Perhaps the most controversial choice for Man of the Year 2009, super-producer turned rapper (turned singer) Kanye West has had quite a journey in the past 12 months. Following his cross-over success with the experimental 808s & Heartbreak, 2009 marked a return from his venture into Auto-Tune supplying quality verses to several significant Hip Hop [...]
3TM Year In Review – Best Album of 2009: Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. 2
To say Raekwon’s sequel to his 1995 classic Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… was anything short of brilliant would be to do the release a major injustice. The album, which marked a return of sorts for Hip Hop of substance and Mafioso Rap, served as a reminder of both Raekwon’s creative perfectionism and undeniable presence [...]
3TM Year In Review: Epic Fail of 2009 – 50 Cent’s Before I Self Destruct
Perhaps it is a sign of the times, but surely somebody as high-profile and schooled in the art of self-promoting as Curtis ’50 Cent’ should be able to move more than 160,000 units within the first week. It is not solely the sales figures that were disappointing with this album, but also the lack-lustre content [...]
3TM Year In Review: Grime Artist of 2009 – Tinchy Stryder
He may not be the underground favourite but Grime MC Tinchy Stryder catapulted the homegrown UK genre to unprecedented levels of recognition and popularity with his major label debut album Catch 22. Whilst the project was hardly groundbreaking and lacked the grittiness upon which the Grime scene was founded, the album was a solid effort [...]
3TM Year In Review: Independent 3threat of 2009 – Mike Streezy
Mike Streezy is not a rapper. Mike Streezy is a true Hip Hop scholar and an inspiration to all aspiring artists within the urban music industry. Whilst he did not achieve platinum record sales or superstar collaborations in 2009, the unconventional Arkansas MC gained nothing but respect and admiration from his peers on both a [...]
3TM Year in Review: Reggae Artist of 2009 – Etana
Shauna McKenzie, better known as songstress Etana, has had an outstanding year. Following the release of her debut album The Strong One through VP Records in 2008, the talented young singer’s presence within the worldwide Reggae scene has only grown from strength to strength throughout 2009. Unwilling to conform to stereotype of female artists within [...]
3threat Media’s Personal 2009 In Review
2009….damn what a year and on first look, for all the wrong reasons! It was certainly a year of struggles and obstacles but rather than highlighting the negative it would surely be more beneficial to highlight the positives that arose from said difficulties. 2009 was the year I realised that with a little belief, determination [...]
