The Audacity of Dope

On this week’s episode of SNSS, we were joined in studio by a few homies who have linked up for group projects: Parker (of State of the Artist) & Lace Cadence talked about their new EP, Imagination, and Prometheus Brown (aka Geologic of Blue Scholars) joined forces with Bambu to speak on their new group, The Bar.  Along with our guests, we played new music from artists like Slaughterhouse, Saigon, Dee-1, J. Cole, Miguel, Kev Brown, The Wurxs, STS, Mr. J. Medeiros, and more.

Enjoy!

Show #351 (3-4-12)

1. Slaughterhouse – “Hammer Dance”
2. Saigon – “Say Yes, Pt. 2”
3. Dee-1 – “Writer’s Block”
4. J. Cole – “Grew Up Fast”
5. **INTERVIEW WITH PROMETHEUS BROWN & BAMBU, PT. 1**
6. Prometheus Brown & Bambu (The Bar) – “Lookin’ Up” (Local Music)
7. **INTERVIEW WITH PROMETHEUS BROWN & BAMBU, PT. 2**
8. Brother Ali ft. Phonte & Stokley Williams – “I’ll Be Around”
9. Miguel – “Gravity”
10. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Good Luv’n”
11. Obie Trice ft. Drey Skonie – “Spend The Day”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH PARKER & LACE CADENCE, PT. 1**
13. Parker x Lace Cadence – “Blue Paper” (Local Music)
14. **INTERVIEW WITH PARKER & LACE CADENCE, PT. 2**
15. Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Mos Def – “Black Radio”
16. Yonas Michael – “Monsters Ink”
17. Kev Brown – “Another Random Joint”
18. Sean Born – “Pour Out Liquor”
19. Luck-One & Dekk – “Searchin’” (Local Music)
20. Fly.Union – “The Hard Way (THW)”
21. A Tribe Called Quest – “We Can Get Down” (Throwback of the Week)
22. The Wurxs ft. Black Thought & Dice Raw – “Bernard Hop”
23. STS – “Downhill”
24. Mr. J. Medeiros ft. Shad – “Pale Blue Dot (20Syl Remix)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?e9bk58akdt5lxd8
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/swxrd3cqfqfa)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/y4o8i2i2p366)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

All sorts of dopeness on this week’s SNSS…new music from folks like Gorillaz, J. Cole, Dee-1, Robert Glasper, BJ The Chicago Kid, Fly.Union, Tyga, Mansions On The Moon, Kanye West, Killer Mike, and more, plus we were joined in studio by Fly Moon Royalty and Grynch.  Enjoy!

Show #350 (2-26-12)

1. Killer Mike ft. Bun B, T.I., & Trouble – “Big Beast”
2. DJ EFN ft. Kendrick Lamar, Mayday, & Blood Type – “Thanksgiving (Remix)”
3. DJ Premier ft. Nas & Apathy – “Regeneration (Remix)”
4. Rittz – “Walking On Air”
5. Gorillaz ft. James Murphy & Andre 3000 – “Do Ya Thing”
6. J. Cole – “Grew Up Fast”
7. Dee-1 – “Writer’s Block”
8. Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Mos Def – “Black Radio”
9. **INTERVIEW WITH FLY MOON ROYALTY, PT. 1**
10. Fly Moon Royalty – “Do What You Say” (Local Music)
11. BJ The Chicago Kid – “Good Luv’n”
12. **INTERVIEW WITH FLY MOON ROYALTY, PT. 2**
13. J. Pinder ft. Dice – “Never No” (Local Music)
14. Killarmy – “Feel It” (Throwback of the Week)
15. Tony Williams ft. Kanye West – “Another You”
16. Fly.Union – “The Hard Way (THW)”
17. Tyga ft. Wale & Nas – “Kings & Queens”
18. **INTERVIEW WITH GRYNCH, PT. 1**
19. Grynch ft. Sol – “I’m Good” (Local Music)
20. One Be Lo – “Doggy-Style-Biscuits”
21. **INTERVIEW WITH GRYNCH, PT. 2**
22. The Weeknd – “D.D.”
23. Yonas Michael ft. Brooker T – “Punks”
24. Mansions on the Moon – “Leaves Fall”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?w821d2k9az327p9
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/c9x9zfejlynd)
(2nd back up – http://linkmixes.com/1dmo6v3tbvqx)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

New music from Chip Tha Ripper, Erick Sermon, DJ Premier, Damian Marley, Brother Ali, Killer Mike, and more on this week’s episode of SNSS.  Plus we were joined in studio by RA Scion and Fleeta Partee.  Enjoy!

Show #349 (2-19-12)

1. Chip Tha Ripper ft. Kid Cudi – “GloryUs”
2. Erick Sermon – “A Way Out”
3. Action Bronson & Statik Selektah – “The Stick Up”
4. Saigon ft. Jovan Dais – “Women Are The New Dogs”
5. The Kid Daytona – “My Kinda Girl (Side Chick Anthem)”
6. AD ft. Big K.R.I.T. & Che Blaq – “Reality Check” (Local Music)
7. Aleon Craft – “Jill Scott”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH RA SCION, PT. 1**
9. RA Scion – “Beg” (Local Music)
10. Gangrene – “Flame Throwers”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH RA SCION, PT. 2**
12. DTMD ft. Godly MC & Kev Brown – “Raw (Oddisee Remix)”
13. DJ Premier ft. Nas & Apathy – “Regeneration (Remix)”
14. Damian Marley – “Affairs Of The Heart”
15. Brother Ali ft. Phonte & Stokley Williams – “I’ll Be Around”
16. Tony Williams ft. Kanye West – “Another You”
17. Yuna – “Live Your Life”
18. Yonas Michael – “Punks”
19. Killer Mike ft. Bun B, T.I., & Trouble – “Big Beast”
20. **INTERVIEW WITH FLEETA PARTEE, PT. 1**
21. Fleeta Partee – “In The City” (Local Music)
22. **INTERVIEW WITH FLEETA PARTEE, PT. 2**
23. Jurassic 5 – “Jayou” (Throwback of the Week)
24. REKS – “Autograph”
25. MadKem – “Ms. Badu”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?jx9qkuj79gyygam
(back up / streaming link – http://www.sharebeast.com/gtg1gsjutko3)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/99118271d42b2057/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Huge shout out to Mediafire for randomly deleting all of our archived episodes of Sound Session without any warning or explanation.  I’m hoping they’ll put our files back, but in the interim, all we’ve got is this week’s SNSS.  It makes the perfect Valentine’s Day gift though…trust me.

Oh…and legitimate shouts to Homeboy Sandman for lacing us with a new intro (workinonit!) and for The Good Sin and Fatal Lucciauno for dropping by the studio to talk about their upcoming projects.

Show #348 (2-12-12)

1. Big K.R.I.T. – “Boobie Miles”
2. Gangrene – “Flame Throwers”
3. Planet Asia – “Golden State”
4. Phonte – “The Good Fight”
5. Brother Ali ft. Nikki Jean – “Shine On”
6. Grynch ft. Brother Ali & Shaprece – “So Far” (Local Music)
7. Young Jeezy ft. Jay-Z, Drake, & Andre 3000 – “I Do (Remix)”
8. **INTERVIEW WITH THE GOOD SIN & BLAKK SOUL, PT. 1**
9. The Good Sin ft. Blakk Soul – “Mission Impossible” (Local Music)
10. MadKem – “Ms. Badu”
11. **INTERVIEW WITH THE GOOD SIN & BLAKK SOUL, PT. 2**
12. The Kid Daytona ft. Melanie Fiona – “Love Is Love”
13. J-88 – “The Look of Love, Pt. 2” (Throwback of the Week)
14. Chip Tha Ripper ft. Kid Cudi – “GloryUs”
15. Maffew Ragazino ft. Das Racist – “Jackson Pollock”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH FATAL LUCCIAUNO, PT. 1**
17. Kardinal Offishall – “Ignant Shh”
18. Stacy Barthe ft. John Legend – “No Strings Attached”
19. Fatal Lucciauno – “Live Freestyle”
20. **INTERVIEW WITH FATAL LUCCIAUNO, PT. 2**
21. Fatal Lucciauno ft. J. Pinder – “Amazing” (Local Music)
22. Omar Aura ft. B Free – “Balla”
23. **INTERVIEW WITH FATAL LUCCIAUNO, PT. 3**
24. Drake – “Look What You’ve Done”
25. Rittz ft. Nikkiya – “Paradise”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?sy69bs7y227q8m0
(back up / streaming link – http://hu.lk/xdfxdn9ds92o)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/9906775698b2c1d3/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

This week’s SNSS features new music from Common, One Be Lo, Peedi Crakk, Drake, Big K.R.I.T., Saigon, Action Bronson, Yuna, and many more.  Plus, we gave SNSS debuts to Sound Fx and Will Brennan.  Enjoy!

Show #347 (2-5-12)

1. Common – “Lovin’ I Lost”
2. One Be Lo – “Jenny”
3. The Roots ft. P.O.R.N. & Truck North – “Kool On”
4. Koolade ft. Peedi Crakk – “All Round Philly”
5. Thaddeus David – “Jones” (Local Music)
6. The Kid Daytona – “Angela’s Sister”
7. Drake – “Under Ground Kings”
8. Big K.R.I.T. – “Boobie Miles”
9. Don Trip – “Allen Iverson”
10. Gangrene – “Flame Throwers”
11. 50 Cent – “You Took My Heart”
12. Action Bronson – “Strictly Business (Part 1 & 2)”
13. Maffew Ragazino ft. Das Racist – “Jackson Pollock”
14. Redskin – “Sunday Night Sound Session Freestyle” (Local Music)
15. Saigon ft. Jovan Dais – “Women Are The New Dogs”
16. Kooley High – “Drop A Dime (If They Get On)”
17. Sound Fx – “A Son’s Prayer”
18. J. Pinder ft. Mistah F.A.B. – “Dream Killers” (Local Music)
19. Yuna – “Live Your Life”
20. Justice – “On’n’on (Rick Rubin Remix)”
21. The Fugees – “Zealots” (Throwback of the Week)
22. The Away Team ft. Phonte – “See U Later”
23. Will Brennan – “Rite Of Passage”

Link to download mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?27m642ib43e7ahm
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/uoxvm9jmxi01)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/99014691a74aeb8d/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Sorry for the delay.  Here’s last week’s SNSS:

Show #346 (1-29-12)

1. Evidence – “Falling Down”
2. Action Bronson – “Strictly Business (Part 1 & 2)”
3. Chase N. Cashe – “Wavy Navy (Max Bundles)”
4. Chuuwee – “Cold World”
5. Drake ft. The Weeknd – “The Ride”
6. Common ft. James Fauntleroy II – “Cloth”
7. Saigon ft. Jovan Dais – “Women Are The New Dogs”
8. 8Ball & MJG ft. Big K.R.I.T. – “We Buy Gold”
9. J. Pinder ft. Mistah F.A.B. – “Dream Killers” (Local Music)
10. BJ The Chicago Kid ft. Kendrick Lamar – “His Pain”
11. Yuna – “Live Your Life”
12. Gotye – “Giving Me A Chance”
13. Scribes – “Thruourmusic” (Local Music)
14. Astonish – “All I Need”
15. The Away Team ft. Phonte – “See U Later”
16. Wu-Tang Clan ft. Cappadonna – “Triumph” (Throwback of the Week)
17. Thaddeus David – “Never Too Late” (Local Music)
18. The Wurx ft. Peedi Crakk – “No Ordinary”
19. Emilio Rojas ft. Nikkiya – “Blame Me”
20. John Legend ft. Ludacris – “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)”
21. Amy Winehouse – “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?bx0s54fs8kp75vz
(back up / streaming link – http://hu.lk/2faosc7pxmpk)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/9900071788d669b8/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

(I’m headed to Los Angeles this week so I wanted to get this archive up ASAP for y’all.  If you’re in LA, hit me and let’s link up!)

After last week’s debacle, you didn’t think I’d forget to record SNSS on back to back episodes, did you?  Back once again, it’s the incredible.  This time, we were joined in studio by one of our favorite local artists, Thaddeus David, who you should be familiar with from his work with State of the Artist (SOTA) and Helluvastate.  He’s now releasing his first solo project, Maven, this Friday and we spoke with him all about it.

We also aired our interview (and live acoustic in-studio performance!) from a very promising up and coming R&B singer, John West.  Peep the interviews and the rest of the dopeness below.  RIP Etta James & Jam-Master Jay!

Show #345 (1-22-12)

1. Drake ft. Lil Wayne – “HYFR”
2. 50 Cent – “You Took My Heart”
3. The Wurxs ft. Peedi Crakk – “No Ordinary”
4. Homeboy Sandman – “The Miracle”
5. ASAP Rocky – “Peso”
6. Jay-Z – “Glory”
7. Sol – “Rap Life” (Local Music)
8. **INTERVIEW WITH THADDEUS DAVID, PT. 1**
9. 8Ball & MJG ft. Big K.R.I.T. – “We Buy Gold”
10. Avatar Young Blaze ft. Isabella Du Graf – “Never Impossible” (Local Music)
11. Astonish – “All I Need”
12. The Quakers ft. Guilty Simpson & MED – “Fitta Happier”
13. Bumpy Knuckles – “We Are At War”
14. Tito Lopez – “Conversation With Tito”
15. Common ft. John Legend – “The Believer”
16. Kanye West – “Addiction” (Throwback of the Week)
17. Run-D.M.C. – “Jam-Master Jay” (Throwback of the Week)
18. The Weeknd – “Montreal”
19. **INTERVIEW WITH THADDEUS DAVID, PT. 2**
20. Thaddeus David – “Never Ever” (Local Music)
21. The Slakadeliqs ft. Tingsek – “Nine 2 Five”
22. Asher Roth ft. Action Bronson – “Choices”
23. **INTERVIEW WITH THADDEUS DAVID, PT. 3**
24. Saigon ft. Lil’ Fame – “Another Man Down”
25. Brother Ali – “Writer’s Block”
26. **INTERVIEW WITH JOHN WEST, PT. 1**
27. John West – “Already There (Live on Sunday Night Sound Session)”
28. **INTERVIEW WITH JOHN WEST, PT. 2**
29. Chuuwee – “Reign (Long Live The King)”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?t3ms1jya6r4nshl
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/y9g0rh0zqutb)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/98890031608773b4/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Well, it was bound to happen someday.  After 6+ years of recording the show every week (barring the few with technical difficulties), I straight up forgot to hit the record button for this episode of SNSS.  It’s a shame too, because we had a great time playing some good music and hanging out with the homies Avatar Young Blaze and Sol in the studio.  Enjoy the tracklist and just know that this was [Bill Walton] the greatest hour and a half in radio history [/Bill Walton].

We’ll lock it back down next week.

Show #344 (1-15-12)

1. Brother Ali – “Writer’s Block”
2. T.I. ft. Pusha T – “I’ll Show You”
3. Saigon ft. Lil’ Fame – “Another Man Down”
4. M.O.P. – “Blasphemy (Blast 4 Me)”
5. 50 Cent – “You Took My Heart”
6. **INTERVIEW WITH AVATAR YOUNG BLAZE, PT. 1**
7. Avatar Young Blaze ft. Isabella Du Graf – “Never Impossible” (Local Music)
8. **INTERVIEW WITH AVATAR YOUNG BLAZE, PT. 2**
9. Jay-Z – “Glory”
10. Chuuwee – “Reign (Long Live The King)”
11. Astonish – “Shine Like Dilla”
12. Drake ft. Kendrick Lamar – “Buried Alive”
13. **INTERVIEW WITH SOL, PT. 1**
14. Sol ft. Ray Dalton – “Need Your Love” (Local Music)
15. Gotye ft. Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used To Know”
16. **INTERVIEW WITH SOL, PT. 2**
17. Common ft. Maya Angelou – “The Dreamer”
18. Nas – “Nas Is Like” (Throwback of the Week)
19. Action Bronson & Statik Selektah – “Cliff Notes”
20. B.o.B ft. Andre 3000 – “Play The Guitar”
21. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa ft. LaToiya Williams – “I Get Lifted”
22. Childish Gambino – “L.E.S.”
23. City Hall – “Out For A Rep” (Local Music)
24. Asher Roth ft. Hassani Kwess & Kenny Keys – “Pabst & Jazz”
25. Homeboy Sandman – “Unforgettable”
26. Jean Grae – “U & Me & Everyone We Know”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – NO ARCHIVE
(back up / streaming link – NO ARCHIVE)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

While we technically kicked off 2012 with last week’s “Best of 2011” wrap up, this really felt like our first SNSS of the new year.  I don’t really have too much to say, other than the music is dope as always, our homies Kooley High called in to the show, and the Drake/Common “beef” has me like this.

But yeah…enjoy the show!

Show #343 (1-8-12)

1. Skillz – “Rap Up 2011”
2. Common – “Raw (How You Like It)”
3. Rick Ross ft. Drake & French Montana – “Stay Schemin’”
4. Action Bronson & Statik Selektah – “White Silk”
5. B.o.B ft. Andre 3000 – “Play The Guitar”
6. Brother Ali – “Writer’s Block”
7. Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa ft. Mike Posner – “French Inhale”
8. Sol – “Stage Dive” (Local Music)
9. Blu & Exile – “The Only One”
10. Homeboy Sandman – “The Miracle”
11. Jean Grae – “U & Me & Everyone We Know”
12. Drake – “Cameras”
13. Summer Leather Vest – “Unison”
14. The Weeknd – “Montreal”
15. AD ft. Dice – “Reality Check” (Local Music)
16. Ghostface Killah ft. Fred Da Godson & JD Era – “Luxury Rap”
17. The Kid Daytona – “Done Done It”
18. **INTERVIEW WITH KOOLEY HIGH**
19. Kooley High ft. Skyzoo – “For The Record”
20. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – “Straighten It Out” (Throwback of the Week)
21. Benni B – “I Won’t Crash” (Local Music)
22. Childish Gambino – “Hold You Down”
23. Gotye ft. Kimbra – “Somebody That I Used To Know”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?xw1q58hshorbgq2
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/wmiqvtqns80a)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/98486382cab62c09/)

Link to download just the interview with Kooley High – http://www.mediafire.com/?8x6w4p4q1iatdug
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/5sd6cjj3tki5)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Another year is in the books and here on Sound Session, you already know what that means: it’s time for our annual wrap up show.  As we’ve said in years past (2009 & 2010), this playlist isn’t a definitive, comprehensive list by any means, nor is it compiled in any sort of numerical ranking marking which songs are “better” than the others.  Instead, we simply picked records and artists that played a large part on our show this past year and the songs we couldn’t stop listening to.

As I usually do, I’ve listed some notes on why each song made the cut, along with a few honorable mentions from artists not otherwise represented (i.e., I could have listed a plethora of tracks from Drake, The Weeknd, Kendrick, Kanye/Jay, etc., but we’ll keep it simple…).

Enjoy the show and make 2012 your best year yet.

Show #342 (1-1-12)
**Best of 2011**

1. Drake ft. Rick Ross – “Lord Knows”
2. Nas – “Nasty”
3. Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Gotta Have It”
4. Kendrick Lamar – “HiiiPower”
5. Tyler, The Creator – “Yonkers”
6. Frank Ocean – “Novacane”
7. TiRon & Ayomari – “If I Had You”
8. The Physics – “These Moments” (Local Music)
9. Dom Kennedy – “On My Way”
10. Curren$y – “She Don’t Want A Man”
11. Big K.R.I.T. – “The Vent”
12. Rocki Evans – “Funeral Song”
13. Purple HeArts – “Know Go”
14. Shabazz Palaces ft. Thee Satisfaction – “Swerve…the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)” (Local Music)
15. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton – “Can’t Hold Us” (Local Music)
16. Little Dragon – “Ritual Union”
17. Common ft. Makeba – “Blue Sky”
18. Childish Gambino – “Freaks and Geeks”
19. Maffew Ragazino – “Black Sheep”
20. Ghostface Killah ft. Black Thought – “In Tha Park”
21. Thurz – “Dope”
22. Lupe Fiasco ft. Skylar Grey – “Words I Never Said”
23. Charlie Smarts – “Torture”
24. J. Cole ft. Drake – “In The Morning”
25. The Weeknd – “The Party & The After Party”

Link to download the mp3 of the show – http://www.mediafire.com/?vdi2nrygmyfjrsf
(back up / streaming link – http://hulkshare.com/6d7zxtd90fjk)
(2nd back up – http://www.zshare.net/audio/981872599a085813/)

If there are any problems with the links or if you’d like to be added to our weekly email list to receive the playlist and download links after every show, just shoot me an email, DJHyphen@gmail.com.

Notes:

1. Drizzy was everywhere this year and while most records were slow and brooding (“Marvin’s Room” is an instant classic), he reminded his deriders he can rhyme too.  Just Blaze’s incredible beat and Rick Ross coining the #YOLO term didn’t hurt either.
2. Anyone who thought Nas slipped with the Distant Relatives project was crazy to begin with.  Nas punctuated that with “Nasty.”
3. Did Watch The Throne live up to the hype?  Probably not, but it’s still one of the best albums of the year and while “Otis” and “Murder To Excellence” were also great, the standout is this short but sweet record…despite Jay’s “planking on a million” line.
4. After a few good years, Kendrick broke out in a major way with Section.80 in 2011.  This J. Cole produced single was the first track released off the project and set the tone for the whole album.  Kendrick will drop a 5 mic classic before it’s all said and done.
5. Tyler and the Odd Future crew had an amazing year in 2011 and while many tracks were a bit too heavy on the shock value, “Yonkers” didn’t go overboard (though the video might have, for some).  Instead, Tyler cooked up one of the best beats of the year that would have sounded at home on a classic Wu-Tang album.
6. My personal song of the year.  Nuff said.
7. They just don’t make music like this anymore.  TiRon & Ayomari’s uptempo record becomes a classic the second the horns come in for the first time.
8. Three straight appearances on our year end wrap up show for The Physics, who consistently make my favorite music from the Northwest.  No need for drums on this record when everything else is that dope.
9. Dom dropped two great projects in 2011 and had numerous records that we could have picked, but this one represents his trademark new west sound perfectly.
10. The ongoing joke is that Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y are ALWAYS rapping about smoking weed with your girl, but hey, when it comes out like this, you can’t really be mad at it.  Unless that’s your girl.
11. Along with Don Trip’s “Letter 2 My Son,” Big K.R.I.T.’s “The Vent” was the most heartfelt record of the year.  That’s what music should be all about.
12. Rocki may not be on everyone’s radar (yet), but if he keeps making songs like this, he will be in 2012.
13. While Drake, The Weeknd, and even our good friend Shad have been making headlines in the US all year, be on the lookout for another crew from Canada in 2012.
14. International acclaim from fans and press alike marked a great year for Seattle’s own Shabazz Palaces.  Thee Satisfaction come along for the ride on this one, closing out the record in a way only they can.
15. Speaking of international success for local musicians, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis blew up in 2011.  Seriously.  Did you see them rock almost 10k at Bumbershoot?
16. Yukimi is incredible and gets most of the headlines, but the rest of the band is amazing as well.  You need to see Erik drum live to truly experience Little Dragon.
17. Com just barely dropped his album in time for most people to include it in their year end wrap ups, but the minute “Blue Sky” was released, it instantly reserved its spot on our list.
18. I was tempted to pick “Be Alone” or “Hold You Down,” which show a slightly more serious side of Gambino, but this record was Donald’s break out song for 2011.
19. In a year where most newcomers came from other cities, Maffew and Action Bronson showed there’s still a bright future in NYC.
20. Most forgot that Ghostface’s album was released right before the new year so this Frank Dukes produced banger was too late for everyone’s 2010 lists, and sadly forgotten on most 2011 wrap ups.  Except ours.
21. Fans were disappointed to see U-N-I go their separate ways but both Thuz and Y-O dropped good projects in 2011, highlighted by this appropriately titled record from the former.
22. While the beat and hook left much to be desired, Lupe spit some of the realest bars of the year on this track.  If Lu ever releases acapellas, it might destroy the internet.
23. One of our favorite crews, Kooley High, saw one member, Rapsody, achieve a lot of notoriety in 2011 but our favorite track from the North Carolina collective was Charlie Smarts’ “Torture.”  Just listen to those keys…
24. Always a good question…
25. Anytime someone literally goes from unknown to the most sought after independent artist in the game, he has to be the rookie of the year.  Nobody came out of nowhere like The Weeknd in recent memory, thanks in large part to Drake’s co-sign and the strictly grown & sexy music.

Honorable mentions from artists not otherwise represented:

• Amy Winehouse ft. Nas – “Like Smoke”
• Asher Roth & Nottz – “Break Bread”
• Fly.Union – “Hard Sell”
• Goapele – “Play”
• Gods’illa ft. Maimouna Youssef – “You Don’t Have To Be A Star”
• Jhene Aiko – “Stranger”
• Killer Mike – “Ric Flair”
• Mayer Hawthorne – “A Long Time”
• Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun ft. Styles P & Sean Price – “That’s Hard”
• Phonte ft. Jeanne Jolly – “Everything Is Falling Down”
• Pusha T – “Blow”
• Raekwon ft. Nas – “Rich and Black”
• Random Axe ft. Roc Marciano – “Chewbacca”
• Raphael Saadiq – “Good Man”
• Rapsody ft. Raekwon – “Black Diamonds”
• Rick Ross – “I Love My B*tches”
• Royce Da 5’9” – “Second Place”
• Saigon – “The Greatest Story Never Told”
• Schoolboy Q ft. Jhene Aiko – “Fantasy”
• Stephen Marley ft. Damian Marley & Buju Banton – “Jah Army (Revelation, Pt. 1)”
• Travis Barker ft. Lupe Fiasco & Pharrell – “If You Want To”
• Young Jeezy ft. Jay-Z & Andre 3000 – “I Do”

2012.  Let’s go.