I'm personally sorry if I made your ears bleed by posting these three terrible tracks. I mean listening to these songs make you really appreciate Shaq, Nick Cannon and Ron Artest. I actually was a little out of it after getting through these songs. I just thought it would be funny if I posted a couple of these.
Soulja Boy & Lil B - Swag OD
I could of picked from a number of Soulja Boy or Lil B songs but when I heard this one I just felt a little dumber. I don't even know if there pronouncing words on this joint. The only thing in this video that isn't terrible is that car that they're ridding in honestly.
Eminem - Fack
Now Eminem has got to be in anyone's Top 10 for greatest all time rappers. But that doesn't mean he can't put out a wack joint or two. And this song is beyond wack. I really had trouble even getting through. I wonder what drugs he was on when he made this because he literally sounds like Cartman from South Park on this. Terrible.
Samwell - What What (In The Butt)
This last one is actually kinda funny. Really gay but slightly funny. Terrible.
I first started doing this list last year for HipHopCulture. It got a lot of comments and attention. So here I am again at the end of another year to tell you who to look out for. I'd say that 8 out the 10 rappers I put up went on to have big years. Having Charles Hamilton on last years list made it look less credible. The criteria for this list are rappers that have yet to put out an album.
10. XV
Really, I wonder if he'll ever really get on. I've been a fan of XV for a while. Seems like he gets no credit for what he puts out. He dropped one of the better mixtapes from last year with "Everybody's Nobody" (which is appropriately titled) and was left of the XXL Freshmen cover. Not sure he'll get it this coming year either, but he did drop "Vizzy Zone" this year which is growing on me. Maybe if he drops his long delayed album "The Kid With The Green Backpack" his buzz will get bigger.
9. Cyhi Da Prynce
There's no question for whether he can spit or not. Because if you've heard him on "So Appalled" or "Take One For The Team" you know that by now. For him to really become more popular he needs to drop some of his own tracks though instead of guest verses on Kanye tracks. He did drop "Royal Flush" which was a decent listen. But I feel like he's just getting started.
8. Show TuFli
He's probably the least known rapper on this list, but Show's been working hard lately. Before this year he was pretty much known as Charles Hamilton's protege, but in this past year he's dropped 2 mixtapes "Soldier of Love (Music Inspired by Sade" and "Keep In Mind That I'm An Artist And I'm Sensitive About My Shit (Music Inspired By Erykah Badu)". Also he currently has a music series going called TuFli Tuesdays. I'm unsure of whether an album is coming in the near future, but he's making a name for himself.
Recent Song: Unbelievable
7. Meek Mill
This one might be a long shot, but Meek is starting to finally gain some buzz outside of the Philly area. He dropped two good mixtapes this year with "Flamers 3" and "Mr. Philadelphia". He's still signed on T.I.'s Grand Hustle label and has definitely gotten the co-sign from Rick Ross and was featured on his latest tape "Ashes To Ashes". Maybe it's not such a long shot.
Recent Song: Play Your Part
6. QuESt
I know this is a bold statement, but he has the best flow in the game for any one coming up. Since last year he's been putting out consistent quality material from "Broken Headphones" to "How Thoughtful". He's currently on his way to releasing "The Reason: A Defense Mechanism". He's one of my favorites but I'm pretty sure he won't have the commercial success that some of the other artists on this list will.
Recent Song: The Samba Thelonious Theory
5. Kendrick Lamar
I feel I just caught wind of this dude recently. But he just brings a new style to the game. He's no where near the best. He's got average lyrics, but he's doing something different. His "Overly Dedicated" mixtape is one of my favorites of the year. He's also gotten the co-sign from Dr. Dre. I'm interested to see which move he's going to make next.
Recent Song: Look Out For Detox
4. Big Sean
Look who's on the list again this year. Since he didn't drop Finally Famous: The Album this past year he makes it again. At this point, everyone knows what he can do. He's got serious potential to be the next big thing it depends on what does next. He put out one of the best mixtapes of the year with "Finally Famous Vol. 3" and his number of fans keep growing. Seems like he's next to blow up.
Recent Song: Too Fake
3. Jay Electronica
He's the oldest on this list by far. But he and J. Cole probably have the best chance of putting out a classic hip hop album. If Act II ever drops like it was supposed to this past year then it will be a force to reckon with. He's obviously on his way up, even he is already in he's 30's. He was just recently signed to Jay-Z's Roc Nation label. All we can do as fans is wait for the album to drop.
Recent Song: The Shiny Suit Theory
2. J. Cole
It's just about that time Jermaine. He's been signed with Jay-Z for over a year now. He's put out a quality single with "Who Dat" a follow up to "The Warm Up" with "Friday Night Lights". He's been featured on radio hits from artists like Miguel, Sean Garrett and Keri Hilson. It's time to put out that album we've been waiting for. It is expected for a first quarter 2011 release but release dates are always flexible.
Recent Song: 2Face
1. Wiz Khalifa
His time definitely is now. He's been featured on magazine covers. He's had a gold selling single with "Black & Yellow". "Kush & Orange Juice" was my personal favorite mixtape of the year. All he needs to do is put out the expected album. He's already big now. I wonder how big he'll be when the year is over.
10. Joe Budden : Mood Muzik 4 - The slaughterhouse emcee dropped this tape back in November. The lyrics expressed on this tape are so meaningful and deep. The mellow beats capture the whole tone of each track. Definitely not a party tape but if you want to hear something real it's always a good listen.Best songs: "Black Cloud", "Remember The Titans", "No Idea".
9. Asher Roth : Seared Foie Gras With Quince And Cranberry - I still don't understand the title. I guess it's in French. Simply, Mr. Roth rapping over some of his favorite beats. Dope though.Best songs: "Sour Patch Kids (rmx) f. Talib Kweli & Blu", "Muddy Swim Trunks".
8. Curren$y : Smokee Robinson - I bet with the two albums he dropped this year you probably forgot that he also dropped a mixtape. "Smokee Robinson" dropped the night after the Superbowl. The beat selection for the tape is great. I think I bumped this the whole day when it dropped.Best songs: "Audio Dope", "I Don't Fucks With Em f. Nipsey Hussle & Wiz Khalifa", "Smash On O'Leary".
7. The Cool Kids : Tacklebox - Chuck Inglish beats sound crazy in a car. I just like their style and the tape was definitely above average. Front to back I can bump this.Best Songs: "Fishing Lessons", "Freak City", "So Neat".
6. Wale : More About Nothing - Wale made my list last year with "Back To The Feature" this time around he makes it again. Another Seinfeld themed mixtape with skits from the show. Real good from track to track. A lot of good songs.Best Songs: "The Breeze f. Wiz Khalifa", "The Number Won", "The Break Up Song".
5. Kendrick Lamar: Overly Dedicated - Now we're getting into my favorites of the year. I didn't pay Kendrick Lamar any attention until this tape dropped. Kendrick Lamar has a different style that took some getting used to but he's definitely one to watch.Best songs: "Growing Apart", "Michael Jordan", "The Heart Pt.2", "She Needs Me (rmx)", "I Do This (rmx)".
4. Pac Div: Don't Mention It - It took me a month to actually listen to this tape, but I've been playing it ever since. Usually in hip hop groups there is one good rapper everyone in this group can spit. I'm definitely checking for their next project.Best songs:"Don't Forget The Swishers", "Rollin'", "Broccoli", "Waves At The Prom".
3. J. Cole: Friday Night Lights - Did not expect J. Cole to drop another mixtape this year. But this tape came together quickly. Not as good as "The Warm Up" but one of the best of the year. It came out last month so it's still kind of new to me.Best Songs: "You Got It", "Home For The Holidays", "In The Morning" "Before I'm Gone"
2. Big Sean: Finally Famous 3 - My personal most anticipated mixtape of the year, and it delivered. Sean provides freestyles over classic beats with original tracks that sound like album singles. Hopefully, "Finally Famous" the album drops soon. Best Songs: "Five Bucks (5 On It)", "Fat Raps (rmx)", "What You Doin'", "Supa Dupa Lemonade", "Ambiguous", "Too Fake", "Love Song".
1. Wiz Khalifa: Kush & Orange Juice - For someone who only talks about smoking weed and taking other dude's girls he sure talks about well. I still chill to this when I can. He put this out in April or March (I can't remember) and it shut down Twitter. Literally, it was the trending topic even on Google. Front to back a banger had to burn a copy of this.Best Songs:"Mezmorized", "Spotlight", "The Kid Frankie", "Never Been", "In The Cut", "Glass House".
Honorable Mentions: Fabolous - There Is No Competition 2, Mac Miller - K.I.D.S, Tyga - Black Thoughts.
Every year the XXL Freshmen list is something to question. I've seen a lot of predictions for this year's upcoming list. Here's my prediction for this year's list in no order. These aren't all my favorite artists this is who I think is gonna be on the list.
Curt@!N$ - Real talented dude one of my favorites. He needs to get a little more exposure but you can't deny that he has skills on the mic.
Big K.R.I.T. - He has skills but I picked him mainly because he's one of the better emcees coming from the south.
Dom Kennedy - Been making a name for himself. But dude is mostly new to me.
First, off I planned on doing this post a couple of days ago, but I've been pretty busy lately. I finally have some time. I've seen a lot of lists like this around the internet. This is just my opinion.
10. The Clipse: This group starts off the list on the bottom because they do get play. But for the most part they're underrated. I've had "Til The Casket Drops" on repeat ever since it dropped. And they've managed to do well with out a completely mainstream fan base. Malice in my opinion kills every track.
9. Joell Ortiz: I've been listening to him ever since I heard "Hip Hop" back in '07. It seems like every beat he gets on he seems to slaughter I guess that's why he's apart of the group "Slaughterhouse".
8. Cassidy: Maybe it's because I'm from Philly but back in the day Cassidy was my dude. I don't really listen to him anymore but he's underrated. Don't know about his albums but his mixtapes are crazy.
7. Mos Def: A legend in fact I think I put him a little too low. But definitely underrated in the hip hop world.
6. Talib Kweli: Had to put Mos Def and him back to back. He's another legend in my book. Every album I've heard from him is great.
5. Royce Da 5'9: I got one thing to say about this dude "lyrical murderer".
4. Black Thought: Another legend. Been listening to The Roots for years. So underrated.
3. AZ: After discovering Illmatic when I was younger I first heard this dude and I had wondered why I never heard of him. Personally he's on the same level as Nas but he just didn't blow up.
2. Big L: Another rapper that I had to discover late. But a legend gone too soon, and any real hip hop fan knows who he is.
1. Lupe Fiasco: This probably is the name that is going to get everybody mad. But Lupe's in my top 10 of all time rappers. His style is so unique and his lyrical skills usually go over heads. Just underrated.
Shyheim probably was the only kid you could listen to and think he was 30 years old. What he rapped about was definitely not what you would expect a 15 year old to rap about. He dropped his first album in '93. Everyone is probably saying that he didn't write his rhymes. Either way he was schooled in rap by the Wu Tang Clan. As a kid he had spent time living with Ghostface Killah. I know a lot of you are saying I never heard of this dude. He has dropped 4 albums out and is still making music.
A+ is a name probably more of yall are familiar with. A+ was 14 when his first album dropped. He began his rap career after winning a talent competition sponsored by Def Jam records. I actually purchased one of his albums back when I was 8. It was crazy to see a kid spitting like he was. He was called the young Nas or AZ. He definitely had the greatest delivery I had ever heard by a kid. He kind of disappeared after he dropped his second album in 1999 at the age of 16.
No matter how wack Bow Wow is now. Back in the day he was crazy to me. I do suspect that he didn't write his rhymes though. Anyway back when I was really young Bow Wow was one of everyone's favorite rappers especially the girls. He made this list pretty much because he still has success rapping for over 10 years.
We all know that some of these albums won't be released until next year because release dates always get messed up but I like this list. For the list go to Complex.
1. Drake - Thank Me Later
2. Kanye West - TBD
3. Eminem - Relapse 2
4. M.I.A. - TBD
5. Young Jeezy - TM103
6. Santigold - TBD
7. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV
8. MGMT - Congratulations
9. Kid Cudi - Cudder: The Revolution of Evolution
10. LCD Soundsystem - TBD
11. Lupe Fiasco - Lasers
12. Jay Electronica - Act II: Patents of Nobility
13. T.I. - TBD
14. J. Cole - TBD
15. Yeasayer - Odd Blood
16. Ghostface, Raekwon, & Method Man - The Wu Massacre
DJ Premier’s Top 20 albums of 2009 are listed below:
1. Blaq Poet - Tha Blaqprint 2. Raekwon - Only Built For Cuban Linx II 3. OC and AG - Oasis 4. A&E - Arts and Entertainment 5. Obie Trice - Special Reserve 6. Royce Da 5’9 - Street Hop 7. Marco Polo & Torae - Double Barell 8. Statik Selektah - Pre Game EP 9. Jay-Z - Blueprint 3 10. Slaughterhouse - Slaughterhouse 11. Canibus & Keith Murray - Undergods 12. Diamond District - In the Ruff 13. Saigon & Statik Selektah - All In A Days Work 14. KRS-One & Buckshot - Survival Skillz 15. Ghostface Killah - Ghostdini: Wizard of Poetry 16. M.O.P. - Foundation 17. 50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct 18. Method Man & Redman - Blackout 2 19. La Coka Nostra - A Brand You Can Trust 20. DJ JS-1 - No Sell Out
A great list and its show dj premier is an old skool guy from his list. People might question his choice about Obie Trice. I thought Mos Def Or Rakim would be in the list. Pce
This is my list of my top 10 hiphop albums in 2009. The list is not in order. They are all great albums I have put on the list. This year has show the likes of Wale and Kid Cudi show what they are made of. Then the likes of Eminem and Jay Z showing they are still on top of hiphop. Even some artists who been around much longer than othrs likes of Redman & Method Man, Rakim, Mos Def. Check th list out.
Rakim - Seventh Seal was a album which showed lots of different things about it as one of the them was Rakim was back and his new style. It was almost Rakim showin this new style of hiphop which othr artist do as well. But as Rakim been away for so long it was dope to see him put out such a great album. I am a massive fan of Rakim and this album showed my Rakim is one of the best. He can do it as solo artist and in a duo. A very strong album it was I would say.
The Ecstatic by Mos Def was my fav album of the whole year. As im a real big fan of Mos Def and I love seeing him back to hiphop. It showed the true mos def and was he able to do in hiphop. A very golden age artist I would say and he is on of the best of alltime to me. This album left it mark this year to me. Mos Def is very underated in hiphop I would say. It had a track with Slick Rick which was great to see.
Method Man & Red Man - Blackout2 it was a album which showed me statement of hiphop as a whole. As these two repersent the whole 90s in hiphop to me. It was a solid albums every track was dope. It came out early in the year I think may but showed they work so well as a duo. I love listening to it.
Eminem - Relapse was an album which showed em was back and it came out early this year. It was a very strong album as it had many great tracks. I was not massive fan on " We Made you" it made me alugh though. I had to put the album in the list as it was Eminem come back. I expect eminem replase 2 will be out next year.
Before I Self Destruct by 50 Cent showed a different type of fiddy, but I still like it. It had people saying 50 Cent lost it etc. But I think he has not. I still listen to 50 cent and always will. I lik the his new style on the album. Also his track with Eminem on it I really like litening to that. Also it has the JMJ dvd with it which is a dope dvd and it showed what Jam Master Jay done for 50 Cent.
Slaughterhouse by Slaughterhouse was there first album and it showed what they had. It was a very solid album and they work well on it. It had to be on the list as it was there first and it was that good. Joe Budden a member in Slaughterhouse is my fav memeber and he killed all his parts in the album.
Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z made to be in the list it was a great album showing Jay Z on of the best still in the world. And what year it has been for him. I got the album of on the day it came out on itunes and I listen to it so many times. Many great tracks on the album but my fav was " A Star Is Born" which is not a single off it. It was with J Cole and it was dope. Hov killed the album.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt. II by Raekwon show he can be a solo artist as well as being in a hiphop group. His album was very good and it shows Raekwon been around for a lon time and still got it. It has some dope guests on it Popa Wu, Ghostface Killah, GZA, Masta Killa, Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Slick Rick, Jadakiss, Beanie Sigel, Suga Bang Bang, Tash Mahogany, Styles P, Blue Raspberry, Lyfe Jennings, Busta Rhymes, Cappadonna. Lots of people were on it and it made a great album that way.
Man On The Moon: End Of Day by Kid Cudi was a dope album and everyone agrees. For one I like Kid Cudi music and his fasion. He is very talented artist. His album was just what I expected. It had so much hype before it came out but you know it would live up to its hype. Cant wait for his next album.
Attention Deficit by Wale has to be in the top 10 as he came a long way from his mixtapes to his first album. I really like the album but feel sorry for Wale as so many people just downloaded it from the internet when it leaked. Back to the album though it was better than I thought it was going to be. Wale shown he is able to make a good album and he has done well this year. Im a very big fan of Wale now.
I was supposedly holding off this list until New Years Eve then it was Christmas Eve but right now I have some time on my hands so I will post it today. The actual idea of this list is based on rappers who haven't dropped albums yet who will 2010. Now some of these artists have dropped albums but I feel they didn't reach the maximum popularity they did with that album and I feel they will be bigger in 2010. Get ready to read this is going to be my longest post ever. Oh yeah and the other notable rappers are in my mind just as good as the ones I put on the list but they didn't make it for some reason in my mind.
10. De La Soul - Well where do I start they have done so many things in hiphop. So great old school tracks. So I had to put them on the list I really enjoy listening to their albums. I think its good to have a group like del la soul in hiphop. And their is a new album on the way next year I think. Which will be great.
9.Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five - made so many track hits. They were the first hiphop group so I had to add them in the list. The message and white lines were out of this world very strong tracks I think. Many great albums they made. It showed a DJ could be in an hiphop grouop. Who better than Grandmaster Flash the best of alltime. Also they put in to the rock and roll hall of fame so that shows good they were.
8. Dj Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince - I could not do a list with out these two. You might say they should not be on the list or what ever. But I love every single album they have done. tracks like "Summer time", "Nightmare On My street" are dope and they done so many dope records. I think more than anything there style of music I like more than anything. As they were two young people who would do anything on a track. But now look at them. Dj Jazzy Jeff is one of the best djs in hiphop. Fresh Prince made a few solo albums which were good I thought.
7. Wu-Tang Clan - This is a group I dont know to much about. I've got like two of their albums and think they are agood group. They show people that you can have a lot of members in group and still do well in hiphop. Raekwon can spit all day long and method man is a class act. Also RZA , GZA and Goastface killa are dope. I know there is others in the group. I think they could be higher but I aint listen that much of their albums so I had put them in 7 place on the list.
6. A Tribe Called Quest - This group is hot they been around for a long time but show it in evey album or track they do its always dope. I think they are a great group and made hiphop rise up in music. Most people have heard of them and they always do there thing which is great. I think they are one of a kind. Every member in the group are dope and a talentI think. No one could do a list and leave them out. Q-tip is a genuis.
5. Outkast- Andre 300 and Big Boi are great as a team. They make some real dope track. Been around for a while now and I had to put them in he list. They are to good and very under rated I think. They always make good tracks I think. I have not got that many of their albums but that aint a promblem as I know how good they are. They would be in anyone top 10 hiphop groups. They got a new album on the way next year. I cant wait.
4.Eric B & Rakim - This is the best duo in hiphop history I would say. They made one of the bets hiphop album of all time "Paid In Full". rakim is a god MC and Eric B is a dope DJ. So it was the perfect match. Some of the tracks they made were class as the beats eric b would do then rakim would kill them. Made a few albums and they are dope. Check them out. I had put them high there one of my fav. People might say I put them to high but its my list. They had to be in the list so I wanted to put them high as they done great things.
3. N.W.A - Yes nwa they made gangster music in hiphop. It was Eazy E, MC Ren, Dr Dre, Ice Cube, Yella. I know they were a group who you heard bad things about sometimes. And when Dr Dre left. But they made so dope music like "Gangster Gangster", "Express Yourself" etc. I got a lot of their tracks on my ipod and was listen to them last night. I thought these should be high in on my list. They brought something new to hiphop I would say. All great MC but I want to say MC Ren never got the credit he should have. Also its a big loss Eazy E died. Still a dope ass group. R.I.P Eazy E.
2. Public Enemy - What a group they were genuis they could do anything. Flava Flav and Chuck D are two great MCs. They made this group what it is. All you have to do is listen to "He Got Game" then your know how good they were. PE made so many great albums and there still going strong today. I would say im a really big fan of PE and their album "Takes A Nation To Hold Us Back" is out of this world. Also PE style is dope. It's like they added a new part in to the hiphopworld.
1. Run D.M.C - To me these are the greatest hiphop group of all time. I got all there albums and they are dope. They made so many great tracks and been around for so long. They were one of the first hiphop groups ever. They made such an big impact on hiphop. With Run & DMC skills on the MIC and Jam Master Jay on the turntables it was the perfect group. They could do anything. As Eminem said when he in inducted them to the rock and roll hall of fame "If You Grew Up On Hiphop They Are The Beatles". To me there is no one in the world better. So it had to be Run D.M.C at number one. And R.I.P Jam Master Jay.
