The Luniz never had 5 like these...

The Top 5

Yesterday you got albums 6 through 10. If you missed it, click on Monday’s entry and check it out. I really had to be objective when doing the Top 5 because there was one album that I wanted to be the best more than the others but I just couldn’t justify it. These five albums are well made albums – not just a random concoction of songs. There are clear themes, showing of versatility and pure creativity. These albums represent the diversity of Hip-Hop and why it is the hottest (my definition, not MTV’s) music genre on the planet. So without further ado, PTM brings to you the best of the best…



5. Kidz in the Hall – The In Crowd

The Ivey League kids from Chicago are reminiscent of the producer (Double O)/ rapper (Naledge) group of the ‘80’s so it was fitting that the intro track, “Black Out” sampled Eric B. and Rakim. The best quality about this group is that they know who they are and are comfortable in their own skin. They are college educated kids from middle class families that make music that regular folks can relate to (a la Kanye). The depths of their song concepts are prevalent in “Inner Me” and “The In Crowd”. Their diverse list of collaborations proves that Naledge is capable of rhyming on many different levels and appealing to different audiences. He rocks with the eclectic Camp Lo on “Snob Hop” and shows his lyrical prowess with Phonte on “Paper Trail”. The “Driving Down the Block (Remix)” has everyone from Bun-B to The Cool Kids jumping on board. These Kidz are smart and they aren’t afraid to challenge their listeners. “Love Hangover” which is accompanied by the lovely Estelle, provides a surprise metaphor that catches you off guard. This album will probably not land on any other list because well, too many people never heard of them but without question it is one of this year’s best.





4. Common – Universal Mind Control (PTM 2007 #7)

It’s funny what a terrible album can do to a motivated rapper. Since the Electric Circus fiasco, Common has put out some of the best music of his career. It’s also great when that same rapper doesn’t have to rely on album sales to make a living. Common has without question made it a priority to push the boundaries musically; and this album, part Wyclef, part Outkast, part KRS-ONE is the result. Sonically, this album takes you on a ride. The “Planet Rock” sample on the title track really sets the tone for the energy that this album brings. “Punch Drunk Love” is another entry in the growing list of Common/ Kanye classic collaborations as the Chicagoans rap for the ladies. You never know where this album is going but the unpredictability is refreshing as “Make My Day” and “Changes” put you in two very different moods. The punchline heavy “Gladiator” and the B.I.G tribute, “Announcement” gives core Com fans nostalgia of Resurrections past. Overall this album is an excellent 10 track package that can fit in anyone’s CD changer rotation. Common gets even more credit for stepping outside of the box after the Circus flop. I’m just glad that he got it right this time.



3. Ludacris – Theater of the Mind

With this album, Ludacris had just one goal. Make it clear to everyone in the world that he is one of the best lyricists alive. “Undisputed” is an unapologetic challenge to any and every rapper in the game to test his skill. To further prove his point he decided to invite two G.O.A.T’s and perhaps the next G.O.A.T to supply verses. On “Last of a Dying Breed”, Cris trades witty banter with Lil’ Wayne in this ode to lyricism. “I do it for Hip-Hop” finds the ATL native somewhere between Brooklyn and Queens as he, Jay-Z and Nas all vie for the crown of best rapper alive. This album, which might be his best, really highlights what Ludacris has more than anyone else – versatility. He hits the club with T-Pain with “One More Drink”, adapts to DJ Premier’s boom bap production with “MVP” and even provides teachings to the youth with Common and Spike Lee on “Do the Right Thing”. Theater of the Mind is truly a concept album as the theme of movies and cinema often pop up on the album. This is a fitting blend of Luda’s two worlds as he is becoming more and more, a successful actor. Ludacris can make you laugh, cry, dance and make you say “ooh wee” after a mean punchline and he brings all of that to the table with this masterpiece. It’s time to stop frontin’, he’s one of the best.



2. Nas - Untitled

Nas is without question a living legend. He’s also one of the most complex rappers in history. He’s been criticized for his many contradictions and lambasted for poor attempts to make club bangers. He’s also been considered boring and some of his deeper material lacks pure entertainment. So when he originally wanted to name his album “Nigger”, people knew they were in for something... you just wasn’t sure what it was. From the lead single “Hero”, Nas reminded folks why he’s one of the greats and why he should still be relevant today. He took the biggest creative risk of any rapper this year and made an entire album full of social commentary. But by picking the right beats and mastering his flow, he managed to make these songs exciting. He literally made a battle record against Fox News (“Sly Fox”) and brought attention to the (un)healthy relationship that black people have with food with “Fried Chicken”. Although he changed the title officially, he still addressed the “N-Word”. On “N.I.G.G.E.R” he boosts the confidence of young black men and women by letting them know that they come from Kings and Queens and “Y’all My Niggas” is a testament to the influence that Hip-Hop and black people have had on pop culture. This album is nothing short of genius and it is probably his best work since Illmatic. Nas was on a different level creatively and literally put out an album that is simultaneously current and ahead of its time. No song is more proof than the last track of the album, “Black President”. With the best Hip-Hop song documenting the rise of Barack Obama during the 2008 Presidential Campaign, Nas set himself apart from the pack. He is using his craft to change the landscape of how Hip-Hop addresses social issues and as one of my favorite rappers, it pained me to make it #2. Because…

1. T.I. – Paper Trail

Clifford Harris made the best album of 2008. For the record, this album had no business being good. After the lackluster T.I. vs. T.I.P project and being under federal gun charges, you could understand it if T.I. decided to throw in the towel and put the music on the backburner. But when it comes to music, great hardship often brings out the best in an artist. And being on house arrest leaves you with a lot of free time to be in the studio. T.I. let his craft be his therapy and he cranked out a certified classic. Lyrically he was at a level that no one had ever seen from him. The performances on “56 Bars” and “I’m Illy” are usually reserved for guys named G Rap and Canibus. He even destroyed the three best rappers in the game on “Swagga Like Us” (track 12 out of 16, mind you). He didn’t stop there. The last album where nearly every song was a hit single was 50’s debut. This album is right up there. The Rhianna assisted “Life Your Life”, “Whatever You Like” and “Swing Ya Rag” have been top 40 songs since they were released (overall, not just the rap/r&b category). These aren’t just hit records, they are anthems that will get played at basketball games, and at BBQ’s for the next 20 years. This album has no weak tracks and no flaws. He seamlessly transitions between the super seductive “Porn Star” and the braggadocios “Every Chance I Get”. He makes you believe that you can live out your dreams with Ludacris on the track “On Top of the World”. But perhaps his most impressive work was the personal songs where he let the world into his heart and thoughts. “Dead and Gone” is a regretful song about letting his pride get in the way during an altercation that ended in his best friend getting shot and killed. He takes his medicine on “Ready for Whatever” but challenges the audience to step in his shoes before they pass judgment. (“… die or go to jail/ that’s a hellova decision.) The track, “You Ain’t Missing Nothing” provides a ray of hope for those currently in jail. This song takes on an even deeper meaning as he wrote it knowing he would soon be heading so that same prision. When you strip it all down to the pure music, it is clear that T.I. provided the best balance of entertainment, emotion and education and created a timeless work of art. Paper Trail is undoubtedly the best album of 2008 and one of the best Hip-Hop albums of all time. Point. Blank. Period.