This was a magnificent year for R&B and hip-hop -- that is, if you shunned commercial radio, corporate music magazines, MTV, BET and all other mainstream, hype-dolloping media outlets. If you sought good music on your own, however, there was an astounding bounty there for the taking. So here's a rundown of the ten best things about black music in 2002 and a round-up of 19 great albums that you may not have heard about... More >>>