Note: Before we get to the 2011 Rap-Up, I’d like to
clarify something. Rap is not the only
genre of music I listen to, and will not be the only genre of music I will
discuss on this blog. Punk, Metal, Indie, R&B, Pop, etc. all find their way
into my regular music listening rotation.
However, Rap is the genre I listen to most, and the genre I follow
close enough to feel like I can speak with enough authority to put together a
list like this. I just don’t follow
those other genre’s close enough to really get in depth like that.
Note 2: I originally planned to post this right before the new year, but doing the write-ups took way longer than expected. Because of that, any projects released after December 13th weren't considered, like Common and Young Jeezy's new LP's. Ok, now that
that’s out of the way, lets get to it.
Hip-Hop is dead. One of the most infuriating opinions that I
hear expressed by rap fans. Beyond the
fact that statement reeks of condescension, it is wholly inaccurate. No matter what flavor of rap speaks to you
(and there are many), there is quality music being released on a regular pace
that you will enjoy. Whether you’re an old school hip-hop head – the fan base
most consistently espousing the “hip-hop is dead” mantra – a dirty south
trapaholic, a west coast rider, etc., there is rap being produced that will
speak to you.
Even mainstream rap, the scourge of the earth according to
underground rap fans, is trending upward. Commercial successes like Drake, Wale,
Game, & Mac Miller all dropped creative and impressive projects this
year. On top of that, more lyrically
driven MC’s like Kendrick Lamar, Nipsey Hussle, Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs,
& Pill are currently enjoying a level of buzz that would have been unthinkable
for rappers of their vintage just a few years ago, making the future outlook
for the hip-hop game a bright one.
Hip-Hop is not dead.
Never was. It was very much alive, just hiding underground. Now courtesy of an infusion of youth, its
ready to flex its muscles and emerge as the dominant force it once was.
Don’t believe it? Here are the 21 projects from 2011 that
have me anxiously anticipating great things in the futu
re:
re:
21-11. The Victims of Timing (In Alphabetical Order)
Each of these projects would have been Top 10 in other
years, but couldn’t quite make it in a stacked 2011. These projects still merit
discussion and effusive praise, just the same.
9th Wonder – The Wonder Years
Albums produced by 9th wonder all too often begin
with admiration on behalf of the listener, only for that same listener to fall
asleep before the album is through. Track by track, 9th’s beats are
almost always impressive. When listened to back-to-back over the course of an
LP, they tend to bleed together and become indistinguishable from one another,
losing the listeners attention. With
The Wonder Years, this is definitely not the case. 9th’s most
innovative sampling in years paired with an outstanding roster of guest MC’s
help this album keep the listeners’ focus from start to finish. An easy listen, but absolutely not a boring
one. A definite winner for 9th.
Danny Brown & Black Milk - Black & Brown
This is one of the more frustrating releases of the year,
simply because its too freakin’ short.
Clocking in at an anorexia lean 22:37, this EP demands an immediate
repeat listen. In a perfect meshing of
styles, Black explores his more experimental side, coming up with beats that
manage to be wildly divergent yet oddly consistent. On the rhyme side, Danny Brown is at his high pitched, odd-ball
finest, sounding like the new age Ol’ Dirty Bastard. When Danny is in this mode, he is admittedly not for everyone,
but if you’re on his wavelength, then Black & Brown will quickly wear out
your repeat button.
Drake – Take Care
If there was an award for “Most Improved Rapper”, Drake
would be the runaway winner. For the
most part eschewing his habit of spelling out his similes & metaphors (eg.
“It’s going down. Elevator.), he instead created the most intensely personal
album released this year. Take Care is
an emotionally moving album, giving us a glimpse into the mind of a famous, but
still insecure young man. Just because he’s rich now doesn’t mean that he isn’t
prone to heartache and rough times.
Fashawn – Higher Learning 2
Higher Learning 2 is a big departure from Fashawn’s 2010
release “Boy Meets World”. While having
Exile produce the entirety of Boy Meets World helped keep the album in a
specific groove and feel, Higher Learning 2 uses an array of producers to
showcase the many sides and styles of Fashawn.
From the relentless braggadocio of “Manny Pacquiao”, to the contact high
inducing relaxation of “Weed Nap”, Fashawn is on top of his game and strongly
makes the case that he will not pigeonholed.
FowL – Good Vibes/Live From The D
This is a bit of a cheat, as I’m combining two separate
mixtapes (both from 2011 however) to get FowL on this list. But considering FowL is only 20 years old
and a National Freestyle Champion, I felt the cheat was justified. Hailing from
Detroit, FowL’s style is an amalgam of some of the D’s more famous
exports. Sporting Royce Da 5’9”s “I’m
the shit” attitude as well as Elzhi’s creativity with concepts, FowL is an
artist to keep an eye out for in the future.
Neither release may have been good enough to crack this list on their
own, but two releases of this quality from a 20 year old is impressive enough
to warrant some rule-bending.
Freddie Gibbs – Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away
Statik Selektah had a busy year, producing the entirety of
this EP, as well as an EP with Freeway, and his own solo album (Which we’ll get
into later.) Amazingly there were enough beats to go around and Freddie took
full advantage, using Statik’s soul-sample background to keep the subject
matter a bit more on the serious side, while still showing off his amazing
technical skills with a variety of flows and cadences. Anyone can sound good over a Statik Selektah
beat. Freddie Gibbs over a Statik Selektah beat is a combination fit for the
vault.
Game – The RED Album
Giving Kendrick Lamar the anchor leg on “RED’s” opening
track was a ballsy move. Kendrick is
one of the most talented rappers out today, and giving him that prime position
on the albums opening track is asking for him to completely steal the show and
overshadow the rest of the album. And
Kendrick almost did it. While his verse
is unequivocally the highlight of the album, and one of the best verses of the
year, Game manages to wrestle enough of the spotlight back through sheer force of
will. Game’s intensity and earnestness are here in spades, and allows him to
connect with the listener in a way that wasn’t present on LAX. All the silly drama aside, hip-hop is better
with Game, especially when he’s operating on this level.
The Jacka – The Indictment
The Jacka is the bay area rapper with the highest approval
rating. Other bay rappers may be more
popular, some may have more fervent fan bases, but none are more universally
liked and respected than The Jacka.
Nobody has ever said anything bad about Jacka, and it might be
because he drops albums like this. It
may be short (only 10 songs), it’s nothing but bangers from front to back. There are plenty of guest verses throughout,
but The Jacka’s 16’s are always the highlights. Recent polls show Jacka’s
approval now at an all-time high.
Rapper Big Pooh – Dirty Pretty Things
There is more to Rapper Big Pooh than Little Brother. While I’m sure that was made clear with
Pooh’s first solo release, his second solo LP, Dirty Pretty things removes all
doubt. Rapping with a maturity and
interest in less grandiose subjects, Pooh crafts a complete LP, enjoyable from
first track to last. This might not
have the peaks of some other releases, but there are no valleys, and you can be
assured that when you put this album on, you are in store for a solid hour of
good times.
Schoolboy Q – Setbacks
While he received a fraction of the hype and coverage of his
Top Dawg Entertainment label-mates, Schoolboy Q put out an album that is every
bit as impressive. Really shining when
he fully commits to a track, the record is filled with tracks that show the 25
year-old’s potential. It’s not a
perfect release, but it’s a damn good one nonetheless, and an excellent debut
to build up anticipation for his future work.
Torae – For The Record
If you were going to build a production lineup for a
record that would be a fitting homage to early 90’s New York Rap, your first 3
calls would probably be to DJ Premier, Peter Rock, and Large Professor. If you wanted to capture the sound of the
current underground scene, 9th wonder, !llmind, and Khrysis would be
make just about any short list. Throw
all these producers on the same album, and mix with a rapper that has a deep
appreciation for Rap’s roots, and you have a record that can’t possibly miss.
Torae may not ever be a big name, but his affinity for the classic east coast
sound has guaranteed him a place among the undergrounds’ favorites for years to come.
Tomorrow: The top 10 albums of 2011, in order + other releases that I enjoyed from last year.
You can follow Andy on twitter: @Amohoop34
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