Illuminati 2G

Welcome to our 9th annual Illuminati 2g awards. Here we recognize the best albums of 2009 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:

Best East Coast Album: Raekwon- Only Built For A Cuban Linx II

In this day and age of daily trends and styles changing, it was refreshing to hear Raekwon come back with a near classic follow up. So many sequels are completely different from their first and in most instances that is not a good thing. But Cuban Linx II had that classic Wu sound but also with a updated, fresh twist as well. Alot of dope east coast albums that dropped in 2009.

Honorable Mention: Jay-Z, 50 Cent, M.O.P., Cormega, Havoc, Rakim, Fabolous, General Steele, KRS One & Buckshot, Ghostface, U-God, Killah Priest, Method Man & Redman, Skyzoo, Jadakiss, Canibus & Keith Murray

Best Midwest Album: Brother Ali- US

US, Brother Ali's second record in the 2009 calendar year, finds the prolific MC and Rhymesayer mainstay as reflective (and effortlessly poignant) as ever. He's also as musically bipolar as ever, basking in his newfound life as a father while name-dropping the Bearenstain Bears on one track ("Fresh Air"), while bemoaning the mixed-up, messed-up state of the world on the next ("Tight Rope"). He also remains one of rap's premier creator of character sketches as on the sitar blues of "Breakin' Dawn." The production on US is as top notch as ever, slipping from golden age glory to intricate pop montages.

Honorable Mention: Royce Da 5'9", Eminem, Substance, Twista, Obie Trice

Best Dirty South Album: UGK- 4 Life

A unique memorial to Pimp C, who died in December 2007, UGK 4 LIFE doesn't smother the duo's swan song in posthumous sentiment. (There's a foreboding proclamation from Pimp C during the intro that he and Bun B are "back from the dead.") But from there, his surviving partner and production team let the music--and familiar themes of sex and other forms of indulgent relaxation--take center stage. Apart from inviting a revaluation of the late rapper's underrated soulfulness, 4 LIFE serves as a testament to UGK's trademark smoothness, which, on their final collaboration, evokes what the Ohio Players might sound like if they were updated for the hip-hop generation.

Honorable Mention: DJ Paul, Paul Wall, Rick Ross, Justice Allah, Killer Mike, Ace Hood, Juvenile, BG, Stat Quo

Best West Coast Album: Souls Of Mischief- Montezuma's Revenge

What is special about this album is that it isn't just the tried and true hiero formula of non stop battle lyrics. They have created great songs here. "For Real Y'all" is just a driving bassline with Opio hitting the chorus over and over again. It just bumps. The hooks are also back on track. On Trilogy they become unnecessarily long and unwieldy. Things are kept simple here, Prince Paul using samples in "La La" or a simple "Tour stories, true stories" in Tour Stories. It often work's best and its why 93 til infinity still sounds good today. Think of "Never No More" as the blueprint. The topics are still varied from crazy women in "Postal," leaving women in "Lickety Split," and storytelling tracks like "You got it" and "Dead Man Walking." This combined with the signature hiero bangers like "Hiero HQ," "One," and "Poets." It's finished off withe summer BBQ track "Home Game," which really deserves a single and a music video to be released in summer 2010. That would surely help blow up the album. The track has a great feel reminiscent of other hiero hits like "You Never Knew" and "93 til Infinity."

Honorable Mention: Fashawn, DJ Quik & Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, Dogg Pound, Yukmouth, Chali 2na, Zoo Life, Warren G, Mack 10, Tash, J. Wells, Elevated Ruffians, Lady L.U.S.T.

Album Of The Year Raekwon- Only Built For A Cuban Linx II

Best Comeback: Cormega

Best Indie Album: Fashawn- Boy Meets World

Most Slept On Album: Skyzoo- The Salvation

Biggest Flop: 50 Cent- Before I Self Destruct

Best Mixtape- Lloyd Banks

Best Group Album- Slaughterhouse

Best New Artist- Fashawn

Best Producer-  Alchemist

Most Entertaining Beef- Raekwon vs Joe Budden, Rick Ross vs 50 Cent

Most Shocking News of 2009- Michael Jackson's death

Best Compilation- Wu Tang Presents Chamber Music

Best Guest Appearance- Crooked I on Noah Jones'  The Pugilist

Best Rap Quotable & Diss Song: Nas- Queens Get The Money & TI- What Up, What's Happening 

Best Lyricist- Brother Ali

Best Song- Slaughterhouse- Move On

Biggest Disappointment: No Detox , AGAIN 

Deaths in Music- Michael Jackson, Baatin, DJ AM, Dolla, Roc Raida, Mr. Magic

Overall, I thought 2009 had some incredible albums. There once again seems to be a resurgence in consicous rap so hopefully we will hear more of the same in 2010. Region wise, I liked the things that I heard from the East and the West all year. Jay-Z, Rae, Ghost, Method Man & Redman, Cormega, the list goes on and on. Seems like that grimey east coast sound is making a comeback. The South was clearly running things again in 2009 as it seemed that everything dropping form there was selling. I loved the music that was coming from all parts of the South. And there are a ton of dope up and coming MCs that are going to pick up right where the vets lefted off 

The Midwest kind of was quiet this year but Eminem did make a comeback with Relapse. This along with Twista and Tech N9NE helped to put the Midwest back in the stoplight. Let's hope yall fans ain't sleeping the next time.  Also it was dope to see Slaughterhouse come together and bring that real hip hop back to the forefront. I want to take this time to thank all of the fans and visitors that have supported the site since day one. 138 INTERVIEWS LAST YEAR. I still can't believe it. Some legends like B~Real and D.O.C. were interviewed and we got incredible ones from underground artists like Lady L.U.S.T. and Stat Quo as well. MAJOR THANKS TO JEHUNIKO & LUNATIC. They both put in a ton of work with their interviews and features. Both are truly Illuminati 2G to the fullest. We got more in store including a possible podcast radio show, 3 mixtapes and a street album and we are trying to build up our forum so alot more is in the works. Too many artists to name, you know who you are. Thank you. Thanks also go to everyone that downloaded our Sanctuary Volume 4 as to date it has over 1,900 downloads. Volume 5 promises to be just as big. Big ups to Rideout for all the work he did on the last tape. We will continue to bring the heat as we go into our 10th year.  2009 was our best year, and we have alot in store for you guys in 2010 so keep it locked here at Illuminati 2G! Hoped you liked the awards.