THIS YEAR'S NOMINEE'S
as the year winds down (and GODDAMN, this year was fast), i found that my crates needed a little dusting off.
it also gave me the chance to shuffle through the stacks and reminisce on a 12 months of innovative beats.
drum roll, please.
of course, i'll be happy enough if one head-nodda out there is cluing in on these tracks!!!
BEST ALBUM

AN EVENING WITH
THE SOUND PROVIDERS (HIP HOP)
duo from los angeles definitely blew it up the first time around on their debut album, but this one sounds a little more polished, a little more production-savvy. guest appearances by asheru and wee be foolish are notable, but jay and soulo make the best of their talents by far on the instrumental numbers.
amidst all the gunplay and runway models,
the sound providers managed to squeeze through the l.a. battlegrounds and establish their own hip hop style.
be on the clue for the crunchy kicks and snares...better known as "the boop bap effect."
best blast from the past album
the roots - do you want more?
has it really been 10 years??? i lent it to a friend of mine last week, and he voted it as his fav of the year.
BEST 12"

DJ FRESH - TWISTER (DRUM 'N' BASS)
off of the
RAM RECORDS label.
you can tell a DJ FRESH track from it's nasty synth sub-bass and oh-so-heavy kick and snare pop. just released last week, "twister" has been floating around on mp3's, giving me a chance to check it out before the release.
fresh gets props for giving BreakBeat Kaos the punch that it needs (along with
adam f) to mash up the crowd. good track to bring right in the middle of your set and they'll be going crazy for the rest of the night.
will keep you posted of his next tour in japan.
honorable mention
outbroken - spor
released either in november or december. if you get past the quotes from "the matrix," this would have been my 12" pick of the year. i don't want to think of what damage it would do to my eardrums in a club, let alone cause bodily damage to other people!