So, I’m talking to the guy who used to write “Nick’a Please” back when I used to write The Bootleg. And, somehow”¦someway”¦we got on the subject of upcoming albums.
Now, you could probably count the number of albums that he and I have purchased this year on one hand, thanks to our mutual Connecticut-to-California “burn n’ turn” CD exchange program. I’d go into more detail, but if Mathan Erhardt found out that I didn’t pay for Lupe Fiasco’s debut”¦well, let’s not go there.
Anyways, Nick and I are in agreement that the last two months of 2006 could, in essence, save the year. In this quagmire of crunk, hyphy and its related sonic claptrap, the next six weeks feature a high profile return to the mic, a one-man war against the sophomore jinx and a few set-in-their-ways superstars who just might release a sleeper hit.
The Game – Doctor’s Advocate
Release Date: November 14
His 2005 debut, The Documentary, was solid but far from a classic. Still, the potential for greatness wasn’t as far out of reach as you might think. He endured a well-publicized split with 50 Cent, then kept at it long after the public had moved on. The end results included a rift with his mentor, Dr. Dre as Game saw his Doctor’s Advocate album farmed out to Interscope’s smaller subsidiary, Geffen Records.
The Game continues to make ridiculous public comments (such as suggesting that he’ll outsell Jay-Z this month) which have eroded much of the public sentiment he had in his corner at this time last year. Still, with the success of his “One Blood” single and the slow burn he’s created with less publicized, but tight-azz tracks such as “Hate the Game”, it’s possible that the West Coast just might be back.
Snoop Dogg – Tha Blue Carpet Treatment
Release Date: November 21
If I didn’t know better, I’d guess it was 1993 all over again. Snoop has an album about to drop”¦then, runs afoul of five-o. Despite the criminal coincidence, no one expects this Snoop Dogg album to do Doggystyle numbers. The first single featured a decent enough Pharrell beat on “Vato”, but the Black-and-Brown unity theme came off as petty pandering.
Ah, but Snoop’s always got a few ready-made singles up his sleeve and the duet with R. Kelly (“That’s That Sh*t”) has been getting crazy airplay. There are also anywhere from two to four Dr. Dre produced tracks on here, depending on how the final listing plays out, so perhaps he can ride the “B Please” Express (strong second single rescues sales from failed first single) all the way to platinum status. Again.
Jay-Z – Kingdom Come
Release Date: November 21
Can we all agree that the horrible”¦and I mean (in Bill Walton voice) horrible first single “Show Me What You Got” never, ever happened? Cool? Cool. Since that Just Blaze abomination dropped, subsequent singles have made their way online and on satellite radio to much more favorable reviews. Indeed, the abbreviated goodness on cuts like “30 Something” and “Oh My God” actually have me anticipating a Jigga release for the first time”¦well, ever.
Wait. Before you send me your hate mail, just know that I’m not one of the 200 million rap fans who now claim they copped “Reasonable Doubt” the first day it was out and “knew” it was a classic even back then. The retroactive attraction for that album is a story for another day. Admittedly, I was hyped up for “The Blueprint” but its release date fell on a day when”¦something else was occupying my time. As for The Black Album, I hated the “Change Clothes” single and bought it when it dropped just so I didn’t miss out on something special. I sure called that one right, says Aaron, sarcastically.
Tupac Shakur – Pac’s Life
Release Date: November 21
In the interest of full disclosure, I must point out that I haven’t heard one song off of this umpteenth posthumous Pac release. M’man Nick’a, who has limited his Tupac albums to the first few hundred Makaveli mixtapes, insists that the cuts he’s heard from Pac’s Life aren’t bad at all. That, in itself, is a pretty strong endorsement considering the Eminem-produced Loyal to the Game is still eating away at the inside of our ears like those insects from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
I’ll admit that I’m still not all that enamored with the guest list of C-level talent, such as T.I., Chamillionaire, Young Buck and Ashanti. But, the production should be solid with LT Hutton and Sha Money XL on the boards. And, besides”¦the real highlight of any Pac CD these days is the 200 word essay that Afeni Shakur pens in the liner notes. Who will she compare her son to this time? Martin Luther King? Barack Obama? Amistad?
The Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
Release Date: November 28
XXL Magazine has already anointed this one with their equivalent of a “5 mic” rating. The oft-delayed LP has already contributed a pair of singles into heavy radio rotation. “Wamp Wamp” features Slim Thug and an absolutely ridiculous beat. That’s a good thing, BTW. It’s not often you’ll see a Black man in a four-door sedan mouthing the words to a hip hop hook, but Aaron Cameron is Exhibits A, J and C. I was already loving the clever “Mr. Me Too” joint, as well. Oddly enough, Pharrell gets some mic work on this one and the single is far and away better than anything that was on Skateboard P’s solo release.
Shady Records – Eminem Presents The Re-Up
Release Date: December 5
Originally conceived as a street mixtape to spotlight some of the lesser known artists on the Shady Records roster, Re-Up is picking up some buzz in its own right. “You Don’t Know” is the first single and 50 Cent n’ Slim Shady just kill it on this one. The beat sounds better than most of the recently produced work from Eminem and newcomer Ca$his holds his own. Dr. Dre and The Alchemist also lend their beat making skills to the album, which seems poised to establish life after Eminem.
Ghostface – More Fish
Release Date: December 12
Before Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor came along, I was all ready to anoint Ghostface’s Fishscale as my album of the year. When I gave the album a 9 (out of 10) our super-secret staff forums fell all over themselves in an attempt to denounce the score as affront to…I dunno”¦all the good albums that have come out in ’06? Anyways, More Fish looks like it’s following the Fishscale formula as confirmed tracks include the follow-up to the excellent “Shakey Dog” cut and “Charlie Brown” which is already one of my all time favorite Ghostface joints.
Nas – Hip Hop Is Dead
Release Date: December 19
I was one of the lone voices of dissent when Nas dropped the bloated and unfocused Streets’ Disciple back in 2004. As if taking on a female persona on a few songs and hiring the guy who was the voice of the “I’m Just a Bill” Schoolhouse Rock cartoon (allegedly Nas’s father) on a few other cuts made for good listening. It didn’t.
But, Hip Hop is Dead is shaping up to be Mr. Jones’ most compelling work in years. Kanye West, Scott Storch and Dr. Dre on the beats? Sold. Guest spots from The Game, Snoop Dogg and former archenemy Jay-Z? Works for me. It’ll be interesting to hear which tracks make the final cut as there’s a conspiracy theory afoot alleging that Jay-Z may attempt to sabotage his subordinate’s record sales by holding back the best material.
Conspiracies”¦uneasy allies”¦and dropping $80 in six weeks at Best Buy.
Hip hop ain’t dead yet.
