XXL's Top Ten of 2006
10.The Roots Game Theory Label: Def Jam Beats: Artist, J Dilla Features: Mos Def, Saigon, Peedi Peedi, MF Doom, Danger Mouse, Jill Scott, Lunna E of Cirius, MFSB Orchestra, Truk North First Single: Don't Feel Right Sales Pitch: "We still put 100 percent of our effort into making what we feel is wuality hip-hop. I think if people really believe in wuality and have patience, then we're worth the purchase."
9. Ludacris Release Therapy Label: DTP/Def Jam Beats: Timbaland, Shondrae, LT Moe, Organized Noize, Ice Drake Features: DTP Family Sales Pitch: "You 're gonna get your money's worth and then some. Real music is all about emotion. Whether it make you laugh, reminisce, cry, get motivated to get a damn job, or tell people you love them; you're going to feel this muthafuckin' album."
8. Busta Rhymes The Big Bang Label: Aftermath/Interscope Beats: Timbaland, Dr.Dre, Neptunes, Scott Stroch, Nottz, J Dilla, Swizz Beat, Sha Money XL, Jelly Roll, Denaun Porter, Just Blaze, Rashad Smith, Hill Features: Stevie Wonder, Rick James, Raekwon, Nas, Dr.Dre, Eminem, Q-Tip, Notorious BIG, Flipmond Squad First Single: Touch It Sales Pitch: "Busta Rhymes has never not been the most consistent mutherfucka around. Busta Rhymes has always carried the torch for what's hot in the street. And even though the South has been making those records that make you wild out in the club, I'm here to give you that raw New York club banger."
7. Ghostface Killah Fishscale Label: Def Jam Beats: Pete Rock, Mf Doom, J Dilla, Madlib, Moss, Lewis Parker, Studio Beatz Features: Wu-Tang Clan, Theodore Unit, Ne-yo First Single: Back Like That Sales Pitch: "Fishscale is like dopest shit that's on the block right now. It's like I got the hypest dope. When niggas taste that shit, they gon' fiend for it"
6. T.I. The King Label: Grand Hustle/Atlantic Beats: Rick Rubin, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Hi-Tek, Kwame, Fury, DJ Toomp. Don Cannon, Chad West, Khano, Keith Mack, Lil' C, Black Mob, Big Resse Features: Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, P$C, Lil' Wayne, B.G., Alicia Keys, Young Dro, Governor First Single: Ride Wit Me Sales Pitch: " Trap Muzik laid the foundation, but missed a couple mainstream recors. Urban Legend was great, but it missed the creativity people wanted from me. King is my most well-rounded project since I'm Serious."
5. Outkast Idlewild Label: Jive Beats: Artist, Organized Noize Features: Sleepy Brown, Janelle Monae, Scar First Single: Big Boi's The Train and the duo's Idlewild Blues will be released simultaneously Sales Pitch: "With us you have to expect the unexpected," said Big. "This is the next thing you could do after doing a double CD where two group members were doing solo CDs. The fans expect nothing less than what we've been giving them for the past decade, and that's some funky-ass shit"
4. Mobb Deep Blood Money Label: G Unit/Interscope Beats: Havoc, Dr.Dre, Alchemist, Sha Money XL, J.R., Red Spyder Features: G-Unit First Single: Put 'Em In Their Place Sales Pitch: "If there's one thing you can say about Mobb Deep it's that we're consistent," says Havoc. "We're gonna come with that music that you're gonna be able to play in your car for years. We wanna be a part of this because it's a part of history."
3. Cam'ron Killa Season Label: Asylum Beats: Ebonikz, Pro V, Black Key, Stay Gettin, Blackout, Versatile Productions, Wattz Features: Juelz Santana, J.R. Writter, Hell Rell, Jaheim, Webbie First Single: Do Your Thing Sales Pitch: "I got the passion back back because Hell Rell and J.R. are starting to get buzz they're getting. It's like process that Jim, Juelz and I went through starting over, getting on mixtapes. I'm hyped again."
2. Nas TBD Label: TBD Beats: DJ Premier Features: All Mr. Jones offers is, "I'm almost done [working] on a Queens anthem with another big Queens dude." First Single: TBD Sales Pitch: "Cop it to see where dude's head is at and where I'm taking it this timearound. This will be the next step for me. I bridged the gap between generation on my last joint, this one is going fuurther ahead creatively than what I did last time."
1. The Game The Doctor's Advocate Label: Black Wall Street/Aftermath/Interscope Beats: Dr.Dre, Hi-Tk, Kayne West, Just Blaze, Nu Jerzey Devil Features: Nas, Damiain Marley, Snoop Dogg, Mary J.Blige, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey Sales Pitch: "I'm still there with Dre making the greatest album of all the time. My first album was a classic. This one is about upping the ante and making something better than a classic - on my own."
9. Ludacris Release Therapy Label: DTP/Def Jam Beats: Timbaland, Shondrae, LT Moe, Organized Noize, Ice Drake Features: DTP Family Sales Pitch: "You 're gonna get your money's worth and then some. Real music is all about emotion. Whether it make you laugh, reminisce, cry, get motivated to get a damn job, or tell people you love them; you're going to feel this muthafuckin' album."
8. Busta Rhymes The Big Bang Label: Aftermath/Interscope Beats: Timbaland, Dr.Dre, Neptunes, Scott Stroch, Nottz, J Dilla, Swizz Beat, Sha Money XL, Jelly Roll, Denaun Porter, Just Blaze, Rashad Smith, Hill Features: Stevie Wonder, Rick James, Raekwon, Nas, Dr.Dre, Eminem, Q-Tip, Notorious BIG, Flipmond Squad First Single: Touch It Sales Pitch: "Busta Rhymes has never not been the most consistent mutherfucka around. Busta Rhymes has always carried the torch for what's hot in the street. And even though the South has been making those records that make you wild out in the club, I'm here to give you that raw New York club banger."
7. Ghostface Killah Fishscale Label: Def Jam Beats: Pete Rock, Mf Doom, J Dilla, Madlib, Moss, Lewis Parker, Studio Beatz Features: Wu-Tang Clan, Theodore Unit, Ne-yo First Single: Back Like That Sales Pitch: "Fishscale is like dopest shit that's on the block right now. It's like I got the hypest dope. When niggas taste that shit, they gon' fiend for it"
6. T.I. The King Label: Grand Hustle/Atlantic Beats: Rick Rubin, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, Hi-Tek, Kwame, Fury, DJ Toomp. Don Cannon, Chad West, Khano, Keith Mack, Lil' C, Black Mob, Big Resse Features: Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, P$C, Lil' Wayne, B.G., Alicia Keys, Young Dro, Governor First Single: Ride Wit Me Sales Pitch: " Trap Muzik laid the foundation, but missed a couple mainstream recors. Urban Legend was great, but it missed the creativity people wanted from me. King is my most well-rounded project since I'm Serious."
5. Outkast Idlewild Label: Jive Beats: Artist, Organized Noize Features: Sleepy Brown, Janelle Monae, Scar First Single: Big Boi's The Train and the duo's Idlewild Blues will be released simultaneously Sales Pitch: "With us you have to expect the unexpected," said Big. "This is the next thing you could do after doing a double CD where two group members were doing solo CDs. The fans expect nothing less than what we've been giving them for the past decade, and that's some funky-ass shit"
4. Mobb Deep Blood Money Label: G Unit/Interscope Beats: Havoc, Dr.Dre, Alchemist, Sha Money XL, J.R., Red Spyder Features: G-Unit First Single: Put 'Em In Their Place Sales Pitch: "If there's one thing you can say about Mobb Deep it's that we're consistent," says Havoc. "We're gonna come with that music that you're gonna be able to play in your car for years. We wanna be a part of this because it's a part of history."
3. Cam'ron Killa Season Label: Asylum Beats: Ebonikz, Pro V, Black Key, Stay Gettin, Blackout, Versatile Productions, Wattz Features: Juelz Santana, J.R. Writter, Hell Rell, Jaheim, Webbie First Single: Do Your Thing Sales Pitch: "I got the passion back back because Hell Rell and J.R. are starting to get buzz they're getting. It's like process that Jim, Juelz and I went through starting over, getting on mixtapes. I'm hyped again."
2. Nas TBD Label: TBD Beats: DJ Premier Features: All Mr. Jones offers is, "I'm almost done [working] on a Queens anthem with another big Queens dude." First Single: TBD Sales Pitch: "Cop it to see where dude's head is at and where I'm taking it this timearound. This will be the next step for me. I bridged the gap between generation on my last joint, this one is going fuurther ahead creatively than what I did last time."
1. The Game The Doctor's Advocate Label: Black Wall Street/Aftermath/Interscope Beats: Dr.Dre, Hi-Tk, Kayne West, Just Blaze, Nu Jerzey Devil Features: Nas, Damiain Marley, Snoop Dogg, Mary J.Blige, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey Sales Pitch: "I'm still there with Dre making the greatest album of all the time. My first album was a classic. This one is about upping the ante and making something better than a classic - on my own."
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