Last year I did a little piece on what albums and shows stood out for 2007. Here is this year’s recap and thoughts…this year I wanted to keep it brief and just post my personal top five records of the year:

TOP 5 ALBUMS
5. Santogold  Santogold
For many, the debut album from Santogold was highly anticipated, especially after her contribution on Mark Ronson’s ‘Pretty Green’ from last year’s Version.  While some critics were quick to make the inevitable M.I.A. comparisons, one listen to the self-titled record will allow listeners to understand why it’s in a league of its own.   Switch, Sinden and Diplo all contribute to incredible production throughout the record and Santogold embraces each one perfectly moving from dub to electronica seamlessly with a unique but powerful voice.  Something should be said for an album where the vibe is consistently changing yet is one you can play from start to end.
4. J. Rawls  The Liquid Crystal Project II
The true Ohio player J. Rawls comes with it again on LCPII.  While I consider this the #4 record of the year, it definitely ranks first in the sleeper category.  Just like Rawls has been doing since day one, this album is the true definition of hiphop-jazz fusion.  The instrumentals are pure and can please all audiences and embedded are fun, jazzy tributes to production greats like The Beatnuts and The Beatminerz.

3. Menahan Street Band  Make the Road By Walking
Yes, we know you and everyone else knows that Jay-Z’s ‘Roc Boys’ sampled ‘Make the Road By Walking.’  Not as many are aware though that this is a soul classic and another acolade for the Daptone crew.  From the instrumentation to recording quality, Menahan Street Band have completed a record that can keep anyone’s head nodding.

2. Raphael Saadiq  The Way I See It
When Amy Winehouse blew up last year we all knew to expect the labels to start pumping out albums with a similar retro-soul style.  Most lacked the excitement or talent of Winehouse until a 90’s pop and neo-soul legend named Raphael Saadiq released The Way I See It.  Clearly influenced from Chicago and Philly soul groups from the late 60’s, Saadiq has completed a recording that genuinely sounds like a lost LP from the decade.  ‘Let’s Take A Walk’ could be left on repeat for hours without getting old and ‘Big Easy’ with The Rebirth Brass Band is nothing short of breathtaking.

1. Q-Tip  The Renaissance 
For me, there are so many reasons why this was the best record of 2008 and just as many reasons why you want it to be the record of the year.  From the viewpoint of any New York hiphop head, you wanted this to work: Q-Tip is finally back with a studio album and there’s an emcee repping New York back on the mainstage again.  With that in mind its refreshing and amazing to see that well over ten years later, Q-Tip still has it in every aspect: production, flow, rhymes, and just overall coolness.  From the Black Ivory sampled ‘Gettin’ Up’ to straight banger ‘Won’t Trade,’ Renaissance clicks on so many different levels.