Dubcnn's Best of 2006
Compiled By: Dubcnn Staff
With 2006 coming to a close we at dubcnn decided to compile a "Best Of" feature for our readers. After intense debate in the office we opted to go for a collection of the best in various categories rather than singling out individuals. This has resulted in what we see as a concise appraisal of artists and material that have featured in 2006.


Please be aware that the views and selections expressed in this "Best Of" feature are not necessarily the views of all but are by majority vote. As ever there are copious albums and artists that we had to miss off due to the restrictive number of categories and selections within each. Also please note that images shown do not represent a 'favourite' or 'winner'.



Artist (Rapper) of the Year:

Lil Wayne
Nas
T.I.
The Game
Young Jeezy

Even though record sales saw a dramatic decline this year many artists manages to shine above others. Whether it can be attributed to the quality of material, work ethic or other factors - one thing that cannot be disputed is all of the artists impact on the genre.

Album of the Year:

Doctors Advocate - The Game
Hip Hop Is Dead - Nas
King - T.I.
The Blue Carpet Treatment - Snoop Dogg
The Inspiration - Young Jeezy

Did 2006 give you "The Inspiration" to decide if "Hip Hop Is Dead"? Could you tell the "King" from the "Doctor's Advocate" or were you too busy rolling out the "Blue Carpet"? Whatever happened this year we can guarantee these releases played some part in your soundtrack to 2006.
 

Editors Choice Album of the Year:

Alter Ego - Tyrese aka Black Ty
Moment Of Truth - C-Bo & Killa Tay
Murs- Murray's Revenge
Regal Muzik - Clinton Wayne
The Big Bang - Busta Rhymes

The Editor's Choice category honors Busta Rhymes' Aftermath debut, Murs' second album with 9th Wonder "Murray's Revenge" as well as the C-Bo & Killa Tay collaboration. Clinton Wayne showcased his immense talent on "Regal Muzik" as did Black Ty aka Tyrese on his innovative double disc set.

R&B/Soul Album Of The Year:

Akon - Konvicted
Donell Jones - Journey Of A Gemini
John Legend - Once Again
Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
Omarion - 21

The R&B/Soul category saw nods for both John Legend and Akon's sophomore efforts as well as recognition of the latest Donell Jones album. Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds" saw production collaborations mainly with Timbaland who did not disappoint.

Major Independent Release of the Year:

Full Circle - Xzibit (Open Bar/Koch)
Hustlers P.O.M.E. - Jim Jones (Diplomat Records/Koch)
Laugh Now, Cry Later - Ice Cube (Lynch Mobb)
Listenn - DJ Khaled (Terror Squad/Koch)
Urban Survival Syndrome - Mitchy Slick (Angeles Records/Fontana)

Some albums just missed the cut as we tried to nail down a well rounded list of 2006's best Major Independent releases. As Ice Cube's eighth solo effort reached gold, others failed to do 10,000 however the quality of the material was of a good standard throughout.

Slept On Album Of The Year:

Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
Hi-Tek - Hi-Teknology Vol. 2: The Chip
Jurassic 5 - Feedback
Planet Asia - The Medicine
Tech9ne - Everready: The Religion

This is the list that should make you feel ashamed, it's the list that shows that people need to open their ears and their minds to more albums. Hi-Tek dropped his incredible sopomore release while Tech9ne returned to the fold. Planet Asia also prescribed "The Medicine" yet we forgot to take it.

Dubcnn Downloadable Release Of The Year:

Black Ty aka Tyrese - Ghetto Royalty
Damani - Congratulations, Playa
Diego Redd - Gettin' Money Gettin' Paid
E-White & Meech Wells - The White-Out
Fred Knuxx - The Repo Man

Being the media outlet that we are, meant that we had an array of exclusive downloadable content in 2006, this category pays tribute to some of the best. Black-Ty's "Ghetto Royalty" became the fastest downloaded mixtape in our history while Damani released the acclaimed "Congratulations, Playa."

Artist (Producer) of the Year:

Cool & Dre
Just Blaze
Scott Storch
The Runners
Timbaland

In all honesty this list could have been in excess of 10 deep due to the quality of many producers work this year. Timbaland had an incredible return to form this year with stellar production on albums across genres while the others all provided music that was embraced globally.
 

Best Beat of the Year:

I Have A Dream - Common [Will.I.Am]
Love Stoned / I Think She Knows - Justin Timberlake [Timbaland]
We Fly High - Jim Jones [Zukhan]
What You Know About That - T.I. [DJ Toomp]
Why You Hate The Game - The Game [Just Blaze]

This category is always going to be contentious however we stuck to our guns and recognised some of the best music from 2006. Many flew high this year with Jim Jones, while some preferred the melodies of Timbo, none of us however could resist the latecomer "I Have A Dream" from Will.I.Am.

Best Verse of the Year:

Nas - Black Republicans
Snoop Dogg - Think About It
T.I. - Talkin' To U [Verse 3]
The Game - Doctor's Advocate [Verse 2]
Xzibit - Thank You [Verse 3]

Two potentially opinion splitting categories in quick succession. We took into account the mix of lyrics and flow as we selected 2006's Verse of the Year. Whether you agree or not is always down to personal taste however we believe the choices reflect a broad spectrum of the best of the year.

Single of the Year: West Coast

DPG - Cali Iz Active
E-40 - Tell Me When To Go (Feat. Keak Da Sneak)
Snoop Dogg - That's That Shit (Feat. R.Kelly)
The Game - One Blood
The Pack - Vans

Can anyone read this list and say they haven't heard one of these singles this year? Exactly, all had an impact for different reasons and rightly so. Who didnt get Hyphy with E-40? Who didn't dig the "Coming To America" sample from Snoop & alhough the album missed "Cali Iz Active" certainly hit.

Single of the Year: Non West

Chamillonaire - Ridin' (Feat. Krayzie Bone)
Jim Jones - We Fly High
Lupe Fiasco - Kick, Push
Rick Ross - Hustlin'
T.I. - What You Know

Cham certainly got everyone "Ridin" in '06 with the hit single that spawned regional remixes while "We Fly High" got the world Balllin'. Rick Ross ensured he was "Hustlin'" hard this year while Lupe Fiasco simply "Kick, Push"[ed] his way into the mainstream.

Hook of the Year:

Hustlin' - Rick Ross
Tell Me When To Go - E-40 (Feat. Keak Da Sneak)
That's That Shit - Snoop Dogg (Feat. R. Kelly)
We Fly High - Jim Jones
What You Know - T.I.

Dont' lie to us; we know every song we listed above had you miming and singing along this year. Who could resist mimicking the tones of R Kelly on the Nottz produced hit? Jim Jones knew he'd have the world following his dulcet tones while E-40's record had the world going nuts.

Breakthrough Artist of the Year:

Glasses Malone
Lupe Fiasco
Mistah F.A.B.
Omar Cruz
Termanalogy

Mr 1.7 million [Glasses Malone] saw his music and grind rewarded with a deal on Sony Records while fellow west-coasters did likewise; Omar Cruz set himself up for 2007 on Interscope following mixtape success while Mistah F.A.B. Ghost Rode his way onto Atlantic Records after a bidding war.
 

DJ (West Coast) of the Year:

DJ Skee
DJ Strong
DJ Warrior
Dow Jones
E-Rock

Another strong year for the Westcoast mixtape scene with great releases from both DJ Warrior & DJ Strong of the Cali Untouchable DJ's. Dow Jones released the acclaimed "White Out" tape with E-White, E-Rock kept the Bay bubbling & DJ Skee put out more quality tapes from The Game & Snoop.

DJ (Non-West Coast) of the Year:

Clinton Sparks
DJ Drama
DJ Green Lantern
DJ Kay Slay
DJ Whoo Kid

No one could dispute the names on this list as all contributed to a great year of new music on the scene. DJ Drama & DJ Whoo Kid released tapes in their respective regions as well as forming the mixtape monopoly with DJ Skee, while Kay Slay, Green Lantern & Clinton Sparks all made noise.
 

Mixtape (West Coast) of the Year:

The Black Wall Street Journal - DJ Skee & NJ Devil
The Cruzifixion - Omar Cruz & DJ Skee
The CT Experience - DJ Crazy Toones
The US Of Bay - DJ E-Rock & Clinton Sparks
Young Boss Volume II - Crooked I

With no album in sight still from Crooked I he did release a solid mixtape in 2006. "The Cruzifixion" earned Omar Cruz a record deal with Interscope while DJ Crazy Toones emerged from years of obscurity to provide listeners with a to the point, concise release that many dubbed a street album.

Mixtape (Non-West Coast) of the Year:

Chronic 2006 - Young Buck & DJ Whoo Kid
I Am The Street Dream - Young Jeezy & DJ Drama
Mixtape Messiah Pt. 2 - Chamillionaire
Mood Muzik Pt. 2 - Joe Budden
The Last Of The Best - Jae Millz & E.NYCE

Some of the best new music to come out this year was on mixtape releases where many artists allow themselves to truly express and display there talents, Chamillionaire made noise late in the year with "Mixtape Messiah Pt 2" while Jae Millz showcased his skills on "The Last of The Best."

Club Banger of the Year:

It's Goin' Down - Young Joc
My Love - Justin Timberlake (Feat. T.I.)
Shoulder Lean - Young Dro
Snap Yo Fingers - Lil Jon (Feat. E-40 & Sean Paul of YoungBloodz)
We Fly High - Jim Jones

At the start of the year many would not have foreseen a Justin Timberlake record making this list however few can dispute its claim. Young Joc and Young Dro secured a spot with their club records this year as did the opinion splitting "Snap Yo Fingers" by Lil Jon.

Remix of the Year:

One Blood - The Game (Feat. Jim Jones, Snoop Dogg, Nas, T.I., Fat Joe, Lil Wayne, Nore, Jadakiss, Styles P, Fabolous, Juelz Santana, Rick Ross, Twista, Kurupt, Daz, WC, E-40, Bun B, Chamillionare, Slim Thug, Young Dro, The Clipse & Ja Rule.)
Push It - Rick Ross (Feat. Bun B, The Game, Jadakiss & Styles P)
We Fly High - Jim Jones (Feat. Diddy, Baby, Young Dro & T.I.)
Walk It Out Remix - DJ Unk (Feat. Jim Jones & Outkast)
Top Back - T.I. (Feat. Young Jeezy, B.G., Young Dro & Big Kuntry)

One remix on the list certainly grabs the attention as it did when it was released; The Game recruited a who's who of Hip-Hop to spit on his hit "One Blood". Other notable remixes were released this year but artists please; remember that we all love remixes but try and flip the beat too!

Best Collaboration With An Artist Outside of Hip Hop:

Daddy Yankee (Feat. Snoop Dogg) - Gangsta Zone
Don Omar (Feat. Juelz Santana) - Conteo
Jim Jones (Feat. Don Omar & Tego Calderon) - We Fly High Reggaeton Remix
Justin Timberlake (Feat. T.I. - My Love)
Pussycat Dolls (Feat. Snoop Dogg) - Buttons

Snoop Dogg makes a double appearance in this category with his guest spots for Daddy Yankee and the Pussycat Dolls. The Justin Timberlake and T.I. combo was inspired as it produced one of the hits of the year while Don Omar recruited Juelz Santana for "Conteo."

Best Hometown Anthem:

Big Rich - Where I'm From
Busta Rhymes - NY Shit (Feat. Swizz Beats)
DJ Khaled - Born & Raised (Feat. Pitbull, Rick Ross & Trick Daddy)
Pimp C - Knockin' Doors Down (Feat. Pop & Lil Keke)
The Game - California Vacation (Feat. Snoop Dogg & Xzibit)

Everyone loves an anthem and 2006 produced a few quite special records. Busta Rhymes produced the notable "NY Shit" while The Game took a "California Vacation" with Snoop & Xzibit. As Big Rich narrated "Where I'm From" - Pimp C was busy "Knockin' Doors Down."

Hottest Collabos Between Rappers From Different Regions:

Common (Feat. Will.I.Am) - I Have A Dream
Daz Dillinger (Feat. Rick Ross) - On Some Real Shit
Fat Joe (Feat. Lil Wayne) - Make It Rain
Lil Jon (Feat. E-40 & Sean Paul of YoungBloodz) - Snap Yo Fingers
The Game (Feat. Nas) - Why You Hate The Game

Mixed Region collaborations can either be highly memorable or quickly forgettable, there's rarely middle ground. This year finally saw The Game & Nas ask the question "Why You Hate The Game?" as Daz Dillinger was "On Some Real Shit" with Rick Ross for his "So So Gangsta" So So Def release.

Hottest Regional Collabs (Artists From The Same Region):

DJ Khaled (Feat. Trick Daddy, Pitbull & Rick Ross) - Born N Raised
E-40 (Feat. Keak Da Sneak - Tell Me When To Go)
Lil Scrappy (Feat. Young Buck - Money In The Bank)
Ludacris (Feat. Young Jeezy) - Grew Up A Screw Up
Termanology (Feat. Lil Fame & Papoose) - Watch How It Go Down (Remix)

In the same vein as Mixed Region collaborations can either be memorable or forgettable, comes the often tricky task of same region artists making a record. Termanology, Lil Fame & Papoose held the East down while Ludacris & Jeezy both "Grew Up A Screw Up" for the South.

Next Up From Northern Cali:

Big Rich
Clyde Carson
Mistah F.A.B.
The A'z
Ya Boy

The Bay this year showcased an array of talented individuals Big Rich who released "Block Tested, Hood Approved", Mistah F.A.B. who landed a deal with Atlantic and Ya Boy creating one of the fastest growing fanbase's we have ever witnessed.

Next Up From Southern Cali:

40 Glocc
Bishop Lamont
Damani
Glasses Malone
Omar Cruz

All the artists making this list are artists with a deal...yes you read that right they all have a deal with plans for albums in 2007. Damani just aligned with Sony following great independent success, 40 Glocc is with G-Unit and who by now doesn't know who Bishop Lamont is rocking with?

Worst Beef of the Year:

50 Cent vs. Diddy
D4L vs. Dem Franchise Boys
Khia vs. Trina
Nump vs. L.A.
Ras Kass vs. The Game

Oh dear, oh dear. Beef - a foundation of Hip-Hop - when gone about in the right way can produce some incredible music. Alas those mentioned here fall into the forgettable category. If you're going to go at each other; make it memorable for all the right reasons.

Group of the Year:

Dipset
Gnarls Barkley
Lil Wayne & Birdman
The Clipse
The Roots

A largely forgettable year in terms of groups however a few stood out from the crowd. The collaboration of Dangermouse and Cee-Lo birthed the incredible Gnarls Barkley which broke records and got the world singing while Lil Wayne & Birdman collaborated on record and on lips [.......]

Anticipated Albums for 2007:

Bishop Lamont - The Reformation
Dr. Dre - Detox
G. Malone - The Beach Cruiser
Papoose - The Nacirema Dream
T.I. - T.I. vs. T.I.P.

With 2006 now over, the office is now full of anticipation for 2007's releases. We narrowed it down to five that we believe will see release this year including the much anticipated Papoose record, T.I's "King" follow up, Bishop Lamont & G Malone's debuts and even...dare we say it...."Detox".