TOP 20 BAY AREA RAP SONGS OF 2011

A lot of good came out of the Bay this year, as usual. Messy Marv dropped

a true solo, finally, with no features whatsoever, and it was flat out dope.

San Quinn did his thing and gave us two amazing albums. 

So did Mista Fabby Davis, although they were 'mixtapes', but really,

they should've counted as retails. Both his backpack albs were truly great.

Can't forget E-40 with another double-feature release which was sick

and pretty much everyone else out the bay did his thing one way or another!


I'm still tossing here and there, but here's the list thusfar.
Comments and audio will come as soon as it's finalised.


1. Mistah F.A.B. - Peep The Politics

The number one spot for the Bay Area changed a couple
times for me. I ended up giving it to Mistah F.A.B.
because dude came through big time with his backpack
mixtapes and this track here is a testament. Pure dope!

2. Yukmouth - Rocka Bye Baby

3. Keak, PSD & Messy Marv - Ghetto Love

4. San Quinn - Cocaine Is A Helluva Drug

5. Messy Marv - She Talkin To My Earings

6. Philty Rich - I'm A Ryda

9. San Quinn & Tuf Luv - Tryna Get Paid

8. Shady Nate - Crack Babies Revenge

9. E-40 - Punkin' Em Out

10. The Jacka - Where Do We Go From Here

11. Mistah F.A.B. - Loose Everything

12. Keak, PSD & Messy Marv - Bidness Man Crush

13. The Jacka - This City Of Ours

14. E-40 - Born In The Struggle

15. Berner - Life That We Love

16. Mistah F.A.B. - Got Another Woman

17. Richie Rich - Blow Mine

18. Shady Nate - Acorn Pt. 2

19. San Quinn - Bottomless Pit

20. D-Moe - You Don't Love Me

TOP 20 DIRTY SOUTH RAP SONGS OF 2011

Pretty darn good year for the Dirty South in my opinion. 

Saw the return from Gangsta Blac for one, and Tech N9ne 

(whom we'll classify as Dirty South and not Midwest Rap) 

dropped two amazing albums. Too much to choose just a 20 top, 

but i managed though a lot of favourites had to be left out. 

Needless to say these tracks chosen, like with the East Coast's finest, 

are all pretty close together. It was a good year!

Seriously, this top 20 is jus crack, you could easily 
swap 'em around except for the top spot. 

Audio coming soon...

1. Tech N9Ne - Worldwide Choppers

Best track of 2011 hands down, nothing could top

this the minute it heard it. What a line-up and what a 

delivery from everyone. Top that off with a beat that

could'nt be more perfect, a hook that's just ridiculously

engaging and this track got immortal status!

2. Fiend - Wish I Could Fly

Call me biased because Fiend is my favourite rapper

(which doesn't mean i love everything he does), but 

this song is front to back so damn awesome. 

It takes me back to when i first fell in love with 

"Waiting On God", my favourite rap song of all time. 

The production and melody with Fiend's smooth 

voice and delivery is nothing but greatness. 

May not be the best track overall to most people, 

but I had to give it this spot. Well due.

3. T-Rock - Real Life Story

I swear, i totally overlooked this track and when out 

of the blue it came up again, i had to mention it. Fuck it,

top three cuts even. T-Rock at his finest and the beat

is just sick with a swag to keep you boppin all the 

way through. And the lyrics go deep no doubt.

4. Pill - Don't Let Me Go

Personally i think Pill is the dark horse out of MMG.

Not praising the shit out of him, but dude needs more

respect. This track is sick point blank. Crazy beat 

(musically one of the finest this year) with a fly ass hook

and Pill who really shines and makes it all his own.

5. I-20 - Blood & Tears

This is from I-20's 2012 release "Celebrity Rehab",

but i love this one so much, i had to mention it this

year since they dropped it back in November. 

The topic is dope and DJ Pain 1's production is perfect 

and i love the drums. Song of the week since it dropped.

6. Ace Hood - Letter To My Exes

Ace is by no means a favourite of mine, but he surprised

me with his latest album and this cut is just fantastic. 

7. Yelawolf - Made In The USA

Despite the radio-friendliness and poppy beat, this track

still pulls me in. We'll call it a guilty pleasure. Not a

typical Yela track at all, but again...i'm oddly lovin it.

8. Young Jeezy - .38

Favourite track off TM:103 and this one has such a nasty

punch you gotta love it. Full blast, kill yo speakers and

piss off the neighbours, don't matter. 

Bump this lil mofo to the fullest and you know what's up!

9. Nappy Roots - Give Me A Sign

I just had to add this one to the list. Nappy Roots is a

must for every true Dirty South fan and though this is

a "softer uptempo" type track, i love the vibe. Add all

the different raps from the group and it's magic.

10. Trae - Strapped Up

Man, Drumma Boy did this one. I take my hat off to him

for this beat. Trae's style just adds that extra oomph 

and even Pyrexx did more than his thing. Sick song.

11. Maybach Music Group - By Any Means

The hook alone made this a must add. All verses are

on point and the beat just knocks the fuck outta e'ything.

12. Tech N9ne - Sad Circus

There were so many dope Tech songs this year 

so really this spot is for all of 'em. I picked Sad Circus 

because it is so different. And Brotha Lynch steals

the show. Welcome To Strangeland mu'fuckers!

13. Fiend - Take A Pull

Another joint from  the Cool Is In Session mixtape 

because it still got me hooked. Lovin the beat and

Fiend's verse and flow put a smile on my face. 

And you'll hum that hook for days...

14. Young Jeezy - Everythang

I shoulda picked "O.J." here, but the hook off this joint

made me change it. Man I love it.

15. SNO - Poor White Trash

Surprisingly dope cd by Wyte and those other two dudes, 

who on their own aint really shit. This track

summed it all up. Awesome hook and a killer beat.

16. Big K.R.I.T. - American Rapstar

By far the best mixtape this year! I absolutely loved it

and Lions And lambs & Dreamin are so damn good, 

as are so many other joints of this album.But i had 

to go for the track that made me love KRIT to begin with.

Just plain awesome and knowing dude produced all

his songs on top? My second-coming Fiend.

17. T-Rock - My Gangsta

Even if this was an instrumental, it'd be up here.

But T-Rock's flow on this is bananas. Dude is so

underrated it's not funny. Classic g-shit.

18. Ace Hood - Hustle Hard

A track that dope, even Lil Wayne shines on it. 

19. Gucci Mane - Me & Money

Another sick Drumma Boy beat. Gucci Mane aint much

but he goes off on this one, mos def. Love the hook.

20. Gangsta Blac - Click Is Thick / 7 Days

I had to add Gangsta Blac on here because, 

for one, this track is classic m-town shit. 

The beat is just bananas! And GB still got it. 

Best use of the sample I've heard in years aswell.
"Gangsta Gangsta" "Head Nod" or "7 Days" would've 
been an easy pick for this spot aswell. 

Salute yo.

TOP 10 R&B/SOUL SONGS OF 2011

One thing that seriously lacked in 2011 was the amount 

of quality R&B albums and songs that dropped.

I had a tough time picking this top 10 for the simple

fact I couldn't even do a top 5. That's how bad

it was and not even my favourite artists within the genre

could deliver a whole album of that goodness. Odd.

Even R. Kelly surpassed most with "Shut Up", a track

he wrote after coming out of throat surgery. I'm not 
even going to waste time putting up audio here except 
for the first three tracks which had something to offer.
Very boring and forgetful year in R&B. A shame.

1. Lloyd - Cupid

I so overlooked this album (it isn't very good),
but i recently came across this track and the melodies
in the hook over a crazy Polow Da Don beat so sold this.
Big time, all the way to the top!

2. Jagged Edge - Flow Through My Veins

Despite a bad year in R&B, at least there was this song. 

This is the type of song i just love. 

Great melodies in everything, the vocal production 

throughout, both in verses and hook, and a smooth 

beat to match it all up. Grand.

3. Tyrese - I Miss That Girl

Equally great is this track. Classic Tyrese type shit

with a great soulful feel all over. 

4. Robin Thicke - Dangerous

This could've been at number one if it weren't for 

nostalgia fot those R&B joints i so love. Though this

doesn't hold a candle to previous Thicke tracks, it is

a piece of marvel and this man is a genius.

5. Joe - Circles

First time ever being slightly disappointed with a Joe

album. Just not up there. This track however was nice.

6. Robin Thicke - Cloud 9

Another smooth joint for Mr. Paula Patton. I'd be on

cloud 9 too. Lovin the jazzy feel to this.

7. Jagged Edge - Lay You Down

Wouldn't call this up there wit JE's other similar tracks,

but again, given the year, it's a nice little track.

8.Robin Thicke - Love After War

He had the best R&B album this year, so only fitting

he'd be featured again. This title track is uplifting.

9. Lloyd - World Cry

Can't go wrong with a Kelz production at all. Would

be much better with just kelly on it, but it's all good.

Pretty much only decent cut off Lloyd's latest alb.

10. Keith Sweat - To The Middle

Despite having T-Pain featured, and thus autotune,

even from mr. sweat himself (argh), this was the only 

worthy track i could mention. Still doesn't deserve it.

Coming Next, Bay Area Rap And Dirty South Rap...

TOP 10 WEST COAST RAP SONGS OF 2011

Wes' wes' y'all...some real tight tracks outta the left coast that didn't 

dissapoint one bit (obviously not talking about Kendrick Lamar who

shouldn't be mentioned at all being so overrated despite sum good lyrics).

Bay Area Rap will be handled seperately.


First up, all these tracks are really so close together it's kinda 

inadequate to say number 10 is inferior over the top track i chose. 

It just had to be done. 

And of course there were several other amazing tracks 

I just could not include in this top 10.

1. Brotha Lynch Hung - I Don't Think My Momma Ever Loved Me

Regardless if this track is the best west coast cut

or not, to me this deserves the top spot. The hook

alone makes me put on a puff-daddy-missing-you-b.i.g. 

type face. It is so deep and Lynch's lyrics are even more so. 
Topping off with an eerie beat and this was an easy choice.

2. Mack And Malone - Clint Eastwood

This one could've been my favourite this year.

The beat is straight up classic and i could listen to

this one over and over. Mack & Malone together

proved incredible. They are tight as on here.

3. LBC Crew - Feels Good 2 B DPG

Not sure when this track was made, but if there ever was 

a distinct West Coast sound to love, this is

it and it was refreshing as hell to hear this drop this

year. Gangsta Funk to the fullest. DPGC 4 L I F E!

Snoop's verse was clearly from the golden days tho.

4. Mack And Malone - Until The feds Came

Holy shit. You'd never expect this from these two,

but the whole album was a big surprise. This track

is flat out amazing. Crazy ass hook for real. 

5. Brotha Lynch Hung - Sooner Or Later

Talking about crazy hooks. Crazy ass great hooks.

Another sick track from Lynch. He's got a way of

pulling you in as soon as he drops his first line. 

Perfect beat for such a track aswell.

6. DJ Quik - Poppin

The backwards kick adds so much to this already

dope track. Quik is awesome and he come more than

 correct with his Book Of David. This track is a beast.

7. Glasses Malone - Jus Waitin'

Something about this that makes me love it. The 

happy tone thanks to the harmonica perhaps or the

simplicity of the drums with a catchy piano tune?

Bottomline, i love it and Malone's rougher voice is

perfect on it and makes for a great combo.

8. LBC Crew - One 213

One more from LBC because, as with this track, it just

captures that west coast sound and you gotta love it.

Daz's verse is the epiphony!

9. Slim The Mobster - Martyr

Even though this clearly got a east coast vibe going

on and Prodigy is featured, this had to be added.

Slim The Mobster is definitely up and coming and this

track proves that he's more than the west coast 50.

10. The G.A.M.E. - Ricky

The use of the movie samples like done here is just

brilliant and why this track made the list. On top

the whole beat and the instruments throughout set

this piece to high standards. And Game kills it.

Top 10 Favourite R&B Tracks Coming Next...
Also coming, Top 20 Bay Area Rap & The Dirty South!!

TOP 20 EAST COAST RAP SONGS OF 2011

Another year gone by, and a lot of good stuff that came out in 2011

(along with heap loads of utter garbage mind you).

All in all, there were some amazing songs from the each coast.

I will be breaking all these down in the next couple of days.

Up first will be everything East Coast Rap & Hip-Hop.


First up, all these tracks are really so close together 

it's kinda inadequate to say number 20 

is inferior over the top track i chose. It just had to be done. 

And of course there were several other 

amazing tracks I just could not include in a top 20.

1. Young Chris - Still Creepin

This is sick and it can't get any better than this!

Young Chris shows his skills and that beat is

just flawless and the perfect basis for Chris.

I can't praise this one enough.

2. J. Cole - Lost Ones

A favourite from the beginning and i never truly

stopped bumping this. This won me over for Cole.

3. The Roots - Tip The Scale

This track is superb in every way and my favourite

joint of an incredible album. Salute.

4. Common - Blue Sky

Equally up there with the previous three tracks.

No snare in this one yet it is electrifying thanks

to the ever so awesome Common. 

5. Cappadonna - Trials & Tribulations

I had to give it to Cappa for coming back like he

did with The Pilgrimage and this track is just too

damn good and a throwback to the good ol days.

6. Common - Sweet

What more to say about this one. It is fantastic and

Common killed this in every way possible.

7.  Common - Lovin I Lost

Another Common track because, well, he just

brought it and this was another amazing cut of

the album which had a lot more to offer even.

8. Raekwon - Snake Pond

Couldn't forget about the Chef who cooked up

some marvelous shit with Shaolin Vs Wu-Tang.

This is my favourite track of that hands down.

9. The Roots - Make My

Undun is sure to become a classic and so will this

track. And big up to Big K.R.I.T. Just amazing.

10. J. Cole - Breakdown

First track that made me listen to the album over and over. 

The climax at the end is incredible and quite the achievement.

11. Jedi Mind Tricks - Willing A Destruction...

Though their latest album was not good, this sole

track kept me from trashing it. Good ol Vinnie.

12. The Roots - I Remember

Another fantastic track of the album.

13. Common - Gold

Musically, this needs to be in the top 20. 

And having Common flow over the beat...gold!

14. Immortal Technique - Angels & Demons

Crazy how the drums change throughout the entire

track and still the main vibe keeps pullin you in.

15. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Primetime

Absolutely hated the album but this track deserves

all the praise it can get. Even from me.

16. Styles P - Feelings Gone

This album quietly passed us, but not to me and not this track. 

Styles P shines on this.

17. Pusha-T - Open Your Eyes

Off the Fear Of God Mixtape, but nonetheless it

grabbed my attention and deserves a spot.

18. Common - Celebrate

Had to put in another Common track. The album

is just that good and this track keeps growing.

19. Wu-Tang Clan - Never Feel This Pain

Inspectah Deck's verse alone is why this made the

top 20 over a lot of other great tracks. 

20. Raekwon & Nas - Rich & Black

On paper, the collabo alone is worth the mention, 

as is Common/Nas' Ghetto Dreams, but this track

to me was just that little more superior and a great

way to close off  this truly dope list of real hip-hop!



Honourable Mention: 
Danny Brown & Black Milk - Black N Brown

Other Top 20's Coming Real Soon...

YOUNG JEEZY - TM:103 HUSTLERZ AMBITION

YOUNG JEEZY

TM:103 HUSTLERZ AMBITION

2011

1. Waiting

This is sick...intro/track, whatever it is, it is awesome!

From the slowed down hook to those dope verses 

when that sick beat drops...love it! 5/5

2. What I Do

Took a few listens to realize this track goes truly hard.

Not just the beat, but jeezy goes off. Nice lyrics. 4.5/5

3. OJ ft. Fabolous & Jadakiss 

One of my favourites. The beat is crazy with great

samples and sounds. Both Fab and Jada kill it. 5/5

4. Nothing

This knocks. Great production and killer verses. 5/5

5. Way Too Gone ft. Future

At first it seems too slow and not going anywhere, but

after a few listens this offers a truly nice listen. Not a

fan of Future's verse. Shoulda been a bigger artist. 4/5

6. Supafreak ft. 2 Chainz 

Even though it features 2 Chainz, it's just not good

enough and one of my least favourite tracks. 2.5/5

7. All We Do

Not bad at all, but the hook is stupid and this is more

a filler track since it doesn't provide much. 3/5

8. Leave You Alone

A little soft but Jeezy has had similar tracks on his

previous albs, and he can pull it off. Ne-Yo is allright.

Have to be in a certain mood to likes this. 4/5

9. Everythang

Ah man, this is crack. Best hook on the album. 5/5

10. Trapped ft. Jill Scott

Dismissed this at first, but man, this is a nice joint.

Jill Scott actually contributes and i'm gettin more

into the beat and whole vibe. Listen truly. 4/5

11. F.AM.E. ft T.I.

Was worried this was going to be too radio-friendly

but nah, it's sweet. And T.I. kills it with his verse. 5/5

12. I Do ft. Jay-Z & Andre 3000

Really? How can you have jigga and 3 stacks featured

and still have a shitty song. It's way too dumb a hook and

honestly, both Jay-Z and Andre suck bad on top. 2/5

13. Higher Learning ft. Snoop Dogg & Devin The Dude

So does not belong here, but it's fly as fuck. 4/5

14. This Ones For You ft. Trick Daddy 

I love this one and sounds like classic Trick Daddy

material from back in the day. Again, i love it. 5/5

15. .38 ft. Freddie Gibbs

Now this is the one. Favourite track of the alb and best

beat hands down. Fuck me runnin! On blast! 5/5

16. Ballin ft. Lil Wayne

Despite having Lil Gayne on here (when i first had

a look at the tracklist i was actually praying, don't

have that bitch featured...but unfortunately...). Anyway,

he is actually not bad here and the beat and gizzle

make this track killer. Do have to deduct a point. 4.5/5

17. Lose My Mind ft. Plies

Growing on me every time but not quite on par with the 

rest of the album. But getting there. 3.5/5

18. Never Be The Same

Last track. This shoulda been big, Like TM101 big.

It's close but no cigar for me. Still, a sick track. 4/5

Having listened to Jeezy's previous albums aswell,

 it's obvious he delivers with each alb and really stays 

on the same level since he first came out with 101.

Still, that album is up there and 103 doesn't

really live up to it, but it comes close. It is however

better than his other 2 releases. Again, they're all pretty

close together with equal amount of 5/5 tracks:

one thing i love about Young Jeezy, is his consistency. 

All in all, this album delivers and is a must buy 

for any jeezy or dirty south fan. I'm ordering mine!

Overall Score: 9/10

COMMON - THE DREAMER THE BELIEVER

COMMON

THE DREAMER / THE BELIEVER

2011

1. The Dreamer ft. Maya Angelou

First track of the album and already Common

proves his worth and ability to turn tracks into

something more. The beat isn't all that but 

Common's verses and flow really do lift this.

The hook isn't bad either. Not truly feeling the 

outro with Maya, i tend to skip her. 4.5/5

2. Ghetto Dreams ft. Nas

The end of The Believer does transition smoothly

into this sick collabo track with good 'ol Nasty Nas.

They both come correct and it's refreshing to

have these two together. As for the track itself, as

dope as it is, it could've been more since the

beat is wearing it down for me. 4.5/5

3. Blue Sky

Now this is sick and Common at his best. Who else

can make your head bump with just his verses 

when the beat doesn't even have a single snare!

(prolly a lot could do this of course, but i'm talking

about Common). First time i heard it i was waiting

for something to drop but the fact it didn't made it

even better. Crazy verses and a sick hook. 5/5

4. Sweet

First single and video and man does this deliver.

This made me more eager to get the album. 

Awesome beat and sick lyrics and delivery. 

A ram Common is what we need. 5/5

5. Gold

Musically this beat is bananas. It lifts the fairly 

simple drums to something much higher. 

Add a great hook and again Common coming 

through and it truly is gold. King Midas. 5/5

6. Lovin I Lost

Fuckin hell...you can't go wrong with this sample

but to make it this fantastic and have Common

flowin over it like he does is...pfeew 5/5 

7. Raw (How You Like It)

This sounds like an ol skool Busta track but not

one i'm feelin as much. Not a fan of the melodies

and Common sounds like back in the day when

i didn't like him. I can still appreciate though. 3.5/5

8. Cloth

Smooth laid-back track. Nice lyrics and a soft hook

that's not really inviting but still a really nice cut. 4/5

9. Celebrate

His latest video and it is what it is. A little too happy

for me perhaps but can't front. Its great. 4.5/5

10. Windows

Wouldn't call this up my alley, but for some reason

i'm kinda hooked. The combination of the drums,

Common's lyrics and the vibey hook? 

And the musical outro to this is sick. I loves. 5/5

11. The Believer ft. John Legend

Seriously not a fan of John Legend's hook here nor

the poppy beat. Sounds like an uptempo Eurovision

song with a rap over it. But yet, the song is sick. 4/5

12. Pops Belief

Nice little outro, but don't want to here this 

over and over as i'm bumping this album. 

Real quality Hip-Hop is still here. This year brought

a lot of such releases with J. Cole, Black And Brown, 

Phonte, 9th Wonder, etc, and last but not least 

Cappadonna & The Roots (who get my vote). 

This album comes close to them but I feel the lasting

appeal is not quite the same. Still, that's personal

and doesn't matter here. Point is, this is classic

material once again from the one and only. 

Not sure yet where this rates amongst his 

other albums but Common never dissapoints.

Overall Score: 9.3/10