2009 was a bitter sweet year overall. Mr. Obama was sworn in as the first African-American President of the United States, and Michael Jackson died (damn, that hurts every time). Hip-hop was ok. A lot of the laffy taffy shit finally left the airwaves, but that then opened the door for auto-tune rappers.

Then, Jay-Z kind of killed that vibe with D.O.A. It seems as if a sense of respect for lyrics and artistry had returned in 2009. I can only imagine what 2010 will be like. Here are the albums and mixtapes that I felt did justice to the Hip-Hop game (in some shape or form) this year:

1. Raekwon feat. Ghostface Killah- “Only Built for Cuban Linx II”

2. Jadakiss & Green Lantern-“The Camp Is Here Pt. 2: Kiss My Ass”

3. Mos Def- “Ecstatic”

4. Jay-Z- ““The Blueprint 3″“

5. Ghostface Killah- “The Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City”

6. Joell Ortiz- “Road Kill” mixtape

7. Clipse- “Till the Casket Drop”

8. Lil Wayne- “No Ceilings” mixtape

9. M.O.P.- “Foundation”

10. Slaughterhouse- “Slaughterhouse”

Honorable Mentions:

Eminem “Relapse”

Doom “Born Like This”

Wu-Tang presents “Chamber Music”

Until 2010….

While I’m watchin every nigga watchin me closely
my shit is butter for the bread they wanna toast me
I keep my head, both of them where they supposed to be
Hoes’ll get you sidetracked then clap from closed feet
I don’t sleep, I’m tired, I feel wired like codeine, these days
a brother gotta admire from four fiends away
My pain wish it was quick to see, from sellin ‘caine
til brains was fried to a fricaisse, can’t lie
At the time it never bothered me, at the bar
gettin my thug on properly, my squad and me
lack of respect for authority, laughin hard
Happy to be escapin poverty, however brief
I know this game got valleys and peaks, expectation
for dips, four percent pertation we stack chips, hardly
The youth I used to be, soon to see a mill’in
No more, Big Willie my game has grown prefer you call me William
Illin for revenues, Rayful Edmonds like
Channel 7 news, round seven jewels, hand gettin the mic
Forgettin all I ever knew, convenient amnesia
I suggest you call my lawyer, I know the procedure
Lock my body can’t trap my mind, easily
explain why we adapt to crime
I’d rather die enormous than live dormant that’s how we on it
Live at the main event, I bet a trip to Maui on it
Presidential suites my resedential for the weekend
Confidentially speakin in codes since I sense you peekin
The NSX rental, don’t be fooled my game is mental
We both out of town dog, what you tryin to get into?
Viva, Las Vegas, see ya, later at the crap tables
meet me by the one that starts a G up
This way no fraud Willie’s present gambling they re-up
And we can have a pleasant time, sippin margaritas
Ge-ge-geyeahhh, can I live?
Can I live?

Here’s the New one from Amerie.

It’s called “More than Love” off of her new album and Def Jam debut, In Love & War and it features Fabulous, not only as the guest rapper, but the love interest.

Nevermind the now requisite struggling-R&B-artist?-place-some-Nuvo-in-your-video! thing at the beginning ala Mario, this is still a quality song and video. We haven’t seen this much of  a good fit of singer and rapper playing boyfriend and girlfriend since Meth & Alicia. We forget Amerie also acts – word to the monologue in the beginning that could have been cheesy, but worked just right. And sampling the non-popular and overused part of “Summer Madness” is quite Gangster might I add.

Not only are these 2 of my favorite Artists, they’re also 2 of the Flyest, and I’m really pushing for A! I know she gets a lot of flack for lacking an innate sense of soul and not having the best range, but I don’t think that’s what’s held her back. I think she just hasn’t found her niche. When she got close to having one, she slept on it and let Beyonce stumble across her mojo and take it to levels that she probably never could (peep B’s “Greenlight” video – sound/look familiar to anything?), but at least would have kept her a household name.

So I’m hoping this single does more than what her first 2 off of this album did, and here’s to hoping that they release her “Pretty Brown Eyes” song with Trey Songz as a single as well.

That would be a good look right about now. Not that I even own this album myself, but still,      I want her to win…and not just cause I have a huge crush on her…

” That became a jehri-curl eventually, lol!” – VEGAS

LA REID IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT RIHANNA’S RANCHY GQ PHOTOSHOOT

CelebrityMania: Rihanna has been reported getting into trouble with her record label after she poses in nothing but a skimpy pair of shorts for the cover of GQ magazine’s January 2010 issue. According to Star Pulse, the 21-year-old Barbadian beauty has faced the wrath of her record label boss Antonio “L.A.” Reid since the photoshoot was so raunchy.

The “Russian Roulette” hitmaker herself has admitted things got so steamy on the photo set that the head honco of Island Def Jam threatened to step in. “It’s very sexy,” the former girlfriend of Chris Brown recalled on the photoshoot. “At one point L.A. Reid came into the shoot and he was like, ‘Rihanna, put some f–king clothes on.’ “

Meanwhile, in the interview with the magazine, Rihanna shared that music helps her overcoming her trauma following her altercation with Chris Brown. “Really, just the music. And working. ‘Cause I really didn’t want to be around anybody, for them to stare at me and stuff, and feel sorry for me. So I just stayed in the house a lot,” she said. “Then I started to get cabin fever. I was like, I’m going crazy in here.”

The Grammy Award-winning singer was recently reported to have given Kanye West a lap dance. Breaking the report was The Daily Mirror, which claimed that the R ‘n’ B singer was seen getting cozy with the rapper at a London club Whisky Mist. The tabloid added that the twosome “flirted outrageously and dirty-danced” during the night outing.



Wayne has become legendary in the game no matter your thoughts of him. The Louisiana born Cash Money Exec has become an element that the hip hop game has either despised or adored. No in between with this guy and apparently “No Ceilings”. Hustlenomics doesn’t discriminate on a hustlers route of choice if he/she does it with class and in their own way. With this said we must take notice that the empire Weezy built is like no other. Enjoy the two tracks I’ve provided below. Remember, Dons/Divas don’t hate the player we intentionally improve the game. Hustle On!

Warrick Buffett
Editor-At-Large
Cosmopolitan Media Group

Juelz Santana launches his Def Jam career with Back To The Crib ft. Chris Brown:

Juelz Santana took the apparent ‘risk’ in turning to Chris Brown to feature on the record, however this so called gamble seems to have paid off, musically atleast, simply as Chris fits the record well and helps broaden the track’s appeal in regards to audience.

Produced by Polow Da Don, who seems ready to launch another successful Chart take-over, he has done it before, producing hits for the likes of Keri Hilson, Usher and Chris Brown himself (for his new album Graffiti). Issues aside, I like the record, the chorus is catchy, the beat is infectious as it is, an overall hit record feel, a track that is radio friendly whilst being almost guaranteed to be played by a DJ towards the end of his set. The video is simple and fun, it has a good feel-good vibe and i’m sure it will be another successful record for Santana.