Political and Socially Aware Hip-Hop

Phattest Political Group

25.9%	Goodie Mobb
23.2%	Poor Righteous Teachers
21.3%	De La Soul
17.6%	Outkast
12.0%	Fugees

Hmmm. Although Goodie Mob repeats their 1995 victory and takes home our first Jack of the day, it's by a squeaker. GM just made it passed early leader Poor Righteous Teachers who, along with De La Soul, came very close to snatching the prize. Noticeably absent, of course, are the ridiculously phat Coup and Public Enemy (who once won this category without even releasing any material).

Phattest Political Male Rapper

31.2%	Jeru
28.3%	KRS-ONE
17.2%	Ras Kaas
15.2%	Chuck D
8.1%	Wise Intelligent (of PRT)

In somewhat of an upset, I guess, Jeru pulls off a slight victory over last year's winner, KRS-ONE. After that, there is more of a gap with Ras Kaas taking out both Chuck D and Wise.

Phattest Political Female Rapper

63.1%	Lauryn Hill
26.2%	Bahamadia
10.7%	Nonchalant

Hey, guess what? Lauryn Hill won another category. Who saw that coming?

Phattest Political Rap Single

35.5%	"Ya Playin Ya Self" by Jeru
25.2%	"Stakes is High" by De La Soul
17.8%	"Nature of the Threat" by Rass Kass
11.2%	"No" by Chuck D
10.3%	"Soul on Ice" by Rass Kass

And Jeru squeaks it out again, this time beating out De La Soul. Close behind is Rass Kass, whose total score might have put him in second. As it is, he sandwiches hiphop great Chuck D's "No."

Phattest Political Rap Album

22.6%	Wrath of the Math by Jeru The Damaja
18.9%	Soul Food by Goodie Mobb
17.9%	New World Order by Poor Righteous Teachers
15.1%	ATLiens by Outkast
14.2%	The Score by Fugees
11.3%	Soul on Ice by RAS KASS

Another sqeaker for Jeru, this time over Goodie Mob. The political world clearly belongs to Jeru this year as he wins every category he was eligible for. Still, all the races (but the female one) were very, very close. Hopefully, this is indicative of a new proliferation of a social conscious among quality hip hop, ten years after KRS-ONE and Public Enemy made it mandatory to have a message with one's music (at least for a little while).

Gangsta Hip-Hop

Phattest Gangsta Group

54.9%	Wu-Tang Clan
30.4%	Mobb Deep
14.7%	Westside Connection

Well, that pretty much says it all, doesn't it (well, close, it doesn't mention the write-in for The Click)? Wu-Tang Clan ain't nuttin' to f*ck wit... for another year. Meanwhile, East Coast gangstas Mobb Deep pull a solid second ahead of Westsiiiiiiiiiiiide Connection.

Phattest Gangsta Male Rapper

46.7%	Nas
39.1%	2pac
14.1%	Scarface

Again, a solid clear victory. This time it is for Nas. In second place is 2Pac for the second year in a row followed by Scarface and write-ins E-40 and Tela (there he is again). Quietly absent is last year's big winner Ice Cube.

Phattest Gangsta Female Rapper

38.0%	Heather B
23.9%	Lady of Rage
19.6%	Foxxy Brown
13.0%	Da Brat
5.5%	Lil Kim

The winner is clearly Heather B (who didn't even appear among last year's nominees). She takes first over last year's winner Lady of Rage. It was never a race. Still, there were real contenders for a change (including write-in Suga T). In fact, like the Nasty female award, this award garnered a lot of votes this year. Some folks even voted just for this award and ignored the other Gangsta awards.

Phattest Gangsta Rap Single

43.0%	"I Gave You Power" by Nas
23.0%	"If I Ruled the World" by Nas
18.0%	"Bow Down" by Westside Connection
16.0%	"Real Live Sh*t" by Real Live

Again, no contest (Tela returns for "Piece of Mind" along with "100 Spokes" by ATL to make a write-in). Nas takes first and second. The only interesting change of note was a last-minute surge for Westside Connection's "Bow Down."

Phattest Gangsta Rap Album

25.5%	Nocturnal by Heltah Skeltah
22.5%	Ironman by Ghostface Killa
20.6%	Hell on Earth by Mobb Deep
19.6%	All Eyez on Me by 2Pac
11.8%	It Was Written by Nas

The Wu returns for a run at second place, but can't stop newcomers Heltah Skeltah. This race isn't as close as it looks, though. Other than an itinerant 2Pac, the order was set from the beginning, unlike in the political case. Also, unlike that category, no one person or group managed to dominate.

The Phat Stuff

Funniest Rap

40.1%	"The B*tch in You" by Common Sense
26.5%	"Got You All in Check" by Busta Rhymes
16.7%	"Put It in Your Mouth" by Akinyele
16.7%	"Hit 'Em Up" by 2Pac

Common Sense is laughing all the way to the podium for this one. In second is Busta Rhymes, who probably would have won for "most psychedelic rap".

Phattest Lyric

21.8%	"Stakes is High" by De La Soul
21.8%	"I Gave You Power" by Nas
15.9%	"No Complex" by Chino XL
12.9%	Black Thought's lyrics on "Section" by The Roots
9.9%	"Soul on Ice" by Rass Kass
5.9%	"Conscious Style" by Poor Righteous Teachers and KRS-ONE
5.9%	Phife for "Phony Rappers" by A Tribe Called Quest
5.9%	"How Many Mics" by Fugees

On the lyrical tip, we have plenty of ties. First up, De La Soul's take on the current state of affairs in the culture ties with Nas' "I Gave You Power", a song that touches upon that culture. Also, we have a three-way tie at the bottom of the race among lyrical masters PRT/KRS, ATCQ and The Fugees.

I dunno, the one's up there that I've given a careful listen to are clearly lyrical steak. No shame here, especially for relative unknown Chino XL and the young Rass Kass.

Most Slammin' Beat

25.7%	"Paparazzi" by Xzibit
21.9%	"Daytona 500" by Ghostface Killa
13.3%	"The Bizness" by De La Soul
12.4%	"Clones" by The Roots
10.5%	"Stakes Is High" by De La Soul
8.6%	"No Fear" by Original Gunn Clappaz
7.6%	"Stressed Out" by A Tribe Called Quest

Dropping back a bit from lyrics (it's all about lyrics), to sheer muzak, we get a slightly different tale. Here, it is newcomer Xzibit with the nice victory over our veterans. De La Soul has the distinction of having their "Stakes Is High" appear for both lyrical precision and mastery of the beat. The Roots also show up and ATCQ brings up the rear with their Anita Baker-sampled "Stressed Out."

Phattest Remix

39.2%	"Got You All in Check" by Busta Rhymes
30.4%	"Elevators" by Outkast
25.5%	"Soul on Ice" by Rass Kass
3.9%	"Why Oh Why (the basketball song)" by Spearhead
1.0%	"Sie Ise Weg" by Fantastische

On the remix tip, it is Busta Rhymes with the most science to give. On a special note, the Spearhead write-in garnered four times as many votes as one of our nominees.

Phattest DJ

40.0%	DJ Premier
23.0%	Q-Bert
14.0%	Funkmaster Flex
14.0%	DJ Shadow
9.0%	DJ Honda

And as if he hasn't won this enough already, it is DJ Premier with a big victory. The rest are newcomers to the award and they do pretty well considering the competition.

Phattest Producer(s)

34.6%	RZA for Ghostface Killa, Liquid Swords
21.8%	DJ Premier
20.8%	Organized Noize for Outkast, Goodie Mob, Society of Soul
15.8%	E-Swift for Alkaholics, Heltah Skeltah, OGC, Xhibit
4.0%	Beatminerz
3.0%	Suge Knight

And RZA has his revenge for 1995, switching places with the ever-popular DJ Premier. OK also does well this time around for their ATL sound and E-Swift remains in the mix. DJ Shadow and The Roots also receive some write-in support.

More Phat Stuff

Leaders of the New School

33.9%	Illadelph Halflife by The Roots
25.7%	ATLiens by Outkast
12.8%	Dr Octagon by Dr Octagon
11.1%	Stakes Is High by De La Soul
10.1%	The Score by The Fugees
6.4%	The Coming by Busta Rhymes

The purpose of this award is to recognize those artists who are taking hiphop in a new direction. Our winners, The Roots, certainly live up to that requirement. There has been a slow movement towards Jazz hiphop for many years, but many out there feel that The Roots were the first ones--and possibly the only ones--to get it right. Live instruments, serious lyrics and an improvisational spirit make for a fine combination.

Not too far behind are the ATLiens themselves, Outkast and sudden sensation Dr Octagon. De La Soul and the Fugees finds themselves once again at battle with The Roots, and this time they end up at the wrong end of the line. Moving hiphop in a more conscious direction isn't quite as flashy as taking hiphop in a completely different musical direction while you're at it.

Best fusion of Hip-Hop with non-Hip-Hop

50.5%	Illadelph Halflife by The Roots
23.4%	The Score by Fugees
17.1%	"No Diggity" by Blackstreet w/Dr Dre
9.0%	At the Speed of Life by Xzibit

The Roots win again and this time in complete fashion. The Fugees come up second with their R&B/Reggae/Hip Hop fusion followed by "No Diggity" (which surprised me at any rate) and Xzibit.

Phattest Non-USA Artist

46.8%	DJ Honda
26.6%	MC Solaar
20.2%	Saukrates
3.2%	Rascalz
3.2%	Dan E-O

Our next award goes to DJ Honda, who shows up elsewhere in our awards as well. DJ Honda can feel proud to have dethroned MC Solaar, our 1993-1995 winner. Saukrates returns this year as well and does a little better than last time.

Phattest Reggae Hip Hop artist

53.9%	Bounty Killa
31.5%	Buju Banton
14.6%	Capelton

And Bounty Killa, who has gotten quite a bit of hiphop-crossover exposure of late, scores an impressive victory. This is a much better showing than last year, when he barely registered in last place. Meanwhile, Buju Banton returns to second place.

Keepin' It Real

24.8%	The Roots
23.0%	De La Soul
23.0%	KRS-ONE
16.5%	Jeru Tha Damaja
6.4%	A Tribe Called Quest
4.6%	The Fugees
1.7%	LL Cool J

This is a new award for 1996. Its purpose is to note the artist (be s/he MC, DJ, or whatever) who made him or herself most accessible to the public, making frequent radio and club visits, gave most to the community and otherwise avoided the biggest pitfall of fame: losing touch.

The Roots, who are known for their energetic and highly intimate concerts, win this one; however, it's in a squeaker. Both De La Soul and KRS-ONE are within less than two percentage points of first place. I think that makes perfect sense.

Provider of Phattest Samples

47.4%	Kung Fu movies
27.3%	Isley Brothers
25.3%	George Clinton

And Kung Fu movies, which barely made the final list of nominees, take the prize as the best source of samples in the land. Wu Tang fans weren't alone in voting for this one, it garnered support from all quarters of the voters. Personally, I have fondest memories of the Fu-schnickens great use of them on their first album and there are at least two popular videos from this past year that make heavy use of the Kung Fu movie theme.

Most Innovative Use of a Sample

39.8%	De La Soul's "Supa Emcees" for using the "emcees" lyric to great effect)
30.6%	Q-bert for flipping popular classical music pieces for "Waiting Room" by Dr Octagon and, in general, for the whole album
29.6%	DJ Premier for the Richard Pryor Sample in "Frustrated Nigga" and for the Invasion sample on Wrath of the Math

Speaking of samples, the award for the most creative and fun use of a sample this year goes to none other than the De La for their deft use of the Slick Rick/Dougie Fresh "emcee" line from way, way back in the day on "Supa Emcees" from Stakes Is High. Still, close on their heels is the Dr Octagon effort and just behind that is DJ Premier for his work on Jeru's Wrath of the Math.

What you've been waiting for: The Hall of Fame Awards

Most Conflicted Rapper

62.1%	2Pac
10.7%	Biggie Smalls aka Notorious BIG
8.7%	Ice Cube
7.8%	Nas
6.8%	Jeru the Damaja
3.9%	Dr Dre

This is the first time we've ever had this particular award, and it does seem tailor made for the late Tupac Shakur. Although many of our young rappers seem torn by the many forces that beset them, it was Tupac who most clearly let that anger and fear and confusion show. Rapping about his love for his mother and all his sisters in one song, he would just as easily start talking about hoochie booty in the next. At once a directionless party rapper and a goal-directed political and social commentator with a loud and angry voice, Tupac managed to convince us that he was all those individuals he portrayed and that he could be more... or less.

Unfortunately, we never got a chance to see where his winding road would take him and to know how he might have come to terms with his conflicting selves, if he ever could. On Friday, September 13, 1996, the hiphop artist and actor died of respiratory failure, succumbing to several gunshot wounds inflicted upon him by an unknown assailant some six days earlier.

Most Unfairly Slept On Album

37.7%	New World Order by Poor Righteous Teachers
27.1%	Soul on Ice by Rass Kass
17.6%	At the Speed of Life by Xzibit
17.6%	Gravity by Bush Babees

The New Jersey Scientists clearly deserve this award and their clear victory. Although clear veterans who never fail to please, it is this album that shows off the most they have to give. With guest appearances by Brother J, KRS-ONE and the Fugees, they have managed to produce an album that's really worth buying and listening to over and over again. Why, "Conscious Style" is worth the price of admission alone.

Meanwhile, the other contestants don't do so badly either. The message is clear: don't sleep. And while you're clearing that gunk from your eyes, you might want to give the strong write-in Dr. Octagon by Dr. Octagon a try.

Phattest New Hip Hopster

36.7%	Nocturnal by Heltah Skeltah
22.4%	Soul on Ice by Rass Kass
15.3%	Da Storm by Original Gunn Clappaz
15.3%	At the Speed of Life by Xzibit
10.3%	Funcrusher EP by Company Flow

Among our new jacks for the year, Heltah Skeltah wins the prize for being the phattest. With such a strong victory over Ironman for top honors in the gangsta category, I suppose that comes as no surprise. Not too far behind is Rass Kass who has also done well in these awards, followed by OGC and Xzibit. Just behind them are relative unknowns Company Flow, who are making a name for themselves with creative sounds and tight lyrics.

Hall of Fame
This is where we honor our best and most significant performers and artists.

Please Note: Public Enemy, Run-DMC, KRS-One/Boogie Down Productions, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, and Eric B and Rakim, our 1991-1995 winners, were ineligible this year.

Who was eligible? Oh:

EPMD
LL Cool J
De La Soul
A Tribe Called Quest
Sugar Hill Gang

And the winner is....

29.2%	EPMD
26.4%	De La Soul
19.8%	A Tribe Called Quest
14.2%	Sugar Hill Gang
10.4%	LL Cool J

Eric and Parrish Makin' Dollars. In terms of importance, this one is obvious: Strictly Business was the first Hip Hop Album to go to #1 on the R&B charts and the EPMD production style influenced a whole slew of artists. In terms of sheer entertainment value, their work speaks for itself. Unfortunately, E & P have split up, but they've left us many an album both together and solo.

Anyway, it was a close race from the start. The award was De La Soul's to lose, and EPMD squeaked it out towards the end with a series of surges. Meanwhile A Tribe Called Quest reprised their role as Always a Bridesmaid, But Never a Bride. From here, it looks like the race next year will be a Native Tongue one, but who knows? Maybe it will be the Fat Boys' time.

Album Hall of Fame
As you might guess, this is where we honor our best and most significant albums.

Please note that both It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy and Criminal Minded by Boogie Down Productions, our 1994-1995 winners were ineligible.

The eligible albums were:

Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
Paid in Full by Eric B and Rakim
Enta the 36 Chambers by Wu Tang Clan
Straight Outta Compton by NWA
3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul

and the winner is:

27.1%	Paid in Full by Eric B and Rakim
23.3%	Enta the Wu Tang: 36 Chambers by Wu Tang Clan
21.5%	Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
15.0%	3 Feet High and Rising by De La Soul
13.1%	Straight Outta Compton by NWA

This should come as no surprise. Eric B and Rakim took last year's hall of fame and came in a close second for album all of fame. And why not? To this day, Rakim is considered one of the best lyricists to ever grab a mic and Paid in Full was one of the biggest splashes in an era where giants strode across the Hip Hop landscape with ease. A Hall of Fame that went long with Paid in Full would be an empty one.

What is somewhat of a surprise was the amazing performance of Wu Tang Clan's relatively new album (Paid in Full is from 1987 for heaven's sake). They've moved up from last year's three-way tie for third to make a serious run at second.

Of course, ATCQ's incredibly influential album isn't too far behind....

Phattest Rap Single
The phattest single to drop this year. Period.

The nominees: "Ya Playin' Yaself" by Jeru
"Daytona 500" by Ghost Face Killer
"Got You All in Check" by Busta Rhymes
"Stakes Is High" by De La Soul
"ATLiens" by Outkast
"Word Iz Life" by Poor Righteous Teachers

The results:

24.4%	"Stakes Is High" by De La Soul
20.4%	"ATLiens" by Outkast
18.4%	"Ya Playin' Yaself" by Jeru
15.5%	"Daytona 500" by Ghostface Killer
15.5%	"Woo Hah! Got You All in Check" by Busta Rhymes
5.8%	"Word Iz Life" by Poor Righteous Teachers

Phattest lyrics? One of the phatter beats of the year? I guess it only makes sense that De La Soul would take top honors with "Stakes Is High". Outkast (ATL in the house, and so on) also gave a respectable performance (they also got some write-ins for "Elevators"), along with the ever-popular Jeru the Damaja. Although dominating in their categories, Wu madness is not quite so evident here, although Ghostface does acquit himself admirably along with fellow noise-maker Busta Rhymes.

Phattest Rap Album
Period.

Our nominees are:

Illadelph Halflife by The Roots
ATLiens by Outkast
Stakes Is High by De La Soul
Iron Man by Ghost Face Killer
The Score by The Fugees
At the Speed of Life by Xzibit

The results are:

30.8%	Illadelph Halflife by The Roots
27.2%	Stakes Is High by De La Soul
17.8%	ATLiens by Outkast
12.1%	Iron Man by Ghostface Killer
11.2%	The Score by The Fugees
0.9%	At the Speed of Life by Xzibit

Oh, and it's a heartbreaker for De La Soul. Despite holding a lead much of the way and never falling too far behind The Roots after that, they just weren't able to take the top prize. On the other hand, the Roots appear to have arrived, moving from second last year with Do You Want More?! to a nice first place victory.

Behind the two leaders are Outkast (doing a little bit better than their cohorts The Goodie Mob did last year), some Wu-ness, Xzibit and the Fugees. The Fugees appear to have done poorly, but my guess is that if The Roots and De La hadn't been around, The Score would have done much better. Those groups tend to share fans.

Finally, both New World Order and Hold It Down managed a write-in or two.

And that's that.

Hmmm. Well, in writing up this year's awards, I had a chance to really look back at the first five New Jack Hip Hop Awards. In retrospect, the trends seem a bit more obvious. As I noted last year, the gangsta and gangsta-like stylin' seemed to be losing steam as far as the awards are concerned and that certainly came to a head this year. Except in the categories explictly designed for them, they just didn't make take the awards.

By contrast, it was The Roots, De La Soul and The Fugees in control. Some might say that it was their crossover appeal that made them winners, but I'm not sure that that argument holds water. In the face of greater recognition of artists like Poor Righteous Teachers, the underrated lyrical steak of The Coup and a recognition of the political leanings of groups like Goodie Mob and Outkast, it seems more likely to me what we're seeing is a backlash against the admittedly-appealing nihlism of hardcore Gangsta Rap and a movement among many artists to eschew whatever is commerically viable and instead make their statement about the state of the culture we are all a part of.

On the other hand, you never know. The Underground Hip Hop Nation will do what it damn well pleases no matter what I want or what I think... which is fine by me, so long as the music keeps on being good and innovative, and the lyrics are tight. That's what it's all about after all: keepin' it real and keepin' it right.

I'll see you in the regular place: