« Previous Entry | Main Diary | Next Entry »
12.23.04 01:37 PM
the year of the comeback
This year was the year of the big comeback - but oh so maaaany failed. I saw three of my favorite all time hip-hop groups put out albums, first there was The Beastie Boys with To The 5 Bouroughs, then you had Brand Nubian with Fire In The Hole, and you had De La Soul with The Grind Date. Now the Beasties arrived with much fanfare, but not enough to knock out the likes of Usher and Ciara. And well, your favorite white boy always got the charts on lock, even though this album is less stellar than usual. Besides, didn't Jigga already hit us with the "Encore."
But anyway, since TRL and 106 & Park rule, it kinds of makes sense that the cats I'd really hope to do well in this hip-hop game wouldn't. I'm aging out of this shit, slowly but surely. And yet, I'm not saying any of these youngin's ain't got skills. I'm repping Urban Legend to the fullest, same way I did with Trap Muzik. A legend just might be in the making, but King Of The South - not. At least not yet. You ain't finished paying your dues yet son. But those skills are dandy - no doubt. You ain't half bad looking either. Matter-fact, you could get it. Showing my age again...damn. I meant, the goodies are up for grabs - or some such nonsense.
On the real, I can't name one great album this year. I'm going back into the vault and measuring them up, but I'm feeling empty. I wasn't fulfilled. Lots of party jams. Lots of things I want to hear bump in the clubs. But if I wasn't in the bidness, would I put my 10-bill through that Apple iTunes one-click motion for anything? Dunno kids. I'm feeling really empty musically. A lil' unfulfilled.
Of course, I got my off the beaten path kinds of shit that I like, you know the artists with no distribution and no marketing budgets. And then there's those mixtapes. I'm always loving those, but still I can't say I got a greatest album this year. I gots to think about that one real hard and looooong. I'll let you know when I figure it out. And until then I won't be putting down no lists.
posted by lynne | link to this |
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.lynnedjohnson.com/cgi-bin/pingit.cgi/464
Comments
I feel ya on this one. I think The Grind Date is the only joint i've been playing constantly. I'm lost with the new Hip-Hop stuff. To me, songs just don't have as much personality as a 'Tribe', 'De La' and 'PE" from back in the day. When you heard the first 5 seconds of a new Tribe joint, you knew who it was before the first verse started. Nowadays, everything sounds 'krunk' or whatever... I think I'll stay around 1986-1995 for the time being...
posted by Todd Kelley![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.lynnedjohnson.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| December 23, 2004 2:21 PM #
Now if the Fugees and A Tribe Called Quest can drop their reunion albums in '05 everything will be everything!
Check out De La with MF Doom doing "Rock.Co.Kane.Flow" here:
http://www.hhdb.com/hip-hop-videos/1/de_la_soul_mf_doom_rock_co_kane_flow
Happy Holidays to you, ma!
posted by KB![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.lynnedjohnson.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| December 23, 2004 2:53 PM #
Man, I'm with KB...
I'm desperately waiting on the Fugees to drop that new album. And I'm most excited about Lauryn's joint, the Khulami Phase.
But I have to say that I agree with you. I can't say any album has had me running to get it on my ipod.
posted by cee | December 23, 2004 4:56 PM #
Wait, I can't lie...I did really enjoy Mos Def's new joint. And I just got Talib's and I have yet to listen to it.
posted by CEE | December 23, 2004 4:57 PM #
but the grind date was that good shit!!!!!!!
posted by Nekaybaaw | December 23, 2004 7:11 PM #
"you could get it"
umm...he could get what lynne, curious minds want to know! lol
i know i'm biased, but i'm still enjoying the nas album. no, it's not a big record at all, very retro, very underground, but i think it takes a lot of guts to put out an album with not one club or radio banger. it feels like it should be on a cassette, and i love that. kudos for that mr. jones.
posted by hardCore | December 24, 2004 12:19 AM #
Of course I like Street's Disciple Corey, but more on that later.
posted by lynne | December 24, 2004 7:15 AM #
The Grind Date and Handsome Boy Modeling School were the only two that I can really say had me buggin' this year, hip-hop wise. The rest of em were like mixtapes, like you said. Dropped HBMS today, will do Grind Date on Monday.
posted by ej![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.lynnedjohnson.com/nav-commenters.gif)
| December 24, 2004 9:09 AM #
You ain't lying...Looking back I havn't bought this many mixtapes in a while cause this was a bum. Anthony Hamilton got the most bump from me this year and it dropped Sept. of '03. We finally got T.I., Nas, and few others. but it still wasn't enough. I pray '05 will be better. I hear D'angelo should finally drop by March and Common and Kanye should bring some heat, but if all else fail I'll pull Anthony back out unless he drops something new.
posted by Marvin | December 25, 2004 12:16 AM #