[DISCLAIMER: IF YOU DONT LIKE HIP-HOP/R&B DONT READ THIS YOU PROLLY WONT GIVE A HIT]
First off, let me start by saying 2011 has been a very enjoyable year for music in the Hip-Hop/R&B genre. Sure there have been many disappointing albums put out - I'm talking to you Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa and Wale, but there were many albums worth copping that dropped throughout the year. We saw an artist make the leap from mixtape wonder to one of the top artists in the game today - J.Cole. We also saw an unknown dude from Toronto shake the R&B world with a only a couple of mixtapes - The Weeknd. Making this list was hard af for me personally as I enjoyed so many albums that came out this year. Take my rankings for a grain of salt, they are my PERSONAL rankings. If you don't agree with them, SO BE IT. That's the way music should be. Everyone has their own taste and I will always respect that. I hope ya'll do the same.
10. Finally Famous - Big Sean
This album definetly surprised me. I was not expecting much from an artist that I didn't particularly enjoy before this year, but the homie Big Sean put out some bangers on this one. This album deliverd big time. From the very beginning [I Do It] to the end [What Goes Around] I enjoyed the fuck out of this CD. It's got its great club bangers [My Last, Dance A$$], to the more inspirational tracks such as Memories ft. John Legend and What Goes Around. I still bump a ton of songs from this album and for that I have to put this in my top 11 for the year. In the words of Big Sean, he do ittt.
Best Tracks: Memories, Marvin Gay & Chardonnay, My Last, High
9. Hell: The Sequel - Bad Meets Evil
I did not have many expectations for this, but Royce and Em really delivered in my opinion. These two rappers go together perfectly, and this EP demonstrates that. Some inredible lyricism on this from both artists. They just always bring the fire when they are together on tracks. There was even a radio banger [Lighters, which I love] on this which is very popular right now. This is the type of shit we want to hear from Em, but haven't in awhile. Royce rarely disappoints when he hops on a track, and this is no different from the usual. Definetly one of the better projects put out this year.
Best Tracks: Lighters, Fast Lane
8. Thug Motivation 103 – Young Jeezy
One of the more pleasant surprises of 2011, Young Jeezy put out a very well rounded album with TM 103. I’ve always been a big Jeezy fan, so I may be a little biased but I throughouly enjoyed this album. I wouldn’t say its quite as good as 101 or The Recession, but it is still a very enjoyable album. There was only one track I was forced to skip on my first listen and that was the shitty one with Ne-Yo. Don’t ever listen to that song honestly. The rest of the album is worth listening to. Good amount of bangers on this and Jeezy’s music always sounds real nice in the whip. Plus, I love the chorus of All We Do.
Best Tracks: OJ, Higher Learning, All We Do
7. Return Of 4Eva - Big K.R.I.T
Another mixtape to the list, but there should be no complaints about that. This tape is one of the best musical collections released this year. For anyone who hasn't listened to this, go check it out now. Hailing from Mississippi, K.R.I.T is quickly becoming one of the best rappers in the South. I would not be shocked to see him supplant T.I.P has the new king of the south soon. Most well known song on this is Country Shit with Luda on it. The whole tape bumps though, and my only complaint [which isn't really a complaint] is the length of the tape. I have trouble listenin to the same artist for that many songs, but still this is one of a few must-listen mixtapes/albums of the year. Great from start to finish.
Best Tracks: Country Shit, Dreamin'
6. Watch The Throne - Jay Z & Kanye West
One of the most hyped albums of recent memory thanks to 2 of the biggest artists in the game coming together on the same tracks. This album certainly did not disappoint. The first listen I had on this album was incredible. There was only track I was not feeling [Lift Off]. So many great songs throughout this album. I will be bumping this for a long time, and I think I speak for a lot of hip hop fans when I say Thank You Jay and Ye. Also, major props to the duo for not lettin this album leak. By ONLY keepin the tracks on a flash drive, they did the near impossible in the industry today - not letting the album leak in advance. Touche.
Best Tracks: Niggas In Paris, Gotta Have It, Made In America
5. LiveLoveA$AP - ASAP Rocky
One of the artists [and probably the most talented] nominated for XXL's Freshman of the year, ASAP Rocky burst onto the scene with this mixtape [yes I know this is supposed to be "albums", but IDGAF this shit is good]. I love ASAP's style, and I believe he has a bright future in the rap game. I was pleasantly surprised on my first listen of this album as I was not skipping any tracks. The beats are very well done, and Rocky's flow is smooth. Remember the name ASAP Rocky for next year, his popularity will surely continue to grow.
Best Tracks: Peso, Roll One Up
4. House Of Balloons/Thursday - The Weeknd
In a year that brought a new era to the R&B genre, The Weeknd takes the cake for the best up and coming artist in this genre. No disrespect to Frank Ocean or anything, but Abel fucking killt it this year. His first mixtape, House of Balloons was incredible. High For This is one of my favorite songs ever. After that tape dropped, the hype continued to build and he released the second of a three part series with Thursday. Combined, these two tapes only had 18 tracks. However, those 18 tracks were 18 of the best R&B tracks I listened to all year. The third installment in this three mixtape series, Echos of Silence, is rumored to be dropping December 21st. It's time to stop sleeping on The Weeknd. Dude has serious staying power in the R&B game.
Best Tracks: High For This, The Knowing, Thursday, The Zone, What You Need
3. Cole World: The Sideline Story - J.Cole
Damn. Cole World. That's really all I can say about this album. J. Cole was always labeled as a "mixtape artist". It wouldn't be fair to keep that label on him after he dropped this classic album. Cole delivered great song after great song on this album, much to the shagrin of all his haters. I never understood the hate this dude gets, but I think he silenced a lot of his critics with this. It's hard to find a better debut album from ANYONE. Hats off to J. Cole for this one.
Best Tracks: Cole World, Lost Ones, Rise and Shine
2. Take Care - Drake
If people would get off their high horses and stop worrying about Drake being "too soft" or whatever, they would learn to respect this album for what it is: A true work of art. A masterpiece. One of the best albums put out in a long time. However, that is not the case in the minds of most people because they think Drake is a bitch for singing. Give me a fucking break. The dude has an immeasurable amount of musical talent, and his combination of rapping and singing is something that can not be matched by ANYBODY in todays game. This album has so many songs I enjoy on it, and Drake does a great job mixing his singing and his rapping. As he stated himself after a concert recently, “Just because I sing don’t make me no fucking bitch” Amen to that. Dude is talented as fuck.
Best Tracks: Cameras, Shot For Me, Crew Love
First off, let me start by saying 2011 has been a very enjoyable year for music in the Hip-Hop/R&B genre. Sure there have been many disappointing albums put out - I'm talking to you Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa and Wale, but there were many albums worth copping that dropped throughout the year. We saw an artist make the leap from mixtape wonder to one of the top artists in the game today - J.Cole. We also saw an unknown dude from Toronto shake the R&B world with a only a couple of mixtapes - The Weeknd. Making this list was hard af for me personally as I enjoyed so many albums that came out this year. Take my rankings for a grain of salt, they are my PERSONAL rankings. If you don't agree with them, SO BE IT. That's the way music should be. Everyone has their own taste and I will always respect that. I hope ya'll do the same.
10. Finally Famous - Big Sean
This album definetly surprised me. I was not expecting much from an artist that I didn't particularly enjoy before this year, but the homie Big Sean put out some bangers on this one. This album deliverd big time. From the very beginning [I Do It] to the end [What Goes Around] I enjoyed the fuck out of this CD. It's got its great club bangers [My Last, Dance A$$], to the more inspirational tracks such as Memories ft. John Legend and What Goes Around. I still bump a ton of songs from this album and for that I have to put this in my top 11 for the year. In the words of Big Sean, he do ittt.
Best Tracks: Memories, Marvin Gay & Chardonnay, My Last, High
9. Hell: The Sequel - Bad Meets Evil
I did not have many expectations for this, but Royce and Em really delivered in my opinion. These two rappers go together perfectly, and this EP demonstrates that. Some inredible lyricism on this from both artists. They just always bring the fire when they are together on tracks. There was even a radio banger [Lighters, which I love] on this which is very popular right now. This is the type of shit we want to hear from Em, but haven't in awhile. Royce rarely disappoints when he hops on a track, and this is no different from the usual. Definetly one of the better projects put out this year.
Best Tracks: Lighters, Fast Lane
8. Thug Motivation 103 – Young Jeezy
One of the more pleasant surprises of 2011, Young Jeezy put out a very well rounded album with TM 103. I’ve always been a big Jeezy fan, so I may be a little biased but I throughouly enjoyed this album. I wouldn’t say its quite as good as 101 or The Recession, but it is still a very enjoyable album. There was only one track I was forced to skip on my first listen and that was the shitty one with Ne-Yo. Don’t ever listen to that song honestly. The rest of the album is worth listening to. Good amount of bangers on this and Jeezy’s music always sounds real nice in the whip. Plus, I love the chorus of All We Do.
Best Tracks: OJ, Higher Learning, All We Do
7. Return Of 4Eva - Big K.R.I.T
Another mixtape to the list, but there should be no complaints about that. This tape is one of the best musical collections released this year. For anyone who hasn't listened to this, go check it out now. Hailing from Mississippi, K.R.I.T is quickly becoming one of the best rappers in the South. I would not be shocked to see him supplant T.I.P has the new king of the south soon. Most well known song on this is Country Shit with Luda on it. The whole tape bumps though, and my only complaint [which isn't really a complaint] is the length of the tape. I have trouble listenin to the same artist for that many songs, but still this is one of a few must-listen mixtapes/albums of the year. Great from start to finish.
Best Tracks: Country Shit, Dreamin'
6. Watch The Throne - Jay Z & Kanye West
One of the most hyped albums of recent memory thanks to 2 of the biggest artists in the game coming together on the same tracks. This album certainly did not disappoint. The first listen I had on this album was incredible. There was only track I was not feeling [Lift Off]. So many great songs throughout this album. I will be bumping this for a long time, and I think I speak for a lot of hip hop fans when I say Thank You Jay and Ye. Also, major props to the duo for not lettin this album leak. By ONLY keepin the tracks on a flash drive, they did the near impossible in the industry today - not letting the album leak in advance. Touche.
Best Tracks: Niggas In Paris, Gotta Have It, Made In America
5. LiveLoveA$AP - ASAP Rocky
One of the artists [and probably the most talented] nominated for XXL's Freshman of the year, ASAP Rocky burst onto the scene with this mixtape [yes I know this is supposed to be "albums", but IDGAF this shit is good]. I love ASAP's style, and I believe he has a bright future in the rap game. I was pleasantly surprised on my first listen of this album as I was not skipping any tracks. The beats are very well done, and Rocky's flow is smooth. Remember the name ASAP Rocky for next year, his popularity will surely continue to grow.
Best Tracks: Peso, Roll One Up
4. House Of Balloons/Thursday - The Weeknd
In a year that brought a new era to the R&B genre, The Weeknd takes the cake for the best up and coming artist in this genre. No disrespect to Frank Ocean or anything, but Abel fucking killt it this year. His first mixtape, House of Balloons was incredible. High For This is one of my favorite songs ever. After that tape dropped, the hype continued to build and he released the second of a three part series with Thursday. Combined, these two tapes only had 18 tracks. However, those 18 tracks were 18 of the best R&B tracks I listened to all year. The third installment in this three mixtape series, Echos of Silence, is rumored to be dropping December 21st. It's time to stop sleeping on The Weeknd. Dude has serious staying power in the R&B game.
Best Tracks: High For This, The Knowing, Thursday, The Zone, What You Need
3. Cole World: The Sideline Story - J.Cole
Damn. Cole World. That's really all I can say about this album. J. Cole was always labeled as a "mixtape artist". It wouldn't be fair to keep that label on him after he dropped this classic album. Cole delivered great song after great song on this album, much to the shagrin of all his haters. I never understood the hate this dude gets, but I think he silenced a lot of his critics with this. It's hard to find a better debut album from ANYONE. Hats off to J. Cole for this one.
Best Tracks: Cole World, Lost Ones, Rise and Shine
2. Take Care - Drake
If people would get off their high horses and stop worrying about Drake being "too soft" or whatever, they would learn to respect this album for what it is: A true work of art. A masterpiece. One of the best albums put out in a long time. However, that is not the case in the minds of most people because they think Drake is a bitch for singing. Give me a fucking break. The dude has an immeasurable amount of musical talent, and his combination of rapping and singing is something that can not be matched by ANYBODY in todays game. This album has so many songs I enjoy on it, and Drake does a great job mixing his singing and his rapping. As he stated himself after a concert recently, “Just because I sing don’t make me no fucking bitch” Amen to that. Dude is talented as fuck.
Best Tracks: Cameras, Shot For Me, Crew Love
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