BRL 2010 Year in Review

Sorry for the delay, but it took a while to listen to all the last second December releases. I'm also going to split up the albums from the EPs from the mixtapes all in a different post.

Here's my criteria: Replay Value, Rapping Technique (Flows and Deliveries), Production, Lyrics (topic and content), Cohesion, Fillers (count as negative points per song), and Songs in the top 100 (I made a list of the year's top rap songs and for each song that an album had in the top 100, that album got an extra point). All tie breakers will be settled by my preferenc

25. Ghost Face Killah - "Apollo Kids" - 31 points
24. Curren$y - "Pilot Talk II" - 31 points
23. Donwill - "Don Cuasac in High Fidelity" - 31 points
22. Shawn Chrystopher - "You and Only You" - 32 points
21. Eminem - "Recovery" - 32 points
20. Black Milk - "Album of the Year" - 34 points
19. Slum Village - "Villa Manifesto" - 36 points
18. Freeway & Jake-One - "The Stimulus Package" - 36 points
17. Murs & 9th Wonder - "Fornever" - 36 points
16. Little Brother - "Leftback" - 36 points
15. Custom Made - "Hi-Def" - 38 points
14. Dessa - "A Badly Broken Code" - 39 points
13. David Banner & 9th Wonder - "Death of a Pop Star" - 39 points
12. Reflection Eternal - Revolutions Per Minute" - 39 points
11. Curren$y - "Pilot Talk" - 40 points
10. Drake - "Thank Me Later" - 41 points
09. Deacon the Villain & Sheisty Khrist - "N*gg*z Wit Lattitude" - 43 points
08. Pack FM - "I F*ckin' Hate Rappers" - 43 points
07. Kokayi - "Robots & Dinosaurs" - 44 points
06. Big Boi - "Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty: - 45 points
05. Nas & Damian Marley - "Distant Relatives" - 50 points
04. The Roots - "How I Got Over" - 51 points
03. Sage Francis - "Li(f)e" - 51 points
02. Kno - "Death is Silent" - 52 points
01. Kanye West - "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - 53 points

Wow, what a year. There were several albums that didn't quite make the top 25 that were still quality albums. I will have another post for EPs and Mixtapes, and then I will make another post covering my rock albums of the year.

Rhymes: Reflection Eternal - The Ballad of the Black Gold (Live on LNWJF ft The Roots)

Here's a great performance by kweli and hi-tek backed by the roots on Jimmy Fallon. Unfortunately I havent been able to get their new album, cuz Im a poor college student, but I will eventually.

Also sorry to my beloved following for the recent lack of posts, Im just moving into my new house, job hunting, taking summer classes, taking an internship at a newspaper. Its been a hectic month, I will be back as soon as life slows down a little.

Rhymes: Top Single of the Decade #10-1

10. Kanye West - "Jesus Walks" [2004]

This song put Jesus on the radio, a feat that very few can they've accomplished.

9. Marco Polo - "Nostalgia (ft. Masta Ace) [2007]

Masta Ace delivers some pure hip hop lyricism over the Canadian beatsmith's vintage boom bap production.

8. Freeway - "What We Do (ft. Jay-Z & Beanie Siegle) [2003]

One of those songs that just hit me hard when I first heard it. My introduction to the Philly Freezer over this just blaze gem, was an unforgettable one.

7. Nas - "Made You Look" [2002]

Pure, raw, stripped down, NY hip hop. One of the God's son's finest.

6. UGK - "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) (ft. OutKast) [2007]

Once you think 3 Stacks has completely run away with another track that doesnt belong to him, the drums drop in and the late great pimp comes in with some of his hungriest rhymes. Off of the best double disk released in the decade, the pimp was so in the zone during this album after being released from prison, and its tragic we lost a legend right when he was in his prime.

5. Talib Kweli - "Get By" [2002]

So after listening to College Dropout for the millionth time, I decided to check out more from one of his guest spots, Talib Kweli. My jaw completely dropped when I first heard this song, I went out and instantly purchased Quality after hearing Kweli's most recognizable single.

4. CunninLynguists - "Don't Leave (When Winter Comes) (ft. Slug of Atmosphere" [2009]

It is very rare when collaborations between two high profile artists work out as well as this (not that atmosphere and cunninlynguists are all that popular, but in the underground these two groups reign supreme). Slug, my favorite emcee paired up with the Cunninlynguists, my favorite group, released an incredible song. Kno's beat was flawless, Slug's verse, amazing, Deac and Natti, top notch as well, but the sample in the outro is absolutely haunting and breath taking.

3. Kanye West - "Through the Wire" [2004]

I will never forget the first time I saw this video. I had never heard of Kanye West up until that point, but when I saw this video, I knew this guy was going to be special. And once I heard "All Falls Down" and "Slow Jams" I bought one of my favorite albums of the decade (and all time), College Dropout during my 8th grade class trip to Washington DC. This song was the beginning to one of the most important and influential artists of the decade.

2. Reflection Eternal - "The Blast" [2000]

Just an undeniable song where two incredible musicians are at their peak delivering an inspired masterpiece that will never be duplicated. The Ohio native and the BK emcee dropped one of the decades best albums right at the beginning of the decade at it stayed at the top throughout the years.

1. OutKast - "Bombs Over Baghdad (B.O.B.)" [2000]

One of the most innovative songs in the history of hip hop. This song gets love from hip hop purists, critics, and the mainstream radio. Unprecedented performances by three stacks and sir lucious claims the top spot on my list, this song is undeniable greatness.

Rhymes: Greatest Albums of All-Time: #5 Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek) - Train of Thought

I bought this album 1/1/05. That was the beginning of the 2nd semester of my freshman year in high school. At this point I was starting my transition into a different type of hip hop. It was a few months after the disappointing Encore album by Eminem, and I was growing tired of mainstream hip hop in general. Reflection Eternal was my gateway into I dont want to say conscious, but just better hip hop.

This classic 2000 album, is highly regarded as one of the best hip hop releases of this decade. With flawless production provided by Cincinnati native, Hi-Tek and the peak of Talib Kweli's lyrical prowess. This is the type of album that happens once in a life time. The combination of two artists at their best; released during the perfect time where hip hop NEEDED a record like this. The vibe generated from this record cannot be duplicated. Although the two are currently working on the follow up to this classic record, they will never be able to recapture such a perfect and genuine moment in music.

I could sit here and take you through this album track by track, describing the sonic nirvana this album provides the listener. But instead I will keep this breif. This album is perfect for the winter time, which is upon us, so I highly suggest that you listen to it.