Smart & Angry

The Top on this list was rotated a lot before I reached a definite conclusion. There are even some which I had to leave out cause I doubt that anyone wanted to read about 20 albums. So yeah here are my favorite albums this year.

2011 Top Ten Albums of the Year:

10. Frank Ocean- nostaliga/ultra
Odd Future was the talk of the town already when this dropped, and at that point I was trying to take in all 12 albums of whatever else the group had previously released. Yet, this kept appearing in my Tweet stream, so I felt forced to check it out. I knew nothing about it besides the fact that the cover is something that I would for sure see on Pitchfork,  PMA, or some other hipster music sort. When hit my ears, there was a feeling that feeling that this was going to be something different from the get go.

It’s the same ole’ stories(heartbreak, self-reflection, falling in love) but from a truly different voice.  I can mess with this for the fact that it’s not dumbed down. Take for example Songs For Women, instead of just saying that a girl who played him, he makes a about why he is singing about the heartbreak now, and does she like him like Drake or Trey Songz? That’s called irony, unlike the song by Alanis Morrisete which had little to do with being  ironic itself. It’s just one of the many examples of the genius of his pen. Definitely a strong early showing from the Odd Furture representative.

9. Phonte-Charity Starts At Home
From beginning to end of this album I often find myself pressing that infamous back button upon every listen. As a fan of Little Brother, and now a fan of The Foreign Exchange, and cameos here and there, I really didn’t feel like there wasn’t anything I wasn’t getting from Phonte as an artist already. Though satisfied with his past and present output, this album only adds further more to the quality that Phonte has been involved with throughout his career. Every verse, guest, beat, and word recorded on here means something. Not a second of space is wasted over 12 tracks that touch on everyman tales, dope emceeing, and a bit of fun. Everything you come to love about this artist is on full display at his best.

8. Tanya Morgan- You & What Army EP
I will continue to make a case for these guys as one of the best groups out period. With this latest release only further enforces that thought all the more. This is not just your average backpack rap, these guys are masters of their craft at this point.I have been a lifelong St Louis Rams fan, and I remember this game during the 1999 Super Bowl winning season where they were up by 3 I think against the 49’ers. They had the ball and pretty much had to run out the next 3 minutes of clock and the game was theirs to win. What did they do? They gave it to Marshall Faulk(who was the best player in the league this year by far) every down, and first down after first down, he kept going forward. Everybody on the opposing side knew it was going to him, but there was nothing they could do. This is how I see  this EP. The duo have the ball right now and are about to secure a win. No matter the what the defense throws their way they keep coming at you with another 1st down. Track after track they deliver with this one, with one of the best titles ever as well that says it all. These guys aren’t playing.

7.Tiron & Ayomari- A Sucker For Pumps
As I’ve grown older I find myself at times seeing how male-dominated hip-hop is. Besides the typical “ladies-jam” which usually paints pictures of male conquest, their is little for the female audience to gravitate to material wise for the opposite sex. This album right here though does a lot to bring more balance to the scale (though we do need more female voices in the music). What has consistently been a recommendation to women, isn’t just your typical palate of love songs with R&B songs, it’s an acknowledgment of the beauty, the recognition of the work that goes into their preparation everyday (for us), and what we as men don’t understand about them as well. Yes, there is rapping on here, and the musical backings are almost as beautiful as the subject behind the inspiration,as well as a spoken word moment from one hip-hop’s most acclaimed journalist Dream Hampton, it’s a good look for the genre and overall a step forward in the right direction.
http://thecafeterialine.bandcamp.com/album/a-sucker-for-pumps

6. tUnE-yArDs-W H O K I L L

When I look back in life, and think about how there was a period where a former SNL member who I never thought was all that funny to begin with in the entertainment industry got a show and his house band happened to be one of my favorite bands all time. The band leader and drummer of this band is a self—proclaimed music snob and as a result help book performances from a lot of lesser known indie acts that beyond the“hipster blogs”. I end up liking a lot of the performances as a result, and from time-to-time I tune in to catch in on the show when I can, or just watch clips online of the performances.

The tune-yards were one of the said acts, who I caught on the show this year. The performance for Gangsta was incredible. I am a sucker for drums(as that is the instrument that I first learned), as much as the horns. Plus they had this primal aspect to their music, with the lead singers voice that caught my attention right away. Come to find out they are based out of Oakland, California(I was born in the bay so that's automatic love). The album W H O K I L L(the spaces between the letters make me wonder if she chats online w/ Blu ever?) is a mixture of a lot of African styles of music, and as well as the African-American styles as well. It's no where near light, it's actually pretty in your face, and violent, but lo-fi enough that the cool kids could dig it as well.

I never thought there would be a day when I would be glad that Jimmy Fallon hosted a late night show, but because of music like this, I must say thank you.

5. Shabazz Palaces-Black Up
“Trouble is, Black Up sounds nothing like any other hip-hop record around, and often borrows from ambient music, electronica, jazz, drone, and so on.”-Charlotte Richardson Andrews The Guardian June 24, 2011

This quote above captures the trouble I have describing this album. It’s a mixture of a lot of things, and has a dope artist at the helm of the project(Ishmal Butler formerly a member of Digable Planets & Cherrywine) and yet it’s hard to categorize the sound. Entire songs switch up at a whim, musical elements from random genres pop in and out, and somehow this all can coexist for a little over thirty minutes. How this is all managed while sounding so dope will continue leave you scratching your head. This is music built to reward the listener if the listener pays attention.

4. Rapheal Saadiq-Stone Rollin
Some how Saadiq seems to consistently get overlooked in today's music world. Not saying that he isn’t playing sold out shows around the world, but when the conversations begin about who are some of the best artist in music today, you seldom hear his name mentioned. I sadly, even as a long time fan, fell victim to this virus and upon hearing of the release of this album, didn’t rush out to listen to it(maybe that has  more to do with my changing consumer habits), nor did I sing praises after listening to it. Which was strange, cause I remember the really liking it, just never replayed it really. Even when bringing this up LP up to Bobojojo had forgotten about this(even though he was the first one to tell me about the release), during the one of our discussions about this years in music. Yes the forgot about Rapheal Saadiq syndrome.

Well luckily, I found a cure, scrolling through my iPod wheel when I began writing this I saw the LP again and said to myself: why haven’t I listened to this more? It picks up where The Way I See left off, except this time it’s a little more cohesive, and is leans more towards the sounds of early blues rock, and rock n’ roll(Remember Chuck Berry, and Little Richard influenced The Beatles not the other way around), rather than the Motown-influenced sound of the last. Where last album was good, it seemed like it there were slight hiccups(and a weird Jay-Z remix) that made it more like a compilation rather than album at some points. Learning from the (very)few mistakes of the last project, Stone Rollin' cruises along a lot more smoothly, not allowing you any reason to even consider pressing that skip button(unless of case it’s that time of night and everyone wants to play drunk DJ music player). One of the most brilliant musicians/artist over the last three decades seems to have found his own groove with the genre, and instead of trying to cater to audience who wants Ke$ha hits, he caters to the music that inspires him and quietly continues to do justice to one of America’s greatest contributions to society(rock n’ roll).  

3. The Roots- Undun

I'm not even going to front, I was waiting to hear this before I finished this list. I owed it to the group to at least give them a listen after delivering one of my top three favorite records from last year last year(as well as just being one of the dopest bands in music). You want to know how good this album is, when I first listened to it after the last track, I sat in silence for 15 minutes with the only thought on my mind being “wow!”(true story). So your asking how is this not the number one album of the year. Well as I mentioned in the beginning, the top 5 of this list could be interchangeable easily, and the lack of time I have to listen to the album and let it sit in my mind for a few weeks doesn't lend me to making that overall claim.

Never the less this is a great album. Especially for a concept album in a genre, where I can't name think of any besides those by Prince Paul's Prince Among Thieves(classic), Master Ace Disposable Arts(classic), and Sticky Fingers The Diary of Kirk Jones(gasp!!!). The last of which was something I don't like to publicly acknowledge I ever owned, but the rest were solid entry's which this one leans more towards. After 13 albums, you would think at some point you got to reach the coast mode. Where your not making bad music, but not experimenting as much, and just catering to the fan base. The Roots seem to be no where near this, as they continue to push the envelope.

2. DJ Quik-The Book Of David
I wrote a full review of this one for the Hip-Hop Isn’t Dead blog(A blog started that host huge collection of hip-hop album review ) earlier this year. One of he best releases this year is still a going strong on my iPod with the replays. A magnificently constructed masterpiece, this is no question his best album to date.

1. Blu- NoYork!
I’m very skeptical that No York! will ever be seeing a proper physical release. The same company that Prince was at war with for years, seems to have a made it a tradition to sign talent and keep it as bottled up as possible. Which is a damn shame, because NoYork! is one of this years best records. Leaked online mysteriously(some say Blu himself) in August, the record makes a great case on why Blu is one of this decades best artist.

Though it’s 1 of 5 releases (Her Favorite Color, Amnesia, J E S U S, & Open all being put out this year as well)this year, this by far exemplifies where not only the music can go, but where he is trying to take it. Yes, there is electro  influence throughout, but it's not the type that you most likely are familiar with(little in common with the Pitbull, and Gaga glam you hear on the radio). Yes, there is also some of that classic boom-bap influence,some soul, funk, and jazz as well too, yet it doesn't sound like anything i've heard before. Somehow he is able to bring all this together as and mix it with his new love of  lo-fi mixing and create one of this new decades best listens.

Warner Bros, might of dropped the ball on this one, They potentially had A Love Supreme, or Illmatic on their hands, and you instead want to treat it like an Murphy Lee(remember him?bActually do you still remember any of the St Lunatics and their ringleader Nelly at this point?) release. At the time of this writing have yet to have announced a solid release date*, but lets hope it does, it’s something that deserves to be discovered in the physical realm of music, and get a proper introduction to the public.

 
*But I am sure with some help from Google, you can still find the leaked version somewhere online.

#49-25

49.Theophilus London ft Dev Hynes- Century Girl

Theophilus has the type of lyrical content that Big Sean specializes in, which is about 80% nonsense. But when it clicks like this, it works. Don't know why he didn't put this on his album? It could have easily have been another single for sure.

48.Tiron & Ayomari-Back 2 U

For the foreign situation where you don't know if you are going to see that someone again, send them this song.

47.Phonte ft Elzhi-Not Here Anymore

New Tigallo-Tigallo-Tigallo! When it was announced that 9^th Wonder would be working with Phonte again I really didn't know what to expect. I had at this point grown accustomed to that non-9^th collaboration point of Te's career, and to be honest there wasn't too much that I had heard in the recent memory that had me begging for more 9^th Wonder. Well, when I heard this jawn, you pretty much consider all those former thoughts invalid. The beat is beautiful, Phonte delivers two hip-hop quotable worthy verses, and then Elzhi takes us home with a fierce verse as well making this one hell of a trailer to one of this years best albums.

46.Tyler The Creator ft Frank Ocean-She

Two of the more well-known members of OFWGKTA link up for on one of the weirdest songs available to public this year. Yet, everything that makes this song abnormal, makes it that much more enjoyable. The off-time drums, weird lead synths, creeper like verses from Tyler, and another golden hook sung by Frank, all work together to create a strange, yet still wonderful jawn.

45.Beastie Boys-Make Some Noise

These dudes still can rock it. It's on some skateboarder type youthful music though despite their age. This one will set the crowd into a frenzy for sure.

44.Frank Ocean-songs for women

What goes around comes around is the theme for this song about an R&B singer who sings songs to get at a girl, then finds out that the very girl who he was singing about is singing a new song. Kind of has a post-modern Mowtown sound to it.

43.Tanya Morgan ft Napoleon & Che Grand-Gotta Get Over It

I actually came back from a Friday evening walk downtown and this has been playing on repeat since shuffle brought it to my attention. The perfect song for a day like such. All the obligations for the week are done, everybody in a good mood outside, Christmas lights are up everywhere you look, great scene. The music is perfect for this in environment. Also I would include family get-together's, and summer barbecues as well. Tanya has supplied a jam for anywhere good spirits are present.

42.Pusha T-My God

Easily the first track this year that had folks on that screw face. Pusha is at home over these type of eerie sounding productions. My God!

41.The Roots Ft Dice Raw & Phonte-One Time

Glad to see that Phonte making another cameo with the The Roots crew. He sounds right at home here on this beat, and This kind picks up where How I Got Over Left off production-wise, left off. I can't wait to get back home and get the LP so I can read more up on this album.

40.Lupe Fiasco-WWJD He'd Prolly LOL like WTF!

Best song title this year. Beyond that though, Lupe does what he didn't do enough of on LASERS and spits more of the complex introspective raps that originally turned heads on. This introspective look at consumerism is worth every replay.

39.Blu- Amnesia(Remind)

The song is only clocks in at a little under a minute and a ½, but a song's length only matters if you're aiming for Clear Channel(radio) now days, besides since when did size matter? Anyways, this short jam on catching feelings is perfect for those afternoon hangout's and such. Doesn't hurt either that it's written by composed by Blu either.

38.Big Sean-So Much More

This beat is so nice that it doesn't matter that only 60% of Big Sean says on here is semi-interesting. NO I.D really did his thing this year on the beats. It's so soulful, I actually appreciate the part more when Sean is just talking at the end where he sheds the artificial and actually just gets real.

37.Lykee Li-Follow Rivers

Homegirl is so fresh! Songs like this continue to make my case. I hate using this term as it is something that the new school is more familiar with; swag. What I like about this is it has a swing to it than most indie music which allows you to groove a lot more than usual do to the hip-hop/r&b influence.

36.Beyonce- Rather Die Young

From the opening lines of this one, you know that B' is about to bring it. She sings with so much of the passion that I thought was lacking on a lot of the last two releases of hers. This is her track, it's not like I can sit here and think;oh _______would've killed this track.

35.Cee-Lo-Bridges

This cut right here was vintage. A Neptune's produced song that was left off the cutting room floor of The Lady Killers(why?). The two had collaborated before back on Cee-Lo's second solo venture ...Is The Soul Machine and had me thinking Al Green back then. Now, my thoughts are further cemented by this one. Casual fans of Crazy, and F*&K You might not have flocked to, but for fans of soulful music, this is a cut that will bring goodness to your ears.

34.Jay-Z & Kanye West-Murder to Excellence

One of the few moments on the album were the two take a look outside their window finally. The production on this one is dope. Can't believe I am actually saying this two years in a row now about something featuring co-production by Swizz Beatz. What is this world coming too?

33.Kendrick Lamar-Ho'd Up

Kendrick Lamar is definitely a talented artist. The problem for me is sometimes his beats aren't the most creative for someone with such a fluid style. Though everyone might of went crazy over ADHD, or HiiPower!!! This song is the one that showcases all his talents the best.

32.Pharohe Monch ft Styles P & Phonte-Black Hand Side

This is on the real song. Nothing flashy, a hard look on the reality of the modern African-American struggle, and critique on artist who neglect to tell this story in their music. Accompanied by Phonte's beautifully sung hook, Pharohe Monch and Styles P trade reality rhymes.

31.The Cool Kids ft Mayer Hawthorne-Swimsuits

Summer Jam! Fresh to def, radio formatted, and ready to lock and load. This was the song that would of had folks dancing for sure. I don't know if the clubs were playing this cause I wasn't in a place where hip-hop music was getting burn. I do know that this is some feel good, have fun music none-the-less and Mayer on the hook is gold!

30.The Roots Ft Big K.R.I.T-Make My

The Roots and K.R.I.T??? Yeah, never would've seen this collabo coming in a million years. This is a kind of blues-based track though and you don't have the Blues with out the South. KRIT, makes the most of his opportunity and delivers a great performance on the mic, next to one of the best in the game. A beautiful track, that was the first peak to the instant classic album Undun.

29.DJ Quik ft Dwelle- Time Stands Still

Grown folks music right here. What can't Quik do at this point? This might be one of the best songs that Dwelle has ever appeared on. He really should enlist some more production services from him. On that smooth tip, grown man tip for sure.

28.The Dream-Body Work/F#*! My Brains Out

The first half of this song isn't all that different from his normal sigle aimed music. But when we get a little pass the half-point, the song gets really interesting. From a slowed down bridge the speed almost instantly picks up to something that owes a lot to Prince, but also get's reaaaal nasty in here. Almost ten minutes of music that you shouldn't be listening to around kids.

27.Tyler The Creator-Yonkers

My first intro to the universe known as OFWGKTA(Odd Future for short, not writing that all the way out again). I don't want to get into the video since what I am doing here is talking about actual songs. So let's start with the amazing production. The jazz chords, are what gets to me the most, and then you have Tyler whose flow on here is crazy. It's dark, it's raw, it's explicit, in your face, and everything that you wouldn't want your young kids to listen to. In other words it's just what rap needed this year... A walking paradox

26.Nas-Nasty

Nas does these type of songs in his sleep now. He is JUST THAT GOOD. I don't know how people could even try to compare him and Hov? Besides making Ether the bar which all battle rap responses had to measure up to from that point forward, he has recently been over this year been seen commiting genocide on tracks left and right. Nas is the Chuck Norris of rap(in terms of bad ass, not ridiculousness).