Jay-Z - Magna Carta Holy Grail

We all thought the Kanye would be the most controversial album of the year, until Jay-Z dropped what quickly became the most anticipated album of the summer and the most controversial.

If I have to start it off, I expected better, I fell victim to the Jay-Z hype machine again, because they sold the sizzle not the steak

I expected better production, and song making.  Considering the high caliber producers we saw on the Commercials, Timbaland, Rick Rubin, Swizz, and Pharrell all in the same room. I expected firepower. Each one of them has produced some of his greatest work. But the beats didn’t stand up to that quality, none of the beats elicited a response from me that caught my attention immediately, made my head nod or ugly up my face. Lyrically it’s good, its been a while since Jay has put this much effort into verses but, Jay is trying to prove he's deep, but he can't rap deep. Him trying to rap like Commons Sense doesn't make common sense. It sounds very forced and contrived to me

Lyrically its crazy, some of it. Flows wise Ill pass, content is serious, some of the coded language is impressive, there are plenty of hidden meanings, double/ triple metaphors but the whole package is a yawn.  I didn't get excited about the lyrics. I didn’t feel the need to constantly rewind or feel mind blown.  I was expecting one of his best albums, and that’s my fault as an album reviewer I’m supposed to go in neutral.

In all honesty, this album makes me feel as if Jay-Z has gotten to comfortable, he’s no longer growing as an artist or challenging his self, he’s no longer inventing or reinventing. He’s changing the game but no longer as an artist, as a business man only. The album will change the way music is marketed. But as a listener, I feel insulted, as if he feels he doesn’t have to work for my money anymore, he can put out anything, people will buy it and radio will find something to play just because its him.  This is hip hop, it’s suppose to be the package of dope beats and dope rhymes, not one or the other.

To put it in perspective, I don’t even think this album is better than Blue Print 2 or Dynasty. Its better than Kingdom Come and Blue Print 3, but not in the category of Reasonable Doubt, Blue Print, Streets is Watching or Black Album.... I don't even think it’s the best album out right now. Neither do I believe it contends for album of the year. I think its his most responsible album, his most intelligent album, most adult album, but its not one of his best. It falls way below the hype and expectation, to the middle of the pack.  It’s way better than Kingdom Come, Blue Print 3 and better than Watch the Throne.  But it falls way short of Reasonable Doubt, Blue Print or Black Album. I don’t even like better than Blue Print 2, or the Hard Knock Life album and I’m not that big a fan of either of those.

As far as releases expect anything, “Tom Ford” is simple and dumbed down enough for todays club scene.  Its hard to pick a best song, they’re all about the same, I’d probably pick  “Nickels and Dimes”

For the man that stated, “I'm leading the league in at least six statistical categories right now, Best flow, Most consistent, Realest stories, Most charisma, I set the most trends…” it’s a very average outing, but its genius because he’s got everyone talking about it, and he got Samsung to pay for it, Genius.  I think he was trying to prove a point that he’s matured and can do more responsible tracks, but at heart I still think he’s the slick hustler from earlier album, and that mentality has made him super rich. I think he should be what he is and stop running from his self, because the honesty in his albums is still there, but the soul is not.  Ill give the Magna Cart Holy Grail album a strong 3 out of 6 stars. 

@slin_k_polymath

J Cole - Born Sinner , Kanye - Yeezus, Wale - The Gifted

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J. Cole – Born Sinner 

Regardless of how your debut album is, the pressure of your sophomore album is exponentially more. Regardless of a freshman flop or break out success, everybody expects the second album to be better. J. Cole’s first album was met with pretty good reviews but considering the critical acclaim of his mix-tapes it seemed like a bit of a let down. Then he kind of got quiet and then he came with two more mix-tapes to set up the album, and Truly Yours 1 & 2 quickly thrust him back into the scene and created a hunger for the upcoming album. After the first album many fans felt like Cole needed to get back to his mixtape style, authentic hip hop, and leave the radio friendly stuff alone.

Seemingly unfazed by the pressure, Cole made two announcements that shocked and kind of worried fans. 1. That he was kind of in a dark place while recording the album 2. He was releasing it on the same day as Kanye West’s album.  Which made people speculate on what the sound may be, either very dark or in order to compete with Kanye very pop. How would I affect his sales, considering it leaked early and he was competing with Mr. West? The Truly Yours series gave fans a little comfort but you can never tell.

Born Sinner pretty much gave the fans/critics what they wanted, because the album has more of a mix-tape feel than any album we’ve heard in a while from any artist. Using a classic Outkast sample on “Land of The Snakes” and the sample made famous by Tribe on “Forbidden Fruit” ft. Kendric Lamar and then flipping a Jenniffer Hudson sample into a jam on Crooked Smile ft. TLC . The two shining moments come in the form of the first single “Power Trip” ft Miguel, which has radio appeal without trying too hard, and what will be one of the most memorable moments of his career “Let Nas Down”

All in all, Born Sinner checks out to be a very good album, will probably be one of the best albums of the year. The entertainment value is high, you’ll be bumping it for a while. The production is on point, lyrics and song making value are as expected and on point. While its better than his first album, its still not as good or better than the mixtapes. I’m unsure what’s missing but something is different, it’s closer to a mix-tape but not quite, but definitely a step closer in the right direction. Also from album to album their doesn’t seem to be much growth, its good but it’s the same. There is no new height, no new versatility, no different production, its exactly as expected with no expansion. However the album is definitely worth checking, I give the J Cole – Born Sinner  strong 4 stars out 6.

Kanye - Yeezus

We’ve come to expect different, out of the box and over the top from Kanye West. We’re accustomed to not knowing what next to expect from Kanye West, but I don’t think anyone could have expected what we got from Kanye on this album. Kanye  drops Yeezus, easily this years most controversial album. Controversial from the name, to the minimalist presentation, to the production style. Yeezus is the biggest shock and change in direction of Kanyes career. 808 and Heartbreak was shocking but it worked out. Im not sure many are going to say the same about this album, Yeezus has seems like an experiment that went horribly wrong a la Commons Electric Circus album. It’s everything we like about him lyrically; him being brash, unapologetic, critical of society/culture and saying whatever he wants, the things that made many of us fall in love with him in the first place. However the production is definitely what we expect from Kanye. Kanye is usually ahead of the curve and if we don’t like it at first we learn to like it, but on this album the beats all seem to be the same very strip down, and very electric, almost like bad EDM . The lyrics are decent, but the production, song making, render the album almost unlistenable. Its too much experimentation and Im not sure its going to progress hip hop forward. Its definitely going to be talked about, it’ll be a love or hate album that polarizes people with next to no one in the middle. Honestly it’s the type of album that makes you look like a genius or it can ruin your career. If it blows up genius if not he’s going to have along road back. In my opinion its not a very entertaining album and will get minimal burn, I cant find a radio single but I’m sure they’ll find one to force upon us and program us to like. I honestly think its his worst album, and a huge disappointment, I can’t think of any time I’d really want to listen to it, it’s a skip fest mixed with a struggle and disappointment.  I give the Yeezus album 2 out of 6 stars.

Wale -  Gifted

Wale has been on a steady and consistent climb in hip hop. Always staying relevant, and consistently grinding and bubbling. He has had radio success and has the versatility to the blow up, but hasn’t quite pushed through yet. Wale has remained consistent with next to no drop off in between projects. I think he sufferd from the fac that people don’t fully understand him yet.  After mostly good reviews and the success of “Bad” of the Folarin mixtape, he now delivers one of the summers most anticipated albums The Gifted.

Lyrically Wale is versatile, has depth and range and he continues to give you that soulful emotional vulnerability and honesty found in spoken word artist and the poetry scene, check ,Heaven’s Afternoon ft Meek Mill and Tired of Dreaming ft Rick Ross & Ne-Yo. And of course he continues to tackle the spiritual and social conditions of the world and culture around him, check Golden Salvation (Jesus Piece) and Vanity. The production is more to the middle of the spectrum and relatable, so every one should be able to get into a little more, it is still true to him and his influences. Its still very musical, artsy, and grown up two step based in sections but not overdone, check LoveHate Thing .  I think this album is his most complete and best album and his stock is definitely rising. I rate The Gifted 4 stars out of 6.

Slin-K

@slin_k_polymath on twitter

First Quarter Hip Hop 2013

French Montana – Excuse My French

French Montana is my pick for this years version of 2 Chainz, because he is already on everybody’s project, and after his album drops, I expect him to be even more visible. Finally after countless features and mix tapes French Montana has delivered, Please Excuse My French, and Ill start by saying this it better than I expected. For the most part French has proven to be a trap rapper, talking about mostly the streets, drugs, money, women and jewelry. Don’t expect much change with the album, French is by no means a lyrical giant or wizard of word play, neither does he have deep content. But, he can be entertaining.  This album is going to play huge in clubs, dance halls, strip clubs, and in the South and possibly some radio, anywhere where lyrics and deeper complex aspects, I don’t expect hip hop purist to love it, but maybe like it. The strengths of the album are the fact that French understands how to make a song that palatable, good beats (tried and trued samples), easy memorable hooks, good flows and good collaborations. His songs are catch so you’ll be singing along even if you don’t really love the song, and once again its made for the fun places in life, not really an album for kicking it at the crib or listening to in the car. There are a lot of features but not excessive, honestly the chemistry he has with the people he work with it just fits and its almost expected, but he may want to showcase his individual talent a lil more, because it comes off feeling like a group album or compilation more so than a solo venture. Overall it’s worth a listen, I’d give it a 3 ½ stars out of 6

LL

Probably has some radio single, but not urban radio singles.

A lot of features and high profile collaborations, the type you get when you’ve crossed over and have access to other celebrities.

No better or worse than what’s in hiphop now, just different. But it’s not anything that most people are going to want to listen to either.

Contains a lot of crossover music, the type you get when hip hop meets other forms of music, but nothing extra grimy, nothing real soulful. It makes you appreciate the possibility of versatility and hip hop not just being in a box, but it’s the type of mash up that just make you frown up your face and be more or less like, “I guess”.  Their is nothing extremely creative or stand out about the album, sounds like LL is just getting back into making music because he is way out of his zone, and it’s a great deal below what’s expected of him. Sounds like it was made for him, its music made with friends, other artist, and people that it would be an honor to go in the studio with, but not something to release to the fans. Most old fans wont understand it, and will want the old LL, even though he’s grown past that stage, and most new/ young hip hop heads wont hear this album and understand why he is arguably the Greatest of ALL Time. Younger cats wont even understand why he belongs in the discussion from listening to this album. Its one of the low marks of his recording career, and not the way we expect him to return. He revisits territory that he’s known for making the hip hop love song, but shockingly doesn’t have a street song with some new young cats.  Its not garbage, but with no stand outs and nothing in particular special about the album, from a lyrical, song making or production stand point, its not an album you’ll listen to repeatedly or casually honestly.  2 ½ stars out of 6 its slightly below average, especially for him, and it’s disappointing.

Stichiz

Stichiz, the name chosen because of her ability to stitch various musical stylings and influences together, and boy does the name fit, because stitch together she does. An obvious student of the game she has a flow reminiscent of Tech N9ne, a battle aggressive delivery, a la Lady Luck, and crowd control and fashion sense similar to Soca music star Destra Garcia. Versatility is the name of the game with her ability to do the spiritual, introspective songs you feel in your heart and soul like Lauryn Hill, flip between genres of music, languages and dialects like a Kardinal Official, all without biting anyone’s style or seeming second rate. Stichiz is uniquely original.  She definitely has creativity, as showcased by her ability to totally remake a song (Want), rather than just add her vocals over a beat and leave the original structure intact. Stichiz treats another artist beat as a blank canvas.  However, having so many interests and being so creative, she has yet to find or possibly create her signature sound. She’s at her best on up-tempo tracks (Problem) for parties, clubs (I’m Better), and live performances (Roule ft. Allison Hinds). She definitely has the hit-making gene. You know you have a hit when you make a song for Haitians that they’ll love, and non Haitians have it on repeat, sing it word for word and will be researching the words to see what they translate to.  An’ Ale fully shows the promise of her potential, and is the best song on the project. Haitian, Proud and unapologetic about, but don’t try to box her into just the creole hip-hop box, or any other box.   She proves that she has the talent hold it down on her own and keep you interested, there are no gimmicks; not an excessive amount of features, no crew tracks to hide her in the midst of, no scene stealing appearances where you’re really only listening to the song for the big name act, neither are their features with artist below her level where she sounds excellent by comparison. Stichiz remains the star at all times and shows chemistry with her collaborators (Shine Together ft. Destinee of Maybach Music Latino).  The only real problem with the outing, are that some of the beats sound very similar, and when spitting in her rapid fire delivery the words are not always crystal clear. Clarity is a common problem when rapping fast, but a fixable one and one she’ll want to correct to be taken seriously as a lyricist, because lyricist obsess over their words being heard/felt. And even though she does her thing on each of the remake songs, the project would have benefited from maybe one or two more original tracks.

 Stichiz is a true student of the game and the future is bright for her. It’s rare to find a new MC, but female MC especially, with this level of skill, that’s relatively clean, not focusing on sex or sexuality and is just selling the music. If this is the direction music is going, sign me up. We look forward to hearing more Stichiz. Highly recommend everyone check out the mix tape.  I introduce to some and present to others, South Florida, Broward County’s own Stichiz and her Stichzophrenics Music, The New Standard.  Be sure to download your copy at www.stichiz.com

Mixtapes

Big K.R.I.T. – King Remembered In Time – Dope!  Must Hear

J. Cole – Truly Yours  1 & 2  - Highly Recommend

Termanology – Hood Politics 7 – Highly Recommend

Smoke Dza – Ringside – Good Worth Checking Out

Albums

R.A. The Rugged Man – Legends Never Die – 4 out of 6 stars

Talib Kweli – Prisoner of Conscious – 3 out of 6 stars

Slin-K

@slin_k_polymath

Best and Worst of 2012

2012 Came and Went, and brought with it the usual good, bad and what the hell; that we have grown accustomed to since the end of the 90’s. Radio pretty much sucked, video networks totally sucked and another generation of people has been mislead into believing that this is god music. Good music was available, but largely ignored. Radio stations, video outlets, and record companies gave minimal or no push at all to some of the best music out.  If you only did mainstream or casual listening you probably missed out on a lot of good music. But if you did some searching on one of the many platforms, there was plenty of good music to be found, some new hopefuls, to make us believe that music, hip hop in particular is not dead. It may be on life support but not dead.  I present to you the best and worst of what 2012 served us.

Disclaimer The list is my opinion, Ill defend if necessary, but it is my opinion. I don’t even like all of the albums on the list , but when you’re making a large list for comparison and submittal, they have a rank . Heres the best and worst, I’d encourage you to check out some of the stuff you didn’t know released, and check for some of the artist you’ve never heard. Expand you horizons. Enjoy and let the debate began. Album of the year Nas – Life is Good . Bravo sir, Bravo. 

Top 25 Male Albums – Major Label Releases

1.     Nas – Life is Good

2.     Slaughterhouse - Welcome to our House

3.     Lupe Fiasco – Food and Liquor II

4.     Kendrick Lamar –  Good Kid Mad City

5.     Game – Jesus Piece

6.     Miguel – Kaleidoscope

7.     The Weeknd - Trilogy

8.     GOOD Music - Cruel Summer

9.     BIG KRIT -  Live from the Underground

10. Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox

11. Tank – This how I Feel *

12. Frank Ocean – Channel Orange

13. R Kelly – Write Me Back

14. Rick Ross – God Forgives, I dont

15. Maino – The Day After Tomorrow

16. Chiddy Bang – Breakfast

17. Diggy Simmons – Unexpected Arrival

18. Trey Songz – Chapter V

19. B.o.B – Strange Clouds

20. Wiz Khalifa – O.N.I.F.C.

21.  Beanie Sigel – This Time

22. Travis Porter – From Day 1

23. DJ. Khaled – Kiss the Ring

24. DJ Drama – Quality Street Music

25. Ne-Yo – R.E.D.

Top 30  Indie / Underground Albums of the Year

1.     Stevie Stone – Rollin Stone

2.     Oddisee – People hear, what

3.     Chino XL – Ricanstruction

4.     Xzibit – Napalm

5.     Brother Ali – Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color

6.     Saigon – Greatest Story Never Told – Chapter 2

7.     Sean Price – Mic Tyson

8.     Large Professor – Professor @Large

9.     Ab-Soul – Control System

10. Tech N9ne – E.B.A.H.

11. Z-Ro -Angel Dust

12. School Boy Q- Habits and Contradictions

13. De La Souls Plug 1 / Plug2 – First Serve

14. Obie Trice – Bottoms Up

15. Prodigy HNIC 3

16. Murs and 9^th Wonder – The Final Adventure

17. Killer Mike and LP – R.A.P. Music

18. Murs and Fashawn – This Generation

19. Apollo Brown and OC - Trophies

20. School Boy Q – Habbits and Contradictions

21. Vinnie Paz – God of The Serengeti

22. Dwele – Greater than One

23. Masta Ace and MF Doom –

24. Skyzoo – A Dream Deferred LP

25. Mayday – Take Me to your leader

26. Curren$Y – Stoned Immaculate

27. Lil Fame and Termanology – Fizzyiology

28. LeCrae- Gravity

29. EL-P- Cancer for Cure

30. Gangrene-  Vodka & Ayahuasca

Top 12 Female Albums

1.     Elle Varner – Perfectly Imperfect

2.     Vivian Green – Green Room

3.     Keysha Cole – Woman to Woman

4.     Melanie Fiona – MF Life

5.     ZZ Ward – Til The Casket Drop

6.     Teyana Taylor – The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor

7.     Estelle – All of Me

8.     Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire

9.     Monica – New Life

10. Tamia – Beautiful Surprise

11. Lana Del Rey – Born to die

12. Rhapsody – The Idea of Beautiful

Top 25 Mix tapes

1.     Kardinal Official & Notz – Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself

2.     Slaughterhouse – On the house

3.     Joey Bad Ass - 1999

4.     Action Bronson – Blue Chips

5.     Sha Stimuli – The Chills

6.     Jadakiss – Consignment

7.     50 Cent – 5 Murder by Numbers

8.     Lecrae – Church clothes

9.     Fabolous – The Soul Tape 2

10. Lloyd Banks – V6

11. 4EvaNADay -  BIG KRIT

12. Busta Rhymes – Year of the Dragon

13. Erick Sermon – Breath of  Fresh Air

14. A Loose Quarter – Joe Budden

15. Game - California Republic

16. Cyhi the Prince – Ivy League

17. Paul Wall – No sleep till Houston

18. Ras Kass – Barmageddon

19. Taylor Allderdice -  Wiz Khalifa

20. Emilio Rojas - Breaking

21. Omen – Black Hero Theme Musik

22. Action Bronson -  Rare Chandeliers

23. 50 cent – The Lost Tape

24. Detroit – Big Sean

25. Freddie Gibbs – Baby Face Killer

Top 10 Rookies of the year

1.     Elle Varner

2.     2 Chainz

3.     Frank Ocean

4.     A$AP Rocky

5.     KRIT

6.     Chief Keef

7.     Weekend

8.     Meek Mill

9.     MGK

10. Future

Look out for in 2013 :

French Montana, Chief Keef, Joey Bada$$, Earl Sweatshirt , Emilio Rojas

Top 10 Posse Cuts (4 or more artist )

1.     Mercy – Kanye West ft Pusha T, Big Sean, 2 Chainz

2.     Celebration – Game ft. Chris Brown, Tyga, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa

3.     Black Lip Bastard (RMX) – AB –Soul ft . Black Hippy

4.     Rollin – Game ft. Kanye West, Trae the Truth, Z-Ro, Paul Wall & Slim-Thug

5.     Sucka MC”s – Slaughterhouse ft Freeway

6.     Power Circle – MMG ft. Kendric Lamar

7.     Louis XIII – Xzibit ft. King T and The Liks

8.     The Road Stevie Stone ft. Magnum PI, Wreckonize, Bernz

9.     Latinos Stand Up ( Remix) – Chino XL ft. Sick Jacken, B-Real, Thirston Howellteh 3^rd,  Sinful, Kid Frost

10. I don’t like ( remix) – Chief Keef ft. Pusha T, Kanye, Big Sean, & Jadakiss

Also Check – honorable mentions

11. Black Out – Ghostface, M.O.P., Pharoahe Monch

12. Killers Remorse – Xzibit ft. remorse, Bishop Lamont, Demrick

13. Movies – Xzibit ft GAMEm Crooked I, Slim The Mobster Demrick

14. Function ( remix) – E-40 ft, Young Jeezy Chris Brown, French Montana, Red Café

15. Large Professor, Action Bronson, Cormega, Roc Marciano, & Saigon “M.A.R.S.”

Top Urban Sellers of 2012

[CERTIFIED ALBUMS THAT PLAQUED]
Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" - 1x PLATINUM
Lionel Richie "Tuskegee" - 1x PLATINUM
Kendrick Lamar "Good kid, m.A.A.d city" – GOLD
Maroon 5 "Overexposed" - GOLD
Rick Ross "God Forgives, I Don't" - GOLD

[CERTIFIED SINGLES THAT PLAQUED]
Maroon 5/Wiz Khalifa "Payphone" - 4x PLATINUM
Flo-Rida "Whistle" - 4x PLATINUM
Maroon 5 "One More Night" - 3x PLATINUM
PSY "Gangnam Style" - 2.5x PLATINUM
Kanye West/G.O.O.D. Music “Mercy” - 2x PLATINUM
David Gutta/Sia "Titanium" - 2x PLATINUM
Drake/Lil Wayne/Tyga "The Motto" - 2x PLATINUM
Tyga "Rack City" - 2x PLATINUM
2 Chainz/Drake "No Lie" - 1x PLATINUM
Rihanna "Diamonds" - 1x PLATINUM
Kanye West/G.O.O.D. Music/JayZ “Clique” - 1x PLATINUM
Demi Lovato "Give Your Heart A Break" - 1x PLATINUM
Wiz Khalifa "Work Hard, Play Hard" - 1x PLATINUM
Calvin Harris "Feel So Close" - 1x PLATINUM
Justin Bieber/Big Sean "As Long As You Love Me" - 1x PLATINUM
Rihanna "Where Have You Been" - 1x PLATINUM
Rihanna/Chris Brown "Birthday Cake" - 1x PLATINUM
Kanye West/JayZ "Otis" - 1x PLATINUM
Gym Class Heroes "Ass Back Home" - 1x PLATINUM
Ellie Goulding "Lights" - 1x PLATINUM
Nicki Minaj "Starships" - 1x PLATINUM
BOB "So Good" - 1x PLATINUM
BOB/Lil Wayne "Strange Clouds" - 1x PLATINUM
Dev "In The Dark" - 1x PLATINUM
French Montana/Rick Ross/Drake/Lil Wayne "Pop That" - GOLD
Mac Miller "Knock Knock" - GOLD
Driicky Graham "Snapbacks & Tattoos" - GOLD
Rihanna/JayZ "Talk That Talk" - GOLD
Kreayshawn "Gucci Gucci" - GOLD
Ca$h Out "Cashin' Out" - GOLD
Travis Porter "Ayy Ladies" - GOLD
MGK "Wild Boy" - GOLD
Loverance "Up" - GOLD
Rihanna "Where Have You Been" - GOLD
Nicole Scherzinger "Right There" - GOLD
YC "Racks" - GOLD

Top 10 Most Disappointing Cd’s

1.     Ja Rule – P. I. L 2

2.     2 Chainz – Based on a Tru Story

3.     Usher – Looking for Myself

4.     Pink Friday : Roman Reloaded

5.     Meek Mill – Dreams and Nighmares

6.     Odd Future – OF Tape

7.     Tyga – Creless World 2

8.     Kid Cuddi & Dot Da Genius – WZRD

9.     Too $hort – No Trespassing

10. E-40 block brochure

Top 15 most anticipated next year ( no particular order)

1.     John Legend – Love in the Future

2.     50 Cent - Street King Immortal

3.     Eminem - TBA

4.     Pusha T – My Name is My Name

5.     Eminem and 50 Cent

6.     Joe Budden – No love lost

7.     J Cole – Born Sinner

8.     Ashanti – Braveheart

9.     Azelia Banks – Broke with Expensive taste

10. Kanye West/G.O.O.D. Music "Cruel Winter"

11. Ghost Face Killah – Twelve Reasons To Die

12. MC Eight – Which Way iz West – MC Eight & DJ Premier

13. Big Sean – Hall of Fame

14. JadaKiss – Top 5, Dead Or Alive

15. Earl Sweatshirt - Doris

Top Albums Probably Wont Release

·      Scarface and Beanie Sigel - Mac n Brad

·      Andre 3000

·      Dr Dre – Detox

·      Goodie Mob – Age Against The Machine

·      Jay Electronica "Act II: Patents Of Nobility [The Turn]"

·      Eminem & 50 Cent *TBA

·      Q-Tip "The Last Zulu"

·      Jean Grae - Cake or Death

·      LL Cool J – Authentic Hip hop

·      Tamar Braxton "Love & War"

Overall Best Albums

1.     Nas – Life is Good

2.     Slaughterhouse – Welcome To Our House

3.     Stevie Stone – Rollin Stone

4.     Oddisee – People hear, what

5.     Chino XL – Ricanstruction

6.     Lupe Fiasco – Food and Liquor II

7.     Kendrick Lamar –  Good Kid Mad City

8.     Elle Varner – Perfectly Imperfect

9.     Xzibit - Napalm

10. Game – Jesus Piece

11. Brother Ali – Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color

12. Vivian Green – The Green Room

13. Keysha Cole Woman to Woman

14.  Miguel – Kaleidoscope

15. The Weekend - Trilogy

Slept On Album

1.     Tank – This is How I feel

2.     Vivian Green  - Green Room

3.     ZZ Ward Til the Casket drop

4.     Keysha Cole – Woman to Woman

5.     Mint Condition – Music at the speed of life

Top 5Producers

1.     Alchemist

2.     Mike Will

3.     Hit Boy

4.     LP

5.     Young Chop

@slin_k_polymath on twitter

Special Contributins by Doc J