The Hip Hop Herald 01.11.12: Top 10 Hip-Hop Albums of 2011

Posted by Bill Wannop on 01.11.2012

From Eminem and Royce da 5'9''s Hell: The Sequel and Game's RED Album to Common's The Dreamer, The Believer, The ROOTS' unDun and more, 411's Bill Wannop counts down the top 10 hip-hop albums of 2011!

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Happy New Year everyone, the Hip Hop Herald is back for the new year, and to set off the new year right, we are going to have a special edition where we count down the top 10 albums of the year! So without further ado, here are my top 10 albums of 2011:

10. Common – The Dreamer, The Believer
Common just managed to make the list by releasing his latest album at the end of 2011. I am sure that had I had more time to listen to this album that it would have climbed the ranks. Common seems rejuvenated on this album spitting some of his best lines, while No ID holds down the production. All songs on this album are good on their own, with Common even providing some jabs at Drake…




9. M.O.P. & Snowgoons – SPARTA
Number 9 on the list comes from the largely slept on M.O.P. & Snowgoons album, Sparta. From the sound of the opening track you can tell that Billy Danze and Lil Fame are back to form and that this collaboration is going to work perfectly (and perhaps something that should have happened long ago). The album moves along at a ferocious pace, getting to one of the stand out tracks, "Blasphemy (Blast 4 Me)" with a hard hitting piano laced beat, where punchlines such as "I'm the ghetto Mr. Universe, call me Lou Ferrigno / I push a lot of iron, I don't do it in the gym though". As the album continues, each track is someone distinct from one another really showing the versatility of the Snowgoons. The beats hit hard and fit the lyrical and aggressive style of M.O.P. perfectly. Whether you are an old school fan of the Mash Out Posse or someone who is just listening to them for the first time you will be equally impressed with this album. M.O.P. made a statement with this record that they still have much to give the world of hip hop.



8. Brotha Lynch Hung – The Coathanga Strangla
In 2010 Lynch signed with Strange Music and released Dinner & A Movie, one of the best albums of the year as well as one of the best comeback stories in rap. The album was the first of 3 concept albums which follow the tail of the Coathanga Strangla, a serial killer, as he commits murders, evades police and tries to live his life. This is the second chapter of the trilogy and has Lynch starting right where he left off. What makes Lynch one of the best story tellers is the emotion that he delivers on his songs. Tracks such as "Blinded By Desire", which has a beat that would make Dr. Dre happy, as well as" I Don't Think My Momma Even Loved Me", show why Lynch is a step above everyone else, as you can feel the pain and emotion in each of his lines. Lynch has a way of taking you into his songs and really letting you feel his emotion. The detail he provides in his songs really adds to this, and as strange as it sounds makes it somewhat easier to relate to. The production as well should really be complemented, as Lynch picked from some eerie beats that really fit what he was trying to create. Whether you like the content or not, you cannot ignore that Lynch has created a great story with these albums, and The Coathanga Strangla continues the comeback of Brotha Lynch Hung.



7. Raekwon - Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang
Raekwon dropped his latest album and proved to the world that the Wu-tang clan can continue to progress without any involvement from the RZA. The moment that you start the album memories are brought back of that classic Wu-tang sound due to the heavy sampling of classic kung-fu flicks present in the intro and throughout the album. The samples carry on the theme of Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang, or more specifically Raekwon vs. RZA throughout the album and really bring back that aura that made early Wu-Tang albums so good. While the album does not feature the RZA, it does have its share of Wu-Tang brethren present (conveniently it is basically all the members who sided with Raekwon regarding the critiques of the last Wu-Tang album). "Every Soldier in the Hood" features Method Man and has him dropping some of his best work in recent years, while "Silver Rings" features Ghostface as well Inspectah Deck makes an appearance on "Chop Chop Ninja". All Wu members come correct, and you can sense that they are enjoying rhyming over the types of beats that made them breakthrough in the early years.



6. The ROOTS – unDun
The ROOTS dropped their latest album late in the year, marking the first time that they have created a concept album. The album moves very fluidly as one cohesive album, making individual songs difficult to stand out. The story is given in reverse order with the each track of the album moving backwards unraveling the story. This album proves again that the ROOTS are still entering the pinnacle of their career and can create both something original and fresh.



5. Tech N9ne - All 6's & 7's
Not many artists have had as good of a year as Tech N9ne. Ever since Lil Wayne stated that Tech was one of the artists he wanted to work with when he was released from prison, Tech N9ne has been hard at work. Tech took advantage to the added exposure and released one of the top albums of the year. While Tech added some more mainstream guests, he stayed true to his words that he would never go mainstream and instead the mainstream would go Tech. From a venomous verse from B.o.B. to T-Pain and Lil Wayne joining Tech on the most radio unfriendly songin Fuck Food. Add in one of the best chopper songs in Worldwide Choppers with verses from Twista, Yelawolf and Busta Rhymes and you have the top 5 album from 2011.



4. Bad Meets Evil - Hell: The Sequel
Just making the list at number 25 comes the long awaited album from Bad Meets Evil, Royce da 5'9 and Eminem. The group originally formed in 1998 and released their first single, Scary Movies in promotion of the album, however once Eminem signed on with Dr. Dre plans changed. Royce and Eminem recorded some songs together including the track "Bad Meets Evil" which was featured on Eminem's debut album as well as the track "Renegade", which would have Royce's verse removed and replaced by Jay-Z. However the two would sever ties after a conflict which would last many years. Time heals all wounds however and the group is back to release their first official album in 2011.

The two emcees showed off their chemistry together on the album, specifically on the back and force track, "Fast Lane". The chemistry between the two continues on "The Reunion" where Eminem and Royce rap two different stories, Eminem is his typical self, driving his car getting more and more irritated at the chick in the seat beside him while Royce is at the club. The story comes together at the end and really takes you back in time to older Eminem tracks.

While the album is somewhat on the shorter side, coming in officially at 9 tracks, the album moves along at a ferocious pace, with really not one skippable track. The duo opted for quality rather than for quantity and the result is a damn good album.



3. Game - RED Album
The Game has always been a favorite of mine. Many people have bashed him for his constant name dropping in his songs; however that never really bothered me as he always used the name dropping in some witty way. With this album, however the Game took a step back and reduced the pop culture references, instead focusing on creating a great hip hop gangsta album. The Game really showed his growth as an artist as he was able to get across the raw emotion in songs such as the track ‘Ricky' which shows the passion that Game brings on this album, complete with a Boyz N The Hood sample. The DJ premier produced "Born In the Trap" has game proving that he can still spit that raw style over an up-tempo piano beat produced by Prem. I was not sure how the two would work together, but they come off great, with Game riding the beat perfectly and having you wishing for more collabs in the future.

At the end of the day the Game released one of the top albums of the year and truly made a statement that he is back.



2. Apathy - Honkey Kong
Number two is a bit of a surprise this year, as it is from underground rapper Apathy. One time he was signed to Atlantic Records, who were looking to find the next great white rapper. To nobody's surprise, Atlantic wanted the album to be more mainstream and after being on the shelf for many years, Apathy was released from his contract. Apathy has been steadily making a name for himself in the world of hip hop. He has released a couple solo albums as well as albums with his groups The Army of The Pharaohs and The Demigodz. However with this album, Apathy stepped it up a notch. He was able to grab some high profile guests in Ill Bill, Action Bronson, Xzibit as well as production from DJ Premier, DJ Muggs and Statik Selektah. Apathy fully made use of these high profile guests and created one of the most gritty, street records in a long time. Apathy showed off his superior word play and rhyming style on this album. This album paved the way for what should be a breakout year in 2012 for Apathy.



1. Saigon - Greatest Story Never Told
This year's top album goes to none other than Saigon, who managed after 5 years of delays to release his debut album. This album is pretty much in its original form of when it was first recorded, and really stands the test of time well, which is a credit to Saigon, as it does not sound dated at all. Originally slated to be released on Atlantic Records, the label felt as though that the album would not appeal to the mainstream and thus ordered Saigon to change it. Saigon refused and was eventually released from the label. With tracks such as the soulful "Clap", "The Greatest Story Never Told", "Bring Me Down", and "Come On Baby" ft. Jay Z, it really is a wonder how Atlantic Records is still in the music business. In any event, Saigon stood true to what he believed in and managed to tell the world the greatest story never told.



Well there you have it. Please feel free to tell me what your top 10 albums from 2010 were!

Release Dates & Album Updates
January 10
Prevail – Spasefase

January 17
Necro – The Murder Murder Kill EP
Juvenile - Rejuvenation

January 24
Saigon & Just Blaze - Warning Shots 3: One Foot In The Grave
Planet Asia - Black Belt Theatre

January 30
Kid Cudi – W Z R D

February 14
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

February 28
Mad Child – Dope Sick [Feb 28]
Planet Asia – Black Belt Theatre [Feb 28]
E-40 - The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil
Ja Rule - Pain Is Love 2

March 13
B.o.B. – Strange Clouds

Pushed Back
Chino XL – RICANstruction
Swizz Beatz - Haute Living [2012]
Fabolous – Loso's Way 2 [2012]
Big K.R.I.T. - Live From the Underground [January 2012]
Rick Ross – God Forgives, I Don't [2012]


Other Recent Announcements
DPG – Alumni [Early 2012]
T.I. – Trouble Man [March 2012]
Chris Brown – Fortune [March 2012]
Asher Roth – Is This Too Orange [March 2012]
Masta Ace & Doom – MADOOM [2012]
Kool G Rap & Necro – The Godfathers [2012]
DJ Khaled – Kiss The Ring [2012]
Akon – Stadium [TBA]

That does it for the special edition this week, join us next week when we return to our old format!