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OGOCHUKWU
I really am not particular since the year
isn’t over yet but in this present time period these are
my top five in no particular order:
1. Late Registration – Kanye West
I know, I know…Kanye, this Kanye that..bla
bla..but check this..Ye’s dedication to detail and technicality
took him way over the sophomore slump. Hooking up with Jon
Brion (responsible for Fiona Apple and a host of other soundtracks
and albums) was a good idea. Who said in hip hop collaborations
were a bad thing?
2.. Dangerdoom (Dangermouse & MF Doom)
– The Mouse & The Mask
You can call it geek-rap, nerd-rap, underground,
sci-fi bla bla bla but when you put two of some of hip hop’s
creative lot, sprinkle in a little “Adult Swim” you have
voila – Dangerdoom. A first opus from the daring duo – Metal
Face and Danger Mouse…
3. X&Y – Coldplay
We getting a little too mainstream for ya
yet? X&Y was by far and large a great intimate set of
music. Could care less what the rockist critics had to say.
The lyrics were simple yet emotional, everything was jarring
emotionally and the moods were just I dunno..poignant?
4. The Minstrel Show – Little Brother
Rumors were swirling, “did BET actually say
LB was too intelligent?” People quit because reviews weren’t
accepted (see: The Source) etc, etc. This album was undoubtedly
a great album, classic? Remains to be seen but in today’s
clutter it stood out as a documentary of sorts or rather
a diagnosis of today’s current musical climate. Folks we
give you 9th Wonder, Rapper Big Pooh and Phonte!
5. The Love Experience – Raheem Devaughn
Technically this is a 2004 album but since
Jive has been half stepping and basically just being lame
about pushing RD, I decided I’d put this on there. For those
of you who haven’t heard, “Guess who loves you more” you
might need to go find that song on the ‘net and listen in.
The brotha can “sayng.”
RUKUS
Common – Be (It took the assistance
of Kanye West on the beats to bring the old Common back….but
I wasn’t mad at this jazzy hip-hop-soul masterpiece.)
The Game – The Documentary (Dr.
Dre laced the beats, 50 wrote the hooks, Em murdered
him on his own song, but I must say this CD knocks….now
all Game has to do is stop shouting out everyone on
Interscope in EVERY damn song)
Coldplay – XY (Are they the best
band in the world? U2 might argue with ya…nevertheless….soothing
music to the soul)
Mariah Carey – The Emancipation of
Mimi (The best voice in the world got with one of
the best producers in the world, Jermaine Dupri, and
finally figured out how to mesh hip-hop, R&B, and
that beautiful melodic voice…now if she could just drop
the slutty look in her videos…)
RUKUS – Homegrown (I know…shameless
self promotion…but this CD is definitely one of the
best underground releases of the year…so I’ve heard.
Checkout www.rukuslive.com )
ENAGWOLO
Faze alone (Faze). Simply put – it rocks.
The Emancipation of Mimi. Yay, Mariah is back!!
Soundtrack of Parineeta. So, so, good.
And that’s as far as it goes. Other albums
I listened to like Craig David’s “The Story Goes” or Toni
Braxton’s “Libra” aren’t completely awful but don’t deserved
to be on any top 5 lists.
CHIAKA
1) The Emancipation of Mimi- Mariah
Carey
This Album is Pure FIRE.You know how you buy a 14-track
album and you only like 8 songs. I loved all 14 tracks of
Miss Mariah’s Emancipation. Awesome Production. Let’s not
even talk about her voice. I can’t tell ya how many times
I stood in front of the mirror with my lint remover in my
hand and pretended to be Mariah… Much to my roommates’ Irritation.
Ha Ha Ha. I bet all the haters and smack talkers are eating
their words right now. That’s what makes it even Hotter.
2) The way it is- Keyshia Cole:
Keyshia’s voice is so sweet, so raw. You can practically
feel her emotions as she sings. “I changed my mind” is one
of my favorites… she sounds so vulnerable. Great Production
and some cool collaborations. The joint with Eve is Hot.
3) Last Night- P Square
The entire CD has great beats and P Square
has really good flow. My favorite song is “Last night”,
where they incorporate the sexual healing beat. Tres Hot!!
4) Rugged Man-Thy Album Come
I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t listened
to his entire album but I’ve listened to a good number of
songs and I really dig his flow. “Baraje” is a hot song
and I like his touch of controversy in “Ehen” where he makes
harmless jabs at Maintain and Eedris, among others. Hey,
a little controversy now and then, makes for good entertainment.
NKEIRUKA
Home Sweet Home- Kano: Sick-lick-ly
combining the hottest diverse music styles without leaving
you saying “ok he’s some other shit”. Rock, Hiphop, Drum&Bass,
R&B, Latino and Garage with sick British-accented
flows…this is what music should be. And we can’t complain
about having The Streets being in the mix…Mike Skinner,
wich’o sexy ass.
African Bohemian- Kaysha: For the
French loving zouk, highlife, soukous, r/b, reggae, soca
loving African in you. Constant waist whining through
every track? Check!
Pirated Copy- 2Shotz: Pigdin rapping
at its finest. Tracks that keep you laughing but manage
to spit some truth about a good amount of social issues
in Nigeria.
L.A.M.B- Gwen Stefani: Dang, I just
realized my list was male dominated. I listened the crap
out of this cd when I first had it…just like the bubblegum
sweet pop it was…it gave me cavities and made me sick
in the tummy, but I keep going for more.
Unchained- Sunny Nneji: Finally bringing
the grown and meaningful back to music. Whoever thought
old school styles sounds could be so hot?
OBI
Welcome to Jamrock- Damian Marley -
This CD is very interesting and I was in awe after listening
to it. It has
mad club hits and also focuses on serious issues in life.
Flo'ology- Floetry - Floetry's sophomore CD. It is
a chill sit back and relax CD…very wine and
candlelight type music.
The Naked Truth- Lil’ Kim - Miss Kim is nasty as
hell on this CD, it is so sick and her best work
ever.
Get Lifted-John Legend - This is one of the best
CDs that I have listened to. I cant listen to this
without skipping a song.
Late Registration- Kanye West - Kanye outdid his
first album. On this he collabs with Adam Levine and other
heavy
hitters. CD is wicked
TONI
1. Fantasia - Free Yourself. Since
the first day I saw her on American Idol, I knew if she
won she would be the only winner that I would interested
in their music. Her voice is very unique and her songs "Truth
is" and "Free Yourself" are off the chains.
2. Shakira’s – Oral Fixation. I absolutely
love Shakira’s album. My favorite song is La Tortura.
3. Mariah Carey – Emancipation of Mimi.
She made a great comeback and that’s good enough for
me
4. Blackface – Ghetto Child. This album
is number 4 on my list because has the one thing needed
in Nigeria; political lyrics. It’s exciting that you can
dance and send a message at the same time. My favorite tracks
are "Carry us" and "I wanna be ur man".
5. Ruggedman – Thy album Come. He is
about the only Nigerian rapper that has captivated my attention,
lately I haven’t been much into rap but I really like Baraje.
It’s also a great workout song.
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