So after about a week of drinking, getting drunk, hangover, drinking again, watching drunk friends do drunk things and then finally recovering I can safely say...... Welcome to part 2. Ya'll know the drill (a) links are dotted underlined words (b) every album/mixtape isn't going to be here its a list not the salvation army (c) my choices for music that stood out, something might have been better but because a specific album impressed me more is why I would recommend it (d) F*ck outta here if you mad at the list... If you got problems hit me on my facebook or my twitter
Compton has itself a new generation of rappers and leading the pack is Kendrick Lamar. The self-titled good kid from the mad city paint what maybe be 2011's most detailed and cohesive album but be warned this is not for pop fans looking to introduced to Kendrick. Pinpointing a generation's woes (drug abuse, racism, poverty) while avoiding preachiness, Lamar boasts about baffling people with his ability to discuss "money, hoes, clothes, God, and history, all in the same sentence." From Channeling 2Pac on "Kiesha's Song" to spitting flames on "Rigamortus" or getting ignorant on "The Spiteful Chant" Kendrick gets it done with his lyrical ability.
Standouts: "Keisha's Song" , "ADHD" & "The Spiteful Chant"
All that talk about lyrics and controversial enlightenment through rap that we just had on Kendrick Lamar is turned around with A$AP ROCKY as he is another rapper that has mastered #IgnorantBrilliance. We don't need to be super thought provoking all day, sometimes we need to just act "Brand New" and show of the guns,weed, clothes and chicks. The thing that makes A$AP Rocky go way above all others is the fact that he's a Harlem nigga with a Houston influence and a Bone-thug flow with one of the greatest ears for beats with Clams Casino and in house producer Ty Beat$. That pretty muther fuckr definitely delivers here, all you need is "Pe$o" to know if you'll like him or not.
Stand Outs: "Pe$o" & "Demons" ( Bonus: "Brand New Guy" featuring School Boy Q is one of the top 50 songs of 2011)
Big K.R.I.T. got lost in the shuffle of 2011 but it wasn't because of mediocrity it was strangely because of consistency and a solid tape from top to bottom (no homo). He belts out car anthems, strip-club raps, and conscious laments while being the rapper and the producer which is a blueprint that only K.R.I.T, Kanye and J.Cole have succeeded at. (Fuck outta here Swizz Beatz). You might be fooled and think that the tape didn't stand out but it's because the project as a whole was complete. My only gripe is that some of the tracks that were slated to make the mixtape were given away to other artist as guest verses and the beats resold.
Standouts: "The Vent " & "R4Theme Song"
Dre: "Detox isn't even real and it still sounds better than you screaming in the backgound rapping, atleast you got father hood with Alicia Keys you skinny prik"
The Roots are consistently under the radar of the main stream and always ignored but they stay true to to the formula that has been working for them since day 1 ...."Adapt, Evolve and then Re-invent". When persons ask who are The Roots just answer "The Greatest Band" and Black Though is the most underrated lyricist of this time. The album is a concept album that follows the story of imaginary up and coming street kid Redford Stevens and his forays in life on the road. Undun is a great story and the only know is that its not bump in your car with the volumes on 100 music.
Standouts: "Tip the Scale" & "Make My"
Bonus: The Story of Redford Stevens by Rapgenius.com
Two albums in just the 2nd half of the year and what enough material to easily make 3 more albums. On the opening listen to an Action Bronson song is like listening to Ghostface killa and a chef (not raekwon the chef..... a real fkn cook) the double time flow with magnificent stories and undertones a la ghostface with numerous cooking metaphors and references as Action Bronson is actually a trained chef. Dr.Lector is the introduction of Action Bronson and he follows up with his Collabo with Static Selektah who shuts down the production on WellDone.The one gleaming trait that Action Bronson (and A$AP Rocky) has is that he doesn't waste time and effort, he gets in.... he raps.... he gets out.
Standouts: "Jerk Chicken" & "Time For Some Action"
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All (OFWGKTA) might be a bunch of atheist scunts, but they have talent. Frank Ocean is one of the few (2) Odd toddlers that actually has commercial appeal that can take the masses by storm and Nostolgia, Ultra is a perfect example of this. The album plays smooth and shows of Frank Ocean's voice range. With Smash hits like "Novacane" and "Swim Good" its clear that Mr.Ocean is on the right path to stardom (singing on Watch the Throne aint bad either).
Standouts: "Swim Good" & "Novacane"
Cocaine rap is beatiful when done properly and Raekwon, Ghostface, Camron and Pusha T are the elite at it. Pusha T made Kanye look like a genius as he showed the world one 1/2 of the clipse. Pusha T made a damn good mixtape in Fear Of God with the world getting the first taste of his rap as a solo artist... not as a feature or in a duo or even in the re-up gang group. He followed up later in the year with Fear of God II: Let us Pray which is basically the album version because the songs on the mixtape that had original production are present with 6 new songs. The only gripe with pusha is the length of his music and making the songs have a flow as a total project but who's mad when your issues can be fixed so easily.
Standouts: "Alone in Vegas" , "Can I live" , "Cook it down" , "Trouble on my Mind" "Amen" & "My God"
* I got tired of writing paragraphs for free so fuck you
No one has the vocal range to perform "Someone like you" flawlessly #NOFUCKINGTIME
Standout: "Someone Like You"
From The West Side With Love II
Dom Kennedy is the WestSide leader in "Riding Round Town" Music..... makes you wanna drop the top for the Californication.
Standouts: "Dom's Prayer" & "Grinding"
Greatest Story Never Told
This album has been in the makings forever, it came out and was still actually impressive as Just Blaze handled the bulk of the production and Saigon handled the rapping. The combination isn't mind blowing or match made in heave a la Juicy J and Lex Luger, but it works and provided one of the better albums of 2011.
Sleeping in Class (deluxe)
Speaking about riding around town here comes the youngster that made the track titled riding round town.
Standouts: "I Be Over" & "Ridin' Round Town"
The Dreamer, The Believer
Great Album really really great but it came too late for me to actually listen and absorb.
Standouts: "Blue Sky" & "Cloth"
Same issue as the Common album... I got them too late to let them soak in.
Standouts: "F.A.M.E." & ".38"
Actually this mixtape surprised me and is still in constant rotation but my issue is that some of the song felt slightly out of place but other than that this album is definitely one that I show off.
Stand out: "Pasadena" , "You Got Me Fucked Up" & "The Funktion"
Consistent Music from the up and coming group..... definitely keep your eyes and ears out.
Standouts: "Posted" & "Top Down"
Ghostdhini delivers but it was right at the end of 2010 so he can't be listed.
If I Forgot something hit me up.... or fuck off... We out here!!!
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