2006 HipHopDX Awards
As we enter the year 2007, we must take a moment to reflect on 2006. And what better way to do that than get our entire staff together to select our favorites of the past year. Yeah...many of you will bitch, moan and complain but isn't what these lists are for? We don't expect you bastards to agree with us all the time. We even tossed in a readers choice award and I'm sure some of you won't be happy with those results either. At any rate, take a look at the First Annual DX Awards and see if our views fall in line with yours. Piss and moan (or do the unthinkable and give us props!) about it in the comments. Hopefully we'll get it right in 2007.
Emcee of the Year
Lupe Fiasco
The young Chicago native displayed a mind-bending set of skills that we rarely ever see. His brilliant narratives and concepts are delivered with flawless dexterity, a liquid flow and absolutely remarkable rhyme schemes. The scary things is, he is just getting started.
Nas
Ghostface Killah
Readers Choice Emcee of the Year
Lupe Fiasco
Our loyal reader's have made up their minds and took the time to vote on their choice for the Emcee of the Year. What do you know? Lupe, again. There's no coincidence here people.
Snoop Dogg
T.I.
Verse of the Year
R.A. the Rugged Man on Jedi Mind Tricks Uncommon Valor from Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell
RAs first person account of a Vietnam soldier during and after the war was not just incredible for his poignant storytelling on such a unique subject in hip-hop, but for his ridiculous delivery over the 2 plus minute verse. Download HERE.
Phontes verse on The Boondock Saints from DJ Dramas Separate but Equal
Lupe Fiascos 3rd verse on Hurt Me Soul from Food & Liquor
Produer of the Year
will.i.am
He may be best known as the frontman for the now corny hip-pop Black Eyed Peas, but will.i.ams production talents cannot be denied. He came into his own this year proving to be one of musics most versatile producers, lacing everything from soul ballads from John Legend to rock hard street anthems on both coasts for Nas and Game.
Dr. Dre
Just Blaze
Movie of the Year
Borat
Kazakhstans premier reporter delivered a full length feature every bit as side splitting his weekly skits on Da Ali G Show. Sacha Baron Cohens Borat traveled America, demanded gypsy tears, pursued a romance explosion on Pamela Anderson, escaped shape shifting Jews and won a naked wrestling match with a fat man.
Inside Man
Clerks 2
Non Hip-Hop Album of the Year
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
Danger Mouse continued his genre-defying pop smashes alongside the equally quirky Cee-Lo Green. The surprise hit of the year made history with Crazy being a number one single on downloads alone and broke the first week numbers industry rule and actually sold more units as the weeks progressed. But fuck all that, the album was dope as hell.
John Legend - Once Again
John Mayer - Continuum
Worst Album of the Year
Dem Franchize Boyz - On Top of Our Game
Sadly there seems to be more and more candidates for this award every year. Im sure some 13 year old in his moms basement made a shittier album but no one with any sort of an audience made an album as pitiful as DFBz and their affinity for white tees.
Jibbs Featuring Jibbs
Pharrell In My Mind
Worst Trend of the Year
Snap Music
No matter what region it comes from, snap music is just a god awful trend that sucked a little more life out of hip-hops rotting corpse. Thankfully it seemed to be dying down by the end of the year, lets hope it continues the way of the dodo. One thing is for sure, calling that music, is a stretch.
Spongebob Back Packs
Ghostride the Whip
Story of the Year
Dillas Passing
As the expression goes; the good die young. James J Dilla Yancey is not only regarded as one of hip-hops all time great producers, but an incredible human being. Dilla lost his fight with lupus, but true to form he was with his true love to the end; making beats from his hospital bed. R.I.P.
Nas signing with Def Jam
Baby & Lil Wayne kissing
Album of the Year
Lupe Fiasco Food & Liquor
Whether or not you preferred the leaked version, the official Food & Liquor was still 2006s finest LP. Backed by production from The Neptunes, Kanye West and newcomers Soundtrakk and Prolyfic, Lupe delivered a classic debut for the ages.
Soul Position Thing Go Better With RJ & Al
Jay-Z Kingdom Come
Readers Choice Album of the Year
Nas Hip Hop is Dead
Once again, polling our loyal readers. We gave you the chance to vote for your choice of album of the year. Nasir Jones came out on top.
The Game Doctors Advocate
Jay-Z Kingdom Come
10 The Hard Way
Youve got 10 songs to remember 2006 by, no sneaking in 11 or 12, just 10. What would you pick from the dozens of incredible songs made this year? The guns to our head, heres the picks:
Nas Black Republican f. Jay-Z
Gnarls Barkley Smiley Faces
Jay-Z Oh My God
Snoop Dogg Imagine f. Dr. Dre and DAngelo
Lupe Fiasco Hurt Me Soul
Ghostface Killah Be Easy
Soul Position Hand Me Downs
Outkast Hollywood Divorce f. Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg
Hi-Tek Music For Life f. Nas, Common, J Dilla and Busta Rhymes
Killer Mike Thats Life
For a little more of what we liked, download the HipHopDX 60 of 06 iMix at the iTunes store. We only picked one song per album so some of the years best songs didnt make the cut in favor of a superior song on the album (see: Lupe - Daydreamin). And sadly, some of our favorite songs arent available on iTunes, such as AZs The Format or Killer Mikes aforementioned track. Were gonna be bringing yall monthly iMixes in 2007, so be on the lookout!
R.I.P. List
As good of a year 2006 was, you can't enjoy the happiness without the pain. We lost a number of great people this year. May you all rest in peace.
Dilla
Proof
Gerald Levert
James Brown
Emcee of the Year
Lupe FiascoThe young Chicago native displayed a mind-bending set of skills that we rarely ever see. His brilliant narratives and concepts are delivered with flawless dexterity, a liquid flow and absolutely remarkable rhyme schemes. The scary things is, he is just getting started.
Runners Up
Jay-ZNas
Ghostface Killah
Readers Choice Emcee of the Year
Lupe FiascoOur loyal reader's have made up their minds and took the time to vote on their choice for the Emcee of the Year. What do you know? Lupe, again. There's no coincidence here people.
Runners Up
NasSnoop Dogg
T.I.
Verse of the Year
R.A. the Rugged Man on Jedi Mind Tricks Uncommon Valor from Servants in Heaven, Kings in HellRAs first person account of a Vietnam soldier during and after the war was not just incredible for his poignant storytelling on such a unique subject in hip-hop, but for his ridiculous delivery over the 2 plus minute verse. Download HERE.
Runners Up
Jay-Zs verse of The Prelude from Kingdom ComePhontes verse on The Boondock Saints from DJ Dramas Separate but Equal
Lupe Fiascos 3rd verse on Hurt Me Soul from Food & Liquor
Produer of the Year
will.i.amHe may be best known as the frontman for the now corny hip-pop Black Eyed Peas, but will.i.ams production talents cannot be denied. He came into his own this year proving to be one of musics most versatile producers, lacing everything from soul ballads from John Legend to rock hard street anthems on both coasts for Nas and Game.
Runners Up
J. DillaDr. Dre
Just Blaze
Movie of the Year
BoratKazakhstans premier reporter delivered a full length feature every bit as side splitting his weekly skits on Da Ali G Show. Sacha Baron Cohens Borat traveled America, demanded gypsy tears, pursued a romance explosion on Pamela Anderson, escaped shape shifting Jews and won a naked wrestling match with a fat man.
Runners Up
The DepartedInside Man
Clerks 2
Non Hip-Hop Album of the Year
Gnarls Barkley - St. ElsewhereDanger Mouse continued his genre-defying pop smashes alongside the equally quirky Cee-Lo Green. The surprise hit of the year made history with Crazy being a number one single on downloads alone and broke the first week numbers industry rule and actually sold more units as the weeks progressed. But fuck all that, the album was dope as hell.
Runners Up
J. Dilla - DonutsJohn Legend - Once Again
John Mayer - Continuum
Worst Album of the Year
Dem Franchize Boyz - On Top of Our GameSadly there seems to be more and more candidates for this award every year. Im sure some 13 year old in his moms basement made a shittier album but no one with any sort of an audience made an album as pitiful as DFBz and their affinity for white tees.
Runners Up
Diddy Press PlayJibbs Featuring Jibbs
Pharrell In My Mind
Worst Trend of the Year
Snap MusicNo matter what region it comes from, snap music is just a god awful trend that sucked a little more life out of hip-hops rotting corpse. Thankfully it seemed to be dying down by the end of the year, lets hope it continues the way of the dodo. One thing is for sure, calling that music, is a stretch.
Runners Up
Chicken Noodle Soup DanceSpongebob Back Packs
Ghostride the Whip
Story of the Year
Dillas PassingAs the expression goes; the good die young. James J Dilla Yancey is not only regarded as one of hip-hops all time great producers, but an incredible human being. Dilla lost his fight with lupus, but true to form he was with his true love to the end; making beats from his hospital bed. R.I.P.
Runners Up
Jays comebackNas signing with Def Jam
Baby & Lil Wayne kissing
Album of the Year
Lupe Fiasco Food & LiquorWhether or not you preferred the leaked version, the official Food & Liquor was still 2006s finest LP. Backed by production from The Neptunes, Kanye West and newcomers Soundtrakk and Prolyfic, Lupe delivered a classic debut for the ages.
Runners Up
Nas Hip Hop is DeadSoul Position Thing Go Better With RJ & Al
Jay-Z Kingdom Come
Readers Choice Album of the Year
Nas Hip Hop is Dead Once again, polling our loyal readers. We gave you the chance to vote for your choice of album of the year. Nasir Jones came out on top.
Runners Up
Lupe Fiasco Food & LiquorThe Game Doctors Advocate
Jay-Z Kingdom Come
10 The Hard Way
Youve got 10 songs to remember 2006 by, no sneaking in 11 or 12, just 10. What would you pick from the dozens of incredible songs made this year? The guns to our head, heres the picks:
Nas Black Republican f. Jay-Z
Gnarls Barkley Smiley Faces
Jay-Z Oh My God
Snoop Dogg Imagine f. Dr. Dre and DAngelo
Lupe Fiasco Hurt Me Soul
Ghostface Killah Be Easy
Soul Position Hand Me Downs
Outkast Hollywood Divorce f. Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg
Hi-Tek Music For Life f. Nas, Common, J Dilla and Busta Rhymes
Killer Mike Thats Life
For a little more of what we liked, download the HipHopDX 60 of 06 iMix at the iTunes store. We only picked one song per album so some of the years best songs didnt make the cut in favor of a superior song on the album (see: Lupe - Daydreamin). And sadly, some of our favorite songs arent available on iTunes, such as AZs The Format or Killer Mikes aforementioned track. Were gonna be bringing yall monthly iMixes in 2007, so be on the lookout!
R.I.P. List
As good of a year 2006 was, you can't enjoy the happiness without the pain. We lost a number of great people this year. May you all rest in peace.
Dilla
Proof
Gerald Levert
James Brown
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