Some of the best projects of the year
The Next Best: 2011
Mello Music Group
Without question, the best music label out today. Every single release they put out this year could have made the top list, and two of them (Clouds + ICIDMI/Conversation B) did. Here’s the rest that you NEED in your collection for right now, and then go ahead and pick up the rest when you’re a real MMG fiend.
http://mellomusicgroup.bandcamp.com/
- Oddisee - Rock Creek Park
- Hassaan Mackey & Apollo Brown - Daily Bread
- DTMD - Makin’ Dollas
- Trek Life - Everything Changed Nothing
- Oddisee - Odd Season
The Roots - Undun
If it didn’t come out so late in the year, it definitely would have made the top 12 list. There isn’t a better one-two punch on any album than “The OtherSide” into “Stomp”. If you pick up the physical copy, you’ll notice that the track listing begins at 157, indicating the amount of wealth The Roots have added to the hip-hop catalog. Get it here: http://www.okayplayer.com/news/the-roots-undun-epk-best-buy-coupon.html
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Bedouin Dress is my favorite and they’re on one of the best current record labels: http://www.subpop.com/artists/fleet_foxes
Jean Grae - Cookies or Comas
Better than your favorite rapper. Convulsion inducing tracks. Marzipan and Scrabble will never be the same. Get it for free: http://www.djbooth.net/index/mixtapes/entry/jean-grae-cookies-comas
Castle - Ditch Effort
A very dope, truthful album that you can buy here: http://castle.bandcamp.com/ Castle is my favorite person on twitter. There is no filter to his tweets, he’s brutally honest, awesome and hilarious. Follow this dude and learn: https://twitter.com/#!/cstlnova
Danger Mouse + Daniele Luppi + Jack White + Norah Jones = Rome
Danger Mouse is my favorite artist. Jack White is pretty high up on my list as well. Imagine Norah Jones as the narrator of your life. Buy: http://www.romealbum.com/
Evidence - Cats & Dogs
Another album that almost made the best of the year list, so many good MC’s and artists featured on this one. It felt like it went a little too long, otherwise, a very good piece of work. Buy it: http://rhymesayers.com/evidence
Small Pro
Get to know him before February 2012: http://smallprofessor.bandcamp.com/
Odd Future
If it wasn’t for my insane interest in Odd Future, I would have never came across Mello Music Group or Little Dragon. I also had a chance to see them live and I’ve got to say they are just a bunch of kids having fun, they were so grateful to have a live audience there partying with them. They put on a wild show in Baltimore, and it was the most fun I had at a concert all year. I’m not sure if they still have all of their releases for free, but you can go and check it ‘em out (if you haven’t already) at www.oddfuture.com I’d recommend getting:
- Frank Ocean - Nostalgia/Ultra
- Domo Genesis - Rolling Papers
- Tyler, The Creator - Bastard
- Mellowhype - YelloWhite
Tom Waits - Bad As Me
It’s amazing how most songs could come from a different “genre”, but it all sounds like a cohesive, albeit slobbery, project. http://kingsroadmerch.com/tom-waits/
kechPhrase - Sincerely Yours
Turns out the beatsmith is a pretty good rapper. Oh yeah, he’s got a few beats on Kool A.D.’s upcoming solo project (Das Racist) http://hulkshare.com/7x3g8zoo852j
Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67cx9M2c51M&feature=share
Enjoy http://www.subpop.com/releases/shabazz_palaces/full_lengths/black_up
Jay-Z and Kanye West - Watch The Throne
Put the mic down, Kanye
Freddy V - Easier Than It Looks
The jazziest greatness I heard all year http://www.amazon.com/Easier-Than-Looks-Freddy-V/dp/B001MIFS9W
Blazo - Colors of Jazz
The second best jazz I heard all year, thanks to Flying Lotus. This polish hip-hop beatsmith is about to make some serious noise. http://blazo.bandcamp.com/
Falside - Snare Conditioning
One of the best tapes out http://potholesinmyblog.com/falside-snare-conditioning-beat-tape/
Vetiver - Errant Charm
Shout out to @ravi_mangla for introducing me to this insanely good album http://vetiverse.com/
Fonz-E Mak - The 6:21 Theory
Fonz-E Mak put a lot of time into crafting this one and you can hear the payoff. He’s got a knack for picking soulful beats and he’s sure to come into the spotlight with the rest of his 2008ighties (Lookout for Murph Watkins) crew in 2012. I might have to call him the Jimmy Fallon of rapping though, if he keeps laughing during his damn tracks. Otherwise, it’s a really solid disc, especially this one with Julian Malone. Go and cop it: http://www.2dopeboyz.com/2011/10/08/fonz-e-mak-the-621-theory-mixtape/
Elzhi - Elmatic
Elzhi is one of the top 5 DOA MC’s today and he absolutely bodies some of the Nas classics with the help of Will Sessions. Go get yours: http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/05/download-elzhis-elmatic-now/
Bill Ding + House Lyons “Plenty Fun”
The upcoming rap duo from the NYC area produce fun raps that score the college years: http://billdingahouse.bandcamp.com/
The Cool Kids
The Cool Kids finally had a proper release this year “When Fish Ride Bicycles” thatexceeded even this die hard fans expectations. Sir Michael Rocks dropped anawesome solo project, and tomorrow, Chuck Inglish drops an instrumental mixtape (He did everyone a favor by releasing it on NYE, I’m guessing it would have graced most top 10 lists)
Das Racist - Relax
Just watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUxLlXikwZU
SmarterChild
No one has a brighter 2012 lined up. Here’s why: http://soundcloud.com/smarterchild
