2011 Hip Hop in ONE POST

I know you've been anxiously waiting for this post for days, so I've waited for the absolute, last possible day to post it. I'm going to do my favorite 10 15 20 albums* of the year and 10 favorite songs of the year. The basic criteria for this list was what was played the most on my iPod/iTunes over the year and which ones stuck out in my mind. I love/hate making this list because a lot of good ish gets left out but I did my best to get a good look around. I also tried to stay away from the bigger, more well known artists to leave you with at least a couple artists you could start keeping an eye out for in the future.

We've seen a lot go down this year and are left with questions. Will we ever forgive Ray J? Will Chris Brown ever rebound and have a good single life? When will Hip Hop heads stop hating on the new direction of Hip Hop (ie: Sampling others genres outside the prototypical funk/boom bap feel)? Some are easier to answer and some are impossible. What we do know is 2012 promises to be just as crazy, especially with new talent breaking out everyday.
Is anyone else waiting for Oprah to start a rap career? Or at least a record label? Yup. Just me...

*I included mixtapes, albums, EP's, and LP's under this category because it'd be too damn tough to compile an actual list for each of those categories. This ain't no Holiday Inn. And in my mind they're all made for the same purpose: spread dope music. I don't consider the monetary motivation.

TOP ALBUMS (in no particular order):

 

Top bangers: http://soundcloud.com/bryanhahn/sets/2011-bangers

World Peace

As if Artest changing his name to Metta World Peace didn't get him enough publicity, Hip Hop's premier drama queen had to go and make it the--yes, I'm calling it--most popular name for babies born (male and female) in 2012.

btw:

Kanye = The Louis Vuitton Don = Kanyeezy = Yeezer Ebenezer  = Yeezy = Metta

Footage of Ye World Peace:

Hip Hop Ain't Dead

Every fan and hater of Hip Hop should read this. TiRon reposted it from about.com.

Mr. Motherfuckin. Exquire.

There are so many things right with this song, from the song name, to the beat, to the verses, to the name of the mixtape it's on.
Kiss my fist.

Also, I saw eXquire perform once at the Fool's Gold 4th anniversary party, and dude wears more chains than anyone can count. #multimaterialswag

Talib endorses Weezy

If you don't respect Talib, then don't read this blog. Or say you're fan of Hip Hop. He makes some good points about Lil Wayne, when he was Lil. I just hope Old Wayne comes back with some heat.

Of all the young MC's, Diggy has my vote

Get More: MTV Shows

I'll admit that I didn't like Diggy when he first came out. I fell into the trap of, "Oh it's some kid who's gonna ride his pop's coattails into stardom and fizzle out." BUT, I was wrong. His influence from Lupe Fiasco is apparent in his rhyming and production, and that's a good thing. Don't know Diggy? Get to know him above. He's gonna be around for a while.

Watch out!

These guys are gonna be a problem in the future! Be on the look out for them.

My man Kyle The Future from Chitown released this mixtape, Lightspeed, earlier this month. It's short, but damn is it sweet. I'm glad he went in on Bill Gates, after all those times I blasted that shit in the apartment. Can't wait for an album full of original production. Oh yeah, this kid PRODUCES TOO.

Next is New York's own Jus Hawke. Dude is starting his own label and is off to a strong start. I'm gonna post a couple songs and am anxiously waiting for a full project (looks at Jus Hawke). The first is a typical "i'm the best, fuck the rest" anthem. But the thing is, it has a dirty beat that feels like it's dragging you through a swamp of swagu. It's like Clams Casino did some a fuckton of drugs with Xaphoon and made it. The second is an honest track about making it big from nothing. Just listen.

Be ready you industry fools! Shots fired!

Misleading titles can be good

One of the last standing cornerstones of YMCMB, Cory Gunz, released the video on his song, YMCMB MMG. I'm so ok that both crews, in their entirety, are not rapping in this video, save Wale.

I hate officials

So Justise (hopefully pronounced Justice) Winslow got penalized (hard) for beasting a dunk on some punk in a basketball game. He got two technicals because of staring down the punk and saluting the crowd afterwards, causing him to be ejected. I think a little showmanship in sports is deserved and applauded. As long as it's not offensive, which in this case it was neither.
The high school small forward from Houston has a bright future, as long as officials don't get in his way. I hope he dunks on a ref next time and makes the old man cry from being lucky enough to be subjected to art of the highest degree.