Your Favorite White Boy

They say confession is good for the soul. Today we offer another installment of The Confessional, a new feature on Your Favorite White Boy, where your man B-Double will be confessing certain things that he would not dare bring up in the company of his hip-hop brethren.

Bless me Reverend Run for I have sinned.

It’s been 7 days since my last confession.

With all the year-end “Best Of” lists floating around, I pondered some of the great products and artists that came out this year. Many commentators have mentioned that this year was a great one for hip-hop. I agree. But I also must confess that I coped zzzzz’s on a few items when I should have just been straight coping them.

Here are four instances where I was just asleep at the switch over the last 365:

Nas – “The N—– Tape”

I usually check for anything that Nasir Jones does. The only thing I can think of that could explain why I slept on this ill mixtape is that I didn’t want to hear too many joints from Untitled before it was actually released.

Bad move.

This was a great concept mixtape that really allowed Nas to express what his label was too scared to drop. A perfect appetizer for the album to come.

NY Rapper Joell Ortiz

I knew about Ortiz being signed to Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and I knew on some level that he had a buzz in the streets. That doesn’t always get my attention, given that I’ve heard about a stack of rappers that are “the truth.” This guy is no joke.

He was phenomenal on “Onslaught” and tracks like “Memories” and “Move On” are bananas. As I’ve said in previous (recent) posts, he has charisma and bars for days. Ortiz raps his ass off, and I’ll be checking for his upcoming Free Agent mixtape hard. So should you.

Jake One – “White Van Music”

When I first started YFWB, I saw this particular album being promoted all over reputable blogs. At the time, I didn’t think I knew Jake One, so I just ignored it.

Upon further research (why be ignorant?) it turns out that he has done some incredible beats on a gang of other albums (De La Soul, Obie Trice, Nas) that I thought were dope.

So, I checked this album out and was completely blown away. Absolutely great album with dope guests and hot verses. “Bless This Child” is one of the best tracks of the year.

XXL Freshman Kid Kudi

Yeah, sometimes there are just no excuses. Its not like “Day N Nite” wasn’t everywhere this year. And I liked the track, I just never really thought much about it. Then a friend of mine whose opinion on such matters I respect to the fullest, looked at me sideways when I told him I hadn’t really heard much from dude. So, I checked out his mixtape A Kid Named Kudi and I can see why Kanye signed him right after hearing his music.

I’m putting this list out both as an admission that even your boy B-Double can eff up and miss some great stuff. Don’t make the same mistake that I did. I co-sign all of the above and I recommend that if you haven’t checked this list, you need to.

As the old saying goes, better late than never.

In the name of God’s Son, Father MC and the Holy Ghostface.

Tags: Jake One, Joell Ortiz, Kid Cudi, Nas