If you look to the right, you'll see two links: one of which is a link to Newsarama for my buddy, Steve Fritz, two columns there - please look for them - "Animated Shorts" and "Weekend Viewing". Steve is one of the best in the biz concening the animation world.
The other is a link to "The Here & There" e-zine which also has the illustrious and future National Best-Selling author, Benthere, as a writer. My column is called "You Can Smoke Here" - an obvious take-off on all the smoking bans (To not be able to smoke in a bar or casino is against the natural order of things and you people should be shot for falling for that bullshit) which is essentially a music review column, although I sometimes rant. Anyway, the last column was just put up which was a "Best Of 2006 - Part One." Although I'm still submitting this one, here's a rare chance to see how I get down. Sorry Mike, I just wanted it out there...
Part one was my take on the year’s best from an industry view. This one is purely personal. Here’s my take on 2006.
It sucked.
No, really, it sucked huge. And is it me, or did it just zoom by? I mean, James Brown dies on Christmas day? How fucked up is that? Needless to say, I’ve been listening to James Brown tracks for the last couple of days (yeah, I got a ton of James Brown tracks – it’s the Godfather you knuckleheads…) and been watching some youtube vids of the man. And, it really just summed up the year for me – it sucked.
Hip-hop was horrible. Come on, you know it’s true. This was not what history will call a “banner” year. All this weak ass hoppity hop music – get the fuck outta here. Thank God for Lil’ Wayne – did Weezy hold down the fort, or what? His game stepped up like a mad man and did he ever get rewarded for it. He took Luda’s spot as the supreme guest artist for a track. If Weezy didn’t lay down at least a bar for you, your shit wasn’t official. All of this leads to why, for 2006 – Lil’ Wayne is my artist of the year. Just the amount of work alone gives him the title but “The Carter II” was the crowning achievement. With all that said, “The Carter II” barely made my top ten. Why? Because simply put, Wayne is a better sprinter than long-distance runner.
My album of the year in hip-hop was….
The Roots – Game Theory.
Yeah, you heard me. Moreso than the Clipse, Nas, Game, Ghostface, Styles P, any of em. The Roots. The whole album summed up 2006 for me. It’s some bleak shit and it’s time to move on. Grow the fuck up and deal. In a year of half ass wack rappers, The Roots took out the long-range rifle and plucked these herbs off one by one.
It also holds up. The beats are insane; Black Thought is a man possessed, and quite frankly (shout out to Stephen A.) you can listen to the damn thing months afterwards and it’s still hot as fuck. Let’s see who says that about most of the shit that was released this year.
Still in all, T.I. came thru like a champ, Obie Trice proved he’s a killer on the mic, and the loss of J Dilla looms large more and more. Snoop came back with a vengeance, Jay-Z returned to save hip-hop (and failed heroically), and Nas bodied hip-hop as the bitch she turned out to be.
Meanwhile, Justin Timberlake became the R&B artist we all knew he was by channeling Prince while D’Angelo was M.I.A. with Lauryn Hill, Maxwell, and others. Left the game to whom? Dwele proved that he’s far more advanced than R&B is ready for, and John Legend came in the last quarter like D Wade to save the day. What was so sad about R&B this year is that all the good stuff got overlooked. I mean, when y’all is making major noise over Ciara, the game is fucked up for good. Ciara makes a better CD than Janet? What the fuck? Leela James doesn’t get any love; neither does Vivian Green, Heather Headley, and Conya Doss? Beyonce makes a half-ass CD and you all wonder why I’m praying Alicia Keys comes out soon and smashes the game one mo’ time. People ain’t even making noise about Brian McKnight’s awesome “Ten”. Damn music game is a travesty right now.
Here’s my top ten Hip-Hop CD’s for 2006 10 – 1.
Jay-Z – Kingdom Come
The Game – Doctor’s Advocate
Lil’ Wayne – The Carter II
T.I. – King
J Dilla – The Shining
Nas – Hip-Hop Is Dead
Hi-Tek – Hi-Teknology II – The Chip
Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale/More Fish
The Roots – Game Theory
Yeah, no Luda, no Snoop, no Bow-Wow, no Kanye, and Nas was number five and I raved all over that shit. I love Nas’ new joint to death but on a personal level, it’s just not… well it ain’t killin’ it for me. And Jay only made it because of “Minority Report”, “Lost Ones”, “Kingdom Come”, “30 Something” and “Dig A Hole”. When Hov’s on, he’s on like a motherfucker, but that “Hollywood” bullshit was horrendous.
Actually, while I’m giving Weezy artist of the year, the man that made me think Hip-Hop has a chance this year was none other than Jim Jones. That ballin shit is contagious like cancer. Plus I just like the Dipset Capo’s swagger – he truly don’t give a fuck and I truly believe Jim Jones is the east coast reincarnation of Tupac. No one carries the flag on his back with more flavor than Jim Jones, baby….
And y’all can say Lupe is gonna save hip hop but Styles P, Termanology, Papoose, Saigon, Jae Millz, Game, Clipse, and Stat Quo are doin’ the damn thang….
My top ten in R&B? Y’all are so clueless, it’s gonna hurt…. Here’s ten thru one….
LeToya – LeToya
Javier – Left Of Center
Ne-Yo – In My Own Words
Anthony David – The Red Clay Chronicles
Mary J Blige – The Breakthrough
Christina Aguilera – Back To Basics
John Legend – Once Again
Lyfe Jennings – The Phoenix
Brian McKnight – Ten
Justin Timberlake – Futuresex/Lovesounds
Yeah, JT took the top spot. Can’t deny that shit. And yes, bitches – no Beyonce, Avant, Ciara, Janet, any of that bullshit. And yes, Christina beats Mary on this one. And I honestly love Mary’s joint but Christina made an album for the ages. People will be checking that joint years from now going – why didn’t this album take the top spot? Because 2006 sucked that’s why. No justice, that’s what it is. Hell, I’m still listening to most of 2005 because 2006 was such a letdown.
If I hear “Irreplaceable” one more damn time…. Alicia, when the hell are you going to drop a new joint? Tamia made one helluva CD but it’s a shame no one’s gonna hear that motherfucker because all these silly asses think Ciara’s got the goodies. Girl is cute, she can dance her ass off but let’s be real… she can’t sing her way out of a paper bag. Same goes for Carrie. Diddy must be kicking himself for signing that bust. You could’ve signed Mila J, kid…
Right now I’m listening to “Summer Love” by JT and it just shows me how much ahead of the curve he is. The harmonies, the beats, singing thru the change, the whole deal. Usher, will you come and shut this kid down already?
James Brown has gone home and JT is doing his best Prince/Michael Jackson impersonation. Lord, help me to hold out….
I swear, if this is where music is going, I’m taking a vacation and packing up my Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross (I miss you so much, Luther…), Aretha Franklin, and Miles Davis CD’s and hiding until D’Angelo comes to save the day like the freakin’ Black Panther.
But I do have to grudgingly admit, that “Set The Mood Prelude/Until The End Of Time” joint JT has is off the chain.
I hope 2007 sees the Mets in the pennant (fuckin’ Cardinals…), Spider-Man 3 top the box office for at least two months, Jessica Alba gain back that booty she done lost (girl, what the hell has Hollywood done to you), Entourage, Heroes, 24, and the Sopranos kick ass, and Halle Berry do a decent love scene with a brother. Bruce Willis, Halle? Are you serious? Where’s Angela Bassett when I need her….
Peace, children – I’m going to play Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Justice League Heroes so I can kick some ass….
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