8) Zo! and Tigallo, Love the 80’s (K-Tel)

Little Brother’s Phonte Coleman is rapidly becoming one of the most intriguing, eclectic personalities in hip-hop. While he is not enlightening the world with Little Brother, he evidently loves listening to ‘80s pop music. Who knew? The MC - who also goes by his R&B name Percy Miracles - doesn’t need a vocoder to convincingly croon spandex-clad hits, like Toto’s “Africa” and Joe Jackson’s immortal, “Steppin’ Out.” Producer extraordinaire Zo! makes the tracks his own, adding his own signature style to the classic melodies. Tubular!

“Take on me. Take me on. I’ll be gone. In a day or twooooo!!!” –“Take on Me”

7) Jake One, White Van Music (Rhymesayers)

The Seattle-bred super-producer Jake One finally decided to step out from behind the decks to release his own LP. Working with everyone from 50 Cent to De La Soul, the DJ pulls out his impressive rolodex and gets at some old friends. From backpackers (Slug, MF Doom) to chart-toppers (Young Buck, Kardinal Offishall), the myriad guests are held together by Jake’s trademark edgy, melodic tracks. Also, it brought us the best hip-hop single of the year, Brother Ali and Freeway’s explosive collaboration, “The Truth.”

“These are not just words we tell you in the booth. That feeling you just got inside your stomach is our proof, that we’re the truth.” - Brother Ali in “The Truth”

6) Charles Hamilton, Crash Landed mixtape

The precocious 20-year-old audaciously set out to conquer the music scene by putting out almost 10 full mixtapes as part of his Hamilonization Process. The best of these releases, the DJ Skee-assisted Crash Landed, shows off his prodigious creativity. The Sonic the Hedgehog-obsessed MC attacks your speakers with a cocky, melodic swagger. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here, as his melodic flow has potential for serious crossover (read: lyrical castration).

“It’s the genesis of rap, you Atari gone. How the hell can a geek make a party song?” - “November 10th”

5) Knonam, Length of the Blade (self-released)

Minneapolis is to hip-hop, as Sweden is to indie rock. It seems like every year another brilliant MC emerges out of the Twin Cities with a new sound, destined to for serious rotation in my car. Knonam’s (pronounced “No Name”) passionate, almost angry flow will delight fans of Minneapolis legend Brother Ali, but his unexpected sense of humor will keep you hooked. Eydea’s synth-heavy, new wave beats, which are often menacing and catchy simultaneously, keep Knonam's sound new and exciting.

“Then I felt the world around me flash down to the blade of a knife.” - “Length of the Blade”

4) Atmosphere, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (Rhymesayers)

Slug and Ant’s newest release finds the group finding their God Loves Ugly-era form. While it is generally a powerful, introspective affair (“Guarantees”), Slug, the original Rhymesayer, brings his signature vivid storytelling to the forefront, most notably on the bonafide banger “Shoulda Known.” This time around Ant, the group’s longtime producer, opted to use more live instruments and less samples, and although the beats don’t bump quite as hard, the arrangements are generally intricate and engaging. It may sound strange at first, but stick with it, and expect it to grow on you.

“My better half is mad at makin’ magic outta canned goods. My tax bracket status got her questioning my manhood.” - “Guarantees”

3) Bambu, ...Exact Change... (Community Kitchen)

The Los Angeles MC is a throwback to the days where rappers were more interested in politics than Louis Vuitton manbags. The electric live performer’s new album mixes mid-’90s g-funk with socially conscious, passionate wordplay. Album standout “Like Us” touches on the inequality many minorities face: “Jay-Z and Barack, ain’t changed my block” the rapper offers. Though the record deals with very tough issues, it also includes strong hooks and melodies, which make it refreshingly easy to listen to.
“And hopefully my son might get a taste of it, and see a president, not a dummy puppet,” raps Bambu. “Not the money-lovin’, country-runnin’, business man, and maybe we can see democracy that’s really listenin’.”

2) The Streets, Everything Is Borrowed (Vice)

While it’s not hip-hop in a classic boom-bap stance, Skinner’s fourth effort combines the sharp wit, thumping beats, and clever wordplay that exists in all the best rap. For his newest release, Skinner used all live instruments and decided to completely eschew any topics dealing with modern life. While many fans (myself included) worried that the man may be biting off more than he could chew, the Birmingham MC did not disappoint, creating a disc more engulfing and enjoyable than anything since his debut masterpiece, Original Pirate Material (679, 2002).

“I came to this world with nothing, and I leave with nothing but love. Everything else is just borrowed.” –“Everything Is Borrowed”

1) The Knux, Remind Me in Three Days… (Interscope)

The fraternal duo from New Orleans not only created the best hip-hop record of ‘08, they may have crafted the most entertaining, consistently brilliant release in the whole of music this year. An explosive, guitar-driven backdrop is employed for the Brothers Lindsey to drop dexterous verbiage, full of instantly quotable, often-hilarious punchlines. The cutting commentary on the state of a generally materialistic, violent hip-hop scene rings true, while not coming off as preachy. To top things off, the recording feels strong the whole way through, something that, unfortunately, their aforementioned Crescent City Comrade couldn’t achieve.

“For two months, I’ve been waitin’ like crack fiends. My future’s fuckin’ Bleak with this broad, like Yasmin.” - “Cappucino”