2011 End of the Year Wrap-Up: Albums 40-31

First of all here is my criteria/rating scale:
I have taken categories and gave each of the 127 giving them each a rating of 1-10, here are the categories

• Replay Value - How often did I feel compelled to go back and listen to this album throughout the year?
• Vocal Performance - For hip hop albums this included flows, rhyme schemes, cadences, etc. For rock albums melodies, quality of vocals, harmonies, etc.
• Production - How good were the beats/ music.
• Subject Matter - Lyrical content, song topics
• Songwriting - Ability to structure a good song, includes quality of choruses/hooks and bridges
• Cohesion - How well did the album flow? Did it sound like one piece of music, or just a bunch of random track?
• Originality - How original or creative was the album?
• Gut feeling - My initial instinct on what I thought the album should rand 1-10

In addition, I also added a "Fillers" category, which took off a negative point for every song I rated 2 or less stars in my iTunes.

I also had a category called "The Big 300" which awarded a bonus point to an album for every track that was picked as the best 300 songs of 2011.

40.) Pac Div - The Div

Finally after years of sitting on Warner Brother's shelf, the Cali trio unleashed their debut album to world, and it's the group's best work.

39.) Grieves & Budo - Together/Apart

On Grieves' Rhymesayers debut he didn't quite show as much artistic growth as I had hoped for, but his 3rd full-length has plenty of great tracks and phenomenal production from Budo.

38.) The Antlers - Burst Apart

The Antlers follow up their groundbreaking, Hospice album with the beautiful Burst Apart. A few steps back in storytelling, but a few steps forward in musicianship.

37.) Young Jeezy - Thug Motivation 103: Hustlerz Ambition

Jeezy fights off career obscurity by sticking to the basics.

36.) Yonas Michael - Lost in Hollywood

The former UNI emcee's solo debut is a genre bending, rough around the edges journey through L.A.

35.) Apathy - Honkey Kong

The Connecticut emcee pokes fun at his whiteness, while lyrically beasting over top notch production from the likes of DJ Premier and Evidence.

34.) Action Bronson - Dr. Lecter

The Ghostface-sounding rapper drops his delectable rhymes over some great break beats.

33.) Freddie Gibbs - Cold Day in Hell

The Gary, Indiana rapper drops his first project since joining forces with Young Jeezy, and it shows the promise of the new marriage.

32.) Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

Chris Martin and company dabble in narratives, electronics and Rihanna, and the results are shockingly good.

31.) Killer Mike - Pl3dge

Killer Mike's 3rd installment of his Pledge Allegiance with the Grind series is among his best and most political work, and the ATLien is finally getting the credit he deserves.

Rhymes: 1st Quarter All Stars

The months Jan-March are traditionally the least interesting months in terms of music releases, but in 2011 we've seen quite a few of interesting releases:

Here is a list (in tentative order from best to worst with a tentative rating):

1. CunninLynguists - Oneirology (9.5 out of 10)

Easily the year's best release comes from the 'Lynguists. Their current 9.5 rating could easily turn into a perfect 10 by the year's end, as I'm picking up something new with each listen.

2. Big K.R.I.T. - Return of 4eva (9 out of 10)

Admittedly, I slept on K.R.I.T.'s 2010 release, K.R.I.T. was Here and that was a BIG mistake. R4 is a phenomenal release. The release displays is excellent emcee skills and songwriting ability as well as his classic southern production which gives me flashbacks of 94-96 era of Dungeon Family.

3. Saigon - The Greatest Story Never Told (9 out of 10)

The long awaited Saigon debut was finally released this year, and it was well worth the wait. Top notch production from Just Blaze, and socially and politically conscious lyricism from the former Entourage star, will make this record one the year's best.

4. Reks - R.E.K.S. (8.5 out of 10)

This Boston emcee paired with top tier boom bap production from the likes of DJ Premier, Pete Rock, The Alchemist, Sean C & LV, Nottz, Hi-Tek, and show stealer, Statik Selektah make up a record that sounds like it come out in 1996.

5. Stalley - Lincoln Way Nights (Intellectual Trunk Music) (8 out of 10)

This Ohio emcee has released one of the year's most interesting mixtapes. With hard hitting production from Rashad, Stalley raps mostly about his sound system and his cars, which may sound boring and cliche, but he does it damn well.

6. Apollo Brown - Clouds (8 out of 10)

This Detroit beatsmith released an excellent instrumental album, with amazing samples and hard hitting drums. This atmospheric record is a great listen even without rymes, but I'd still really like to hear some dope emcees rip these tracks apart.

7. Chip Tha Ripper - Gift Raps (7.5 out of 10)

His latest release, Gift Raps, with producer, Chuck Inglish, is the Cleveland rapper's best release of his young career. This focused effort will probably land Chip a record deal, and the emcee is starting to fulfill his potential.

8. Scavie Scoobs (of Custom Made) - Trap Star Vol. 1 (7 out of 10)

The Custom Made emcee branches off to release his first solo project, Trap Star. Noticeably more aggressive and focuses more on gangsta rap themes than the group's 2010 release Hi-Def, Scoobs finds his own voice on his solo debut, while staying true to his Custom Made family.

Here is a list of releases that I've listened to a few times, but need to listen to more before I can give them even a tentative listen:

#. Pharoahe Monch - W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)

This politically charged record has some bangers on it for sure, but I need to give it a few more spins before I can decide how I feel about it.

#. Pac Div - Mania!

The West Coast group's third mixtape in as many years, has the potential to be their best. While they're prepping their major label debut, their independent work has made them one of my favorite groups of the past few years.

#. Money Making Jam Boys - The Prestige: Jam Boy Magic

This Philly-based super group that features Black Thought, Porn, Dice Raw, STS, and Truck North released their debut mixtape this year. I've given it one or two quick listens, but still need to give it a close listen to decide how I feel about it.

#. Grynch - Timeless EP

I've only give the Seattle emcee's new EP only one quick listen but the title track and the Sabzi (of Blue Scholars) produced remix to his excellent 2010 single, "My Volvo" are two excellent tracks.

Here are two albums that I am highly anticipating but due to lack of funds I have yet to listen to:

#. Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows


#. Raekwon - Shaolin Vs. Wu-Tang

BRL 2010 Year in Review (Continued)

Sorry for the delay, I've been extremely lazy the past couple of weeks, but I'm going to take this time I have off from class (Snowpocalypse part 2!) to wrap up 2010, finally.

Top EPs and Mixtapes of 2010:

15. Grynch - Rapping About Rapping Mixtape - 30 points
14. Evidence - I Don't Need Love EP - 31 points
13. Blu - theGODleeBarnesLP - 33 points
12. Blueprint - Blueprint WHO? EP - 33 Points
11. Freddie Gibbs - Str8 Killah EP - 33 Points
10. Marz Lovejoy - This Little Light of Mine - 34 Points
09. Brothers From Another - Too Soon? EP - 36 Points
08. Sene - Reality Bites - 36 Points
07. Pac Div - Don't Mention It - 37 points
06. Asher Roth & Nottz - Rawth - 37 points
05. Atmosphere - To All My Friends & Blood Makes the Blade Holy - 40 points
04. Shawn Chrystopher - The Audition - 42 points
03. Grieves - Confessions of Mr. Modest - 42 points
02. J. Cole - Friday Night Lights - 42 points
01. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - The Vs Ep - Redux - 46 points

Rhymes: Dwight Schrute's Baby Beats (Part 2)

Freddie Gibbs

-I first heard Gangsta Gibbs on the opening track on CunninLynguists’ Strange Jouney Vol 2. And he went OFF on that Kno beat. The Gary, Indiana native is bringing [Good] gangsta rap back to the forefront. You can check out his 80-plus-track mixtape, TheLabelsTryinToKillMe and fall in love with his nonchalant flow and deep voice.

Macklemore

-This Seattle native has recently become my favorite, new rapper. Although he is not all that new, as he released his debut album in 2005. After that he disappeared for a while until last year coming back with a boom dropping two excellent projects: The Unplanned Mixtape and The Vs EP.

Grieves

-He, like Macklemore, also got his start in Seattle (although he lives in Brooklyn and was born in Chicago) is not all that new to the game either. Coming into 2010 he has 2 albums under his belt already, but his career is about to reach all-time heights after signing to Rhymesayers Ent. His 2008 album, 88 Keys and Counting was re-released with a ten track EP, Confessions of Mr. Modest, which has been in constant rotation since its early March release.

Pac Div

-The Cali-trio dropped one of the best mixtapes last year with Church League Champs. They are about to drop one more mixtape (Don’t Mention It) before their long awaited debut album, Grown Kid Syndrome.

Rhymes: What the Ef is a B.o.B (Bobby Ray)?

The second installment of BRL's What the Ef series comes from none other than the ATL. Bobby Ray (aka B.o.B) has been making a name for himself for over a year now appearing on T.I.'s latest album, touring with the likes of Asher Roth and Pac Div, and appearing on XXL's freshman 10 last year. His upcoming album, Adventures of Bobby Ray boasts the amazing single, "I'll Be in the Sky". Bobby Ray is probably the most talented member from the Freshman 10, as he can rap/sing/play guitar/piano and more. He has gotten comparisons to Andre 3000, and the video below is why i think he's gponna be a star very soon...


Also here is a link to the song that he is featured on from Cobro Starship called "The World Will Never Do" its great.
http://usershare.net/yjvz54vrjggp