What are the essential rap albums I need to get that have been released in 2004 so far?

Brother Ali and Pete Rock albums have some quality stuff too, especially the Pete Rock tracks w/ CL ("Appreciate" and "Love Thing")

Terror Squad album is pretty good, lots of big shiny expensive beats and it's pretty much Remy Ma on every song so you can't go too wrong. Juvenile & the UTP album is excellent. Soulja Slim & BG. Lil Wyte screwed & chopped. The Young Buck album has leaked and when it drops it will be a 5 mic classic.

Some promising albums on the way:
Ma$e - Mason Betha is Back
Shyne - Godfather Buried Alive
Geto Boys - War & Peace
SLIM THUG - DONT KNOW WHAT ITS CALLED BUT IT WILL BE A CLASSIC OK

Extince - 2e Jeugd
Choice tracks: Voorprogramma, Funky Nassau and Regelneef.

Duvelduvel - Aap-o-Theek
Choice tracks: Wie Is Ut, Draai and Tis Leuk Geweest.

To give you a little idea: Extince is the Dutch Jay-Z (i.e. seemingly effortlessly the greatest), Duvelduvel (a threesome, with MC/producer Duvel as its main man) the Dutch Kool Keith (i.e. completely off on their own tangent). Ofcourse, they're very much their people.

the only essential rap album so far though I think is the Twista

Not mentioned: Young Buck's not out yet but sounds hot, Lloyd Banks was meh, Infinite Lifez is wonderfully bizarrre Brit-rap, Danger Mouse's Grey Album was great but it's been talked to death here I know - also solid: Masta Killa, Murs, Prince Po, Beans

This probably explains why I loathe both so much. ;-)

I'd def pick Kanye West and Cee-Lo. Can't seem to get into Showtime though.

Anyway. Some more realness.

Z-Ro - Life Of Joseph McVey (slept on!)
Chamillionaire - Mixtape Messiah (a mixtape but a high quality mixtape and it will do until Controversy Sells)
8 Ball & MJG - Livin' Legends
BG - Life After Cash Money
Masta Killa - No Said Date

Best mixtapes of 2004 so far:
DJ Smallz - Southern Smoke XI
Boss Hogg Outlawz - Look At Us Now
Tapemasters INC - Mixtape Supremacy
Color Changing Click - After the Superbowl
Big Mike - Cruel Summer Vol. 4
DJ Suss One - Tribute to Big Pun
Paul Wall - How To Be A Player
Swishahouse - Major Without A Major Deal
DJ Yellaboy - Screw Phenomonon

The Jadakiss album doesn't hang together for me really, but it has plenty of great indiviual tracks, which is enough. The Lil Flip I'd say the same about except it was a letdown from his mixtapes, and the whole double album thing.

gear, get the lloyd banks album.

You could really count David Banner's second album on this cuz it didn't come out til late dec.

A) this album was released in 2003
B) with the exception of that one track that sounds nothing like Ty and is completely dominated by Roots Manuva's guest spot on it, what actually is there to celebrate about this album?

Anyway, the correct answer is:

http://www.vecovideoemusica.it/musica/CAPAREZZA%20-%20Verita%20supposte.jpg

I'd add Klashnekoff and Slum Village in the not 'essential', but v. good category.

Jess in not liking madvillain non-shockah. ;)

No but serriously, have you heard the Trillville/Scrappy album?

p.s. new beatnuts good, not great dom.

Haha exactly, and Brainpower is desperately trying to be the Dutch Nas. Also, Def P = KRS One.

:::RIMSHOT::::

Oh I kid, I kid....

Ghostface Pretty Toney Album (not a patch on Ironman or Supreme Clientele and an album scuppered by sample clearance and Def Jam's relative lethargy towards it - see the solo Ghost joints that made the Theodore Unit project that were meant for this)

David Banner MTA2 (out December 23rd by whatever) - like a greatest hits set but still the dopest producer on the mic (fuck Kanye, the heard-it-all=before little shit)

Devin The Dude To The Xtreme - Honestly, it's the most endearing album of the year so far

Masta Killa No Said Date

J-Zone A Job Aint Nuthin But Work - Indie rap that doesn't take itself too seriously or isn't too lacklustre (like anything Madlib and MF Doom have bothered to 'release' this year)

Trick Daddy/Pastor Troy Thug Matrimony/By Any Means Neccessary - two overlooked southern staples

As for Young Buck, the single and the b-side are killers but the album is a missed opportunity, paddling in the standard G-Unit mire

no said date is pretty good too,don't think it tops pretty toney though

whats this theodore unit thing?

I still don't understand the "heard-it-all-before" criticisms of Kanye West. I mean, his production certainly isn't groundbreaking but I don't think he's some sort of reactionary Jurassic 5 motherfucker either; his music is GOOD.

Pretty Tony is head and shoulders above Ironman, which has some amazing and classic cuts (Winter Warz, Daytona 500, Black Jesus, All That I Got Is You) and some really shitty stuff too. Plus Ghost has only improved as an MC, it sounds much more like a Ghostface CD than a Wu-Tang CD or a RZA CD like Ironman. Ghostface is a lot more focused on Pretty Tony than on even Supreme Clientele (although I would argue that sacrificed part of the off-the-wall rapping ["ayo this rap is like ziti!"] that made SC so fascinating). I think the sample clearance criticisms are stupid - its a great album any way you slice it, regardless of what great songs AREN'T on it, the songs that ARE on it are great.

Devin the Dude is hot, fucking awesome.

Theodore Unit - my friend just dl'ed this and was telling me about it. It's Ghostface, Kryme Life, Cappadonna, Wigs, Du-Lilz, Trife Da God, and Solomon Childs.

"I jism like a giant."

I heard mediocre things about Chilltown, although the only song I heard from it was excellent.

Sermon needs to drop some more beats behind some big-name rap acts, his production is still pretty wondeful, bass-y, funky.