After much thought, myself and Mek have finally compiled a list for our personal favorite albums, mixtapes, EPs and songs of 2010. Hit the jump to dissect and banter about how our opinions aren’t right (or something).
TOP 10 ALBUMS
Like last year, this list contains no specific order. Just a collection of my personal favorite albums of 2010. I can’t even call my #1.
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
PackFM – I F*cking Hate Rappers
Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
B.o.B – The Adventures of Bobby Ray
Big K.R.I.T. – K.R.I.T. Wuz Here
(2)Dope Extras
Nas & Damian Marley – Distant Relatives
Reflection Eternal – Revolutions Per Minute
Celph Titled & Buckwild – Nineteen Ninety Now
Freeway & Jake One – The Stimulus Package
Dessa – A Badly Broken Code
KiD CuDi – MOTM2
TOP 10 MIXTAPES
Another great year for the mixtape scene. 10 isn’t enough to show the amount of dope projects to drop this year, but I’ll give it a shot. My personal favorite? J. Cole or Kendrick Lamar with ease (even if they both could basically be considered albums in themselves)
A (2)Dope Mixtape: Empire State Edition
Emilio Rojas – Life Without Shame
Sha Stimuli – Overtime: My Soul to Keep
(2)Dope Extras
Asher Roth – Seared Foi Gras w/ Quince & Cranberry
Chace Infinite – I Would Have Killed This
Fabolous – TiNC2: The Funeral Service
Pac Div – Don’t Mention It
Wiz Khalifa – Kush & Orange Juice
Royce Da 5’9″ – Bar Exam 3
TOP 5 EPs
Although the Kendrick Lamar EP dropped in 2009, it still takes the top spot on my list as we compiled last year’s list just before it dropped.
Kendrick Lamar – Kendrick Lamar EP
Atmosphere – To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blady Holy
(2)Dope Extras
Sene & J57 – eye don’t dream… but i do
Donwill & Von Pea – The Sandwich Shop EP
The Knux – F*ck You
Freddie Gibbs – Str8 Killa EP
(A FEW OF MY) FAVORITE SONGS
There’s no way in hell that I could possibly list off all my favorite songs. So I just made a list of what came to mind. Thanks for all the great music guys.
Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar
Asher Roth – G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready It’s a New Day)
Asher Roth & Nottz – Enforce the Law
Atmosphere – To All My Friends
Big Boi – For Yo Sorrows f. Too $hort & George Clinton
Big K.R.I.T. – My Interpretation
Big K.R.I.T. – Something
Big Sean – What U Doin? (Bullshittin’)
Black Milk – Deadly Medley f. Royce Da 5’9″ & eLZhi
B.o.B – Beast Mode
Brother Ali & Fashawn – Breakin’ Dawn Boys
Brother Ali, Toki Wright & Evidence – The Freshest Kids
Bruno Mars – The Other Side f. Cee-Lo & B.o.B
Bun B – Just Like That f. Young Jeezy
Celph Titled – Swashbuckling f. Apathy, Ryu & Esoteric
Celph Titled – Styles Ain’t Raw f. Apathy & Chino XL
Chris Brown – Deuces (rmx) f. Drake, Fabolous, T.I., Kanye West, Rick Ross & Andre 3000
Consequence – Whatever You Want (rmx) f. Kanye West, Big Sean & Common
Crooked I – Gangsta’s Cry f. K-Young
Curren$y & Wiz Khalifa – The Planes
Curren$y – Address f. Stalley
Diplomats – Salute f. Vado
Donwill – Laura’s Song
Drake – 9 AM in Dallas Freestyle
Drake – Unforgettable f. Young Jeezy
Eminem & Royce Da 5’9″ – Echo f. Liz Rodrigues (prod. DJ Khalil)
Eminem – I Need a Doctor f. Dr. Dre
Fat Joe – I’m Gone
Freddie Gibbs – Crushin’ Feelins
Freddie Gibbs – National Anthem (Fuck the World)
J. Cole – 2Face
J. Cole – Premeditated Murder
Kanye West – Monster f. Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj & Ben Iver
Kanye West – Power (rmx) f. Jay-Z
Kanye West – The Joy f. Jay-Z, Pete Rock, Charlie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield & KiD CuDi
Kanye West – Looking For Trouble f. Pusha T, CyHi Da Prynce, Big Sean & J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar – Celebration
Kendrick Lamar – I Do This f. U-N-I, Skeme & Brown (of Sore Losers)
Kendrick Lamar – Pussy & Patron f. Ab-Soul
Laws – Hold You Down (rmx) f. Emilio Rojas & Big K.R.I.T.
Lil Wayne – 6’7′ f. Cory Gunz
Miguel – All I Want Is You f. J. Cole
N.E.R.D – Hot N Fun f. Nelly Furtado
Playboy Tre – I Don’t Care
Reallionaire Jream – Take Me Home
Reflection Eternal – Just Begun f. Jay Electronica, J. Cole & Mos Def
Rick Ross – Free Mason f. Jay-Z
Shawn Chrystopher – Hangover
Ski Beatz – Prowler 2 f. Jean Grae, Jay Electronica, Joell Ortiz & Mos Def
Skyzoo & !llmind – Barrel Brothers f. Torae
The Roots – Dear God 2.0 f. Monsters of Folk
The Roots – The Day f. Blu, Phonte & Patty Crash
Tonedeff & PackFM – That’s What Happens (prod. Algorythm)
Tunji – Towards the Future f. Deacon the Villain
Vado – Large On the Streets
Von Pea – Boombox
Wiz Khalifa – Mezmorized
Yelawolf – Pop the Trunk
Young Jeezy – Lose My Mind (rmx) f. Drake
FAVORITE EVENT: Buns, Beer & Backpacks: A (2)DopeBBQ
2010 has to be one of my favorite years in the last decade. I was introduced to so many new people and things in my life that it was well worth the stress and hard work we put in. When we decided to throw an event for Haiti, I wasn’t fully aware of how the outcome would be. As the night progressed I was truly amazed at the amount of people who showed up and supported. We raised a great amount of money and a slew of backpacks/school supplies for the less fortunate. It’s amazing that we’re able to use our platform to help benefit others. I can’t wait for the next one.
TOP 10 8 ALBUMS
Similar to 09’s listing where I spotlighted more single tracks and mixtapes than actual albums, my direction for 2010 is more of the same. However, I enjoyed a lot more projects this year than I did last year, and I hope that 2011 brings more of the same.
David Banner & 9th Wonder – Death Of A Pop Star
Donwill (of Tanya Morgan) – Don Cusack In High Fidelity
Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two (Return Of The Ankh)
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Von Pea (of Tanya Morgan) – Pea’s Gotta Have It
TOP 10 MIXTAPES
Dom Kennedy – From The Westside, With Love
The Kid Daytona – The Interlude LP
Various Artists – A (2)Dope Mixtape: Empire State Edition
Wiz Khalifa – Kush & Orange Juice
Picaso (of Language Artz) – The Artz Dealer
(2)Dope Extras
Chris Connery (Theo Martins & $port) – You Can’t Do That On Television
The Niceguys – The Show
PROJECTS THAT MADE ME MISS CALIFORNIA
Bi-coastal bastard that I am, certain projects made me long for the days when Channel 11 was Fox and not The CW, and I could go to the beach in the middle of winter.
Ayomari -The PB & J Solution
Dom Kennedy – From The Westside, With Love
Kendrick Lamar – (O)verly (D)edicated
Pac Div – Don’t Mention It
TiRon – MSTRD
PROJECTS THAT MADE ME LOVE NEW YORK
Now that I’m out East, these projects make me appreciate the harshness that is New York City. I can still do without the mad cold weather, though.
Donwill (of Tanya Morgan) – Don Cusack In High Fidelity
Roc Marciano – Marcberg
The Kid Daytona – The Interlude LP
Von Pea (of Tanya Morgan) – Pea’s Gotta Have It
(A FEW OF MY) FAVORITE SONGS
I essentially just scrolled through what ended up on my iPod at the start of 2010 until the end of the year, and here is a shortlist of some of the cuts that got the most plays in the last 365.
Ab-Liva & iCan – The Wire
Ayomari – Everything Is Going Fine feat. TiRon
Ayomari – I Wanna (Journey)
B.o.B – Fuck The Money f. Asher Roth
Chris Connery (Theo Martins & $port) – The Monocle
Consequence – I’ma Do Me Regardless
Curren$y – Address f. Stalley
Curren$y – Breakfast (In & Out)
CurT@!n$ – God Bless Us
Damian Marley & Nas – Nah Mean
David Banner & 9th Wonder – Strange f. Big Remo
DJ Premier – 5% f. KRS-One & Grand Puba
Dom Kennedy – Locals Only
Dom Kennedy – Still Me
Donwill – Laura’s Song
Donwill – Love Junkie (Wallpaper Remix) feat. Ca$he & The Park
Drake – 9AM In Dallas
Drake – Light Up f. Jay-Z
Drake – Show Me A Good Time
Erykah Badu – Fall In Love (Your Funeral)
Fat Joe – I’m Gone
Get Busy Committee – Opening Ceremony
H.O.P.E. – Bliss f. Y-O (of U-N-I)
H.O.P.E. – Death’s Door
H.O.P.E. – Gotta Go f. K.Roosevelt
H.O.P.E. – Me&Her
H.O.P.E. & Skeme – Appalled
J. Cole – Bun B For President
J. Cole – Relaxation f. Fashawn & Omen
J. Cole – Too Deep For The Intro
Jay Electronica – Jazzmatazz (Guru Tribute) f. Tone Treasure
Jay Electronica – Shiny Suit Theory f. Jay-Z & Charlotte Gainsbourg
Jay Electronica – The Announcement
Jay Electronica – The Ghost of Christopher Wallace f. Diddy
Joell Ortiz – Project Boy
Kanye West – All Of The Lights f. John Legend, The-Dream, Ryan Leslie, Tony Williams, Charlie Wilson, Elly Jackson, Alicia Keys, Fergie, KiD CuDi, Rihanna & Elton John
Kanye West – Devil In A New Dress f. Rick Ross
Kanye West – Lord Lord Lord f. Mos Def, Swizz Beatz, Raekwon & Charlie Wilson
Kanye West – The Joy f. Pete Rock, Jay-Z, Charlie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield & KiD CuDi
Kendrick Lamar – Average Joe
Kendrick Lamar – Michael Jordan f. Schoolboy Q
Kendrick Lamar – P&P 1.5 f. Ab-Soul
Kendrick Lamar – P&P f. Ab-Soul
KiD CuDi – The End f. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper & Nicole Wray
Lil B – Like A Martian
Lil B – Look Like Jesus
Little Brother – Tigallo For Dolo
Lloyd Banks – Start It Up f. Kanye West, Fabolous, Swizz Beatz, Ryan Leslie & Pusha T
Maja 7th – On My Own f. Freddie Gibbs & Mikkey Halsted
Meth, Ghost & Rae – Our Dreams
N.E.R.D – God Bless Us All
Nickelus F – Kevin Bacon (I’ma Single)
Pac Div – Don’t Forget The Swishers f. Dom Kennedy, cARTer & Chip Tha Ripper
Pac Div – Here We Go
Rick Ross – Live Fast, Die Young f. Kanye West
Roc Marciano – Snow (rmx) f. Sean Price
Skeme – Don’t Lose Focus
Ski Beatz – Cream Of The Planet f. Mos Def
Ski Beatz – Taxi f. Mos Def & Whosane
The Kid Daytona – Contemplate f. Tiara Wiles
The Kid Daytona – Fly Lullaby
The Lessondary (Che Grand, Donwill, Spec Boogie, Von Pea) – She Can Gedditt
The Niceguys – Somebody f. Lee Lonn Walker
The Niceguys – The Good Shepherd
TiRon – Boys & Girls
TiRon – Take A Bow
TiRon – the Do
U-N-I – Desha Dayana
Von Pea – Boombox
Von Pea – The Yorker
Von Pea – There You Were f. Uzoy
Wiz Khalifa – Mezmorized
Wiz Khalifa – Visions
FAVORITE EVENT: SWSW, March 2010
In 2010 I traveled more than I ever did in the last ten years combined. Not only was it my first time attending SXSW, it was also my first trip to Texas. From the massive Long Island Ice Teas, to the smoked out, (2)Dope-sponsored Smokers Club, to watching Shake and eskay drunkenly patrol the streets of Austin, SXSW was easily my musical highlight of 2010. Wait til you see what the dopehouse has lined up this year for Texas…
FAVORITE RAoF: My Formal Introduction to Lil B
Yeah, I’ll admit, I was hating and shit-talking like everyone about the guy when Donwill and ILLIONAIRE first introduced me to his, um, “music.” But after a while that shit started to stick in my head, and pure abhorrence became fascination and, ultimately, I became a reluctant fan of his wanton nignorance. The best part? When, during a show with ArtOfficial and Tanya Morgan in Miami, I spun “Like A Martian” in between songs from fellow tomcoonery champions 2 Live Crew, and the crowd went apeshit. Thank you, Based God.
FAVORITE MOMENT OF 2010: Buns, Beer & Backpacks: A (2)DopeBBQ
I literally got the idea while laying in bed one lazy June afternoon. “How hard could it be to put together an event in two months?” I thought. Truth is, setting up an event is a lot harder than I ever imagined, an I had problems with everything from the liquor sponsors to finding an actual venue itself. But in the end it turned out to be a huge success, and I hope to do it again this year (maybe in California this time? We’ll see). Thanks to everyone who played a role in making the (2)DopeBBQ what it was.
