I've already given you the top ten albums of 2014 in two parts. Here and Here. There's a lot of stuff left off the list because it was just bad. But there were some really good albums I wanted to mention that didn't make a top 10 for various reasons. So today I'll give you a list of 5 albums that didn't make my top ten and I'll tell you exactly why they didn't.
Body Count - Manslaughter: This isn't even a rap album. It's a rock album, completely. Body Count is a rock band. They've always been a rock band. Just because Ice-T is a rapper who does the vocals doesn't mean it's a rap group. They're more Linkin Park than Jay Z and they did it before Linkin Park. Yet for some reason this album was put on the rap charts and not the rock charts. There's no 808s on this album just killer drum solos. But since it was still put on the rap charts instead I'll give it an honorable mention because it deserves a listen but it's not a rap album. Just because a rapper is on the album doesn't mean it's a rap album.
The Roots - And Then You Shoot Your Cousin: The Roots are bigger than rap. I said it and I meant it. Every now and then you get an artist or group that transcends genre. You wouldn't call Johnny Cash country and you can't call The Roots hip hop. They do so much more. Jazz, soul, rhythm and blues, etc. It's all there. The Roots don't bring just one thing to the table. They bring way too much to be considered a hip hop album but it's definitely dope music that's not to be missed. It also reminds you that The Roots are more than just a cover band for Jimmy Falon that plays the guest out.
The Game? - Blood Moon: Year of The Wolf: It's got Game, a ton of name drops, beef, and more features than any other album. But, Game isn't even on all of the tracks. Nobody else even knows if it's a Game album or not. He billed it as compilation album for the artist on the label which makes sense because he's not on every track and majority of the featured artist are signed to Game's label. It's like Kanye West Presents Cruel Summer. That's what he said, that's what people thought. Then some of the artist said it's a Game album but he wanted to let them shine. So is it a Game album or a Compilation album? Just like the number of licks it takes to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop the world may never know.
Wu-Tang - A Better Tommorow: Here's the problem. Wu-Tang had a public dispute about the type of album it was going to be. At various points during the creation everyone took their ball and went home, work continued and then came back. There's good music here but it seems more like it was forced for the money not the love of music. The album has some conflicting sounds but it's still good. It's more of a mixtape than album. It's good but you can hear the internal conflict in the album. Wu-Tang is turning into your church choir. Sure, they sound good but you know they're talking greasy about each other when nobody is looking, but they got caught. Should have subtitled the album "Internet caught us slipping"
Nas - Illmatic XX: Look, Illmatic is one of the most influential albums of all time. From the cover to the verses. It influenced everyone from Jay Z to B.I.G. to Pac to Kendrick, to Game to 83% of rappers still pumping out music today. When Nas dropped Illmatic he dropped an album that would revolutionize hip hop over the next 20 years.. This is the 20th anniversary edition with remastered audio so it's really easy on the ears. If you're one of the people who have never heard Illmatic now is the time to give it a listen. If you've already heard it, give it another listen for old time's sake.
You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
Follow @OriginalKingD
The Roots - And Then You Shoot Your Cousin: The Roots are bigger than rap. I said it and I meant it. Every now and then you get an artist or group that transcends genre. You wouldn't call Johnny Cash country and you can't call The Roots hip hop. They do so much more. Jazz, soul, rhythm and blues, etc. It's all there. The Roots don't bring just one thing to the table. They bring way too much to be considered a hip hop album but it's definitely dope music that's not to be missed. It also reminds you that The Roots are more than just a cover band for Jimmy Falon that plays the guest out. The Game? - Blood Moon: Year of The Wolf: It's got Game, a ton of name drops, beef, and more features than any other album. But, Game isn't even on all of the tracks. Nobody else even knows if it's a Game album or not. He billed it as compilation album for the artist on the label which makes sense because he's not on every track and majority of the featured artist are signed to Game's label. It's like Kanye West Presents Cruel Summer. That's what he said, that's what people thought. Then some of the artist said it's a Game album but he wanted to let them shine. So is it a Game album or a Compilation album? Just like the number of licks it takes to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop the world may never know.Wu-Tang - A Better Tommorow: Here's the problem. Wu-Tang had a public dispute about the type of album it was going to be. At various points during the creation everyone took their ball and went home, work continued and then came back. There's good music here but it seems more like it was forced for the money not the love of music. The album has some conflicting sounds but it's still good. It's more of a mixtape than album. It's good but you can hear the internal conflict in the album. Wu-Tang is turning into your church choir. Sure, they sound good but you know they're talking greasy about each other when nobody is looking, but they got caught. Should have subtitled the album "Internet caught us slipping"Nas - Illmatic XX: Look, Illmatic is one of the most influential albums of all time. From the cover to the verses. It influenced everyone from Jay Z to B.I.G. to Pac to Kendrick, to Game to 83% of rappers still pumping out music today. When Nas dropped Illmatic he dropped an album that would revolutionize hip hop over the next 20 years.. This is the 20th anniversary edition with remastered audio so it's really easy on the ears. If you're one of the people who have never heard Illmatic now is the time to give it a listen. If you've already heard it, give it another listen for old time's sake.You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
Follow @OriginalKingD
