Aughts pt.8-2007

First is just what the pod said was played most in order.
1. I Know-Jay-Z
2. Good Life (Ft. T-Pain)-Kanye West
3. Flashing Lights (Ft. Dwele)-Kanye West
4. Hostile Gospel Pt. 1-Talib Kweli
5. Roc Boys (And The Winner Is.....)-Jay-Z
6. Work That-Mary J. Blige
7. Say Hello-Jay-Z
8. Stop Breaking My Heart-Rahsaan Patterson
9. The People-Common
10. I Want You (Feat. Will.I.Am)-Common
11. Southside (Feat. Kanye West)-Common
12. Fallin'-Jay-Z
13. Good Morning (Intro)-Kanye West
14. Arms Of My Baby-Joss Stone
15. Champion-Kanye West
16. Break My Heart-Common
17. Party Life-Jay-Z
18. Ignorant Shit-Jay-Z
19. Just Fine-Mary J. Blige
20. Can't Tell Me Nothing-Kanye West

Break down of my faves & ’07 slept ons. Honestly Jig’s AG, Ye’s Graduation, Mary’s Growing Pains, Com’s Finding Forever, and Joss’ album dominated the pod, car, bar, etc, for the whole year, but here are a few highlights & others.

1. Lesson Learned (featuring John Mayer)-Alicia Keys
Sorry Barnes, yes I do find a way to work Mayer into every list, or he finds some way of being present every year. I, for the record, HATED “No One” and think “Like You’ll Never See Me Again” is yet another rip off (“Purple Rain”) so this is the one tolerable record from the album and I think he’s in pocket. It’s not a duet. Little guitar and backups, but it’s a great arrangement.

2. Just Friends-Amy Winehouse
Yes, Back in Black was a good album, but America made Winehouse more spectacle than singer. Regardless of her antics, the music was great behind her lyrics, the Dap Kings and Salaam Remi-the reggae/hip hop architect behind the Fugees and everybody who ever wanted to sound like Lauryn. This one right here was proof that Mark Ronson was not the driving force behind Back to Black. Remi hands in an authentic roots reggae track for Ms. Brixton to bless.

3. Can't Get Over (Feat. Dave Hollister)-Carl Thomas
The circle is complete. Mike City’s vocalists of his first two major hits come together on this slept on/swept under the mat track. As this is from Carl’s indie album on Mike’s imprint, it never saw light of day on radio. It deserved better. Rarely do you get two voices like this on one track giving it up.

4. One For All Time-Chaka Khan
Thank God for Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis & “Big Jim” Wright taking care of mama Chaka on her best album since C.K. “Angel” was a close second, but the hook on this kept me just a little bit longer.

5. Love Theme from "The Godfather"-Chuck Brown
The first full-length album from “The Godfather” since We the People in 1977. Yes, DC’s go-go leader has made his name and legend from 12” singles, not albums. So this was a historical recording, if you will. How appropriate of him to flip the Coppola theme he bears the name of.

6. Tomorrow's Another Day-Collie Buddz
One of the best reggae album’s I ever heard. Chants and sings his ass off and ALL the tracks bang, but this one was my fave.

7. Finding Forever (album)/Southside (Feat. Kanye West)/The People/I Want You (Feat. Will.I.Am)-Common
The album wasn’t necessarily BETTER than Be, but the upgrades in sonic alchemy Kanye had been studying were evident with tracks like “Southside.” Will.i.am puts his big black pinky in on it with “I Want You” though. Flipping three different beats, creating three different moods, his arrangement skills supersede “hip hop” production.

8. Pretty Little Sexy Mama/The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (feat. Kanye West)-Consequence
Long time no hear. Dexter “Cons to da Quence” Mills debuted on the Dilla directed Beats, Rhymes & Life album by Tribe Called Quest but languished for years in obscurity ‘til he showed up on Kanye’s College Dropout. Giving us a clue as to who Ye’ sparred with on his way to the top, Cons’ style is very similar. After killing “Late” and “Spaceship” he finally gets his own album to shine. “Good, Bad & Ugly” showcases Cons & Kan-man at their hungriest as it was recorded before Dropout even came out. Peep the sample on “Pretty Little Sexy Mama” indie music lovers, and you’ll probably get why I played it so much.

9. What A Job (Feat. Snoop Dogg & Andre 3000)-Devin The Dude
True love for what we do our here whether we get paid or not. Not too often are you gonna hear Devin talking about sum’n other that blunts and broads, so digest this fully. Snoop and Andre handle theirs on it. This is one of the ones keeping Andre lovers swinging despite no full length effort from Outkast or him solo.

10. American Gangster (album)-I Know-Jay-Z
2nd best album he ever made. Recorded in a friggin’ month!

11. Crown Royal-Jill Scott
As simple and sexy as "Honey Molasses," but this time she was talking shit DIRECTLY. Gotta love her for finally being sassy/sexy unabashedly.

12. Arms Of My Baby-Joss Stone
Raphael Saadiq is a friggin' master. It's one thing to manifest one's own compositions into productions. It's another to gel 6-10 different writers into a cohesive package while keeping the retro-right now funk going. Joss is an awesome vocalist and it took me a minute to accept that she wasn't just being someone else or trying to emanate soul singers. She IS.

13. Throw Some D's (Remix)-Kanye West
Nip/Tuck’s latest sales rep. If they weren’t drinking the Ye’ Kool-Aid yet, many came on right here. Flipping Rich Boy’s track to a comedic, but killer flow, Ye’s maniacal work ethic makes for many a highlight outside his albums.
“She ain’t pregnant, but about to have twins.” “Why you spend your money on that shallow shit? Won’t you buy some bigger tits, something that’ll last you?”

14. Graduation (album)/Good Life (Ft. T-Pain)-Kanye West
Certain albums beg for headphones. Not the Ipod buds , but real Bose, Koss, or Monster “over the head” phones. The fidelity & most efficient use of the highs and bottom on tracks comes through on this album. You can study “Good Life,” "Stronger" and "Flashing Lights" and still not get everything happening in the production. But one thing’s for certain, Kanye takes time and care with his craft. Give him that.

15. Like This f/ Eve-Kelly Rowland
As long as there is a Matthew Knowles, Kelly will make records you never hear. Eve should’ve released it featuring Kelly. That would’ve changed the response to the track-which was hot as hell.

16. Let it Go-Keyshia Cole featuring Lil’ Kim & Missy
How can you STILL win with the “Juicy Fruit” beat? Kim and Missy sold it for me.

17. You Just Don't Want to Know-Marvin Winans
For the record this is NOT a Gospel song, no matter how much they try to flip it into one for his Tyler Perry appearances. Marvin had a Bebe-like secular moment. Divorce will do that to a minister. However, the song is as awesome as it is awesome.

18. Work That-Mary J. Blige
A motivational jam from the Queen? It got me so amped up. Though I feel most of it’s for young or hustlin’ sisters, I totally felt the universal lines of the tune. Favorite tune from 2nd favorite album on MJB.

19. Last Night (Remix)-Diddy feat. Keyshia Cole, Lil' Kim, Yung Joc, The Game, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi & Rich Boy
Will.i.am strikes again. With the Prince samples and essence in full effect, everybody represents on this track. Not one wack verse, bridge or vamp. Extended remix will keep a party going all night.

20. Gilla House Check-Redman
Years off, Reggie finally made it back for one last album. This one and the “My 1st Song” mixtape track got the most spins and represented my old Reggie better than the Timbo and Pete Rock singles they pushed on us.

21. Hostile Gospel Pt. 1-Talib Kweli
Very close 2nd to “Get By” for Kweli’s best song. Blaze’s reused “Kingdom Come” beat notwithstanding, the kids choir and the overall theme might inspire riots and marches.

22. Calm The Fuck Down-T-Pain
Don’t know if it’ll ever get officially released, but this bonus cut from Pain’s original album kills me. Maybe it’s the (disgruntled) domestic side of me. Hilarious track if you can find it.

23. International Playas Anthem (w/Outkast)-UGK
For the record, Bun B’s verse is my favorite. Get off Dre’s…

24. Don't Let Me Leave Alone (Nicolay's Hardhouse Remix)-Windimoto
Shout out to Jamil for this one. Don’t know anything other than this is somehow rooted in Detroit. Track bangs for the dancefloor, but make sure you get the right version.