Welcome back to The Bootleg. And welcome to the first of back-to-back Bootlegs that looks back at the best of 2004.
Ah, get used to it”¦If you turn on the East Coast Sports Programming Network over the next few days, you’re going to get nothing but their Year in Review. And, seriously, who wants to sit through 60 minutes of the Red Sox and their “inspirational” $120 million dollar run to reverse the curse? Never saw that coming”¦
But, I digress”¦over the next week or so, the Music Staff here at Inside Pulse will be dedicating their columns to the profound sounds of ’04. In addition, be sure to check back for the 2004 Readers’ Music Awards and the chance to give your own damn choice a voice. My re-election campaign begins in a few days”¦
Well, it was certainly, uh”¦an interesting year in Hip Hop, no? Jay-Z managed to top the charts”¦as a retiree. Snoop Dogg recorded the biggest single of his career”¦after a dozen years in the game. And Eminem’s ghetto pass was revoked”¦by comedian Steve Harvey?
Nas taught us all how to act Black and broke the news that Kobe Bryant is a bad, bad man. Chingy let us know that he’s got a soft spot for women who are “Chinese, Japanese”¦or even Asian”. While Mason Betha went from the Scripture to the studio, but couldn’t find his way back to 1997.
Foreign writers from those pop culture/wrestling sites breathlessly boasted that 50 Cent was booed in their own backyard! And yet, Lil’ Jon continued to be cheered over here.
Jadakiss asked Why?“¦And Fox viewers asked Method & Red the same thing.
As always, I’m ridin’ with m’boy Nick Salemi on this one. We put together the our lists of the albums and singles for 2004 that met (or failed to meet) our expectations.
Between the two of us, we’ve probably heard every major rap release this year and”¦well, let’s just say we’re going with a Top Five format, instead of a Top Ten.
Quoth The Goodness”¦”It’s been one of them years.”
The Five Best Albums of 2004
Jadakiss, Kiss of Death
Aaron: Kiss’ coming out party began with a familiar formula”¦the Nate Dogg-infused first single. He followed that up with the socially and politically volatile Why. As for the rest, Jada found the perfect blend of commercial and street. The best rap album of 2004.
Nick: With a flow like Jada’s you barely have to rhyme about anything to sound good. But he definitely was pushing the envelope and on this one, he finally mixed it up. He didn’t disappoint his mixtape fanbase either, with a few street cuts, as well. The Champ is Here is required listening as well.
Nas, Streets Disciple
Aaron: The rare double album that doesn’t feel like it’s a labor while listening to it. It’s far from perfect, as Nas’ cocksure commentary and lack of charisma make for the occasional uneven cut. But, the good stuff here borders on great and there’s enough of it to keep fans filled well into the New Year.
Nick: It’s hard to believe it’s been over 10 years since Illmatic. Nas “shows ’em how to blow on your 8th album” for sure. The rap double CD is always a dangerous undertaking but he does it quite well here and avoids endless filler. Consistent production holds everything together. Pick up the Illmatic re-issue if for some reason you don’t have the original.
Mobb Deep, Amerika’s Nightmare
Aaron: Call it the comeback album of the year. Havoc and Prodigy are nearly perfect on their grimiest, most gutter LP since The Infamous. The production is equal parts dark and devastating, while the album includes the only listenable Lil’ Jon-laced track in captivity. Rumors of Mobb’s break-up persist, so cop this one now and remember them as they are (or were).
Nick: The Mobb keeps coming with their usual brand of goodness. After a label switch and an independent “mixtape” album, they finally returned with one of the more solid top-to-bottom efforts of the year. Havoc and Prodigy and longtime collaborator, the Alchemist continue with their haunting, thumping beats.
Ghostface, The Pretty Toney Album
Aaron: Tony Starks is still hard as Iron, man. Think samples are akin to unoriginality”¦? Then, you haven’t heard this look inside the influences and insanity of the Wu’s resident Killah. Each song seamlessly flows into the next, with production that serves as a nod to far too many styles and genres to list here.
Nick: Being backed by the most famous label in hip-hop, part of one the most famous crews ever and putting out a great album should lead to success, right? Wrong. Get him off Def Jam before they kill his career. Great album for the Wu vet, though. Several Wu members released solo CDs this year, but none were close to Ghost.
Kanye West, The College Dropout
Aaron: The most overrated album of the year? Yep. And, still one of the best? Yep. Credit where it’s due”¦the production is off the charts and Kanye, wisely, put all his best beat-making on this LP. Anyone who heard his several guest production spots in 2004, know that he probably caught lightning in a bottle with this album.
Nick: You can sleep on his sound bites due to the fact that it’s almost to the point where anything that comes out of his mouth sounds stupid. But you cannot sleep on the production and originality of the tracks on this album.
Aaron’s Honorable Mention:
Xzibit, Weapons of Mass Destruction
Nick went and stole my nominee, so I’ll go with the recently released return of X. Funny what the deletion of Dr. Dre can do for one man’s music. Just a great mix of party anthems, storytelling and (occasionally) some serious spit. The production is much closer in style to his Restless LP and this one’s worth a serious look for you last second shoppers.
Nick’s Honorable Mention:
Royce the 5’9″, Death is Certain
What else seems to be certain is that no matter how good of an album Royce puts out, heads will sleep on it. He’s destined to continue his underground reign but his window has probably closed for superstardom. And that might be for the best if he keeps putting out hot albums like this.
The Five Most Disappointing Albums of 2004
Method Man, Tical 0: The Prequel
Aaron: Not sure where Method Man was at on this album, but he should never return. It’s understood that rappers will occasionally mail in a guest verse, or even the occasional cut or two. But, an entire album? And, how can something that took so long sound so rushed?
Nick: Five years for this? I know it’s not 1995 anymore but damn, Meth came pretty weak. Don’t take my word for it. Read his interviews, where he trashes it himself. Why would I want it if he thinks it’s crap? Just a thought.
Eminem, Encore
Aaron: Easily the worst follow-up for an Oscar winner since everything Marisa Tomei has done after My Cousin Vinny. It’s not often that one album can kill two careers, but you’d have to think that both Eminem and Dr. Dre are on life support after their lackluster beats failed to carry Marhsall’s redundant themes. Knock an extra point for his atrocious attempt at an apology on Yellow Brick Road.
Nick: The Slim Shady Show has been cancelled. Other than confused teens filled with empty rage, who exactly is this album supposed to cater to? This ain’t hip hop Em, and you know it. He needs to mix up the production a tad too, wouldn’t you say? Huge drop-off from the Eminem Show.
213, The Hard Way
Aaron: While I stand by my original rating of 8.0, I make no secret that it was mostly my heart talking. The chemistry between the Long Beach natives was undeniable, but the lack of a ready-made second single combined with the fifth or sixth renaissance of Snoop’s solo career pretty much killed this one right out of the gate.
Nick: Please see Meth comments, but change it to 12 Years! It was too little too late for this, not to mention how bad Warren G brings it. He’s the only one who shouldn’t have phoned it in. Nate and Snoop can do this stuff in their sleep.
Mase, Welcome Back
Aaron: Five years ago, Mase leaves the game and its lyrical excesses of fame and fortune behind”¦only to return and find everything right where he left it. Glad to see he found all his jewels, money and women alongside God. Even happier to see he could still rhyme “pretty” with “Diddy”.
Nick: I didn’t welcome him back, did you? Amazingly it seems like he’s already forgotten again. Time for him to go back in the mothballs (where I assume the shiny suits and Black Rob are kept).
Shyne, Godfather Buried Alive
Aaron: In 2000, Shyne released his debut album. Two years later, he was in jail. Now, I’m not saying that the two acts are related, but give his new one a listen and tell me if you wouldn’t add another few years to his sentence. The only thing sadder was the rap community’s brief summer fling, treating Shyne as if he were a prisoner of the State. When those album sales didn’t materialize, his support vanished, too.
Nick: Worst album title of the year. We’re still on Godfather/Scarface shit? Enough already. Not to mention this album is no more than a collection of old songs to “hold you over” until Shyne gets out of prison. I don’t know if I can wait any longer for a guy who had one hit song 5 years ago.
Nick’s Best Singles of the Year
Drop It Like its Hot, Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell: Pharrell bails Snoop out again with a huge hit. The Doggfather should have let him do the entire album as originally planned.
Thief’s Theme, Nas: Nas rapping over a 60s rock beat? Sounds like a recipe for disaster but wound up being one of the better tracks he’s ever done.
Why, Jadakiss: Dude finally made a song about something other than guns and drugs. The remix was pretty hot, too. Why did it take it this long for him to figure it out?
Lean Back, Terror Squad: “Anthem of the summer”, but uh…how come no one ever brings Fat Joe to task like Kanye for talking about how great his songs are? Oh, he said he’d have you killed? Fair enough.
Dirt Off Your Shoulder, Jay Z: Yes, I know the album dropped in 2003 but it came out as a single this year. Jigga and Timbaland combine for another banger. When you have football players imitating you in the end zone, you know it’s a hit.
Got it Twisted, Mobb Deep : The Infamous put together the best track they’ve dropped since Quiet Storm with a bizarre 1980s Thomas Dolby sample. Remix with Twista really added nothing.
Westside Story, The Game: The west coast is back”¦sort of. Let’s hope the Game doesn’t rely on the G Unit affiliation on the whole album because he really doesn’t need it.
Hey Now, Xzibit: Looks like he may not have to retire from hip-hop just yet. Although did you see the 1st week Soundscan for his new album? Thank God for Right Guard commercials and Pimp My Ride.
Warrior Remix, Lloyd Banks feat. Nate Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent:
On Fire was his official single but this one got tons of radio play, too. And for good reason. Em’s production (gasp!) is phenomenal on this one.
Jesus Walks, Kanye West: Good song, annoying artist. You know the story by now.
Aaron’s Worst Singles of the Year
Welcome Back, Mase: Hip Hop and Gabe Kaplan do not got together. For those of you quick to dismiss the West Coast rap scene, know that this cut go no play out here”¦and for good reason.
Over and Over, Nelly featuring Tim McGraw: In the last few weeks, as this track has been climbing the charts, McGraw has been distancing himself from it in interviews. That’s fine by me, but it’d be better if he took Nelly with him.
Freek-a-Leek, Petey Pablo: Can we put a lock on his Diary, already? When North Carolina’s two biggest exports are tobacco and this guy, I wanna know why the truth.com cult hasn’t targeted him, yet.
Baller Baby, Chingy: Hey, you only have yourselves to blame for this one. His first album went double platinum, after all. Here’s hoping Ludacris kills him in their current feud. And, I don’t mean that as a euphemism.
Salt Shaker, Lil’ Jon featuring The Ying Yang Twins: Well, it’s not like I could’ve just said “everything crunk”. Besides, it took a lot to be singled out amongst all the sound-alike sh*t that Jon stamped his signature on this year.
Just Lose It, Eminem: Slim described his thought process for finding the first single by saying he wants something that sounds catchy the first time you hear it, then gets progressively more annoying with each additional listen. We can all agree that Em pretty much just cut to the chase with this one.
Bridging the Gap, Nas featuring Olu Dara: In trying to be “touching”, they ended up at “trite”. Is Nas contractually obligated to have at least one song on every album where he’s teaching a course in African-American History 101? “Miles”, “Dizzy”, “blues” and “jazz””¦Christ, we get it, you’re Black.
My Boo, Usher featuring Alicia Keys: No one has benefited more from the R. Kelly sex scandal than Usher. He’s positioned himself nicely as the R&B brutha you can take home to meet mom. Unfortunately, he’s dumbed it down and dragged Ms. Keys with him on this one. 50 Cent said it better last year, when he professed his love “more than a fat kid loves cake”.
Disco Inferno, 50 Cent: Juuuuuuuuust under the wire with this one, 50 Cent starts the hype for his sophomore album with one of the worst club tracks of this or any other year. What little credibility Curtis had must’ve been left In the Club.
Jesus Walks, Kanye West: While I grudgingly give him his due for putting out a (mostly) hot album, I just can’t get on the bandwagon with this single. Lyrically laughable and one of the weaker beats from The College Dropout make this an easy choice and my call for worst single of the year. Oh, I went there.
Agree? Disagree? Did we leave something out? Praise Nick’s Best Singles here or flame my Worst Singles here.
General Haberdashery
Next month will mark my return to the Sports Beat for the first time since the great Inside Pulse n’ 411mania split of ’04. That’s either cause for celebration or a cheap excuse for this week’s links gimmick”¦you decide.
Jeff Fernandez shares a Christmas birthday with Rickey Henderson! And, Jeff lives in Chicago, where Rickey was born! Man, this is just too freaky. Of course, if I start using my son’s name to sponsor Jeff’s stats page at Baseball-Reference.com”¦
Jeff paid tribute to himself with an ode to his Late Night Jukebox feature and has news items with Lisa Marie Presley on top of DMX.
Gloomchen is slowly shape-shifting into a sports fan. She’s a Midwest Metamorpho, don’t ya know? And her Iowa Cubs might win more games than my Oakland A’s this year. Random words from her column: “Sesame Street”, “rape”, “Matthew Michael”.
Mathan goes all UFC on”¦me? He and I respectfully disagree on Nas and his controversial These Are Our Heroes track. If you’ve enjoyed the debate on these pages, then you’ll want to give him a read. In boxing terms, he’s Bart Gunn and I’m Butterbean.
Gordi only references a fake sport this week and gives you readers the gift of Balls Mahoney. Well, I think I speak for everyone, when I say, “See you in the exchanges/returns line on December 26.”
J.A.M = the fourth in the line of short-lived novelty writing nicknames for a trio of Inside Pulse and 411 writers.
J is for Movie Joe Reid. He’s got news on the Wonder Woman movie (including a must-read line on former WWE star Chyna, her chances for the part and how the Eddie Guerrero Break-Up”¦Spoiler Alert! You’ll have to click for more”¦)
He’s also got references to Growing Pains and Boner, the 1991 AFC Championship Game and a Fantasy Football Upd”¦uh, moving on.
A is for me.
M is for TV Mathan. If he can be serious for a minute”¦he takes a look at African-Americans and their portrayal on television. Well written, but I disagree with several points. There are, however, copious amounts of Martin Lawrence bashing and I think we can all agree on that.
Finally, show some love for m’man Sam. He’s a longtime Friend of the Bootleg and is looking to stake his claim in the pop-culture market. I know I’ve got readers from The Land Down Under, so hit him up and tell him I sent you. If you don’t, I’ll unleash a plague of bullfrogs on your backwards land”¦you’d have called them “chazzwazzers”.
Life With the Bootleg Family
If last week’s mail is any indication, I doubt I could top the “mammy” story if I tried. So, instead, I’d like to present my wife in a more positive light, with the understanding that this counts as gift”¦both for you and her”¦
From our families to yours”¦we wish you a Very Merry Christmas! Get at me on AOL or Yahoo IM: ajcameron13
