12 mixtapes, 12 collages of cool.

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elZhi - elMatic

No disrespect to Fashawn, who did an excellent "Illmatic" revisit of his own, but eLZ
is and always has been a beast. He and Will Sessions made an album that could truly
stand apart from its predecessor. - Levar F.M.



Stalley – Lincoln Way Nights

One of the best mixtapes from an up and coming MC.  Hands down best
for content overall. It’s way too thorough for a mixtape category. It
can literally take on any album released this year.  - Stress

Danny Brown – XXX

Quickly becoming a favorite MC of mine. Detroit got MC’s and Danny
Brown is hanging with the elite. He tightropes the perfect balance of
hardcore lyrics with over the top delivery. - Stress

50 Cent – The Big Ten

Late comer in the year but worth the wait. Had the feel of an old
school 50 mixtape and was equipped with his sing songy hooks hard
lyrics and infectious beats it rivals, but does not beat out War Angel.
- Stress



Cocaine '80s - Ghost Lady

No I.D. on the boards and a cast of talented musicians with Common at
the forefront make up Cocaine '80s and provided this mid-summer gem,
the second of two EPs. Listen to this and tell me you're not feeling it.
- Preach



Pusha T - Fear of God

1/2 of The Clipse, Pusha made 2011 his year for slinging clever metaphors
and this mixtape further solidified his position among today's elite MC's and
got him a roster spot on Kanye's G.O.O.D. label. Anyone who doubts Pusha's
influence can only look across the blogosphere and see how much this album
was part of people's soundtracks. - Preach


Frank Ocean - Nostalgia

The NOLA native and R&B standout from the Odd Future clan made this mixtape
a bold announcement of his talent to the world...and still remained out of the
public eye enough to stoke up more intrigue. Listening to this mixtape, you got
the feeling that you were listening to the birth of a musical genius. - Preach


B.o.B. - Every Play Is Crucial

Bobby Ray has JOINTS on here. On "God's Gift" he spazzes out lovely. And it's stocked with
a nice balance of tracks with features and the ATL native on his solo mission. - Forge


The Weekend - House of Balloons

This Toronto singer pretty much made this mixtape THE go-to slow jam joint
of 2011. You know it's serious when you hear it bumping out of Dominican hair
salons as you walk by. - Preach


Money Making Jam Boys - The Prestige:Jam Boy Music

The Prestige - Jam Boy Magic is better than most peoples albums! - Forge


Cold Day In Hell - Freddie Gibbs

Serious hardcore rap with mellow beat production makes Freddie Gibbs' effort
a winner here from coast to coast. Trunk music for the digital age. - Preach


STS - The Illustrious

Philly's got another gem for it's hip-hop crown right here with this
man's mixtape. - Forge

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Nas - "Nasty"

A sincere "fuck you" if you don't think that Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones didn't snap on this. Make room for the King, ni--a.

Snoop Dogg - "Its D Only Thing"

The West Coast G's shoutout to the Pittsburgh Steelers off 'Doggumentary' is SERIOUS
motivational hip-hop. David Banner on the boards makes the bass snap extra hard.

Slaughterhouse 2011 BET HipHop Awards Cypher

Yelawolf, Slaughterhouse and Em changed this cipher FOREVER with this performance.
Not a single in the technical sense but we bet you have it on your iPod..Hi Rihanna.

'Give It To You' - Elle Varner w/ J.Cole

Remember those days where your day wasn't complete without a fly sister dropping
sweet melodies over a hip-hop breakbeat? Elle Varner fulfills your fix with the help
of Young Simba himself.

Electric Sunshine - Recloose

One of those ambient dance tracks that can make you move and put you at ease,
Recloose shows another side of the ongoing musical re-emergence of Detroit.

You Already Knew - Black Star

Talib Kweli and Yaasin Bey gave us a sample of what's to come with their new
album in 2012 with this quintessential soul-filled track.

The Greatness - Pac Div

The SoCal hip-hop trio put their stamp on 2011 with this lead single from their
album, The Div.

Rolling In The Deep - Adele

The British songstress threw us all for a loop with this song from her second album,
and inspired a few superstar covers.

N----s In Paris - Jay-Z & Kanye West

The track that inspired umpteen freestyles, spawned not one but TWO catchphrases
of the year and was also responsible for an NYC subway rendition not soon forgotten
on Youtube.

Words I Never Said - Lupe Fiasco w/Skylar Grey

Lupe channels his label frustrations and other issues perfectly into this track, supported
by stirring vocals from Skylar Grey and in the process expanded his fanbase greatly.


Thursday - The Weeknd

This song made The Weeknd a star and raised more than eyebrows on the ladies.

Lonely Boy - The Black Keys

Serious hard-driving rock made this the centerpiece for their album El Camino.

12 Albums, 12 more additions to your collection from the team.

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Preach's 3 Picks for 2011

This was a difficult process only because 2011 was chock full of albums
that caught the eye and made residence in your gut. These three albums
aren't my top 3, but they made the year that much more vivid.


Oddisee - Rock Creek Park

The album as travelogue is a classic element of music. That
said, it can be hit-or-miss. Oddisee, the extraordinary MC
and producer out of Washington DC and part of Mello Music
Group strikes gold with Rock Creek Park. Listening to this
album envelops you in sultry sounds that have all the heft of
hip-hop's drums and enough soul to make Afro-Sheen entertain
a comeback. Each track on this EP has immediate replay value.
Oddisee displays a true gift of interpreting scenes and sight
through sound; "Closed After Dark" conveys the electricity
of U Street at night, and 'Scenic Route To You' has all the flavor
of a summer BBQ over by Shaw Ave. Rock Creek Park is indeed
a can't miss part of your soundtrack while stepping through the
nation's capital.

Theivery Corporation - Culture of Fear

It seems that this new album from Thievery Corporation was made to
be a rallying cry for 2011, a year that saw the Middle East forever
changed by revolution and the rise of dissent against corruption and
economic hardship in the form of Occupy Wall Street here in the States.
The sixth album from Eric Hilton and Rob Garza doesn't disappoint at
all, with their ambient sound that truly reflects a global voice within. It's
thought-provoking yet soothing. Culture of Fear is at it's best with tracks
like 'Tower Seven', an insistent melody that speaks to its dub roots and
carries a powerful message without words getting in the way. "Take My
Soul" is another standout, with the gentle vocals of LouLou Ghelichkhani
making this track a perfect backdrop for a lounge, hookah bar or a rally.
Culture of Fear is one of those albums that has the possibility to be the
framework for moments of the soul one is just allowing themselves to
experience.


Action Bronson & Statik Selektah - Well Done

Action Bronson broke into the hip-hop world and threw everyone for a
loop. Doubters called him everything from a Ghostface clone to a mockery
and all he's done in response is make himself one of the top MC's to watch
as 2011 closed. Nothing brought that point home more than his collaboration
with Statik Selektah for his follow-up to Dr. Lecter, Well Done. The album is
a powerhouse, taking you back to the days of New York hip hop when they
used to pump full albums on college radio stations late nights. Action doesn't
make the contemporary move of overloading his album with guest features;
in fact the guest artists complement the entire EP greatly. 'Cocoa Butter'
Nina Sky is a slice of smooth, and 'Terror Death Camp' with his ace Mayhem
Lauren and BK up-and-comer Maffew Ragazino is a neck-snapper. And "Not
Enough Words" should be on anyone's motivational playlist. Statik Selektah
contributes impeccable production, helping Bronsonlini to craft a winning
musical dish.

Levar FM's 3 Picks of 2011

My reply to @Combat_Jack regarding 2011 being an outstanding year for hip-hop
was based in the notion that there must be a tremendous shift in where you search for
quality music, and terrestrial radio and bullshit singles-only mixtapes ain’t those places.
Pharoahe Monch. Phonte. Random Axe. Danny Brown - and Danny Brown and Black Milk.
The Roots. Roc Marciano. TiRon x Ayomari. Pac Div. Action Bronson. Countless others.
There were so many out-the-gate certified smashes this year, it's made this an incredibly
difficult task; how do I whittle down my favorites to a list of THREE?

I tried.

M.E.D. - Classic

One of the deciding factors for me to deem an album "great" is how many
fast-forward-worthy tracks it has. MED's "Classic" has none. Stellar production
by Georgia Anne Muldrow, Alchemist, Karriem Riggins, and the dynamic sibling
duo of Madlib and Oh No (the former providing the majority of the album's sound)
serve as a proper complement to MED's off-kilter delivery. This disc may be one
that only the die-hard Stones Throw set can appreciate, but I'll be damned if it isn't
head and shoulders above most other rappers' '11 efforts.  

Kendrick Lamar - Section.80

There's a reason - several, actually - why it was a poignant moment
when Snoop Dogg crowned Kendrick Lamar the leader of the revived
West Coast hip-hop movement. "Section 80" is proof positive. The LP
plays like a concept album, built on the premise of a congregation gathered
around a bonfire moderated by an O.G. (think Furious Styles in "Boyz N The Hood").
Whether he accepts it or not, Kendrick speaks on behalf of a generation, the 80's
crack babies - issues like self-esteem, substance abuse, politics, and even
prostitution are prominently featured. The late GURU said, “It’s mostly the voice,”
and Kendrick's voice breaks through with urgency. Heavy is the head that wears
the crown, but just don't give him any handouts - he will break your wrist.

Common - The Dreamer/The Believer

Full disclosure - I waited all year for Common's LP to drop. When you root
for an artist whose legacy is pretty much secure, but whose next move is always
scrutinized, you hope that artist knocks it out the park. Com did that. "Be" is
a certified classic and "Finding Forever" was solid, but "Universal Mind Control"
was … "Electric Circus" revisited. Consider "The Dreamer/The Believer" his return
to form. The album isn't as well-rounded as "Be" but Common sounds comfortable
returning to work with No I.D. Relishing in his success ("Blue Sky"), reminding
October's Very Own what happened to Ice Cube ("Sweet") or taking shit back
to the Chi-Town hustler mentality ("Raw"), Rashid made sure the cipher was
complete for 2011.

Stress' Top 3 Albums of 2011

My picks are based on the time each has stayed in my iPhone. And I
change Playlists every month.



Phonte-Charity Starts At Home

What can I say? Dope rhymes, Dope beats, real singing and rap hybrids,
dope all around outing from Phonte who seems to get better and better
after each outing.


2)Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch the Throne
When I first heard this freaking thing I was hit from all sides. The
vintage beat selection, ping pong verbal sparring, and underlying
“theme” of this album gets my vote for one of the best of the year.



Radioactive - Yelawulf/ The Roots Undun
These two came late in the year, but made it to my playlists for more
than two weeks. Solid production with unique beats and instrumentation
qualifies these into a toss up #3 for 2011. I was especially surprised
at the raw artistry of Yelawulf's solid first outing.

Forge's Picks


Murs & Ski Beatz - Love & Rockets Vol.1: The Transformation

This album is FIRE. Full of West Coast flavor and expert lyricism we've
come to expect from Mr.Murs.


Adele - 21

It's hard to put out an amazing album on your first try, even harder to follow
it up with another one. Adele does just that with this gem.