HIPHOPSITE "BEST & WORST OF 2003" LIST !!

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http://www.hiphopsite.com/NEWS/bestandworst.hhs


HipHopSite 2003 Best and Worst List....

   

The 5th annual best and worst list is here, summing up 2003 as one of the best and worst years for hip-hop in recent memory. On the larger scale, major labels took an L, thanks to MP3 downloading/investing their money into fucking garbage artists, making it hard for us to even pick 10 solid releases, while indy labels reigned supreme, as many of the independent 12-inch pioneers delivered quality full-lengths. There was so much good independent music this year that it was hard to sort through which albums would be called "the best", so we picked 20. Please note: By no means is this the final word on 2003. This is just what we liked, we expect you to disagree, so talk it up in the forums.

Best Albums....

Are They Really Listening?
The 20 Best Albums: Indy Labels

1. Viktor Vaughn (MF Doom) - "Vaudeville Villain" - Sound Ink
2. Louis Logic - "Sin-A-Matic" - Solid
3. Ugly Duckling - "Taste The Secret" - Emperor Norton
4. Immortal Technique - "Revolutionary Volume 2"
5. Little Brother - "The Listening" - ABB
6. Soul Position (RJD2 + Blueprint) - "8 Million Stories" - Rhymesayers
7. Jaylib (Madlib & Jay Dee) - "Champion Sound" - Stones Throw
8. Non-Prophets - "Hope" - Lex Records
9. Brother Ali "Shadows On The Sun" - Rhymesayers
10. Diverse "One A.M." - Chocolate Industries
11. Atmosphere "Seven's Travels" - Rhymesayers
12. J-Zone "Sick Of Being Rich" - Old Maid Ent.
13. Weathermen "The Conspiracy" - Eastern Conference
14. Tame One "When Rappers Attack" - Eastern Conference
15. Aesop Rock "Bazooka Tooth" - Def Jux
16. Black Moon "Total Eclipse" - Duck Down
17. Akrobatik "Balance" - Coup De Ta
18. Soul Supreme "The Saturday Night Agenda" - Grit Records
19. Styles Of Beyond "Megadef" - Spytech
20. Jedi Mind Tricks "Visions Of Ghandi" - Babygrande

     
::Discuss in the forum

Politics Of The Business.
The 10 Best Albums: Major Labels

1. Outkast - "Speakerboxxx / The Love Below" - LaFace
2. Jay-Z - "The Black Album" - Roc-A-Fella
3. 50 Cent - "Get Rich Or Die Trying" - Shady/Aftermath
4. Gang Starr - "The Ownerz" - Virgin
5. Ludacris - "Chicken and Beer" - Def Jam
6. Obie Trice - "Cheers" - Shady/Aftermath
7. Raekwon - "The Lex Diamond Story" - Universal
8. Freeway - "Philadelphia Freeway" - Roc-A-Fella
9. Bubba Sparxxx - "Deliverance" - Interscope
10. The Neptunes - "Clones" - Star Trak

     
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And She Piled Some More On Your Plate
Dessert Discs

This year, labels got smart, and compiled all the b-sides, remixes and all that vaulted material and gave us second helpings of material from our favorite artists to hold us over during the off season. Keep it coming...  

 

1. Pete Rock / INI / Deda - "Lost and Found: Underground Hip-Hop Soul Classics" - BBE

2. RJD2 - "The Horror" - Definitive Jux

3. Apathy - "It's The Bootleg Motherfuckers" - Kojo Nashi

4. Gang Starr - "The Ownerz Instrumentals" - Virgin

5. People Under The Stairs - "Or Stay Tuned" - OM

6. J-Live - "Always Has Been" + "Always Will Be" - Triple Threat

7. Planet Asia - "Still In Training" - Liquor Barrell

8. Mobb Deep - "Free Agents" - Landspeed

9. DJ Shadow - "The Private Repress" (import) - MCA

10. Cage - "Weatherproof" - Eastern Conference

 
     
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For Promotional Use Only.
The HipHopSite Promo 45's:
Did you miss them? Here is a complete list of promo only 45's given away this year on HipHopSite.Com. "*" indicates that it is not part of the official HHS series. And no, you didn't get a Pete Rock "War" 45, don't trip.

   1. Pete Rock - "War" / "Meccalicious" (Discontinued Before Shipping)
   2. Pete Rock - "So Many Rappers" / "Meccalicious"
   3. Viktor Vaughn / RJD2 - "Saliva"
   4. Tame-One / Illogic - "Here We Go Again" / "Wha'll Out"
   5. Soul Position - "Printmatic Remix"
   6. Little Brother - "Atari 2600"* (ABB)
   7. Charizma - "M-Town EP"* (Stones Throw)
   8. J-Rocc Vs. Jaylib* (Stones Throw)

Whaddya mean no?!!?
Rejected Promo Items:

   1. Win Freeway's Beard!!
   2. Get Your Copy Of Lootpack's "Psyche Move EP" Autographed By Madlib's Dad!!
   3. Win a phone call from Freddie Foxxx, cussing you the fuck out!
   4. Free yayo with the purchase of "Free Yayo" T-Shirt!!
   5. Win an all expenses paid night out on the town with two models and The Biz doll!!

At Your Local Corner Store or Bodega.
The 10 Best Street CD's Of The Year:

   1. 9th Wonder - "God's Stepson"
   2. 2. DJ Vlad, DJ Green Lantern, Dirty Harry "2Pac: Rap Phenomenon"
   3. DJ Green Lantern "Shady Invasion"
   4. DJ Fantasy & Jay "50 Cent: Extortion"
   5. Royce 5'9 "Build and Destroy"
   6. Jay-Z "The S. Carter Series"
   7. DJ Green Lantern - "Invasion Part 2"
   8. Justus League Mixtape Vol. One: "The N.C. State Of Mind"
   9. DJ Vlad and Dirty Harry "Biggie: Rap Phenomenon"
  10. DJ Z-Trip - "Live In Los Angeles"

Best Singles....

You Can Find These In The Club....
Top 25 Singles - Major Labels:

   1. 50 Cent - "In The Club"
   2. Outkast - "Hey Ya" b/w "The Way You Move"
   3. Gang Starr w/ Jadakiss - "Rite Where You Stand"
   4. Snoop Dogg - "Beautiful"
   5. Missy Elliot - "Gossip Folks"
   6. Ludacris - "Stand Up"
   7. Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz - "Get Low"
   8. Kanye West - "Through The Wire"
   9. Sean Paul - "Get Busy"  
  10. The Roots - "The Seed 2.0"
  11. Nas - "Made U Look Remix" / "Nas' Angels.. The Flyest"
  12. Panjabi MC / Jay-Z - "Beware Of Boys"
  13. G-Unit - "Stunt 101"
  14. Sheek Louch w/ D-Block - "2 Gunz Up"
  15. Freeway - "What We Do"
  16. Lil Kim - "The Jump Off" / "Magic Stick"
  17. 50 Cent - "21 Questions"
  18. Joe Budden - "Pump It Up"
  19. Obie Trice - "Got Some Teeth"
  20. Killer Mike - "A.D.I.D.A.S."
  21. A Tribe Called Quest - "ICU (Doin' It)"
  22. M.O.P. - "Put It In The Air"
  23. Pitch Black - "Its All Real"
  24. 2Pac / Nas - "Thug Mansion"
  25. Baby - "What Happened To That Boy"

     
::Discuss in the forum

"Garbage" You've Never Heard Of...
Top 25 Singles - Indy Labels:

   1. Diverse / RJD2 / Lyrics Born - "Explosive"
   2. Immortal Technique - "Industrial Revolution"
   3. Ranjahz - "Insp Her Ation" (w/ Cee-Lo & DJ Premier)
   4. De La Soul / Sean Paul - "Shoomp"
   5. Jaylib - "The Red" / "The Official"
   6. Pete Rock & CL Smooth - "Shine On Me"
   7. Viktor Vaughn - "Saliva"
   8. Little Brother - "Whatever You Say"
   9. Atmosphere - "Trying To Find A Balance"
  10. Aesop Rock - "No Jumper Cables" / "Freeze"
  11. Aceyalone - "Lost Your Mind"
  12. High & Mighty "Take It Off" / "Right Now"
  13. Dilated Peoples - "Marathon"
  14. Murs - "Risky Business" (w/ Digital Underground)
  15. Soul Supreme - "Queen" (feat. Pete Rock, A.G., T-Max)
  16. 1st Infantry - "The Midnight Creep"
  17. Jeru The Damaja - "War"
  18. People Under The Stairs - "Yield" / "Out The Club"
  19. J-Zone - "5 Star Hooptie" / "Eatadicup"
  20. Weathermen - "5 Left In The Clip"
  21. Louis Logic - "Street Smarts"
  22. Ugly Duckling - "Turn It Up"
  23. Black Moon - "Rush"
  24. Akrobatik - "Remind My Soul"
  25. Cage - "Haterama" / 7L & Esoteric "Do It" (TIE)

     
::Discuss in the forum

Stop Frontin'
10 Best R&B Joints:
When you are in the club and there is a Vida Guerra type rubbing up against you, as much as you want to keep it real and leave the dance floor when the R&B crooning starts, you just can't. With that, we present..

   1. R. Kelly - "Ignition"
   2. Beyonce w/ Jay-Z - "Crazy In Love"
   3. Pharrell w/ Jay-Z - "Frontin'"
   4. Beyonce w/ Sean Paul - "Baby Boy"
   5. Kelis - "Milkshake"
   6. Alicia Keys w/ Nas & Rakim - "Streets Of New York"
   7. R. Kelly - "Step In The Name Of Love"
   8. Mary J. Blige w/ 50 Cent - "Oooh"
   9. Ashanti - "Rock With You"
  10. Monica - "So Gone"

Disposable Zeroes Of Hip-Hopracy:
The 5 Most Overrated Songs Of The Year:

   1. Bone Crusher - "Never Scared"
   2. Chingy - "Right Thurr"
   3. Julez Santana - "Dipset"
   4. David Banner - "Like A Pimp"
   5. Wyclef - "Party To Damascus"

Artists....

The 10 Best Emcees of 2003 (Majors):

   1. Jay-Z - Best Verses: "December 4th", "Threat", "Frontin'" (Pharrell)”
        While Jigga crowned himself "the greatest rapper alive" on just about every track on The Black Album, one can't help but agree when listening to his intricate wordplay, witty personality, and supreme emcee confidence. What's the big deal about Jay-Z? He is like the Last Samurai - an emcee taught in the ways of the underground, yet achieving success in the commercial world using the skill of the "old school", so to speak. With his supposed retirement this year, even if Jigga has hung up his mic for good, one look back at his entire career shows that he's held it down lyrically and financially just about every year.
       
   2. Ludacris - Best Verses: "Southern Fried Intro", "Gossip Folks" (Missy), "Eyebrows Down"
        Who said brothers from the South can't rhyme? At the top of his game this year, Ludacris possesses one of the most dynamic flows in the biz. Ludacris is one of the most versatile emcees out there, as his delivery can rock a party at 120 BPM or achieve equal results at half the speed with his incredible double-time flow; one so precise that it rivals those of Twista and Busta in the fact that you can make out each word he spits (unlike the gibberish run-on flows of say, Bone Thugs In Harmony). Not to mention he's got a bit of Redman's sense of humor, a piece of Snoop's coolness, and just a taste of Slick Rick's visual storytelling ability, Luda is like the six million dollar man of rap. Even underground savior RJD2 has been quoted as saying he is one major label artist he would love to produce for.
       
   3. Big Boi of Outkast - Best Verses: "The Way You Move", "The Rooster"
        While Andre 3000 decided to croon his half of Outkast's double-disc extravaganza, we only saw one rap song on the album, "A Life In The Day Of Andre Benjamin (Incompletle)", which summed up the story told on "The Love Below" in one long verse. So while Andre and Dre couldn't make this list together this year, Big Boi held it down on the hip-hop tip so well that heads hardly noticed Andre's departure on Speakerboxxx. Smooth delivery, incredible rhythm, visually descriptive, and an intricate style of matching words and phrases usually atypical for emcees in his region, Big Boi carried the Dungeon Family torch as usual in 2003.
       
   4. Eminem - Best Verses: "We All Die Someday" (Obie Trice), "Don't Push Me" (50 Cent)
        Eminem stepped out of the spotlight this year to let Shady label mates 50 Cent, Obie Trice, and DJ Green Lantern (on the mixtape tip) get some shine, however when Em did decide to grace us with his presence on these artists respective releases, the results were, as usual, spectacular. While the recent beefs with Benzino and Ja Rule have pressured Em into losing his light-hearted style completely, the anger has propelled the emcee to push himself even harder at perfecting his craft. Now, not only do his multi-syllable sentences rhyme, they are also tinged with hunger, rage, bullets, and fury that the typical emcee would have lost at this point in his career (post 8 Mile). Motherfuck Elvis & John Wayne, Em is the rap Superman, easily shrugging off buckshots from villains, leaping tall lyrical feats in a single bound.
       
   5. Nas - Best Verses: "Quick To Back Down", "The Flyest. Nas Angels", "Streets Of New York 2003"
        While Nas also stepped away from the spotlight in 2003, interest was resparked in virtually all of his past works, thanks to grassroots remix projects with beats from underground producers such as 9th Wonder, MF Doom, and Soul Supreme. Nas' older verses were seen in a whole new light, and what many people called awful in the past (namely I Am and Nastradamus), were all of sudden listenable, even sparking interest back in the previously shat upon It Was Written!! His entire body of work got the 2Pac treatment, reaffirming him as one of the most incredibly gifted lyricists the game has to offer. While he only stepped in the studio about 10 times in 2003, he never failed to turn heads, whether it was the lovably cocky swagger of "Quick To Back Down" or the dream team-ups with the Neptunes ("The Flyest.Nas Angels", "Popular Thug"), which showed with the right production (and proper push) that he could easily take Jay-Z's place upon the throne as commercial king of New York.
       
   6. 50 Cent - Best Verses: "In The Club", "Back Down", "21 Questions"
        50 Cent is no lyrical genius, however his voice, delivery, personality, and strange sense of humor ("I love you like a fat kid love cake"), have a commandeering microphone presence, easily making him what Easy-E was in the 80's and 2Pac was in the 90's. At surface value he may look like a lot of muscle and teeth, he's got a way with words, and a talent to both make you move "in the club", or quick to "back down" with his lyrical gunspray.
       
   7. Lloyd Banks - Best Verses: "G'd Up", "We All Die One Day", "Banks Workout Pt. 2"
        Usually when popular artists put their crew albums out, (D12, Bravehearts, Terror Squad, etc), they never measure up to the group's star (which could be no coincidence), and the G-Unit's Beg For Mercy, was no exception. But while mismatched production, poor hooks, and the other guy in the group that isn't named Tony Yayo plagued this album, the diamond in the rough was G-Unit's own Lloyd Banks. For someone who has three "best of" street mixes to his name (courtesy of DJ Whoo-Kid), Lloyd Banks is perhaps G-Unit's most lyrically gifted member, with a sly, sarcastic sense of humor, good wordplay, and a breathless run-on flow that keeps peeps attention. How soon before the solo album on G-Unit Records?
       
   8. Guru - Best Verses: "Rite Where You Stand", "Skillz"
        While it's all guns and ammo in 2003 on the major label front, it was nice to have an old favorite step back to the mic for some shine, as Guru did on Gang Starr's The Ownerz. While it's mostly the voice that gets us up (no homo), it was good to hear this veteran's vocals over another solid 18 Primo bangers once again. Now if only we could get a Rakim album...
       
   9. Obie Trice - Best Verses "Do Re Mi", "Follow My Life", "Shit Hits The Fan"
        For every fan that Obie won over with his debut, Cheers, there are always going to be the skeptics who say he's merely basking in Eminem's omnipresent shine---but who wouldn't love to have that problem? That aside, with a style uniquely his own, Obie was successful at establishing his own persona on solo-cuts "Average Man," "Follow My Life, "Don't Come Down," proved he could generate commercially successful records with "Got Some Teeth" and even earned his Shady/Aftermath stripes by having Em's back on "We All Die One Day" and joining Dre on the Ja-Rule/Murda Inc. diss "Shit Hits The Fan." "Obie Trice real name no gimmicks" in 2003, the well-known asshole made it official!
       
  10. Jadakiss - Best Verses "Rite Where You Stand", "Made U Look Remix", "2 Gunz Up"
        Jadakiss, the self proclaimed, "first nigga to cook base on a Forman Grill", is one of New York's most promising emcees, however, up until this point he has been looked upon as a rookie emcee, and his lackluster performance on Kiss The Game Goodbye did nothing but solidify that. However, with this years reinvention of the Lox as D-Block (along with Jae Hood), it seems as if Jada may have finally honed his skill to the point where he is looked at as one of rap's elite. A crisp delivery, laid back coolness, a street sense of humor, have always made him a favorite; throw in this years show stealing moments on Gang Starr's "Rite Where You Stand" and Nas's "Made U Look Remix", all Jada needs now is a solid album to seal the deal, and next year we could see him higher up on this list.

     
::Discuss in the forum

The Bling Bling Era Was Cute.
The 10 Best Emcees of 2003 (Indies):

   1. Immortal Technique - Best Verses: "Industrial Revolution", "4th Branch Of The Government"
        Yes, yes, the virtual unknown reigns in all categories. Fresh out the slammer, Technique has been building his buzz significantly over the past few years, not only on the underground show circuit in NYC, but through the steadily selling and increasingly popular Revolutionary discs Volumes one and two. Perhaps the most outspoken emcee of his time, Technique has it all: voice, delivery, wit, intelligence, descriptiveness, and a definite agenda. If his lyrics don't usher in a new age of political anger in rap, nothing will.
       
   2. Royce - Best Verses - "Malcolm X", "Dirt Off Your Shoulder Remix" (Jay-Z)
            While Royce's talent speaks for itself and he's certainly worthy of placement on this list (2004 will see him rising even further up it) he's a bit of an anomaly this year, as he inflicted most of his damage via the mixtape circuit, as his double-disc collection, Build & Destroy and M.I.C. Mixtape Vol.1 achieved what his refurbished debut, Rock City V2.0, failed to produce---a healthy buzz. Though Royce is a brash and cocky emcee, his Mixtape selections proved that if given beats from A-List producers, whether it was refurbishing them into remixes, Luda's "Stand Up" and Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," ("I am not a backpacker/I am a Gat packer/I ain't that good/all of the rest just rap wacker"), or releasing previously vaulted gems such as the Kanye West produced "Heartbeat" and Alchemist's "You Don't Know Me" he's much more then that. Throw in a bunch of scathing disses to D-12 (their beef has thankfully ended), which included an "Ether" like response in the form of "Malcolm X" and what you have is a throwback emcee, one that's able to decompress emcees with pure lyrical venom, ill punchlines and vivid metaphors. There are a handful of emcee's to watch out for in 2004 and with what we have heard of his upcoming sophomore effort, Death Is Certain, Royce 5'9 is at the top of the list.

       
   3. Louis Logic - Best Verses - "Fair Weather Fan", "The Ugly Truth"
        As a member of the fan-favorite Demigodz crew, Louis represented best for the fam with the release of his long awaited solo offering, Sin-A-Matic. Here, Lou showed a considerable amount of skill, showing off Eminem-esque rhyming sentences, but also showing the ability to create conceptual songs as well. Peep "Fair Weather Fan", where Louis plays his own critics chatting back and forth about how he's fallen off, or "The Ugly Truth", where he rhymes from the perspective of a racist, whose identity is revealed at the end of the song. These, along with other top notch concepts made Louis Logic one of the brightest stars to shine underground in 2003.
       
   4. MF Doom - Best Verses: "Saliva", "Vaudeville Villain"
        As the reinvented answer to former KMD frontman, Zev Luv X, MF Doom saw perhaps his greatest year ever as a solo artist, releasing projects under the monikers King Geedorah and Viktor Vaughn. Vaughn Doom's Vaudeville Villain was his most exciting project of the year, where he played a time-warped emcee from the 90's (not a stretch), rhyming in hilarious nonsensical run-on rhymes. No it didn't change the world, but yes it was a whole lot of fun.
       
   5. Sage Francis - Best Verses: "Fresh", "That Ain't Right", "Zaul Xan's Heart"
        While many were quick to peg Sage Francis as "nerd rap" when 2002's Personal Journals dropped, they couldn't have been further from the truth when Non-Prophets' Hope came out. But not a "nerd" in the true sense of the word - i.e. not the pocket protector geeks who like rhymes about interstellar travel and science. No, Sage played the ultimate Ego Trip-esque rap nerd, conjuring up all kinds of hip-hop trivia questions in just about every verse on Hope. Brilliantly throwing back to the 90's, Sage went outside of simply referencing "Scenario" or "Nuthin' But a G Thing", and instead made mention of forgotten acts such as Ya'll So Stupid, Original Flavor, and Nine. New jacks and bitter old folk might call it nerd rap, but we call it too cool for school. F-R-E-S-H.
       
   6. Slug of Atmosphere - Best Verses: "Trying To Find A Balance," "Lifter Puller," "Always Coming Back Home To You."
        Slug is a song-writer in the truest sense (see "Always Coming Back Home To You") and it's only after repeated listens that you truly begin to grasp just how deep his dysfunctional parables run; exemplified by "Lifter Puller." And while Slug previously tried to dazzle us with purposely complex rhyme schemes that left us puzzled, his methods are now more concise, as he's refining his craft and learning that you can do more with less. Every year there are one or two emcees that trade in the underground grind to take a big piss in the mainstream, this year it was Slug and Aesop Rock.
       
   7. Blueprint - Best Verses: "Run," "Candyland Interludes", "Share This"
        Serving Madlib and MF Doom their stiffest competition as hardest working artist of 2003, Blueprint managed to churn out three projects while touring incessantly, all of which managed to separately highlight his attributes as a producer and emcee. Though he went the Pete Rock route with his solo-compilation, The Weightroom, Blueprint more then held his own with heavyweight underground spitters, Vast Aire, Illogic, Aesop Rock and Slug (peep "Time Management") and traded verses with his Greenhouse Effect brethren on Life Sentences, which was punctuated by "The Proper Education." At this juncture, Print is more known as a producer, but his lyrical contributions to Soul Position's 8 Million Stories began to change that, as his hyper voice and pliable flow provided a perfect contrast to RJD2's multi-layered beats, which was most apparent on "Share This," the ill flight and response metaphors he weaved into "Run" and his delicious "Candyland" interludes took as back to when life was much simpler and had to make Ghostface proud.
       
   8. Brother Ali - Best Verses: "Forest Whitaker", "Room With A View"
        For the uninitiated, Brother Ali immediately grabs your attention due to the fact he is an albino, but he does not have to use that as a gimmick because like any truly great emcee, he possesses the intangibles; incredible flow, a powerful voice and multiple deliveries. Yet, Ali separates himself from the pack due to his confident swagger and similar to his Rhymesayer labelmate, Slug, a true knack for storytelling, as "Room With A View" comes off as Minneapolis' answer to Nas' "Project Windows." Yet, in perhaps the truest example of being an emcee (move the crowd) Brother Ali is a must see artist in any live capacity.
       
   9. Aesop Rock - Best Verses: "Limelighters", "Freeze"
        Aesop Rock is a poet in the truest sense of the word. While it may be easy to peg him as rap gibberish, that's exactly what makes his style so dope. Aesop's got the vocabulary groceries like suburbia's own answer to Ghostface Killah. Combined with a twisted sense of humor, blatant sarcasm, and an overall love for hip-hop culture, Aesop is one of the most experimental, yet entertaining, emcees to listen to in the underground.
       
  10. Breezely Brewin - Best Verses: "5 Left In The Clip", "Fried Fish" (Weathermen)
        The prodigal son returns! After lying low in the NYC underground for a while, the distinctive voice behind Prince Paul's Prince Among Thieves made his return to microphones with the long waited release of the classic Fondle Em release, Juggaknots Clear Blue Skies (major props to Third Earth Music on that one). And while we were anxious to here Breeze's rhymes all over again, he sounded rejuvenated on the Weathermen's Conspiracy mix CD, killing it every time a mix was handed to him. Can we get a solo record any time soon?

     
::Discuss in the forum

Styles Upon Styles.
Lyrics: The Best Verses Of 2003:
Best Gangster Rap: Jay-Z "Threat"
Best Dis Rhyme: Royce 5'9 - "Malcolm X"
Best Political Rhyme: Pharoahe Monch - "Agent Orange"
Best Narrative: Murs / Digital Underground "Risky Business"
Most Humorous Rhyme: Skillz "2002 Rap Up"
Best Jiggy / Club Rhyme: 50 Cent - "In The Club"
Best Double Time Rhyme: Ludacris "Southern Fried Intro"
Best Battle Rap: Jadakiss - "Right Where You Stand"
Best Autobiographical Rhyme: Kanye West "Through The Wire"
Best Rant: El-P on Aesop Rock's "We're Famous"
Best Display Of Lyrical Acrobatics: Lyrics Born on Diverse's "Explosive"
Best Conscious Rhyme: Cee-Lo on Outkast's "Reset"
Best Display Of Raw Skill: Immortal Technique "Industrial Revolution"
Hungriest Verse: Eminem "We All Die Someday"
Best Conceptual Rhyme: Louis Logic "Fair Weather Fan"
Most Personal Rhyme: Jay-Z "December 4th"

Future Of The Funk.
Rookies Of The Year:

   1. 9th Wonder
   2. Immortal Technique
   3. G-Unit
   4. Littles
   5. Diverse
   6. Soul Supreme
   7. DJ PRZM
   8. Sebb
   9. Inhumanz
  10. 6Two

More Dusty Than Digital:
The 10 Best Producers of 2003 (Underground):

   1. 9th Wonder - Best Beats: "The Way You Do It" (Little Brother), "Ether (Remix)" (Nas)
        As far as the underground was concerned, this year was all about 9th Wonder. Not only did he catch the ear of Questlove with his well produced group effort, Little Brother's The Listening, but he also turned the industry on its ear with his remix of Nas's God's Son, now retooled as God's Stepson. He ended the year with a bang, graduating from underground nobody to a producer for Jay-Z's Black Album. Look for him to be a household name this time next year.
       
   2. RJD2 - Best Beats: "Explosive" (Diverse), "Saliva" (Viktor Vaughn), "Share This" (Soul Position)
        After surprising virtually everyone with last year's Dead Ringer, this Def Jux instrumentalist followed it up with an equally solid disc of b-sides, remixes, and outtakes with The Horror. Not only that, this extra prolific producer also produced an entire LP for fellow Ohio homie Blueprint, that came in the form of Soul Position's 8 Million Stories. Pair it up with more than enough memorable beats for Viktor Vaughn, Massive Attack, Aceyalone, Diverse, High & Mighty, Cage, and others, and you've got one of the most stylish, equally consistent, and sought after producers in hip-hop. 2004 shows a new RJD2 solo album and hopefully that collabo with The Roots will come to fruition.
       
   3. Young Einstein - Best Beats: "Abigal Silky", "Turn It Up", "
        While Ugly Duckling may generally be considered "nerd rap", it's only done so by people who have not heard or don't understand their latest album, Taste The Secret. Anyone who appreciate the innovation and sense of humor in sampling by people like Prince Paul in 1980's will undoubtedly appreciate Einstein's beats, as he layers about 12 to 14 samples per song. This makes his beats wildly unpredictable and adds a sense of fun no longer heard in the bland, keyboard driven beats of today.
       
   4. Madlib - Best Beats: "Champion Sound", "The Official", "Slim's Return"
        Capable of flipping any style you want, from the jazzy Shades Of Blue, where Madlib raided Blue Notes catalog and updated classic compositions from the legendary imprint and despite his experimental inklings; to the hardcore, where he teamed up with Jay Dee for the massive jeep beats found on Indy favorite Champion Sound, which saw Madlib and Jay Dee taking turns outdoing one another to see who could freak shit the hardest. While underground fans have had Madlib on knock since Lootpack's debut, it seems the rest of the industry is finally catching on as well, as in addition to the highly-anticipated Madvillain project with MF Doom, Madlib has also been tapped to remix Radiohead and will supply Talib Kweli and Busta Rhymes with beats in 2004.
       
   5. MF Doom - Best Beats: "Anti Matter", "The Fine Print" (King Geedorah)
        Whether it was under the name MF Doom, Viktor Vaughn, or King Geedorah, the man with a million aliases released several different projects this year, including two instrumental albums of all new beats. Doom's beats are raw as they are addictive, using an unconventional approach to sampling, combining things like 80's R&B records with Godzilla movies and Doug E. Fresh beat box acapellas. 2004 marks the release of his next solo record MM Food as well as his collaborative LP with Madlib, Madvillain.
       
   6. J-Zone - Best Beats: "Eatadicup", "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie"
        J-Zone's formula for beat making hasn't changed much over the years, however it has gotten increasingly obnoxious. With his excellent 2003 release, Sick Of Being Rich, J-Zone chopped up more unrecognizable loops and vocal samples and put it together for another 20 solid beats-with-attitude. Not only did he produce for himself, but also lent bangers to Biz Markie and G.M. Grimm. While it's too soon for a new album, 2004 might show something new from the Zone Mission.
       
   7. People Under The Stairs - Best Beats: "L.A. Song (Sensitive Remix)", "Out The Club"
        While they spoke out in 2002 about not getting their props as beat diggers or critical acclaim, their O.S.T. release banged well into 2003, and was followed up by the equally solid remix/b-side endeavor Or Stay Tuned. Samplers and proud of it, Thes One and Double K worked their magic once again, even covering 50 Cent's "In The Club" with an underground twist, "Out The Club".
       
   8. Soul Supreme - Best Beats: "Queen", "Got UR Self A Gun (Remix)", "Second Childhood Remix
        Making a name for himself on the Saturday Night Agenda compilation, this up and coming  producer was another who favored samples over synth, producing beats for the likes of AG, Pete Rock, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane and others, taking many of them back to the sound we all knew and loved. He followed up with Soulmatic, his own spin on the Nas remix tip, brilliantly reinventing DJ Premier's "Second Childhood" and Megahertz's "Got UR Self A Gun", among other favorites.  Look for new albums this year from O.C. and KRS-One on Grit Records, both of which he will lend beats for.
       
   9. Stoupe - Best Beats: "Poet Laureate 2", "Genebis", "Blood In Blood Out"
        While J.M.T.'s Visions Of Gandhi and his collaborative union with Canibus, Rip The Jacker, failed to resonate as anticipated, it was not due to Stoupe's production, as his host of western European strings and dramatic backdrops added an emotive feel to Canibus' robotic flow that was previously absent, which was particularly evident on "Spartibus" and the incredible "Poet Laureate II." And though Stoupe held down J.M.T.'s cult-following with his aural alchemy, Jus Allah's departure from the group left a void that Vinnie Paz was unable to shoulder. While he was already respected, in 2003 Stoupe established himself as one of hip-hop's top underground producers.
       
  10. J.J. Brown - Best Beats: "Dos Factotum", "Street Smarts"
        We all knew from the moment we heard the original "Factotum" that there was something special about producer J.J. Brown (likewise for Louis Logic). J.J. Brown really stepped out into the spotlight in 2003 with the release of Louis' stellar Sin-A-Matic, producing eight of the albums tracks and mixing down the entire album. Not afraid to sample, Brown's beats dip everything from Latin guitars to 50's doo-wop, and always come out incredibly musical and fun. Hopefully we'll see more from Brown in 2004.

Honorable Mentions: Jay Dee, El-P, DJ Mighty Mi, DJ Babu, Sebb, DJ PRZM, Ant

     
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Just Blazing.
The 10 Best Producers of 2003 (Mainstream):

   1. Just Blaze - Best Beats: "December 4th" (Jay-Z), "What We Do" (Freeway), "Everythings A Go" (Memphis Bleek)
        In a few short years, Just Blaze went from guy-who-makes-over-the-top-apocalyptic-beats-for-Buckshot to hottest producer inNew York City. Helping redefine the sound of commercial hip-hop records, Just's beats are the perfect mesh of the classic sampling aesthetic and the slick studio sound of today. In 2003, Just injected a post-millennial twist on Tribe's "Scenario Remix" for Joe Budden's "Pump It Up", made Memphis Bleek's and Freeway's albums sound good, and as usual, laced Jay-Z with the usual bangers for The Black Album. As one of the most consistent producers in the game - one who can inspire people to dance ("Pump It Up") or bring a tear to the eye ("December 4th"), Just Blaze is our producer of the year for 2003. Expect Blaze to continue to "Roc" the beats all year long in 2004.
       
   2. Kanye West - Best Beats: "Through The Wire", "Two Words", "Encore" (Jay-Z)
        Second only to his Roc-A-Fella production partner Just Blaze, Kanye West stepped out into the spotlight this year, giving us a taste of what his upcoming solo effort will sound like through a series of street mix CD's and 12inch singles. Not to mention producing hit singles for the likes of Trina, Lil Kim, and Twista, the ever consistent Kanye laced Jay-Z with two bangers "Encore" and "Lucifer", as well as turned his tragic car-accident that suffered him a broken jaw into a hit single. We're drooling over the release of The College Dropout, later this year.
       
   3. Andre 3000 - Best Beats: "Hey Ya", "Spread", "Happy Valentines Day"
        While Andre 3000 didn't rap on his album, he didn't have to because his singing came out so fresh. While the concept of The Love Below in itself was ingenious, much of that is due to the fact that the music was so damn fresh - most all of it produced by Andre himself. Throw that in with outsourced production for Big Boi, Kelis, and Killer Mike, and Andre was one of the most daring and groundbreaking producers in music in general, in 2003.
       
   4. Timbaland - Best Beats: "Indian Flute", "Comin' Round", "Cry Me A River" (Justin Timberlake)
        Wasn't it like two-years ago when Timbaland commented that he would only be producing for artists (sans Jay-Z) from within his own camp? Well, he did keep part of his word in 2003 by staying in house for his bi-yearly gathering with Magoo (which may have catapulted Timbo higher up this list were it not such a dud), went Hickhop with Bubba Sparxx for the most countrified urban LP you may ever hear, Deliverance, and of course rekindled his undeniable chemistry with Missy Elliot. Yet, Tim also stayed busy fanning the heat for Jay-Z ("Dirt Off Your Shoulder"), Cee-Lo ("I'll Be Around"), Obie Trice ("Bad Bitch"), Alicia Keys and helped fellow Va. Beach natives, The Neptunes, reinvent Justin Timberlake. While you don't hear his name mentioned as frequently as you once did in the past when discussing hip-hop's top pyromaniacs, Tim is one of the most consistent producers in the game and in 2003 he continued to show and prove.
       
   5. Dr. Dre - Best Beats: "In The Club" (50 Cent), "Back Down" (50 Cent), "The Setup" (Obie Trice)
        Sure we are pissed at Dr. Dre for not putting Rakim's album out and not getting Jay-Z a beat for The Black Album, but Dre is still doing his thing, and no matter what the haters have to say each year, he still makes arguably the hottest beats in the biz. In 2003, Dre was not only responsible for producing the biggest single of the year, 50 Cent's "In The Club", but also much of the celebrated albums from each 50 Cent, G-Unit, and Obie Trice. We only wish he would put himself on the line a little more by taking some risks and releasing some of that vaulted up material for the rest of the world to hear. You only live once Dre. (Ahem, Rakim, cough, cough, ahem).
       
   6. DJ Premier - Best Beats: "Inspi Her Ation" (Da Ranjahz), "Deadly Habitz", "Rite Where You Stand" (Gang Starr)
        We've heard some talk about DJ Premier "falling off", so to speak. Maybe it's because his submissions to Rakim's project and The Black Album didn't get off the ground, but we think that is just Dre and Jay being too picky. Preemo proved himself once again on Gang Starr's The Ownerz - another solid 18 track banger from perhaps the most consistent crew in hip-hop ever - and they even blessed us with an instrumental version! Okay, so we'll admit, it wasn't Gang Starr's best album to date, but only because they've set their own standard so high with previous classics. Preem hasn't missed a step, and churned out some tough indy bangers for the likes of Da Ranjahz, Blaq Poet, Just Ice, and more.
       
   7. Alchemist - Best Beats: "The Midnight Creep", "Serious (The New Message)" (1st Infantry), "Marathon" (Dilated Peoples)
        Graduating from being an understudy to DJ Muggs and DJ Premier, Alchemist has forged his own identity over the years, producing for everyone from Swollen Members to Infamous Mobb. This year, while Al did not have any major radio bangers, he managed to slide his trademark dark and soulful beats to each Freeway, Dilated Peoples, Big Noyd, Mobb Deep, First Infantry, and tons more. Releasing two "mixtapes" of material that he produced, as well as lending a major hand in the production of Big Noyd's Only The Strong and Mobb Deep's Free Agents, Al has lent these guys some of the best beats of their respective careers. We expect big things from the First Infantry and Dilated Peoples albums due out later this year.
       
   8. The Neptunes - Best Beats: "Frontin'", "Milkshake" (Kelis), "The Flyest.Nas Angels" (Nas)
        The Neptunes were our number one producers last year, but slid down a few spots this year only because they weren't as prevalent in this year's list of production credits. But, while they only outsourced production to guests on their Clones album, the results were nothing less than spectacular, each time reinventing what can be called their "signature sound". Proving Nas has the potential to make "hot club tracks" with both "Popular Thug" and "The Flyest", bringing Snoop Dogg back to '88 on "Blows My Mind", or propelling Kelis' once doomed sophomore album to success with "Milkshake", the Neptunes were at the top of their game every time. With a long list of projects set to drop this year on the Star Trak label, they should have no problem moving higher up the list next year. Hey, can we get a Spymob album already?!?!
       
   9. Eminem - Best Beats: "We All Die One Day" (Obie Trice), "Patiently Waiting" (50 Cent), "One Day At A Time" (2Pac)
       OK, yes his beats (ominous synthesized strings and dark keyboard stabs) have a tendency to get a bit repetitive (see Jay-Z's "Moment Of Clarity" & Nas' "The Cross"), but towards the second-half of 2003, Em began to establish himself as a viable double-threat by implementing an electronic shuffle into the almost forgotten collabo with Redman ("I Talk To Dead People") and furthered it with the diversity he exhibited on Obie Trice's Cheers. Em ended the year by producing three posthumous tracks for Tupac's Resurrection OST (he even took a foray into sampling with "Runnin" f/B.I.G.) and in the process gave Pac's vaulted material a new life that previous collaborators have failed to muster as of late.
       
  10. Lil' Jon - Best Beats: "Get Low", "Quick To Back Down" (Bravehearts)
        OKAY! You know you want to front, but it's hard to ignore these tracks when they're tearing the club up. Lil' Jon's beats, usually accompanied by his hooks, are the epitome of sonic ignorance. However, his evil, sinisterly southern tracks kept the dancefloors packed whether it was to the sound of his own "Get Low", or helping struggling acts such as Bravehearts, Ying Yang Twins, TLC, or Youngbloodz get some shine. File it under "so-bad-it's-good". YAY-YUH!

     
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It's the Meat....

They've been here for years...
The Best Comebacks Of 2003:

   1. R. Kelly
        This is a prime example of why Benzino's Eminem smear campaign will never work, no matter what he digs up on him - because like R. Kelly, the public loves him way too much. While we listed R. Kelly on our "falling down" list last year, the man made an incredible comeback, releasing two albums (both packing bonus discs) and several hit singles, not to mention producing hits for the likes of Nick Cannon, Big Tymers, and Ginuwine. While his "best of" album suggests he put The R In R&B, this didn't change the fact that he was also accused of putting the "R" in "Raping thirteen year-old girls, pissing on them, and videotaping it". But we forgot all about it like good little mindless consumers, because "Ignition" was so dope! Toot-Toot!  Weet-Weet! Why stop now? The public demands more from the chocolate / lemonade factories of R. Kelly!!
       
   2. A Tribe Called Quest
        Receiving the promo copy of Tribe's "I.C.U. (Doin' It)" was like a breath of fresh air. Tribe's breakup was as tragic as so many other classic crews of the 90's, with disastrous offshoot projects in every direction (yo, that Jarobi album was BANGIN', though). Their foray back into the rap game captured classic era Tribe meshed with today's breezy Baduisms in the hook, making it a viable single for fans new and old. The members sound rejuvenated, and ready to make their return with a clean slate.
       
   3. Royce The 5'9
        While Rock City spelled disaster for Royce 5'9, he quickly regained consumer confidence by breaking all the rules and releasing all of his vaulted material on the Build and Destroy CD's, which not only included never-heard-before, quality tracks with Kanye West, Jay Dee, Just Blaze, Alchemist, and others, but also venomous disses at former friends, Eminem and D12. The hunger of "Boom" is back, and Royce is ready to take on the world with the release of this year's Death Is Certain...
       
   4. Black Moon
        It may have taken a decade for Black Moon to drop an appropriate follow-up to their debut opus, Enta Da Stage, but in 2003 Buckshot, Five FT and Evil Dee finally relived some of their past glories with Total Eclipse. Though it flew in somewhat under the radar due to the BCC's lagging track record, Total Eclipse reestablished some faith by embracing the elements that previously drew us to them, as Buckshot's swagger was evident on "Stay Real" and "How We Do It" which bang like it was 1993 all over again. Total Eclipse also brought back key contributions from BCC's core members, as Starang comes back in a major way with his verse from "Why We Act This Way," Cocoa Brovaz swing thru on "That'z The Way S--- Iz" and Sean P represents lovely on "Looking Down The Barrel." Whether or not the BCC is back is still debatable, but Total Eclipse is definitely a step in the right direction.
       
   5. Raekwon
        While the Wu is only a shadow of its former self these days, nobody was expecting Raekwon to drop a solid album after the buzz-kill that was Immobilarity. Rae took it back to basics with The Lex Diamond Story, with raw production and classic Staten Island attitude - and that's all we ever wanted from the man. Now if only Def Jam commodities, Ghostface and Method Man, can keep the fire burning in 2004, we might see a return to glory for these once and forgotten kings of hip-hop, the Wu-Tang Clan.
       
   6. Rick Rubin
         99 Problems and a bitch ain't one! How happy we were to hear Rick Rubin's signature sound over some hardcore hip-hop (Jay-Z's "99 Problems"). So, we only got one beat from the man, but damn, it brought us back to the glory days of Run DMC and The (pre-Capitol) Beastie Boys. Can we get an encore, yes we want more...

     
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This Is History In The Making.
2003 Milestones In Hip-Hop:
This list represents some - but not all - of some of the greatest moments in hip-hop history in 2003. Jay-Z's retirement is not included here because we don't believe him.

   1. The XXL Takeover
        The Source's dirty deeds finally caught up with them as they for once have a solid competitor that's giving them a run for the money. With breakthrough cover stories on Shady/Aftermath, Jay-Z, G-Unit, Outkast, and Nas (holding a burning Source cover), all the biggest artists were in XXL, while The Source dug themselves into an even deeper hole. The "State ofEmergency" campaign was not for hip-hop, but for The Source Magazine itself.
       
   2. 50 Cent Almost Does Platinum In One Week
        50's Get Rich Or Die Trying saw unprecedented success in it's first week of sales, just shy of platinum selling over 872,000 copies. This was the biggest rap first week in the history of hip-hop, only being outsold by two first week Eminem releases,The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show. However, this was the largest amount sold for a debut rap album ever.
       
   3. Hip-Hop Wins An Oscar
        Okay, so while some will argue that KRS-One is more the walking personification of hip-hop than Eminem is, but regardless, 8 Mile, which featured the essence of emceeing (battling) as the backdrop of it's storyline won an Oscar for Best Original Song for "Lose Yourself". This is pretty big considering that they Academy is known for being snooty, especially since Em beat out freaking U2.
       
   4. ATCQ Reunion
        A Tribe Called Quest is back together!! With the first single "I.C.U. (Doin' It)", this was the perfect track for an art form that needs to be rushed to the Intensive Care Unit. Put all those bad solo projects behind them, Q-Tip, Phife, and Ali Shaheed Mohammed are back in the mix. Now, if only we can get a Pete Rock and CL Smooth to last more than 10 minutes..
       
   5. Hip-Hop & Rock Make Friends
        You might not realize it yet, but both 2002 and 2003 spawned the beginnings of what Andre Benjamin calls "a new form of music" in his recent XXL interview. Think it's a coincidence that rappers are tastefully crossing over into the rock genre all of a sudden? It's not, because the biggest parties in New York - the ones Puffy and Russell are at - are, surprise, rock parties that are spun by hip-hop deejays. This year, Andre Benjamin blew up the spot with his Rolling Stones throwback "Hey Ya"; the Neptunes furthered the N.E.R.D. cause on the Clones album, which also included tracks from Spymob and the Highspeed Scene; Jay-Z teamed up with classic producer Rick Rubin for the power-chord tinged "99 Problems"; The Roots had a hit with "The Seed 2.0", and deejays Mark Ronson, Z-Trip, and The Inhumanz each did their thing somehow mixing up your favorite jiggy hip-hop artists with respectable rock music. Forget about all the poor attempts of into incorporating hip-hop into rock (Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, 311, Korn), Black Rock and Roll is the next shit.

     
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You'll Be One Of Those Seven MC's.
Beef: Memorable Battles Of 2003

   1. Royce 5'9 Vs. D12 - Winner: Royce
        This was the most unfortunate of this past year's battles, especially since Eminem and Royce teaming up together is like Crockett & Tubbs, Superman & Batman, Starsky & Hutch, etc, etc. Royce got sour after the signings of Obie Trice and 50 Cent to Shady Records, after a host of labels (Tommy Boy, Columbia, Game) each had a different idea of what to do with him, ultimately fucking up his debut. The frustration came out on a number of dis tracks aimed at D12 and Eminem on his now infamous Build and Destroy CD, however as the disses show, Royce absolutely murdered the inferior D12 with memorable quotes such as: 1) "Bizarre you a fat stutterin' fuck / You a joke, I choke whoever buttered you up / I've been ridin by your house, you don't come out too much / You hidin, when I find you I'ma snatch you out of that truck and tie your fat stankin ass to your couch and just / Feed you, you already look like you about to bust / Nigga you can run or hide; I'll be on your porch /with a cheeseburger tryin to lure you outside!" and 2) and to Proof: "You better hope you and the white boy keep in touch / And be a good little hype man, or your lease is up / Since Slim signed 50, I don't see your teeth as much / That's good, cause you got a grill like a fuckin truck! / Damn Homie, it's history, over, hang it up / Go somewhere and hang up some 50 posters, punk!" Royce's disses were filled with venom, passion, and anger, and were as witty as they were vicious, just a solid dis record should be.
           D12, and more so Eminem, never addressed the beef specifically - obviously not to give Royce any more shine - however because of this, it was like a boxer throwing the match. Royce got plenty of good jabs and uppercuts in there, and they just took the loss (which obviously didn't make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things). Hopefully, one day these guys can sort out their differences and make some records together because collectively there is too much talent for it to go to waste.
       
   2. Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit Vs. Murder Inc - Winner: Shady/Aftermath/G-Unit
        This beef's been commentated on so much it's not even worth mentioning, and it's pretty much a dead issue at this point. Considering Ja Rule only sold 100,000+ copies of Blood In My Eye the first week compared to G-Unit almost pushing half-a-million, it's pretty obvious where the fans' loyalties lie. However, while jabs were traded in both directions, the best dis line at Ja Rule was actually from the roster's most low profile member, Obie Trice on "Do Re Mi": "I don't think Afeni Shakur / appreciates Jeffery Atkins re-enactin' her boy / that's why I'm click-clackin' the toy". Poignant as it is poetic.
       
   3. XXL Vs. The Source - Winner: XXL
        The beef between XXL and The Source heated up to the boiling point this year, as Elliot Wilson's first page rhyming editorials and last page XXIT's apparently angered The Source so much that they were paid a visit by Benzino. While the beef was apparently "deaded", the competition was still fierce, but after The Source's continua, l slide into yellow journalism, XXL reigned supreme with groundbreaking articles/covers with Dr. Dre, Eminem and 50 Cent, , , Jay-Z, Nas, and more. Great moments included the Shady/Aftermath camp explaining the beefs with Murder Inc and Benzino, and Nas burning the cover of The Source on the cover of XXL. XXL also got a lot thicker this year.
       
   4. Weathermen Vs. Demigodz - Winner: Draw
        This was probably the most entertaining of the battles to watch, considering that opponents on both sides were skilled enough to deliver heavy disses in each direction. Cage and Copywrite let loose on 7L & Esoteric and Celph Titled on each "Haterama Part 1 and 2", "Boston Baked Bitch" and "Boston Crabs", while 7L went at Cage and them on "Do It" and "Runaway". The beef took an unpredictable turn when Celph Titled bootlegged Cage and Copywrite's disses on 12inch vinyl with all new intros, hilariously detailing how he was "eating a four course meal" off of their disses.
          Just when you thought it was over, another melee between Cage and Celph Titled broke out at a Cage show, right around the same time new dis tracks were traded between 7L & Esoteric ("Mercy Killing") and El-P.
      &, nbsp;
   5. Kay Slay Vs. DJ Clue - Winner: Kay Slay
         The most ridiculous battle of the year was between mixtape "deejays" Kay Slay and  Clue. While throwing disses at each other on their respective tapes, the battle came to a head when the two started arguing live on New York radio. In what became a contest to see who could yell the loudest, Kay Slay was like an angry father whooping his ungrateful son's ass in Clue. At one point, Clue asked "What are we even arguing over?" with Kay Slay replying "I don't know," and then continuing to argue some more.
       

     
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Wonder Why We  Call U Bitch?
The 5 Biggest Bitch Moves Of 2003:

   1. The Source Refuses To Accept Any Responsibility For Ruining Hip-Hop, Points The Finger In Other Directions, and Makes a Lot Of Press Releases.
        With what is become a tradition of Source bashing in our year end column, this time we decided to look at this from a different perspective, without sliding in our usual array of Dave & Ray jokes. Mainly because this is a serious topic, and we'll treat it as so with a serious editorial, because it does influence the apparent 9 million readers that The Source clocks in each month. And with all due respect to the magazine and its writers and editors, we are only offering constructive criticism on how the magazine could be better - much like The Source does with albums each month.
            Now the basis of what makes The Source questionable is that - cut and dry - a rapper owns / controls the magazine. This might be somewhat acceptable if this was someone who had integrity within the music he produces, like say, Questlove. Because we all know, that if Questlove had his own magazine, it would probably carry the same amount of honesty and integrity that comes through in the songs he writes. Not to mention, Questlove, for instance, is an artist who's music has effected millions of people, and is unanimously respected by just about everyone. Based upon the music that Questo makes, you might relate to what this hypothetical magazine says is a good record, because assumingly, you, The Grammys, and several other Americans like his records. Now any magazine is going to take a certain slant on any given subject based on what kind of music that the writers like. But here is what is entirely wrong with The Source magazine, is that generally speaking, sales have shown that most people donot like Benzino's music. Obviously if he is creating this music, he thinks it is good. So why we would trust a magazine that is owned and influenced by Benzino, to rate and review the music, if most of us don't even like the music that he creates? They can wave the "Benzino's music and The Source's mic rating system have and always will operate independently of one another" flag all they want, but facts are facts, and his own group, Made Men, was awarded 4.5 mics in The Source in 1999.
          The Source's mission in 2003 was to declare a "State Of Emergency" on hip-hop. We can all agree that hip-hop is fucked up thanks to the commercialism and fast food mentality that major labels have spread across the entire music industry as a whole. In the Source's mission to expose what was wrong with hip-hop, they accomplished the following: 1) blasted Interscope head Jimmy Iovine for the "whitening" of hip-hop, with the signing of Eminem; 2) dedicated an entire two page spreads to Nas & 50 Cent quoting  every time they contradicted themselves; 3) examined payola in radio; 4) wrote an article trying to expose 50 Cent as a fake gangster; 5) lambasted other publications' writers for not being "hood" 6) gave props to non-mainstream artists such as Little Brother, Immortal Technique, and Dead Prez; 7) wrote an expose on Dr. Dre / Aftermath records dug up old recordings of Eminem using the "n-word" and "disrespecting black women" in his rhymes; 9) blasted Russell Simmons and the Hip-Hop Action Summit Network for forgiving Eminem for the comments he made when he was younger.
           How all of this is saving hip-hop still isn't clear, because all it really has done is create new beefs, and most each press release and counter attack on the industry is somehow tied to beefs with Eminem, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Nas, and XXL. It's obvious that Eminem's vicious verses spit on "Nail In The Coffin" didn't rub Ray to well, which is why the beef is being disguised as a crusade to save hip-hop music. Again, while the tapes may end up being somewhat (but not incredibly) damaging to his fans, the attacks on Eminem's race seem to have little validity since the magazine itself is owned by one Harvard educated white man, and one half-white man. Aren't they white men making money off hip-hop as well?
           The Source could be given a little credit for wanting to salvage this great artform, and even more credit for giving shine to these underground artists that don't get mainstream press elsewhere (Little Brother, Immortal Technique). But the main problem with this "State Of Emergency" campaign is that they accept ZERO responsibility for fucking up the music themselves, and instead point the finger at everyone else. Since the disbanding of the original Source Mind Squad, The Source has made numerousquestionable moves that have effected millions of readers perceptions of what quality hip-hop is - whether it was the endless Benzino/Made Men coverage, putting Ashanti on the cover, or forever shitting on underground acts (Blackstar, Hiero, Aceyalone, Lootpack), simply because it was popping in the "streets". Opinions are opinions, and that's fine, but what is the beef with Eminem doing to save hip-hop? It's only helping make Ray Benzino a household name, someone whose music is very different than Dead Prez.
          In order for The Source to regain its credibility, a few things would have to happen. First off, Ray Benzino could write himself a big check and step down, and there would never be a mention of him or any of his affiliates in the magazine ever again as long as he lives, not even an advertisement. Secondly, if it's really about saving hip-hop, then why not put some non-platinum artists that make conscious music, such as Common, The Roots, or Dead Prez, on the cover (and more than just once a year, and not some four-covers-in-one-month gimmick)? Third, drop all personal vendettas with artists or other magazines, because the bias really screws up the journalistic integrity of the magazine. Fourth, do an expose on yourself in a special "zero issue" admitting, correcting and apologizing for all the mistakes that have been made. Finally, after doing everything else, they should start anew - The Source Vol. Two, Issue One.
          Of course this will never happen bec

[bez]

That was a fucking amazing read.  Props.

[PLANT]

Yo thats a dope read man....There's a grip full of mix cd's Im gonna make now.

Props

[Darksider]

That was a fucking amazing read.  Props.

[platinumk777]

*props*

I was looking all over for this shit... I had forgotten which site used to do this

[NewJack]

Great read, but I have two disappointments.

1. I think Dre did better this year in terms of producing.
2. How on Earth can you not mention Last Emperor?!  

[AlerG]

it's a shame that rip the jacker got no mention...hiphopsite needs to get their shit together, peace.

[Jome]

it's a shame that rip the jacker got no mention...hiphopsite needs to get their shit together, peace.

 9. Stoupe - Best Beats: "Poet Laureate 2", "Genebis", "Blood In Blood Out"
        While J.M.T.'s Visions Of Gandhi and his collaborative union with Canibus, Rip The Jacker, failed to resonate as anticipated, it was not due to Stoupe's production, as his host of western European strings and dramatic backdrops added an emotive feel to Canibus' robotic flow that was previously absent, which was particularly evident on "Spartibus" and the incredible "Poet Laureate II." And though Stoupe held down J.M.T.'s cult-following with his aural alchemy, Jus Allah's departure from the group left a void that Vinnie Paz was unable to shoulder. While he was already respected, in 2003 Stoupe established himself as one of hip-hop's top underground producers.

[white Boy]

^^^ thats just talkin bout production, in which i think stoupe should have been #1, but also the album was probly 1 of the best of the year, this is a good read, but i disagree with a lot in it

[Jome]

^^^ thats just talkin bout production, in which i think stoupe should have been #1, but also the album was probly 1 of the best of the year, this is a good read, but i disagree with a lot in it

Rip The Jacker, failed to resonate as anticipated, it was not due to Stoupe's production

[[Stoned]Jesus H. Christ[Wheat]]

That was a fucking amazing read.  Props.

[SGV]

LOL @ 50, Big Boi, Banks and Obie being top 10 emcees. Is that how bad the year was?

[Suga Foot]

Hip Hop Site is usually on point with the best of lists.  I love the gay jokes lol

[Don Breezio]

its pretty good...but theres a few discrepencies which show me that well...their full of shit:

1) 50 cent beat out guru for the best artist...thats plain fucked up.

2) Immortal Technique & Little Brother were not in the top 3 indy albums

3) December 4th was dubbed the most personal rhyme...when one life by last emperor should beat out every song ever made for most personal.

4) They didnt really give away freeways beard

[Suga Foot]

its pretty good...but theres a few discrepencies which show me that well...their full of shit:

1) 50 cent beat out guru for the best artist...thats plain fucked up.

I think 50 was a better artist than Guru this year too.  50's on the Rise, Guru is on the decline.