I don’t think December is the right time to review the year because you leave out what’s happening in December. So I go for January.
Nowadays all genres kind of merge. Weezy is doing rock, Timbaland House and the Crookers R&B. Nevertheless I want to subclassify, Rap is Rap. So I start of with the good ol’ beats & rhymes, no particular order except the alphabet:
Okäi’s Top 15 Rap Tracks of 2009
- Bishop Lamont – Could’ve Been You feat. 50 Cent & R. Kelly
That joint is so shmooth. My summer rap tracks to cruise around. Too sad Bishop didn’t release on aftermath. Could’ve been a classic. - Consequence – Whatever You Want feat. Kanye West & John Legend
Cons last album was full of good tracks. But I guess I was one one the few persons to realise. Unfortunately it didn’t make much buzz. This one, I think his strongest single ever – so I’m curious how the new LP is going to be received. The video btw is so un-inspired. - Drake – Successful feat. Trey Songz & Lil Wayne
Everybody said it: Newcomer of the year. Quite right. I like the versatility. - Fabolous – The Fabolous Life feat. Ryan Leslie
Fabo .. hm .. Flow is aight, lyrics are always straight nonsense. But you can’t resist Ryan Leslie production and chorus. Most underrated producer on the mic. - GLC – Flight School feat. Kanye & T-Pain
My summer rap track numero duo. Don’t made a final decision whta to think about GLC yet. - J. Cole – Lights, Please
Another Newcomer. First heard him on Blueprint III – convinced right away. Original flow. - Jay-Z – Empire State Of Mind feat. Alicia Keys
What can you say. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t love that song. Alicia duz it. - Jay-Z – When The Money Goes
Forget the Fabo Version. This is what you need. Felt a little bit like “Reasonable Doubt”. The beat is so on point. - Jay Electronica – Exhibit C
This is THE man right now. Everybody is waiting for deepness, lyricism and tightness to return. Here it is. - Red Cafe – Heart & Soul
Red Cafe has tight flow. Not more, not less. But that Pete Rock beat kills it. I don’t know how many I had that on repeat, when I fearst heard it. - Reflection Eternal – Back Again feat. Res
That made my day. Just when you thought, they would never make a comeback again. Can’t wait for the 2nd album. And why is Res not doing more stuff like that? - The Roots – How I Got Over
Pow. What a comeback Pt. II. And how cool is releasing a pre-single on vinyl first? - Guilty Simpson – Stress feat. Noelle
Dilla is my man. Deep sh*t. And Guilty always delivers. - Pitbull – I Know What You Want (Calle Ocho)
I know. But that ruled the club last year. And Pitbull flows, no doubt. - Zion I – Antenna
So long buzzin on the underground. So up-to-date. Love that EP.
Honourable Mentions
- Clipse – I’m Good feat. Pharrell
Good album. Many smooth joints. This is the best. - Gucci Mane – Running Back
Gucci does a lot of stuff I don’t feel at all. This is good kush. - Jay-Z – Brooklyn (Go Hard)
The Santogold-Sample rules. I feel the rugged drums too. - Jadakiss – Can’t Stop Me
Good a-rythmic sample-chop. Kiss is a veteran. - Jay Electronica – Exhibit A
See above. Can’t wait for more stuff. - Kid Sister – I’ll House You
So fresh. Sadly her debut album didn’t hold what I expected. - Maino – Million Bucks
Horns. Brooklyn flow. Swizz Beatz. - Method Man & Redman – Mrs. International
That’s how I like them. Smooth, funny, funky. - Mos Def – History feat. Talib Kweli
The whole “Ecstatic” LP is one of the albums of the year. Most def. And with Dilla on production, can’t nothing go wrong. - Wale – Pretty Girls
Wale is my man. What he would need is banger, this could the one if the mix would’ve been better.. - Young Chris & Emynd – We Don’t Give A Fuck (Eli Escobar Rmx)
Emynd is my man. Eli too.
All web findings. So no 320 or likewise.
