Here’s my personal picks for the Top Ten verses on HHV in 09 (actually eleven, there was one tie I couldn’t break). I chose from original posts and verses left in comments. I used mostly my own tastes s a guide, since there was a general lack of feedback throughout the year. I can’t pretend the quantity or overall quality could match last year, but for these ten at least, the skills are clearly there.


"I strike a nerve when my words are present.
I don't fight anymore because my words are weapons.
I'm a nigga who had to earn a blessing.
Cuz of that, I never returned a message./"
-- War Spawn 1/4

( Intensely Comes The End )

Here’s fifteen verses I picked to fill out the top 25 for 2009. They’re in chronological order, NOT ranked. . I chose from original posts and verses left in comments. I used mostly my own tastes s a guide, since there was a general lack of feedback throughout the year. It emphasises the strengths of the year as a whole…a couple guys carrying the better part of the load, and a few newcomers shining with some unique styles.

Vets…we gotta get back on the horse a little in 2010. Like Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven, trying to saddle up even though he’s old as fuck.


"can't fight it, boxin my shadow is real violent
so ego keep silent an let my subconscious style it"
-- Mahylife 10/29


( shout the news from high up, email, twitter or text it )

The breadth, versatility and sheer will of Tommy’s rhyme skills can only be seen by reading a fair amount of his verses. He avoids sentimentality like cracks in the sidewalk, so the most evocative emotions tend to be hidden in a small chain of three or four lines, or a single literary turn of phrase amidst walls of compulsive shit talk.

When I re-read all his verses back in 05 to compile one of these lists, I had to begrudgingly admit that, objectively speaking, he was one of the best rhymers on HHV. Four years (and lists) later, I think he’s probably more talented at writing raps than anyone I’ve ever met is singularly talented at anything.

Here’s eight other Inadequate One verses from the year that didn’t make the cut. Yes, eight. He writes more than Lupe when he was trying to break thru, more than Master P when he was milkin his 15 minutes, more than Slug when he’s tryin to figure out what the fuck his style is anymore. And they’re all good…except for one every 7 months and 12 days.


"and i aint gonna lie man yes im an author
an artist and a poet and a talented scholar
but oh shit, there goes my street cred"
-- Nemonic/Inadequate One 11/26
( Spit Poison From the Head Like Dialectic Cyanide )

Q Tip has always been among, if not the, most poetic rapper on HHV. He wrote pieces with complete themes and consistent tones more often than freestyles or battle rhymes. This year has seen an expanse in his output and versatility, but more than that a honing of his best instincts and a smoothing of rough edges. Where, in the past, some of the rhyming syllables themselves may have seemed forced, now lines end with distinct metaphors and unexpected similes that help to detail the stories told and enhance the multifaceted mystery or context of a verse, ala Illogic or old school Slug.

Here’s four other Q Tip pieces from the year that didn’t make the final cut, showing some different sides of his skills.


"grab my head, force me the fuck above water
drag me away from the raw fucking slaughter
please don't let me drown, i'll pull you under
i seek the lightning, dont fucking steal my thunder"

-- Q Tip 9/3

( We operate only on the fringes... )

So, I’m fixing to post the year end lists. There wasn’t too much activity this year…some good verses, but only two or three each from some of the usual suspects (and even talented newbies had a handful before leaving without much encouragement).

What we did get had some good stuff, most of it from Inadequate One (aka Nemonic) and Q Tip who, if anything, increased their pace and level of experimentation. So Besides them being featured in the Top 25, I’ll devote the entire Best of the Rest to a few extra verses from those two….cause, well, they were.

I apologise for the double line breaks and any other ugliness. Cut and posting with the new "rich text/HTML" options is kicking my ass.