The 2011 Rap Up Part 2: The Top 10 Albums

Yesterday, I started my countdown of the 21 best rap albums of 2011. You can check out my introductory essay and albums 21-11 right here.

And now ladies and gentleman, we have arrived at the top 10.  In descending order…

The Talkin Reckless 2011 Rap-Up: The Year In Review

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

Grading the 2012 NFL Team Theme Songs

It all started with Wiz Khalifa.  Over the last year and a half, theme songs and anthems for various professional sports teams have been popping up all over the place, especially during playoff runs. The "big bang" of this trend was Wiz Khalifa's smash single "Black and Yellow".  Featuring an incredibly catchy, uptempo beat which made it an instant staple for various workout playlists and basketball game warm-up music, it was the chorus prominently stating the colors of Wiz's hometown Pittsburgh teams that made it ripe for various covers. Soon after in fall of 2010, San Francisco rappers Bailey, Da Vinci, Roach Gigz, San Quinn, Big Rich, & Cellski released various "Black and Orange" remixes to soundtrack the San Francisco Giants eventual World Championship run.

Then Lil Wayne released "Green & Yellow" for the Green Bay Packers, and then just about any competitive pro team had a theme song, especially come playoff time.  Of the 8 teams left in the NFL playoffs, 6 have theme songs released in the past couple of months that have at least a few thousand Youtube views. But how good are these submissions as songs?  The report card is below.

The Tim Tebow Dilemma

I was one of the original Tim Tebow "haters".  Before it became the cool thing to do, before he was a first round draft pick. I hated Tim Tebow for purely athletic reasons. I hated his style of play. I hated the team he played on. I hated that he received praise while his teammates were making him look that good. I hated him because he beat one of my favorite college players of the last 10 years in the National Championship.  I hated all the fans and experts who were championing a QB without a single, discernible, quarterbacking skill whatsoever.  I hated that he was getting credit for turning around the Broncos while they won games in spite of him.  I immensely enjoyed his pathetic showings in the last 3 games of the regular season, hoping it was the beginning of the end.  I hated the whole Tim Tebow hype machine, and couldn't wait for it to go away.

So why in the world was I so ecstatic when he completed an 80 yard TD on the first play of overtime to beat the Steelers?

NFL Wild Card Picks

Wild-Card weekend, one of the greatest 2-day stretches on the sports calendar. After fighting for 4 months to make the post-season, 4 teams will find their playoff experience to last a whole 3 hours.  The NFL playoffs are the most unforgiving of all the major sports, with the single elimination format potentially sending a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were 1 game away from the #1 seed in the AFC, home immediately, with no chance for rebound.  Thanks for playing, come back next year. This makes for interesting matchups, incredible plays, and crazy upsets.  Think Seahawks over Saints last year. Only in the NFL do the Seahawks advance off that one game.  While that makes betting these games nerve racking and infuriating, it makes the viewing experience that much more enjoyable.  Not that I would EVER partake in something as morally questionable as gambling, but if I did, this is how I'd be risking my money (Home team in all caps):