CTB’s Top 20 Albums of 2011

What makes an album in todays digital market?  To me it’s original music, arranged in an order where I won’t want to hit the next button (only previous to replay).  That being said, I’ve added a few albums that were released as mixtapes this year to CTB’s first ever “Top 20 of 20xx”.  I’m sure more than a few of you will disagree with my picks, but fuck it.  That’s why I have a blog and you don’t.  Make your own list.  Where’s Cole?  Don’t ask.  I won’t get into that.

These are my (Reeg) opinions and do not reflect the opinion of DugB in any way.

Here are the picks:

15 HIP HOP ALBUMS DONE RIGHT

Section 80 – Kendrick Lamar

Possibly the biggest noise maker next to The Throne this year was Kendrick’s release of Section80.  If you weren’t familiar with K Dot before, it’s more than likely that you are now.  What was called a “mixtape” has been on damn near everyone’s Top Album list of the year.

Elmatic – Elzhi

Another “mixtape” by definition, but you can’t deny how much time, effort and work went into this project.  Will Sessions did an amazing job at recreating the beats of Illmatic with all original instrumentation and Elzhi recreated that feel and stamped himself as one of Hip Hop’s most prominent MC’s just like Nas did with the original.

Watch The Throne – The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)

It’s Jay-Z and Kanye West.  How could any expect this to fail or suck?  The people alone made “N*ggas In Paris” a single and “Otis” screamed out of the speakers at any party you attended this summer.  Undeniably the years BIGGEST album.  But did it live up to the hype?  That’s always going to be asked.  Damn near the only hip-hop album in history NOT to leak before it’s release, some thought the project could have been better, to which I call “shenanigans!”.

Take Care – Drake

It’s soft.  We all know that so there’s no point in beating a dead horse.  Take it for what it is though.  Drake can make a phenomenal R&B-Hop? album.  Staying away from a heavy amount of features, Drake coasted over the soundscape of Take Care with what sounded like little effort.  I can do without the Rihanna collab tho.

The Dreamer/The Believer – Common

Before this we had BE which was entirely produced by Kanye and awesome, but now in 2011 Com grabs No I.D. for an album and… sorry Kanye, but No I.D. and Com made a better album than y’all did.  This shit is HIP HOP.  Every record brings the feel of nostalgia in 90′s hip hop.

All 6′s & 7′s – Tech N9ne

I like to call this one the most underrated of the year.  Tech has always had high caliber albums, but with features from Wayne, T-Pain, Yelawolf and B.o.B, this one stood to grab more attention than any release prior.  Front to back it’s a great album.  Tech’s content remains relevant to the times as he puts his personas of the past in the backseat.

Hell: The Sequel – Bad Meets Evil (Eminem & Royce Da 5’9″)

12 years after the original Bad Meets Evil record was recorded, we get the the sequel that was promised in the last bars of the song.  After putting their “beef” aside, Em & Royce reunited for one hell of a 2011 (including bringing Slaughterhouse to Shady).  Some would argue, “Nah man, it’s an EP.” or “Name a track other than Lighters.” to which I’d say you must have had shit in your ears if/when you even listened to the whole album.

The Greatest Story Never Told – Saigon

After years on years of label drama, mixtapes, a 1 day album with Statik Selektah and several push backs, Sai’s much anticipated saw the light of day and it did not, I repeat, DID NOT disappoint.

Fear of God 2: Let Us Pray – Pusha T

Yet another mixtape (in it’s original release, then re-released with 6 new tracks, 5 of which Pusha leaked on his Twitter), found it’s way onto the list.  FoG2 found a lot of love on store shelves and iTunes with Pusha’s first solo effort.  Not to mention the fact that dude signed to G.O.O.D. music and put out freestyles with or without the crew all year, FoG2 was the culmination of P’s hard work in this game.

GOBLIN – Tyler, The Creator

What started as my fear for horror-core and shock value turned into appreciation for this youngn’s album.  I’ll admit, when I saw Yonkers I immediately thought to myself, “Here we go with another Eminem when he came out.”.  After fully indulging into GOBLIN, I found that was not the case.  This album created an entire lane for Tyler and the rest of the Odd Future crew.  The sales and hype alone earned this album a spot on my list.  Dude had billboards and street art everywhere.

Return of 4eva – Big K.R.I.T.

Mississippi was brought back to hip hop this past year courtesy of Big K.R.I.T. (I still don’t know what KRIT is an acronym for).  With 2 albums under his belt for the year, Return Of 4Eva saw more success than it’s predecessor K.R.I.T. Wuz Here.  Beginning to end this album was a masterpiece.  With K.R.I.T. not only behind the rhymes, but also on the boards, it’s no wonder he’s seen so much success in 2011.

LiveLoveA$AP – A$AP Rocky

Who?  Yes.  A$AP.  This guy/crew came out of nowhere in 2011 and stormed the industry with possibly the greatest debut album (with no prior material) ever in my opinion.  This mixtape/album alone had everyone talking about A$AP Rock and the A$AP Mob.  I’m sure there’s plenty of you who don’t agree with this decision, but the beats, lyrics, and southern feel of this made this one of my favorite in 2011.

Charity Starts At Home – Phonte

Both members of Little Brother made their solo debuts this year and while Big Rapper Pooh’s album was good, it was smothered by the buzz and quality of Phonte’s album.  The album has great features, beat selection and content that will have relevance for years to come.

Radioactive – Yelawolf

The Alabama boy saw his Shady debut in 2011 with the release of Radioactive.  With 3 singles and a slew of unique production, Yelawolf had to make my list.  There are few artists that can put out a solid and successful freshman album and Yela happens to be one of them.  Features from Eminem, Gangsta Boo, Kid Rock, and fellow southerner Rittz make this album a true “Bama” experience I think Yela wanted to portray.

Undun – The Roots

Probably the shortest (time wise), but one of the best albums on this list is The Roots with their 13th studio album.  The album has everything you’ve grown to love about The Roots.  Original instrumentation, lyrics, and that eclectic feel that remains timeless and classy.  Lame description?  Fuck you.  This is my last paragraph and I’m running out of vocab.

5 NON-HIP-HOP MASTERPIECES

21 – Adele

What is there to say?  Adele dominated 2011.

The Art of Flight Soundtrack – Various Artists *not an official release

When Travis Rice debuted the Redbull Media House snowboard flick “The Art Of Flight”, I doubt anyone had an idea of the success it would achieve.  The film was covered in music that couldn’t portray the visuals any better.  I was introduced to new artists such The Naked & The Famous, M83, Nero’s Remix of Ghosts N Stuff, We Are Augistines and The Album Leaf.  All very talented and sound amazing in their respective genres.

Sigh No More – Mumford & Sons

The Irish folk quartette that stormed the US…  After their Grammy performance with Bob Dylan, the record sales of “Sigh No More” soared on the US charts

Nostalgia Ultra – Frank Ocean

2011 also saw the rise of another Odd Future member.  Frank Ocean sang his way into the homes of damn near everyone I knew by summer’s end.  With records like Novacane, Strawberry Swing, Swim Good, and American Wedding (Frank’s rendition of Hotel California about love in US), this album was a solid piece of music that was played on repeat more often than not.

House Of Balloons – The Weeknd

Another name in the R&B world that made great music in 2011 is The Weeknd.  This man released a trilogy of albums and while they were all excellent in their own right, House Of Balloons stood amongst the rest and solidified the Toronto singer in todays music scene.  Part of the OVOXO crew (Octobers Very Own) and Robin to Drake’s Batman, The Weeknd is sure to keep the hits ringing into 2012.

Honorable Mentions:

Cocaine 80′s – The Pursuit EP & Ghost Lady
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
J. Cole – Coleworld: The Sideline Story
Action Bronson & Statik Selektah – Well Done
Meek Mill – Dreamchasers
Royce Da 5’9″ – Success Is Certain
Young Jeezy – TM103: Hustlaz Ambition

Incoming search terms:

• rappers called ctb
• section 80 vs the dreamer the believer
• the weekndtyler goblin

Phonte – Not Here Anymore ft. Elzhi (prod. by 9th Wonder)

Now this is some extremely dope ish right here.  Elzhi snaps.  This will serve as the first single from Charity Starts At Home.

DOWNLOAD: Phonte – Not Here Anymore ft. Elzhi

Consequence – Crying Broke ft. Rapper Big Pooh, Elzhi & Tannie J

“Crying Broke” offers the nostalgic 90?s feel Hip-Hop Fans having been craving for quite some time. With an All-Star line up of Alums from Tribe, Little Brother & Slum Village, these 3 SUPER MC’s send out a direct warning to all upstarts, “Stop Ya Blood Clot CRYING!!!”. Along with Rapper Big Pooh & Elzhi, Consequence brings us one step closer to the highly anticipated “Movies On Demand 3?.

[Music Video] Elzhi – It Ain’t Hard To Tell

Check The Playlist Vol. 16

Talk My Nicca – Cam’ron & Vado
So Far To Go – Trae The Truth ft. Meek Mill & Pusha T
Coolin’ Freestyle – Joell Ortiz
When It All Implodes – Joe Budden
Chevys & Spaceships – Stalley
Last Man Standing – Asher Roth ft. Akon
On One Freestyle – Crooked I
Rollin’ – Young Jeezy ft. Fabolous
Reefer Party – Wiz Khalifa ft. Chevy Woods & Neako
Say It Remix – Termanology ft. Joell Ortiz, Bun B, Saigon & Freeway
Return of Simba – J. Cole
Public Eye – Consequence
My Detroit – Ketchphraze ft. Trick Trick & Elzhi
That’s Hard – Pete Rock & Smif n Wessun ft. Styles P & Sean Price
Dreamerz – Joe Budden ft. Emanny
Dreams Money Can Buy – Drake
Selfmade – Wale, Meek Mill, Pill, Rick Ross & Teedra Moses

DOWNLOAD: Check The Playlist Vol. 16

Incoming search terms:

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Ketchphraze – My Detroit ft. Elzhi & Trick Trick (prod. by Black Milk)

This shit is too hard!

DOWNLOAD: Ketchphraze – My Detroit ft. Elzhi & Trick Trick (prod. by Black Milk)

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[Video] Elzhi x Will Sessions – ELmatic Behind The Scenes

[Mixtape] Elzhi – Elmatic

This is going on the ipod for the remainder of the day.  Thank you Elzhi.

1. The Genesis
2. Detroit State of Mind (Houseshoes Shout)
3. Halftime
4. Memory Lane
5. The World Is Yours
6. Represent
7. Life’s A Bitch feat. Royce da 5’9 and Stokley Williams of Mint Condition
8. One Love
9. It Ain’t Hard To Tell (Pete Rock Shout)
10. Pete Rock Shout

DOWNLOAD: Elzhi – Elmatic (via XXL)

Check The Playlist Vol. 14

DOWNLOAD: Check The Playlist Vol. 14

Watch Me Go – XV
Detroit State of Mind – Elzhi
15 Minutes – Metasota
Furiously Dangerous – Slaughterhouse ft. Ludacris
Fast Lane – Eminem & Royce Da 5’9
Scottie Pippen – Curren$y ft. Freddie Gibbs
Everybody Told Me – Consequence
Writers Block – Royce Da 5’9 ft. Eminem
Moon & The Sky (Remix) – Sade ft. Jay-Z
What Chu Talkin Bout (Remix) – Oun-P ft. Lloyd Banks, Fred The Godson & Jadakiss
The Execution – Kid Vishis
100HUNNIT – Wale ft. Meek Mill
Daddy Gettin’ Money – Fred The Godson ft. Diddy
Fear Freestyle – Emilio Rojas
Lincoln Way Nights (Shop) (Remix) – Stalley ft. Rick Ross
#JetsGO – Curren$y

Incoming search terms:

• eminem
• elzhi eminem
• eminem royce da 59 fast lane
• furiously dangerous
• scottie pippen block
• scottie pippen blocks

Elzhi – Halftime

DOWNLOAD: Elzhi – Halftime

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