TSS Presents 2008: The Best Year Ever – Fourth Quarter

GENERAL    By MZ on December 31, 2008 at 7:43 pm

October

T-Pain’s Vocoder tried to take over the game and we helped VH1 recognize game. 1520 Sedgwick Ave. flew totally under the rap industries radar. Common got some of that Bill Gates Money. ?uestlove stopped by and told a few stories, while we wished McGruder would tell us some more. Letterman went in on McCain. We looked at the elephant in the room and David Allen Grier gave out wise words to close out the month.

R.I.P. Johnny J & Rudy Ray

November

Dave D. Sr. came through with a message to the kids and then we watched Barack make history. We looked at the plight of Indie-ana and watch Trick Trick ruffle a few feathers by declining faggot money. Luda respected our fresh, while we wondered if hip-hop’s entered it’s hair metal phase. Jim Jones hit Broadway and John Forté received a pardon from Dubya. Alfamega took Suge’s spot as the most imposing figure in Hip-Hop. We took a trip to the minor leagues and laughed with GuevaraGhost.

It’s still cold in the D, so you better hole up with a nice bowl of cereal.

R.I.P. MC Breed and we haven’t forgot you #21

December

Death to hipsters got the ball rolling on discussing gentrification in NYC and Plaxico kept the gun talk going, as he may have shot his self outta New York. (literally!)  Colbert went after Kanye and it took ‘em 15 years, but they finally got OJ.  The Bone Brother reunited for better or worse  and made David jizz in his pants.  Contra tried to talk some sense into Busta and Khalid was perplexed at the sight of OG’s jumping backwards like they were playing checkers.

It ain’t like the young bucks don’t make mistakes as well, right Charles?  LC held down an entire week, while we spent Sunday morning talking about cocks (I’m from the midwest, so this is for ya’ll, no homo).  David met his dream girl… and worst nightmare, while LC officiated the Go Down Showdown.  Jada G dropped science on Donnie and so did Curren$y.  Seven Million was an early Christmas gift and you know we had to celebrate with a 40 oz of St. Ides.

R.I.P. Eartha

Reviews:
D.I.R.T. (Da Incredible Rap Team) | My Turn To Eat | Year Of The Gentleman | Our World, Our Way | White Van Music | Changes Of Atmosphere | WLIB AM: King Of The Wigflip | Life In The Concrete Journal & Snoop Dogg Presents: Dubb Union | Landing Gear | Crack | Stick 2 The Script | Tronic | Yancey Boys | 2econd Season | The Renaissance | Halfway House | The Death Of Adam | Remind Me In 3 Days | Leave It All Behind | Gutta | Thr33 Ringz | I Am… Sasha Fierce | The Villain | Theater Of The Mind | The Alchemist’s Cookbook & The Layover EP | The Ball Street Journal | Universal Mind Control | We Mean Business | Emeritus | iSouljaBoyTellEm

Notable Quotables:
“On The Marquee” | “Go To Hell” | “Big Dreams”

Smoking Sessions/15 Minutes:
Curren$y | Jake One | Raekwon | 88-Keys | Black Milk | Andre Royo | Scarface | Stat Quo | The Knux | Jake One | Scarface | Anthony Hamilton | Evidence
| B.o.B.

Songs

Vandalyzm – “Get Dough”
We’ve about run out of creative ways to talk about making money. But what makes a song like this stand out is the delightfully odd beat and the rhythmic fashion in which Van spits his lines over the wampy synth.

Scarface – “Emeritus”

On the verge of retirement, Mr. Brad Jordan knocks one out the park for the hell of it.

Raekwon Feat. Ghostface – “Necro”
Ghost’s sense of narrative is second to nobody, and this guest verse is a startlingly heartless peek into the mind of a ruthless drug dealer. Best ad-libs of the year following the verse as well.

Jay-Z Feat. Santogold – “Brooklyn (We Go Hard)”

If you ever find yourself questioning the man’s relevance, watch and see how many rappers remember they’re from BK in 2009.

Heltah Skeltah – “Insane”

The madness will never cease as long as Ruck and Rock get their hands on Marco Polo beats.

Young Jeezy – “Hustlaz Ambition”
You can’t deny it. Hustle and Hip-Hop are intertwined and always will be. And songs like this prove that this is a good thing.

88-Keys Feat. Kanye West – “Stay Up (Viagra)”
Blue pills and bitches. It’s a beautiful thing.

Elzhi – “Guessing Game”
The most cleverly done lyrical performance of the year.

Ludacris Feat. Nas & Jay-Z – I Do It For Hip-Hop
With a lineup this legendary, you know all three MC’s deliver. Not much in the way of creativity, but fresh nonetheless.

Royce Da 5’9” Feat. Talib Kweli and Raekwon – “Give Up Your Guns”
All three go in on a shrieking, left-of-center sample.

Ace Hood – “Cash Flow”
The Khaled affiliation shouldn’t be a hinderance in this track getting a nod for one of the most thundering beats of the year.

Freeway, Peedi Crakk & Young Chris – “All 2gether Now”
Whether it was Statik Selektah channeling the sounds of 2002 or the Phillies winning the World Series, the former State Property Chain Gang members attack this track like hungry sharks in a sea full of blood.

Jay-Z – “History”
Using Obama’s historic victory as the Trojan Horse to question his own standing for the ages, he proved once again that while he might take a misstep here or there, he still has it. These are his Wizard years.

Royce Da 5′9″ – “Shake This”
What’s with Primo making incredible songs this year with no textbook Primo sample-chops? Who cares, this song is GREAT…

Stay tuned for ‘09…

Previously Posted — TSS Presents 2008: The Best Year Ever – Third Quarter | Pillow Talk 2008: The Most Slept On Albums Of The Year | 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

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