what are the best hip-hop albums of 2005?

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i reckon its
mike jones - who is mike jones
the best rapper, the most charismatic character on hip hop, the best hooks, best humour, greatest voice, the most complex, someone give this man an award
but what else was there? all i was listening to this year was mike jones

― mikejacksonjones, Monday, 21 November 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

Was Grayskul this year or last? If it was this year, it was one of my favourites.
Kardinall Offishall's new one is really good. And then there's Danger Doom.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Monday, 21 November 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

LIL KIM

― The Lex (The Lex), Monday, 21 November 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

Off the top: Late Registration and Clipse "We Got it for Cheap Vol. 2"

― Jay Smooth (jsmooth995), Monday, 21 November 2005 17:21 (twenty years ago)

My top 10
1. Dalek - Absence
2. Farm Fresh - Time Is Running Out
3. Clipse - We Got it 4 Cheap Vol. 2
4. Quasimoto - The Further Adventures Of Lord Quas
5. Mannie Frsh - The Mind Of Mannie Fresh
6. Blueprint - 1988
7. Mike Jones - Who Is Mike Jones?
8. Paul Wall - The Peoples Champ
9. Sage Francis - A Healthy Distrust
10. Subtitle - Young Dangerous Heart

― Whiney G. Weingarten (whineyg), Monday, 21 November 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

I'm taking the liberty of including some (post-)grime...

1. Run the Road
2. Kanye West
3. Pete Philly & Perquisite*
4. Pimp C
5. The Opposites*
6. Jawat!*
7. Juelz Santana
8. The Mitchell Brothers
9. Missy Elliott
10. Roll Deep

*) and three Dutch releases ‘cause we’re doing very well over here thank you very much

― JoB (JoB), Monday, 21 November 2005 21:14 (twenty years ago)

Mike Jones best rapper? I love him, but it's partly because he's incompetent.

Juelz' album is hot, as is the proper Diplomats More than Music Album of course.

― twoblackeyes (twoblackeyes), Monday, 21 November 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

Mike Jones best rapper? I love him, but it's partly because he's incompetent.

Juelz' album is hot, as is the proper Diplomates More than Music Album of course.

― twoblackeyes (twoblackeyes), Monday, 21 November 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

Juelz's cheesy beats are too hard to love, unless you love that. Clipse was great, but it's not rilly an album. I only heard a clean version of Naked Truth and it really spoiled my enjoyment - every second word or so is missing. Jeezy & Three 6 top the list for me, but I haven't heard the new Wayne yet - it may eclipse these. I found all of the Swisha albums (MJ, PW, ST) disappointing to an extent, but I haven't heard Cham's yet.

― jcartledge (jcartledge), Monday, 21 November 2005 23:52 (twenty years ago)

the fave i've heard is the young jeezy.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 00:05 (twenty years ago)

Kardinal Offishal has a new album?!?! Where?!?!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 00:08 (twenty years ago)

I Self Devine, Self Destruction (Rhymesayers)
Atmosphere, You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having (Rhymesayers)

― Pete's a Broken Record, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 01:15 (twenty years ago)

That I Self Divine record is good.
DJ Quik's is fantastic.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 01:48 (twenty years ago)

AZ. AZ. AZ.

Absolutely no competition.

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 02:47 (twenty years ago)

AZ is good. I'm reviewing it for stylus this week, actually. This Lil Wayne album is amazing on first listen.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 02:50 (twenty years ago)

I love it more each time I listen. "City of gods" is the stand-out on first listen, but "New York" just grows and grows. I love the heads-down anti-fashion of the whole thing, like AZ just going "fuck it, this is what I'm good at" and it turning into a complete banger in the process. It's great to have a quotable hip hop album again, too.

― Jacob (Jacob), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 03:05 (twenty years ago)

Amen re: "City of Gods," Disco D is promising.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 03:19 (twenty years ago)

is the AZ album THAT good?
ill have to pick it up.
i liked the geto boys album from this year!
and the roots manuva one...
anyone heard the OC album?

― okok, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 13:17 (twenty years ago)

lil wayne if its anywhere near 'suffix'

the 1st time i ever bought mp3s! and worth it

oh jesus make it december already

baby bash still makes me really giddy tho

― 006 (thoia), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 14:56 (twenty years ago)

My response to this question (along with lots of other peoples') is on the thread below (though I have since become convinced that D4L's *Down For Life* is also one of the best hip-hop albums of the year):

best rap album so far this year?

― xhuxk, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 15:01 (twenty years ago)

Here are 10, but don't hold me to any order

1. Lil Wayne - The Carter II
2. Beanie Sigel - The B Coming
3. Three-6 Mafia - Most Known Unknowns
4. DJ Target - Aim High 2 (cuz we're counting grime i guess!)
5. DJ Quik - Trauma
6. Young Jeezy - Let's Get It
7. Clipse - Got it 4 Cheap
8. AZ - AWOL
9. Mike Jones - Who Is Mike Jones?
10. Slim Thug - Already Platinum

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

poor 50. what's a guy gotta do?

so far it's him, jeezy and the clipse.

quasimoto and dangerdoom were the big disappointments. although maybe the quasimoto is just too far out and deserves another try.

just got the lil wayne today.

― jhoshea (scoopsnoodle), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 20:33 (twenty years ago)

"Awfully Deep", except that's not really rap now, is it?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 20:41 (twenty years ago)

Yeah Lil' Wayne has totally stolen the show now.

― Hairy Asshurt (Toaster), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 20:49 (twenty years ago)

1. De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig - Parels Voor de Zwijnen
2. DJ Muggs vs. GZA - Grandmasters
3. Jawat - Ut Zwarte Aap
4. Beanie Sigel - The B Coming
5. AZ - Awol
6. Missy Elliott - The Cookbook
7. Edan - Beauty and the Beat
8. Slim Thug - Already Platinum
9. Mike Jones - Who is Mike Jones?

havent heard the Clipse album, sorry

― Rizz (Rizz), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 21:12 (twenty years ago)

""Awfully Deep", except that's not really rap now, is it?"
shhhhhhh
ha

nobody liked the kano album? or the kanye or common albums?! i like deejs list, but something about a lot of those albums seemed a bit dissapointing to me

― okok, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 21:35 (twenty years ago)

I still want to know what Kardinal Offishall album is being talked about at the top of this thread! I can't find any evidence that one is coming out!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 21:36 (twenty years ago)

Bun B, Paul Wall, Jeezy, Z-Ro and Slim Thug have about four good songs a piece, but those songs are better than the more consistent B. Sigel or Kanye or whoever else. And "Mo City Don" really wins the prize in terms of album cuts.

― Zed Szetlian (Finn MacCool), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 21:42 (twenty years ago)

Btw I'm still thinking the Pitbull remix record is going to be my favorite hip hop album this year.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 21:44 (twenty years ago)

This thread just serves as another reminder of how behind the curve on hip-hop I'm falling.

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 21:52 (twenty years ago)

"Bun B, Paul Wall, Jeezy, Z-Ro and Slim Thug have about four good songs a piece, but those songs are better than the more consistent B. Sigel or Kanye or whoever else. And "Mo City Don" really wins the prize in terms of album cuts."

yeah i suppose rating hip hop albums of the year is really about which album had the least sucky tracks on it. i think MIA made the hip hop album of the year

― okok, Tuesday, 22 November 2005 21:55 (twenty years ago)

Kardinal Offishall To Unleash "Fire and Glory" On Nov 15th

The Track Listing:
1. Last Standing Soldier
2. E.G.G. (Everybody Gone Gangsta) featuring: Vybz Kartel
3. Heads Up
4. Everyday Rudebwoy featuring Ray Robinson
5. The Best Man
6. Freshie featuring Ro Dolla
7. Sunday
8. Kaysarasara featuring: Estelle
9. Neva New (Till I Kissed You)
10. Mr. Officer featuring Rene Neufville (formerly of Zhané)
11. Whatchalike featuring: Busta Rhymes
12. Fire and Glory
13. Feel Alright
14. All the Way

― xcixxorx (Honda), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

No "Bellydancer" :(

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

Also wasn't Nov 15 last week?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:00 (twenty years ago)

Paul Wall and Jeezy definitely have more than 4 great tracks a piece. Jeezy's has a large number of great tracks. Paul Wall I'd stick w Kanye at being "consistent but less exciting."

Seriously, Kanye, Paul Wall, Z-Ro, Pitbull remixes, C-Murder, Messy Marv, Trina, Geto Boys, Black Rob could all make my top ten at various times depending on how I'm feeling. Not to say this has been a 'spectacular' year for rap per se, but i listened to a lot of it this year and enjoyed quiet a bit.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:06 (twenty years ago)

haha funny typo, should read 'enjoyed quite a bit"

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:06 (twenty years ago)

quiet is good too though.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:28 (twenty years ago)

there are ads for the kardinal album all over the place here!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:29 (twenty years ago)

Hey Deej what are your favorite tracks off the records I mentioned.

― Zed Szetlian (Finn MacCool), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:32 (twenty years ago)

"there are ads for the kardinal album all over the place here!"

!!!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:33 (twenty years ago)

Bun B, Paul Wall, Jeezy, Z-Ro and Slim Thug have about four good songs a piece

Bun-B I think is great in parts but pretty uneven. Love: "Bun," "Trill Recognize Trill," "Pushin," "The Story," "I'm a G."

Paul Wall I have less trouble identifying tracks I DON'T like. I think it was "March n step" and "girl" that i thought were kind of boring. My favorite is "Smooth Operator" but its a strong album, if a little samey.

Jeezy I think is just strong throughout, at first the thin quality of the production sort of bothered me but now I like it a lot. These days I tend to skip "Go Crazy," "And Then What" and "My Hood," because I've heard both way too much (the second one was my fault). I still think "Soul Survivor" is great.

Z-Ro is a great MC although I don't listen to his new album as much as I did Joseph W Mcvey. I like "Mo City Don," "The Mule" (although I prefer the drums on the first version that leaked), "Don't Wanna Hurt Nobody," and "From the South." And "Respect My Mind."

Slim Thug hit me real hard at the beginning, although I had low expectations after I heard the original leak. I like "Like a Boss" and "3 Kings" although I burned out on those in '04 and early '05, like "Diamonds," "Click Clack," "Ashy to Classy," "Miss Mary," and the last two tracks. Always skip the Jazze Pha songs, otherwise the rest are ok w me.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 22:57 (twenty years ago)

oops I mean being tired of "My Hood" was my fault, because I overplayed it.

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:00 (twenty years ago)

What do people think of the Juelz album?

― deej.. (deej..), Tuesday, 22 November 2005 23:54 (twenty years ago)

mediocre mainstream albums that I liked more than most people but still probably not enough to put on any year end lists:
1. Cassidy - I'm A Hustla
2. Ebony Eyez - 7 Day Cycle
3. Missy Elliott - The Cookbook
4. Sheek Louch - After Taxes
5. Black Rob - The Black Rob Report
6. Fat Joe - All Or Nothing
7. Twista - The Day After
8. Ying Yang Twins - U.S.A.
9. Young Gunz - Brothers From Another
10. Will Smith - Lost & Found

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 01:14 (twenty years ago)

haha! nice

― deej.. (deej..), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 01:36 (twenty years ago)

The weird thing about mainstream hip hop for me at the moment is that it doesn't feel as mainstream as it should - oh the hooks are there but i guess I'd like it all to be more bright and sparkling and extroverted ("pimpin' all over the world" is the honorable exception and I guess that's why i love it so much).

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 01:43 (twenty years ago)

"there are ads for the kardinal album all over the place here!"

!!!

cancon dontcha know!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 23 November 2005 02:09 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

1 Documentary - The Game
2 Carter II - Lil Wayne
3 Common - Be

― Flipm0de, Friday, 9 December 2005 14:26 (twenty years ago)

Anyone have opinions about the Sadat X album? The couple of tracks I've heard are pretty great.

― jcartledge (jcartledge), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 00:46 (twenty years ago)

2. DJ Muggs vs. GZA - Grandmasters

Haha this is alright, I like how good a job Muggs does with the faux-rza beats. Of all people ethan was the one to recommend this to me. At first it's kind of boring but I'm getting into it. Not top ten or nothin. Oh yeah! Also in Scratch they had interviews w GZA and Muggs and GZA was wearing a michael jordan windbreaker straight out of '93.

― deej.. (deej..), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 01:44 (twenty years ago)

my best friend did an interlude beat on the Sadat X album

― jaxon (jaxon), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 02:36 (twenty years ago)

Im gona say fuk: any jazzie pha beats, missy elliot, young gunz, ying yang twinz, fuk thez pussy holes. Its all about str8 up gangster music, ie Black ROb, Lil Wayne, Black moon. Show some respecta to REAL HIP HOP, and it dont stop til we get the Po PO of the block!!!!!!

― JAckson O.G Triple, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 10:36 (twenty years ago)

GZA sounds like he's reciting the rhymes from a sheet of paper on that Muggs cd. Some alright beats though.

My favorites :

Black Rob-black rob report.

Bun B-trill.

A.Z-a.w.o.l.

Game-the documentary.

Beanie Sigel-the b coming.

― ELLI$, Wednesday, 14 December 2005 11:02 (twenty years ago)

Majik Most- Molesting Hip Hop

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 14 December 2005 11:13 (twenty years ago)

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