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DJ TRU's 2008 HIP-HOP YEAR IN REVIEW It there was any validity to Nas's statement "Hip-Hop is dead" it would be the lack of notable contributions to the genre in 2008. Coming off an amazing 2007 stretch of albums that reminded me why I love the art form, Hip-Hop's well was left dry for the 12 months to follow. Don't fret, I dug deep in that well to find enough albums to keep you satisfied for the next few months. Below is my list of CD's you should add to your collection. The list is accompanied by my year end episode of The Holla Back Show. Remember, you can always download the latest Holla Back Show! podcasts here on HipsterOverkill.com in the "Podcasts" page. HAPPY NEW YEAR! The Holla Back Show! (WPFW) 12-31-2008 episode DOWNLOAD Q-Tip - The Renaissance The 9 year wait paid off! More of an A Tribe Called Quest album than the last 2 Tribe albums, The Renaissance delivers a soul/jazz blend of Hip-Hop like only the Abstract Poetic could bring you. key tracks: "Gettin Up", "Man Woman Boogie", "Official" Kokayi - Mass Instructions DC veteran and official U.N. arts ambassador, Kokayi, finally came into his own this year. The emerging alternative Hip-Hop scene has allowed Kokayi to show off all his talents (singing, down south bonce flows, 120BPM rhyming, etc.) without fear of being shunned by the true "heads" This album will not bore you and should have enough legs on it to stay relevant into the unforseen future. key tracks: "Knowus Mayne", "DCB", "Wellin" Black Milk - Tronic Detorit native Black Milk brings you the album J Dilla fans have been needing since the passing of the late great legend. Hard beats and hard rhymes with guest appearances from Royce Da 5' 9", Dwele, Pharoahe Monch & more. key tracks: "Give The Drummer Sum", "Hell Yeah", "The Matrix" Jake One - White Van Music As Hip-Hop as you can get. While a lot of people are trying to create the next big sound, Jake One is content with bringing you tride-and-true beats and rhymes. This isn't a diss, not at all, since he did everthing with quality and features more guests than you can shake a stick at: Prodigy, M.O.P., PharoaheMonch, Black Milk, Royce Da 5' 9", Keak Da Sneak, Casual, and M.F. Doom to name a few. key tracks: "Trap Door", "Glow", "Gangsta Boy" Calle 13 - Los de Atras Viennen Conmigo Only a year since the release of their opus Residente o Visitante, the Puerto Rican brothers known as Calle 13 are back! Visitante streamlined his beats for this one but isn't affraid to experiment, while Residente ups the ante on his lyrical flow. Even if you don't speak Spanish you'll still be nodding your head or dancing to their brand of latin tinged Hip-Hop. key tracks: "Que Lloren", "La Perla" ft. Ruben Blades, "Esto Con Eso" Cool Kids - The Bake Sale Yeah it's simple in aesthetic but so was Rick Rubin's approach to classics like LL Cool J's Radio & Bigger And Deffer as well as Run-DMC's Raising Hell. This little shot of '88 rap music was made for you car trunk to rattle and to also crack the concrete beneath your retro second hand Boom Box. Chicago duo Cool Kids don't sling crack, just nostalgia, over 808 style production on this debut CD. key tracks: "Black Mags", "Gold and a Pager", "What It Is" MUSIC FOR THE HIP-HOP MINDED: 3 albums that appeal to eclectic ears with an affinity for Hip-Hop. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah pt.1 It might not be the album you waited years for but upon repeat listening you'll discover a truly revolutionary album. A little bit familiar and retro but at the same time very futuristic thanks to production from various producers including underground favorite Mad Lib. Political, funky and meaningful. We keep asking for music with depth but do we support it when it is delivered? NOTE: "Telephone" is a must have for any Erykah fan. key tracks: "The Healer/Hip-Hop", "Me", "Telephone" Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple Critics were truly buggin' out when they reviewed this album. Does an album's worth only derive from the number of potential singles that are on it? The Odd Couple may not have a "Crazy" hit but it is far superior to it's predecessor. St. Elsewhere was a collection of experimental tunes crafted long distance via internet by two artists dabbling with the idea of collaborating. On their second release they show their true potential (and might I be as bold as to say "their genius") with 13 tracks that sound like they were meant to be side by side and enjoyed in their entirety. Cee-Lo shines with a masterful control of his unique gospel/rock vocals (repeat listening will uncover a tremendous amount of nuanced inflections that enhance the emotion behind the lyrics) while Dangermouse fuses 60's era samples with live instrumentation in a way only he can do. key tracks: "Going On", "Who's Gonna Save My Soul", "A Little Better" Flobots - Fight With Tools At first listen the single "Handlebars" seams a bit silly with its random statements and vague notion of political "relevance". Are they just trying to sound deep? After listening to Fight With Tools you'll realize that with the Flobots politics is paramount and only takie a second seat to musical craftmanship. A true band with an honest approach to arrangement and innovation (they feature a viola and trumpeter) with lyrics to make you think. If you get a chance to see them live make sure you cop a couple tickets. key tracks: "Handlebars", "We Are Winning", "Rise" Producer of the Year: Danger Mouse Dangermouse came out strong in 2008 by following the road map laid by Rick Rubin. Realizing that the title "producer" in the Hip-Hop sense is limited to beat making but using a Triton or MPC doesn't put you in league with Quncy Jones or Mutt Lange. A real producer takes the helm on a project and guides an artist in the creation process, offers conceptual advice, brings in talent to aid in arrangements, and rarely steps in to play music themselves. With this in mind, DangerMouse epanded his repitoir by producing 3 full albums for alt-rocker Beck, blues rock revivalists The Black Keys, and his own group Gnarls Barkley (with Cee-Lo Green). The tie that binds these 3 projects is a an obvious love for the retro sounds of the '60s. Beck had his most well recieved album in a decade, Gnarls topped the quality of their debut, and The Black Keys broke away from the obscurity of summer festivals and finally got the media attention they deserve. Lord knows we can't wait for DangerMouse to hit us with a new Gorillaz album, but at least he gave us some gems to tide us over until he does.

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