Dubcnn's Best of 2007
Compiled By: Dubcnn Staff
With 2007 at and end we at dubcnn have once again had the intense "Meeting of minds" to thrash out the best of 2007. As with last years "Best Of" we have decided to compile 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 2007.


Please be aware that the views and selections expressed in this "Best Of" feature are the views and opinions of the Dubcnn Team and some have quoted their reasons and feelings on who and what deserved to be recognised; this is based on a majority vote system. 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:

Chamillionaire
Kanye West
Jay-Z
T.I.
Bishop Lamont

Conan Milne: In the fourth quarter of 2006, Jay-Z's hugely publicized return didn't receive the rapturous welcome many would have anticipated. Instead, the Roc-A-Fella rep's Kingdom Come album was largely disparaged, with listeners refusing to warm to lyricism that reflects the lifestyle of a millionaire CEO. What a difference a year can make. By the end of 2007, Hovie Hov had re-established himself as one of the finest MCs in the game. While "Blue Magic" creaked the comeback door open, the sophisticated exuberance of "Roc Boys" blew it clean off. With an urgency in his tone and coy punchlines aplenty, there was unanimous agreement that Jigga was "trying" again. "Roc Boys" set the tone for another magnificent opus in "American Gangster," leading critics and loyalists to fawn over the Brooklyn entrepreneur - and with due cause. "L'chaim!"

Album of the Year:

Kanye West - Graduation
UGK - Underground Kingz
WC - Guilty By Affiliation
Chamillionaire - Ultimate Victory
Jay-Z - American Gangster

2007 saw the eventual "Graduation" of Kanye West while Jay-Z was busy announcing his "American Gangster." Few could argue with the "Underground Kingz" this year as Chamillionaire followed up with his "Ultimate Victory." Whatever you did this year we are positive that these releases played some part in your soundtrack to 2007 - making you "Guilty by Affilliation."
 

Editors Choice Album of the Year:

DJ Muggs & Sick Jacken - Legend of the Mask and the Assassin
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Blu & Exile - Below The Heavens
Devin The Dude - Waitin' To Inhale
Kurupt & J. Wells - Digital Smoke

The Editor's Choice category this year honors arguably one of the best releases from the Westcoast for some time that may have slipped under the radar in Blu & Exiles' "Below The Heavens." We also pay tribute to excellent albums from Lupe Fiasco, Devin and the collaborative projects from DJ Muggs & Sick Jacken as well as Kurupt & J. Wells.

SGV: For years people asked Sick Jacken of the Sick Symphonies/Psycho Realm camp when would he work with the legendary DJ Muggs, and the question was answered in 2007 with the monster collab "Legend of the Mask and the Assassin." Supported by Muggs' pulsating beats, Sick Jacken flexed his pen with resounding force. With the only feature coming from fellow Sick Symphonies member Cynic, Legend of the Mask and Assassin took Hip Hop back to the Golden era of a DJ and MC. Gone was the glitz and the glamour, the big budgets, the must have posse cuts and compilation style features. Just back to basics Hip Hop. One producer, one emcee. And tracks that flow with ease, keeping that index finger away from the skip button. This formula equalled success.

R&B/Soul Album Of The Year:

Amy Winehouse - Back To Black
Trey Songz - Trey Day
J Holiday - Back Of My Lac'
Sean Kingston - Sean Kingston
Alicia Keys - As I Am

While its been a troubled year for Amy Winehouse away from music the R&B/Soul category has recognised her sophomore effort Back To Black alongside the debut from Sean Kingston. Alicia Keys, Trey Songz and J Holiday round up our collection for 2007.

Major Independent Release of the Year:

Tangled Thoughts - Philly To Cali
Strong Arm Steady - Deep Hearted
Statik Selektah - Spell My Name Right (Show Off)
Cormega - Who Am I Soundtrack (Legal Hustle)
Little Brother - Get Back (ABB)

We recognise in this category some albums that impressed us during 2007 that came from the independent arena. Cormega and Little Brother returned with solid efforts while new comers Tangled Thoughts dropped the acclaimed Philly To Cali. Strong Arm Steady also delivered the precursor to their official debut album with the Deep Hearted album.

SGV: No, he didn't have features from the every Platinum artist out today. No, he didn't have a huge blockbuster video with a staggering amount of cameos. What he did have was one of the most solid releases of 2007. Massachusetts' Mixtape DJ/Producer extraordinaire Statik Selektah brought the big guns out with his Compilation, "Spell My Name Right." Old School, New School, New York, Philly, Detroit, L.A., they all come together on the project. Whether it's Talib Kweli, Consequence and Termanology throwing back to N.W.A.'s 1988 smash "Express Yourself;" Joell Ortiz, Kool G Rap and Sheek Louch hustlin' at "6 In The Mornin'," or Big Shug tearing up a hot sample from the old Nintendo game "Mike Tyson's Punch Out," virtually any Hip Hop fan can find something or someone they like on the LP.

Slept On Album Of The Year:

Kurupt & J. Wells - Digital Smoke
Mistah F.A.B. - Da Baydestrian
9th Wonder - Dream Merchant
Evidence - The Weatherman
Blu & Exile - Below The Heavens

Once again we have put together 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 - your missing out on some incredible music. Kurupt & J Wells delivered "Digital Smoke" that was lost in the haze, while 9th Wonder's "Dream Merchant" caught you all sleeping. While Dubcnn itself could be accused of missing out on Blu & Exile's project until recently, no one should've missed Evidence's epic from earlier this year.

Dubcnn Downloadable Release Of The Year:

Terrace Martin - Signal Flow
Crooked I - Hip-Hop Weekly Series
Meech Wells - The New West World Order (Volume 1)
Topic - Coast Guard
Bishop Lamont - Pope Mobile

Being the media outlet that we are, meant that we had an array of exclusive downloadable content in 2007, this category pays tribute to just a few some of the best. (Catch these and more rest here). Terrace Martin had the internet going nuts about his Signal Flow project while Crooked I has shaken up the Hip-Hop world with his back to back weekly freestyles - something previously unheard of! Meech Wells has been ever-present in 2007 and topped his year off with the release of "New World Order" showcasing his productions and countless guest MC's. Bishop Lamont also rounded off a successful year with his third mixtape in 2007 "Pope Mobile."

Artist (Producer) of the Year:

Danja
Timbaland
Terrace Martin
Kanye West
J.R. Rotem

As in 2006 this list could have been in excess of 10 deep due to the quality of many producers work this year. Timbaland returns to the list of the second consecutive year and we also recognise his protégé Danja.
 

Best Beat of the Year:

We Takin' Over (Danja)
Big Shit Poppin' (T.I.) (Prod. by Mannie Fresh)
I'll Still Kill (50 Cent ft. Akon) (Prod. by DJ Khalil)
Doin' Dat (Clyde Carson ft. Sean Kingston) (Prod. by J.R. Rotem)
Can't Tell Me Nothin' (Kanye West/DJ Toomp)

The always contentious category has thrown up nods for the Danja produced mega-hit "We Takin Over" as well as the Akon featured "I'll Still Kill" from DJ Khalil. Clyde Carson's, J.R Rotem laced "Doin' Dat" album makes the cut.

Best Verse of the Year:

Andre 3000 - International Players Anthem
Crooked I - 2nd Coming / Tuck Ya Ice (Freestyle)
Krayzie Bone - Bill Collecta
Sick Jacken - Land Of The Shadows (First Verse)
T.I. - Big Shit Poppin (Last Verse)

Two potentially opinion splitting categories in quick succession. We took into account the mix of lyrics and flow as we selected 2007'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

WC - West Coast Voodoo (Feat. The Game)
Bishop Lamont - Feel On It
Lil Eazy - I Got That (Feat. Timbaland)
The Fixxers - Can U Werk Wit Dat
Clyde Carson - Doin' Dat (Feat. Sean Kingston)

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. By far the biggest single of the year in terms of radio play was the monster hit for DJ Quik & AMG under their then guise; The Fixxers.

Single of the Year: Non West

50 Cent - I Get Money
T.I. - Big Shit Poppin'
We Takin Over - DJ Khaled (Feat. T.I., Akon,  Lil' Wayne, Fat Joe & Rick Ross)
U.G.K. - International Players Anthem (Feat. Oukast)
Kanye West - Stronger

With releases from 50 Cent, T.I and Kanye all in 2007 it was always likely that this category would featured a single from these albums. DJ Khaled and the Outkast featured U.G.K. single round up a great year for Hip-Hop singles.

Hook of the Year:

T-Pain - Shawty (with Plies)
Sean Kingston - Doin' Dat (with Clyde Carson)
Akon - We Takin' Over
UGK - The Game Belong To Me
Lyfe Jennings - Fuck The World (with Young Buck)

Now look at that list and don't try to tell us that those didnt have you miming and singing along this year. T-Pain and Akon featured on a host of tracks this year and "Shawty" and "We Takin Over" are the two that stood out most for us in 2007..

Breakthrough Artist of the Year:

Tangled Thoughts
Plies
Hot Dollar
Taje
Sean Paul (YoungBloodz)

In a year where few artists broke through into the mainstream with noteworthy releases, these are the artists we have singled out who made an impact in 2007 with the music they produced.
 

DJ of the Year:

DJ Skee
DJ Warrior
DJ Big Mike
DJ Khaled
DJ Drama

Another strong year for the mixtape scene as a whole and we award some of the biggest names in the industry with a nod for 2007's DJ of the Year.

Mixtape of the Year:

Big Mike & Ya Boy - The Fix
Lil Wayne - Da Drought 3
Joe Budden - Mood Muzik 3
Bishop Lamont & Black Milk - CalTroit The Mixtape
Krayzie Bone - The Fixtape

With mixtapes and street albums still the quickest and easiest way to get projects made and released we had another great year packed with high quality music from across Hip-Hop. Krayzie Bone dropped The Fixtape to widespread acclaim while Bishop Lamont linked up with Black Milk to release the CalTroit street album.

Club Banger of the Year:

Big Shit Poppin' - T.I.
We Takin' Over - DJ Khaled (Feat. Akon, Fat Joe, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross & T.I.)
Good Life - Kanye West (Feat. T-Pain)
This Is Why I'm Hot - Mims
The Way I Are - Timbaland (Feat. Keri Hilson, Sebastian & D.O.E.)

Following his incredible 2006 its no surprise to see Timbaland make this list again with his sonically brilliant single "The Way I Are." Mims makes the list thanks to the tracks presence in club-land across the globe as does the already hailed "We Taking Over."

Remix of the Year:

I'm So Hood (DJ Khaled Feat. T Pain, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi , Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman & Rick Ross)
We Takin' Over (DJ Khaled Feat. R.Kelly, T-Pain, Lil Kim & Young Jeezy)
Hot Dollar - Streetz On Lock (Remix ft. Bangloose, Glasses Malone, Jay Rock, Ya Boy, Spider Loc, Papa Smirf, Crooked I, 40 Glocc, Roccett, Krondon, B-Fly, Dubb, The Young Hoggs, and Mistah FAB)
Flashing Lights (Kanye West Feat. Dwele & The Clipse)
Strong Arm Steady - One Step (Remix) (ft. Crooked I, Jay Rock & Turf Talk)

One remix grabs the attention once again this year with the sheer number of artists contributing - Def Jam signee Hot Dollar recruited a host of talent for his "Streetz On Lock" remix. Others to make the list this year include two tracks from DJ Khaled and a banger from Strong Arm Steady.

Best Collaboration With An Artist Outside of Hip Hop:

Clyde Carson feat. Sean Kingston - Doin' Dat
50 Cent ft. Justin Timberlake - Ayo Technology
Kanye West feat. Chris Martin of Coldplay - Homecoming
Common feat. Lily Allen - Drivin' Me Wild
Lupe Fiasco - Superstar (ft. Matthew Santos)

Common's choice of Lily Allen on his latest album may have raised some eyebrows however none could dispute how the track turned out and as such it rightly sits on this list alongside another UK, US connection with the Chris Martin featured Kanye West single.

Best Hometown Anthem:

W.C. feat. Ice Cube - This Is Los Angeles
LL Cool J, 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, Kool G Rap, Tony Yayo - Queens
Game, W.C. & Omar Cruz - Power House
Boot Camp Click - BK All Day
Ya Boy - Bay Bay Bay

Everyone loves an anthem and 2007 produced some from every region. WC featured on two Los Angeles dedications while Ya Boy gave it up for The Bay. Boot Camp Click and LL Cool J's posse cut took us over to NY.

Hottest Collaborations:

DJ Khaled (Feat. Trick Daddy, T-Pain, Plies & Rick Ross) - I'm So Hood
The Game, Eastwood & Jay Rock - West Really
U.G.K. (Feat. Outkast) - International Players Anthem
Mike Jones (Featt. Snoop Dogg & Bun B) - My 6-4
DJ Drama (Feat. Young Jeezy, Willie The Kid, Jim Jones, Rick Ross &  Young Buck)

It's always a pleasure to check out a new track that sees artists collaborate, some you love and some turn out badly wrong! This year turned up its fair share of both however these five are some of the best, it includes the Meech Wells produced single from The Game, Eastwood and Jay Rock.

Next Up From Cali (Rapper):

Westurn Union (Bad Lucc, Damani & Soopaly)
Topic
Pacific Division
Roscoe Umali
Lil Eazy-E

The hotbed of talent that is Cali makes it difficult to select those who will take the next steps and evolve into a successful artist, we have selected some whom we believe have the skills and the platform to achieve over the coming year.




Next Up From Cali (Producer)

Terrace Martin
Dae One
THX
Dem Jointz
Traxxamillion

As well as a wealth of talented artists the WestCoast also has an array of incredible new producers who have put out material in 2007. These are the names we see taking the next steps in 2008 to have next years radio hits!

Group of the Year:

U.G.K.
Bone Thugs & Harmony
DJ Muggs & Sick Jacken
Strong Arm Steady
Blu & Exile

A year that saw new albums from U.G.K and Bone Thugs was always going to see them appear in this Top 5, DJ Muggs and Sick Jacken's acclaimed collaboration record also ensured they made the grade alongside Blu & Exile and Strong Arm Steady.

SGV: Bittersweet. The best word to describe 2007 for Port Arthur, Texas natives U.G.K. Bun B and Pimp C saw their biggest single to date in "International Players Anthem," leading to a number one debut on the billboard charts for their massive double disc LP aptly titled "Underground Kingz." They worked with legends, the likes of DJ Paul & Juicy J, Big Daddy Kane, Outkast, Too Short, Kool G Rap, Scarface, Willie D and Marley Marl. They also put on their little homies, Rick Ross, Dizzee Rascal, T.I., Middle Fingaz, Slim Thug and Z-Ro. Minus Pimp C making a few controversial comments about various rappers and regions, U.G.K. were riding high on one of their most successful moments in the group's 19 year career. That was the sweet. The bitter came on December 4th when Pimp C was found dead in a Hollywood hotel. On December 13th, fans, friends and family alike filled the Port Arthur Civic Center for the Pimp's funeral. Just short of his 34th year on the earth, Chad "Pimp C" Butler left behind a legacy that will forever survive him. Our condolences go to Bun B and the entire Butler family. R.I.P. Pimp C!

Anticipated Albums for 2008:

Dr. Dre - Detox
Bishop Lamont - The Reformation
Crooked I - B.O.S.S.
Glasses Malone - The Beach Cruiser
Lil Wayne - Carter III
Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban Linx 2
Snoop Dogg - Ego Trippin'
Ice Cube - Raw Footage
Omar Cruz - Sign Of The Cruz
Murs - Murs For President



Well with 2007 now over we can safely say that, as we suspected despite our hope with last years list, Dr. Dre's "Detox" rolls into 2008 as does Bishop Lamont's debut. 2008 is also the year we hope to see new albums from Lil Wayne, Murs, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and the long awaited follow up to the classic Only Built For Cuban Linx from Raekwon. 2008 looks promising and to reflect that we've allowed ourselves 10 picks - just to be safe!