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While this site is really the only one you need to be checking for on the regular, there are a few other sites out there that have some interesting things to say (most of them are linked on the list over to the right side of this page). Here are 10 posts from other sites that stuck out in my mind as the most memorable of 2006. My memory isn't what it used to be, though, so I'm sure there are several I overlooked:

HIP-HOP Used To Be A Force For Good
Dallas Penn tells us how rap has made the switch from being a force for good to a member of the dark side. In the second half of his post, he compares various hip hop luminaries to Star Wars characters. "The main reason that NAS had to be Han Solo is because he is married in real life to Chewbacca."

Southerners Quit Yer Bitchin'
I know a lot of the visitors to this site aren't big fans of Byron Crawford, but I find him to be pretty damn funny when he gets on the right subject. In a post that proclaimed Southern rap fans to be the most annoying group of fans in hip hop, while also calling for Pimp C's reincarceration, Byron managed to put together one of the most inflammatory posts of the year. UGK's Bun B even stopped by the comments section to respond. "And they all rallied around Pimp C as if he was Leonard Peltier or somebody, but come to find out he can hardly rap. Is everybody aware that he was locked up for pulling out a gun on a woman in a mall?"

Ethan Padgett's review of Like Father, Like Son
Filled to the brim with over-the-top references to Lil Wayne and Birdman's sexuality, this review is a bit Juvenile. It still had me laughing, though. "Though still a Hot Boy, after nearly a decade in the game Wayne is eager to prove that he's far from a little squirt, regularly beating off the competition with such force that it's understandable if he's feeling a little testy on the duo's new album."

New York's Still Winning
Before Jay-Z and Nas dropped their recent albums, there was a lot of talk that New York rap was in its death throes (and some would argue Kingdom Come did nothing to change that...). In this post, written back in October, Robbie drops eleven tracks from New York artists to show us that hip hop is still alive and well in its original city.

2006 Weed Carrier Awards - The Winners
A Salute To Weed Carriers hands out awards to all of the posse members who have served their rapping masters faithfully over the years. "Magoo: Timbo�s sidekick gave-up rapping at one stage to concentrate on holding chronic. Considering that he�s clearly afflicted with down-syndrome, he�s done pretty well for himself to find employment that doesn�t involve a 'sheltered workshop.'"

Mobb Deep - The Infamous Samples & Breaks Case Study
DJ Semantik explains the Low End Theory and how it was used on Mobb Deep's classic album. "With regards to sampling and production techniques, the two standout tracks that really come to mind from The Infamous are Havoc's work on Trife Life where his skillful manipulation of You Are My Starship by Norman Connors cannot be matched and Q-Tips masterful reworking of the Headhunters - I Remember I Made You Cry on the ingenious Drink Away The Pain (Situations)."

Fighting Tips from your Uncle HumanityCritic
Ok, this post doesn't have anything to do with hip hop, but Humanity Critic is one of my favorite bloggers so I had to put something of his on this list. HC drops some knowledge on fighting techniques he has used in the past. On the Sucker Punch-technique: "I walked over to him while he was talking to some girl, and as I approached he said 'My bad, listen..' *Bap* Dropping him to his knees, leaving the girl he was talking to screaming like I had just hacked him up with a machete. Now, in hindsight, I realize that he was trying to 'squash' our beef. Oh well."

Diddy announces the birth of his twin girls from the delivery room
In a video entry to his MySpace blog, Diddy takes a break from the delivery room (where his girlfriend had just given birth to twins) to promote his latest movie and announce the names of his two new daughters. Let it never be said that Puffy will pass up an opportunity to promote himself. "Whassup y'all, its your friendly international superstar/princess-maker: Diddy!"

KRS-One - Hip-Hop Sucks Because of You!
Kool Kim (of the UMCs) tells unkut.com the story behind KRS-1's infamous bumrushing of the stage at one of PM Dawn's performances. "KRS 1 starts beating the poor dude upside his head with the mic! Boop! Bop! Boop! Boop! (the mic was on) and then HE pushed the dude off stage, and then the crowd started taking shots at son."

The Kenny Parker Show - Part 1
In an interview with unkut, BDP DJ Kenny Parker tells his side of the PM Dawn/KRS-1 story. In the second part of the interview, Kenny goes on to detail the backlash against Boogie Down Productions as a result of the incident. "While this guy�s doin� this, Kris comes up. PM Dawn is not knowin� what�s goin� on - imagine, he�s in show mode and his music stops - and Kris grabs the microphone, so they both have it. Like a tug-of-war for a second, and then Kris pushes him and takes the microphone in his hand. Right at the same time, the guy who pushed the girl into the crowd punches PM Dawn in his face - POW! Then he punches him again - POW! In the face, twice. Then, if I recall, Just-Ice pushed him off [the stage] and Prince Be fell into the crowd."

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