Hot and Fluffy (Levity, 2007) by Gabriel Iglesias

Iglesias is a very funny comic.  His voices are hysterical and he is a fairly clean performer.  The passion for humor and appreciation he has for his fans is very admirable.  The only thing with this album, as with many stand-up comedy albums, is that some of the jokes are sight gags and obviously that's missed with just the audio recording. 

The Solution (Roc-A-Fella, 2007) by Beanie Sigel

"Dear self, can I talk to you/I been trying to have this conversation for years but you won't listen/Damn, are you that plain ignorant? your so indignant/Please come off that high chair your sitting in/Before you snatched from it, or strapped to it/Ya body used as a conduit, a thousand volts flow through you/Ya life gone over something foolish/Talking to you is so useless/Ya head harder than them walls you'll be housed in soon/Before ya body's embalmed and you lie in tomb/Open ya ears, eyes and heart, cause that hour's soon/And the hour shall cometh, when Ish Rahzel blows his trumpets/The sky shall crack, the stars will plummet/The sun will rise in the West you'll drown in your own sweat/And when that day shall be, I'll bet I'll see no bravery"

-Beanie Sigel, "Dear Self (Can I Talk to You)"

15 Degrees Off Cool (Warner Bros., 2007) by Bill Engvall

This album is typical Engvall storytelling.  It lack's his catch phrase, but that's okay.  Like Foxworthy, he's an everyman comic and that is very enjoyable.  My favorite bit on here is when he talks about meeting George Strait.  Additionally, the fact that the album was recorded in front of a "home-court" audience in Texas makes the album fun too because the energy from the crowd translates well to the recording.

Underground Kingz (Jive, 2007) by UGK

"Man I'm a middle finger figure (figure), a million dollar mission/Poppin like Orville Redenbacher (bacher), with a whippin in the kitchen (kitchen)/Yayo like Dontrelle Willis (what?), we the trillest/On the mound, I'm holdin that whole South down, I know you feel us/We the realest walkin the planet, can't stand it/Pass away, wanna fight us/Start to swingin, wanna kill us/Blast away, wanna stab us/Get to stickin but make sure you cut us deep/'Cause I betcha we comin back a couple hundred brothers deep (oh!)/Pimp and Bun, we run the streets, which streets? Man, pick your hood/Don't matter, we represented, cross us? (yeah) We gon' get you good/Them Down South veterans (huh), ain't nobody better than/gonna tell your next of kin or your brethren, let us in cousin" 

-Bun B, "The Game Belongs to Me"

My Secret Public Journal Live (Comedy Central, 2007) by Mike Birbiglia

This is a really funny album.  Birbiglia is just as much a story teller as he is a comedian.  Wether discussing a celebrity golf tournament where he was surprised to be the celebrity or his parents accidentally downloading pornography, Mike doesn't miss a beat.  His delivery is very unique and he presents himself as an oddball in a very good way.  To some degree, this album is a bit self-indulgent.  However, its okay because that doesn't happen too often and it doesn't overshadow his talents as a writer, performer, and comedian.

Made (Rap-A-Lot, 2007) by Scarface

In my opinion, this is Scarface's best solo album since The Fix.  "Never" is a great record and "Boy Meets Girl" is an intense metaphor wherein a drug addiction is compared to a romance.  The other standout track here is the single, "Girl You Know."  Nottz's use of the Lenny Williams' sample was phenomenal.  Lyrically, Scarface has always been one of my favorites and this album is another reason why.

Because of You (Def Jam, 2007) by Ne-Yo

This album, Ne-Yo's second, has an incredible amount of sentimental value to me.  One of the singles, "Go On Girl," was the first single review that I wrote that I saw in print in the pages of Billboard.  I remember the first time that I heard the song and picked it to review, it was the day after I told a girl how I had romantic feelings for her and she didn't feel the same way.  It was a very fitting record, and a catharsis to write the review of it.  There was a lot of filler on this album, but the lead single (and title track) was excellent and the dancing that Ne-Yo did in the video was reminiscent of a young Michael Jackson.  In a music industry that seems to have changed faster than ever before in the past ten years, it still doesn't surprise me that Ne-Yo has lasted as long as he has.  And I'll bet he'll be around for a long time from now as well.

N****r Noize (n/a, 2007) by Bishop Lamont

"Fuck the radio, fuck a video/And fuck any rapper tryin' to rap typical (FUCK YOU!)/It ain't that difficult,To spit some shit that's dope/Or maybe it is, but luckily for me, nope/You know that shit you wrote, ain't no shit to quote/Unless it's XXL 'Step Your Game Up' hoe/Peace to Mad Linx, but Rap City's soft/When the fuck they turn The Basement to an art loft?/I ain't mad at Tigger, get your money nigga/I would have done the same thing just to fuck Melissa/It's a God damn shame/When our music went corporate and fucked up the game/And like B.I.G. said, "Things Done Changed"/Labels merged, the raps and beats all sound the same/Seem like damn near, every rapper bang/Well I just hope Andre 3000 rap again"

                                                                                                                                                                      -Bishop Lamont, "Translator"

Graduation (Roc-A-Fella, 2007) by Kanye West

Kanye West's third album is a great album which commercially and artistically surpassed 50 Cent's Curtis when they were released on the same day in the fall of 2007.  The Steely Dan sample in "Champion" and Daft Punk one in "Stronger" prove that Kanye is a walking encyclopedia of music and his wide range of influences allow him to create music that appeals to a lot of people.  Kanye is a mediocre emcee and lyricist, but he is a true visionary.  His artistic approach to music making has made him one of the premiere producers of his time.  The DJ Premier assisted "Everything I Am" finds Premo putting his scratching skills on display and "Big Brother" finds Ye paying homage to Jay-Z.  "Good Life" is also a very noteworthy song because, in my opinion, it is the only good song that T-Pain has ever done.  Graduation isn't as good as either of Kanye's two previous releases, but, artistically speaking, it's clear that Kanye is still in a class all by himself.

T.I. Vs. T.I.P. (Grand Hustle, 2007) by T.I.

Conceptually, this album is very ambitious.  It's like Trap Muzik combined with King.  Over the course of 18 tracks, the LP is broken into three acts.  As a result of this though, the project becomes a bit cluttered as a whole.  Nevertheless, there are still some great songs.  "Big Shit Poppin'", with the guitar riff from the "Top Gun Anthem," has some of Mannie Fresh's best board work since Cash Money's reign in the late 90s and Busta Rhymes steals the show as usual with his guest work on "Hurt."  The bluesy vibe of "Watch What You Say" gives Jay-Z space to deliver a solid verse and "Respect My Hustle" finds T.I. and his alter-ego T.I.P. challenging each other.  T.I.'s Paper Trail, released a year later, is a way better album.  But T.I. Vs. T.I.P. shows a young person dealing with his past in the streets, coming to terms with fame and realizing who he is now all at once.  Even if it isn't done really well, the fact that T.I. even attempts to do so still counts for something.

Spirit (J, 2007) by Leona Lewis

The album has a very generic pop sound for its more upbeat, radio-friendly material.  In fact, it is very paint-by-numbers.  However, Leona's voice is amazing.  It is reminiscent of Mariah Carey at the beginning of her career- a gifted, young woman who makes pop music and adult contemporary material, then puts it all on one album.  My favorite songs are the latter.  If someone has a great voice, I'd rather concentrate on that than be distracted by a catchy beat.  "Yesterday", an album highlight for me, finds Leona singing about how no matter what life holds for love in the future, nothing can take away what was had in the past.  It's a great thought, and it definitely applied to me at the time that I first heard the record in the summer of 2008.

Waitin' to Inhale (Rap-A-Lot, 2007) by Devin the Dude

"We work nights, we some vampires/Niggas gather round the beat like a campfire/Singin' folk songs, but not no Kumbaya my Lord/You download it for free, we get charged back for it/I know you're saying, they won't know they won't miss it/Besides, I ain't a thief, they won't pay me a visit/So if I come to your job, take your corn on the cob/And take a couple kernels off it that would be alright with you/Hell no! Yeah, exactamundo/But we just keep recording and it ain't to get no condo/And Candy Bentley fanny with no panties in Miami/And that cute lil' chick named Tammy that you took to the Grammys/See we do it for that boi that graduated/ That looked you in your eyes real tough and said 'preciate it/And that he wouldn'ta made it if it wasn't for your CD number 9/And he's standing with his baby momma Kiki and she cryin' talkin' bout/That they used to get high to me in high school/And they used to make love to me in college/Then they told me 'bout they first date, listenin' to my tunes/And how he, like to finger nail polish/I say hate to cut you off but I gotta go/I wish you could tell me mo' but I'm off to the studio, gotta write tonight/Hey, can you put us in your raps? I don't see why not/Devin it's the Dude you gon' probably hear him talking 'bout"

-Andre 3000, "What a Job"

    

Eat Me, Drink Me (Interscope, 2007) by Marilyn Manson

The songwriting for this album, in my opinion, is its highpoint.  Manson discusses love, in his own unique way, but that is still far from the bizarre antics of Smells Like Children.  Conceptually, "If I Was Your Vampire" is a deep record.  Just the idea of drawing blood from the one you love and connecting on that level, it is very intense.  The production isn't as loud and inconsistent as some of his earlier efforts.  The use of keyboards seems to outweigh heavy guitar riffs.  And the fact that Spin magazine reached out to adult film star Janine Lindemulder for her take on the sex between Manson and Evan Rachael Wood in the clip for "Heart-Shaped Glasses" is really cool.  I was a fan of Janine before, but this made me an even bigger one.

Rock N Roll Jesus (Atlantic, 2007) by Kid Rock

If Kid Rock took the approach of the "Picture" record and made an album out of it, it would be this album.  Rock N Roll Jesus definitely has that crossover to full-fledged southern rock that his previous material didn't.  I remember when this album dropped I was really into it because Mr. Ritchie referenced Northern Michigan and Nashville on the same album- two places which are very near and dear to my heart.  And in addition to that, the music was good too.  My favorite song on the album is "Roll On."  The sentimental tone of the record coupled with Rock's continued maturity made for one of my favorite songs and videos of that year.  It is not often that I prefer singles over deep cuts, but "Roll On" is one of the few exceptions.

Buck the World (G-Unit, 2007) by Young Buck

Young Buck overcame the sophomore jinx better than his boss with Buck the World.  On the production end of things, it has a bit more of a southern sound than his debut.  And, lyric wise, while there is certainly plenty of aggressive content, Buck also offers a bit of introspection as well.  Album highlights include "Buck the World", "Hold On", "4 Kings", and "Puff Puff Pass".  Whereas 50's The Massacre seemed like it was merely an extension of Get Rich or Die Tryin' , Buck the World shows a real growth from 2004's Straight Outta Cashville.  I had the pleasure of meeting Buck a few years ago at an after party for a southern hip-hop event, and he was a real nice guy.  I've followed his work since 2002's Born to Be a Thug and have enjoyed it all for the most part.  However, as of right now,  Buck the World is still the collection of songs Young Buck has yet to top.

American Gangster (Roc-A-Fella, 2007) by Jay-Z

This album made up for the dent in the armor that was Kingdom Come (but the title-track to that album was awesome).  The American Gangster album is carefully sequenced like a cohesive story, and so the songs follow the tale of an ambitious young man who aspires to find success as a hustler and become an affluent drug kingpin.  However, and not surprisingly, the success does not last.  From Jay-Z's perspective, it sort of picks up where Reasonable Doubt left off, as far as hustling themes.  The album itself plays through well as a result of interludes from the movie that was the album's muse.  And production-wise, Jay-Z's music hadn't sounded that soulful since The Blueprint.  Overall, it's still not Jay's best work though.  However, it is an inspired hip-hop package that removed Jay from the un-relatable  and broad content of Kingdom Come.  American Gangster put him back in a space where listeners could identify with some of the things Jay was talking about and they were forced to believe him because of the vivid details that his words provided.  It was with this album that Jay-Z reclaimed the crown and again became the King of New York hip-hop.

Prime Cut (Warner Bros., 2007) by Ralphie May

Ralphie May is an equal-opportunity offender.  Although this album is not as strong as its predecessor, Ralphie is funny none the less.  From discussing why African-Americans can not wear flip flops ("Cause your feet get too ashy.  Looks like you've been throwing sidekicks at volcanoes all day, right?) to making references to Golden Girls ("Ooh, that crazy Blanch!), May is very witty and entertaining.  I especially like the part when he pays homage to The Luniz "I Got Five on It" by talking about a dessert being prepared by Rachael Ray and how "she put fuuudge onnn it."  He is a comedian that I have followed for years and will continue to as long as he is performing.

Werewolves and Lollipops (Sub Pop, 2007) by Patton Oswalt

Patton Oswalt is a former English major, which should come as no surprise, considering this masterfully written  stand-up comedy set.  From referencing This Mortal Coil to admitting that his “geekiness is getting in the way of (his) nerdiness,” Patton never undervalues the audience and that allows him to transition smoothly over a wide variety of topics.  Much like George Carlin before him, Oswalt challenges listeners just as much as he entertains them.