Hip-hop’s beloved producer, The Alchemist, gives his picks and pans of ’08.

What was the best album of 2008?

Blu and T’raach’s collaboration as C.R.A.C. I don’t like any individual song, I just play the whole album. It’s cohesive, has personality, and sounds like they had fun making it.

Who was the best artist of 2008?

Lil’ Wayne. Not because of the obvious overwhelming sales, but because, despite the fact that you couldn’t escape him, he still stayed fresh and entertaining on every record, and had no fear when it came to collaboration choices or pushing the creative boundaries of rap.

Who was the worst artist of 2008?

Young Berg. And that was just ’cause I had to pick a worst. (I don’t like to spend my energy on the negative.) Nothing personal–just uneventful, non-risk-taking commercial music and it’s not my thing.

What was the best music-making equipment of 2008?

My trusty Ensoniq ASR-10 for hardware; Renaissance Waves EQs for software.

What was the best style trend of 2008?

Bringing back black and white instead of wild colors. Bringing back gold instead of ice and platinum, or no jewels at all. Less is always more.

What was the worst music trend of 2008?

The vocoder “T-Pain” effect. Sounds real nice and all, but just not on hip-hop. It’s too polished and perfect. Roger Troutman is probably rolling over in his grave right now.

Best of 2008
Drop the Lime
Abe Vigoda
Bradford Cox
Andrew Jeffrey Wright
eLZhi
Cut Copy
Fucked Up
Evidence
Vivian Girls
Matt Furie
dj/ Rupture
Telepathe
The Death Set
Holy Ghost
Mochipet
CTRL
Plump DJs
Jose James
Worship Worthy
Peter Beste
Hercules and Love Affair
Magda
The Alchemist