Intro By Jesse H.

Being avid music followers, we all revel in our snobbery whether we admit it or not. We all love great music, but by the time Joey Nobody throws on “Lollipop” at a party, we can only shake our heads and mumble about how we predicted the songs meteoric rise six months prior. Because turning your nose up and handing out late passes doesn’t make you all that popular.

When faced with a late bloomer touting old songs as new, we can instead retreat to the sanctuary of our headphones where we can crank up the volume on releases that we know won’t face the risk of overexposure. It’s those selections that we proudly present to you as: Pillow Talk 2008 (Get it? Sleeper picks… sleepers sleep on pillows? Umm, moving on).

The Most Slept-On Hip-Hop Albums Of 2008

Words By K1NG, MZ, LC Weber, Patrick M. & TC

AkrobatikAbsoluteValue

The Boston Hip-Hop scene may have lost some of it’s integrity since the Benzino Tea Party, but the gruff-voiced Akrobatik made a convincing attempt to return it back to the essence with Absolute Value. Holding his own over Illmind, J Dilla, and 9th Wonder undertones while kicking the truth to the young black youth on “Front Steps Pt. II (Tough Love)” gave the world living proof Ak had the “it” factor. Few albums of the year matched the level of cohesion the project embodied for Absolute Value was indeed a maximal achievement from a underrated lyricist.

Previously Posted – “Ak Be Nimble” – Review Of Akrobatik’s Absolute Value

AlchemistTheAlchemist’sCookbook

Whoever said less doesn’t equal more needs to check the ingredients to The Alchemist’s Cookbook EP. Appetizing guest spots from Capone-N-Noreaga, Styles P., and Blu over a healthy serving of dark and lovely Alchemist production treats guaranteed satisfaction for all who checked for it.

Previously Posted – “Step Brothers” – Review Of The Alchemist’s Cookbook & Evidence’s The Layover EP

SnoopDoggEgoTrippin’

With gangsta credentials in tact, 2008 saw Tha Doggfather coming into his own as artist as he blended G-Funk, R&B and (gasp!) Country music for his colorful, ninth LP Ego Trippin’. Rollin’ down Crenshaw with “Staxxx In His Jeans” before getting suited n’ booted to become the “Life Of The Party,” Snoop gets top props for paying homage to Roger Troutman — before it became mandatory to get a song on the radio.

Previously Posted – “Press Play” – Review Of Snoop Dogg’s Ego Trippin’


ElzhiThePreface

Slum Village strongman eLZhi showcased his penmanship skills on clever essays such as the Royce Da 5’9″ assisted “Motown 25″ and “Guessing Game” on the deftly composed The Preface. If this Detroit delicacy is a prologue for things to come, look for eLZhi’s legacy to unfold like a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Previously Posted – “Transistional Joint” – Review Of eLZhi’s The Preface

IceCubeRawFootage

Don’t let the movies fool ya. Ice Cube’s very much in tune with the world around him. The flow may be little weathered but the message remained potent as ever as he displayed anti-violence on the Musiq Soulchild duet “Why Me” while being pro-revolution on “It Takes A Nation” and “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It.” Well-placed guest spots by The Game, W.C., and Young Jeezy made certain that Raw Footage was explicit as advertised.

Previously Posted – “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” – Review Of Ice Cube’s Raw Footage

PeteRockNy’sFinest

20+ years and still grinding on the wheels of steel, Pete Rock made an impressive bid to be known as NY’s Finest with proper cameos from Raekwon and Little Brother among others. The electrifying “We Roll” blazed through the underground circuit while he rocked for dolo on “Til I Retire” like an accomplished MC. Don’t call it a comeback. He’s been here for years.

Previously Posted – “Til I Retire…” – Review Of Pete Rock’s NY’s Finest

DavidBannerTheGreatestStoryEverTold

If you were mentally prepared to pardon blatant radio fuckery like “Get Like Me” and “Shawty Say,” then you’re well aware that David Banner actually based his Greatest Story…on something…well…great. Tracks like “Hold On” and “I Get By” were paragons of Banner’s strong points as an artist. The sampling of Col. H. Stinkmeaner for the affectionate “B.A.N. (The Love Song)” was reason enough to give the Mississippi Hulk’s fables a shot into your rotation.

Previously Posted — “I Get By” – Review Of David Banner’s The Greatest Story Ever Told

EMCTheShow

Supreme masters of cermonies: Masta Ace, Stricklin, Wordsworth, and Punchline formed together to make an “underground supergroup” with their first album The Show. The collective trade bars over a selection of soul drenched beats like “Don’t Give Up On Us” and “We Alright” while redefining the collaboration.

Previously Posted – “Make It Better” – Review Of EMC’s The Show

HeltahSkeltahD.I.R.T.(DaIncredibleRapTeam)

Da Incredible Rap Team’s album cover wasn’t the only ugly feature included in Heltah Skeltah’s long-awaited third album. The dynamic duo lyrically slung mud on nearly every urban celebrity imaginable while reminding everyone that “Everything Is Heltah Skeltah” and how “Insane” they could be over a blistering Marco Polo backdrop. And with fellow BCC soldiers Buckshot and Smif-N-Wessun and more heat supplied by Khrysis and Evidence, Sean Price and Rock conciliated for one of the more welcomed reunions of 2008.

Previously Posted – “Hellz Kitchen” – Review Of Heltah Skeltah’s D.I.R.T. (Da Incredible Rap Team)

LittleBrotherAndJustusForAll…

After releasing their third studio album Getback, the jocular duo from North Cackalacka decided to update their 2007 Mick Boogie mixtape minus the drops and plus an array of new songs and remixes. Pooh and Phonte came correct without being constrained to the traditional format of an album. Call it restorative justus for the Hip-Hop community.

Previously Posted – “Best Kept Secret” – Review Of Little Brother’s …And Justus For All

SkillzTheMillionDollarBackpack

Long time ghostwriter Skillz once again tested the waters for solo success with his latest album The Million Dollar Backpack. And once again he found out it takes more than “skills” to catch the public’s attention.  Good thing he’ll always have a back-up plan… and the wrap-ups!

Previously Posted – “So Far, So Good” – Review Of Skillz’ The Million Dollar Backpack

BlackSpadeToServeWithLove

Focusing on the 4 letter word that’s not considered vulgar, Black Spade blessed the world with his amore language with the melodic To Serve With Love. Equal parts crooning, slick lyricism & dynamic beats, Stoney Rock’s suite flew under the radar but still left a lasting impression.

Previously Posted – “Revolutionary Bullshit” – Review Of Black Spade’s To Serve With Love

ChaundonCarnage

In his debut album, the Bronx-born Justus League MC holds his own weight in his crew while rapping alongside the likes of Sean Price, Torae, and Jean Grae and over a collection of the soul-based beats of 9th Wonder, Khrysis, and Illmind. The album didn’t put Chaundon on the map like he had probably hoped, but it was a solid release from a solid MC and worth the listen.


InvincibleShapeshifters

It’s some shameful shit when a pure Hip-Hop record comes down the pipeline and all anyone can talk about is what the artist looks like rather than what their music is about. Anyone who focused on Invincible as a female and not as an emcee, obviously snoozed through an hour of intricate lyricism served raw over head-banger beats. Discussions about her style over her substance caused several to miss the mark with Shapeshifters, in perhaps the most ironic twist of the year.

Previously Posted – “Looongawaited” – Review Of Invincible’s Shapeshifters

BossHoggOutlawzBackByBlockularDemand:Serve&CollectII

Slim Thugga and his trusty band of Outlawz served up plenty of exceptional accounts of wood steering wheel grippin’ and candy paint to get you through your commute. If Houston ever experiences another nationwide explosion, best believe the BHO will be ready.

Previously Posted – “Looking Clean” – Review Of Slim Thug & The Boss Hogg Outlawz’ Serve & Collect II: Back By Blockular Demand

BigNoydIllustrious

With Prodigy doing a bid and Havoc a little too kushed up for comfort, Rapper Noyd made his own career moves with the rock-solid Illustrious. The throwback jam “Things Done Changed” took Queensbridge to a period where they’ve long forgotten.

Previously Posted – “Things Done Changed…” – Review Of Big Noyd’s Illustrious

Pacewon&Mr.GreenTheOnlyColorThatMattersIsGreen

Hip-Hop music, plain & simple. No gimmicks, no commercialism, no Clear Channel wishes. Only stellar production and Pace going in with his rhyme book.

WebbieSavageLife2

“Independent” may have been for ladies night only, but Webbie brought plenty of Trill E-N-T for the fellas on the booming “Six 12′s” and the Bun-B blessed “Doe Doe.” February releases are generally heartbreakers because nobody remembers them come Christmas.

Previously Posted – “Just Like This” – Review Of Webbie’s Savage Life 2

VandalyzmMegatronMajorz

We’ll forgive you for sleeping on Megatron Majorz if you’ll forgive the fact it dropped at the tail end of 2007. Vandalyzm’s hunger is the key to this project, and repeated listens convince you he’s about to do something big. His combined talents on the mic and in the booth are too great to keep him from making waves in ’09 and beyond. Tracks like the sublime “Charity Case,” and the gritty “Get Dough,” show hints of what’s to come. Sure the album’s a little raw in places, but when was that ever a bad thing?

Previously Posted – “Charity Case” – Vandalyzm’s Megatron Majorz

Previously Posted – TSS Presents 2008: The Best Year Ever – 2nd Quarter | TC Sings The Bricks Part DEUX!!!: The Most Disappointing Hip-Hop Albums Of 2008 | TSS Presents 2008: The Best Year Ever – First Quarter