Edd’s MANtra: Best Artists of the Ky. Era Part 2

5. Jay-Z

Good ol’ Hov never disappoints. Usually.

Jay started out 2001 at the top of his game, clearly recognized as the game’s top rapper, a title he hoped to solidify with The Blueprint. The album was excellent, but when he picked a fight with sleeping giant Nas, things really got interesting. As the two went back and forth, Jay’s confidence seemed to be shaken. 2002’s double album Blueprint 2: The Gift and The Curse wasn’t nearly as bad as some say, but it was very bloated and excessive, kind of like that new Transformers movie. Maybe that’s why he decided to bow out with his *snicker* “retirement” album in 2003, The Black Album. It was his best received work in years and at the time, I thought, “what a great way to end a career.”

Thing is, he never left. After appearing on more songs than he had before his so-called retirement, Jay resurfaced in 2006 with Kingdom Come. Like Blueprint 2, I didn’t think it was that bad, but it certainly was not up to Jay’s lofty standards. But Jay shattered all doubts with 2007’s American Gangster, his best album since the original Blueprint.

Jay’s has a ton of ups and downs (remember those albums with R. Kelly? Ugh), but his music mostly has remained top-notch, and like it or not, he’s still the industry’s standard bearer.

Best song – Say Hello

Everyone loves an underdog story. Fresh off of dropping the much maligned Nastradamus album in 1999 (which in retrospect wasn’t all THAT bad, especially when compared to today’s dreck), 2001 seemed to be the end of Nas Escobar’s career. But thanks to Jay-Z putting his foot in his mouth, Nas saw the opportunity to regain his fire. Nas used the track “Ether” to shred Jay like confetti and it springboarded his ’01 album Stillmatic to the head of the rap pack.

Not that he needed much help. Stillmatic is without a doubt the top hip-hop album of the Ky. Era. Disagree? That’s what the comments section is for, playa.

The hits just kept on coming – ’02’s God’s Son and The Lost Tapes and’04’s Street’s Disciple.

In ’06, Esco stirred up more controversy when he declared Hip Hop is Dead with yet another strong release. And I’m sure you recall last year’s Untitled album, which ruffled lots of feathers with the original N-word title. Too bad people were so concerned with the title that they missed the album’s strong social message. Nas loves the underdog role, pissing off his peers and executives alike, but as long as he keeps releasing quality music, I won’t complain.

Best song – Ether

3. Alicia Keys

Man, Alicia certainly has matured. Back in 2001 she looked like one of the girls who dated Alvin and the Chipmunks, now she’s one of R&B’s most classy and respected stars. She certainly won me over, in more ways than one.

I was NOT a fan of Alicia’s debut, Songs in A Minor. While I respected her talent on the piano, and her voice was certainly impressive, 80 percent of that album was stuff they play in the waiting room at retirement homes. I had written her off until a friend gave me a copy of 03’s The Diary of Alicia Keys, and I was blown away. She began to move away from being a young lady trying to sound mature to a young woman who achieved maturity. Every song on that album was so heartfelt. Her third album, As I Am, didn’t quite measure up to her previous effort, but it was solid in its own right.

Best song – Diary

Don’t front, you probably liked N*SYNC. The songs they released back in 2001, especially “Girlfriend” and “Gone” had tons of crossover appeal.

But I don’t have to front. I hated them. HATED THEM.

That’s why I didn’t bat an eye when I heard that Justin was going solo – until I heard that his album would be produced by Timbaland and the Neptunes. I told myself I might have to check it out, just to support my Virginia brethren. The week before his debut album, 2002’s Justified, was released, I heard “Cry Me A River” one nasty, snowy evening and said to myself “yeah, I’m copping that Justin.”

Since then, I’ve been all about Justin. Justified, and 2006’s inescapable FutureSex/LoveSounds have probably received more time in my CD player than any other album in the Ky. Era. Both albums are the pinnacle of today’s pop music – they’re fun, they’re dumb, and they’re way over the top (what’s a SexyBack?). Stop lying to yourself, you know Justin is the new Pop Prince.

Best song – What Goes Around

And number one goes to….