Chris Brown - Exclusive
Comments: Definitely has to be one of the best albums of the year. Best Pop/R&B Album of the Year for sure! Well at least to me. This album is so much better than his self titled debut because this one is more R&B. This album does remind me a little bit of Confessions just the standpoint of it having that contemporary R&B style. Except Usher's Confessions was way more sexual than this album is though not many songs on here talk about sex. Take You Down though is one of them and truly one of the albums standout tracks.
Favorite Tracks:
5. Picture Perfect
4. Kiss Kiss
3. Take You Down
2. With You
1. I Wanna Be
CC: Nice, Down, You
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Comments: Better album than his debut Food & Liquor actually. You can tell how much more he's grown musically already for an artist that is already talented lyrically as ****. Not to mention this album is defnitely more hip hop than the last one which was a bit alternative Food & Liquor was. But this album was much more jazzier in fact this album reminds me of A Tribe Called Quest album because of how jazzy it was and if you know who A Tribe Called Quest are then you know why I said that since they always incorporated jazz into their raps. Not to mention Paris, Tokyo has to be the next single. Good guests as well especially Snoop Dogg he killed it on Hi-Definition. Not to mention it was awesome how Lupe made fun of Soulja Boy in Gotta Eat with the Yoooou! and then you could hear him say "Man that was stupid" then he talks about retirement and all I can say is. Like The Game he better damn not retire hip hop sure needs him. LupEnd better not be the end.
Favorite Tracks:
5. Streets On Fire
4. Gotta Eat
3. Hip Hop Saved My Life
2. Hi-Definition
1. Paris, Tokyo
CC: Gold Watch, Go Go Gadget Flow, Superstar
Common - Finding Forever
Comments: The most soulful album this year besides Jay-Z's. Kanye almost produced this album better than he produced his own. Not to mention with some J Dilla left over beats and D'Angelo return completes the masterpiece that is. Truly one of the better hip hop albums of the year not one bad track. All very decent especially the singles that he has released.
Favorite Tracks:
5. Southside
4. The Game
3. Driving Me Wild
2. I Want You
1. The People
CC: Misunderstood, Break My Heart, So Far To Go
Jay-Z - American Gangster
Comments: Best hip hop album of the year along with Graduation. After such a mediocre album in Kingdom Come he goes back to his roots and comes out with a gangster concept album one such that is very similar to his debut Reasonable Doubt. Not to mention American Gangster is his most soulful album since The Blueprint as well. Tremendous samples used especially the Marvin Gaye sample in American Dreamin. You got to love that! Not to mention each song on the album matches with the movie American Gangster that came out this year. Truly a masterpiece indeed!
Favorite Tracks:
5. Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)
4. I Know
3. American Dreaming
2. Hello Brooklyn 2.0
1. Say Hello
CC: Ignorant ****, Party Life, No Hook
Kanye West - Graduation
Comments: Is this really a surprise that Graduation was going to be my #1 album of the year. It shouldn't be especially when it's up for Album of the Year for a Grammy and he's going to win it not because of the sympathy for his mother's death. Nope because as other writers have said this album is really good and is truly the album this year without a doubt. Not to mention this is also the best hip hop album of the year hands down, the production is just simply amazing but what else do you expect from Kanye? He's just a music genius! Not to mention even the intro is exciting to listen to only he can make an intro exciting! Now everyone bow down to my #1 album of the year since you should go ahead and bow so hard till your knees hit your forehead!
Favorite Tracks:
5. Can't Tell Me Nothing
4. Champion
3. Good Life
2. Everything I Am
1. Flashing Lights
CC: Stronger, The Glory, Good Morning
Recap:
10. Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
09. Fabolous - From Nothin To Somethin
08. T.I. - T.I. vs T.I.P.
07. Ne-Yo - Because of You
06. Chamillionaire - Ultimate Victory
05. Chris Brown - Exclusive
04. Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
03. Common - Finding Forever
02. Jay-Z - American Gangster
01. Kanye West - Graduation
Beautiful Girls and Sorry Blame It On Me were OK though the latter being extremely annoying after about 5 listens.