53. Mac Miller - Best Day Ever

I don't really know much about Mac Miller, other than that he's a white rapper from Pittsburgh and is signed to the same independent label as Wiz Khalifa. After listening to this album I still don't know much about him other than he has a new fan.


The overriding theme to this album is having fun, hence the album title (you cant imagine an album called 'Best Day Ever' being about depressing subjects, unless the title was an ironic one).


The production is fresh and the right level of poppy without being too in your face and he's definitely a talented MC. His ability is highlighted by the fact that there are only two guest appearances and both Wiz Khalifa and Phonte just sing on the choruses.


I'd recommend this album and it was releases as a free download on datpiff.com, so head over there and get it.


Until tomorrow.....
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Favorite song:

52. Raekwon - Shaolin vs Wu-Tang

If this blog was 52 albums in 52 weeks this would be the last one. Since it's 365 in 365, that last sentence is redundant.


Raekwon has built himself something of a reputation over the last few years as not only the most consistent member of the Wu-Tang Clan, but one of the best rhyme spitters in all of hip hop. This album is a somewhat of an oddity as it has no involvement from the RZA at all. Production duties are handled from an ensemble of beatmakers such as Scram Jones, Bronze Nazareth, The Achemist and Evidence (along with others), who stay within the grimey, street sounds that 'The Chef' usually likes. 


The highlight for me is the Nas assisted 'Rich and Black' which is the first time that the two MC's have appeared on a track together since Raekwon's 1995 classic 'Verbal Intercourse'.


You know what you're going to get from Rae: awesome street inspired lyrics, well thought about guest appearances, hard beats and a shit-ton of kung fu samples.


Until tomorrow.....
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Favorite song:

51. Q-Tip - The Renaissance

This is Q-Tip's second studio album (not including this work with A Tribe Called Quest) and it was probably the best hip-hop album released in 2008. The thing that makes this album work is that 'Tip' obviously used his experience within the music industry to create a hip-hop album that had a different sound to anything else popular at the time. 

The entire album, with the exception of two tracks, are produced by Q-Tip and although non of the songs sound the same, the whole album has continuity whereas a lot of hip hop albums generally sound like a bunch of songs thrown together rather than one piece. The album incorporates lush soulful and jazzy production using a refreshing mix of live instruments and samples to make a great overall sound. 

Q-Tip is no slouch on the microphone either. Throughout the album he regales the listener with stories about love, hip-hop, modern society and the music industry (which Tip surely has a few gripes about). Another thing which makes this album great is the opposite of what makes most hip-hop albums bad, there are no 'skits' and the album has a total of 12 track which is perfect for a rap album.

Until tomorrow.....
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Favorite song:

50. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

New release Mondays are back. This week it's the new album from Coldplay, entitled Mylo Xyloto.

I'll start this off by saying that I don't really like Coldplay, namely because I generally find their music quite boring. The reason why I said that is because there are a few songs on this album that I wouldn't have guessed were Coldplay if Chris Martin wasn't singing.

The album starts with a slow, almost orchestral, 40 second-ish intro that merges straight into 'Hurts Like Heaven' which doesn't sound like what I would consider a 'Coldplay' song at all. Granted once you listen to it again, you can tell that it's definitely Coldplay, but there's something different about it. 'Paradise' has definitely got a slight dubstep influence to it in parts and 'Major Munus' is surprisingly uplifting. 

Now, this album isn't going to make me suddenly realize how great Coldplay supposedly are, but 'Mylo Xyloto' exceeded my expectations, even though I'm not sure what they were.

Until tomorrow.....
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Favorite song:

49. John Legend - Get Lifted

This is probably my favorite R'n'B album ever. John Legend has an amazing voice and an amazing talent for writing great, soulful R'n'B music. 


The only odd song on this album is 'Alright', which for me doesn't really fit in with the rest of the album. 


I've totally ran out of steam now, seven blogs on the bounce have taken it out of me. Listen to this album, enjoy it and listen to it again. 


Until tomorrow.....
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Favorite song:

48. Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III

Tha Carter III is probably Lil' Wayne's best album and certainly his best selling one. 


I think that with a few songs removed, this could probably be one of the best hip hop albums of the last 10 years. 'Mr Carter' featuring Jay-Z seems a little contrived these days considering the history that these to MC's have, 'Phone Home' is weird just for the sake of it and 'La La' is extremely tedious, the Busta Rhymes verse can't save it. 


That being said, 'Get Money' featuring T-Pain, 'A Milli', 'Tie My Hands' and the excellent Kanye West produced  'Comfortable' are all great songs. 'Nothin' on me' is a great posse cut with Fabolous and Juelz Santana is one of the best songs that Wayne has ever done, plus a sick alchemist beats doesn't hurt either...


Until tomorrow.....
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Favorite song:

47. Curren$y - Weekend at Burnies

This is the latest album from New Orleans rapper Curren$y. There isn't much more that I can say about him that I haven't said before. He's such a good MC and his beat selection is always incredible, no one raps over the type of beats that he selects. 


The insane thing about 'Spitta' though is that since this album was released in June, he's releases another mixtape with all new material and has another album due out by the end of the year. This guy's work ethic is nuts. 


Until tomorrow.....
twitter.com/therealtomsmith
#365Albums 
Favorite song: