Top 27 Rap Albums of 2007

New rappers often gripe about the state of hip-hop before they even get a chance to release an album. The problem with rookies is that they do all the talking that their music should be doing, and eventually they succumb to the status quo. Consequence, who has been around since the days of A Tribe Called Quest, doesn't waste his major debut lamenting hip-hop's poor health. Instead, he offers his wit and creativity as cure.

This ambitious effort from hip-hop thespian KRS-One and veteran producer Marley Marl arrived less than 5 months after Nas' controversial Hip-Hop Is Dead ,so it's no surprise that it was barely mentioned in conversation. Still, it's hard to ignore the Teacha's hardbody rhymes backed by Marley's Midas touch.

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Ultimate Victory boasts some of 2007's best unheard tracks, but Chamillionaire's clean-rap approach left some unimpressed. Critics argued that the album sounds stiff without the N-word and other cuss words that make hip-hop go around. A closer look at Cham's early discography, however, reveals that he never cussed that much to begin with, and this album is barely groundbreaking in that regard. Instead, what sets Victory apart is Koopa's ability to switch from political commentary to street anthems in one breath. He rails against the Bill Reilly's of the world ("Morning News"), pontificates on the essence of hard work ("Won't Let You Down"), and still finds time to elope to his beach house ("Ultimate Vacation").

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Match Scarface's unflinching ghetto reportage with some jittery, cinematic production and the result is M.A.D.E. Raucous, gripping, and ear-grabbing. The tunes on this 10-song album flow easily, like a conversation overheard through a backyard fence.

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After one listen, you could hardly tell that Below the Heavens is Blu's introductory CD. The 21-year old wordsmith addresses issues that range from label woes to daily struggles with the ease of an O.G. Sound architect Exile provides a coherent backdrop of smooth grooves to back up Blu's clever narratives.