1. Janelle Monáe / The ArchAndroid
This is one of the best albums I’ve heard maybe in the last twenty years! Please purchase this album if you are a music lover! I first became hip to Janelle Monáe when she released her E.P. Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase). I thought that she was refreshingly unique, but I wasn’t sure how that would translate to the commercial music world. Well, it looks like it translated well as she enjoyed a very commercially successful year! An album that spans many different genres, and is perfect from start to finish. This is my favorite album of the year!
2. Kanye West / My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
What can you say? This man is a genius! Kanye West polarized the world with his work this year! Whether it was his ground-breaking “Good Friday” series, where he released a free song a week over his website until MBDTF came out; or his visually stunning and game changing thirty minute film “Runaway.” This album is perfect for the hardcore hip hop fan that also has the same appreciation for other classical art forms. I don’t think there is anyone who hasn’t heard this album, but if you haven’t RUN to your nearest store and purchase the CD. You’re gonna want a physical copy of this one!
3. Vampire Weekend / Contra
This album above all on this list probably dominated my iPod the most. It’s AMAZING! Perfect from start to finish! I wasn’t hugely enthusiastic about this release, but I gave it a chance at a record store in Vancouver and I was blown away! It just sounds so damn good! Contra is definitely one of my favorites from this year!
4. Kid Cudi / Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager
Kid Cudi was number two on my top ten list last year for his debut Man On The Moon: The End Of Day, and would have topped this years list with this album, but there was so much damn good music that came out this year lol! This album does not disappoint. I felt he took the sound of his debut and made it better. Even darker. Even more genre-less. Genius! You’re going to want a physical copy to this one too!
5. The Black Keys / Brothers
This album is AWESOME! If you’re a fan of The Black Keys, this is business as usual. There is nothing like riding around Los Angeles with no place to go blasting “Go Getter” like rap music. This album has a lot of personal memories attached to it for me, but I would suggest it to anyone that is a fan of that noisy, garage blues sound that The Black Keys are so good at.
6. Wiz Khalifa / Kush & Orange Juice
Man! I’m a new-er fan of Wiz Khalifa, but when he dropped this album (yes album, this ain’t no damn mix-tape!) for free over the internet I was amazed! This has dominated my iPod all year and even inspired a lot of my own production (Chloe Sevigny, Money, Lansing). Cop this son if you don’t have it!
7. Drake / Thank Me Later
This album received a lot of flack from most people. I think if Drake would have released Illmatic people would have said it sucked! I think since I don’t listen to much radio or TV I wasn’t over-exposed to Drake. I was able to listen from a different prospective, and I loved what I heard. This album is solid from start to finish, and I believe this album finally made it okay to blur the genre line in major label releases.
8. Diddy-Dirty Money / Last Train To Paris
Yo! WTF!? This album is dope! Wouldn’t have thought in a million years a Diddy-Dirty Money album would be one of my favorite albums of the year! This is one of the most polished, solid offering of this years musical releases. It is almost reminiscent of a modern-day Quincy Jones release, where many different artists take the spot light for each song. I think the best thing that could have been done was to not have the album dominated by Diddy. I respect Diddy for using restraint in regards to how much he was actually featured on the album. I think if this was made into a “Diddy Fest” it wouldn’t have worked. I highly suggest this album if you are a fan of quality pop music!
9. R. Kelly / Love Letter
Whoa! This album came out of no where! Anyone that knows me knows that I am a HUGE fan of R. Kelly, and regard him as a musical genius! He is an artist that is SO consistent that you kind of forget about him sometimes. But when I saw him throw down on Jimmy Fallon while promoting this album I instantly remembered lol! So I got the album immediately afterward. It’s solid from start to finish! Definitely my favorite R & B albums of the year! I highly suggest you to purchase this ASAP! I mean the dewd made a Christmas remix to “Love Letter!” Sing that shit Raaahbert!!!
10. Curren$y / Pilot Talk & Pilot Talk 2
This man has been busy this year! Love both of these albums! The production from Ski Beatz is beyond solid for both. I’ve been a huge fan of what Curren$y as well as Ski Beatz and Dame Dash have been up to this year. From CreativeControl.TV to 24 Hour Karate school hip yourself. This is the future!
Honorable Mention
- Raekwon / Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. 2
I felt so bad for leaving this off of my best of 2009 list that I thought I would make a place for it here. Easily the best hip hop album in the last ten years! Buy this NOW if you don’t have it! I wasn’t sure about it before it came out. Especially with it being a sequel to one of the best hip hop albums of all time. But when I heard it, it was like ice water for my brain! Cop now lol!
- LCD Soundsystem / This Is Happening
Really sad I didn’t have room for this album on the best of 2010 list. This album is amazing and definitely a good pick up if you’re a fan of that rock/electronica stuff. So damn good!
FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR 2 CENTS IN THE COMMENT FIELD!
