 | Tha Carter III by Lil' Wayne
Buy used from: $2.36 Lil' Wayne's transition from mixtape maestro to international superstar hit like a Napalm bomb. Weezy's animated delivery, stream of consciousness wit, and palpable love for the rap game made this THE dominant album of the year. Standouts: "A Milli", "Mr. Carter", "Dr. Carter"
|
 | Rising Down by The Roots
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $3.70 Eight albums in, and hip-hop's resident house band just keeps getting better. A perfect companion piece to '06's brilliant Game Theory, Rising Down is dark, moody, and brilliantly textured, making it a fitting soundtrack to a detached, yet claustrophobic world. One of the year's best in any genre. Standouts: "Rising Down", "Criminal", "I Can't Help It".
|
 | The Recession by Young Jeezy
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $3.52 "It's a recession, everybody's broke," and ATL's #1 trap star delivery's a timely sound track. Jeezy's gritty voice and poignant every man rhymes are as much modern blues as crunk. As urgent as it is raw, this album flat out bangs. Standouts: "Circulate", "My President", "Put On"
|
 | The Renaissance by Q-Tip
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $6.18 The chief of our funkiest Tribe is still Questin' on this triumphant return. Jazzy instrumentation of top of hard drums and a healthy dose of The Abstract's one of a kind lyricism feels like the natural progression of what Tribe would have been, and makes for one of the most listenable joints of the year. Standouts: "We Fight/We Love", "Move!", Believe"
|
 | Nas by Nas
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $2.93 Probably the most conceptual lyricist to ever bless a mic, Nas delivers a provocative and insightful exploration of race in America, in particular the existence of the black man. In true Nas fashion, it's far from perfect, but the imperfections somehow make it all the more compelling. Standouts: "Can't Stop Us", "N****r", "Fried Chicken"
|
 | Theater of the Mind by Ludacris
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $4.94 One of rap's most entertaining MCs drops arguably his most well rounded album. The trade mark Luda humor and bravado is there, but so is mature and focused lyricism. The rare LP that has something for everybody while still sounding cohesive. Standouts: "MVP", "I Did It For Hip Hop", "Do The Right Thing"
|
 | Emeritus by Scarface
Buy new: $16.99 / Used from: $6.65 The Godfather of the Dirty South delivers his alleged swan song in classic form. Everything we love about Face is here, the story telling, the street wisdom and the poignant lyrics from the darkest part of the soul. Standouts: "Can't Get Right", "Still Here", "Not A Game"
|
![LAX [Deluxe Edition]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513OnO86XWL._SL75_.jpg) | LAX [Deluxe Edition] by The Game
Buy new: $21.98 / Used from: $2.94 The west coast's default leader of the now school delivers another stellar of banging beats and rhymes about bangin'. Yet, it's the moment where came stretches himself conceptually that really makes the album stick. Standouts: "My Life", "Angel", Letter to The King"
|
 | Jeanius by Jean Grae & 9th Wonder
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $7.51 The bootleg classic from rap's premiere female lyricist finally got a proper release, allowing the masses to revel in her impeccable flow, dexterous word play, and often hauntingly personal rhymes. 9th Wonder's soulful production proves the perfect complement to Jean's lyrical tsunami. Standouts: "Don't Rush Me", "My Story", "Killer Billy"
|
 | To Serve with Love by Black Spade
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $1.94 The St. Louis rapper/producer builds on the foundation laid by Dilla to deliver the year's most pleasant surprise. In turns playful, soulful and hungry, this little album that could deserves to land on as many sets of headphones as it can find. Standouts: "Evil Love", "She's The One For Me", "Lavish Life"
|
Listmania!
