Smootherness: January 2009

I definitely do NOT predict it ending by Q2 this year. Not this year either. Hopefully next year. Things look really bad. The credit crisis is doing exactly what people thought it would do, and consumption has really dropped off. What's going on in Iceland hopefully doesn't spread to any major countries. If that happens there could be trade wars as countries block imports. That is kind of the worse-case scenario floated by some investment banks; slowing demand in emerging markets prompts currency devaluations and trade blockades, which would basically destroy the worldwide economy. It happened right before the depression with Smoot-Hawley. I don't think the US would make that mistake again, but other countries might when faced with violent protests. A while ago I know I said that a Depression-like situation was extremely unlikely. It's not so unlikely any more. We're already at 7+ levels of unemployment, and it's not getting better soon. Hopefully we don't peak higher than 10%. Credit spreads are still enormous, which means it is very hard for businesses to get financing and hire people. There's not really much the Obama team can do about this directly - they have to try and address it by building confidence in the economy in general with the stimulus plan.

Contributed by guest columnist Dime $ack

Best Albums of 2008, in order of importance:

Nas - Untitled
Okay, this one's pretty obvious to most of you. 2008 finally brought out the Nas we've all been waiting for...since the Lost Tapes. On this album he's overtly political with tracks like Black President and N*gger, and even flossy with songs like Hero and Breath, but it all fits together seemlessly. Gone are all traces of "Braveheart Party" or "You Owe Me" (see Nas Least Greatest Hits).

The production, which is usually Nas's achilles heel, is consistent and cohesive enabling nonstop listening straight through. The production lineup from the outside looks like the usual Nas crapshoot: Stic.man, Polow Da Don, DJ Toomp, Mark Ronson. Somehow they all make it work and sound cohesive. The largest factor in making it all work is Nas. The lyrics throughout remain focused even when the beats change.
Q Tip - The Renaissance
Front to back, start to finish, this is a great album. Kamaal the Abstract seems to have picked up his beat and rhymebook where he and the rest of Tribe left it back in 1996?? Aided by live instrumentation, the production on this sounds fresh and new, even when using samples. There are no guest emcees, only guest vocalists: Norah Jones, Raphael Saadiq, and D'Angelo. This creates a near perfect soundscape for Tip to wax poetic. The Norah Jones collabo "Life Is Better" is airy and soulful, perfectly riding the keys and snapping drums.

Q Tip the emcee shines brightly here (not just the abstract). In recent years, many Q Tip songs seemed to lack focus and inspiration - possibly due to his 2 shelved albums. On The Rennaissance, however, inspiration seems to have been found. This record fits nicely in the Tribe catalogue - an amazing feat for 2008.
Kidz In the Hall - The In Crowd
With Kidz In the Hall's sophomore release, The In Crowd, they have solidified themselves among hip-hop's upper echelon. This is shown in the both the music they create and the list of guest emcees willing to contribute, including Phonte, Camp Lo, Skyzoo, Boot Camp, Push T, and Bun B. The in-house production provided by Naledge is incredible. It's soulful and fresh, while mainting the true-school aesthetic.
Statik Selektah - Stick 2 the Script
Boston producer Statik Selektah has had a busy year. This is his 2nd producer album released this year, the first called Spell My Name Right. He also contributed heavily to both Reks and Termanology's albums. From listening to Statik's beats, you can hear that he's a perfectionist. Every scratch, every snare, every sample is exact. His sound builds upon the foundation laid by Pete Rock and DJ Premier.

The selection of emcees is great. The same high-quality of beats are crafted for up-and-comers Termanology, Cassidy, and Saigon to solidified veterans MOP, Bun B, and Talib Kweli. Look for even more from Statik Selektah in 2009.
Reks - Gray Hairs
When this album came out, virtually out of nowhere, from Statik Selektah's label Showoff Records, I was left wondering what happened to Term? The buzz for Term was way higher than Reks, but somehow his album came out first. That small complaint voiced, this album is dope. The production lineup is incredible including DJ Premier, Statik Selektah, and Large Professor.
Zo! and Tigallo - I Love the 80s
This album came virtually out of nowhere. It's a collaboration between Phonte of Little Brother (aka Tigallo) and Zo!, an vocalist/musician under the Little Brother/Justus League umbrella. Basically it's an 80s R&B remake album(!) Although it sounds like a possible recipe for disaster - instead it's a masterpiece. Tigallo is the alter-ego of Phonte, the respected emcee and 1/2 of Little Brother. This album is done with humor if you listen closely, but also with a perfectionist ear. Tigallo has made appearances on Little Brother albums...usually mocking current sappy R&B songs. On this album Zo! and Tigallo completely go for it and sing their way to a classic album. As for comparisons to other rappers who tried singing, think more Andre 3000 and less Gnarles Barkley.

The production is all synthesizers and done with 80s hipster flare. This album is definitely fun.
Elzhi - The Preface
Elzhi continues to be Slum Village's best kept secret (and Slum Village continues to be Detroit's best kept secret). This album is what fans were waiting for since Elzhi showed up on the Trinity back in 99' or 00'...
Jake One - White Van Music
Seattle's own Jake One (producer) has put together a really, really, really, good (cue Zoolander) producer compilation/album. The production is quality and consistent throughout and the guest emcees are as eclectic as anyone could imagine (in a good way). Here goes: Keak Da Sneak, Posdonus, Little Brother, MF Doom, Young Buck, MOP, Bishop Lamont, Busta Rhymes, Freeway, Alchemist, Vitamin D, Casual, Elzi, Royce Da 5'9", Brother Ali...

Coming from Seattle myself, this hodgepodge of emcees makes perfect sense. This is exactly the kind of diversity you would've found in my walkman on a stop-n-pause mixtape back in the 90s when I used to live there...although the lineup may have been something more like: De La Soul, Lighter Shade of Brown, DJ Quik, Outkast, Nas, Extra Prolific, and The Gravediggaz.

I used to wonder what Jake One's "sound" was, but now I understand it. His beatmaking method is to tailor each beat to fit each emcee. It doesn't sound like he makes a random beat tape for artist to choose from. "Bless the Child" featuring Little Brother would fit right alongside any of the best Justus League beats (Khyrsis, 9th, etc). "I'm Coming" featuring Black Milk sounds like Jake One made this beat while hanging out in a grimy basement in Detroit with J Dilla and Black Milk. Dope.

The only complaint I have is that a few of these raps sound like they are a few years old - hear the references to G-Unit affiliation from MOP and Young Buck. Although this is understandable as Jake One was a part of the G-Unit in house producers while making this album. Oh, and here's a joke: what do you name a song produced by Jake One featuring Alchemist and Evidence? Give up? "White Man Music" aahahahahh...although Jake One opted for "White Van Music."
Westurn Union - House Shoe Musik, Vol. 1
Although this was billed as a "mixtape" this was better than their actual album entitled "Dubb Union". This album seems to have picked up where Ice Cube left off with "Amerikkka's Most." It's political, gangster, and lyrical. This album is unabashadly west coast. The album's strength lies in the mature focused rhymes from veteran emcees Soopafly, Damani, and Bad Lucc. The point of view of disgruntled (west coast) hip-hop fans is articulated in the track "Next Time" where the emcees admit that they too had grown sick of the played out G Funk west coast pigeon hole, but now admit that they too miss those old days, when you look at the present state.
Paris - Acid Reflex
Paris keeps coming with that hard truth. Tight classic sounding funk-driven beats backed by black panther-esc militant lyrics. Hyper critical of the police, the government, and the overall white-power establishment Paris calls listeners to action.
The Game - LAX
The Game is the rapper everybody loves to hate - and it's pretty easy to do. What's harder sometimes is to admit that he released a good album. He still name drops too much, but his storytelling and delivery have improved as well. What puts the album over the top though is his ear for beats and Game's sincerity. Jayceon wears his heart on his sleeve for better or worse. There are some very welcome guest appearances as well in the form of Nas and Common.

Honorable mention:

Prodigy - Product of the 80s
Termanology - Politics As Usual
San Quinn - From A Boy to A Man

Mixtapes that are almost albums:

Tanya Morgan is a Rap Group
Wale - Mixtape About Nothing
Evidence - The Layover

Smootherness

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

What the hell is up with the economy?

Monday, January 19, 2009

Best of 2008 Compilation

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Best hip-hop albums of 2008

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