Albums of the Year

2011 has been a great year for music. From the many debut albums, to the compilation albums, to rappers dropping mixtapes damn near every day, 2011 will go down as one of the most productive years for hip hop music. So as the year is winding down I am going to give you my top 5 albums of the year.

2011 was mostly dominated by debut albums and mixtapes. G.O.O.D. Music artist Big Sean released his highly anticipated debut album Finally Famous following suit from his mixtape series. The album featured the hit "Dance (A$$)" which was accompanied with this video that had me thanking Sweet Baby Jesus. Perhaps the greatest debut this year was from Kendrick Lamar with Section 80, which was very close to making my top 5 list. Section 80 is great, with K. Dot making an album he wanted to make without sacrificing any of the qualities that make him unique. Other debuts included Dom Kennedy's From the Westside With Love II, Phonte's solo debut Charity Starts At Home, California trio Pac Div's The Div, and the "major label" debuts from the How Fly boys Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y with the Planes dropping Rolling Papers and Weekend At Burnies respectfully. Collaboration albums took over the summer as Kanye West and Jay-Z released Watch the Throne which had everyone thinking they were cray. Eminem and Royce Da 5'9" stuck to their Detroit roots with Bad Meets Evil. Finally the Teflon Don Rick Ross and his Maybach Music family released their joint effort Self Made: Vol. 1. The mixtape game was also gravy this year, with some of the best tapes coming from R&B newcomer Frank Ocean with Nostalgia, Ultra, Pusha-T with Fear of God, Fabolous with The Soul Tape, and Lloyd Banks with The Cold Corner 2.

As you can see music was seemingly endless this year, but with no further ado, here is my top 5 albums of this year.

5. Big K.R.I.T. - Returnof4eva

Big K.R.I.T. hit the scene with his critically acclaimed mixtape K.R.I.T. Wuz Here in 2010 and didn't disappoint with his sophomore project either. Essentially a studio album in mixtape form, K.R.I.T. continues his triple threat pattern of rapping, singing, and producing with a cd that will make your mind think as well as make your trunk rattle and rearview mirror shake. With anthems such as "My Sub", "Time Machine" and "Rotation" K.R.I.T. has mastered the art of crafting a banger with a message. With co-signs from Ludacris, Bun B, and David Banner Returnof4eva has replay value for days and is a must have for any music fan.





4. Wale - Ambition

Wale just can't win. When he makes the music the people want to hear his "fans" don't support him (his debut Attention Deficit sold only 28,000 copies the first week). Then when he signs a lucrative deal to join Rick Ross' MMG label those same "fans" say he sold out. The man is constantly playing Russian Roulette. Wale's second album should really be named Balance, because with this cd he has found the perfect balance to keep both fan bases content, since it seems that keeping them happy is impossible. With songs such as "Legendary" and "Focused" Wale goes back to his straight hip hop roots, which any rap fan can appreciate. "Chain Music" and "Tats on My Arms" is for the parking lots with monstrous beats. To complete the trifecta "Lotus Flower Bomb" and smash hit "That Way" keep is classy for the ladies. Ambition is a hell of a comeback for Wale, and it's safe to say Rozay won with his free agent signing.

3. J. Cole - Cole World: The Sideline Story

It's a Cole World, get your peacoat. J. Cole had been warning us for years he was coming and his debut album is as great as you can get. Handling most of the production himself, the album has that same Fayettenam feel that his previous mixtapes had. If Drake is the new Jay-Z with all the shine and fame, J. Cole is happy being Nas, not as popular but with more respect from the streets. This album is Cole's story, everything from early family troubles, to finishing college, to getting signed, to finally making it. Humble as person, but cocky as a emcee, J. Cole exceeded my personal expectations for his debut and has a cd that will be remembered for a long time. Standout tracks include "Nobody's Perfect" where he reincarnated Supa Dupa Fly Missy Elliot, "In The Morning", and "Cole World". For a man who has given us so much quality music for free, he has made an album worth paying for.

2. Drake - Take Care

Drizzy Drake Rogers is the future of music. Not just rap, but music. Now with Take Care you will either love it or hate it, and if you hate it I can understand. Drake takes a different approach on this album, adding more singing than rapping. Some hip hop fans have really dogged this album, but this is Drake. This is So Far Gone Drake more polished and refined. Drake has crafted some of his greatest songs ever with "Shot For Me", "Marvin's Room", and "The Real Her", which all include him singing. My personal favorite "Cameras" is vintage Drake and 40 (plus a meeean Jon B sample) with the OVO crew doing what they do best, making smooth songs you have no choice but to vibe to. This OVOXO movement he has building is going to change music, as Drake (with the exception of Kanye) is going to be the next superstar. Not just a trend for right now, but MJ, Prince, and 2Pac status. As you listen to Take Care you have to just listen with no prior assumptions. Drake is not making rap music, and he's not making R&B music. He is just flat out making good music, and it's something special.

1. The Weeknd - House of Balloons

Whoa. Out of nowhere some kid from Toronto may have made one of the greatest albums ever. I remember downloading this just having never heard of The Weeknd just because I kind of liked the cover. It was around midnight and when I finished listening it was around 3:00 in the morning. House of Balloons is amazing. In one of the most cohesive albums I have ever heard, HOB has the perfect sound of every track flowing together as one, but at the same time each song has it's own uniqueness to it. With songs about drugs, love, women, and sex The Weeknd's music is a blend of everything from The Dream, Prince, Sade, and Jodeci and feels like it's straight from some 80's cocaine infested night club. Standout tracks include "Wicked Games", "What You Need", and "The Morning" which are all as close to perfect songs as you can get. This is not was free music is supposed to sound like, and debut projects are not supposed to be this good. Adding the XO to Drake's OVO these two have great chemistry together, and I expect more great music from them. If you haven't heard this album yet I suggest you listen right now. The Weeknd will truly make you xo 'til you overdose.