Top Five - The Best Hip Hop Albums

 

I am not a gigantic fan of the Hip Hop genre, but I do have a certain appreciation for particular artists in the field. Hip Hop is such a minority in my music library that the 5 musicians I list in this post is practically every artist I listen to, which made making this list extremely easy. I wanted to make this list because even though it is not a huge part of my life, these albums have given me some amazing songs to live my life by and I really appreciate what all these records have to offer. So, with my limited knowledge and humble opinion, I present:

5.   Jurassic 5 - POWER IN NUMBERS

One of the first Hip Hop records I ever listened to, it is quite a modern album but I was fascinated with how old school their sound was. It was the way you could tell that they were actually using a real drum kit for their beats and their lyrics were extremely analytical with very little self promotion. Not a perfect album but it has some really good high points.

Best Songs: Break, High Fidelity, What's Golden

4.   Jay-Z - THE BLACK ALBUM

One of the most classic albums in the history of Hip Hop. I was first introduced to Jay-Z when he collaborated with Linkin Park on their Collision Course album for MTV. That album was an absolute masterpiece, but I didn't think it really qualified to make this list. Therefore I included the acclaimed Black Album, it contains some of the most famous and memorable songs from Jay-Z's career. His flow is endless and his rhythms are intense and unique.

Best Songs: Dirt Off Your Shoulder, Encore, 99 Problems

3.   Kanye West - MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY

I was never really a huge Kanye fan, I had always liked his singles (Touch The Sky, Gold Digger, etc...) but I never really got into his music as a whole. It wasn't until recently, when he released his 2011 album that I released how great he can be. This album is brilliant piece of art, it starts so strongly and the entire first half of the album is perfect. There are so many songs on this album that have the potential to be charting singles. The artwork and design of the deluxe edition case is a really classy touch, and the movie Runaway is a fascinating watch.

Best Songs: Monster, All The Lights, Power, Runaway, Gorgeous, Dark Fantasy

2.   Mos Def - THE ECSTATIC

This is another example of me not really being a fan until the latest album. When Mos Def released The Ecstatic in 2009, I fell in love with the style of the album. It sounded so classic and elegant, it had so many layers of complex beauty and the lyrical work was so deep and real. This is also another example of the first half of an album being absolutely perfect, the first 10 songs have no flaws and the rest of the album is still really good. This record is really a low-key triumph for Mos Def and the Hip Hop genre in the modern world.

Best Songs: Supermagic, Twilite Speedball, Auditorium, Priority, Pistola

1. A Tribe Called Quest - PEOPLE'S INSTINCTIVE TRAVELS AND THE PATHS OF RHYTHM

ATCQ is undoubtedly my favourite Hip Hop group of all time, ever since I found out about them through the sample of Lou Reed's Walk On The Wild Side on their song Can I Kick It? I got their greatest hits album, The Anthology, and I got addicted. I was obsessed with them and I loved every single track on that album (if I could include a greatest hits on this list, than The Anthology would be #1 by a mile, but that seemed a bit unfair to me). I feel that PIT&TPOR is the Tribes greatest album to date, it was their debut album and really begun their legacy. There have been plenty of amazing songs from ATCQ over the years, including Scenario, Check The Rime and Buggin' Out but no other album has ever come close to this one. It is a piece of Hip Hop history and it is an instant classic.

Best Songs: Can I Kick It?, Luck Of Lucien, I Left My Wallet In El Segundo, Description Of A Fool

p.s. Pharrell didn't have an album that was good enough to make this list, but he is one of the greatest artists in the business today. His work as a producer for numerous musicians and a composer for the movie Despicable Me is outstanding, he also has a really successful career with his band N.E.R.D. and his solo work (as well as his guest appereances on songs and movies).

Best Songs: Everybody Nose, How Does It Feel?, Prettiest Girls

What if I say I will never surrender?

It was recently announced that the Foo Fighters will be back in New Zealand in December, along with support act Tenacious D, so I thought this would be a good chance to talk about the first time I got to see the Foo Fighters live. I am a relatively new FF fan, I have always known about but never really bad them a great amount of attention, however after the devastating Christchurch earthquakes, the Foo Fighters announced an impromptu concert in Auckland to raise money for charity. It was being held in a small venue, The Auckland Town Hall, and there was only a couple of thousand tickets on sale with all the proceeds going to Christchurch, so I thought it would be the perfect time to go see them live. It was a special and unique event, I am very lucky to say that I was a part of it and it was for such a good cause. So I got of Uni early and lined up super early in the day, the people in the line were extremely cool and hopefully I will get to hang out with them all again in December. We finally got let in and I claimed my territory on the barrier, front row centre. The 2 opening acts were local and really good, first was the Transistors and second was a band I have ranted about before, Cairo Knife Fight. Eventually, the Foo Fighters emerged and went straight into their new album, Wasting Light, which hadn't even been released yet. They played the entire album in order, which was a really amazing thing to hear because New Zealand doesn't often get to hear things before the rest of the world. After the finished the album with Walk, Dave exploded straight into All My Life and then it was just an array of their greatest hits. They played an amazing set list consisting of over 30 songs and they barely even paused the entire night. It was 3 hours of continuous hard rock and playful rambling from Dave. I can't wait to see them again at the end of the year, Wasting Light has quickly become my favourite FF album as a whole, it is the most complete record they have ever released. I was not able to take photos that night, but this is the set list from the show and stuck on it is Chris Shiflett's guitar pick.

Foo Fighters. 23/03/2011/ Auckland Town Hall, Auckland, New Zealand.

Aurora was played instead of Enough Space.

Smile on my face but it's really no joke

Originally Mos Def was scheduled to tour New Zealand in Janurary, but due to some conflicts he had to postpone the show. Unfortunately it wasn't until the day of the concert that the general public was told, so I had arrived home from uni and was getting ready to go to the gig, when I checked my answering machine and it was the touring company telling me the show was off for now. I was so gutted, but I held on to the fact that it was only postponed, not cancelled. Eventually it was announced that the show was rescheduled for the 1st of Feburary and I was ecstatic. I got front row centre and had to suffer through all the average NZ hip-hop artists and DJ's (seriously, what is the point of a DJ!? They just press play, then go get a drink or say random words in the mic, it is completely pointless). Mos Def was running late, so I had to suffer for a bit longer, but it was all worth it when he came out. He played a great setlist with all his good songs from the new album, and they sounded so much more dynamic live, especially the beat change on Pistola. Mos Def was looking flash in his 1940's collared shirt and pants, with some slick shoes and super cool suspenders. He had a drum kit set up that he could use and his drumming skills really showed during Quiet Dog, Bite Hard. The best Hip Hop concert I have ever been to, by far.

Mos Def. 01/02/2011. The Powerstation, Auckland, New Zealand.

Mos Def - Auditorium

The sparkle in your eyes, keeps me alive

Love was one of the first albums I loved in its entirety, so when I found out that not only were The Cult coming to New Zealand for a show but that they were going to play every song off Love, I was ecstatic. I had never been to the Trusts Stadium in West Auckland before, it was really just a converted netball stadium, but that didn't matter to me. The opening band was new to me and led by the former frontman of Supergroove, Karl Steven. It was my first time seeing The Drab Doo-Riffs live and I have been in love with their music ever since (check them out in my New Zealand Music Month post). After DDR's were finished their high energy set of alternative/surf/punk amazingness, it was time for The Cult to play. The British goth rockers played Love in its entirety, and it was one of the most amazing things ever. Ian Astbury looked like a motorcycle gang member and was throwing tamberines into the audience all night, Billy Duffy was brilliant on his guitar, especially during the intro of Phoenix. They closed their set with a collection of their greatest hits, including Wildflower and Love Removal Machine. Overall, it was pretty good first experience with Trusts Stadium.

The Cult w/ The Drab Doo-Riffs. 03/05/2010. Trusts Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand.

The Drab Doo-Riffs - Trouble

The Cult - Billy Duffy

The Cult - Ian Astbury

The Cult - Billy Duffy

The Cult - Nirvana

Take me to the top of the hill, where the birds refuse to fly

My latest obsession in the New Zealand music scene is a Wellington band called BEASTWARS. They are a four piece sludge metal band and their debut album has just been released on CD and Vinyl. This album is the best thing to come out of NZ all year and it is my new favourite NZ metal album. The droning, ritualistic vocals of Matt Hyde is a phenomenal display of darkness. The way his deep voice strains and breaks is beautifully demonic, it truly oozes the dark emotion in the songs. The instrumental work is magnificent, it is like an apocalypse in your ears. Raise your fist, bang your head and obey the riff.

Best Songs: Damn The Sky, Lake Of Fire, Red God, Daggers, Call Out The Dead

BEASTWARS w/ Cobra Khan. 28/06/2011. The Kings Arms Tavern, Auckland, New Zealand.

Cobra Khan

BEASTWARS

BEASTWARS - Matt Hyde

BEASTWARS - Matt Hyde

BEASTWARS. - Call Out The Dead

Signed setlist

Top Ten - The Best Heavy Metal Albums

This is a list of my favourite heavy metal albums of all time. I first started getting into the heavier forms of rock 'n' roll when I got my first Linkin Park album, Hybrid Theory, and ever since then my love for the genre continues to grow. I am only a part-time headbanger though, despite what my long hair and the black t shirts may suggest. But please, no one get to upset about specific genres and sub-genres, I've never been one to give a shit if something is metalcore or deathcore, I just don't care at all. To me, metal is metal, and that is what this list is all about: The Greatest Metal albums that were ever made...in my opinion.

10.   Maximum The Hormone - BUIIKIKAESU

I was first introduced to this band through the opening and closing credits of the Japanese anime, Death Note. I had to order the album all the way from Japan just to get my hands on it, but it was extremely worth all the effort. This album is such a symbiotic combination of heavy metal and J-pop, it really brings the intensity of thrashing guitars and screaming vocals but also has catchy pop beats and clean, female vocals. The 2 styles juxtapose each other brilliantly and really bring the fun back to metal, this album just makes you want to bang your head and dance at the same time.

Best Songs: Buiiki Kaesu!!, What's Up, people!?, Koi No Mega Lover, Chu Chu Lovely Muni Muni Mura Mura Purin Purin Boron Nurururerorero

9.   The Black Dahlia Murder - DEFLORATE

This was the second BDM album I ever heard, but I was already madly in love with this band before I heard it. It is their fourth full length, studio album and their first with guitarist, Ryan Knight. Knight has a much more technical style and really brings a whole new level to the solos and instrumentals on this album. It has all the usual appeal of an album made by The Black Dahlia Murder but this album is perhaps their best on a technical level and it is the most well produced and finished. It really proves that their is a strong evolution in this bands style and it just keeps getting better.

Best Songs: Black Valor, Necropolis, I Will Return, Death Panorama, Christ Reformed

8.   August Burns Red - CONSTELLATIONS

Don't be put off by the 'christian' tag this band has, their faith only makes their music that much better. This is probably one of the heaviest bands I listen to, purely due to the fact that ABR completely abuse the use of breakdowns to assist their music. Even though my favourite ABR song ever, Composure, is on an earlier album called Messengers, I feel that this album is a much more complete piece of work. It is strong from start to finish and really has a good flow that leads from one song to another. The cover art is extremely beautiful as well.

Best Songs: Marianas Trench, Thirty And Seven, Existence, White Washed

7.   Arch Enemy - DOOMSDAY MACHINE

I am only a fan of the Angela Gassow era of Arch Enemy, I never saw the appeal of their previous vocalist, but I have loved them ever since I first heard Angela's powerful and demonic voice. I had a tough choice between this album and their 2007 album, Rise Of The Tyrant. ROTT was the first Arch Enemy album I ever heard so it has a lot of nostalgia attached to it, but I feel that this album is a much stronger example of their unlimited potential. The amazing vocals coupled together with the electrifying guitars is what makes this the best album AE has made to this day. Right from the opening instrumental, it explodes into the beginning of the album and stands strong.

Best Songs: Enter The Machine, Taking Back My Soul, Nemesis, My Apocalypse

6.   Trivium - ASCENDANCY

I remember when I was much younger and the fantastic Alt TV was still on the air, I would stay up all night and just watch all the cool and strange videos that they would play. This is where I was really exposed to my first bit of heavy metal, when I saw Trivium's video for Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr. At first, I wasn't even sure if I liked it or not, I was quite young and hadn't been exposed to vocals like that before but as time went on, I fell more and more in love with that style of music and here we are today. This is easily their best album to date, it has all of their greatest songs and is so signature to the Trivium style. Matt Heafy creates a great balance between clean and death vocals with the instrumental work being out of this world.

Best Songs: Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr, A Gunshot To The Head Of Trepidation, Rain, Like Light To Flies, Drowned And Torn Asunder

5.   Lamb Of God - ASHES OF THE WAKE

LoG is one of my favourite bands ever, so it was unbelievably hard to pick which albums were going to make the list. I would've loved to have included As The Palaces Burn, New American Gospel and Wrath as well, but I had to make a choice and this was the clear option. AOTW is LoG's 4th album, but it also has a much more memorable/catchy element which makes all the songs that much better. The album slightly fades over the last 2 songs, but the beginning is so explosive that you could almost use the break from thrashing riffs and timeless songs.

Best Songs: Hourglass, What I've Become, Omerta, The Faded Line, Now You've Got Something To Die For

4.   At The Gates - SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL

This album is one of the godfathers of Swedish Melodic Death Metal, along with Dark Tranquility's The Gallery and In Flames' The Jester Race. A landmark album for the genre, it was the fourth and final from ATG. As it was recorded so long ago, the quality of the songs is not up to today's high standards, but it is that slightly rough element that makes it sound so unique and powerful. It is a brutal album from start to finish (with a couple of slightly out of place instrumentals) and with most of its songs being no longer than 3 minutes, it really is a fast paced, high energy experience. The lyrics are so intense, you can really feel the emotion and the hate flowing from this album. The high point is definitely the first few seconds on Suicide Nation, where a gun is cocked into the microphone before the band explodes into the song.

Best Songs: Slaughter Of The Soul, Suicide Nation, Cold, World Of Lies

3.   Burn The Priest - BURN THE PRIEST

The album that came before Lamb of God. Now I am not one of those people who gets all defensive about the difference between BTP and LOG, I believe that they are pretty much the same band, just with a different name. When it comes down to it though, I absolutely feel that BTP was the strongest period in the history of Lamb of God. Burn The Priest is the most stripped back and raw version of the band that there ever has been, it is a savage and brutal album of destructive songs and rip-your-face-off vocals. It is the best vocal performance I have ever really heard from Randy Blythe, or anyone for that matter. It is a lot heavier, faster and more intense than any other LOG album and that is why I love it so much.

Best Songs: Bloodletting, Dimera, Resurrection #9, Departure Hymn

2.   Nightrage - A NEW DISEASE IS BORN

This was the dominant album of my 2007/8 and it completely redefined my taste in music. It was truly the first metal album I ever fell in love with and became obsessed with. It's extremely memorable riffs and powerful vocals were mind blowing. The only problem with this album was that it was a one off event in the history of the band, because the vocalist would leave after this album (It was the only album he performed vocals on). It was the perfect line-up but never again will it happen, so now I just choose to pretend that the other Nightrage albums don't exist and I listen only to ANDIB. It's a strange way to live my life but it suits me just fine.

Best Songs: Spiral, Scathing, Death-like Silence, Drone, Reconcile

1.   The Black Dahlia Murder - NOCTURNAL

Easily the best heavy metal album, in my opinion. There is no doubt in my mind, I discovered this band last year when I went to see an Unearth concert and BDM was co-headlining. Ever since that day, I have been obsessed with every piece of music BDM have released. This album is absolutely perfect, from the first song all the way through to the last. Those 10 songs are everything that is good about the previous 9 albums all together in one. Trevor Strnd is my favourite vocalist, his voices complexity is astonishing, the way he goes from blood curdling scream to a deep, demonic growl is amazing. The guitar and instrumental work is so catchy but drives the album along with its blinding pace and brutal intensity. The song writing is some of the best I have ever heard, especially on songs like Deathmask Devine, where Trevor manages to create the most beautiful and horrific tale of love and obsession. LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM!!!

Best Songs: What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse, Deathmask Devine, Everything Went Black, Nocturnal, Climactic Degradation, Virally Yours

Belief is a beautiful armour but makes for the heaviest sword

It was in April of 2010 that the mature ladies man with a sense of humour came to town. John Mayer hadn't been to New Zealand in over 3 years but this would be my first time seeing him live in concert. I was lucky enough to be sitting in the fourth row and was blown away right from the opening act. I had never heard of Lisa Crawley before but she came out on stage looking adorably nervous and played some of the most beautifully lovable music (for those of you who have read my New Zealand Music Month posts, then you are probably already familiar with Lisa Crawley's amazingness). Despite the fact there were not many teenage/young girls, the scream that erupted from the crowd when John Mayer came on was unbelievable, and there was no shortage of the random, shrieking declarations of love during the momentary silences between songs. John Mayer is the perfect example of a modern blues man and an amazing improvisational guitarist, breathing new life into all of his songs through his suave personality and electric fingers. I have not seen a performance like that since around the time of my 18th birthday when I saw the legend, Eric Clapton in the same venue (according to the album booklet of Continuum, John steals from Eric Clapton but he is cool with it). Backed by his 5-piece band, he put on one hell of a show, and he even managed to make the audience laugh. He was full of jokes and little monologues, helping everyone to relax and have a great time. The greatest moment was when John asked a question to the audience (in the middle of a strange rant)

John Mayer: Who would win in a fight between the Karate Kid and Rocky?
Random Guy: JOHN MAYER!
John Mayer: That's right, John Mayer would.

John Mayer w/ Lisa Crawley. 28/04/2010. Vector Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.

Lisa Crawley & The Conversations

John Mayer

John Mayer

John Mayer and his snazzy checkered pants

John Mayer w/ Band

John Mayer

John Mayer - Talking nonsense to the audience