The Decade in Hip Hop
Friday, December 18, 2009
By the end of the 1990s, hip hop was flexing a lot of music-industry muscle. But at the close of this decade, things are very different. Music critic and author Oliver Wang joins us to explain how the digital music revolution changed the genre. Plus: Oliver's picks for the best hip hop and rap albums of 2009.
Oliver Wang's Top Hip Hop Albums: 2009
1. Edan, Echo Party
2. Lil Wayne, No Ceilings
3. Jay Electronica, Exhibit C (single)
Oliver Wang's Top Hip Hop Albums: The Decade
1. Jay-Z, The Blueprint
2. Kanye West, Late Registration
3. Andre 3000 (Outkast), The Love Below
4. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter II
5. Clipse, We Got It 4 Cheap Volume 2
6. Scarface, The Fix
7. Turf Talk, West Coast Vaccine (The Cure)
8. Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele
9. Madvillain, Madvillainy
10. MOP, Warriorz
Oliver Wang's Top Hip Hop Albums: 2009
1. Edan, Echo Party
2. Lil Wayne, No Ceilings
3. Jay Electronica, Exhibit C (single)
Oliver Wang's Top Hip Hop Albums: The Decade
1. Jay-Z, The Blueprint
2. Kanye West, Late Registration
3. Andre 3000 (Outkast), The Love Below
4. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter II
5. Clipse, We Got It 4 Cheap Volume 2
6. Scarface, The Fix
7. Turf Talk, West Coast Vaccine (The Cure)
8. Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele
9. Madvillain, Madvillainy
10. MOP, Warriorz
Comments [8]
Slum Village should be up there. As should Mos Def. At least Doom and Madlib are there. W.e, Lil Wayne is mediocre.
Alex: "Donuts" was on an earlier iteration of this list but as much as I want to show Dilla some love, I just don't think it stands out to me as an "album of the decade". It serves some other - deeper - purpose but it's not a defining moment from a historical p.o.v. Of course, by that token, I probably should have included at least one Eminem album, maybe 50 Cent, but f--- it. History will write them into the official ballot; they don't need my help and for that matter, nor does Dilla.
Jen: I don't actually consider MIA a hip-hop artist even though I think it's valid if others do. As I said, hip-hop is broad enough to be inclusive. But for me, personally, when I think about "hip hop albums" nothing MIA has recorded says "hip hop" to me. She's a great artist and if my list were the "Top 10 albums (of any genre)" from the '00s, I'd be tempted to included one of hers.
Bryan: I go back and forth between The Blueprint and the Black Album. It's like Late Registration vs. College Dropout; I don't think there's a 'wrong" choice there.
As for Mos Def, his first two albums haven't aged that well for me by decade's end and I haven't sat with the new one long enough.
Correction: The track we played during this segment was "Exhibit A" by Jay Electronica. The track that made Oliver Wang's list was "Exhibit C."
Glad to see Jay Electronica. I totally agree about Eminem but wonder why MIA didn't make the list. Agree with other comments that Mos Def is fantastic.
The loss of J Dilla needs to be acknowledged this past decade. Please. His absence is still being felt.
Yes to Mos Def! And for that matter what about Reflections eternal Train of Thought?
MOF Def should be on this list!!! Black on Both Sides and The New Danger are two of the best Hip Hop albums of the decade.
The black album was better than the Blueprint! But I am glad to see MF Doom get some respect. He's more creative and simply better than 99% of Mcs.
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