Pete Rubens vs. The World
Beats + Rhymes + Life
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 01) Meek Mill - Dreamchasers
Ross struck gold when he signed Meek Mill to the upstart Maybach Music Group imprint, and less than a year later, he’s already proving to paying The Bawse dividends. The 23 year old Philadelphia spit fire has had an underground buzz for years due to the success of his Flamerz mixtape series, but with Dreamchasers, he catipultes into the mainstream spotlight. Unlike its predecessors, the DJ Drama hosted project was able to penetrate the mainstream with records like ‘I’m a Boss’ and ‘House Party’ getting major radio play, but the tape also tells the story of his troubled upbringing and his chase for rap royalty. This is a great start.
Standout Tracks: “House Party (feat. Young Chris)”, “Work (feat. Rick Ross)”, “I’m A Boss (feat. Rick Ross)” “Dreamchaser (feat. Beanie Sigel)”
Download: Meek Mill - Dreamchasers
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 02) The Weeknd - House of Balloons
It’s almost unfair to categorize this as a mixtape. Much was not known about the Toronto singer when random tracks leaked onto the Internet, but after the release of House of Balloons, The Weeknd is on almost every music fan’s radar. In the project, we are taken out for what seems to be a night of hardcore drug intake, strippers, unprotected sex and heartbreak. The Weeknd’s falsetto coupled with trippy, drug-infused production will have you laid back at one moment and on the edge of your seat at the next. Classic in every sense of the word.
Standout Tracks: “High For This” “Wicked Games” “The Party & The After Party”
Download: The Weeknd- House of Balloons
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 03) Pusha T - Fear of God
Pusha’s solo debut project is exactly what most fans expected, a classic. The G.O.O.D. Music signee established a strong following with his cocaine dealing fused lyrics as half rap music duo The Clipse, and not much has changed, but if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Though it does have a few throw away tracks, with records like the Hit Boy produced ‘My God’, there’s no denying it’s critical acclaim.
Standout Tracks: “My God” “Blow” “Alone In Vegas”
Download: Pusha T - Fear of God
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 04) Danny Brown - XXX
The most underrated, slept on release of 2011, period. The 30-something year old Detroit rapper takes the listener on a euphoric ride, documenting what seems like a near nervous breakdown through his drug-abused eyes, somehow finding a perfect balance of comedy, drama and pure delusion.
Standout Tracks: ”Die Like a Rockstar” “Radio Song” “Blunt After Blunt”
Download: Danny Brown - XXX
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 05) 2 Chainz - T.R.U. REALigion
“2 Chaaaaaaainz”. Without doubt, the most improved rapper of 2011, period. The artist formally known as Tity Boi of the Atlanta group Playaz Circle finds his voice in 2011. After a positive feedback from his earlier release Coedine Cowboys, featuring the street hit ‘Spend It’, and an impressive freestyle during the B.E.T. Hip Hop Awards, 2 Chainz kicked down the door with this project, hosted by DJ Drama and made himself a valuable go-to guy in 2012.
Standout Tracks: ”Undastatement” “”Spend It (remix) (feat. T.I.)” “I Got It (feat. Trey Songz)”
Download: 2 Chainz - T.R.U. REALigion
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 06) Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra
It seemed like the Odd Future collective was everywhere in 2011. From their frontman Tyler, The Creator winning MTV Moon Men, to rumors of spitfire member Earl Sweatshirt being shipped off to boarding school, the media couldn’t get enough of OFWGKTA. The biggest year, however, could possibly belong to the group’s vocalist and the release of his ultra impressive mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra. It seemed as if Frank Ocean came out of absolutely nowhere, but with his unique delivery should keep him around for quite some time.
Standout Tracks: “Novacane” “Love Crimes” “There Will Be Tears”
Download: Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 07) A$AP Rocky - Live.Love.A$AP
New York hip hop may have found it’s newest savior. Granted, I’m not completely sold on Rocky as an emcee, but the Harlem rapper has created a major buzz and has star written all over him. Signing for a reported $3million with RCA before the release of his debut project, the self proclaimed ‘pretty mutha fucka’ mixes slow, dark Texas-styled production and catchy cadence is refreshing at a time where it seems a lot of rap music sounds the same.
Standout Tracks: “Peso” “Wasup” “Purple Swag Ch. 2”
Download: A$AP Rocky - Live.Love.A$AP
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 08) Stalley - Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Music)
Stalley is quickly becoming one of the most notable rising stars in the underground rap game. Call it home cooking, but the Ohio native has been making some serious noise as of late, and with the release of this project, with the co-sign of XXL Magazine, solidified the newest Maybach Music Group signee as a force. With his whole project produced by beat maker/singer/rapper Rashad Thomas in its entirety, the feel of new age trunk music was introduced, and the world loved it.
Standout Tracks: “Slapp (feat. Rashad Thomas)” “Pound” “She Hates The Bass” “Shop”
Download: Stalley - Lincoln Way Nights (Intelligent Trunk Music)
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 09) Elzhi - Elmatic
Elzhi took on a tall order, remaking Nas’ Illmatic, largely considered one of the greatest rap albums of all time, and did it justice. Fans of early ’90s hip hop, like myself, should find this super refreshing and enjoy the newcomer paying homage.
Standout Tracks: ”Detroit State of Mind” “Life’s A Bitch (feat. Royce Da 5’9)” ”It Ain’t Hard To Tell”
Download: Elzhi - Elmatic
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 10) Curren$y - Covert Coup
It seems like Spitta never rests. In between finalizing his deal with Warner Bros for his Jet Life Recording imprint and releasing his major label debut Weekend At Burnies, Spitta and producer/DJ Alchemist link up to feed the streets with this dope fuse of weed raps and boom bap production.
Standout Tracks: ”BBS” “Scottie Pippens (feat. Freddie Gibbs” “Double 07”
Download: Curren$y - Covert Coup
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 11) Wiz Khalifa - Cabin Fever
Not to many rappers can claim to have had a bigger 2011 than Wiz Khalifa. The Pittsburgh rapper parlayed his critically acclaimed 2010 release Kush & OJ mixtape to a huge deal with Atlantic Records, a #1 hit with ‘Black & Yellow’ and a chart-topping studio album. But between sweeping the MTV Woodie Awards and sharing gum with his socialite beau Amber Rose, Wiz was able to drop this long awaited gem via Twitter.
Standout Tracks: “Cabin Fever” “Taylor Gang (feat. Chevy)” “Homicide (feat. Chevy)”
Download: Wiz Khalifa - Cabin Fever
Top Mixtapes of 2011: 12) Phil Ade - A Different World
Don’t quote me, but the DMV may have found another rapper to carry the torch for the region. The first artist to sign to Raheem DeVaughn’s 386 Music Group imprint, Ade turned some heads with his 2010 release The Letterman, and this 2dopeboyz co-signed project is the first major landmark for what we predict will be a long career.
Standout Tracks: “King” “High On (feat. Raheem DeVaughn)” “You’re The One (feat. Killa Kyleon)”
Download: Phil Ade - A Different World
