My Best of 2008 List :: Hip Hop

Every year I, like you, troll through tons of music. So much so, that by the end of the year I've sort of forgotten about what was hot and happenin in, say, January or February. That is pretty much the case for the list that I've assembled here. Most of the releases are from the later part of 2008.

I was late on The Mighty Underdogs, so don't you sleep on them. I hope to get around to posting about "Droppin Science Fiction" in the next week or so. As the old schoolers used to say "it is dope".

Best artists and cds:

• Illa J :: "Yancey Boys"
• Roots Manuva :: "Slime & Reason"
• The Knux :: "Remind Me in 3 Days"
• The Roots :: "Rising Down"
• Black Milk :: "Tronic"
• The Mighty Underdogs :: "Droppin Science Fiction"

This short list is taken from my larger list of the Best of 2008.

So hip hoppers, let's toast to a hearty and musically fulfilling 2009! kfox.

You Won't Need a Reminder About The Knux

I don't know what has taken me so long to write about The Knux because now it looks as if I am jumping on the bandwagon. Nothing wrong w/that, as in, 'better late than never'.

But I've been diggin The Knux on Imeem for sometime. I don't know when I got turned on to this brother duo, but I am hooked. They seem to have an upbeat and positive spirit despite having been displaced from their hometown of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Their first disk is called "Remind Me in 3 Days...". Nice one too. They have some fun, play around w/some non-traditional hip hop beats and they lay it down. I like their lyricism - raw and quirky.

Word has it that they gained some notoriety from the track "Bang Bang" which was featured on an episode of HBO's "Entourage", but since I am cable-less, I don't know that firsthand ... but I do believe it to be the truth.

Here are a few more resources so that you can get your Knux fix:

• "Remind Me in 3 Days..." review on Okayplayer
• The Knux on MySpace
• The Knux on Imeem

I highly recommend that you check out them out on Imeem; lots of music, videos and an extended bio.

I may or may not remind you, but hip hoppers, you don't want to miss out on a good thing. kfox.