For Myself & Others: Top 10 Musical Acts
By Bomani Jones, AOL BlackVoices columnist
As a year comes to a close, it's natural to look back at what's taken place over the last 12 months. But rather than running through a list of the best artists and/or records of 2004, it's a lot more fun to consider the most interesting records of the year. Plus, there's no way I could honestly say what the best records of the year have been because I haven't heard them all. I can, however, name 10 acts worth reconsidering, listed below in no particular order.
Kanye West
If you thought a nerdy, vocally awkward producer would put a record out in January that might have stood as the best hip-hop album of the year, you would have won a lot of bets. But if you knew Kanye's beats and couldn't predict that the 'The College Dropout' would enjoy at least a moderate degree of success, then a trip to the doctor may be in order. No matter what one has to say about Kanye and his seemingly contradictory messages, it's undeniable that his subject matter was a breath of fresh air.
Lil' Scrappy/Ciara/Usher
These three make the list because they are the living proof of how far Lil' Jon has come in four years. In 2000, Jon used established stars Too $hort and Ludacris as vehicles to get his beats to the masses and make himself a star. Now, he's able to use his beats to bring acts like Scrappy and Ciara to the world, making them household names in the process. And if you think Usher would have gone platinum in a week without the work Jon put in to get 'Yeah!' on the radio, you must not have heard the song.
Terror Squad
This TS lineup looks almost nothing like the one from their debut album, Fat Joe being the only memorable face from before. And to the surprise of many, a group of Puerto Ricans, one black woman and a nerdy white producer who started off playing keyboards for The Roots released 'Lean Back,' the No. 1 hit that was unquestionably the banger of the summer.
Juvenile
Though 'Juve the Great' was released last year, its impact was felt most in '04 because of 'Slow Motion,' Juve's brilliant collaboration with the late Solja Slim. The best thing about the album was that it proved what's often forgotten -- Juvenile is as steady as an emcee gets. The tragedy in 'Slow Motion' is that Slim, a legend in New Orleans' largely self-contained scene, joins a tragically lengthy list of artists who reached their greatest success posthumously.
The Roots
After going a little too far with 'Phrenology,' they came back with 'The Tipping Point,' a minimal, straight-ahead banger. But what makes the record interesting is Black Thought, who joined Jay-Z as a rare emcee who makes being grown sound fresh, clean and cool. Unfortunately, the record didn't get a plaque.
Ja Rule
To the surprise of many -- including this writer -- Ja brought heat on 'R.U.L.E.,' his best LP since 2000's 'Rule 3:36.' Isn't it ironic how recently it was that most figured that overexposure and his beef with 50 Cent would end his career, but now it's 50 who seems to have worn out his time in the spotlight?
Destiny's Child
Instead of sounding like a reunion of a supergroup, DC's 'Destiny Fulfilled' makes one wonder why Beyonc‚ has returned to a past she has clearly outgrown. Only three years removed from their last record, 'Survivor,' Beyonc‚'s return to her roots feels like a grown-up going back to high school.
T.I.
While incarcerated, he started a beef with Lil' Flip. After recording his verse on Young Buck's 'Stomp,' he caught a vicious diss from Ludacris. But in the whirlwind of those controversies, 'Urban Legend' established him as a star, one whose stock is rising, charisma is uncommon and hustle is air-tight.
Nas
'Street's Disciple' is all over the place, but that's to be expected from someone as ambitious as Kelis' fianc‚. Love him or hate him, but he's clearly thought-provoking, and this record establishes him once and for all as an all-time great. And did I mention he's engaged to Kelis?
Jay-Z
It's hard to believe he's really retiring, but he's done everything -- from a farewell album to a "final" show at Madison Square Garden -- to make it seem like he's leaving the game. But instead of saying goodbye, he's become the new president of Island Def Jam. Maybe this is him being Kobe Bryant, taking over his team to show how important he was to the Roc-A-Fella empire. No matter what, it will be interesting to see if Def Jam's biggest artist can run the show himself. Such a bold move guarantees he will be back in this list in 2005.
In 12 months, we'll do this again. Even in a down year, music remains fascinating. These are 10 reasons why.
Dec. 31, 2004