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|Shine (CD)|
Estelle
2008-03-31
Atlantic
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$9
98
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Estelle infuses the best of R & B with London street rap, creating a sound that might be a lovechild of Kanye West and Lauryn Hill. This album is both soulful and tough, and proves that Estelle is the real deal.
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|Tha Carter III (CD)|
Lil Wayne (Artist)
2008-08-18
Motown Records
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$12
12
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In what was probably the most anticipated rap album of the year, Lil Wayne delivered the goods with "Tha Carter III." The tracks show diversity in his style, but each one demonstrates his huge lyrical talent and unstoppable wit.
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|![The Renaissance [11/4] (CD) ~ Q-Tip (Artist) Cover Art](http://i43.tower.com/images/ss112503191/renaissance-q-tip-cd-cover-art.jpg) |
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|The Renaissance [11/4] (CD)|
Q-Tip (Artist)
2008-11-04
Universal Motown
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$11
89
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It's been years since Q-Tip has released any solo work, but Renaissance proves that it was well worth the wait. Laid back, genuine hip hop, this album is near perfect - and exactly what mainstream rap needed this year.
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|Remind Me In 3 Days.... (CD)|
The Knux (Artist)
2008-10-28
Interscope Records (USA)
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$8
98
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In Stock
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These New Orleans natives take hip-hop in a new direction, listing Led Zeppelin and the Strokes as influences. Blending old-school styles with grungy guitar and often playing their own instruments, they've created a raw brand of hip hop that's less about bling, and more about music.
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|Paper Trail (CD)|
TI (Artist)
2008-09-30
Atlantic (USA)
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$14
01
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When southern rapper T.I. was placed under house arrest, he filled his time by concentrating on a new album. The result is a tight, crisp collection of tracks with clever lyrics and unbelievably catchy riffs that prove T.I. is a hit-maker.
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|Year Of The Gentlemen (CD)|
Ne-Yo (Artist)
2008-09-16
Def Jam (USA)
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$11
11
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Ne-Yo celebrates chivalry over the ladies man with "Year of the Gentleman." With his silky R&B inspired album, Ne-Yo proves he is a perfect gentleman as well as a genuinely gifted songwriter.
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|Nas * (CD)|
Nas (Artist)
2008-07-15
Def Jam (USA)
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$12
12
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Nas' original album title was pulled because of sharp criticism. Still, the album is a rythmic battle-cry against insitutionalized racism, full of intensity and strong beats, Nas letting passion take over and demonstrating his subversive lyrical skill.
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|Lay It Down * (CD)|
Al Green (Artist)
2008-05-27
Blue Note Records (USA)
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$14
03
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Like Green's classic work, "Lay It Down" blends Southern soul, funk, jazz, blues, and balladry into a gorgeously smooth concoction that is steamy, surging, mellow, and moving all at once. "Lay It Down" is a latter-day soul gem from one of the genre's masters.
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|The Way I See It (CD)|
Raphael Saadiq (Artist)
2008-09-16
Columbia (USA)
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$9
98
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A tribute to Motor City soul, "The Way I See It" also features guest appearances by Jay-Z and Rocio Mendoza, bringing contemporary flair to vintage sound.
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|Thr33 Ringz (CD)|
T-Pain (Artist)
2008-01-01
Jive Records (USA)
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$9
99
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In Stock
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T-Pain initiated the auto-tone craze that swept through the hip-hop scene this year, breaking ground for both Lil Wayne and Kanye West. Both appear on "Thr33 Rings," along with Ludacris and Bow Wow, making it truly an album that's got something for everyone.
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