Best albums of 2003

[ILL-Logic-AL]

Not followed the music scene this year, anyone give me a few of the best albums this year. Last album I bought was 50 Cent.

[Desoto Loco]

Roscoe's debut and the new Daz album though. DOC, Mack 10 and Sly Boogie too.

[Dr._Funkenstein]

1. E-A-Ski - Past And Present
2. Sly Boogy - The Judgement Day
3. The D.O.C. - Deuce

Didn't like much else.

Edit: Damn, I forgot to listen Gang Starr's "The Ownerz".

[ROCCY]

Tech N9ne - Anghellic (Reperation)

[UDollar A.K.A Nino]

Also

Gang starr- The Ownerz

[KING VerbalAssaulta]

i havent bought an album in years ...good thing cause there hasnt been much worth buying...saidly 50's is the best album so far

[AlerG]

Gangstarr- The Ownerz
Canibus- Rip The Jacker
Talib Qwali- Quality (even though it was released last year)
Royce Da 5'9"- Build & Destroy (The Lost Sessions Part 1)

peace.

[Funkadelic]

Daz - DPGC...
Mr. Capone-E - Dedicated 2 The Oldies

[Jome]

1. GangStarr - The Ownerz
2. 50 Cent - Get rich or die trying
3. Royce 5'9 - Build and Destroy
4. Royce 5'9 - Build and Destroy Lost Sessions
5. Mobb Deep - Free Agents
6. Canibus - Rip the jacker
7. Scarface - Balls and my word
8. Sticky Fingaz - Decade
9. Daz - DPGC, You know..
10. Keith Murray - He's Keith Murray

I have yet to check out KRS's new one.. sposed to be good.

It's been in a grey year for the West..
But at least the mixtape game is on and cracking.. The Dogghouse mixtape was good, the Sly Boogy album was more or less a coo mixtape, Ras Kass did 2 dope mixtapes, Phil the Ag had a nice-ish one.. The Game had 2 dope mixtapes..
Mack 10 did a good compilation.
hopefully they can go from that to dope albums soon.

[T-Dogg]

Peep D.O.C.'s Deuce. It's most definately excellent.

[ABK]

IV life records mixtape

yeah them crip niggaz drop the phattest mix this year. fucc them slobs 6 poppin jive droppin 83 crip mafia lex- town ky cuzz

[Black_Smoke]

50 and daz so far

ima prolly cop the new Gangstarr cd soon

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

Half of 2003 is over, and everybody is anticipating the range of hot records that should drop in the 3rd and 4th quarter. But don't we say that every year? "2001 sucked, 2002 will be the shit look at whats supposed to drop" and then nothing happens, and our hopes are pushed to the next year. I hope this year proves me wrong, and the second half really ends up being hot.

There has been a very good start, and we've had some good albums dropping the last month, from different artists. What I notice is how everybody seems to have found his place with a label or a crew, and is building on that. Brotha Lynch Hung and Siccmade Music are established and Lynch released his first solo on there Lynch By Inch, a hot double disc album that came with a DVD. Then there is C-Bo and West Coast Mafia Records. They just dropped West Side Ryders, a fairly dope compilation and 151's Code Of Tha Street a record that showcased 151's hot rhymes.
Roscoe's record Philafornia may have been dissapointing sales wise, but music wise it was banging, Scoedelic spit some fire on there! I'm highly anticipating Roscoe's upcoming material with his group Y.A.. Although this record came out early 2003, it still deserves to be mentioned here: The D.O.C.'s Deuce, where we witnessed the blatant talent of SixTwo, DOCs protege. The record also featured most of the West Coast veterans, definitely a hot record. Another bomb ass album was Sly Boogy's debut Judgement Day which gets daily spins in my stereo, its tight. Jay Tee also released his new solo album High Caliber. Bad Azz had his Money Run, for the full story on that, check our interview with him in the interview section.
What else? Yukmouth released a tight compilation United Ghettos Of America and is now set to put out his new solo Godzilla. Speaking of compilations, we've had some pretty tight ones this year, such as Lil CS's In The Ghetto World and Mack 10's Ghetto Gutter Gangsta (in stores July 22nd). Also, Frost put out Something For The Riders and 2nd II None had the Compton Blocks. Don't forget Death Row Records latest release, the soundtrack to Dysfunktional Family, where you can check out the new roster, from Crooked I, Eastwood, Spider to Kurupt.
Daz Dillinger just released DPGC... U Know What I'm Throwin Up, praised by some and hated by others, on his label Gangsta Advisory. After a week, the record has barely sold 5,000 copies, but since its independent, we should wait and see how it does in the coming months. Many people may not have heard about this, but Andre Nickatina JUST put out Conversation With A Devil Cocaine Raps Vol. 3 and it comes with a DVD!

We also witness the rise of the Mixtapes on the West Coast! The last months there have been so many coming out that it's hard to keep up with. Let's start with Mista Cane and Arsen who have recently put out Volume 4 of their infamous mixtape serious, download them for free at www.mistacane.com! It's REALLY worth it, some talent out the bay. Then still from the Bay, E A Ski put out his Past 2 Present CD, which was actually so tight that it could have been an official solo CD, it was TIGHT as fuck. Make sure to check that out if you haven't yet, www.mreaski.com. Countless Bay artists put out mixtapes, from Watch Out Now Vol.1 which featured Balance, Locksmith, Mr. Kee, Dutch, Ka9ine, Mistah F.A.B., Cellski and alot more, to Platinum Bound Ent who put out Derogatory Statements Vol. 1, which featured NBD, M-Dash, Mista Cane, Cellski, Balance to name some.
Also worth checking are the two double disc compilations coming from the Bay, B.A.R.T. 2 The 91Siccness which featured people from all over, and Executive Decisionz Vol 2. Another good compilation was This Is How We Eat presented by Friscostreetshow.com.
Let's continue with the mixtapes, Dogghouse Records released Welcome To The Chuuuuch Vol. 1 with Vol. 2 soon to follow, Mitchy Slick has released two mixtapes, the latest one being XXL Killafornia Handgunner, and if you want some lyrical heat, you need to check out the Strong Arm Steady mixtapes, get them at Fat Beats! Before I forget, one of the tightest releases of the year was from a new record label and crew, IV Life Records, who are readying their new record The New Breed. To get a taste of what they sound like, hit up www.4liferecords.com and download the mixtape for free! It features Snoop Dogg, Tray Deee and more. Although for many people a dissapointment, you can check out Crooked I's West Koastanostra mixtape, it's definitely worth peeping. Another must check is DJ Jams WBallz double CD mixtape, which features everybody affiliated, www.djjam.com !

I'm sure I left out records that came out as I'm typing this, so please email me and I'll add them. What is yet to come this year? Alot. We should see new records by 213, Bad Azz, Warren G(EP)C-Bo, Sly Boogy, Yukmouth, Boo Yaa TRIBE, Spice 1, Westside Connection, E A Ski, IV Life Records, Jayo Felony, E-40, Defari, South Central Cartel, Crooked I, Tha Eastsidaz, Mitchy Slick, Paris, Mackvillin, Ecay Uno, Amir, M&Mster, TQ, Cool Nutz, King Lou, Rakim, MC Eiht, Knocturnal, Suga Free, Dilated Peoples and I'm sure alot more than I forgot.

So if only half of those come out, it should be some hot music for the summer and winter!

[_That_Cracka_J]

So far this year I'd rate it like this in order of best to worst.

1.  Brotha Lynch Hung - Lynch by Inch 4.25/5
2.  Violent J - Wizard of the hood 4.25/5
3.  50 Cent - Get rich or die tryin' 4/5
4.  Anybody Killa - Hatchet warrior 4/5
5.  D.O.C. - Duece 3.75/5

[Don Breezio]

1.Gangstarr - The Ownerz
2.Mobb Deep - Free Agents Mixtape
3.Canibus - Rip The Jacker
4.Sticky Fingaz - Decade
5.50 Cent - Get Rich Or Die Tryin'
6.Cradle 2 The Grave - OST
7.Zane - The Big Zane Theory
8.Aceyalone - Love & Hate

***In No Particular Order...except the first 3