Reflecting on 2011, Hip Hop had a solid showing.  You had the emergence of emcees such as Kendrick Lamar, Jon Connor, Big K.R.I.T, and Tyler the Creator who made their way to the scene bringing a creative and authentic approach to Hip Hop that has been missing.  With these artists, we saw hunger, passion, emotion, and pure artistry that left us the listener latching a hold to their every word and also wondering, will they continue to uphold their artistic integrity or will their next project succumb to selling out for the almighty dollar? Unfortunately that’s a difficult question to answer since we’ve been fooled many times before.  As generic as it sounds, my only response is that only time will tell.   

 The release of albums such as Undun by The Roots, Watch the Throne by Jay-Z and Kanye West, and The Dreamer and The Believer by Common were huge winners this year on the main stage.  These are artists who continually pack heavy punches with each release and if they falter, rebound with their following project.  It’s why Common (age 39), Black Thought of The Roots (age 40), and Jay-Z (age 42) have lasted as long as they have in this industry.  While these were quality projects that made a splash, there were lesser known projects that flew beneath the radar.  These albums included Cats and Dogs by Evidence, Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar, Greatest Story Never Told by Saigon, Elmatic by Elzhi and S.P.T.A (Said Person of That Ability) by J- Live (to name a few).  These were albums that were drastically overlooked and slept on (if you haven’t checked these albums out do yourself a favor and peep them, you won’t be disappointed).  In looking at 2012, there looks to be a lot of anticipated releases and while many of you are hoping for Detox by Dr. Dre to come out, it seems as if this is the Boogieman or Lochness Monster of Hip Hop releases.  However, some album droppings you CAN look forward to are:

• Brother Ali- Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color
• Chino XL- Ricanstruction
• Slaughterhouse- Untitled
• Necro and Kool G Rap- Godfathers
• Big K.R.I.T- Live From the Underground
• Raekwon- OBFCL3
• Nas and Common- Nas (dot) Com

 With 2011 coming to a close, in Plain English, I bring you my top 5 Hip Hop picks of this past year and as always the download links are linked in the artist name and song title.

 
1.)    Kendrick Lamar- HiiiPower

-          This track was unquestionably my favorite joint of the year.  Produced by J. Cole, Lamar spits venom like a strike of a king cobra on HiiiPower.  Many of you may wonder what is HiiiPower? Lamar provides a definition in that “HiiiPower is the way we think, the way we live.  It’s known today that the human race is nothing; no morals, no standards.  What we are about to do is raise the level of expectations.  No, you don’t have a lot of money, you don’t have to be rich, but you will be rich in mind and spirit.  Some say it’s as big as a crew, some say it’s as big as a gang, HiiiPower, we stand for it as if it’s big as a religion.”  Now that’s probably the realest statement I’ve heard all year.  Not bad coming from the man who claims Parish Lesane Crooks spoke to him in his sleep saying “don’t let my music die” (for those of you who don’t know Parish Lesane Crooks was the birth name given to Tupac Amaru Shakur).  I look forward to see if the HiiiPower movement of the future can be comparable to that of Tupac’s Thug Life movement.  After this joint, I may just be drinking the Kool-Aid.

“Enough to drive a man insane, a woman insane, the reason Lauryn Hill don’t sing, or Kurt Cobain loaded that clip and then said bang.”

2.)    Pharoahe Monch- Evolve

-          Pharoahe Monch has always been an emcee that you either love or you hate based on a mixture of his delivery and speedy-unbalanced rhyme scheme.  Evolve however is one of those tracks that grows and grows on you as you continue to listen to it.  Evolve is a single that intensely disapproves of the current state that Hip Hop is in, as well as the artists who self proclaim they are the best in the game such as Lil Wayne and G-Unit.  Evolve is filled with punch lines and metaphors that challenge you to decipher Monch’s message.  This is definitely a single you gotta listen to more than once but in the end it’s well worth the time and the energy.

“So here’s an overview of why I’m 6 feet over you, and a million fans think this statement is so overdue, And pardon if it sounds a little wheezy, Not Wayne mother******* I got asthma it’s not easy.”

3.)    Phonte ft. Evidence and Big K.R.I.T- The Life of Kings

-          Phonte who is most notably known for his work with the groups Little Brother and Foreign Exchange teams up with long time producer and friend 9^th Wonder on The Life of Kings.  Phonte brings his classic North Carolina style of word play and rhythm to this joint that has made him a fixture in the underground circuit.  9^th Wonder produces a masterpiece that even George Gershwin would be proud of, sampling Run DMC infused with a classic soul sample.  Phonte also teamed up with Evidence who brings a west coast feel to the track and Big K.R.I.T who brings more of a country southern style.  The Life of Kings is about living modestly and how home (no matter where you’re from) and your loved ones are your kingdom.  I loved how The Life of Kings has three different regions of the country represented on this track with three different interpretations of what home is in terms of living like a king.

“Got a vision to be veteran, With a future brighter than a writer decifering light by Thomas Edison.”

4.)    Pusha T ft. Tyler the Creator- Trouble On My Mind

-          One half of The Clipse teams up with up and comer Tyler the Creator on Trouble On My Mind.  This is a track that I had on rotation throughout 2011 because it was simplistic in terms of the conceptual aspect of the track.  Pusha T without a question has always been an emcee who has been successful as a punch line artist while also being able to carry his gangster-esque persona on each track and his style on Trouble On My Mind was no different.  Tyler the Creator is a different animal to say the least.  His eclectic style and slow delivery reminds the listener of a mixture between MF Doom and Bizarre (from D-12).  Tyler’s verse from an originality aspect is one I can respect and teaming up with Pusha T created chemistry that I’d be ecstatic to see more of in 2012.

 ”Behind the scenes, Pull strings like Gepetto, The gun blow steam, Whistle like a tea kettle.”

5.)    Random Axe- Random Call

-          Random Axe is a dynamic trio made up of Heltah Skeltah front man and Boot Camp Clik member Sean Price as well as Detroit’s very own Guilty Simpson and production extraordinaire Black Milk.  To me, Random Call stands out as one of my favorite singles of the year because of the track.  Black Milk is quietly becoming one of the hottest producers in the industry and if you haven’t checked out his 2010 release Album of the Year, the production is crazy.  Another aspect I liked about this song was the phone call style hook which made it really catchy as if all three members were getting ready to meet up and engage in lyrical war.    The verses capitalize on Guilty and Sean P’s ability to play off each other with the creativity of Black Milk’s percussive electronic composition.  This has been a much anticipated collaboration since its birth in 2008 and the trio certainly didn’t disappoint.  

“Who ahead in the race? Passed em, Hear it now smash em, This that headbanger no aspirin.”

Enjoy!

Warren