It is early yes.But there have been some signifigant albums coming out as of late.

So far i would have to say Prefuse 73's album is tops.It is by far the most hip-hop he has been.But i cant wait to listen to the preceptionists album.From what i have listened to so far...it is really good.

I'm on my third listen of Surrounded by Silence since I bought it off Bleem this morning. It's my favorite hip-hop(-inspired) album of the moment, easily topping Awfully Deep (and Sage Francis is dropping fast).

So of the 4 reviews featured on Metacritic, Surrounded only scores a 61. Again, typical overreaction to an artist a lot of "journalists" have put on a pedestal (some of whom I'm sure are DYING to bring him back to Earth). Of course TMT and Playlouder awarded it excellent marks. (Do they even dislike anything?)

Dalek - Absence is the best rap album of the last two years. Really amazing stuff.

I like the dalek album alot.But i still like their first ep and lp the best.Filthy Tongues...and Negro Nekro Nekros, the latter being some of the most progressive hip-hop that will ever be made.

Some of the borderline underground/mainstream hip-hop acts in Australia are cool - Hilltop Hoods, Backwater Beatvandals, etc. As for international acts, I haven't heard anything to set the world on fire in '05 as yet.


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I just got the Paris Zax album 'unpath'd waters'.
Really good stuff.Instrumental hip-hop.He produced a bunch of stuff for busdriver...and is in the shapeshifters ever evolving crew.

It is out on the new alpha pup label.This label is one to watch in the near future.The signed subtitle, circus,ricci rucker...and are releasing all of omid's older htf material...as well as older albums from the Abstract Tribe Unique and d-styles.

Good Stuff to check out!!

Hands down...

Edan-Beauty and the Beat.

Easily one of the most creative persons in hip-hop from his mixtapes to his productions...everything is well done.

This album is no different and i dont see it slipping too far out of the best of 05' for any genre.

The new Gorillaz is wicked. I can't wait till it gets released.

quote:

Originally posted by Filmore Holmes:
The new Gorillaz is wicked. I can't wait till it gets released.

I didnt like the gorillaz first one...i should have considering who was involved.It seemed way too calculated and contrived.I doubt that replacing dan the automater with danger mouse will change anything.

I wouldnt consider it rap either...i mean maybe this one is has a heavier hip-hop influence, but it probabbly belongs somewhere in alt.

Buncha flower-sniffin' nerd rap lovin' sissies on this site....

The best album of the year is:

SEAN PRICE - MONKEY BARZ

Grimy, ignorant street ish....but yall wouldn't know about that cuz you be out sniffin' flowers all day...Ralph-Tresvant sensistive type nuccas

I acyually like Heltah Skeltah's debut album nocturnal, which sean price aka mc ruc was a big part of.On the contrary boot camp clik have never impressed me as a group.

As far as this album goes i have not heard it but i generally despize duck down records.

Maybe its worth a look.

Thanks for the heads up.

Check out K'Naan-The Dusty Foot Philosopher. Rapper based in Toronto who is originally from Mogadishu Somalia. The album is great, with the best comparison I can make being say The Arsonists first album, with a lightness in the music comparable to early De La Soul, but lyrically very different. His tales of life in Somalia are absorbing, and his disses are spectacular! Right off the bat in the first song he lays one on Kanye that absolutely kills!
Hasn't left my cd changer since I put it in the first time!

Man, there is some sick hip-hop out there right now. British grime group Virus Syndicate recently released a ridiculously dope album in The Work Related Illness. There's also Busdriver's Fear of a Black Tangent, Felt's Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet, The Perceptionists' Black Dialogue, and last but not least, Blood of Abraham's Eyedollartree. I'd think anybody who likes hip-hop would dig those records.

BTW, the last track on The Work Related Illness, "Taxman," is the track of the year. Hands down.

quote:

Originally posted by ¡KevinHess!:
Man, there is some sick hip-hop out there right now. British grime group Virus Syndicate recently released a ridiculously dope album in The Work Related Illness. There's also Busdriver's Fear of a Black Tangent, Felt's Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet, The Perceptionists' Black Dialogue, and last but not least, Blood of Abraham's Eyedollartree. I'd think anybody who likes hip-hop would dig those records.

BTW, the last track on The Work Related Illness, "Taxman," is the track of the year. Hands down.

I actually think taxman is my least favorite track of the album.Cheesy star wars sample and too many gun-shots ruin it.My personal fave song is 'throwing in the towel' and of course the single 'slow down'.Mark One's production for the most part is excellent.I still like his solo debut 'one way' a ton better than the VS debut.

I really wanted to like felt.I love all the people who are part of the project especially murs and ant, i really could live without slug.Overall the album is a standard collabo album, that really does not take any steps forward or back.It has some good tracks more bad though.

I think this is a good year for hip-hop.There are a few sure fire winners and a bunch of surprises.Still have time left as well.

I know it's not really material to your position, but that's not Star Wars, it's the theme from the first Batman movie. And I think the gunshots are part of what I like about it. The whole album is so over the top that I think they've got tongues planted firmly in cheek for most of that stuff.

As to Felt, I think it's a huge improvement over the last album, production-wise. The sound is much more LA than the last one, and I guess I like that. I agree with you about Slug, he's not really my favorite, but I think this is one of his best performances because it's loose and fun, same with Murs. I think everyone involved is on top of their respective games because they cut loose a little bit. And I really disagree about the preponderance of tracks being bad. I'd say the only two I would prefer to leave off are the two phone interludes.

That said, I agree it's been a pretty good year for hip-hop.

Best Hip-Hop of 2005? A lot has been goings on this year. Honestly I've fallen off the band wagon since being disappointed by some of my favorite Okayplayers in 2004...Talib, Mighty Mos, and unfortunately ?uesto and the Roots. But 2004 had some of the dopest records as well, i.e. Madvillainy, The Streets, De La Soul, Murs 3:16, Oh No, etc.

2005 is showing great promise. Some of the dopest Hip-Hop:

Edan: Beauty and the Beat
Common: Be
13 & God: s/t
Quasimoto: Further Adventures of Lord Quas
Dalek: Absence

Any good suggestions for 2005 Hip-Hop?

Like last year, it seems to have been, thus far, a lean year for quality hip-hop. But here's a few that should be around for a while:
1. A Healthy Distrust - Sage Francis
2. Awfully Deep - Roots Manuva
3. Beauty and the Beat - Edan
4. The Further Adventures of Lord Quas - Quasimoto

Good listens but the jury is still deliberating:
1. Be - Common
2. Black Dialogue - The Perceptionists
3. Airborn Audio

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Bruce Oothout,

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Oothout:

3. Airborn Audio

I cannot stand this album.Not to say it is bad,but when it could have been phenomenal it really loses alot in its mediocreness.To me it seems as if beans was the member of APC with the balls to actually try to be different.I think that is evident in comparing this airborne audio album to beans' solo adventures.APC was revolutionary for being a rap group but using alot of electonic ideas in making their music.It seems like they are trying to force it now...at least m.sayiid and priest are.It seems natural for beans.

I think airborne audio and their consisting members should just try to be what theyare and not force a sound that is not them.It really does not work.

I agree that Airborn Audio is a let down. There is great potential but it just didn't happen on this record. Of course I went into it hoping a continuation of APC would occur but with my high expectations came a huge let down. Tragic Epilogue and Arrythmia, hell even APC vs. Matthew Shipp, were excellent albums compared to the mediocore Good Fortune. Its not horrible it just aint great.

Hands Down the best album this year i have heard.

Cyne-Evolution Fight

**Absolutely Essential**

I waited to formulate a complete opinion after a dozenlistens or so.Ihave been a fan for a while now.But this is by far there best and most complete work to date.Well crafted music and beats, and astonishing lyrics.The best of both worlds.

I do not see my opinion of this changing for a while.