’) was made in the 00’s.  I believe De La Soul really stepped it up on this album.  After the solid, but nothing special ‘Art Official Intelligence: Mosiac Thump’, I wasn’t sure what would come next.

AOI: Bionix is a certified classic.  The balance between fun and serious tracks is done very well.  Some unexpected guests in Devin The Dude and B-Real, among others joined in to help make some memorable tracks.

The standout tracks to me would be “Peer Pressure” feat. B-Real (perhaps the most creative weed song ever) and “Held Down” feat. Cee-Lo.  Other than some skits (never a fan of them), this one is pretty hard to complain about.

6. The Roots - 'Game Theory'

This decade brought us a more serious version of The Roots.  For years, they were a funky Hip Hop band fronted by Black Thought who made fun raps: nothing too deep, just good.  Perhaps, it was due to inner group strife (see Malik B) or the changing political times, but he Black Thought actually started living up to his name.  The Roots kicked off this decade with 'Phrenology': more serious, but Black Thought lost his edge and even the band wasn't up to par.  However, they soon bounced back.

The Roots got signed by Def Jam and put out 'Game Theory'.  At the time, this was the darkest record put out by The Roots.  The beats are funky , but very dark (which I’m a sucker for) and Black Thought further moved himself away from the rap about rap songs and made message oriented tunes the rule, rather than the exception. 

What we end up with a is a record striking the balance between entertaining and personal.  “Clock With No Arms” is my personal favorite on this one (a top 5 all time Roots tune to me), among others.  The album also has a guest appearance from Peedi Crakk, which other than being from Philadelphia, puzzled me, but he turned in a good appearance.  It can also be argued that Quest Love to this day, did his best production job.

7. Reflection Eternal - 'Train Of Thought'

Back in the Rawkus infant days, a debate among indie Hip Hop fans was which Black Star member was the better rapper.  To the contrary of most folk, I always argued Talib Kweli and I think this album helped me make the argument more convincingly.

Hi Tek provides, what are probably still his best beats, that compliment Talib Kweli perfectly.  There are a lot or memorable songs.  My personal favorites were always “Love Language” and “Memories Live”.  Kool G Rap also makes a guest appearance among others, which is always top notch.  My only complaint was “Move Somethin”, which to me sounded like the obligatory single, but there isn’t much else to complain about.

I hear Talib Kweli and Hi Tek are finally back in the studio working on a new album together.  Regardless of how it turns out, it can’t tarnish legacy of this highly influential classic.

8. Pete Rock - 'Petestrumentals'

Pete Rock is my all time favorite Hip Hop producer (I can hear the "Primo!" and "Dre!" shouting already already).  I had been waiting for an instrumental record from him for a while, but like all highly anticipated records, I was expecting be let down.  To my surprise I was not. 

This to me is what an instrumental album should be.  It carries a vibe and stays on point all the way though.  I can’t ask for anymore than that.

9. Sage Francis - 'Personal Journals'

I’ve never been a huge fan before or since, but this album is a winner.  The title pretty much speaks for itself.  It’s a nice collection of solids beats and solid rhymes documenting hard times, whether they are his or someone else’s.  “Inherited Scars” is always the song that stuck out for me on this album.  There are certainly a few songs that are just so-so/skip worthy, but there weren’t any bad songs. 

10. Paris - 'Acid Reflex'

For those of you unaware (or who forgot), Paris is a 20 year seasoned vet with a highly consistent catalog and can be best summed up by simply asking the question: What would Chuck D sound like if he grew up in California?

With ‘Acid Reflex’, Paris came with arguably his best record.  His flow is as sharp as ever and he continues to make his case for best emcee/producer.  There are other emcee/producers who make better beats, but I’m not sure any emcee/producer (save for maybe El-P) sounds as at home over his own beats as Paris.

How much you enjoy the content, will depend on your political beliefs, but then again, most people who like gangsta rap can’t relate to street life, so that “I need to relate” attitude people have is bullshit anyways, but that’s a whole other column… 

The point is, Paris has skills and unlike many rappers who come from his era, he seems to be every bit as good as when he first started and is some ways is even better.  He doesn’t skate around issues and just shout out “revolution” 90 times, like other some other so-called conscious rappers.  He has his opinions and lays out his case.  Whether you agree or not is up to you.  The stand-out tracks in my view are the title track “Acid Reflex” and “Don’t StopThe Movement”.