[Editor's Note: My Top 21 of the 21st (So Far...) is a retrospective feature where our writers were invited to write a list of top 21 favorite songs, albums or anything else music-related, of the new millennium, explaining why it was picked, or what particular significance it has had over the past ten years. (There is an ongoing debate on whether or not 2000 A.D. counts as part this millennium. For sake of argument, we're going to go ahead and count it. Hey, a lot of good music came out that year, anyway, so suck it up, and enjoy the feature.)]

Each of these albums (or songs) from the past ten years, I can listen to right now and be satisfied. Here’s why:

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I have this thing where I like people while they are underground or semi-famous or when most people dislike them, and once they hit the mainstream circuit, it’s a total turn-off. There are exceptions, such as Lupe Fiasco, but all in all, mainstream makes a clown out of good talent, especially rappers.

But recently, I’ve been having this problem; this eerie, daunting feeling that I just can’t shake. I know it’s kind of deep when you’re just speaking about music, but it’s kinda like the feeling “Murder Was the Case” gave me when I was about eight years old—it gave me night sweats but I refused to stop listening to it.

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Blogging. Blogging. Blogging.

You say it so much that your tongue goes numb. We all live in a blog-crazed, pop-music-obsessed world. No more aspirations to be a writer or a journalist… just a blogger. Has blogging taken the place of journalism or is it merely an extension of journalism? The collapse of Vibe made me question the direction of music writing. It’s unfortunate to imagine, but The Source may soon be knocked out of the box by online music blogging—hip-hop bible or not. And dear, sweet Rolling Stone may soon fade into the pages of history, so run and get your soon-to-be-ancient artifacts.

Seeing that blogging has become so sensationalized, should there be credentials put in place in order for one to be called a blogger, or would that suck the fun out of it? This is a phenomenon that has taken the place of traditional journalism, so maybe there should be some standards set forth.

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Amy Serrata – Amy Serrata
Born to Create Music (10/23/08)
R&B / Jazz

What is to be said about an artist as unique as Amy Serrata? She is defining herself with her art and refusing to be anyone’s doll. Her music is inimitable, with an undertone of sassiness and lightheartedness. Her inspirational self-titled debut will ascend your spirits and make you want to do something that you love.

As much as we all seem to enjoy songs that just make us want to dance, we are ever appreciative of music with a less shallow meaning. This is the kind of music that causes one reflect, meditate, and, damn it, think about the important stuff in life, such as who we are beyond the skin we live in, and what we stand for outside the box in which the world sometimes puts us.

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MSTRKRFT – Fist of God
Downtown Records (3/24/09)
Electronic (Electro house)

I cannot tell a lie. I knew nothing about MSTRKRFT before hearing this album. My first thought was that of a mad rapper. Looking at the track listing from Fist of God further encouraged my naivete—Ghostface Killah, Freeway, and oh, Mr. Superthug himself, N.O.R.E. I was all amped up and ready to hear some new mad lyricist. But I was definitely in for a surprise.

However, I enjoyed my listening experience. It was uncharted territory for me. I was in a daze from the production. Something about the mix of house and electro just makes you want to take off all your clothes and dance. It also has a little alt-rock edge, and with rappers such as E-40 and singer Lil’ Mo there is definitely something for everyone.

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So, here’s one of the rumors I find to be the most entertaining: hip hop is dead. I’m tickled every time because apparently some idiot equates BET or MTV with hip hop. I hear ignorance is bliss, so if someone thinks Plies is hip hop, then yes, hip hop is very dead. But coming from someone who knows quite a bit about the culture, its roots, and what the hell real hip hop really is, hip hop is not dead, nor will it ever be. There are way too many unsigned and underground emcees that are doing the culture much justice.

There are even bigger names such as The Roots who have consistently proven to be one of the best to ever do it; they have stood their ground and are seemingly satisfied with their dedicated crowd of supporters. Although they don’t have any spots on the top-10 countdowns, they don’t seem to be selling out for the masses’ approval. This, my friend, is hip hop. That’s really what it sounds like. Even though the majority of people consider anything that’s rap to be hip hop, there are true lovers of the culture who know the difference between rap and hip hop. Rest assured that our retarded child Soulja Boy is a rapper, but is in no way hip hop. It’s like saying Fall Out Boy is real rock music. We all love ‘em, but hey, let’s just be honest with ourselves.

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