2009 - A Good Year?

Just wanted to clear my head for thoughts. This post is ignited by the previous post, the one with the radio rip of that new Ghost, Meth & Rae joint. Coz, if OB4CL2 is really coming this year, and all the other projects scheduled to release this year drops this year, this might be the best year for HipHop in many years, perhaps the best year since 1998.

Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2
- I mean the first album was a definitive classic. And judging by all the leaked tracks for the sequel, it's set to be another great album. Maybe a classic.
And for those not up to date. BGDB presented a mixtape with all of Raekwon's leaked tracks for the OB4CL2 album.

BGDB presents Only Built For Cuban Linx 2 (Leaked Tracks) ||| TRACKLIST

And that's not all this year has in store. Not even close. Take the Three Headed Monster:
50 Cent - Before I Self-Destruct
- That's right. I know a lot of people have lost interest in 50 Cent the last years, because he's moving further and further away from his classic album, Get Rich or Die Tryin'. That's exactly why he's on this list. From what I've heard by 50 Cent the last couple of months it seems he has gone back to the sound from Get Rich or Die Tryin'. That's why this album, might be one of many albums lifting this year up.

Eminem - Relapse
- That's right, Eminem is about to make a comeback. I'm not sure if this album is going to be one of the better album of 2008, because I really don't know what general sound the album will have. Will Em go back to his classic sound from the first albums, or will he just go on with the sound from his most recent albums? Still I chose to keep it on the list, as it is highly anticipated, and he definitely has the potential to help 2009 being a great year for hiphop.

Dr. Dre - Detox
- If this album comes out this year that is. Being postponed every year since the last one came out, this is easily top 3 anticipated albums of 2009. I won't front on Dre having to postpone his album though, because with his previous albums being The Chronic and 2001, people are expecting Detox to be a classic. And that's not easy living up to.

N.A.S.A. - The Spirit of Apollo
- This album was one of my most anticipated albums of the year after seeing the tracklist and all. I've heard the album now, and it's currently the album I listed the most to, but seeing the full list of releases scheduled this year, I don't think it'll end up in my Top 5, even so, It's one of many great albums that will be on my ipod all year.

Lupe Fiasco - The Great American Rap Album"
- Appearantly, Lupe got his inspiration back and cancelled LupEND until further notice. And according to himself, he is now dropping to new albums this year. I chose to only put one on the list, as I am sure at least one of them is postponed. I don't dig the title, but Lupe Fiasco usually delivers on record, so definitely something to look forward to, even in a great year as 2009 will be.

Grandmaster Flash - The Bridge: Concept Of A Culture
- Now I've heard the 10-track sampler/promo tape floating around, and I'm a little hyped. Even though I'm expecting more from someone that has been absent for 20 years. Originally, the Bridge was scheduled for release Feb. 20, but I've heard people talk about March 3rd, and some people talking longer delays, so we might have to wait even longer for it. Even though I said I expected more, it's not bad, what I've heard. Shine All Day is one of the songs on my iPod given the most rotations, and Bounce Back and Tribute to the Breakdancer all sounds great. I'm just not sure what the whole album will sound like. Oh well, guess I'll have to wait and see like everybody else.

Jay-Z - Blueprint 3
- Definitely one of the most anticipated albums of 2009. With Jay-Z being as active as he was throughout 2008. and dropping tracks like Swagger Like Us and Brooklyn (Go Hard), of course I'm hyped for the album. Especially after Jay-Z came out and told the world that he postponed the album because he wanted all the tracks to be as great as Swagger Like Us and BK (Go Hard). This might end up as one of 2009's and one of Jay-Z' best albums.

Kanye West - (TBA)
- I've read on his blog some time ago, that he is rapping again. And that is why this album is on the list. Kanye is easily one of the game's best producers, and he's good at rhyming aswell. I've realized how much I've missed Kanye's raps this year, when I had to cling on too every old track, remix and feature where raps, because I really didn't dig the singing album. As for the (TBA) tag, I know that title was said to be "Good Ass Job", but I've checked around, and some said that the title was changed. Dunno if it's true or not, so I left it (TBA).

Lil Wayne - The Carter IV
- He might not win any awards for most creative album title, but Lil Wayne is huge right now. Being under 100,000 copies away from selling over 3 million copies of Carter III in the U.S., there's no denying that. I usually don't fave Weezy's albums as one of my top 5/top 10, but that's because I like many of the songs, but often not the full albums. It's still on the list, because the sales numbers really strengthen hiphop, and even though he has these huge radio hits, he's still Hiphop. Don't come and tell me that "A Milli" isn't hiphop because it sold copies. A Milli, is one of the songs that defines 2008. And all the remix versions? that's really hiphop. And by the way, yes I've heard about the rock album, but I expect this album to be out this year aswell, and hopefully Weezy gets tired of auto-tune through the rock album, and is back in full when the Carter IV is out.

Method Man & Redman - Blackout! Part II
- There's a lot of sequels and titles to live up to this year, but in my eyes, that's great. I'm looking forward to all the albums on this list. Blackout! is one of my favorite albums ever, at least top 10 or 20, without me having any written list on that. Blackout! was one of the albums that brought me into the hiphop world in my younger days, and a sequel better be good. But unfortunately, there's a big risk of this being postponed 'till 2010 or longer. It's a long time since I've heard anything about this album, so it might be a sign that they're working on it. I dunno, but I hope.

Sean Price - Mic Tyson
- Everytime Sean Price drops an album, I'm hyped. The legendary Heltah Skeltah rapper, always drop something hard, and if you're not sure about all the others album coming out this year, you can always rely on Sean Price. He's no longer 'the brokest rapper you know', but should be slept on. Check him out, if you haven't already.

B-Real - Smoke N Mirrors
- One of the underdogs on the list as I feel it. I've never been a big fan of his solo efforts, but after hearing "Don't Ya Dare Laugh" and him being signed on Duck Down Records, I was suddenly hyped for the album. This might end up being one of 2009's purest albums. Let's hope.

... now there's a lot of albums that didn't make this list, that might should've been on it, like Ghostface, Snoop Dogg, the New T.I. album, Reks. And there's always a lot of newcomers who might set the game straight. There's also always some unknown artists that becomes personal favorites without gaining the deserved fame. Like Black ELement or Funkoars last year, and Myka 9 so far this year. But as you hopefully will understand, this is a list of anticipated and GOOD albums coming out that might make 2009 a great year. There is also a lot of artist that I don't know if is dropping albums this year. Like The Roots, Common etc. So the year might be even better than it already looks.

Peace,
K