Vacation Post #1: My Travel Albums
I’ve been so caught up in new posts, tracks, videos and downloads this year that I haven’t reviewed an album in more than 3 months now. Therefore, I’ve decided to spend my vacation listening to my current favorites, and catching up with music I never got around to bumping thoroughly. Below is a list of the ten albums that have either received the most rotations in my iPod over the past couple of months, or have become recent favorites of mine. Each album on this list is sure to get a lot of play during my vacation. I highly recommend checking them all out.
1. The Roots “How I Got Over” - Although I’ve only had this album for 10 days now, I’ve been unable to listen to anything else since I picked it up. Possibly the best album of the 2010. For a preview, check out former HHL tracks of the week How I Got Over and Dear God 2.0, as well as this nice little live performance from the Jimmy Fallon show.
2. Reflection Eternal “Revolutions Per Minute” - I had actually been going around saying this was the best album of 2010 for more than one month before The Roots came into the conversation. Either way, this is definitely in the running. For a preview, check out City Playgrounds and my current favorite In This World.
3. B. Dolan “Fallen House, Sunken City” - I was pretty amazed upon checking my iPod stats to find that this was my most bumped album of the last four months. I just can’t get enough of this album, which contains some of the best tracks of the year. For a preview, check out Earthmovers, Marvin and 50 Ways To Bleed Your Customer.
4. Sage Francis “Li[f]e” - This album took a couple listens to grow on me, as it is more spoken word than hip-hop at times. But once it caught on, it has been among my regular rotation for almost two months now. Another work of brilliance from Sage. For previews, check out former HHL quotable Best of Times and former HHL track of the week Slow Man.
5. Core Rhythm “The Ecology” - I’ve been bumping this album consistently for more than six months now. Core Rhythm is an NYC emcee who has been one of my local favorites for years now with his previous albums “Ronin” and “Nat Turner Reloaded.” For a preview, check out Core’s video for King, or his FREE download Metropolis.
6. Rhymefest “El Che” - I’d been waiting for this one to drop for years, and it was worth the wait. Possibly the perfect combination of underground and mainstream. For a preview, check out Prosperity, T.M.S. and Say Wassup.
7. Everliven Sound “Freedom 2” - This duo has been one of my favorite underground collaborations since they dropped “Freedom” back in ’08. The follow-up is even better. For a preview, check out Get Up Stand Up, Elements and Crack and The Electric Chair.
8. ScholarMan “Fatherhood Dreamlovers Mix” - This is the only mixtape to make my vacation list, but I just can’t stop listening to it. Although only seven tracks, this album is a heartfelt tribute to ScholarMan’s pops – who sadly passed recently. For previews of Scholar’s other music, check out Hopes & Dreams, Reap, Sow and I Love Hip-Hop Music.
9. Homeboy Sandman “The Good Sun” - The NYC emcee’s third album is among his best work to date, and that’s saying a lot considering how much I liked “Actual Factual Pterodactyl.” For previews, check out Yeah, But I Can Rhyme Though and Angels With Dirty Faces.
10. Zajazza, Hired Gun, Rabbi D “Skillz To Take Brazil” - This is a compilation by three emcees out of the local NYC underground scene. If you like that underground sound with raw lyricism and high energy, this album is for you. For a preview, check out Thank Hip Hop.
Jay-Izzle wrote:
Wasn’t a big fan of “El Che” to be honest. Roots and Reflection are off the chain though!
Posted on 06-Jul-10 at 4:57 pm | Permalink
BeatRoot wrote:
The new Dumhi album is crazy tight, surprised it’s not on your list Nat…
Posted on 07-Jul-10 at 5:11 pm | Permalink
Purify wrote:
how I got over is such a mature sounding album. great sound great raps, the roots have been hit or miss for me since illadelph but i love this album
Posted on 08-Jul-10 at 8:11 am | Permalink
buckeyewu wrote:
1. Nas and Damian Marley-Distant Relatives
2. The Roots-How I Got Over
3. Eminem-Recovery
4. Capone N Noreaga-The War Report 2
5. Big Boi-Sir Luscious Leftfoor Son of Chico Dusty
6. Strong Arm Steady-In Search of Stoney Jackson
7. Reflection Eternal (DJ HI Tek and Talib Kweli)-RPM
8. Apollo Brown-The Reset
9. Consequence-Movies On Demand
10. Little Brother-Leftback
Posted on 17-Jul-10 at 11:49 am | Permalink
Erik wrote:
Nice list, em’s recovery is real strong. Good to know the roots just dropped, time to eval. Holla!
Posted on 19-Jul-10 at 11:21 pm | Permalink
Poetic Justice wrote:
I remember when they had that contest for who knew what they was saying and win something anyway who won and do anybody remember that? also check out my music online just click on poetic justice above.
Posted on 16-Sep-10 at 7:29 pm | Permalink
marcus villalobos wrote:
I have to say my favorite trax on this album is the fire.
Posted on 19-Sep-10 at 6:46 am | Permalink
Underground Rapper wrote:
Ive always liked the roots tho!!
Posted on 22-Sep-10 at 10:43 pm | Permalink
SaidEnough45 wrote:
THE ROOOTS!!! Love ‘em…. thanks for posting on them
Posted on 29-Sep-10 at 6:03 pm | Permalink
preemo wrote:
johnson and jonson, the mixtape from Blu & Exile’s crew from Cali. Suuuuper Dooope.
Posted on 08-Oct-10 at 2:48 am | Permalink
tours of india wrote:
to me, The Roots-How I Got Over
Posted on 09-Mar-11 at 5:54 pm | Permalink