Illuminati 2G

Welcome to our 7th annual Illuminati 2g awards. Here we recognize the best albums of 2007 in the world of hip hop. We break in down into regions as by what was the best album from the east, west, midwest and dirty south. All the selections are made by Illuminati 2g so if ya got beef wit the picks, hit me up on email or the message board. To check out our past awards click here. Let get to it:

Joell Ortiz has made a Hip Hop classic and will go down as one of the greatest in the game. The Brick is hip hop in it's puerest form, honest, lyrical and straight gutter. Few rappers have lyrical ability these days but Joell Ortiz brings it raw on his first album. Every track on this album is fire. This cat is nice and not for a latin emcee but for an emcee period, end of story. Being Puerto Rican he gets compared to another hip hop great and legend Big Pun but Joell Ortiz is his own man and brings his own style to the game. Overall the east was definitely in the house with alot of stellar albums the 2nd half of the year.

Other Notables: Wu-Tang, Ghostface Killah, Jay-Z, Freeway, Cassidy, Beanie Sigel, Havoc, Prodigy, Canibus, 50 Cent, Keith Murray, Talib Kweli, Smif-N-Wessun, Domingo, Redman

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The Cool: In a time when songs about kool-aid and chicken noodle soup are considered hits, it's such a relief to have artists like Lupe Fiasco who refuse to "Dumb it Down" for his audience. I'm dead tired of listening to raps that aren't saying much, and if there's anybody who will bring news and relevant topics to music, it's Mr. Fiasco (along with a few others like Mos Def and Talib). Lupe talked about various issues such as child soldiers, love, women who have been raped, gentrification, crime, how hip hop saved people from the streets, and so forth. When I hear his music, I spend more time listening to the lyrics than I do listening to the chorus, minus "Paris, Tokyo," which was so catchy, it took me at least three days before I listened to what the song was about.

Finding Forever: It's no small feat to follow an instant classic like Common's Be (2005) but he skillfully builds on that success with a worthy sequel. The two albums share much in common, especially with Finding Forever's focus and brevity (under 50 minutes) and especially with Kanye West's musical direction. The two Chicago natives have forged a strong chemistry together, especially on songs like "Start the Show" and "Southside" where both men appear, but just as a producer, West makes his presence felt on everything from the catchy piano tinkles of "Driving Me Wild" (featuring British chanteuse Lily Allen) to the brass-knuckled "The Game" (featuring DJ Premier). As has become his trademark, Common balances heartfelt earnestness ("Black Maybe") with clever charm ("Break My Heart") though he has one too many love songs ("I Want You"). Whether Finding Forever surpasses Be is a matter of individual, song-for-song taste: At worst, it's on par--a laudable accomplishment for a veteran now 15 years into his career.

Other Notables: Bizzy Bone, Kanye West, Young Berg, Twista, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Brother Ali

Scarface take us back to the fifth ward and also returns to rap a lot on his latest release MADE. Made is the usual formula that has made scarface a classic artist. 10 solid songs accompanied by an intro and outro. Scarface is the best when he is telling a gritty story in his rhymes, expressing his love for his religion, and just some downright gangster lyrics. Along with some solid beats this album is a winner. Scarface has been around since 86' so his consistency in making music is amazing.

Other Notables: TI, Plies, UGK, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Devin The Dude, Lil Flip

Once upon a time... A powerful assassin left the temple to gather his own army. For 10 years he dwelled in the Psycho Realm and joined forces with the rebel soilders of Street Platoon. Their symbol was the mask.The Grandmaster heard of his disciple’s rising legions and arranged a meeting on Cypress Hill. No one truly knows what happened on the hill, but on this day, the army of the Mask and the Soul Assassin became One. -The Legend Continues Legendary hip-hop producer DJ Muggs, from the multi-platinum selling Cypress Hill and Sick Jacken from the underground phenomenon Psycho Realm have united to record a hip-hop classic.

Other Notables: Dogg Pound, Evidence, Bishop Lamont, Kemo, Topic, Convinced, Terrance Martin, Blu & Exile, RBX, Daz, Big Squeeze, Planet Asia

Overall "The Brick: Bodega Chronicles" is a dope album. Joell Ortiz shows he is real hungry on his debut. I wouldn't necessarly place Ortiz as one of the best ever, but he does have heavy momentum from this album. Hopefully he'll hold on to it when his next album comes out. The next great NY MC has arrived.

Other Notables- Scarface, Muggs vs Jacken, Lupe Fiasco, Common

Best Comeback: Bone Thugs N Harmony

Best Indie Album: WC- Guilty By Affiliation & Blu & Exile- Below The Heavens

Most Slept On Album: Blu & Exile- Below The Heavens

Biggest Flop: 50 Cent- Curtis

Best Mixtape- Bishop Lamont- N*gger Noize

Best Group Album- UGK (Rest In Peace Pimp C)

Best New Artist- Tangled Thoughts

Best Producer- Tek, Meech Wells, Timbaland, Danja, John Bido, Kanye West

Most Entertaining Beef- 50 vs Cam

Most Shocking News of 2007- Pimp C's death

Best Compilation- Hi-Tek: Hiteknology III

Best Guest Appearance- Nas on Success from Jay Z's American Gangster

Best Rap Quotable & Diss Song: UGK & Outkast- International Playas Anthem- Andre's Verse & Jay-Z's Watch What U Say To Me 

Best Lyricist- Joell Ortiz

Best Song- UGK & Outkast- International Playas Anthem

Biggest Disappointment: No Detox or Crooked I albums, AGAIN 

Deaths in Music- Pimp C, Stack Bundles, Ike Turner

Overall, I thought 2007 had some GREAT albums. There once again seems to be a resurgence in consicous rap so hopefully we will hear more of the same in 2008. Region wise, I liked the things that I heard from the South and the East all year. Alot of vets dropped great albums and it was good to see Roc-A-Fella make a comeback. Congrats to Bone for all their accomplishments this year. The South was clearly running things again in 2007 as it seemed that everything dropping form there was selling. I loved the music that was coming from all parts of the South but there was alot of bullshit coming from there also. Chamillionaire dropped on of the most conceptual gifted albums in quite a while and TI dominated the news for much of 07. 

The Midwest got some much needed shine as Lupe Fiasco dropped one of the dopest albums this year. This along with Kanye and Common helped to put the Midwest back in the stoplight. Let's hope yall fans ain't sleeping the next time.  I want to take this time to thank all of the fans and visitors that have supported the site since day one. 35 INTERVIEWS THIS YEAR. Amazing. I could have never pictured this site reaching the heights it did this year. MAJOR THANKS TO JEHUNIKO. He brought a whole new flavor and flair to this site with his music and his interviews and editorials. He is truly Illuminati 2G to the fullest. Too many artists to name, you know who you are. Thank you. We got fully into the mixtape game as well so be on the lookout for more mixtapes as well. We will continue to bring the heat as we go into our 8th year.  2007 was our best year, and we have alot in store for you guys in 2008 so keep it locked here at Illuminati 2G! Hoped you liked the awards.