Phew! What an eventful year 2008 has been? If you've been losing your faith in hip-hop because of all the disappointing rap albums that dropped in 2008, I hope you'll find this list to be a thorough guide to the year's best hip-hop music. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the best rap albums of 2008.
8. 88 Keys - 'The Death of Adam'
© Decon
It's true. 88 Keys really did make an entire album about the power of punani. The Death of Adam follows the trajectory of a man named Adam, who falls prey to the "juicebox," replete with ambivalent song titles like "Stay Up" and "The Burning Bush." It's as good as concept albums get. Focused, funny, and musically engaging.
7. GZA - 'Pro Tools'
© Babygrande
Pro Tools is a Wu-banga that sacrifices quantity for quality. Each track knocks with Wu-centric elements, from the mellow "Intromental" (which utilizes the same Soul Dog track as Common's "Hungry") to the frenetic Gary Numon-sampling "Life is a Movie".
6. Black Milk - 'Tronic'
© Fat Beats
He's not exactly the 2nd coming of J Dilla, but Black Milk is the closest thing to it. The young MC/producer doesn't disappoint on his second go-round. Tronic's highlights includes "Give the Drummer Sum," a street anthem which features gorgeous hi-hats and snares that would make ?uestlove proud. "Losing Out" and "Matrix" are equally enjoyable in this artfully sequenced album.
5. eMC - 'The Show'
© M3 Music
The Show chronicles eMC's journey as a rap group, from the streets to the stage. Each song tells a unique story and the skits add sugar and spice to the narrative. Masta Ace brings his storytelling knack to the forefront while allowing the other 3 MCs (Strick, Punchline, Wordsworth) to shine as well. It's a thoroughly cohesive album.
4. Nas - 'Untitled'
© Def Jam
Despite the title change from N*gger to Untitled, there's no shortage of red-hot rage on Nas' 9th solo album. It's a galvanizing romp through the mind of one of hip-hop's most prolific poets. From intro to outro, Untitled is an intellectually sizzling ride that embodies all the introspective expressionism, unabashedly biting commentary, and naked honesty about issues that dominate our daily conversations.
3. J Live - 'Then What Happened?'
© BBE Music
The verbal energy and inspiring production that J Live brings to the table on Then What Happened? makes it a strong contender for Rap Album of the Year. With only a few guests (Posdnuous, Oddisee, and Chali 2 Na), J Live holds down most of the album on his own.
2. Atmosphere - 'When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Sh*t Gold'
© Rhymesayers Entertainment
It's often said that the true test of a classic material is time. With that in mind, it's too soon to examine Atmosphere's When Life Gives You Lemons through the masterpiece prism. That said, it's the best thing standing in 2008. From Ant's rich, organic layers of instrumentation to Slug's metaphor-heavy, crisply delivered lyrics, When Life Gives You Lemons is a breath of fresh air in an atmosphere sullied by the stench of mediocrity. Having a bad day? Chug down this bit of optimism and you're good to go.
1. Q-Tip - 'The Renaissance'
© Universal Motown
Eminem. Jay-Z. Nas. You can now add Q-Tip to the incredibly short list of MCs who can single-handedly hold down an entire album. The absence of guest MCs is not only refreshing, it also builds cohesiveness that's often absent on albums cluttered with too many other voices. Who needs to hear another MC when you have a linguistically dexterous tune like "Dance on Glass" or the silky smooth funk-jazz "Life is Better" with Norah Jones? It took 10 years but Q-Tip has finally blessed us with a masterwork. This one will still sound good in 2018.
