Blogg → Top Rap albums 2010

Top Rap Albums 2010:

1. Kno - Death Is Silent
Fav. track: "Not At The End" (feat. Tunji)
About 200 scrobbles in the first week…. Just couldn't stop listening. Although the album’s darker and more depressive than any CunninLynguists album, Kno still continued to give the people the type of sound they love and know from the CunninLynguists. Fabulous sample handling, songs that paint pictures and deliver a great atmosphere.
Certainly, to be honest: Although Kno showed that he still can rap like in the times of “We Will Rap For Food”, I prefer Deacon and Natti on the mic. With that being said: I’m looking forward to 2011’s “Oneirology”, which is – I’m pretty sure – going to be the album of the new year. Kno just never disappoints!

2. Boho Fau & Elevated Soul – Coffee House Swingers
Fav. track: “Vibin’“
Insider’s tip of the year! Let me introduce: Boho Fau is a relaxed guy who has a fetish for bookworms. A guy, who is sitting all day long in “Café Au Lait” drinking tea and reading books. Doesn’t sound like your average ass rapper, right? “Coffee House Swingers” is a concept-album that is more relaxed than a Devin The Dude LP, without mentioning good old Mary Jane in even one line. Every song absolutely makes you want to visit the café, where the adventures of this good-natured booknerd are taking place. Boho Fau brings some fresh air to the rap state and with the help of Elevated Soul’s producing talent he was able to record the best jazz-hop album I heard since…. ever?!

3. Kendrick Lamar – O(verly) D(edicated)
Fav. track: “Alien Girl (Today /w her)”
Another unique protagonist who doesn’t need weed to relax. I rarely heard an album with such a golden thread (even though the “B.M.F.”-like “Micheal Jordan” is a little outlier when it comes to the overall atmosphere). With Kendrick’s variety of flows and his constantly hoarse voice every single line of this album is a pleasure. Moreover, I really enjoy the changes of beats and quotes of famous artists! Such an amazing project. I hope we’ll hear a lot more from Kendrick in the future… and with Dre co-signing him, I’m sure we will.

4. Bun B – Trill O.G.
Fav. track: “Speak Easy” (feat. Twista & Cedric The Entertainer)
The UGK movement still might be alive, but the UGK sound is dead. You can’t listen to a Bun B album with the expectations of getting an UGK record. It’s been like this since his first solo album. So if you’re expecting a typical modern dirty south record you won’t be disappointed. – I did, and the album didn’t just meat my expectations, it exceeded my expectations. With so many hits featured on “Trill O.G.” it’s the album I listened to the most this year, right after Kno’s “Death Is Silent”. I wouldn’t reward the album with the 5 Mics it received in The Source, but I think it is Bun B’s best solo work to date.

5. Incise – Daily Methods
Fav. track: “Got to Go (Incise Remix)” [feat. Nieve]
Canada is such a great source for good alternative hip-hop. I make it short with that album: Fantastic beats, great guests, cool hooks, nice overall atmosphere. Listening to this album is a duty! Incise is a mad underrated producer!

6. TRAE – Can't Ban Tha Truth
Fav. track: “Goin Cop A Drop”
In the interview I did with Trae in 2010 he said that he is going to top “Can’t Ban Tha Truth” ten times with his upcoming album “The Truth”… Damn, if he’s serious, the CunninLynguists won’t climb the throne of best album 2011 that easily. They gotta look out for Trae! By the way: Calling “Can’t Ban Tha Truth” a mixtape adjoins to blasphemy. Trae just killed it! – A dark, serious, truthful deduction with Terri Thomas and her company - that’s what “Can’t Ban Tha Truth” is. And I hope it gave Trae some shine back after the radio ban!

7. Panacea – 12 Step Program
Fav. track: “Sync-in-City”
K-Murdock earns the crown of the producer of the year! His 2nd solo album “Mood Muzik Vol. 2 – Piano Rama”, his collaborative effort with Mega Ran and – of course – the fantastic “12 Step Program” are all terrific projects! Certainly, it seems that Murdock shines the most when he teams up with Raw Poetic. With their distinctive sound Panacea is one of the greatest duos in this rap game!

8. Big Boi- Sir Lucious Left Foot: Son of Chico Dusty
Fav. track: “Shine Blockas” (ft. Gucci Mane)
The album every rap fan waited for! And it’s as good as I expected it to be. This is how the dirty dirty should sound like. Nothing but quality! By the way, other rap grandpas should follow Big Boi’s example and should write lyrics like he does: Still relating to your roots and still being a casual player without always profiling as a hardcore gangsta. This is how grown men should do. You heard me Ice Cube and Snooop?
By the way the Mash-Up project “Big Boi Vs. The Black Keys – The Brothers of Chico Dusty” by Wick-it The Instigator is very, very great, too!

9. Deacon the Villain & Sheisty Khrist – Niggaz With Latitude
Fav. track: “Chevrolet Doors” (feat. Mino Slick)
2010 is the year of the CunninLynguists going solo. (By the way: Natti, what’s up with you?) 2010 is also the year of the CunninLynguists changing their main roles. Whereas Kno retrieved his mic, Deacon stepped his producer game up by entirely producing “Niggaz With Latitude” and JustMe’s “Tragedy & Dope”.
I gotta say, judging from the trailers, I thought “Niggaz With Latitude” was going to be more humorous, but that didn’t matter. It’s a great project! Sheisty killed it on the mic! He’s really good with words! Deac produced some great songs and sang some great hooks. Of course, he was nice on the mic, too.

10. K-Rino – Annihilation of the Evil Machine
Fav. track: “The Epitome” / “Duality”
Finally, a double album by K-Rino! The only thing I’m still missing now is a real K-Rino concept album. The master of words just once again proofed his lyrical talent. When was the last year a K-Rino album wasn’t in the top 15 of the year? I don’t remember. The SPC might has a solid fan base in Germany, but I still feel like the most parts of the world still are sleeping on K. Quit it and start listening to some truthful, intelligent, great music!

11. The Roots – How I Got Over
Fav. track: “Right On” (Feat. Joanna Newsome, STS)
I think this album is on everybody’s top list this year… I mean, how can you not like it? Very soulful, beautiful music. The Roots just did it once again.

12. Bop Alloy – Substantial & Marcus D are Bop Alloy
Fav. track: "Jazzmatic" (feat. Steph The Sapphic Songstress)
Just discovered this album. I think if I give it a few more listens it could climb up the list. It’s well known, that Substantial is a substantial MC. So, what does a good MC need to make an album of high quality? He needs good beats! And Marcus D just totally managed it to create the perfect scenery of sound for Substantial. Very nice, conscious, jazzy project I enjoy every single track on.

13. Nappy Roots – The Pursuit of Nappyness
Fav. track: “The People” / “Welcome To The Show
I think Pimp C would have described their music as “country azz tunes”. The 6 Kentucky rapper are always bringing the perfect mixture of modern dirty south sounds and classic country roots. Plus the Nappy Roots are some of the realest around. Songs with a great message like “The People” prove that. Plus “Welcome To The Show” is the opener of the year! Great dudes!

14. Theophilus London – I Want You
Fav. track: “Pyromiltia”
I’m such a fool for missing out on him! Theo performed in Köln, which is like one hour away from where I live. Damn! He has a bright future in front of him and I think he makes music not just hip-hop fans can enjoy. His new interpretations of well-known songs and his unique electronic sound profile him as one of today’s most interesting artist. I thought “I Want You” even was better than “This Charming Mixtape”. I hope 2011 will be the year “Green Label Sound” gets released!

15. Jermiside & Danny Diggs – Middle Classic
Fav. track: “Afraid” (feat Maverick Sabre)
Not much to say about this album, it’s just down-the-line hip-hop made by a sympathetic, great MC and a talented producer. A must-have.

16. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Fav. track: “Dark Fantasy”
An album full of solemn, haughty and epic-electronic hymns! The critics all glorify the album and call it a classic, but in my opinion the album is a bit overproduced… For example the 9-minutes version of “Runaway” is unnecessarily long-drawn-out. It’s just too much! But other than that, it’s a great project! I like the crazy, fanciful road Kanye travels with that album, although he raps a little bit too much about women. Ahhh…. I know I’m complaining about little, minor things, but I think you’re automatically stricter with an album which is glorified like “MBDTF”. Whatever, I think Kanye really made his mark with that album! He’s just a hell of a crazy motherfucker! By the way, I really like the artwork for the album. I really was inspired by the crazy figure on that “Power” artwork.

17. Mega Ran & K-Murdock – Forever Famicon
Fav. track: “The Girl With The Make-Up”
K-Murdock appears a second time on my list. On spot 16 with “the guy from the street that ain’t street” aka Mega Ran aka Random and a concept album about old-school games. K-Murdocks distinctive production style mixed with 8 bit sound elements... that’s some great shit. Moreover, I really enjoy Mega Ran’s stories about his childhood and love for games. Great project!

18. Damian Marley & Nasir Jones – Distant Relatives
Fav. track: “Count Your Blessings” / “My Generation” (feat. Joss Stone & Lil’ Wayne)
A few days ago I read an interview with Aloe Blacc, in which he said that he would have arranged the sound of this album completely different. I can’t agree with him. I didn’t thought I was going to like this album that much, because I’m not a big reggae and Damian Marley fan. I first didn’t even pay attention to this album and missed out on their live performance in Munster…. Once again: I’m such a fool! You don’t have to be a reggae fan, neither a Nas fan, neither a Damian Marley fan to like this project. It’s catchy music for everybody! A homage to Africa full of friendly, peaceful summer tunes.

19. Curren$y – Pilot Talk II
Fav. track: “Flight Briefing” (Feat. Young Roddy, Trademark)
It’s kind of funny. Curren$y entered the rap game like ten years ago but he never really could release his music until today. His mind must have been like an overflowing bucket! I feel like so many ideas have been accumulated in his mind, he’s glad to let it all out now. That is why his output is that enormous now. The great thing is that the quantity doesn’t weaken the quality. The “Pilot Talk” series stands for fantastic and highly relaxed music! Just dope. Incidentally, Young Roddy, Trademark and Spitta should record a group album! I'd be the first to buy it, haha!

20. Shad – TSOL
Lyricist of the year! The similes, metaphors and wordplays he uses are just ill! But to be honest, I wasn’t feeling all the beats on that album, although the production was full of samples. But because of his lyrical talent and rap skills Shad at least deserves to be in the top 20.

Other honourable mentions:
- Too $hort – Still Blowin’ <-- I gotta say, the quality of that album kind of surprised me! I really loved how Too $hort talked about how he sometimes is tired of the player life, but still stays a player, because he can’t help it. Just real and honest!
- illy – The Chase <-- Great Australian album! “Cigarettes (Feat. Hue Blanes)” is the shit!
- Curren$y – Pilot Talk <-- Almost as good as “Pilot Talk II”!
- Aleon Craft – The Stargazing Soundtrack <-- ½ of Da Backwudz just re-entered the rapgame. Very nice release,
- Sadistik – The Art Of Dying <-- Somehow, I had enough depressive music from Kno this year, so I feel like I didn’t pay enough attention to this great EP! Maybe it will climb up the list later!
- Raashan Ahmad – For What You’ve Lost <-- Great, jazz-hop album!
- Chip tha Ripper – The Cleveland Show <-- Great tape with funny artwork!
- Trai'D – Popularity Contest <-- This tape showed Trai’D’s potential! He can make more than just crunk songs like “Gutta Bitch”, “City Lights” and “I’m Only A Man” were southern highlights of 2010!
- K-Murdock - Mood Muzik Vol. 2 ("Piano-rama") <-- A great homage to the instruments of instruments!

Ah…. and moreover: Thanks to Xavier Rudd, Airbourne, R.Kelly and Cee-Lo for some fantastic non-rap music! I saw Airbourne and Xavier Rudd live and they just killed it! “Bottom of The Well” must be in the top 5 of my favourite songs this year!