Weekend Recap - Memorial Day Edition

What's happening, folks? First order of business is to wish all my warriors [US Military] as much respect as possible for going to foreign lands to protect our interests, at home and abroad. I got a whole bunch of enlisted brethren that's strapped up, holding us down and keeping America free. Like anyone else, I have my own opinions on whether the wars we have participated in are just or not, but that has nothing to do with this. We support the home team at all times, even if we don't agree with why they're on the field. So special prayers go out to those out there still in field, or in the office, thanks you for all you do. Because, like Chris Rock said, "I ain't fightin!"

I haven't been on and posting lately because things are happening, vacations are being taken, so on and so forth. Even though I can't qualify a hockey game as a vacation, it got me away from home for a reason besides work, so that's a positive. My Red Wings are doing massive work to a Chicago squad that can't quite keep up. The Tigers are looking good, railing off wins at a pretty surprising rate. And while my Pistons are on the links, Chauncey is still handling business for the Nuggets. Throw in the end of the Premier League and most pro soccer leagues, and here we are. The beginning of summer. Summer always brings changes, good or bad, and this year's change, besides me actually keeping up a workout regime, is my music player of choice. Since I'm not about to drop stupid cash to get an iPod touch, nor an iPod phone, my brother from another TJ hooked me up with a Zune on the cheap. $100 dollars for the best music player I've ever had. One that plays videos. One that shows sweet photos. One that has internet access. And my favorite, the one that DOESN'T need CRAPPY iTunes software.

I'm not going to go into the problems because it is 3am and I won't be able to finish telling you all I hate about iTunes and the problems it gave me before I pass out from exhaustion in front of my television.

What I DO have time for is this. To hit you with some ill music for you to put in your earholes. So what's in the deck? It's summertime, baby. I'm listening to the throwback joint of forever, Summertime by the Fresh Prince aka Will Smith. In fact, it IS summer. Aren't we missing a Will Smith blockbuster?

But on to the music. Remember the video I posted? The first one, the one with LB? I'll give you a hint.

"Just like you can't stop me from rhymin, you can't stop the sun from shinnin...."

It's a bonus on this mixtape I'm hittin ya'll with! Nick Fury, or now, just Nickelus F is hittin us with GO Time!, his new mixtape, and since he's got some real spit when it comes to the rhymes, here's my weekend recommendation. Follow the link to hip hop goodness.

http://www.zshare.net/download/6034689233a05a5b/

No need to thank me. Just your friendly neighborhood hip hop loving super-hero, hookin ya'll up with heat....again.

Hip Hop's Money Problem

I know what the title infers. Hip hop's got a cash problem, but it is not what you think, I promise. This is not about the countless rappers talking expensive watches, cars, planes and exploits with famous women. I could write a book on all the psychological effects and syndromes associated with hip hop infatuation with paper. Nor is this a referendum on the economy or the state of the music industry in the information age.

No folks, this problem is not about the chase of money, but the problem that arises once that rapped-about speculation becomes accumulation. Hip hop has a long standing relationship with rappers detailing riches they don't have. What has happened to our favorite artists once they finally get what they were rapping about? What happens to the hungry for a deal rappers who have honed their skills with the help of top Ramen and the urge for success? Many of these former greats are still putting out music, but the product is significant lessor than when we first heard their work. When one reaches their goal or at least reaches financial security, the music, at least its' quality, comes into question. Is it actually possible for Dr. Dre's soon-to-be [or never] released Detox to reach anywhere near the impact of The Chronic album? Can Method Man recapture the hunger and grim that he displayed on Tical, or are we forever left with 4:21?

While some attribute the fall of these rappers to just becoming wack, I have a different theory. Artists taken before our time never got the chance to "fall off." The Notorious BIG never had a chance to come out with a sorry, pop influenced album. I think we can all agree that Snoop Dogg's "Doggstyle" album is one of the most influential hip hop album ever. The same can not be said about his most recent effort "Ego Trippin'". I don't really want to add Tupac in this discussion because I personally disliked EVERYTHING Suge did to his discography. His hungry was never in question, and you have to be around for your downfall.

The difference can be seen in conversations with hip hop fans, especially when dealing with Jay-Z. Shawn Carter is the posterboy for this theory. A genius level lyricist and mainstay on most hip hop top five ever lists, among most of people's best rappers, there are common arguments on what his best album is. To most hip hop historians and heads, Jay-Z's best work was his first, Reasonable Doubt. While this album didn't sell close to some of his more recent releases, this is his best work. Jay-Z in his most raw form, the concepts and lyrics have been stolen and plagiarized by many a rap artist. Even his creation style has been copied. Every new rapper out claims they don't write their lyrics down.*

*On a completely different tangent, most of these rappers who claim they don't write their rhymes, in fact, need to. Maybe THAT'S why there are so many sucka emcees. And these sucka niggas. I digress.

More than a few regard The Blueprint as Jay-Z's best work. I disagree. I believe it is his second best. In fact, I mold Jay-Z in the mold of rap's Michael Jordan. His career has almost mirrored his Airness', down to the constant retirement talk to the grandeur of each comeback.

Skip to recent events, and Jay-Z, once the most respected emcee in the game has become young rappers object of disrespect. In a battle with Jay, Joe Budden was quoted comparing Jay to Jordan, alluding to the fact that most fans nowadays only remember Jordan from that famous crossover by Allen Iverson. Different and obviously lessor opponents are challenging the thrown. Everyone is trying to hand the King of Hip Hop thrown to undeserving rappers. Nowadays, it's wack to like Jay-Z and what was once taboo now seems to be on everyone's tongue, that Jay-Z is washed up.

To that, I say yes and no. Thus, the theory.

"Success breeds complacency."

Hip hop is an art form that is most cultivated in hunger. Literally and figuratively. All these greats of all time came from extremely humble beginnings, where the lack of anything feeds the aspiration for everything. Wu-Era Method Man was a BEAST on the microphone. The grime of the Wu was the lighting rod for their popularity. The poverty of his position kept the hunger for more sharp. Currently, Method Man has aged and achieved enough success that the hungry, grimy Tical is most likely dead and gone. The same is 100 fold for a rapper of Jay-Z's stature. The success of Rocawear, top positions at companies like Def Jam and LiveNation, even the marriage of mega-star Beyonce has dulled the microphone fiend in Jay-Z. While every rapper claims to have too much money to address up and coming challengers to the thrown, Jay-Z is the only one telling the truth. Carter explained his own transformation best;

"I'm not a businessman, I'm a BUSINESS, man."

The writing on the wall has come for other popular rappers as well. Eminem, who is recent released his Relapse album, is up next. With his long lay off, many hip hoppers are looking to see if the King of Scream is back to his old exploits or if he's just the next in line to make money and fall off. A common sentiment shared by many people I have talked to have said things to me that I put in line with blasphemy. Such as things like, "Lil Wayne is the best rapper alive," or "Rick Ross is the next step up from the Notorious B.I.G." That last one makes me want to punch people. I usually attribute that to people being stupid. Don't get me wrong, I respect the hell out of Wayne. As someone who loves Southern rap, I've been rocking Wayne from "The Block Is Hot," but this is out of the question that he's even close to the best rapper alive. The only thing I'm willing to give Wayne is that he wins the Most Improved Rapper in Hip hop award. His skills have only gotten better [minus points for all the damn autotune]. But to me, he's not even the best rapper in the South [I give Ludacris, Bun B, Andre 3000, Scarface and TI the nod first].

The problem is, no one has come to claim the torch. The older heads give respect to the guys that are out, but even in muted conversations, common comments are that these current players in the game don't compare. One thing that was noticeable before is that there has always been a baton hand off between the eras. The Whodini's gave way to the Run DMC's, who gave way to the Rakim's, who gave way to the Wu Tang's and Biggie Smalls'. Death naturally handed the ball off to Snoop, Jay-Z, and Nas. However, there was always someone to pass the torch to. However, Snoop, Jay and Nas do not have competent replacements yet. Options like the Game, 50, Wayne and Jeezy are leaving a lot to be desired as the next crown holders. I prefer T.I. and Ludacris, but are they even acceptable King Emcee candidates. To illustrate this point further, Diddy said that Wayne reminded him of Biggie. Really? If this is what we are accepting, I'm not gonna be said that my music still falls off a truck, because I am not buying this. And therein lies the problem.

No acceptable alternatives forces these older generation emcees to keep on pushing. I don't blame them. Even while I am coming to terms that Reasonable Doubt 2 will never happen or sadly disappoint, I still want to see it. While Jay-Z on American Gangster wasn't wack, it wasn't up to the standard I had hoped. Method Man, Snoop, Eminem, Nas all have this burden. Great rappers who are still rapping but will never reach the height of their old works. Even while I disliked Method Man's 4:21, it was still among the most hot titles released at the time. Same with American Gangster, Nas' Hip Hop Is Dead, Snoop's Ego Trippin, etc.

There's not a doubt in my mind that there are available emcees to take the thrown. Rappers like Skyzoo, the Slaughterhouse collective, Termanology, Torae just to name a few. The problem is, most of you have probably never heard of them, and they are not the pop song, dance track type. Unfortunately, the mainstream hip hop that used to be classic has become plastic. Hip hop heads are now going elsewhere for real music because the Soulja Boy/Plies/Gucci Mane archetypes aren't cutting it.

So as long as garbage is mass manufactured to hip hop, I hope the Jay-Z's and Nas', the Eminem's and the Method Man's continue dropping albums. Because while they don't meet our sometimes lofty standards, I'll take a half ass Jay-Z cut over whatever new fake trap rapper they try to force feed us.

Industry Rule Number 4080...

....Record company people are shaaaaaaaaady! If you know your hip hop like I hope you do, this one is obvious. New school rappers and sucka emcees alike, take note. Listen to old school hip hop. Before it was about the money, it was about knowledge. And it seems like new rappers are learning this lesson the hard way. The knowledge you hip hop third graders missed is what I got in kindergarden [literally]. When A Tribe Called Quest dropped that gem, I was literally a young whipper snapper. And I've remembered it ever since. So when these rappers, I sometimes stop short of calling them all artists, fall short and get played by the machine, it's not at all surprising.

Especially when Sean "Puffy" Combs is involved. I love Diddy. No lie, I appreciate the hits he made and he was the driving force behind Biggie, so I will always give him Phil Jackson status. Along with that goes the "Phil Jackson sideways stare." What is that you ask? That is when you slightly cock your head to the side, like something not-all-the-way straight is going on. Like you smell old fish. Something's just not right, considering the artists that have had success with Diddy and STILL left. Or didn't have any success post-Puffy, and decided to write the book about how Puffy did them. Or testimonials of Industry Rule #4080.

Yung Joc is the latest to succumb to the downfall of #4080. So why am I posting this? Well, because it makes me sort of happy with these cash chasing dudes with no skill don't get what they are chasing when they did the "music" they did. I don't mind dudes getting paid off rap. That is not it at all. What I do mind is dudes putting garbage out and getting paid for it. Maybe I should be mad at the clowns that actually buy that trash, but it's easier to direct the blame at the creator. Just because people will buy fertilizer doesn't mean I support putting shit in a bag and selling it. Pardon my French.

And just so you know, I might continue this series. Listen to Tribe, dumb rappers, so you can get your teaching. And listen to Usher, Mary J., Mase, the LOX, Loon, Shyne, 112, and Faith Evans who all got the hell away from Combs as soon as possible.

Lost & Found: War On Drugs

I've never claimed to be one who is all knowing when it comes to politics. I pay attention as much as possible, but it does not consume all the media I use. I love sports and I research them, being that I want to be a sports writer in the worst way. I also want to be an attorney, so I even research law news. There's nothing better than being well rounded. So while I can not claim to be a political insider, I am intelligent enough to know what's going on.

I've also never been one to believe that politicians are out for our best interests. In a country that is supposed to be the most free in the world, we are the most jailed society in the world. For a country that's supposed to lead the world in Democracy, we have seemed to neutralize all the positives of democracy.

It also seems that business in the way we handle our "criminals" takes precedent over societal benefit. One of these ways is the "War on Drugs," made popular in the 80's by the Reagan and Bush [Sr.] administrations. One of the greatest crimes resulting in this policy is the disparity of how crimes are dealing with powder cocaine and crack cocaine are punished. Critics of the law say it unfairly targeted African-American communities, where crack is more prevalent [Wall Street Journal - May 14th, '09].

Prisons are being filled to the brim with more people coming in. Tax dollars that should be going to things that benefit Americans like better schools and bringing businesses into areas to build jobs, are in fact being used by many states to build prisons. It seems that the war on drugs only serves one purpose; to rationalize the building of prisons, plus allows for millions on millions of dollars in capture and prosecution of, in most cases, nonviolent offenders. Money spent on can be used for more important issues. In many cases, it would be cheaper for all parties involved to provide treatment or less jail time for non-violent drug users.

The war on drugs also refuses to address the actual problem. Most of these drugs are not created or grown in the United States, they are mostly imported. Punishment for lesser drugs like marijuana are too strict when marijuana is half way legal right now. The medical marijuana passage allows for marijuana use, so too should the legalization of the drug. It has medical usage, is not thought to be addictive. It's also the most common drug violator's drug of choice. In this recession, the taxation of marijuana could be a HUGE jump in revenue for the central government.

My whole message in this one is simple. The War on Drugs needs to go. It does not work in theory or in reality. It hasn't been working for anyone but the prison industry. And right now, with everyone stretching their money to make it last, the last thing tax payers need is to have to pay the $85 dollar a day fee to house a weekend weed warrior. We just don't have that kind of money, especially in a day when cities across the country are having to close schools.

I do think we have to address the drug situation in America, but the cost of legislating morals is starting to become too great. At least in this area.

What's In The Deck? - Tanya Morgan

I usually don't like to do this because....I don't know why. Want some dope rhymes, dope beats, but no unnecessary and untrue dope dealing claims? Well, step right up. I got you all some audible treats, if you so choose to listen. Tanya Morgan is a group from Brooklyn and Cincinnati, consisting of Von Pea, Ilyas and Donwil. They are real hot and if you like dudes with lyrics for days, this is what you need. Trust me. Dig it.

http://rapidshare.com/files/29967693/Tanya_Morgan_-_Moonlighting.rar

10 Wackest Rappers

Normally, we like to keep it positive around the Society, but there have been lots of lists that display the best of different items. However, no one really feels like telling the truth when it comes to who is hot and who is not. Common said it best, "if I don't like it, I don't like it, that don't mean that I'm hating." I completely agree with this statement and people think that calling reality out seems to be a hater thing. Not at all. There are emcees in the game that get too much credit and there are some that get no credit whatsoever. Here's the best of the worst.

10. Soulja Boy - One thing that decides a dope emcee from someone who hurts the scene is lyrics. I think he'd be number one on most people's list, but I respect how this KID decided to hustle and get money, and he didn't let lists and loud mouths like me stop him. But while I respect his hustle, his music has added nothing to society. Except added further embarrassment for our culture. Thanks, kid. At least you've admitted you aren't trying.

9. Mike Jones - Quit repeating your name. It makes it harder to forget it. And I'm trying.

8. Juelz Santana - You know, I almost got tricked into liking this dude. But I just could never do it. I never saw it when people were in my ear saying that Juelz will save NY rap. To that I say, no, my friends. Try again.

7. Nelly - He is an interesting question for hip hop. Is he part of us, or is he pop? If he's just pop, I'm taking him off the list. I actually like Nelly, but he's really a head scratcher. Remember when he dissed KRS-One? And they had that sad excuse for a beef? KRS' track was filthy and Nelly....meh. Not so much. He won to everyone who knows nothing, because they accepted the "I have more money than you" retort. I didn't. He didn't win.

6. LL Cool J - I put him on this list because, well, recently, since say...'98, LL's earned this spot. He went from being hard, a hip hop legend to making pop tracks for girls. And Canibus' disses pretty much sealed it for me. There has never been such a fall from grace than LL's. And the worse part about it, he has had moments of glory, such as "Microphone Murder," where old LL comes back to hurt all those dissing. Too bad those moments of brilliance are too uncommon nowadays. LL only disappoints now. That makes me sad.

5. Cam'Ron - While he's had a couple memorable moments for me, he's been wack since the jump, and I think we all know this. Sensing a little pattern here? Not really feeling the whole Dipset thing.

4. Lady Sovereign - Do I have to explain this? No.

3. Plies - Of all these rappers on this list, Plies is the only one I think I truly dispise. First strike, they called this homo-erectus [can't part myself to call him human] the next Tupac. To all those who said that, kill yourself. Please. Wrong. Next, he comes out claiming to be a goon. Really? As a hockey player, a goon is someone who holds no kind of value, just goes and wrecks shop. Well, Plies has no real value. I guess I should be happy that he's a rapper and not what he could be, except for the fact that he's never gotten in trouble for anything besides a shoplifting charge when he was 12. So he's a fake goon that lies in his ever so poorly written raps. The only thing dumber than the terms he makes up for the female anatomy, is the fact that there are women and girls who swear by him. What in God's name is a bust it baby....nevermind. I don't even want to know. I'm going to stop here, but this dude is wackness personified.

2. Rick Ross - Bawse!! Bawse!! Cocaine!! Mungkey!! Bawse!! We all know the story. Floozy baby mother claims rap artist is a fake, square, harmless dude who got a deal and becomes a boss. Story is checked, exposing the fake rapper as a former corrections officer. Dumb people choose sides in a beef with another lyrically challenged artist, reducing the beef from a lyrical exhibition on wax to an internet video driven conflict. Guns are waved at cameras, baby mommas pop up in porno movies, and crews are called out. In this case, a character is created that happens to hold more entertainment value than either rappers. In this case, I think we actually win by having the beef OFF wax, because both artists lack skills in the lyric department.

However, my problem with Ross has nothing to do with his lack of lyrical talent. My two problems are as follows;
1. He gets some of the best beats out right now. Sonically, his last two albums are incredible. Lyrically, terrible. Rick Ross is getting by on getting hot beats, which REALLY makes me mad, because hot beats should be spent on hot rhymes.
2. He won't keep his damn shirt on. I don't want to see breasts that big unless they are attached to a woman.

1. Tony Yayo - Nothing more needs to be said. The king of weed carrier rappers.

Dishonorable Mention - All dance rappers. And Gucci Mane. And Flo-Rida.

I hate wack rappers....

Don't Mess With My Momma...I Loves My Momma!

I know some of these posts usually have no grand societal benefit. I'm not changing the world with this blog, just sharing my thoughts and some facts that I've come across. This is one of those times when my purpose is greater than normal. Recently, Mother's Day was celebrated, and not to brag, but I got my momma a diamond necklace. Why? Because, damnit, she deserves it. All mothers deserves it for what they do for us on a daily basis. And coupled with the Kenyon Martin/Mark Cuban spat over words Cuban had with Martin's mother [if you don't know, Cuban called Martin a punk or a thug to Martin's mother the day before Mother's Day], I've decided instead of promote that beef, I would present you all with another list. It's no secret, Black folks, we love our mommas. You are not going to see a lot of Eminem type tantrums about how much he hates his mother from Black folks. And that's great to see. Even though hip hop gets so much flak for being misogynistic, it goes unreported that hip hop loves its' mothers.

Top Ten Hip Hop Songs About Mothers
10. Mommy - Saigon
9. Blueprint [Momma Loves Me] - Jay-Z
8. I Love My Momma - Snoop Dogg
7. Mom Praying - Beanie Sigel f. Scarface
6. Momma - Brand Nubian
5. Momma Can You Hear Me - Talib Kweli
4. I Honor You - Canibus
3. All That I Got Is You - Ghostface Killah
2. Hey Mama - Kanye West
1. Dear Mama - 2Pac

So if you get a chance to appreciate your mom, considering that mine is standing over my shoulder right now, definitely do it. And to all you new mommies, congrats and Happy Mother's Day to all you ladies.

Message Vs. Masses

Since it's been a while since I've given you non-hip hop content, I decided that this post is going to be dedicated to a more general message. The "message vs. masses" topic was based off of a journalism theory paper I wrote for school. While it was a fact based thesis, I get to inject a little of my own opinion into the mix when I post.

One of the main points from my paper was that the message from media is tailored to meet all the different factions and sub-groups of society, or in layman's terms, people determine the message. Popular thought is not created by media, but reinforced and feed by the media. I was asked recently what I planned to do if I could get into the mainstream media. My answer is simple. I would not resign any of my beliefs to sell. It's just not how I am, and I believe many of you Brainiacs out there are the same way. And you have to ask yourself, if you view yourself as an intelligent, sentient being, then you are smart enough to find your own opinions when you see, hear, or read something. From all of that, you are able to decide whether what you are seeing is true or not, then you react. That reaction is what media and advertisers alike are looking for. We look for that target audience and we focus on that audience. When media does that, it affirms a message and becomes a rally call for all those of like-minded thinking. It's only when we start to depend on the media to FORM that opinion do we really lose track of the point of media. Media, especially now in the internet age, is as diverse as the people we have on this planet. In everything, there's a yin and yang. Liberal and conservative. Red and blue, black and white. You must decide where you stand, but there's the problem with media. Once you decide where you stand, you close off all other avenues to diverse thought.

I'll give a prime example. I HATE Fox News. I don't normally use such strong language, but when I see that "Fair and Balanced" flash across the screen, my blood starts to boil. Usually after watching about 25 minutes of that channel, I can no longer resist the urge to shout obscenities at my TV, while taking a sledgehammer to the holier than thou face preaching extreme conservatism to me. Sure, it might cost me a high definition TV, but the little bit of satisfaction I get from at least symbolically smashing Bill O'Reilly's face is priceless. Yet I still watch. I can't help it. CNN doesn't make me nearly as mad, but between Fox, CNN, and MSNBC, you get the full spectrum of bias. Want to stop it? Read as much as you possibly can.

The second portion of my paper was devoted to the personalities on a lot of these TV broadcast news. My thesis states that in mainstream media, where celebrity news is the most commonly covered portion of our culture, the personality bringing you the news is just that. A personality. Long gone are the days of Walter Cronkite's, Ethel Payne's, the Carl Bernstein's and Bob Woodward's. Today is owned by Chris Matthews, Bill Mahar and the Bill O'Reilly's of the world. Not journalists, but highly opinionated blowhards. Rarely shown are journalists of integrity. I only hope that I get a chance to follow in the footsteps of the older journalists before me, and I promise to never reduce myself to scare tactics and egotisitical and often divisive commentary, just for ratings and a paycheck.

Weekend Recap - Graduation Style

During this time of the year, students are preparing to walk across a stage, receive their college degrees and jump into the real world. So to those new graduates, congrats and good luck! Big shouts to my boy Kev Beverly, good luck, fam! And to all the mommas and grandmommas out there, Happy Mother's Day, you know we love our mommas in the Brainiac Society. On to business.

For the sport-minded, I'm sorry about not commenting on the A-Rod / Man Ram topic, but really, do you need more about things you already know? If you are under 35, chances are, your favorite baseball player was or is a cheater. But baseball is boring, I'd rather see a million homers per game. And to the "what about the kids" nonsense, if your child is dumb enough to do drugs because an athlete does it, then that's natural selection. In nature, dumb animals die. Now that we have gotten past that, on to things of a more important nature.

In my hand, I hold Vibe's "Best Rapper Ever" bracket, a March Madness style tournament to decide the best rapper in history, with every era represented. Now I was going to give you the list, and the bracket, but instead, here's my man Joey Jumpoff, who is unjustly rated as a 32 seed, while wack rappers like Trina, Rick Ross and Plies are equal to or greater than Joe Budden? Brotha, PLEASE. Vibe is out of line. He's correct. It's blasphemy. Project Pat is a 25 seed, while AZ is 30? You know what? Here's the bracket.

http://www.vibe.com/bestrapperever/downloads/BestRapperEver_Brackets.pdf




Sometimes, you just got to let a slow hip hop month be slow. I got a real problem with this.

What's In The Deck? - Busta Rhymes

Since you asked, I'm really bumping this Busta, waiting for his new album, B.O.M.B., to drop in May. Until then, I'm going to keep dropping joints that I'm riding to in the ride, see if it matches your playlist. Until then, respect my conglomerate.

I'm Sorry Kanye...

I'm pretty thankful for the current anonimity of my flagship blog, because if I was a major hip hop site or highly recognized blogista, I'd be getting the umpth degree, featuring a profanity-laden response from a certain Chicago-based hip hop producer.

So before the tantrum, I'd like to send out my utmost apologies to Kanye West. I left him out of my top ten all time hip hop producers, so I'm giving him a special post all to himself. So here it is.

03b - Kanye West [tied with 9th Wonder]. - Being that I get to do this addition after this original post was already published, it gave me time to think where he lands. Given his work on Jay-Z's classic "The Blueprint," he has already earned this spot. However, his total body of work can be summed up in a line from his remix with Beyonce; "Everything I throw up, blow up."

He couldn't be anymore correct. Even with his heavy pop influence, Kanye hasn't been forgotten in the minds of true hip hoppers. Recognized as the new King of The Sample, Kanye has expanded his range to beyond using sampling, with his release of his 4th album, 808's & Heartbreak, but he's on this list for contributions such as "Heart Of The City" and "Takeover," from the Blueprint. Songs like Talib Kweli's "Get By," Common's "The Corner" and "The People," and my personal favorite, "Can't Be Life," featuring Jay-Z and Scarface, show Kanye's skills at dynamic production on a mass scale. With that said, I'm almost embarassed to have forgotten him. He's definitely derseving of this honor.

And here's one of my favorite songs featuring Kanye on the beat, and in this case, even the vocals. Consequence and Kanye, "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly."