All told 2003 has been a good year for me. No one in my family died. For the most part everyone is in good health and good spirits. Money is an issue, but it’s been that way for everyone.

Anyway I figure what I’ll do this week is just highlight some of the things I enjoyed this year. Today is all about music this year. To be honest it hasn’t been the best y

Song of 2003: I thought long and hard about this one. Alicia Key’s “You Don’t Know My Name” is so recent that it stands out in my mind. Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love” has been everywhere. Let’s not even mention any 50 Cent songs. I like EVERY song on The Love Below, so I couldn’t point out just one. I’d have to give this one to Miss Keys, because the instant I heard it I wanted to hear it again.

Most Danceable Song: I had to make up this catagory JUST for Andre 3000’s “Hey Ya”. I’m not one to dance at all, but every time I hear it I want to break out in one of those dances that the Love Haters were doing in the video.

Best Producer: Kanye West has jumped from “dopest producer that most people hadn’t heard of” to “the guy that speeds up the vocals from old songs”. A year from now I will be sick of it I’m sure (like the Neptunes), but for now he’s running the show.

Best Skit: Most people probably haven’t heard it, but on Gangstarr’s 2003 release “The Ownerz” there is a parody of the song “Grindin” by the Clipse, they call it “Heiney”. I died laughing and put it on repeat several times. Give it a listen. Honorable Mention to the skits on The Love Below (I’m going somewhere with this).

Video of the Year: Nelly has made a fan out of me with his “Tip Drill” video. Words cannot express how great it is. Now if only I could find an “uncut” version of my favorite video on BET Uncut.

Biggest Disappointment: Erykah Badu’s “Worldwide Underground” was a BUST. After Mama’s Gun and Baduizm and the lead in of Love of My Life I guess there was no way this album would have satisfied me. She didn’t come close.

Album of the Year: Outkast’s “Speakerboxxx/the Love Below”. I didn’t think they could do it. They not only did it, they did it so well no one will be able to do it again. Big Boi and Andre 3000 managed to make a “Jim Crow/seperate but equal” album. 5 Albums and counting, with NO garbage produced. What a track record.

Tomorrow I’ll talk about TV and Movies. Mom wants her phone line back!