Top 5 Hip Hop Albums of 2009....or maybe like 8?

Happy Holidays...Overall a pretty good year for hip hop I must say..with just these albums right here...These choices were tough so I opened it up a little bit... lets start with..

Sleeper:

Havoc- From Now On

(I didn't know this was a mixtape...it plays like an album..well to me..its an album..if this is a mixtape...imagine how the album will sound)

Alot of people probably didn't know that Havoc of Mobb Deep dropped an album earlier this year. Easily making it a sleeper... Havoc delivered on this album... We all know Havoc is a master producer and he continues to master beats. Havo said it "Smell like 9/5" in here..thats a good thing right?!?? Lloyd banks delivers a mean verse on "Bang Bang".. Damn I wish "Fly With Me" was longer!! only 1:20....when u hear you'll know why i said that..On "Always Have a Choice" Havoc goes in musically and lyrically, one of favorite songs of the year...Tough...."Letters to P", Havoc's letter to Prodigy (the other half of Mobb Deep) who is currently serving time...A soulful sample that you all will feel.. Prodigy is featured on "Keep on Talking"...The Bonus Tracks make this album tho.. "24k Rap" featuring Raekwon, i can't even think of words to call this right now...Its sick..and then "Evil Deeds featuring RZA and Ghostface Killah, you can tell that RZA lends a hand on the production tip...This is what hip hop is right here...I easily played this song everyday for weeks at a time...

Havoc is better with Prodigy but he can hold his own..Worthing Listening To...

Fav Songs: Always Have a Choice & Evil Deeds

Honorable Mention:

Kid Cudi- Man on the Moon: The End of Day

I really really like this album... Cudi says what he needs to on this album...opening up how Kanye has to us recently. "In My Dreams" a real welcome to the album, a favorite song of mine..u may think cudi sound like common tho..don't be confused..Kid Cudi has a few 5 star songs on here..you'll see for yourself or you already know... I feel like this is a mood album...you have to be in a certain mood to listen to this album...regardless of the mood, its good music.

Fav Songs: Solo Dolo (Nightmare), Heart of a Lion (KiD CuDi Theme Song) & My World

Snoop- Malice N Wonderland

Just in time for Christmas Uncle Snoop gave us something to bump to. This has been my favorite snoop album in a while...Snoop always gives us something but not as much as on here. A truly veteran to this game...Snoop opens up with "I Wanna Rock" this is the way to open up! Take Note....everybody borrowed this beat from Styles P to Joel Ortiz to Lloyd Banks...Now be playing a Steeler home games... U gotta fuck with it! Everybody fucks with Snoop.. cmon! Why haven't you heard this yet?! The Dream is featured to 2 songs and Soulja Boy as well as Jasmine Sullivan are on here. As well as some Big names..The end of the album gives us some R&B...that your sure to love... Its still Kwanzaa you can buy this for someone..

Fav Songs: I Wanna Rock, Luv Drunk feat. The Dream & Special featuring Brandy and Pharrell

Fabolous- Loso's Way

Fab comes with it, witty with the words as always but with more confidence and experience that a seasoned artist would have, who is now what Fabolous is. If fab would have dropped this album last year, he would have been most definitely included on the top 5 list. But this wasn’t an off year for hip-hop, this was a very good year for hip hop if you realize it or not. Just look at the top 5 list. Fab usually always has the ability to make everyone song on his album a single and that is the case on Loso’s Way too. Fab closes out this album the same way Nas did with "I Am", with a vivid story of a relationship turned very bad, painted on a beat thats hypnotizing. I have alot of favorites on this album.. its hard to choose.

Fav Songs: I Miss My Love, Lullaby & Last Time feat. Trey Songz

Now to The List...This is my list and I CAN DO WHAT I WANT..So Guess what??

I have 3 Albums at Number 5...Problem?!

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Didn't think so...here we go

5.

Rick Ross- Deeper Than Rap

The "Baws" said never mind the beef with 50 and spoke with music. Deeper Than Rap surprised me, I knew that Rick would have some good production and made some good songs...But I honestly didn't expect this! And I liked it... I really liked it..Most of the spring and early summer I was playing this.. "Maybach Music 2" should be up for a grammy for real. We never hear songs like that anymore. "Magnificent" was one of the theme songs of my Spring Break trip to Jamaica earlier this year...On "Valley of Death", Ross says "The Meek shall inherit the earth, thats what the bible say." If that is the case..This world is mine and this album would be a soundtrack during my reign. Don't sleep on this album

Fav Songs: Usual Suspects feat. Nas, Rich Off Cocaine, Valley of Death, Cigar Music

Jadakiss- The Last Kiss

Playoffs!!! Lol...if you heard the album you know what im talkin about or if your football fan you know..Jada give us "Pain & Torture" to open up and tell us "Can't Stop Me". Jadakiss comes with it on this album for real. "One for Step" is a non stop back and forth with Jada and Styles..one of the best songs on here. Jada and Nas had you wondering about everything on "What If". I really like this album and I enjoy listening to it. "Rockin With The Best" sounds like a night party on yacht with martinis or a sunny saturday cruise in BMW with the top down. I like this album better than Kiss of Death. You should have heard this by now! If you haven't cmonson!

Fav Song: Rockin With The Best, What If feat. Nas, Can't Stop, Things I've Been Through

The Clipse- Until The Casket Drops

For real For real I already made the list before this album came out. But I HAD to make room for it! I HAD TO! This album is hard as fuck! "Freedom" is one of the hardest opening songs I've heard in a while! "Popular Demand" is the most lyrical single of the year! "I'm Good" is one of my feel good songs of the year! After seeing these dudes are yardfest this year perform some of these songs I like those songs even more now. Who came up with "Door Man"? Genius!! "Champion" is my victory song and my good morning song!! This is an album you want play!

Fav Songs: Freedom, I'm Good, Door Man, Champion

4.

Raekwon- Only Built For Cuban Linx 2

I've been waiting on this album for years!! This album could have easily been Number 3 on this list! Just like the first Ghostface Killah is featured on this album heavily! But theres nothing wrong with that! . Soulful production, which still has the east coast & wu tang signature. Features are the best songs most of the album. In my opinion the best songs are both under 2 minutes and 20 seconds…why? Lets stretch those out! If one of those number 5s had to stay I'd say this one...This album does have a dull point but the high points are High! Chef spits it!!!

Fav Songs: Pyrex Vision, Surgical Gloves, Cold Outside, Fat Lady Sings

3.

Mos Def- The Ecstatic

No one was more excited to find out that Mos Def was dropping an album more than me!! I bought this album the first day it came out...The only album I can say that for for this whole year. Most of yall probably didn't even know Mos Def dropped something this year. Well shame on you! Real shame on you! Cuz this album is ill!! Mad Lib takes us back to the 19th century or earlier on "Auditorium" and thanks to a clever 16 by Slick Rick The Ruler..this is one of the best songs on the album. Mighty Mos goes bilingual on "No Hay Nada Mas" singing the entire song in spanish..you'll love it then tho you might not understand the song. More enjoyable then "True Magic" i'm so happy that Mos Def finally dropped something. We'll prolly never get just a rap album from Mos but I'm not complaining! You just gotta appreciate what hes bringing. This album could have easily been number 2. Talib Kweli drops the meanest guest verse of the year on "History", disagree? Take a listen!! Casa Bey is simple beautiful! Mos shows us why he is and still one of the best with this project.

Fav Songs: Roses, Priority, Worker's Comp, Casa Bey, History feat. Talib Kweli

2.

Jay- Z- The Blueprint 3

Flawless album? Could Be...

Jay showed us he could still do it..many ppl questioned him after Kingdom Come & American Gangster...But if you don't think Jay came with it on this one then your either a Jay hater...or your not a fan of hip-hop...Everybody has a favorite song on here. I have a couple. The opening track got me.. featuring Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun (a group I discovered this year and am a big fan of now!) Jay's not santa clause ppl! Hes not!!! This jam sounds like the song to play when you just landed in another country. Walking through the airport and you can't read any of the signs. There is no track skipping on this album...Its not aloud! Or not suggested. This album could have easily been Number 1. The rumored and anticipated BP3 did not disappoint. This album has some of the best production (of course, its Jay) It also features a roster of what many would call the up and comers in Hip Hop (Drake, J. Cole & Kid Cudi) as well as seasoned vets (Yeezy, Jeezy and Pharrell). There isn't much more to say about it. The Blueprint 3 is The Blueprint 3..Better than the second...Just as much as a statement as the First.

Fav Songs: What We Talkin' About, On To The Next One, So Ambitious & Already Home

1.

Wale- Attention Deficit

The Most Impactful Debut Album since 50 Cent- Get Rich or Die Trying and Kanye West- College Dropout. Attention Deficit embodies what growth is all about. Touching more subjects than an album on this list. The Go-Go inspired "Pretty Girls" features "everybodies" favorite rapper Gucci Mane which results in a song everybody could like..including me. Wale speaks to everybody on here. We all have something that we felt. For me..it was "Shades" finally someone speaks on how it is to be dark skinned and i felt every second of the song, over a beat crafted to the vibe of the album. You gotta love it! Maybe "Diary" was something you could feel more...or "Contemplate" i know i could... you could play this while zoning out or at a strip club (heard before) This album fits anywhere and everywhere. Production on this albums sports no big name but resounds Quality on every track! Every track on here has soul..a feeling... you gotta feel it. People slept and continue to on Wale, what for I dunno. Cause of where he is from or cause of his flow..regardless stop doing what your doing and Peep this album. Its beyond worth it. Just "Prescription" alone is worth 9.99 at the Fye or on iTunes. Attention Deficit is both poetic and powerful and theres nothing better than that!

Fav Songs: Prescription, Shades featuring Chrisette Michelle, Beautiful Bliss featuring J. Cole & Melanie Fiona & Contemplate featuring Rhianna

This was a great year for hip-hop to say the least because there were other releases this year that should have and could have been on this list.

Top Mixtapes Of The Year

With The Years End come list of the Best the Year...First for me is mixtapes...
The mixtape was unknown to many prior to 2000. Mixtapes have grown from being unknown to a staple of hip hop and of album promotion. To some mixtapes have become our favorite "albums" from artist....With the end of this decade...Mixtapes have taken a seat as being an essential part of Hip Hop and Now R&B

Heres the List: (Most start with number 1 and List down....What the hell for?)

Honorable Mention:


Lil Wayne- No Ceilings

Ripping some of this year's favorite beats. Lil Wayne along with the assistance of Young Money delivered something to bump in October. Wayne continued to display his wit on tracks with little remorse. Sounding better on some tracks than the original arist. To me "Single" is the best damn song on this mixtape and might be one of the best songs of the year for real.
Fav Song: Single


Lupe Fiasco- Enemy of the State: A Love Story

Lupe has been ghost since the release of "The Cool". And BOY! were we glad that he is back. He told us Happy Thanksgiving with a release that confused us. One track?? What the hell?? Lupe was short and to the point with a release slighty under 23 minutes in length. Ripping a Radiohead beat and spitting better than Diddy on "Angels Remix" (of course! are u surprised?) Apparently "Friend of the People" is supposed to drop on Christmas...with like 3 days to see. We will see if we get our stockings stuff with another Lupe mixtape this year.
Fav Song: All The Way Turnt up

5:

The Cool Kids: Gone Fishing

I've been following these guys since I heard Black Mags on a commercial. Witty as all hell. The Cool Kids delivering what some may call a hipster mixtape with beats to make every amateur producer jealous and every professional producer want to step their game up. Gone Fishing was the perfect summer mixtape as i rode around Pittsburgh slapping "Popcorn" habitually. With funny ass words of wisdom from the homie GLC. This was a full production full with displays the bright future of Chuck Inglish and Mikey Rocks from the D(Detroit) and the Chi respectively. You can play Gone Fishing whenever and I promise your mode will lighten.
Fav Song: Broadcasting Live

4:

Wiz Khalifa- Flight School

PITTSBURGH STAND THE FUCK UP!!! Wiz added to his already growing catalog of mixtapes with the perfect smokers mixtape, released just in time for 4/20. Flight School gave everyone an anthem and new ringtone for the spring, summer and maybe the fall and winter. With crazy production from Pittsburgh's own Johnny Juliano and Sledgren, Wiz gave us 22 tracks of bangers. A sunday cruise soundtrack on "Take Away" and a mid week motivator with "I'm Good" & "Hollywood Hoes" Displaying substance and lyrical growth as well as the ability to bring us from space (Star Power) and dropped right back to the sky and put us in school with Flight School. Anyone in their 20s with an ear for music could easily love this mixtape.
Fav Song: Material & Dreamer

3:

J. Cole- The Warm Up

The highly anticipated mixtape from the young gun endorsed by Jay-Z did NOT disappoint. "Can I Live" left me with a tear in my eye. "Grown Simba" had be wanting to take over the world! "Lights Please" had me questioning the standards of every female I know. "I Get Up" became my Good Morning song and "The Badness" had my asking how old is this dude?? Needless to say everything else in between will touch you in one way or another. With nothing but soulful production and your and my favorite beats there isn't a dull moment on this 22 track homerun hit served up by Jermaine Cole from "Fayettenam" (Fayetteville as called by others). This was a mixtape dropped in the summer that won't really hit your head until the fall. If you haven't heard this mixtape..Your lunchin..Go buy it now. It will give you a new hope for the future of hip hop. On a side note: i met J. Cole during my school's homecoming (Howard if you didn't know) This dude is still hungry and humble...a dangerous combination. I expect big things from homie.
Fav Song: Knock Knock & Dollar and A Dream II

2:

Wale & 9th Wonder- Back to the Feature

DC!!! You (we) have arrived!!! Accept and appeciate it!!! And forget everything else. 9th wonder blesses us with nothing but the best when it comes to beats. This feature heavy mixtape delivers the type of shit you prayed would be on your ipod. With everyone from Beanie Sigel to Jean Grae (who I have a huge hip hop crush on), Wale still is able to paint us a picture of who he is and why hes here. Speaking on various situations he shows us his versatility which continue to be seen on his debut album. I can't say enough about this mixtape but I was sad that it ended and when it did...I just started that joint over! No Bullshit (w/ my DC accent) which is very believable. Damn is the magic number 22? Wale and 9th told a story on this mixtape. I love the title and the cover! A huge back to the future fan i'm glad this mixtape was as good a the movie. It amazes me that people still haven't heard Wale. I had to put my bro Golden on this mixtape and I believe he now fucks with Wale. Foralin even dug up Memphis Bleek on a soulful sample heavy jam! Whatelse can you ask for? Maybe backing from LRG? Guess what? This shit got it too!!!
Fav Songs: Goodbye (feat. Jean Grae) , Rather Be With You (Vagina is for Lovers) (feat. Curren$y & J. Cole) & Wonder Why (Feat. Big Sean, Ken Starr & Mike Ponser)

1:

Drake- So Far Gone

The only mixtape that was suggest be released as an album and guess what?! It was released as an album months later and still sold big units. I had heard Drake prior to this mixtape but this dude showed me something...Hes not going anywhere soon. As you can see as he joined forces with the must emulated male and female in Hip Hop (Wayne & Nicki) Drizzy gives you his story. Not too deeping but deep another. Lust for Life says shit we've always felt! What a way to open up a mixtape or i mean album...whatever..yall know what i'm tryna say. You can play this at 6am (which I did on the way to batting practice) or 2am (by yaself or with someone else..which i did too) Rapping and singing successfully is something that we don't see happen very often. But Jimmy...lol does it. And good too!! Sampling Pete Bjorn and John on a break up song to a song talking about the strained relationship with his father. Drake tells you why hes so far gone...well kinda. This mixtape got me thru a very pressing time this year for several reasons but i'm glad i was able to get through it. Thanks to this mixtape and prayer and an Iron Will. "Lets Call it Off" has me calling it off with my girl (with good reasoning of course) and "Successful" increased my hunger as well as almost blew out my speakers and also found its way on the top 50 played songs on my itunes. Give Drake the belt! As the Outro from the mixtape plays...sounding like your walking through a 5 star hotel lobby at noon. I love it! You gotta love! If you haven't heard this yet...I question your love for music...not even hip-hop at this point.
Fav Song: Lust for Life, Lets Call It Off(feat. Pete Bjorn & John) & Sooner Than Later

This is my list...and no one elses....your have your opinion and i have my many...agree to disagree and keep it moving. Period


Stay tuned for my Top 5 Hip hop albums of the year and Top 5 albums of the year.

Been took long...Its been 6 months since my last update. Totally unacceptable but my defense I had an extreme stressful and trying fall semester. But i made it through like a champion and im proud of myself. But until the new year and beyond. I'm going to Keep the Jones Street Journal alive.