HFE Celebrates 18 months in the Blogosphere! A Retrospective.

The year and a half b(log)-day dogs. 18 months in the game. A good number- 18 = Chai = Life. We living family!! Any blog milestone is a personal one as my bday falls on the inception date. That means it's my half bday too. A great reason to head downstairs and order a pint or 2.

Rather than open presents (though I got one yesterday- peep HERE), I rather give them out. Howie Clause. I had wanted to do a best of /most listened to/my favorite shit in the '08 but procrastination got the better of me. And unless you strike immediately the timing would have been off. But 6 months later we can look back and see if these tracks have any lasting power. Shit, the way tracks come out every minute it's tough to keep up, and any track that warrants a rewind or second listen is a rarity. I'd say these have passed the test- some more than others. There were a couple more but I didn't want to OD, well extra OD since there's a lot of shit here. Hopefully the page doesn't take too long to load. We got joints all over the place- the shoot em up bang bangs to the baby I miss yous aka Beat it jerk. For the shit you never heard of, listen to it, because if I had the same attitude as that, which I have had in the past, I never would have gotten put on to some treats. Realest shit I ever wrote. Props to Nahright, 2dopeboyz, Smoking Section and whoever else lets me scoop up the goodies. Enjoy. Link for all tracks coming shortly.

Fuck it- this will also serve as the best of kicks and fitteds in '08 post. I'm hyped up right now. I might have to take my shirt off!! Go in! Go in! It's like a party at a sneaker/fitted gallery. Beats are bumping while you peep the buttafucos. Drinks are being served on the patio. No editorials- just pics.




Lose Your Life- Alchemist ft. Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss and Pusha T...I probably would have liked this with any trio of artists.





The Secret- AZ ft. Raekwon...Beat knocks heavy- real heavy with the ill screech- and Rae kills it with "drunk at the Gucci outlet, put it in your mouth bitch yum". That's level 7 thinking.


Fly- Blu...Album of '07 so he needed some shine in '08.




Man Listen- Buckshot & 9th Wonder...Man, listen. True story.


Lumdi- Camp Lo...Not Luchini status, but Smokey Robinson samples are worth a dap.




My Aura- Cam'ron...The OG and better version of Got it for Cheap off "Crime Pays". Killa!! Even on sabbatical dude still keeps it funky.




Still the Reason- Cam'ron...Horns please. "The bracelet, look down matching the Asics, hey prick, say it, I'm your favorite." What the world's been missing.



Lost it All- Cassidy...Dealing with the recent trials and tribulations. And the beats not too shabby.




Everywhere- Common...On some different shit, more on my uptempo steez (no glow stick status)- would be a better record without Common.


The Light '08- Common...Just Blaze took a classic and did his thing. You know I fucks with them hip hop love joints.


Shootin' Remix- Duo Live- ft. Billz, Joell Ortiz, Red Cafe, Uncle Murda & M.O.P....Professor X spitting from the grave. Anything with the Mash Out Posse gets props- especially when they're brought in the 9th to close it out.




My Conscience- Fat Joe ft. KRS One...I think I dig this joint more than Primo's That White. What??? Alchemist on the boards.


The Art Of Disrespekinazation- Heltah Skeltah..."Lip gloss stains on my dick from Lil' Mama, when I fucked Rihanna ain't use no umbrella, when the bitch have twins we naming them both Ella, Ella, Ayy, I'm just joking, maybe I'm not..." Awe-some.




Do You- J the S ft. Joell Ortiz...Don't know much about dude but the track is dope- flute in the background- and Joell always kills it.


From Now Till Then- Jadakiss...This should have been on the album, along with a slew of other joints. "Thinking bout when those were the best days, on the phone with shorty, while you ironing your clothes for the next day."


The Truth- Jake One ft. Freeway and Brother Ali...Sometimes the odd mix on paper work through the speakers. Most definitely on this joint.




Swagger Jackson- Jay Electronica...This dude's a bit too futuristic for me and 40 seconds of MJ talking is nuts, but this joint is mean, even if I don't really heed the lyrics. "Some blogs said you blew it, nigga fuck your blog, Jiggaman said you can't knock the hustle dog." Who me????


Ho- Jim Kahn...Hometown favorite from my boy Jim Kahn showing love to all the former ladies- listen close for the special HowFresh shout. What up Jim!! Be on the lookout in '09.




Move On- Joell Ortiz ft. Joe Budden...Oooweee on the beat.


Summertime in Brooklyn- Joell Ortiz...This track is always a win- then add this..."So I stay fresh and find a girl that's thinking what I'm thinking/ And give her back shots like I ain't feel like drinking." Wow.




1 Degree of Me- Just Blaze & Matt Fingaz ft. Game, Large Professor, Talib Kweli & Rahzel...No clue how I got it, and it doesn't really matter, cause it knocks. Dialog with the chick at the end is hilario.




L.O.V.E.- Keisha Shontelle ft. Illa Killa Chant & K-Hill...Another joint that appeared out of nowhere. Keisha did some work with 9th Wonder off Dream Merchants- Sunday- another banger.


Hardcore- Large Professor...Another ooooooweeee joint. Marco Polo on the production. This type of shit needs to happen more often.




From My Heart to Yours- Laura Izibor (DJ Premier Remix)...Yes.


Dr. Carter- Lil' Wayne...How could 2008 be documented without a mention of the Weezy F. Baby? He could doze off during one of his H-nods and the shit would still knock. H is for Holy Thursday.




Do The Right Thang- Ludacris ft. Common...Heard this in a gas station way uptown on Broadway. May have been the fumes that got me open, but the orchestra gets busy.


M.V.P.- Ludacris...I knocked the shit out of this when it dropped- 100 times a day status. Primo was back!!


Just Ain't Gonna Work Out- Mayer Hawthorne & The County...Mayer speaks the truth.




Make the Road by Walking- Menahan Street Band...Just listen. The entire album could be on this list.


Paper Planes remix- M.I.A. ft. Freeway...Until I heard this track I had no interest in hearing anything from M.I.A. I lost. Throw your guns in the air on this one!


And I Love It- Murs & 9th Wonder...9th Wonder still doing his thing.




Queens Get the Money- Nas...This is some rainy fall NYC nighttime shit. Jay Electronica did his thing on the beat, even with not one drum.


Get it Poppin'- Papoose...Papoose where'd you go? This is that summer time picnic shit. Buck, time to make that potato and macaroni salad.




Questions- Pete Rock ft. Royal Flush...Wow. Flush comes through on this joint. Another milk carton cat.


Once in a Lifetime- Raekwon ft. Mika...No crazy dusted Rae thoughts on this. Just some female issues. More of that heavy heart shit. Birds...




Necro- Raekwon ft. Ghostface...Only because Rae said "we bought the crib next to Bill Clinton's mother cause she fuck with the Chinese." Ghost kills it too. "She take a bone like a ribeye steak at Ruth Chris". I prefer the ribeye at Strip House.


Drop- Rich Boy...This shit should have blown up. Beat is BANANAS. BANANAS. BANANAS.




Here I Am- Rick Ross ft. Nelly...Hey, what can I say?


Jumping Out the Window- Ron Browz...Aw shit, Harlem stand up!! Fuck an autotune, that beat


The Roots- Get Busy ft. Dice Raw, Peedi Crakk & Jazzy Jeff ...I haven't fucked with the Roots in a minute, but this makes me want to revisit "Iladelph Halflife". Black Thought kills it and Peedi Peedi does a little Hoodratz rendition.




Universal Condition- S.O.U.L. Purpose ft. Murs...Just some real cool shit.


P's Up- Sean Price...He murked Jim on this one. "S-P-E-L-L very W-E-L-L illiterate rappers can't read fan mail, eating Alpha-bit Cereal but you can't spell, it's all over, good night, now ring the damn bell." Ding ding ding.




Good Love- Sheek Louch...That summer time shit. Where's the sun at? We sure as shit have the heat and humidity.


Streets of M.A.- Statik Selektah...Hate Boston but love the track.




So Good (Live From the Bar)- Statik Selektah...Another Statik banger. The dude can produce. Cop "Stick to the Script". One of '08's best LPs.


All I Need- Sterling Simms ft. Jadakiss...Damn, this was my joint. Thought it could take me to the next level but some people just don't get it. As always Jada comes through.


Understand Me- Style P ft. Wyclef...This joint warranted it's own post- that's how crack it is. Still knocks.