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Tha legend lays em down. Its a undoubtedly a stacked list. But hey, where’s the Common? Blu and Exile? Percee P? Black Milk’s Popular Demand? YOU DECIDE.
1. Ghostface Killah, Big Doe Rehab (DEF JAM)
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2. EVIDENCE, The Weatherman (ABB)

3. Redman, RED GONE WILD (Def Jam)
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4. Kanye West, Graduation (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)

5. Statik Selektah, Spell My Name Right (Brick/Traffic)
6. Little Brother, Getback (ABB)
7. NYGz, Welcome 2 G-dom (Year Round)
8. Marco Polo, Port Authority (Rawkus)
9. Big Shug, Street Champ (Babygrande)
10. KRS-ONE & Marley Marl, Hip Hop Lives (Koch)
11. WC, Guilty By Affiliation (Lench Mob)
12. Scarface, MADE (Rap A Lot/Asylum)
13. UGK, Underground Kings (JIVE)
14. Jay-Z, American Gangster (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
15. Killer Mike, I Pledge Allegiance To The Grind (Grind Time Official)
16. Black Milk & Bishop Lamont, CALTROIT, (Music House)
17. Devin The Dude, Waiting To Inhale (Rap A Lot/Asylum)
18. Styles P, Super Gangster,Extraordinary Gentleman (D Block/KOCH)
19. Special Teamz, Stereotypes (Duck Down)
20. Smif N Wessun, The Album (Duck Down)
HONORABLE MENTION: (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
1. J.Dilla(Ruff Draft)
2. Percee P(Perseverance)
3. Planet Asia(Jewelry Box Sessions)
4. Soopafly(Bangin West Coast)
5. Freeway(Free At Last)
6. Havoc(The Kush)
7. Beanie Sigel(The Solution)
8. Strong Arm Steady(Deephearted)
9. Talib Kweli(Eardrum)
10. Snoop Dogg presents The Big Squeeze
11. Jedi Mind Tricks presents the Army Of Pharoahes
12. Public Enemy (How Do you Sell Soul To A Souless People Who Sold Their Soul ?)
Personally I thought that new Common album was weak in comparison to his last album “Be.” Common gets too wrapped up in the R&B sometimes. Speaking of Premier, when is Gangstarr dropping an album?
Comment by Witt — February 4, 2008 @ 6:37 pm
Speaking of R&B the Getback album by little brother was rampant with R&B mainstream shit. A song would be really tight until some ne yo type dude started showing off his vocal range. It was their most mainstream album by far also- howabout weezy on the track? Whatever though 9th wonder and Big Rapper Pooh are still some of the ILLest outt.
Regardless, I’m still holding on to my cheapo gift certificate from christmas for the Guilty Simpson’s debut album dropping MARCH. Or maybe The Madlib Remixes of Percee P’s Perserverance (kind of odd considering madlib produced most of the original album anyways…)
Comment by Patrick Risberg — February 5, 2008 @ 12:03 am
Personally Talib Kweli’s album should have made the top 20. Jay-Z American Gangster should have made honorable mention ..
Comment by Bre — February 5, 2008 @ 11:02 am
i’d have to disagree bre. American gangster was a realllly solid album. 10 times better than kingdom come
Comment by Patrick Risberg — February 5, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
I’d say it’s a pretty solid list. Maybe some adjustments to what should be top 20 and what should be honorable mention, whatever, I won’t nitpick. BUT I will say that the Blue Sky Black Death and Hell Razah dropped one of the best albums I’ve ever heard right under everyone’s nose. Probably because the cover is whack, no one looked at it twice, but I’m telling you internet compadres, peep that album
Comment by Malcolm Kerr — February 7, 2008 @ 12:59 pm
well, this is my new shopping list.
Comment by Marina — February 7, 2008 @ 11:10 pm