So, as we approach the end of the year it's that time for endless lists reflecting on the best shit we came across. With a tip of the cap to Cocaine Blunts, here's another. This is my best in Hip Hop for the calendar year of 2007. Only one track per artist and beyond the first few, not necessarily in order.
1.) UGK - Int'l Player's Anthem (ft. Outkast)...Also likely the video of the year, with apologies to Snoop. We've all heard the sample before from Cormega, 50 Cent. etc., but that doesn't make it any less dope. Great verse from Andre as well.
2.) Devin the Dude - What a Job (ft. Snoop Dogg, Andre 3000)...Just misses the top spot due to Snoop's unnecessary rant at the end. Another great beat though and verse from Andre, though bittersweet, as he scolds all of you that illegally download music. Fuckers. Big year for him though as far as guest spots go, hopefully that bodes well for the next album.
3.) Public Enemy - Harder Than You Think...Kinda shocking for them to make this list in 2007, but a great comeback song off a solid album.
4.) Atmosphere - Sunshine...Gets the summer hangover down pretty much perfectly, though I can't really relate to the bike-riding element of the song.
5.) AZ - I Am The Truth...Off the great The Memphis Sessions, remixed in 2007, so I'll count it.
6.) Blu & Exile - Simply Amazin' (steel blazin')...Dope song, dope album, def some folks to look out for in the future.
7.) Cormega - Who Am I Exclusive (ft. AZ, Nature)...Too many guests on this album in general, but it works here with some great production.
8.) Crooked I - My Bitch...This dude's weekly freestyles have been ridiculous all year, he just put out number 39. This is one of many great ones, over an unreleased Dre beat that was supposed to be on The Game's last album.
9.) CunninLynguists - Dirty Acres...The title track on their new album, I finally stopped sleeping on them.
10.) Consequence - Don't Forget Em...Off his overlooked debut album, good to see him finally put some official shit out though.
11.) DJ Jazzy Jeff - All I Know (ft. CL Smooth)...Great combination with these two, a full-length collabo would be fun for everyone.
12.) Freeway - It's Over...Dude's voice is still a bit annoying, but the album is surprisingly good.
13.) Ghostface Killah - Supa GFK...Ghost on some smooth shit.
14.) Jay-Z - Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)...A lot of choices from this album, but I'll make the easy one.
15.) Kanye West - I Wonder...Another album with multiple choices.
16.) Kardinall Offishall - Good Ol' Days...Another sample we know and love, this was off a good and free mixtape by the way.
17.) Killa Sha - Tune of Life...Hadn't heard much from him before, but I know he's been around for a minute. This is off a pretty dope QB album.
18.) Little Brother - That Ain't Love (ft. Jozeemo)...This is off the very solid Get Back album. Some other choices here, including the single "Good Clothes", but this one has proven to have more re-playability.
19.) Lupe Fiasco - Gold Watch...Off the uneven The Cool, some other great choices on here, but I'll go with most interesting beat and the Street Fighter 2 talk.
20.) Median - Personified...In the Blu & Exile mold, another good album from a relative newcomer and Justus League member.
21.) Nas - Surviving the Times...A new track off his Greatest Hits album, a great recollection of his journey through the Hip Hop industry. Also pretty dope production from Chris Webber of all people, rebounding (sure, pun intended) from the forgettable "Blunt Ashes" off Hip Hop is Dead.
22.) NYGz - Itz On (ft. Rave)...The album itself sags a bit in the second half, but some great joints to get you ready to beat the shit out of someone.
23.) Pharoahe Monch - Let's Go (ft. Mela Machinko)...I liked this album, but after such a long wait, it seemed like it came and went fairly quickly. Hopefully it doesn't take 30 years for the next one.
24.) Saigon - Come On Baby (remix) (ft. Jay-Z, Swizz Beatz)...I don't really know what Swizz adds to this, so ignore him. Great beat though, still waiting for dude's album and we're one retirement deep.
25.) Scarface - Girl You Know...This is a solid album, but doesn't live up to the standard he set with The Fix.
26.) Special Teamz - Classical...From the surprisingly strong Stereotypez, which showed Edo is at his best when not having to carry an album by himself.
27.) T.I. - Tell 'Em I Said That...A pretty disappointing follow-up to King, but this is a great hype song.
28.) Tech N9ne - P.A.S.E.O...Tech N9ne continues to be one of the best, yet overlooked out there. This is off the MLK collabo album, which mostly reaffirmed that Tech's friends aren't as dope as him, but still has it's highlights.
29.) WC - 80's Babies (ft. Ice Cube)...A great and hilarious song off of Guilty by Affiliation , one of the best albums of the year from any coast. Some folks may have left Dubb and his brand of Hip Hop behind, but this basically an album you can listen to straight through.
30.) Young Bleed - Bac Road Mississippi (ft. Money Waters, Ol' Mann)...Bleed will forever be remembered for his time on No Limit and "How Ya Do Dat", but he's gone on to release a string of dope albums and distinguish himself from his many former mediocre to terrible NL peers.
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