Ask a Local: Bavu Blakes

This winter, Austinist wanted to take some time to check in with some of our favorite local performers, artists and musicians to see what they enjoyed in 2008. Our request was simple: give us a few things that you enjoyed listening to this year, and feel free to include releases that might not have been released in 2008, but that found their way onto your turntable anyhow. We'll be sharing our own list too, but be patient and hear what some of our favorite folks thought was worthwhile in '08.

There's no one in the Austin music community more dedicated to the emergence and support of hip hop here than Bavu Blakes. He's a tireless and talented performer, and a very vocal positive voice in the hip hop world in Austin and beyond. We couldn't complete a collection of local opinions without finding out what he listened to most in '08. Don't miss him perform tonight when Austin Surreal presents Bavu Blakes & The Extra Plairs, Gary Clark Jr. @ Antone's. You can also read part two in his "What's Wrong With the Scene" series.

1. Raheem Devaughn - Love Behind the Melody It's the best thing since sliced bread, unless you like some other kind of music! This guy's CD came out in January, but nothing could top it. It's just the perfect mix of love songs, period.

2. Q Tip - The Renaissance Q Tip came back a decade since his last album sounding perfect, i.e. not brand new or -- even worse -- struggling to be contemporary and radio relevant. Q Tip aka John Davis aka Kamaal Fareed performed "Award Tour" on the roof of Stubb's, and had the best band I've seen all year period.

3. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It This should be the actual, technical definition of Neo-Soul. Everything else is basically contemporary soul music that may or not all sound the same. This is a masterful throwback soul album that won't get the attention Amy Winehouse or Sharon Jones get because he's from Oakland and therefore didn't involve enough white people.

4. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Vol. 1 Yessiree. Badu went hip hop on this one, waxing political on Stones Throw beats. The single "Honey" was way out of place on this one. New Amerykah is way too indie for Motown, and the only album she put out in '08 despite promising a three-part series. She is, however, having her third child, who will surely appreciate this album for years to come.

5. Lil Wayne - The Carter 3 Too major not to be mentioned, this album is the greatest thing to happen in 2008. More a song collection reflecting the song-by-song digital era than a concept album, C3 had something for everybody. Wild kids bang "A Milli," but reserved adults couldn't front on "Mrs. Officer" which pretty much sounds like an India.Arie song. Babyface duets on the same album that Wayne threatens to eat your grandma in the first minute of the first track. Or something like that!

Mentioned with Honor: Nas - Untitled
What kinda idiot would name his album Nigger? At first it was a valid question. The original album title threw a lot of people off, and activists like Al Sharpton protested. Once the album title was changed and the album was released, I came to realize that the title was perfect. And Nas knocked the concept out of the park. This was a poignant, classic album by a lyrical genius named Nasir Jones who, by the way, sounds hungrier than ever. Now everyone in the age of Obama and Imus should hear it. You, too, nigga!