This year has been an exciting one for us here at Kids Wasting Time. An incredible year for hip hop music paired with our big break into the blogosphere has made it an amazing time to be onboard at KWT. The genre's biggest stars dropped albums (Kanye, Jay) while rookies solidified their status among moguls (J. Cole, Big Sean, Kendrick Lamar) and names shot up out of nowhere, proving to be the next big thing in the industry (Tyler, The Creator, Mac Miller). To make a long story short, whether you're rap's richest man or an indie artist pushing yourself, 2011 was a great year to be a rapper.
As always, when the year passes and moves on to a new one, we are left to reflect on what the past 365 days have given us, and, being obsessed with hip hop, guess what I reflected upon? We know every blog does this, but why should we be the lone site to be left outta the fun? Hit the jump to see my, Mark Twaan's (not LT's or TS's), Top 10 Projects and Songs of 2011, in no particular order, and in no way, shape, or form taking your opinion into any consideration.
Project: A Sucker For Pumps (Album)
Release: September 13, 2011
Artist: CommonProject: The Dreamer, The Believer (Album)
Release: December 20, 2011
Artist: Jay-Z & Kanye WestProject: Watch The Throne (Album)
Release: August 12, 2011
Artist: Pac DivProject: Mania! (Mixtape)
Release: March 7, 2011
Artist: Dom KennedyRelease: June 28, 2011
Artist: Big K.R.I.T.Project: ReturnOf4Eva (Album)
Release: March 28, 2011
Artist: David DallasProject: The Rose Tint (Album)
Release: May 11, 2011
Artist: J. ColeRelease: September 28, 2011
Artist: Dom KennedyProject: The Original Dom Kennedy (Mixtape)
Release: March 10, 2011
Artist: Pac DivProject: The Div (Album)
Release: November 8, 2011
Artist: Common
Song: "Celebrate"
Project: The Dreamer, The Believer (Album)
Producer: No I.D.
No I.D. borrows a Kenny Loggins piano riff that sets the tone for this feel-good anthem from Common's ninth album. He takes us back to Chicago, having fun along the way while still encouraging listeners to celebrate life no matter where they may find themselves. As always, No I.D.'s soulful sound pairs perfectly with Lonnie's baritone voice to bring us a standout from his December album The Dreamer, The Believer. Despite being released less than two weeks ago, in my opinion, "Celebrate" is one of 2011's best tracks and a great one to bump while closing the year.Artist: TiRon & Ayomari
Song: "All My Love" (feat. Yummy Bingham)
Project: A Sucker For Pumps (Album)
Producer: D.K.
The bouncy yet smooth track five from the always collaborating left coasters barely beat other standouts "Jack Kerouac" and "Her Theme Song" as my favorite track from a top 5 project of the year, A Sucker For Pumps. Staying away from the typical "f*ck hoes, make money" trend, TiRon and Ayomari trade bars about their respective love interests while the yummy Yummy Bingham handles the hook.Artist: Pac Div
Song: "High Five"
Project: The Div (Album)
Producer: Like (of Pac Div)
Hit play and listen..."The system is designed for you to be a part of it, declare your independence." After a fall through with Universal Records, Pac Div's greatest feat yet was accomplished at a time when no one thought possible. Putting critics to shame, the California trio released their debut LP The Div independently,which was full of joints that stuck to Like, Mibbs, and BeYoung's M.O. thanks to 100% creative control. My personal favorite was the smooth, laid-back track "High Five." Over production by the group's very own Like, the trio spit bars that offer one central theme: stay close with the homies, f*ck everyone else.
Artist: David Dallas
Song: "Take A Picture"
Project: The Rose Tint (Album)
Producer: Fire & Ice
If you couldn't tell yet, I'm a huge fan of smooth hip hop, and David Dallas is an expert in said field. The New Zealander turned New Yorker takes a very pop-style instrumental and makes it work wonderfully as a hip hop joint, continually referencing his struggles to make it in America despite his foreign roots. He praises his underground fans of the present day, but warns us that soon the world will "be up on this shit." Can't disagree with him there. He's making the right moves, and, soon enough, the dude'll be heard.
If you couldn't tell yet, I'm a huge fan of smooth hip hop, and David Dallas is an expert in said field. The New Zealander turned New Yorker takes a very pop-style instrumental and makes it work wonderfully as a hip hop joint, continually referencing his struggles to make it in America despite his foreign roots. He praises his underground fans of the present day, but warns us that soon the world will "be up on this shit." Can't disagree with him there. He's making the right moves, and, soon enough, the dude'll be heard.Artist: J. Cole
Song: "Sideline Story"
Producer: J. Cole
Although I'm a fan of everything Jermaine puts out, the (half) title-track to his incredible debut album displays the kind of J. Cole of which I can't get enough (pun not intended). One of the few dual threats of production and rapping, dude is able to create beats that perfectly flow and mesh with his lyrics, which is exactly what he's done on "Sideline Story." Doing his thing over a smooth (there it is again) piano-guitar medley, Cole talks shit about how he's finally "breaking out of his own box" and how if now is anyone's time, it's his.
Although I'm a fan of everything Jermaine puts out, the (half) title-track to his incredible debut album displays the kind of J. Cole of which I can't get enough (pun not intended). One of the few dual threats of production and rapping, dude is able to create beats that perfectly flow and mesh with his lyrics, which is exactly what he's done on "Sideline Story." Doing his thing over a smooth (there it is again) piano-guitar medley, Cole talks shit about how he's finally "breaking out of his own box" and how if now is anyone's time, it's his. Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Song: "Hol' Up"
Project: Section.80 (Album)
Producer: Sounwave
Artist: Jay-Z & Kanye West
Song: "Primetime"
Project: Watch The Throne (Album)
Producer: No I.D.
Ye called on his mentor to produce this underrated gem from the year's biggest hip hop album, Watch The Throne. Unfortunately for you cheap bastards, "Primetime" may have went unnoticed, as it only appeared as a bonus track on WTT's deluxe version. Hov proves he's good at math while Yeezy is as pretentious as ever over a soft piano sample that somehow fits perfectly with No I.D.'s hard hitting drums. Though the collaboration album did monster numbers, I will always wonder why the best song on Watch The Throne was left as a mere bonus track.Artist: Dom Kennedy
Song: "When I Come Around"
Producer: Unknown
Dom's entire FTWWL2 is filled with music that you ride to. Whether it's in your El Co from Inglewood to Leimert, your bike from home to 7-11, or your rollerblades from here to the park (okay, maybe not), this album is the perfect cruising soundtrack. While there are about 13 songs on this project that could've been featured here, "When I Come Around" is the dopest, most memorable of them all. With atmospheric synths hiding behind his boastful lyrics, Dom makes sure to let us know that not only is he the coolest cat out the west, but outta the nation.
Dom's entire FTWWL2 is filled with music that you ride to. Whether it's in your El Co from Inglewood to Leimert, your bike from home to 7-11, or your rollerblades from here to the park (okay, maybe not), this album is the perfect cruising soundtrack. While there are about 13 songs on this project that could've been featured here, "When I Come Around" is the dopest, most memorable of them all. With atmospheric synths hiding behind his boastful lyrics, Dom makes sure to let us know that not only is he the coolest cat out the west, but outta the nation.Artist: Big K.R.I.T.
Song: "R4 Theme Song"
Project: ReturnOf4Eva (Album)
Producer: Big K.R.I.T.
The King Remembered In Time sticks to the template of southern rap throughout the project, talking girls cars and money while still, on a few tracks, staying relevant and positive. No song captures this theme more fully than the properly named "R4 Theme Song." Fully equipped with an Andre 3000 sample and an old school feel, it's safe to say this joint is one of the more popular, best-made records on the album. Of course, channels his inner UGK, dominating his own production making music his bitch, and ain't nothin' coming between 'em.Artist: Pac Div
Song: "Fallin'"
Project: Mania! (Mixtape)
Producer: Clement & Co.
My only repeated artist on the list, Pac Div was definitely my favorite outlet of hip hop music in 2011. Mania! is still on constant repeat on my iPod, with its guitar heavy production and a surplus of dope verses from the likes of Like, Mibbs and BeYoung. With all three boasting and seducing their own love interests, "Fallin'" proves that Pac Div can make sensitive songs and club bangers, making them a very versatile group. Now with four full length mixtapes and an LP under their belt, tracks in the making with Kendrick Lamar, Dom Kennedy and others, and studio time with The Neptunes, The Div are poised for big moves in 2012.
My only repeated artist on the list, Pac Div was definitely my favorite outlet of hip hop music in 2011. Mania! is still on constant repeat on my iPod, with its guitar heavy production and a surplus of dope verses from the likes of Like, Mibbs and BeYoung. With all three boasting and seducing their own love interests, "Fallin'" proves that Pac Div can make sensitive songs and club bangers, making them a very versatile group. Now with four full length mixtapes and an LP under their belt, tracks in the making with Kendrick Lamar, Dom Kennedy and others, and studio time with The Neptunes, The Div are poised for big moves in 2012.Leave a comment in the comment section below. Any discussion is appreciated, whether you enjoyed it or hated it, let us know. Share it on Twitter & Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment