1. Evidence - Cats and Dogs
Breakout Material. Amazing production from Alchemist and Evidence (and others) brings this project to life.  Highly listenable, High energy, classic, raw hip hop music. Extremely personal, and outspoken, Evidence returns with an LP that delivers on all levels. Its raining “Cats & Dogs”

2. Phonte - Charity Starts at Home
One of the best emcee’s doing it shows us once again, he’s on top of his game and on the top tier of rappers stilling doing it. Songs like “The Good Fight” with his recently un-befriended producer brother 9th Wonder, serve as a perfect sign of our times, showing us the struggle and dreams of a musician in a new era, still trying hard to get his message across. “Love”  

3. Blu & Exile - Give Me My Flowers While I Can Smell Them
An under promoted album releases at the end of an extremely busy year for the California rapper Blu. But with all the quality music released in the up year in the industry would another Blu & Exile album stand out? The answer is, YES! Back with what made us love them most the duo brings new life to samples and MPC’s with analog raps.  With beautifully (poetic) style rhymes Blu tells tales of girls hes known, and how they keep him grounded. Most surprising album of the year.     

4. Drake - Take Care
The Highly anticipated sophomore album from the Toronto emcee, came with some of the most public bashing you could ever imagine. Yet when it was all said and done, the people were left with extremely high quality hip hop, and production from the wizard 40 on his new LP “Take Care”. Tracks like “We’ll Be Fine” and “Underground Kings” standout, as the record tells Drake’s story of a small town kid with big motivations, realizing his dream coming true through one phone call from New Orleans Louisiana, and his gratefulness to those who believed in him.

5. Jay-Z and Kanye West - Watch the Throne
The Top 2 Emcees in Hip Hop, and one of the top producers, declare to the people “Watch the Throne” and combine to create a modern day version of Run DMC, with a dream team feel to it. Hints of “My beautiful dark twisted fantasy” production are all throughout this CD, with features from RZA, NO I.D. and Pete Rock. This LP was overly hyped from the moment it hit twitter, expecting some of the best music ever in hip hop, it could never reach its hype. The release of “Otis” and video put a stamp on this year for me, showing just how much fun hip hop can be, even with no HOOK, the single stands out. “N****s in Paris” keeps us all on repeat. And lets face it, quoting this CD, with their lifestyle? Is highly entertaining in itself. Another outstanding job from Kanye West making another step forward as an emcee. The bonus tracks alone sell it…. and the tour??? Never to be forgotten.   

Honorable Mentions (In No Specific Order):

Kendrick Lamar - Section 80
9th Wonder - The Wonder Years
Illmaculate x G_Force - The Green Tape
Mayer Hawthorne - How do you do
Lil Wayne - The Carter 4
Tyler the Creator - Goblin
Snoop Dogg - Doggumentary
Adele - 21
Young Jeezy - TM103 Hustlerz Ambition 
The Black Keys - El Camino