Top 10 Hip Hop Albums Of 2011

It was a good year for hip hop and more importantly it was a good year for underground hip hop. Right off the bat we will mention that you’re not going to see “Watch The Throne” or Lil Wayne in this top 10 list and if that is the kind of hip hop you like, then keep it moving. The rest of you feel free to check out our picks for 2011 and don’t take it too seriously, after all it’s just our own personal opinions.

Note : THIS LIST IS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER.

1) Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz : Heavy Metal Kings

Simply put when two of your favorite MC’s get together and drop an album it makes for some sweet music to ones ears. Heavy Metal Kings was a collaboration that on paper made sense and then in the flesh was truly something special. Thick beats, great lyrics and one of the best live shows we saw all year. Tracks like “Oath Of The Goat”, “Splatterfest” and “The Final Call” made us remember why we love underground hip hop so much.

2) Action Bronson : Dr Lecter

Admittedly an album that we slept on at first, but once wise to its older sound and somewhat jazzy feel we were happy that it caught our interest. A lot of this album reminded us of Ghostface Killah which is a good thing, but Bronson differs enough to have his own sound and vibe. This is New York sounding hip hop through and through and Bronsons MC skills are fit to put a dent in the genera. The album is addictive and hard to put down, tracks like “Barry Horowitz” will constantly keep you coming back for more.

3) Immortal Technique : The Martyr

Hands down one of the best hip hop albums to come out this year. Hard as nails, dark and heavy beats, filled with politically inspired lyrics and guest spots that fit the whole vibe of the album perfectly. Stand out tracks for us were “Eyes In The Sky”, “Civil War” and “Black Vikings” all of which truly define what hardcore hip hop should sound like. Incredible album don’t sleep on this one.

4) Jedi Mind Tricks : Violence Begets Violence

Speaking of hardcore, JMT dropped a nuclear bomb of an album in 2011 with “Violence Begets Violence”. Their first album without long time producer Stoupe and from where we’re sitting it remains one of the hardest hip hop albums of 2011. Amazing work from producers like C-Lance, Hypnotist Beats, Grand Finale, Junior Makhno, Nero and others made this album aggressive, dark and angry as all hell. It saw Jus Allah in the best form he has been at in a long time and Vinnie focussed and straight to the point. We knew this was going to be a banger the second we heard the track “Burning The Mirror”.

5) Swollen Members : Dagger Mouth

“Dagger Mouth” was a real return to form for Swollen Members, after putting a great deal of personal drama behind them the group was able to focus and write some of the best tracks we have heard since “Bad Dreams”. Mad Child was on fire and Prevail once again seemed truly motivated to make a killer record. It was the return to that dark and evil sound that we were particularly happy about on “Dagger Mouth”, tracks like “Do Or Die” and “House Of Sin” brought back the glory days of the Swollen Members clan.

6) Slaine : A World With No Skies 2.0

An album that was a long time in the making, but well worth the wait. Very introspective, good variety of beats and the addictive flow of one of the best MC’s in the game all came together to make a truly inspiring hip hop album. Slaine has an infectious vibe surrounding him, one that translates into lyrics many can relate to and a sound that really does stand on its own. “A World With No Skies 2.0″ for us was one of the most diverse and best sounding hip hop albums of 2011.

7) Outerspace : My Brothers Keeper

Been a fan of Outerspace ever since their first album and “My Brothers Keeper” is their best work to date. Its always nice to see groups that can match and surpass what they did early in their career and Outerspace did just that with this album. With guest spots from Ill Bill, Vinnie Paz and Apathy it’s no wonder this album struck such a cord with us. However, it was the MC prowess of Crypt The Warchild and Planetary that really caught our attention and made this album such a beast. Title track “My Brothers Keeper” and “World Of Fear” really showcased their skill and that skill is not something that can be ignored.

8) Reef The Lost Cauze/Snowgoons : Your Favorite MC

No list would be complete with out music from our favorite producers Illegal and Det (Snowgoons). A more perfect collaboration we could not think of, the well known hardcore sound of the Snowgoons coupled with the rhyme skill of Reef made for beautiful music. Tracks like “F**K Rappers”, “Brain On Drugs” and “Black Opz” showcase the talent of everyone involved and really give them all a chance to shine. Reef does a lot of guest spots on albums, but “Your Favorite MC” really saw him deliver on numerous tracks all in one spot and it was a real treat. This album is a beast, be sure to indulge.

9) Apathy : Honkey Kong

Another album that we came late to the table on in 2011, but one that blew us away when we finally got there. Diverse sound, creative beats, amazing guest spots and great MC skills from Apathy made this album a must for this list. “Honkey Kong” is good and grimey and the producers he worked with fit his style perfectly which is why this album sounds so authentic and natural. One spin of the track “Stop What Ya Doin’” and you will know exactly what we’re talking about.

10) Everlast : Songs Of The Ungrateful Living

Saving one of the best all round albums of the year for last is what we’re doing here. Everlast reached his pinnacle when he dropped “Songs Of The Ungrateful Living”, the album was honest, raw, made no compromises and was probably some of the realist music released this year. This album is the true meaning of diversity, there are few artists that can have songs like “Long At All”, “I Get By” and “Moneymaker” all on the same album and still make it work. So many highlights on this record all we can do is tell you to buy this record if you have not already. Incredible music from a very talented artist.

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