21 Albums That You Should Download from 2011

These albums were not among my top 10 list at the end of the year, however, each of these spent a long time in regular rotation on my iTunes account.  And if I were to make an edit to my top 10 list in 6 months (which I often do,) every one of these albums have a good chance of finding their way on to it.  These are albums that you may not have heard of, or may not have listened to in 2011, that you need to go and purchase/download/stream immediately and enjoy-- as I, and probably many others- have.

THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD by SAIGON
REVIEW GRADE: A
SIMILAR TO: Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Nas
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ArfGK31w-g&feature=related

GUTTER RAINBOWS by TALIB KWELI
REVIEW GRADE: B
SIMILAR TO: Mos Def
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTzBvlQ4qP4

WE ARE RENEGADES by PHAROAHE MONCH
REVIEW GRADE: B+
SIMILAR TO: KRS-One
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb49FN_AKwg

RHYTHMATIC ETERNAL KING SUPREME by REKS
REVIEW GRADE: B+
SIMILAR TO: Royce Da 5'9
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhBMcBrLUBA&feature=related

BEST DAY EVER by MAC MILLER
REVIEW GRADE: B+
SIMILAR TO: Asher Roth, Nas, Big Sean
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbV-Q6tz4B8

ADVENTURES IN COUNTER-CULTURE by BLUEPRINT
REVIEW GRADE: A
SIMILAR TO: Atmosphere, Murs
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnKdnDS9KtM&feature=relmfu

GOBLIN by TYLER,  THE CREATOR
REVIEW GRADE: B+
SIMILAR TO: R.A. The Rugged Man, Esham
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSbZidsgMfw&feature=relmfu

SECTION.80 by KENDRICK LAMAR
REVIEW GRADE: A
SIMILAR TO: Talib Kweli, The Game
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep0hay4Qw54&feature=related

ALL 6'S AND 7'S by TECH N9NE
REVIEW GRADE: B
SIMILAR TO:
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rhxEwJXzKo

DR. LECTER by ACTION BRONSON
REVIEW GRADE: B
SIMILAR TO: Ghostface Killah
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPCQgzA1cnU

ELMATIC by ELZHI
REVIEW GRADE: A
SIMILAR TO: Nas
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38HmE7fuE1w

CHARITY STARTS AT HOME by PHONTE
REVIEW GRADE: B+
SIMILAR TO: Little Brother, Elzhi
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtZ0Jdy-5DE&feature=related

HONKEY KONG by APATHY REVIEW GRADE: B+
SIMILAR TO: Celph Titled, Vinnie Paz, Evidence
SAMPLE:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IVaqGhG854 

WELL DONE by ACTION BRONSON & STATIK SELEKTAH
REVIEW GRADE: A
SIMILAR TO: Ghostaface Killah, Big Pun
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8APYF0kkas

THE MARTYR by IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE
REVIEW GRADE: B
SIMILAR TO: KRS-One, Diabolic
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfEsgHDNIIk&feature=related

POPULATION CONTROL by STATIK SELEKTAH

REVIEW GRADE: B+

SIMILAR TO: J.Dilla, Jake One

SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rpv7rx4qrQ

BLACK AND BROWN! by BLACK MILK & DANNY BROWN
REVIEW GRADE: B-
SIMILAR TO: Sean Price, Royce Da 5'9
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfNe-g45T5U&ob=av2e

CAMP by CHILDISH GAMBINO
REVIEW GRADE: A
SIMILAR TO: Lil' Wayne, Drake, Lupe Fiasco
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL1B_r9nC9k

LINCOLN WAY NIGHTS by STALLEY
REVIEW GRADE: A-
SIMILAR TO: J.Cole, Wale
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgzDiyFVSo8

VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE by JEDI MIND TRICKS
REVIEW GRADE: B+
SIMILAR TO: Ill Bill, Apathy
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uCdtrN_Jh0

LOVE AND ROCKETS, VOL. 1: THE TRANSFORMATION by MURS
REVIEW GRADE: B+
SIMILAR TO: Atmosphere, Living Legends
SAMPLE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hiHi4mLbQU