Rap Misses in '09

Before I post my 10 favorite rap releases of 2009 tomorrow I had to throw up some of the albums that were disappointments this year. My major issue with the following rappers' albums was that they either tried to go with a different sound that just wasn't executed properly or they stuck with the same tired routine that's come to be associated with them

-Alchemist- Chemical Warfare

Features from Kool G Rap, Eminem, KRS-One and Fabolous weren't enough to overcome the simple fact that too many of the beats sounded the same. On the plus side Mr. ALC did improve his rhymes but when I get an album of his I'm checking for the beats first and foremost, and they just weren't there on this release.

Standout songs: Lose Your Life, Therapy and Smile

-Clipse- Til The Casket Drops

On it's own a solid release from the Thornton brothers but it's not close to seeing Lord Willin', Hell Hath No Fury or even their We Got It 4 Cheap mixtape series.Part of the problem may have been unreasonably high expectations but it just didn't have that coke-rap sound that I've come to expect from the Clipse. That may have been their goal since there's definitely a more pop/mainstream sound but if it's not broke why fix it?

Standout Songs: Freedom, Popular Demand (Popeyes's) and Footsteps

-Cam'Ron- Crime Pays

Cam was poised for a strong return in '09 with his reemergence to the rap scene after disappearing but bland production, terrible features and a flow that sounded like he'd rather not be rapping all contributed to the failure of Crime Pays.

Standout Songs: Cookin' Up, Curve, Get It In Ohio

-Jay-Z- Blueprint 3

Seems like plenty of people liked this album but I just couldn't vibe with it. I understand Jay for going with more of a pop/electro sound because it allowed him to appeal to a wider fanbase, but kind of like with Til The Casket Drops it's not the Jigga I want to hear. Where Raekwon went and dropped arguably the year's best album by going back to the sound that made him popular in the first place, Jay tried to do to much in his quest to transcend rap and ended up failing.

Standout Songs: N/A...would've been D.O.A, Run This Town and Empire State of Mind had they not been played the fuck out by radio and television.

-Jadakiss- The Last Kiss

When your mixtapes are consistently better than your albums you'd think it'd be smart to switch up the album formula but Montega Jada went with another feature- heavy album that had at least one guest on 16/18 songs. On top of that he went and got OJ da Juiceman for the lead single which deserves a stoneface since an artist as established as Jada shouldn't have to sink to such lows to try and sell a few more records.

Standout Songs: Pain and Torture, Cartel Gathering and Death Wish

-Fabolous- Loso's Way

I've given up on Fab's albums at this point since he insists on making them more and more "female friendly" with R&B and club songs. If you thought Loso's Way was dope go listen to There Is No Competition from 2008 and you'll see the "other" Fab who is still capable of going bar for bar with any rapper out.

Standout Songs: Imma Do It, There He Go and Lullaby

JaffeJu