TSS Presents 2008: The Best Year Ever - 2nd Quarter

GENERAL    By MZ on December 30, 2008 at 5:03 pm

April

Crooked I finished out his Hip-Hop Weekly in grand fashion, as he set a template numerous emcees have co-opted for their own means. We looked into the art of sampling and whether a magicians producer’s tricks should ever be revealed to the crowd. Jay-Z sent another kidney shot to the music industry when he signed to Live Nation, as well as a blow to the psyche of anyone who thought they still had a shot at B. He also looked out for Sean Bell’s fam. Rick Ross’ “Speedin” video was broken down like game film after a tough loss. Nas was called out, Big Boi did ballet, & 50 kicked his baby moms & kid to the curb. Jean retired (sorta).

We sent an open letter to Dave Chappelle…. and it’s still open Dave. Eli Porter paid a visit and the comments section’s never been the same. YN came through to show love (and promote his show). Isaiah finally got canned and Knicks fans worldwide celebrated on 4/20. And the question was asked:
Would you risk your life for Hip-Hop?

R.I.P Big Proof - Your gone, but not forgotten.

May

The artist formally known as Sense let us in on his plans for the Summer, while Moment of Truth was revisited. We waxed poetic on Mom & Pops and Dipset. GRODT was the topic of our inaugural (C)Rank It!, with Eminem shortly following suit. T.I. Spoke and Suge got knocked the fuck out.

June

TSS made a brief jump from the web to print and the speculation on Nas continued. We took a minute to clarify our ratings and wondered why labels were so quick to stop promoting albums after the first single. The art of performance was broken down. AC attacked the blogs, but got our name wrong.

Obama continued to build momentum, while chasing history. Premo was spotlighted for his simple genius. The Lakers & Celtics kept the comments section lively, while we looked into why rappers always threaten to retire, yet never seem to do it. Curtis caught Buck slippin’ on the phone, Big Baby started living up to his name, & Ice-T was the latest to fall into Soulja Boy’s web. Lil’ Wayne sold “A Milli” and R. Kelly got off. Shaq gave us TMI. DMX got arrested…twice in 5 days.

R.I.P George

Reviews:
Undeniable | Still The Baddest | To Serve With Love | Shine | H.N.I.C. 2 | The Formula | Voice Of The Young People | The In Crowd | Rising Down | Brooklyn’s Don Diva | Lyfe Change | II Trill | Behind The Stained Glass Here I Stand | The Bake Sale EP | The Piece Talks | Tha Carter III | Death Before Dishonor | Dolla$, TX | My Life: The True Testimony | No Introduction | Seeing Sounds | Last 2 Walk |

Notable Quotables:
“Get Cha Issue” | “Put On” | “Mr. Carter” | “Hell Naw” | “Middle Finger” | “You So Tough” | “Association”

Smoking Sessions:
Rich Boy | Substantial | Killah Priest | Killer Mike | Kardinal Offishall | Kidz In The Hall | Lloyd Banks & Tony Yayo | Invincible | Shawty LO | The Game | Dame Grease

Reconstructions:
Jaycee - Pizza At Primo’s | Skilllz - From Where???

Songs

Nas Feat. Keri Hilson - “Hero”
The messiah cometh…

Saigon - “Believe It”
Certified classic material. One of the Greatest Stories Never told.

Black Spade Feat. Wafeek & Rockwell Knuckles - “Her Perfume She Wore”
Killer guest spots from Wafeek and Rockwell Knuckles keep the punchlines coming. But it’s Spade’s soulful bridge that makes the song great.

G-Unit - “Ready Or Not”
The hypnosis Jake One laced on this gorilla of a track gets ate up like 4th meal by Banks and Yayo without leaving a crumb in sight.

Wiz Khalifa - “Say Yeah”
Favorite sample of the year, hands down.

Nicolay & Kay - “Grand Theft Auto”
Nicolay teams up with Kay and lays down the ground work for this crime opus, providing the bounce that only he can to compliment Kay’s accented story telling. This is the track that should have made it onto Grand Theft Auto IV’s The Beat 102.7.

Ice Cube Feat. Scarface & Nas - “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It (Remix)”
Ice Cube + Scarface + Nas = classic material, whether it’s 1993 or 2008.

Sheek Louch - “Good Love”
The quietest of the D-Block members got some more widespread love for this feel-good track. A playlist favorite for the Spring.

Lil’ Wayne- “Tie My Hands”
What kills me about Weezy, is that when he stops being such a blowhard and/or lays of the syrup, he’s shown the ability to make some thought-provoking shit. Especially when talking about his hometown, and the uncorrected wrong that was done to it. More of this and he may actually justify his own hype.

Jay-Z - “A Billi”
“Change gon’ come or I’ma buy the whole hood llamas on me….” And the crazy thing is he actually could. Now THAT’s Hip-Hop.

The Roots Feat. Peedi Crakk, Dice Raw and DJ Jazzy Jeff- “Get Busy”
I don’t know where the Roots found this type of sound, but it makes me cower under my down comforter at night.

Cory Gunz - “A Milli”
Rumor has it, Gunz was supposed to have a verse on the original. For some reason *cough* he murked Weezy *cough* it wasn’t included. This rejuvenated a career that we’re all waiting to start.

N*E*R*D* Feat. Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco & Pusha T - “Everybody Nose (All The Girls Standing In The Line For The Bathroom Remix)”
With Kanye’s swagga, Lupe’s “high” lights, and Pusha T’s cocaina flow, the girls had a certified anthem for that long wait to “powder” their nose.

J-Live Feat. Posdnuous and Oddisee - “The Upgrade”
Oddisee provides the beat and a verse, Plug One kicks some knowledge and J-Live helps us all forget that The Hear After ever happened.

T-Pain Feat. Lil’ Wayne - “Can’t Believe It”
Something about this one is catchy, to the point where it’s embedded in your mind.

Joe Budden - “Who Pt. 1-3″
How is it possible to make a 15 minute long song over just one beat with no significant changes and it doesn’t end up annoying the hell out of you? While the mystery remains, you have to love this song(s).

The Game Feat. Ice Cube- “State Of Emergency”
As if Ice Cube hadn’t made his case for best comeback of the year on “Pressure,” he also brings his trademark field general barking and growling to this West Coast banger.

Lil’ Wayne Feat. The Game - “Red Magic”
As two MC’s who are a lot smarter than they might seem, Weezy and Game show off their chemistry on this track off the The Drought is Over 6 mixtape.

Wafeek - “Let The Beat Die Backwards”
And not just cause this was Trackstar’s idea. Feek executed the concept 10x better than anyone could have asked. And peep the double-time at the end? Psssssshhhh. Crazy.

Q-Tip – “Shaka”
Kamaal the Abstract channel’s Dilla, Weldon Irvine and his pops to finish his long awaited solo on the right foot. Beautifully constructed and touching, what more is there to say?

Slim Thug Feat. Devin The Dude - “Bitch I’m Back”
Don’t mess with Texas. Period.

Bun B Feat. Lupa Fiasco - “Swang On ‘Em”
The tuba sounds like something from the Grambling State Marching Band so when in Rome, Bun and Lupe put on a show like the drum major at halftime.

Estelle Feat. Kanye West - “American Boy”
Just catchy as hell. Perfect spring song. Kanye’s fake british accent is worth the price of admission, but Estelle still owns the song.

KiD CuDi - “Day N Night”

The kid’s first single, self produced mind you, is one of 2008’s best songs of any genre. Great concept and song writing, his delivery matched the uniqueness of the structure, and the beat is so stoney you can’t help but over indulge.

Two down…two to go…

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

Posted in GENERAL, MUSIC, SMOKE BREAK, The Week That Was — Tags: 2008, Best Year Ever, Free Music Downloads, The Year That Was...