My favorite 10 albums (as of now)

Havent blogged in a while. Here goes a little somethin somethin.

1) Food & Liquor- This is my favorite album because its filled with soul, amazing lyricism, and storytelling. It has powerful songs like He Say She Say, American Terrorist, Hurt Me Soul, and Real. Then it has more lyrical showcases like Just Might Be Ok, Pressure, The Emperor's Soundtrack. Then great story telling with tracks like Daydreamin', The Cool, Kick Push, Kick Push II. And entertaining/catchy tracks like I Gotcha, Sunshine, and The Instrumental. The poem to begin the album is great and even though the outro is LONG it was cool of him to shoutout all those who helped him. The Advance copy has great songs like Theme Music To A Drive By, Real Recognize Real, Game Time, Make Sure etc. but when I refer to F & L, I'm talking about the retail.

2) Illmatic- This is the best album I've ever heard and considered to be the best album in all of hip hop by many. It comes in at a short 10 tracks which helps to make it very listenable. The intro track The Genesis helps get you hyped up for the amazing storytelling onslaught of New York State Of Mind. Life's A B**** features one of the best verses I've heard (AZ) and a strong verse from Nas. The World is Yours is not only catchy but has great lyrcism and Halftime is also a powerful track with its horns. Memory Lane is more chill but still boasts great lyrics as does One Love and One Time 4 Your Mind. Represent helps it get more upbeat again leading into my favorite hip hop song, It Ain't Hard To Tell to close out the album. Some of the best producers in hip hop coupled with a young very lyrical Nas who flows well and rhymes great makes it a classic.

3) Below The Heavens- BTH is so great to me because its so normal. Blu is rhyming about normal, everyday stuff alot of people can relate to and Exile gives him amazing beats to rhyme over. Both the retail and advance versions are great even though they arent that much different save a few tracks. My World Is, The Narrow Path, So(ul) Amazin, Blu Colla Workers, Cold Hearted, The World Is, Life Is A Gamble, etc. all powerful songs.

4) The Listening- This album is great to me because of its chill vibe. It has probably the most powerful/real songs you will come across in an album. Whatever You Say, The Way You Do It, Away From Me. Then it has those other great songs like Speed, The Listening, Nighttime Maneuvers, etc.

5) Late Registration- Late Registration has a lot of tracks but the skits were hilarious and this was the best combination of Kanye lyrical and entertaining. Gone is probably my favorite track, and then you have Lupe's great guest verse on Touch The Sky, Heard Em Say, We Major, etc.

6) The Cool- I go up and down with this album sometimes. Still great but not touching F & L. Its weaker tracks to me like Intruder Alert still showcase great story telling. Songs like Streets on Fire, Put You On Game, and Little Weapon are all lesser known but still better songs than most would be able to creat.

7) Murray's Revenge- I love it because its short, has great beats, and has Murs flowing well and being funny as usual. It combines great story telling with tracks like Dreamchaser, Dark Skinned White Girls and Yesterday And Today with entertaining songs like L.A. and Murray's Law.

8) Madvillainy- This album is weird, which is why it probably appeals to me. Most songs are under two and a half minutes with DOOM's unique rhyme scheme and Madlib's very unique but entertaining beats. Add in the nice instrumentals like Eye for example and you have a great album.

9) The Minstrel Show- This is a funny album with great lyrics, great beats, great skits. The only reason it isnt higher is because the end of the album slows down the high pace/standard it set at the beginning. 'Watch Me', 'Still Lives Through', and 'We Got Now' being the songs I feel are just notch below the rest.

10) ATLiens- Love this albums because its unique and strong pretty much front to back. Haunting intro, great lead song in Two Dope Boyz, great title track in ATLiens, and it stays strong pretty much all the way through.

Honorable Mentions- Reasonable Doubt, Fantastic Volume 2, Black Star, Fahrenheit 1st and 15 Part II: Revenge Of The Nerds (would be in top ten but is a mixtape), Dirty Acres, etc.