Hip Hop The year in review

Hip-Hop and R&B has never been more in the public eye than in 2007. Even though actual CD sales dwindle the culture, the movement never fails to garner attention.There was a lot of negativity aimed at the genre after CBS shock jock Don Imus made comment on a female basket ball team in the US and then said he had heard such remarks in Hip-Hop records. Hip-Hop ended up battling with itself. Major icons in the music industry who were speaking out against the music that had encouraged the finer living they had become accustomed to provoked the not to savvy MCs to put themselves in the firing line on national TV. Dealing with the aftermath of this fall out was proving difficult for even the most competent PR agencies to deal with. Hip-Hop went from extreme lows to extreme highs in 2007. September 11th is marked on many calendars as the day Osama Bin Laden attacked America, but this year it was a little different and the hype that surrounded the day which is more of a black mark was around two of Hip-Hop’s most famed. The significance of the date has never been officially linked to the memory of 9/11 but for true Hip-Hop heads it was nice to think about something different as well as remember those that were lost.Kanye West and Curtis Jackson both began their campaigns in the beginning of August. Both MCs close in age and delivering to fans their third albums. Statements were made that have yet to be adhered too, Curtis would retire if Kanye outsold him. Regardless of what everyone thought this fabricated publicists dream had the Hip-Hop world sitting on the edge of its seat. At last some straight up entertaining. If I was to offer my opinion on whose album was better I would have to say Kanye, it never left my CD player for two months. But Graduation vs Curtis has to be deemed a high point of the year.Yet where there is success there is always tragedy and that came for Kanye West in November as he was embarking on worldwide domination with Graduation. His mother Dr. Donde West died due to complications with a plastic surgery procedure. This was a blow felt by the world, not just Hip-Hop fans as Kanye reaches people far and wide with his outlandish comments and braggadocios attitude. Many grieved with Chicago’s most influential MC at that time. Not even a month later we found ourselves grieving again; Hip-Hop said a sudden goodbye to Pimp C, one half of rap duo UGK. Having been a mainstay in Houston Hip-Hop for over 20 years this component of UGK was tragically found dead in a hotel room in Los Angeles and his contribution to Hip-Hop and the emergence of Texas as a Hip-Hop stronghold will never ever be forgotten.

Of course illegal downloading has damaged sales for many artists across the urban spectrum but four performers, two already talked about, this year showed that you can still sell records if you maintain your fan base and put out solid projects. Alicia Keys and Mary J Blige kept hope alive for record labels with their instant gold status sales in the first week of their release. As both albums continue to encourage sales I am sure many artists out there are looking to see where they have gone wrong with their albums. Well you would hope they would be.

Notable albums released this year came from a wide array of artists but producers made sure they were heard this year. Timbaland, Marco Polo, Ninth Wonder, Black Milk and Jazze Jeff all delivered top quality albums this year, proving that they are just as marketable as the artists they make beats for.

Albums from Lupe Fiasco, Pharohe Monch, El P, Jay Z, Talib Kweli and Common would be welcome additions to any music lover’s collection. Jay Z was back in CD players this year with his American Gangster album. Encouraged by the same titled movie, critics and fans once again questioned Shawn Carter’s retirement plan. Having retired four years ago to concentrate on other aspects of his empire and running someone elses as President of Def Jam, he has released two solo albums and since stepped down from his role at the label. But no matter what, Jay Z is still one of the most talked about Hip-Hop players regardless of what his intentions may be.

There were of course the artists who got deals that many questioned why this year. These were the one hit wonders/the ring tone rappers that are just as Hip-Hop as the icons we admire and respect. Artists such as Mims, Shop Boyz and Rich Boy were questioned about their talent but are living proof of just how far Hip-Hop has traveled in its thirty four year existence.

One MC that has never got the recognition that he deserved is New Jersey’s Joe Budden who said good bye to Def Jam this year. ‘At last’ would be the comment made by many of Joey’s die hard fans. Having sat on the shelf for years with no major release since 2002, Joe Budden’s has already gone out and released his highly anticipated Mood Muzik 2 with Part 3 to follow in February. His manhandling at Def Jam has always been a focal topic of conversation. How could he be left to rot on a shelf there? Thankfully now released from his contract will let the beast out of the cage and Budden will be able to pick up where he left off back at the start of the decade.

The women involved in Hip-Hop found themselves in serious hot water this year. Foxy Brown was sentenced to a year in prison after a string of charges stemming from assault to driving misdemeanors. Remy Ma found herself facing charges of attempted murder which were later dropped to first degree assault after shooting a former friend in the stomach after an altercation stemming from a sum of money allegedly owed to the rapper.

One story that was made out to be bigger than it actually was and as a journalist I stand accountable for this as I was mesmerized at what was about to happen, was that of the Wu Tang Album 8 Diagrams. The album from the Staten Island collective was probably my most anticipated as it was many others, but it resulted in a publicized break down of the Clan. Numerous interviews had key members voicing their disappointment with the way in which the album was created. But at the end of the day, all is fair in love and Hip-Hop.

This is just a brief run down of some of the most memorable events in Hip-Hop this year. I have reported on these and plenty more throughout the year and hope you have enjoyed the Hip-Hop and R&B news we bring to you here at FemaleFirst.co.uk. Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year here’s to 2008 and long live Hip-Hop