What a great year for Hip Hop!!! By far one of the best in recent years. This is the final recap of the original list I put up in January: TOP 10 Most Anticipated Albums of 2011.

I know many many good/great albums are left of this list. That is because in January I was not aware of these albums being released. Examples include: The Roots, Bad Meets Evil, Phonte, R.E.K.S., and Random Axe to name a few.

Check out what albums ACTUALLY dropped and which ones are still on the way

Talib Kweli – Gutter Rainbows / Prisoners of Conscious: The BK MC delivered on his first of two albums of 2011. Gutter Rainbows was filled with quality tracks and beats. Not his best because he set the bar very high on his solo albums, but this was still very solid. He did deliver on the first single and video off Prisoners of Conscious: “Distractions”

Chino XL- The RICANstruction: Originally set for a February release, then pushed to November. He did drop a single off the album, “N.I.C.E.” and he told us it would be a double album. Hopefully the finishing touches are being put and we get an EARLY 2012 release.

Lupe Fiasco- Lasers: We waited so long for this and it finally dropped in early 2011. It did not live up to all the hype and definitely not to MY expectations. Still a dope album. (way better than most of what is out). He did drop a super dope mixtape, Friend Of The People, and it showed that when the label is not involved he is lyrically above and beyond all others.

Pharoahe Monch – W.A.R:  Another long awaited release that finally dropped. One of the best of the year.

Saigon – Greatest Story Never Told: This was another long awaited album but it was also a DEBUT album. Lived up to ALL the hype and well worth the wait. One of my top 2 favorite albums of the year.

Slaughterhouse – Slaughterhouse EP: This dropped early in 2011 and it was a bunch of unreleased and leftover tracks. One or two new ones tho. Basically a final album to get them off their record label. The best news we got from Slaughterhouse was their official signing to Shady Records.

Jean Grae – Cake or Death: Her album, Cake Or Death did not drop… but one of the best mixtapes of the year did in Cookies Or Comas. At least the mixtape gave us some really dope music from the female MC that should be carrying Hip Hop.

Jay Electronica – Act II:  Nothing much here. A few tracks here and there. Hopefully 2012 is his turn.

 

Nas – Lost Tapes II/studio album: He stopped working on the Lost Tapes II album so he can focus on finishing the studio album. He gave us a single and video off the album with “Nasty”. So expect an album in 2012.

 

J. Cole – Cole World: The Sideline Story: Another long awaited AND Debut album. This also delivered and was worth the wait. The other of my top 2 favorite albums of the year.

                                                                                             

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Raekwon – Shaolin Vs. Wu Tang:  This album dropped early in the year and was a banger. Everything you would expect from a Rae album.

Dr. Dre- Detox– We got a few “eh” singles…. we got a video for “I Need A Doctor”…. but nothing to go crazy over.

Jay-Z and Kanye- Watch The Throne I did NOT think this would really happen, but it sure did. A lot of mixed reviews from this. Personally, I liked it. At first I didn’t, but it grew on me ALOT.

Crooked I- In None We Trust– Can always count on Crooked for a solid project. One of those times when QUALITY is greater than QUANTITY.

Common- The Dreamer, The Believer– Amazing work on this. Got pushed all the way to December so I feared it might not drop… but it did. Non skip album.

Styles P- Master Of Ceremonies– A solid and slept on album. Styles does his thing and shows us what some dope NYC Hip Hop is.

Royce Da 5’9″- Success Is Certain– Another very solid album. Exactly what a Royce album is all about. Dope lyrics, sick flows, and some real good production. Top 5 in my opinion.