11 Big Name Albums I Bumped in '11

2011 was one of the greatest years in hip hop that I can remember.  There were loads of fresh new MC's dropping incredibly dope mixtapes and albums, innovative videos, and ill lyrics.  There were a handful of instant classics, and many more memorable projects from underground artists as well.  But along with great pop-chart-qualifying albums like Take Care, Watch The Throne, Cole World, The Dreamer/The Believer, Ambition, and Hell: The Sequel, these 11 mainstream releases helped supply even the casual listeners of hip hop with something incredibly respectable...

APOLLO KIDS by GHOSTFACE KILLAH

This came out 12/22/2010, but I consider it a 2011 album.  And yes, I still consider Ghostface mainstream.  Until he puts out a wack album, he reigns supreme.  This album bangs.  Wu Tang forever.  That's all I gotta say.

HOT SAUCE COMMITTEE PART TWO by THE BEASTIE BOYS

I don't drool over every album released by legendary rappers.  But, this is a really good return to the funky roots of one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.

ROLLING PAPERS by WIZ KHALIFA

Wiz Khalifa is not a beast on the microphone.  He reads his mid-level lyrics off of his phone when asked to freestyle on the radio (there's video proof.)  But to dismiss Wiz Khalifa as an MC would be to dismiss the Nelly's, the 50 Cent's, and the Young Jeezy's of the hip hop world.  And to do that, you can't know very much about hip hop.  ROLLING PAPERS is a good fucking album.  End of story.  If you've been a fan of his for years and disagree, that's okay.  If you think he sucks because he makes hit records, that's okay.  You're wrong, but that is quite okay.  Winky face.  Holler.

SUCCESS IS CERTAIN by ROYCE DA 5'9"

You don't know how happy it makes me to call Royce Da 5'9" mainstream.  But thanks to a reconciliation, and incredible collaborative album, with Eminem, I can.  SUCCESS IS CERTAIN is not Royce's best album, but at his worst, he's better than many.  This album lives in the shadows of HELL: THE SEQUEL, but it really deserves its own shine.

BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS by ACE HOOD

Ace Hood is underrated.  He's often overlooked.  He puts out quality southern hip hop.  This album has plenty of highlights, and very few dull moments.  

THE R.E.D. ALBUM by GAME

Game gets shown up on the first song of this album by (new) West Coast Savior, Kendrick Lamar.  Tyler The Creator, Wale, and Rick Ross follow suit throughout the album.  Game is not at the peak of his lyrical prowess anymore, however, he may be approach another peak, musically.  THE R.E.D. ALBUM has plenty of upside, and even the downside (the renegade moments created by his featured guests) is a good thing, in the end.  

THA CARTER IV by LIL' WAYNE

The fourth installment of Tha Carter series may be the most conistent.  It takes a step back to the previous three because, although it lacks most of the occasional blunders of the first three, it also lacks the clear standout tracks as well.  

TM: 103 HUSTLERZ AMBITION by YOUNG JEEZY

If you ask me, Jeezy started out his career by dropping 2 classsic albums.  THUG MOTIVATION 101 and THE INSPIRATION provided Southern Hip Hop that was unlike any before it.  Jeezy fell off of my radar quite a bit with THE RECESSION, however, and a string of good at-times (and at-times only) mixtapes.  But with TM: 103, Jeezy returns to prominence, and although this certainly isn't a classic, it is definitely a great album.

UNDUN by THE ROOTS

The Roots are mainstays of the Hip Hop Culture.  When you make music the way that The Roots make music... it can never be bad.  Its only truth.  And to add a concept album to their catalog was cool, doing one of the few things they hadn't already done better than most.

RADIOACTIVE by YELAWOLF

Yelawolf has had to prove himself.  He has had to prove himself in order to be taken seriously.   I am definitely one of the people who didn't take Yela seriously for a long time.  I wrote him off on several levels, several times.  But this year, he aligned himself with Shady Records, and the likes of Slaughterhouse, and Slim himself.  This move demanded some attention and respect, so I gave him my ear, and it payed off.  RADIOACTIVE is a great album, in which its weaknesses to some ears, will be strengths in others'.  

SELF MADE, VOL. 1 by MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP

I've read a couple of times this year how some believe that signing with MMG was the worst mistake of Wale's career.  These are the same people who dislike Rick Ross because of his (obviously fake) persona.  However, the larger-than-life Rozay hooks, interlaced with the styles of 3 very different, yet very developed MC's, sound incredible at times.  This sounds like glorified street life.  It sounds like what it is.  Yet, it sounds like a movie.  It's dapper, yet rugged.  It's a phenomenal modern hip hop album.