2006 was very much a hip-hop year for me. Ghostface Killah’s albums bookened the year quite nicely, and I discovered new artists like Kidz in the Hall and The Procussions (Rawkus is comin’ back, peeps!). Nas declared hip-hop dead, and on a mainstream level, he’s got a point. I love Ludacris as much as the next man, but how did he win best rap album at the Grammys over Lupe Fiasco?!? With 2007 in full swing, I get the feeling it’s gonna be all about throwback pop, rock, and soul dominating my iPod. Even Rjd2 is switching his style up!

Lily Allen – Alright, Still
Technically a 2006 release, us Yanks couldn’t get our hands on it until last month. The funny thing about this album is how cherry it sounds, despite some of the gloomy lyrics and casual profanity. When she’s not calling out her boyfriend on his infidelities and inadequacies in the bedroom, she’s claiming to have a venereal disease to deter the men trying to pick her up at clubs. Aside from her current hit single “Smile”, standout tracks like “LND” and “Nan, You’re A Window Shopper” really make the album. The latter is a parody of 50 Cent’s “Window Shopper” that would make Weird Al Yankovich proud.
www.lilyallenmusic.com

k-os – Atlantis: Hymns for Disco
Whether he’s rapping or singing, k-os is always on point. His latest album is such a rich blends of sounds and there’s really no label that could do it justice. Hip-hop, rock, reggae, pop, the man leaves no musical stone unturned, and it all works. He even channels Bob Dylan on a few tracks. Honestly, anyone who’s just a fan of music in general really needs to pick this up. One of the best albums of the year, thus far.
www.k-osmusic.com

Rjd2 – The Third Hand
This album took some getting used to, based purely on the fact that the beatmaker himself is singing on almost every track! It’s a gutsy move on his part, having left Def Jux, and experimenting with a spacey combination of alternative pop and prog rock. He plays around with conventional song structure a lot, and constructs some interesting melodies that are sometimes catchy and upbeat, and sometimes a little moodier. Definitely not the best singer in the world, RJ’s got an offbeat quality to his voice that’s suited to the music he creates. Sample what you can on iTunes or his Myspace page, just to be on the safe side.
www.rjd2site.com