I am generally unimpressed with the crtics' evaluations of hip hop albums on this website. I believe that they heavily favor white friendly hip hop (they really looooooooved Madvillain, which I don't even believe was MF Doom's OR Madlib's greatest endeavor), and that they overlook some truly great albums. In my mind, Common's BE was the clear winner in this category, despite pedestrian reviews on this site - does anyone share my sentiments? - what albums would you rate as the best of the year?

hands down:

Cyne-Evolution Fight

Nothing is even close.

I haven't heard Cyne's album, so I can't disagree with Imprezu, but for my money, the best hip-hop album of the year is definitely

Deep Thinkers - Necks Move

I agree. Cyne's album is, for me, the best album OF ANY GENRE for 2005. It's so solid and smooth, it's ridiculous. Everyone who I've played it for agrees. It's an outstanding record. Every other hip-hop album from this year is immediately overshadowed when you hear it.

And personally, I didn't like Be. I liked the first two songs, then it became lackluster almost immediately. The single "Go" is simply intolerably bad... It probably doesn't help that Kanye annoys the living hell out of me, since he overshadows Common on 90% of that album. For shame!

I agree that the single, Go, is absolutely horrible, but I think that the album returns to the level of the first two tracks almost immediately - if you're annoyed by Kanye West, though, that doesn't help. I've been listening to Cyne and so far I really like it - thanks guys

I really wish more publications would notice Cyne's Evolution Fight other than simply Stylus... It REALLY deserves a lot of attention... I'm so bummed.

My favorites are nothing unique, but here it goes:

DJ Quik - Trauma
Common - Be
Kanye West - Late Registration
Blackalicious - The Craft
Little Brother - The Minstrel Show
Danger Doom - The Mouse And The Mask

I do like the DangerDoom album a lot, though it is quite uneven. Still, there are a handful of gems and has this really interesting, almost subversive, side to it. Plus, c'mon! It's MF Doom. The guy's incredible.

Still, Cyne's Evolution Fight is without a doubt the hip-hop album of the highest quality for 2005. Though it will never reach the fame of Kanye's album, I think most people would argue that the Cyne album is leaps and bounds ahead of it.

The Edan album is also spectacular - especially the track "Beauty."

quote:

Originally posted by Platypus Quest:
I really wish more publications would notice Cyne's Evolution Fight other than simply Stylus... It REALLY deserves a lot of attention... I'm so bummed.

Its ok dude, let it move on.

Just be happy that you where luck enought o find an album that you love.

You also might want to go buy some copies of it, so in 5 years you can re-sell it on ebay for $$$$.Never know.

Haha, perhaps.

Unfortunately, I think I fit right into the white friendly hip hop listener as I am a huge fan of MF Doom and must say the album Madvillainy from last year re-kindled my interest in the hip-hop genre. Of course I am a little biased towards the DangerDoom record for best this year but I also liked Common's Be and also Late Registration.

quote:

Originally posted by mike_k:
Unfortunately, I think I fit right into the white friendly hip hop listener as I am a huge fan of MF Doom and must say the album Madvillainy from last year re-kindled my interest in the hip-hop genre. Of course I am a little biased towards the DangerDoom record for best this year but I also liked Common's Be and also Late Registration.

It's exactly the same for me, although I find Kanye annoying, and while Late Registration was pretty good, it's way overrated. I'm a HUGE fan of both MF Doom and Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), so my favorites this year were The Mouse and the Mask, The Craft and BE. Can anyone reccomend any other work by MF Doom or Madlib?

If you haven't heard them already, check out Madvillain and the Quasimoto albums. Great stuff.

Madlib also has a few other things out.

Sound Directions-The Funky Side...
Beat Kondukta-Madlib Beats

If you are interested....
Visit.

Cyne is great, and it was holding the title for me for months (thanks for recommending it, guys, I had missed it on Stylus). Now I'm not so sure, though. DJ Muggs vs. GZA - Grandmasters is also top-notch.

I just listened to the Fort Minor promo. I'm not too impressed. Sounds too weak. No edge at all and uninformed audience friendly. But I did like to hear Ryu and Tak from SOB guest. Hopefully Mike Shinoda's full length be better.

quote:

Originally posted by cpa13:
I just listened to the Fort Minor promo. I'm not too impressed. Sounds too weak. No edge at all and uninformed audience friendly. But I did like to hear Ryu and Tak from SOB guest. Hopefully Mike Shinoda's full length be better.

Isn't Mike Shinoda the guy from Linkin Park? I don't remember his mic skills being up to par. Or his taste in music, for that matter.

quote:

Originally posted by ¡KevinHess!:

quote:

Originally posted by cpa13:
I just listened to the Fort Minor promo. I'm not too impressed. Sounds too weak. No edge at all and uninformed audience friendly. But I did like to hear Ryu and Tak from SOB guest. Hopefully Mike Shinoda's full length be better.

Isn't Mike Shinoda the guy from Linkin Park? I don't remember his mic skills being up to par. Or his taste in music, for that matter.

Yup, he's the rapper for Linkin Park. He's a mediocore MC at best if he's not worse. I'm just hoping he has a bunch of guests on his LP like LP did on Reanimation, i.e., Chali 2na from J5, Evidence from Dilated, Zion-I, Planet Asia, Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, etc. The promo had Styles of Beyond featured and they are dope.

I'm not really expecting much though...

Cage's Hell's Winter is one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.