MaslabHeadlines of 2011
Mr. Cee Gets Bagged Piping a Tranny
Retweet If You’re White And You Rap
Gucci Mane’s Ice Cream Cone Face Tattoo
Rick Ross Suffers Two Seizures In One Day
Why Drake Doesn’t Fit In With Young Money
Wiz Khalifa Offically Booed Up
Lil B Comes Out With Album Titled I’m Gay
Ray J Has an Indoor Pool and an Outdoor Pool
Styles P Screams On Radio Host…
Throwback Hip-Hop Footage: A Collection of Videos, Interviews & More
Smoking Weed & Rapping Is Harder Than It Looks
Glory Hole Swag At Sony Studios
Albums Of The Year
The Roots undun
Kendrick Lamar Section.80
Action Bronson Dr. Lector
Jay-Z & Kanye West Watch The Throne
Childish Gambino Camp
M.O.P. & Snowgoons Sparta
Big Sean Finally Famous
Game R.E.D. Album
Common The Dreamer, The Believer
Evidence Cats & Dogs
REKS Rhythmatic Eternal Supreme
Apollo Brown Clouds
Smoke DZA Rolling Stoned
Jet Life Jet World Order
Curren$y Weekend At Burnies
Raekwon Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang
Beastie Boys Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
Action Bronson & Statik Selektah Well Done
Saigon Greatest Story Never Told
Pharoahe Monch W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)
Best Mixtapes Of 2011
Big K.R.I.T Return Of 4eva
A$AP Rocky Live.Love.A$AP
Elzhi elMatic
Danny Brown XXX
Main Attrakionz 808s and Dark Grapes
The Weekend House Of Balloons
Frank Ocean Nostalgia, Ultra
2 Chainz T.R.U.REALigion
Asher Roth Pabst & Jazz
G-Eazy The Endless Summer
Skyzoo The Great Debater
Freddie Gibbs Cold Day In Hell
Curren$y & The Alchemist Covert Coup
Fashawn Higher Learning 2
Meek Mill Dreamchasers
Videos Of The Year:
Rookies Of The Year:
Tyler, The Creator: Back in the beginning of the year, the hip-hop world couldn’t get enough of OFWGKTA and Tyler The Creator’s wild antics had a lot to do with it. However, all the juvenile bullsh*t aside, you can’t deny that the Odd Future frontman can hold his own on the mic. Dude murdered vets like Pusha T and Game on their own joints, dropped one of the hottest songs/videos of the year and he has a couple accolades to show for it. With that said, there’s no denying that his commercial debut, Goblin, wasn’t for everyone…
A$AP Rocky: There’s no question that the summer of 2011 belonged to Harlem’s pretty mothaf*cka thanks to dope visuals for the songs Peso and Purple Swag. A$AP was able to carry that momentum into the Fall with the release of his highly successful mixtape Live.Love.A$AP, which displayed an innovative Houston influenced style of rap unlike anything that has ever really came out of New York.
Action Bronson: While Tyler The Creator dominated the start of 2011, and A$AP Rocky gained a giant buzz throughout the past couple of months, Action Bronson has stayed consistent throughout the year kicking things off with the critically acclaimed Dr. Lector, and wrapping up 2011 with the Statik Selektah produced Well Done, both of which made our top albums of the year list. It’s looking like 2012 is going to be a big year for this food loving MC.
Team Of The Year:
Maybach Music Group – This year Rick Ross really proved why he is indeed the biggest boss we have seen thus far. Ross added the likes of Wale and Stalley to an already stacked MMG roster that features Rozay himself, Pill, Triple C’s and 2011 XXL Freshman Meek Mill who started buzzing heavy in the streets this year thanks to his hit single “Ima Boss.” MMG really solidified their brand in May by dropping a successful compilation album titled Self Made Vol. 1 featuring all the label’s members and the project spawned a number of chart topping bangers like “Tupac Back” and “600 Benz.” Not only that but Wale also released his MMG debut which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and sold just over 160k its first week. Mercedes may have decided to stop producing the Luxurious vehicle this year, but if Ross and company keep making moves the way they did in 2011, then people will continue to be familiar with the Maybach moniker and the success it represents for years to come.
Honorable Mentions…
Young Money: With the release of Drake’s sophomore effort Take Care and Wayne’s Carter IV, both now platinum, it’s safe to say that YMCMB had a pretty good year. Young Money isn’t slouching as the crew is continuing to prosper with successful radio singles from their first lady, Nicki Minaj, while building their stable with new additions such as rap game veteran Busta Rhymes.
Jet Life: The Jets really made some major moves on the low towards the end of 2011 by signing Smoke DZA and Mikey Rocks of the Cool Kids. Curren$y released a number of projects this year including a compilation album of his own that featured himself, Young Roddy, Trademark Da Skydiver and the rest of the Jet Life crew.
Heeeeyyyyyyy! You forgot about The Weeknd’s “The Knowing”, dir. Mikael Colombu
No jcole for one of the top albums of the year?most of the stuff on this list was cool though the weirdest one had to be the mister cee thing.