2. Brotha Lynch Hung's "Dinner and a Movie"
Two decades into a storied career and seven years since his last effort, Brotha Lynch Hung managed his best effort to date by striking the perfect balance between horror and humor. Tech N9ne's Strange Music proves the ideal home for Brotha Lynch's slasher rap, and the bone-chilling production is the best he's seen yet, thriving on tinny pianos and strings rather than heavy synths. "Dinner and a Movie" is a true rap opera, but one need not follow the storyline faithfully to appreciate the excitement of the jaw-dropping "Sit In That Corner Bitch," the unexpectedly relatable (relatively) "Meat," the hypnotizing "Siccem!," the Strange posse cut "Don't Worry Momma, It's Just Bleeding," or the DPGC-aided "Anotha Killin." Much of Brotha Lynch's genius is that most of the time the listener has no idea whether to laugh or cower, and combined with the warped plot, suspenseful music, and perfectly selected guests, it makes for a singular listening experience. I never would have guessed that Brotha Lynch was capable of an album this brilliant, and "Dinner and a Movie" is often hilarious, frequently stunning, and constantly thrilling—if cannibalism and body mutilation aren't your thing then it's your loss entirely.
