Kevin Nottingham: 2011 brought us a lot of great hip hop. So much that it was almost impossible to do a Top 10 list. If you look at are lists below, you’ll notice we have just as many honorable mentions, making these more or less a Top 20 list! For me though, the Top 5 were easy… it was their placement in the Top 5 that was difficult. CunninLynguists‘ album when I first heard it back in March was an instant classic. I knew instantly it was going to be on the top of my list. But when Yonasdropped his album, The Proven Theory, and I literally listened to it every single day in 2011, it had to get my top spot. The whole album is just catchy and worth of back to back listens. The Roots‘ are an obvious top choice for me. Thought not quite as good as How I Got Over the previous year, undunwas up to par. One album that may surprise you on my list is Watch The Throne. I talked so much shit about that album and was so disappointed in it when it dropped. Then one day in October I woke up and heard it for what it was. Then when I saw The Throne live in November, it was all over. I love the record now. As for the rest of my list, I gotta give props to Ski Beatz for having a great fucking year. Though I didn’t care for the Locksmith album as much, both his album with Murs (who is one of my favorite emcees) and his 24 Hr Karate School album were top notch. Can’t wait for Part 3!

Justin Ivey: The best album of the year could really be a three-way tie for me. I went back and forth between L.A.B.O.R, Oneirology and iSLAND before finally settling on One Be Lo’s long awaited LP. The Binary Star member returned with a vengeance as he released his best album sinceS.O.N.O.G.R.A.M. G-Side almost landed both of their 2011 projects on my list, but their second effort of the year was a lock for my top 3. Kno was behind the boards of two of the year’s best with he,Deacon The Villain & Natti’s new CunninLynguists LP as well as MarQ Spekt’s MacheteVision.Thes One & Double K kept it fun while unveiling some of their most original production yet onHighlighter. The Doppelgangaz impressed me with their original style on Lone Sharks whileLocksmith dropped some lyrical fireworks with the help of Ski Beatz. Despite a few beats that missed the mark, Kendrick Lamar’s rhymes were able to make up for any shortcomings on his debut Section 80. Dilated Peoples member Evidence showed us The Weatherman was no fluke withCats & Dogs while Killer Mike crafted his most cohesive work to date on PL3DGE. It was really difficult leaving The Roots and Atmosphere off the top 10, but I just couldn’t put them ahead of any of those albums. 2011 was simply a great year for Hip Hop.

Arasia Magnetic: There is a lot that goes into any good album; solid lyrics, production landscapes that bring said lyrics to life, a cohesive vibe, an entertaining yet emotionally evoking aspect that captures moments in time that keep me coming back amongst other things. And 2011 had quite a few albums that did all that and more. It was damn near impossible to list them in order however I knew Nemo Achida would take my number one spot just based on how well put together his project was (and my iTunes informing me that it had well over a thousand spins). Also rounding out the top five was Pharoahe Monch, One Be Lo, CunninLynguists and Apathy, all which released dope albums respectively. Check out the rest below.

Thomas: This has been a good year for Hip Hop as some new faces and vets have released solid albums. Pharoahe Monch dropped a worthwhile album after long hiatus. Newcomers Has-Lo andRasheed Chappell dropped critically acclaimed albums. I’m still baffled by the negative receptionWatch The Throne received. The album was more than high end product placement rap. “New Day,” “Excellent Murder,” “Primetime,” and others showed that. The Roots also dropped another classic album that has high replay value because of its story.  yU crafted another album many people will be talking about for years to come. The rhymes (“Blind” and “Fast Money”) were intelligent, introspective, and the production complemented him. Danny Brown continues to impress and Saigon finally released his album after years of talking about it. And the most impressive aspect of The Greatest Story Never Told is that it doesn’t sound dated. But ultimately, my album of the year is Phonte’sCharity Starts At Home. Charity… connects with me on so many levels whether it’s Te’ describing the plight of the common man on “The Good Fight” or discussing his rocky relationship with his brother on, “Who Loves You More.”  Te’ was able to tackle these topics and more with his one of a kind wit, charm, and flare. He flawlessly blended the “rapping Te’, four-and-half-mic honoree” and “…singing Te’, first-time Grammy nominee.”  And what married man hasn’t had that TYPE of conversation/thought at the end of “Eternally?”  Only Te’ would do that.

Kevin

1. Yonas – The Proven Theory
2. CunninLynguists – Oneirology
3. The Roots – undun
4. J. Cole – Cole World: The Sideline Story
5. Kanye West & Jay-Z – Watch the Throne
6. yU – The Earn
7. Murs & Ski Beatz – Love & Rockets Vol.1 : The Transformation
8. Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R.
9. Action Bronson – Dr. Lecter
10. Ski Beatz – 24 Hour Karate School Pt. 2

Honorable Mentions

• Evidence – Cats & Dogs
• Hassaan Mackey & Apollo Brown – Daily Bread
• J-Live – S.P.T.A.
• Rapper Big Pooh – Dirty Pretty Things
• Random Axe – Random Axe
• Rashad & Confidence – The Elements of Surprise
• Rasheed Chappell – Future Before Nostalgia
• Roc C – Stoned Genius
• Talib Kweli – Gutter Rainbows
• Torae – For The Record

Justin

1. One Be Lo – L.A.BO.R.
2. CunninLynguists – Oneirology
3. G-Side – iSLAND
4. People Under The Stairs – Highlighter
5. Locksmith – Embedded
6. The Doppelgangaz – Lone Sharks
7. MarQ Spekt & Kno – MacheteVision
8. Evidence – Cats & Dogs
9. Kendrick Lamar – Section 80
10. Killer Mike – PL3DGE

Honorable Mentions

• The Roots – undun
• Atmosphere – The Family Sign
• G-Side – The One…Cohesive
• Phonte – Charity Starts At Home
• Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R.
• Reef The Lost Cauze & Snowgoons – Your Favorite MC
• Strange Fruit Project – A Dreamer’s Journey
• Rasheed Chappell – Future Before Nostalgia
• DTMD – Makin’ Dollas
• YelaWolf – Radioactive

Arasia

1. Nemo Achida – Nemotional
2. Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R.
3. One Be Lo - L.A.B.O.R.
4. CunninLynguists – Oneirology
5. Apathy – Honkey Kong
6. Ab-Soul – Long Term Mentality
7. Kendrick Lamar – Section 80
8. G-Side – The One…Cohesive
9. Phonte – Charity Starts At Home
10. Rasheed Chappell – Future Before Nostalgia

Honorable Mentions

• yU – The Earn
• DTMD – Makin’ Dollas
• Co$$ – Before I Awoke
• Evidence – Cats & Dogs
• Rapper Big Pooh – Dirty Pretty Things
• Common – The Dreamer/The Believer
• Blu & Exile – Give Me Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them
• Action Bronson & Statik Selektah – Well-Done
• Mistah F.A.B. – I Found My Backpack 2: The Lost Notebook
• Boog Brown – The Brown Study Remixes

Thomas

1. Phonte – Charity Starts At Home
2. Saigon – The Greatest Story Never Told
3. Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R.
4. Danny Brown – XXX
5. Rasheed Chappell – Future Before Nostalgia
6. The Roots – undun
7. yU – The Earn
8. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch the Throne
9. Has-Lo – In Case I Don’t Make It
10. Evidence – Cats & Dogs

Honorable Mentions

• Vast Aire – OX 2010: A Street Odyssey
• Action Bronson & Statik Selektah – Well-Done
• Quelle Chris – Shogun & Sleek Rifle
• Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4Eva
• Reks – R.E.K.S.
• Common – The Dreamer/The Believer
• Oddisee – Rock Creek Park
• Young Jeezy – TM103: A Hustler’s Ambition
• DTMD – Makin’ Dollas
• J. Cole – Cole World: The Sideline Story
  
  

Source: Kevin Nottingham

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