Here is one of my favourite tracks from Talib Kweli’s latest album, Gutter Rainbows, which features Kendra Ross and is produced by the super-talented S1. Last years RPM was Talib’s weakest work to date, and I think Hi-Tek’s choice of production style has a lot to do with that; however he’s back to his best with this release. He’s drafted in the likes of Oh No, 6th Sense & 88-Keys to create a classic Hip-Hop sound that we have come to expect from him.
Skinner dropped this monster of a track with Kano on his YouTube page last night. It’s classic Streets with a little Dubstep thrown into the mix. Have a feeling this final album is going to be a bit special.
This is a track taken from Savcloud’s exceptional instrumental album, Build, which will be the 2nd release from Busted Beats, the new sub-label of Cold Busted. Blending Hip-Hop with Electronic sounds and adding classic Soul samples, this is just another example of why I think so much of these guys. This will be available on March 9th. Chicka chicka BOOM!
Rhode Island-based duo Voices of Black released their Wolf + Lamb debut yesterday, Plastic Dolls, which is their second full-length to date. The album moves with the groove of Hip-Hop, the beats of House and the stride of Pop music way in the future. Musical perfection? I think so.
What do you do when you’re bored and have nothing to do for 3 hours? Yep, that’s right, put together your 50 favourite Hip-Hop albums of all-time. I got the original shortlist down to 84 albums, so as you can imagine, there are quite a few classics that didn’t make the list. Listening through my whole iTunes library and finding albums that I haven’t listened to for years was thoroughly enjoyable, and I think the end product is a pretty accurate reflection on what I feel is the best Hip-Hop releases I’ve ever heard. Hit the jump to see the list, and make sure you let me know if there are any albums that didn’t make my list, but would be in yours. My favourite track from each album is in brackets and can be listened to on the player below each album.
1. Common – Like Water For Chocolate (The Light)
2. Slum Village – Fantastic, Vol. 2 (Fall In Love)
3. A Tribe Called Quest – Beats, Rhymes & Life (Keeping It Moving)
4. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready To Die (Suicidal Thoughts)
5. Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt (D’evils)
6. NaS – Illmatic (One Time 4 Your Mind)
7. Mobb Deep – The Infamous (Survival Of The Fittest)
8. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (Ain’t Nothin’ To Fuck Wit)
9. KanYe West – The College Dropout (Family Business)
10. Slick Rick – Art Of Storytelling (Adults Only)
11. OutKast – ATLiens (Babylon)
12. Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle (Serial Killa)
13. The Foreign Exchange – Connected (Brave New World)
14. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP (Remember Me?)
15. Jay-Z – The Black Album (Allure)
16. Gang Starr – Hard To Earn (Mass Appeal)
17. The Pharcyde – Labcabincalifornia (Runnin’)
18. GZA – Liquid Swords (Shadowboxin’)
19. Pete & CL Smooth - Mecca & The Soul Brother (T.R.O.Y)
20. Little Brother – The Listening (The Way You Do It)
21. KanYe West – Late Registration (Addiction)
22. A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders (Electric Relaxation)
23. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx (Incarcerated Scarfaces)
One of the best Hip-Hop groups you’ve probably never heard of. Been listening to their two albums (Ambushed & Gravity) today and realised how good they really were, but then again, so is every artist/group associated with the Native Tongues era. Below are two of my favourite tracks, which feature Q-Tip & Mos Def. This is everything that Hip-Hop is about, and more.
Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 4:22PM 
