Illuminati 2G

Welcome to our 6th annual Illuminati 2g awards. Here we recognize the best albums of 2006 in the world of hip hop. We break in down into regions as by what was the best album from the east, west, midwest and dirty south. All the selections are made by Illuminati 2g so if ya got beef wit the picks, hit me up on email or the message board. To check out our past awards click here. Let get to it:

When Nas proclaimed that hip hop was dead, it got many rappers and fans in a uproar. Not to mention the union in partnership with Jay but with that phrase Nas created a buzz really seen like no other. "Oh so it is dead Nas? Let's see what you got". I am sure many a buyer was saying this when they went to the store to buy it. But the album was a throwback of sorts, back to the roots of hip hop, but with a modern twist. This album once again reassured heads that Nasty Nas is here to stay. Def Jam or Sony.

Other Albums: Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, CL Smooth, Styles P, Cormega & Lake, Hi-Tek, Fat Joe, Lloyd Banks, Method Man, The Roots, AZ, Inspectah Deck, Masta Killa, Ghostface

With Food & Liquor, Lupe Fiasco sets no boundaries for himself as he creates a revolutionary brand of alternative hip-hop in which he shares his mind through original storytelling techniques. He takes hip-hop off the streets and onto the half pipe, off the streets and into the sneaker shops, off the streets and into the hands and in front of real people. In a age of bling bling and hittin switches, Lupe brought the reality rap in 2006.

Other Albums: Bone Thugs N Harmony, Eminem, Tech N9ne, Bizzy Bone, Belo, Obie Trice, Rhymefest, Ray Cash

Once again in 2006 the South was on top, but no album in 06 brought the realness like The Product did. With Scarface behind the helm and Will Hen and Malice riding shotgun, One Hunid was a pure blend of street lyrics, blues tones and real life storytelling. Face said he was done with rap but lets hope he continues the CEO role in bringing real rap acts like this to the ears of the masses.

Other albums: Scarface, Young Jeezy, Outkast, Smitty, TI, Pimp C, Ludacris, Clipse, Killer Mike, Z-Ro

The Game is once again in the top spot here and with no surprise. Sure I was a little skeptical about whether Dre would or would not be on the album, but the lyrical ability was always there. And did he bring it on this album. Now the Dre name calling was on Guiness world records pace, but the album brought banging beats, strong lyrics and had that throwback feel to it of the 90's. To think about it, that is what the west coast as a whole is starting to feel like again.

Other Albums: Ice Cube, Murs, MC Eiht, Dogg Pound, Snoop, Xzibit, Delinquent Habits, Ras Kass, Too $hort, Kurupt, Tha Alkaholiks, The Coup, 2Pac, Mitchy Slick

Ha, Nas fooled all of you. This title alone got sooo many people hating on the title of his new album. But in actuality he helped bring the focus back on the art form of hip hop. Hate it or love it, Nas delivered the goods in 2006, along with Lupe, Method Man, Face, Luda and Game and many others. Thanks Nasir, hopefully we will get more dope albums like this in 2007.

Best Comeback: Ice Cube

Best Indie Album: Ice Cube- Laugh Now, Cry Later

Most Slept On Album: Ray Cash- Cash On Demand

Biggest Flop: Lloyd Banks, Mobb Deep, Cam'ron

Best Mixtape- Chamillionaire, DJ Crazy Toones and Crooked I

Best Group Album- The Product- One Hunnid

Best New Artist- Lupe Fiasco

Best Producer- Scott Storch

Most Entertaining Beef- Game vs Ras Kass, Dipset vs Roc-A-Fella

Most Shocking News of 2006- Nas said hip hop is dead

Best Compilation- Hi-Tek: Hiteknology

Best Guest Appearance- Rage on Keep It Gangsta

Best Rap Quotable & Diss Song: Snoop Dogg- Think About It & Game- Soundscan 

Best Lyricist- Termanlogy

Best Song- Busta Rhymes- Touch It Remix

Biggest Disappointment: No albums from Dre, Crooked I

Deaths in Music- James Brown, Proof, Dilla, My Mother also R.I.P.

Overall, I thought 2006 had some bangin albums. There once again seems to be a resurgence in consicous rap so hopefully we will hear more of the same in 2007. Region wise, I liked the things that I heard from the South and the West all year. Game's success along with the Dogg Pound coming back and Crooked I and Crazy Toones sick mixtapes show that the west coast is still doing it. Big ups to Ice Cube selling big units and giving the major labels the finger. The South was clearly running thing again in 2006 as it seemed that everything dropping form there was selling. I loved the music that was coming from all parts of the south but there was alot of bullshit coming from there also.

The Midwest got some much needed shine as Lupe Fiasco dropped one of the dopest debuts since Illmatic. This helped to put the Midwest back in the stoplight. Ray Cash had to drop the most slpet on album in 2006. Let's hope yall fans ain't sleeping the next time. The East also had some stellar albums but all in all Nas and Jay and Busta helped to bring the east back to the mainstream. Hopefully this will continue. Nas' quote about hip hop being dead is historic. I want to take this time to thank all of the fans and visitors that have supported the site since day one. Alot more artist promotion, established or new, will go down along with some interviews. Big ups to Delinquent Habits and Kemo doing the interviews. Also big ups to Ocean Records and Styles for all their support and advice. We will continue to bring the heat as we go into our 7th year.  2006 was our best year, and we have alot in store for you guys in 2007 so keep it locked here at Illuminati 2G! Hoped you liked the awards.