Music

Top 10 Hip Hop Releases: 2011

by Chayne Japal

2011 was a year. And like years before it, people released albums. And like those other years, we ranked what we thought were the best of the respective genres we cover — Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, Pop, Metal, Punk, and Electronic.

Top 10 Hip Hop Releases: 2011

 

10. Big K.R.I.T. – Return Of 4Eva

How generous. K.R.I.T. released Return Of 4eva as a free album instead of cashing in on the buzz he created with last year’s free release K.R.I.T. Wuz Here. Yes, lots of other rappers build up their fanbase with free releases but it’s the quality of Krit’s work that sets him apart. This wasn’t a quickly put together mishmash of tracks; it’s a carefully crafted album that highlights Big K.R.I.T.’s many strengths, including his elevated producing abilities. One can only hope he gets what he deserves when he eventually decides it’s time to cash-in.

9. ASAP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP
	The Just Blaze-produced “Witchita” is the first song on Zero Heroes. It’s an ode to XV’s hometown that up to this point has had no recognizable contribution to hip hop. He’s already changed that with this mixtape.

6. Lil B – I’m Gay
	There’s something very engaging about a clown being, or maybe acting, serious. As the Based God gets deep on I’m Gay, his attempt at poignancy holds an even greater importance. Yes, he’s bat shit crazy but also, in some cases, he’s right.

5. Wiz Khalifa – Cabin Fever

On this surprise freEP, Justice League, Drumma Boy, and most of all Lex Luger delivered crunked up concoctions that perfectly juxtaposed Khalifa’s lazy approach. It’s evident that Wiz decided he would release these songs on Cabin Fever instead of having an uncohesive major label debut. The end product was a hard as fuck, bumpin’ ass prequel to support the pop leaning official album. Though Rolling Papers was a solid release it could have lost Wiz a large group of supporters, Cabin Fever kept everything balanced.

4. Stalley – Lincoln Way Nights: Intelligent Trunk Music
	No one ever really needs to justify why they play their music loud. It’s just a simple case of wanting to share their enjoyment with everyone in the world. Stalley delves into this culture and drops some more interesting theories as he speaks for those that love the sound of the bass in the trunk. The beauty in all of this is that he creates his own trunk rattlers in the process.

3. Drake – Take Care

Keep hating on Drake but don’t deny the effort and honesty he brought to this album. The story of the rich, famous, and lonely young rapstar has never been so well documented as Drizzy explains his surprisingly disturbing lifestyle. He continues to master his R&B tinged sound on this album as acts like The Weeknd, featured here, and Frank Ocean reinforced some of what he’s has popularized with their own projects this year.

2. Danny Brown – XXX
	It’s a bit of a shame that Danny Brown has been floating around for all these years and is only able to drop an album like this now. But then again, if he had more success earlier in his career, he wouldn’t have had this reckless urgency and cynical humour. It’s amazing what just plain giving up can do for a rapper.

1. Kendrick Lamar – Section.80

This album is about the generation of kids that were born in the 80s. This focus may be the key to what makes this record so great. Kendrick Lamar didn’t want to let his generation down. His intricate and clever rhymes are smoothly delivered over perfectly chosen beats as he balances socially aware with really cool throughout the album. On Section.80, it’s as if Kendrick has a direct connection between his heart and his voice. His articulate sincerity is undeniable and that will take him much further in the hip hop realm.

Top 10 Singles of 2011

10. Waka Flocka Flame “Round Of Applause”
9. Wale featuring Meek Mill and Rick Ross “Ambition”
8. Kreayshawn “Gucci Gucci”
7. J. Cole “Return Of Simba”
6. Lil Wayne featuring Cory Gunz “6 Foot 7 Foot”
5. YC featuring Future “Racks”
4. Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire featuring Despot, Das Racist, Danny Brown, and El-P “The Last Huzzah!”
3. Ace Hood “Hustle Hard”
2. Jay-Z & Kanye West “Niggas In Paris”
1. Tyler, The Creator “Yonkers”