Smart & Angry

39)Corrine Baily Rae-I'd Do It All Again

I picked this one cause it was the first song I heard off her follow-up album. I listened to this song at least over 100 times easily that first week the video came out. I never do that anymore really, but sometimes a song is just that it deserves it.

38)The Roots ft Dice Raw- How I Got Over

After one of the worse years of my life last year, this song was the first musical glimpse that things would get better, if I would be able to change my perspective on things in my life. Very Sly & The Family Stone influenced, none the less though a great song to start the year off to.

37)Kid Cudi ft Cee-Lo-Scott Mescudi Vs The World

Kid Cudi sure knows to kick off an album. Last one was Soundtrack 2 My Life, and now this Cee-Lo aided opener. One word can describe this track:epic.

36)Rick Ross ft T.I., Jadakiss, & Erykah Badu-Maybach Music III

If Rick Ross decides to make another Maybach Music, it better be out of this world. Because part III in the song series, is on some big budget, major motion picture, type level. I feel like I am watching the opening of the most expensive movie ever made when it starts, but when it gets to when Ross verse and the beat flips...speechless. This is beautiful music on any level.

35)Corrine Baily Rae-Closer

More music for my bedroom play-list. This definitely for the kids right here. She sounds so good on this I would hate to ever hear a cover version. Corrine is a definite candidate for a wifey one day.

34)Cee-Lo- You Don't Shock Me Anymore

Fantastic song that I wouldn't ever imagine Cee-Lo singing. It almost sounds like it was from a 60's game show intermission. Nothing sounds like this track that I have heard this year. Definitely a standout.

33)The Foreign Exchange-The City Ain't the Same Without You

Haven't heard a country R&B song in a long while. Not since the days that Lionel was the go to songwriter of radio. If some coming-of-age, film were to pick this song up it would blow up in the indie scene for sure.

32)Drake ft T.I, Mary J Blige & Swizz Beats- Fancy

Go head, Go head, Knew from the moment I heard it that this was going to be a radio smash. Just don't know why they choose to release it so late. My favorite part is that breakdown at the end. I just can see the type of girls he is referring to in ATL, LA, and NY for sure. Love asking a woman nowadays “Oh you fancy huh?” great hook, pop-culture gold right there.

31)Cee-Lo-Fuck You

Like Fancy, I knew this was going to be a huge radio single as well. Glad they took the chance on it and put the money behind it to help it get there. Great song, right here from Bruno Mars and his production team.

30)Raheem Devaughn ft- Nobody Wins A War

So many features on this track I had low hopes that it would amount to anything that was remotely interesting. I was wrong, everyone? voice fits well on this protest track against war in the vain of Marvin Gaye.

29)B.o.B-Don't Let Me Fall

Great feel good song from Bobby Ray. This guy really needs to do more of his own production on his next album. Every track that he did, I thought were highlights on his debut. I could tell he made this song sometime around the time when Nothin On You,the first single took off. Because the song sounds like a giant sigh of relief, followed by self-thoughts of trying to stay focused on his goals. I don't think this song would even exist from him if not for that hit.

28)Pac-Div-Here We Go

On Church League Champs this was just an interlude at the end of a song before another one started. I wondered why they didn't use it. Well obviously they had something in store for it,just wasn't time yet. This song is powerful, and when the 2pac surprise verse at the end comes in at the end...it becomes classic.

27)Kanye West ft Jay-Z Charlie Wilson, Pete Rock-The Joy

Why didn't he put this on his album? This is boom-bap hip-hop at it's finest. Both MC's do their thing, especially HOV's. His guest verses for the most part this year, have been pure venom. Don't know what got into him, but I like it.

26) The Roots ft Blu & Phonte-The Day

My ringtone for the majority of the year was this song. But it wasn't because it was super catchy, it was because it was an anthem. Of what I wanted my mindset to be everyday. Blu's verse especially captures everything I want to be everyday.

25)Aloe Blacc-I Need Dolla

For a few consecutive weeks this summer, this was the theme song I heard on HBO's How to Make It In America, great theme for our recession mindset and what a lot of people are going through today.

24)Lupe Fiasco-The Show Goes On

K, when I put this on the first day it was made available, I almost cried(Shoot I am almost crying now listening to it). Yes, I loved I'm Beaming, but this was the song for a movement. A movement of people that are trying to get through this life everyday and make it more. I had this one on repeat all day, upon its release. Love that there is a voice of hope in the music today.

23)Big Boi ft Sleepy Brown & Joi-Turns Me On

If you slept on this album(I don't know why you would), make sure that you at least listen to this track. This is something that you can ride to with either sex. Big Boi is just too far ahead of the curve for most. This is at least 6-years away from being understood by the masses. Too much going on, for the average listener to wrap their head around. Guy is a legend in music, the way the vocals are mixed, space age sounds, jazzy keys...just listen to it sometime and I'll rest my case.

22) Tiron-For Your Smile

First song I heard off the MSTRD album, great summer time jam about growing up, and trying to impress girls. Tiron brought back the innocence that was missing from the music lately with this one.

21)N.E.R.D-Hypnotize U

First off I would like to send thank you to Prince for influencing so many great artist today. This song is from his school, right up his alley actually. N.E.R.D, have a gem with this one. I think this might be one of the best songs they have ever recorded since Run to the Sun. Could be club music, Bedroom, or chill, depends on the moment I guess. Awesome production though for sure.

19)The Roots-Doin it Again

Whats hard about a great album is that the majority of the songs on it are great as well. So when making a list like its hard to leave stuff out but you don't want to not bring attention to standouts. This was a later standout to me. Upon first listen just thought it was a John legend flip, but the feeling that it is able to bring is incredible. It builds on the original song for sure.

18)Kanye West ft Kid Cudi, & Raekwon-Gorgous

Kanye benefits from Cudi being around so much now days. Some his best hook ideas are coming from that man. Even some of his sound is influence by the Kid. This song though is not just about the hook, verses are next level as well. Kanye is spitting on this as we like to say in my inner circle. When Rae comes on its crazy as well. Second favorite song on this album for sure.

17)Rhymefest ft Phonte-Say Wassup

The other night I heard Positive K's I Gotta Man and I remembered how great that song was. This is in that vain to me. Just a more mature dude saying wassup, not on that holla, holla,holla or that typical rapper talk about getting some girl back to their place, and I'll buy this and that for you nonsense. Just real game, basically. Letting a woman know he is interested without being cliché, or disrespectful. Most young men and woman don't know whats up with this now days. More of that grown folks talk right here.

16)Big Sean-Almost Wrote You A Love Song

I think that Sean had to be watch 500 Days of Summer when he wrote this one. The feel of it kind of has that vibe to it. When you put it on your just basically listening to a song about the end of a dysfunctional relationship. Yet there are some funny lines in it that keep it kind of light, but well written for sure. There are not enough honest songs from the male perspective relationships. Definitely need more of this in today? music.

15)Murs & 9^th Wonder- I Used to Love H.E.R Again

Do we need another song about hip-hop? Yeah we do, cause there aren't enough that sound that great. Every 5-10 years you get one that is decent or great. Well this leans on the later side. Murs is a great storyteller, and this is one of the better 9^th productions in a long time. Beats and Rhymes, is what it comes town in the end, this song has both of those. Great tribute.

14)Cee Lo-No Ones Going To Love You(Paul Epworth Mix)

Why was this version not included on the album? A great cover of a Band Of Horses song that was polished up a little too much for my liking. The edge on and more Electronica sound on this one just makes it sound more raw. A stellar vocal performance though from Mr Green for sure, and I hope this version will stay around longer than that version on the album.

13)T.I. Ft Michelle'L & Scarface-How Life ChangedOnly thing keeping this out of the top ten is the lateness of its arrival. I been bumping this track ruthlessly over the last week or so. It's my anthem for 2011 for sure. Clifford Harris sounds so good on tracks like this. Deep southern funk, is usually where he can excel. Verbally he is able to bend his words around the music more showcases his uniqueness as an artist. Another reason they used to call him the Rubberband Man I guess. When you throw in Uncle Face as well, just becomes magic. Scarface is to music what Morgan Freeman or Robert Duvall are to film. Just a well-respected artist, who has put in his time in and draws respect and added interest to the song. I want to look back in 2012 at all of this and sing this song remembering how much life has changed. 

TOMORROW THE FINAL 12