There was no shortage of good music in 2008, just a serious lack of good music promotion. While the usual suspects like Kanye West, T.I., Lil’ Wayne and Sasha Fierce, uh, Beyonce ruled the charts and the airwaves, another crop of artists was putting out music that was equally as influential, if not better all together. Yes, whether it was industry politics, a lack of major label promotion or the country’s obsession with the Miley Cyrus’s and Jonas Brothers of the world, there were great albums to be heard from some of the least popular kids at school. Here are our favorite 10.
10. Who: Grip Plyaz
Album: Grip Hop
Why you need to hear it: This Atlanta MC has no problem doing exactly what he wants to do. Offering what he called his, “interpretation of hip-hop,” Grip Plyaz successfully fused ghetto tech, southern bass and everything in between with his exceptional opus.
Hear this: “Project Ho”
Mike Jones
How I’ll Feel When Obama is Sworn In:
“I feel it’s going to be something different, but I really can’t say how I’ll feel until I see it.”
What Song Best Represents This Moment:
“I have this song called “5 Years From Now” from first album, Who Is Mike
Jones, that goes perfect with what is going on right now.”
What I Have in Common with the President:
“I call myself the president of the city and he’s the President of the United States. I won’t get as much duty as him, but I get duties put on me, so I have to represent and hold down the city like how he has to take care of the country.”
Bobby Valentino, singer
How I’ll Feel When Obama is Sworn In:
“When Obama is sworn in I will feel a sigh of relief that history
has been finally made. It’s day that I never thought I would see in my
lifetime.”
What Song Best Represents This Moment:
The Pointer Sisters, “We are Family”
What I Have in Common with the President:
“I think Obama and I share the trait of being calm under pressure.”
7. Who: Raphael Saadiq
Album: The Way I See It
Why you need to hear it: Paying homage to the music that created the artist he is today, Saadiq’s music finds inspiration from Motown’s hey day to Philadelphia soul, all the while sounding modern enough for you not to accuse this musician of biting another’s style.
Hear this: “Just One Kiss”
6. Who: The Knux
Album: Remind Me in Three Days
Why you need to hear it: Not since OutKast dropped Southernplayalisticcadillacmuzik has a rap duo showed this much promise on a debut album. New Orleans brothers Rah Al Millio and Krispy Kream knocked hip-hop on its tail-end with their own brand of raw, rock-tinged rap and gave us some of the dopest verses since well… yeah, those Andre and Big Boi cats.
Hear this: “Cappuccino”
5. Who: Santogold
Album: Santogold
Why you need to hear it: Though she’s often compared to M.I.A., Philadelphia femcee Santi White’s self-titled debut was actually a better album then that of the Kala star. Taking elements of electro-pop, dancehall and rock, White proved you can tap into every musical genre and somehow make an album that sounds whole.
Hear this: “L.E.S. Artistes”
4. Who: TV on the Radio
Album: Dear Science
Why you need to hear it: A word to the ignorant– rock music was created by and rooted in the black experience. With that said, it’s no wonder the predominantly-black indie rockers from Brooklyn came out with one of the best albums the genre has heard in years. Experimenting with different sounds and instrumentation, TV on the Radio created a sonic masterpiece as vivid as it is entertaining.
Hear this: “Golden Age”
3. Who: 88 Keys
Album: The Death of Adam
Why you need to hear it: What’s a good music year without a great concept album? 88 Keys’ ode to the bright and dark side of making love via the character Adam is more of a tragic screenplay than simply a disc about having sex. From start to finish the MC reminds us of hip-hop’s uncanny power to make sense of real life situations.
Hear this: “Stay Up! (Viagra)”
2. Who: The Foreign Exchange
Album: Leave It All Behind
Why you need to hear it: This sophomore effort from Little Brother’s Phonte and Dutch producer Nicolay is arguably one of the most exciting collaborations in hip-hop and R&B (uh, sorry to everyone and their mother who worked with T-Pain in ‘08). While most self-proclaimed crooners and thug and B enthusiast reigned on the airwaves, no sound was as soothing or calming on the mind than this release.
Hear this: “Sweeter Than You”
1. Who: Killer Mike
Album: I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind Pt. II
Why you need to hear it: After parting ways with Big Boi and the Purple Ribbon camp, the south’s most underrated lyricist made some of his best music. On the follow-up to I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind, Killer proves he’s more hungry and focused than ever as he tears through issues of racism, police brutality and economic empowerment in the black community. Black power never sounded good in your headphones.
Hear this: “Can You Hear Me”
