Top 5 albums of 2008-Sheilla Picks
5) “When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold” by Atmosphere. Between Slug’s lyrics and Ant’s ability to produce almost every one of their albums on his own, Atmosphere has managed to stay one step ahead of many of their competitors. Although I have been a fan of them ever since I can remember, this album has a different feel to it, talking about real issues such as addiction, hypocrisy, disappointments, and life lessons. If you’re looking for crappy artists that only know how to spit about girls and money, Atmosphere isn’t for you. Otherwise, this will be one of the greatest albums you pick up-- guaranteed.
4) “The Renaissance” by Q-Tip. November 4, 2008 is a day that went down in history.. The people of the United States elected the first black president to serve and guide our country. Whether Kamaal a.k.a. Q-tip planned it out or not, “The Renaissance” was the perfect name for his album; it described the rebirth of our country and what is yet to come. Trying to break out of A Tribe Called Quest’s shadow is not an easy task, but Q-Tip overcomes it with mellow beats and unforgettable lyrics, and he didn’t even need profanity to do so. It feels good to know that even after years of being in the music industry, Tip hasn’t lost sight of his roots and what real music sounds like
3) “Murs For President” by Murs. Thoughtful, lyrical, emotional, Murs has it all. From writing about break ups, making a difference, or just good ol’ hip hop, he has always managed to relate to all different kinds of people, which is what makes Murs such a great artist. Although people thought his sound would change after breaking into mainstream, he hasn’t failed to impress. If you’re looking for good vibes and a change in perspective, “Murs For President” is the perfect album to add to your collection.
2) “Untitled” by Nas. Whether you continue to call the album “Nigger” or just refer to it as “untitled,” one thing still remains the same: Nas is in the game and he ain’t goin’ no where. The success of his latest album is due to the production of punch lines, detail, and honesty. Although “nigger” has become a word that seems meaningless due to the way other artists have thrown it around in their songs, Nas defines the root of the word with intellect and authority. Even though this album seems to be geared towards African-Americans and the troubles and the hardships many have gone through, it appeals to everyone as all of us have experienced some sort of prejudice in our lives.
1) “Rising Down” by The Roots. Originating in “The City of Brotherly Love” around 1987, they are one of the few hip hop bands still around and kickin’. I didn’t think it was possible for them to live up to our expectations since the bar was set so high after releasing “Game Theory” in 2006, but they did just that and more. The Roots has surpassed any and all standards with the release of “Rising Down,” which addresses all issues from green house gases to the rise in taxes and everything in between. With all of the problems we face in our government and society, it’s nice to have someone make a point to address them.
5) “When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold” by Atmosphere. Between Slug’s lyrics and Ant’s ability to produce almost every one of their albums on his own, Atmosphere has managed to stay one step ahead of many of their competitors. Although I have been a fan of them ever since I can remember, this album has a different feel to it, talking about real issues such as addiction, hypocrisy, disappointments, and life lessons. If you’re looking for crappy artists that only know how to spit about girls and money, Atmosphere isn’t for you. Otherwise, this will be one of the greatest albums you pick up-- guaranteed. 
4) “The Renaissance” by Q-Tip. November 4, 2008 is a day that went down in history.. The people of the United States elected the first black president to serve and guide our country. Whether Kamaal a.k.a. Q-tip planned it out or not, “The Renaissance” was the perfect name for his album; it described the rebirth of our country and what is yet to come. Trying to break out of A Tribe Called Quest’s shadow is not an easy task, but Q-Tip overcomes it with mellow beats and unforgettable lyrics, and he didn’t even need profanity to do so. It feels good to know that even after years of being in the music industry, Tip hasn’t lost sight of his roots and what real music sounds like
3) “Murs For President” by Murs. Thoughtful, lyrical, emotional, Murs has it all. From writing about break ups, making a difference, or just good ol’ hip hop, he has always managed to relate to all different kinds of people, which is what makes Murs such a great artist. Although people thought his sound would change after breaking into mainstream, he hasn’t failed to impress. If you’re looking for good vibes and a change in perspective, “Murs For President” is the perfect album to add to your collection. 
2) “Untitled” by Nas. Whether you continue to call the album “Nigger” or just refer to it as “untitled,” one thing still remains the same: Nas is in the game and he ain’t goin’ no where. The success of his latest album is due to the production of punch lines, detail, and honesty. Although “nigger” has become a word that seems meaningless due to the way other artists have thrown it around in their songs, Nas defines the root of the word with intellect and authority. Even though this album seems to be geared towards African-Americans and the troubles and the hardships many have gone through, it appeals to everyone as all of us have experienced some sort of prejudice in our lives. 
1) “Rising Down” by The Roots. Originating in “The City of Brotherly Love” around 1987, they are one of the few hip hop bands still around and kickin’. I didn’t think it was possible for them to live up to our expectations since the bar was set so high after releasing “Game Theory” in 2006, but they did just that and more. The Roots has surpassed any and all standards with the release of “Rising Down,” which addresses all issues from green house gases to the rise in taxes and everything in between. With all of the problems we face in our government and society, it’s nice to have someone make a point to address them.
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