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2005 - The Year In Review  
-- by Bill "Low-Key" Heinzelman, January 2006  
Top 10 Albums Of The Year

Below are the top 10 albums of 2005. They are graded on seven categories (Beats, Lyrics, Originality, Album Arrangement, Song Rating, Reviewers Tilt and Replay Value). All scores are rounded up or down, so please don’t email me saying that they aren’t exact. Again, this is strictly my opinion on what albums are the best, therefore, there is no right or wrong answers.

1. Kanye West -
Late Registration
Beats: 10
Lyrics: 7.0
Originality: 9.0
Album Arrangement: 9.0
Song Rating: 10
Replay Value: 9.5
Reviewers Tilt: 9.5
Overall Score: 9.0


** Key

A.A. - Album Arrangement
R.T. - Reviewers Tilt
S.R. - Song Rating
R.V. - Replay Value


Be		 2. Common
Beats: 9.0
Lyrics: 9.0
Originality: 9.0
A.A.: 9.5
S.R.: 9.5
R.V.: 9.0
R.T.: 9.0
Overall: 9.0
Beauty And The Beat		 3. Edan
Beats: 8.5
Lyrics: 8.5
Originality: 10
A.A.: 10
S.R.: 7.5
R.V.: 8.0
R.T.: 9.0
Overall: 9.0


The B-Coming		 4. Beanie Sigel
Beats: 8.0
Lyrics: 8.5
Originality: 8.0
A.A.: 8.5
S.R.: 9.0
R.V.: 8.5
R.T.: 9.0
Overall: 8.5


Hell's Winter		 5. Cage
Beats: 7.5
Lyrics: 8.0
Originality: 8.5
A.A.: 9.0
S.R.: 8.5
R.V.: 8.0
R.T.: 9.0
Overall: 8.5


The Documentary		 6. The Game
Beats: 10
Lyrics: 4.0
Originality: 6.0
A.A.: 10
S.R.: 9.5
R.V.: 9.5
R.T.: 9.0
Overall: 8.5
True & Livin'		 7. Zion I
Beats: 8.0
Lyrics: 8.0
Originality: 8.5
A.A.: 8.0
S.R.: 8.5
R.V.: 8.5
R.T.: 8.0
Overall: 8.0


The Carter II		 8. Lil' Wayne
Beats: 8.0
Lyrics: 8.5
Originality: 6.5
A.A.: 7.0
S.R.: 8.0
R.V.: 8.0
R.T.: 8.5
Overall: 8.0


A.W.O.L.		 9. AZ
Beats: 7.5
Lyrics: 8.5
Originality: 7.5
A.A.: 8.5
S.R.: 8.5
R.V.: 8.0
R.T.: 8.0
Overall: 8.0


The Sound Of Revenge		 10. Chamillionaire
Beats: 8.0
Lyrics: 8.0
Originality: 7.5
A.A.: 7.5
S.R.: 8.5
R.V.: 8.0
R.T.: 8.5
Overall: 8.0

Top 10 Mainstream Albums:

1. Kanye West - Late Registration
2. Common - BE
3. Beanie Sigel - The B-Coming
4. The Game - The Documentary
5. Lil' Wayne - The Carter II
6. AZ - A.W.O.L.
7. Chamillionaire - The Sound Of Revenge
8. Lil' Kim - The Naked Truth
9. Young Jeezy - Let's Get It
10. DJ Quik - Trauma

Honorable Mention: Geto Boys, Fort Minor, Sheek, Cassidy, Jim Jones

Top 10 Underground Albums:

1. Edan - Beauty And The Beat
2. Cage - Hell's Winter
3. Zion I - True & Livin'
4. Slum Village - Slum Village
5. Little Brother - The Minstrel Show
6. O.C. - Starchild
7. Circle Of Tyrants (Ill Bill, Goretex, Necro, Mr. Hyde)
8. DJ Muggs & Gza - Grandmasters
9. Cunninlynguists - Piece Of Strange
10. Black Market Militia

Honorable Mention: Atmosphere, Sean Price, Chief Kamachi

Top 5 Independent Releases:

1. SoulStice - North By Northwest: Solid Ground
2. Soul Plasma - Soul Affect
3. A.W.A.R. - Glory Days
4. SuperCharger Records - The Campaign
5. DJ Piklz - Off The Meatrack Vol. 1

10 Worst Albums:

1. Pras - Win, Lose Or Draw
2. Celly Cel - It'z Real Out Here
3. Mike Jones - Who Is Mike Jones?
4. The Game - Untold Story II
5. Bizarre - Hanicap Circus
6. Jermaine Dupri - Young, Fly & Flashy Vol. 1
7. Canibus - Mind Control
8. The Frontline - Who R U?
9. The Pharcyde - Humboldt Beginnings
10. Big Tone - The Drought

Honorable Mention: Purple City, The Frontline (Now U Know), Will Smith, U-God

Biggest Mainstream Disappointments:

This list is purely subjective. It is based on who I consider a mainstream artist or group - not based on if the album was released on a major label.

1. Twista - The Day After
2. Fat Joe - All Or Nothing
3. 50 Cent - The Massacre
4. Young Gunz - Brothers From Another
5. Tony Yayo - Thoughts Of A Predicate Felon
6. Capone - Paine, Time & Glory
7. Notorious B.I.G. - Duets: The Final Chapter
8. Bone Brothers
9. Kurupt - Against The Grain
10. Juelz Santana - What The Game's Been Missing

10 Most Overrated Albums:

This is based on which albums I felt were overrated by the Hip Hop public and critics alike.

1. Little Brother - The Minstrel Show
2. Twista - The Day After
3. Bun B - Trill
4. Perceptionists - Black Dialogue
5. Danger Doom - The Mouse & The Mask
6. Buckshot & 9th Wonder - Chemistry
7. David Banner - Certified
8. Blueprint - 1988
9. Paul Wall - People's Champ
10. Gza & DJ Muggs - Grandmasters

Honorable Mention: Blackalicious

Biggest Underground Disappointments:

1. J-Live - The Hear After
2. The Perceptionists - Black Dialogue
3. Canibus - Hip Hop For Sale
4. Streetlife - Street Education
5. Big Noyd - On The Grind
6. Tame One - O.G. Bobby Johnson
7. 9th Wonder & Buckshot - Chemistry
8. Guru - Version 7.0
9. Pumpkinhead - Orange Moon Over Brooklyn
10. Jakki - God Vs. Satan

Honorable Mention: Jus Allah, Likwit Junkies, Blueprint, High & Mighty, All Natural

>> continued...






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