The Best Hip Hop of 2006... So Far - Page 4

3. Murray's Revenge by Murs and 9th Wonder. I give this album extra credit for giving the producer equal billing as co-artist. As I mentioned in the Method Man breakdown, this is an era of hip hop dominated by the producers, so it is nice to see one of the industry's best get his due. Of course, it is easier to highlight the producer when he's arguably a bigger name than the Indie artist he's working with, so maybe I'm making too much of this. After all, 9th Wonder has produced tracks for the likes of Jay-Z, Nas, and De La Soul. If you like West Coast rap, backpack rap, Indie rap, whatever, then go pick up this album. It will not disappoint.

2. Blue Collar by Rhymefest. The chief criticism I saw of Rhymefest's album is that the production surpassed his skill on the mic. Okay, fine by me. I don't care if the rapper outshines the producer or not, I just want to find an album full of great music. Rhymefest's Blue Collar is just that. With tracks from Kanye West, No I.D. (the best producer you've never heard of), Mark Ronson, and Just Blaze, this album sounds like the result of some sort of beat-making competition. There are a few notable exceptions, but almost every song on here is terrific. And as for Ryhmefest, I think people are being too hard on Chicago's latest find. Yes, he sometimes gets lost between trying to be the underdog and trying to out-brag even the likes of his cohort Kanye, but for the most part he has a very nice flow and some witty and intelligent lyrics. He has a unique voice that translates well on different types of songs, from the heartfelt tales to the club songs to the battle raps. I think this album is going to hold up over time and be remembered more fondly than it is being received in the here and now.

1. Second Round's On Me by Obie Trice. I suppose you need to know that I am unabashed Obie fan. So if you hate my choice for top album of 2006 (so far), tough. The funny thing about this album (although not surprising considering the tone of this article) is that it serves as a victory for Eminem just as much as it does for Obie. The reason is that Obie Trice is Em's prized artist. Marshall Mathers discovered him (supposedly from listening to just one verse), signed him to Shady/Aftermath, and paternalistically handled Trice's first album with kid gloves (as evidenced by the fact that Eminem and Dr. Dre produced almost every track on Cheers). This time around, Eminem lets Obie run free. Yes, Slim Shady still produces almost half of the tracks (including memorable cuts like "Wake Up," "Violent," "The Ballad of Obie Trice," and "There They Go"), but he eases up long enough to allow the likes of Emile, Akon, and Witt and Pep to produce three of the four leads tracks. The net result is that the album still feels cohesive, but it doesn't all run together like his last offering. Overall, if Obie has one flaw it is that he is too relentless in his approach. Every song features rapid-fire lines filled with complex rhymes, poignant tales, and angry rants. For some, it is too much aggression. For me, it is a much-needed relief from the crooning R&B influence and nightclub placation that is plaguing hip hop. Even when Obie serves up the obligatory Sean Paul club jam ("Jamaican Girl"), he still kills it. Pllus, outside of his mentor, nobody is able to rhyme multiple syllables like Trice. I submit that Obie Trice is the most underrated rapper out there and that he is sitting on the best album of 2006. I'm sure many of you disagree, so let's hear it.

Article Author: Adam Hoff

Adam Hoff is the columnist for the Webby-winning WhatifSports.com. He can be reached at wis.insider@gmail.com.

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