After much listening and promising the top 10 list is finally done. Choosing a list of only 10 Hip Hop albums when there were a long list of candidates was difficult. I created the list with the help of each album and some very thorough listening. These are some of the reason why I am so passionate about music in general but also why I fall in love with Hip Hop over and over again.
#1 Drake - Take Care
Aubrey "Drake" Graham also known as Drizzy Drake clinches the #1 spot with no questions asked. The anticipation of this album like to have killed me. I couldn't wait to hear it, to listen to what this master mind had created for the world to hear. He is an artist that does two things very well and those two things are rapping and singing. He does both in a manner that allows anyone to relate to his music. I bought this cd the day it came out and have listened to it everyday since, loving it more and more every time I listen. I have not always loved Drake and I have wrote about it before, but with every fiber of my being I am forever an OVOXO chick now. Drake is the #1 reason that I have came to love that OVOXO ish.
#2 Jay Z Kanye Watch The Throne
Jay-Z and Kanye, two of Hip Hop's biggest stars gave us a glimpse of what Hip Hop can really be when two rap genius' come together to create a throne that they both can watch. It was genius the way two head strong individuals could come together and make history with an album that took Hip Hop to new heights. Each song and lyric was crafted to be a hit. It was Hip Hop mixed with R&B and some of the craziest beats that you could have ever imagined that made one of the best Kanye and Jay albums of all times.
#3 J. Cole Cole World: The Sideline Story
Jermaine Jermaine.....this album makes me proud! J. Cole put North Carolina on the map and is accountable for telling us The Sideline Story, through which he represents a broad spectrum of lyrical proof. From Work Out, to In The Morning, to Nobody's Perfect the songs were perfect but so was the album. Cole World was everything I expected it to be and more, that makes me so hype about what this Roc Nation artist has in store for us in the future. Jermaine gave us his dream with his own story, as we listened it was then that we realized that everyone has a story and some of those stories takes us places that we only dreamed of going.
#4 Big Sean Finally Famous
Oh sh*t I'm finally famous!!! G.O.O.D. music done this young thang some good with this album. Since he signed with Kan he has definitely blew up into this Louis Vuitton Sean and then some! Big Sean definitely has an edge to him when it comes to expressing himself and he surely was not afraid to do it while talking about relationships, sex, and chicks (and a lot of them). Sean has got to be one of the best speakers I have ever heard speak, the excitement and humor that he has also shows through his music. He has a hardcore dopeness about him that makes you want to listen to his music and especially his Finally Famous album.
#5 Wale Ambition
Lotus Flower Bomb *Miguel voice* I cannot help but hear that hook in my head when I think about this Ambition album. I waited for this album and Wale's fresh to death flow and the wait was worth it. There is something about his flow that draws you to the catchy words of his songs. Ambition was an environment that was created through versatility and the rhythmic sounds of a fresh young artist showing us what he is all about....I loved Ambition and everything it was about. Love, A Little White Chick With A Little White Wine ;)
#6 Lupe Fiasco Lasers
Lupe and his Lasers speak incredible volumes if you actually take the time to listen to this dream driven, show must go on acclaimed album. Lupe gave us a more serious side on this album by truly telling the world how he feels no matter how explicit it got. We learned Lupe's political views and what he really holds as value. I still get hype listening to Show Goes On because of the power that the song itself has, but more importantly the fight for perseverance that Lupe gives us while spitting the lyrics. There is something amazing about a human being that still believes in world peace and being united as a whole and thanks to Lupe for being one of those people that still makes you believe that it is very much possible.
#7 Lil Wayne Carter IV
The Carter IV, what's all the hype for? Yes it sold nearly a million copies in its first week selling 964,000 units but I was rather disappointed with the final product. I actually feel like the mixtape Sorry 4 The Wait was better than the album. I felt as though Weezy had lost the hunger and the fight that motivates him. His flows were a bit different this time around, he sounded tired. I was expecting Weezy F*cking Baby to show up and show the f*ck out as usual. With this being said the album still landed in the Top 10 because his talent is still there and maybe he needed a warm up session to start that fire again. The album itself still gave good material just needed a harder punch to it. I am sure that Weezy is not a lost cause this album was just a small setback for a MAJOR comeback.
#8 Common The Dreamer/The Believer
Common definitely taught us what it was like to be a Dreamer and a Believer with his ninth studio album. Still the refreshing and dynamic Common that we know, he never fails to tell us the truth in his lyrics in a way that is more intellectually driven rather than what is cool. My favorite track off of the album was The Dreamer featuring Mya Angelou, there is something riveting about the message that Common and Mya sends through this song "Let us dream for today and for tomorrow let us dare to dream". Once again I was blown away at the way Common gave us a piece of his soul through his music and it never appears any less than beautiful each time.
#9 Young Jeezy TM=103 Hustlerz Ambition
Shall we say the wait is over? Finally, the wait is over after being pushed back for two years the much anticipated album that is the completion of the Thug Motivation series was one that I had to wait for before I could even start my top 10 list. Jeezy being one of my favorite rappers since he first in listed into the game has continued the Jeezy tradition with this album by still bringing the style that on Jeezy has. This album entailed an all star line up of artist features including one for his #1 single I Do featuring Jay Z and Andre 3000. After all this time and the long awaited wait Jeezy still has the Motivation to teach us that Thug Motivation 101.
#10 Bad Meets Evil Hell: The Sequel
Eminem and Royce da 5'9 are two forces to be reckoned with and on this album they are a duo to be reckoned with. Eminem's gift of being able to culminate raw emotion into a song and making it all his own is an attribute that not all artists in general possess. He however does and is known and loved by fans because of the lyrical genius that he is. While Royce da 5'9 on the other hand in my opinion has been a slept on as an artist when it comes to his talent and natural ability to flow. Royce has showcased his talent for many years but it was this album that actually gave him more credibility than any other project. With this EP focusing more on hardcore Hip Hop the album reached a broad audience, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and having two smash hits including Fast Lane and Lighters featuring Bruno Mars.
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