What a year for hip-hop. In 2011: We went to Camp, read the Book of David, and Watched the Throne. Here they are, ranked from 10 to 1, the 10 best rap albums of the year.
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“Does it boast the best production on a hip-hop album this year? Absolutely.”
You must be crazy. Other than that I can’t complain with what I see. Seeing this list does make me feel like it was somewhat of a down year for hip-hop though, especially compared to last year (this is always the sort of thing I say that brings people out of the wood works to remind me of all the merely decent releases from the past 12 months; save your breath. I, too, heard them all.) But I am nonetheless as excited for the coming year of releases as ever.
Cripes. That’s a carryover from the halftime. Fixed.
Shabazz Palace’s Album was interesting but I couldnt really get into it other than Recollections of Wrath, I had
10. Tyler the Creator – Goblin
9. Smoke DZA – Rolling Stoned
8. Wu-Tang Clan – Legendary Weapons
7. Danny Brown – XXX
6. Jedi Mind Tricks – Violence Begets Violence
5. Immortal Technique – The Martyr
4. Elzhi – Elmatic
3. yU – The Earn
2. Statik Selektah – Population Control
1. Kendrick Lamar – Section.80
even though Elmatic and XXX were considered mixtapes they had original production so I consider them albums
I understand some people not being able to get into the Shabazz Palaces album, because the lyrics are pretty unconventional, but that is one of the things I like about it. Butler has a pretty unique rhyming style. It takes many listens to decipher, but you can still extract meaning from it.
I’m really feeling this Common Album right now hahaha
My list would go something like:
10. All 6’s and 7’s (Tech N9ne)
9. The Earn (yU)
8. Watch The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
Not about 8,9,10
7. Charity Starts at Home (Phonte)
6. The Dreamer, The Believer (Common)
4. Undun (The Roots) – tie
4. Section.80 (Kendrick Lamar)
3. R.E.K.S. (Reks)
2. Oneirology (CunninLynguists)
1. Greatest Story Never Told (Saigon)
Cunninglynguists. Deserves to be on this List. That is All.
Surprised to see that Goblin isnt here although it was your #1 pick in July. The absence of Random Axe, Oneirology and Elmatic were surprising too, but you still have great picks to say the least.
My top 10 goes:
1. CunninLynguists – Oneirology
2. Random Axe – Random Axe
3. Blue Sky Black Death – NOIR
4. eLZhi – Elmatic
5. Lil B – I’m Gay (I’m Happy)
6. ASAP Rocky – LiveLoveASAP
7. The Roots – undun
8. Danny Brown & Black Milk – Black & Brown
9. Has-Lo – In Case I Don’t Make It
10. Roc Marciano + Gangrene – Greneberg EP
Full list to see here: http://rateyourmusic.com/lists/list_view?list_id=314674&show=10&start=0
(withour order, good albums that haven’t been mentioned yet)
Doppelgangaz – Lone Sharks
Action Bronson – Dr. Lecter
Raekwon – Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang
Hassaan Mackey & Apollo Brown – Daily Bread
Evidence – Cats & Dogs
Torae – For The Record
Blu – Jesus
Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R.
Blitz The Ambassador – Native Sun
Akua Naru – The Journey Aflame
Guys, I think Elmatic was a mixtape .. I didn’t include it in my list, but it deserves to be one of 2011’s greatest works!
And I agree with Pratuj on Torae’s For The Record. Dope album. Evidence’s was dope, too. Banging beats!
How could you NOT include All 6’s And 7’s by Tech N9ne? That was one of the most solid projects of this year. No top 10 list is complete without it.
Also, Cole World was very dissapointing, and not one of the greatest albums of 2011.
I personally think the list is self is quite balanced and solid, nice one Henry!
When can we look forward to the Top Songs collection of 2011 Henry?
Daniel – Thanks for saying that. Top Songs list goes up early next week.
Haven’t heard all those albums but from what I heard on it I agree for the most part except Childish Gambino. I dont get what people see in it, I dont think he can spit at all. Anyways I think Common, Jay Rock & Jeezy’s album deserve to be on that list.
Hey Henry! Great list bro! I like your work! I heard six albums of this list and also i heard other albums! And when i heard i already knew that some of these albums would be on your list! I just expected see Common and Tech N9ne on this list, but’s no problem, i understand your choices.
Aye man! I want to see TOO MUCH GREAT songs on your Top Songs of 2011! Like… TOP 100! Ha!
GOD bless and Merry Christimas and a Happy New Years Eve!
Greetings from Brazil! And thanks for help me discover the real hip hop!
(Sorry for my bad English, i need more practice… hehe)
Bye!
Oh yeah! And was a good year for Hip Hop! Too much great albums! It’s hard to put in a Top 10!
Nice list. Here’s my top ten currently.
1. Shabazz Palaces- Black Up
2. Big KRIT- Return of 4Eva
3. Kendrick Lamar- Section.80
4. Danny Brown- XXX
5. CunninLynguists- Oneirology
6. Jay-Z/Kanye West- Watch The Throne
7. The Roots- undun
8. Phonte- Charity Starts at Home
9. ASAP Rocky- LiveLoveASAP
10. Saigon- Greatest Story Never Told
I Need to listen to Book of David and a few others like Dr. Lecter and The Earn.
Some seriously mediocre ish on your list Henry… GSNT (production was awesome), Gambino, WTT, Sideline Story..
I didn’t really feel Pl3dge that much either but I understand your need for Houston representation on there.
Well since everyone else is posting lists:
1) Shabazz Palaces – Black Up
Curren$y – Covert Coup/Verde Terrace
2) A$AP Rocky – Livelovea$ap
3) Danny brown – xxx
4) Kanye West & Jay-Z – Watch the Throne
5) Kendrick Lamar – Section.80
6) Freddie Gibbs – Cold Day in Hell
7) Das Racist – Relax
9) Phonte – Charity Starts at Home
10) Cunninlynguists – Oneirology
I know a lot of these are mixtapes, but they consist of (mostly) original production so I include them.
Other than WTT, great list. W.A.R should’ve been up here though
Good list Henry, agree with most of the albums on there but I think there has been an album go under the radar a bit which is amongst one of my favourites this year…
Idle Warship – Habits of the Heart
Styles P album need to be on this list
LMAO Styles P’s album….
Maybe not as laughable as the suggestion that Jeezy’s album should be on here
Lmao at Styles P???? Better then most albums listed.
Some of you are so predictable, if aint by a “conscience” underground rapper or it aint your style then y’all say it aint a good.
Lol I know you’re not talking to me. My list is posted and there’s nothing conscience about it. Jeezy’s album is just completely unoriginal (beats and lyrics) and he always uses the same cadence… Come back when you know what you’re talkin about
Nah you right son you dont like an album so it must be garbage, dont buy Styles P or Jeezy new album because this clown Kris dont like it It’s all opinion at the end of the day you may think its unoriginal but it aint a fact. I think some albums you listed are unoriginal and boring…… Come back when you know what your talking about
The difference between your opinion and mine is I cite examples/evidence to support my opinion where you don’t give any reasons for your opinion. I told you WHY jeezy’s album sucks. You can’t seem to put your thoughts into words.
Your examples are still opinions not facts just like you saying the album sucked is your opinion and not a fact. I aint even a fan of his but just giving recognition to a real dude who put out something real. It was my opinion that Jeezy album was top 10 & quite frankly I dont care what you think.
Yea everyone knows how important “realness” is to quality music. When you start basing your opinion off of things like instrumentation/lyrics/flows etc., I’ll respect you. Until then I’ll maintain that my opinion is better than yours.
I dont care if you respect me & dont care about your opinion. I gave my opinions and you came out of no where to be a dick. I disagree with plenty on everyones list but respect their opinions. I thought the Das Racist album was wack and boring but I respected your opinion. I didn’t laugh at the people who put lil b & tyler the creators album on a top 10 list. As far as TM 103 i thought the lyrics were real which i respect, the production was solid and the flow was nice.
You’re right. I am being a dick. I probably shouldn’t have been. I’m being for real too.
Its all good bro
I’m sorry, how in the heck can an album be “album of the year”, if you can’t even stomach to listen to it all the way through…shabazz palaces isn’t even in my top 50, and i love rap music been listening to since the fatboys was singing all you can eat at the buffet line. So here is my top 10 rap albums of 2011:
1. Median (The Sender) 9.2
2. Reks (R.E.K.S.) 8.8
3. Cunninlynguists (Oneirology) 8.8
4. Doomtree (No Kings) 8.8
5. Ab Soul (Longterm Mentality) 8.6
6. Kooley High (David Thompson) 8.6
7. Big Krit (Return of 4eva) 8.5
8. Asap Rocky (Live, Love, Asap) 8.4
9. Styles P. (Master of Ceremonies) 8.3
10. Young Jeezy (Thug Motivation 103) 8.3