Best Hip Hop Albums of the Year UPDATED

So I decide to make a end of the year "Best of List" and figured I would do 10 vocal projects and 10 instrumental projects (props to Elmattic for the idea and check his list as well). Now I am sure I am going to get lets of people pissed at me for a few things first, what I am including in hip hop and I do not care, in reality the only reason I put hip hop in the title is because I did not want to include Black American Music albums (formerly jazz,) I am sure people some people will also disagree with my definition of an album (do not care about the length if it is a cohesive statement it counts.) Then there is the biggest complaint about any list, "what about *insert album name*." A few things about that, first, I must have heard the album (seems pretty obvious,) and I must have been able fully digest the album, meaning anything released in the last week or so is disqualified. Also, let me be clear, this is about creating an album, not just a collection of dope songs, I also very much reveal my "artsy" side with some of these choices and I am just fine with that. Ok, so here it goes.

TOP 10 INSTRUMENTAL ALBUMS OF 2011 (at least 60% instrumental)


NOTE: Originally was planning on doing 10, but thought that was a bit pretentious so went with 5 on original posting. This then brought a whole heap of discussion as to some of the albums I was missing and figured that 10 wasn't pretentious if people wanted it.

10. Lyle Horowitz "Let Them Eat Cake"

And this is the final piece of the is it hip hop puzzle. Are there MCs on it, YES (and great job by the few appearances.) Would it be classified as hip hop? That is a VERY tough question, but it is certainly a great album, covering all sorts of sounds and atmospheric feelings.
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9. The Kone "The TRACTATUS"

Another such release is right here, is this hip hop, I would say no. Is it dope instrumental album...YES. The Kone takes us on a great and funky musical journey on this record.
Buy

8. Turquoise Summers "Never Can Get Enuff"

Ok right around here is when I feel like I should explain that I did weigh hip hop albums heavier (because that was the original intent of the list) but I refuse to have a fav instrumental list without some of my fav releases that are certainly not hip hop. THe first of said releases is "Never Can Get Enuff" the debut EP or Maxi-single from Turquoise Summers, who as should be pretty obvious to regulars of my blog, is one of my favorite artists out there, regardless of genre. So show the dude some respect and get the project.
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7. Nasa "Uncommon Color Combinations Vol 2"


Nasa released his second volume of Uncommon Color Combinations this year and shows us why he is one of the best producers in progressive hip-hop. He also deserves some props for the song titles.
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6. Ill Clinton "SKYWALKEN"

Ill Clinton, released some great music this year (including "The Anti Socialist") but "SKYWALKEN" takes the preverbal cake mainly due to the cohesiveness and almost story telling of the album.
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5. Bil Basmala "Legend of Blaqods"

Very dope album that blurs the line between hip hop and electronica, almost a minimalist production but says so very much and works beautifully as a full album concept.
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4. Dr. Khil "Khilgore Trout "A Beat Tape"

Music inspired by classic literary characters, need I say more? Ok then read my review.
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3. Shade Cobain "Tears"

A cohesive collection of dope beats, filled with emotion but still has that boom bap.
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2. IV the Polymath "Push IVward"

First time I heard this it blew my away and with each listen it gets better and better, check my original review.
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1. A.M. Breakups "The Cant Resurrection"

This one pushes the limit of instrumental album, not just in the percentage of instrumental but also just what an album can do. Sometimes you can tell an album is more than just a piece of music, it really is part of the person, and "The Cant Resurrection" is just that, incredible album.

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TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR (non-instrumnetal)

10. Mr. Kinetik & Rusty Redenbacher "The Professor and the Hustler"


The standout album for #ATFU this year features both MCs killing it over beats from a wide array of producers. While as a whole, Mr. Kinetik plays the role of the Professor and Rusty plays the role of the Hustler, do not think that they cannot do both, great job of crafting a duo album.
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9. Mike Ladd "Kids and Animals"


What can I say, I am a HUGE fan of Mike Ladd, as I have said before the guy shines as a true artist, not just an MC.
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8. I, Ced "All In My Mind"


One of the most soulful albums I have heard in many years with some incredible production as well. You can decide to call it soul if you want, but really it is just a dope ass album that will take you on one hell of a journey, listen to this one with your headphones on and listen to it loudly, and enjoy the ride, I, Ced is a musical beast.
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7. PremRock & Willie Green "PremRock & Willie Green"


One of the best producers in the game and one of my favorite MCs come together and make an incredible album. This to me is your classic throwback album, filled with a bit of everything you can ask for in a hip hop album, and just a great fun record as well that still has a whole lot to say.
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6. Short Fuze & Nasa "Toxicolgy Music"


Still love this mash of remix album and EP of new tracks. Great work by two of my favorite artist out there, honestly if you don't know about it, check my review and then go get it.

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5. Random Axe "Random Axe"

This is the exception to the "album" idea, this is just a whole bunch of dope songs, with great production and three MCs killing it on the mic, not a world changer but if you want some great rapping you will hear it here.

4. The Deer aka J1 "The Yellow"

Still cannot believe that J1 passed, he was a great musician and this year released one of the best pieces of music I have heard in a while, I do not care that it is just over 20 minutes long, it is a great project, you need to check it out and read my review if you need more info.
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3. Antipop Consortium with Matthew Shipp & William Parker "Knives from Heaven"


People talk about pushing the limits of hip hop and where can it go. Well, this is one of the places that I love, a collaborative project between some of the most forward thinking MCs out there and some of the best musicians out there. This is a piece of musical art that deserves your full and undivided attention.
Buy

2. Random and Lost Perception "Black Materia"

One of the best and most fully realized concept albums put together in a long time, including different MCs for different characters. I do not care that is based on a video game, this is a great album that tells a story from beginning to end and does so wonderfully with high quality beats and dope rhymes. For a more in-depth description check my original review.
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1. Open Mike Eagle "Rappers Will Die of Natural Causes"

I cannot talk about this album enough, one of my favorite albums in recent years and is quickly making Open Mike Eagle, one of, if not my favorite MC. I once ranted on twitter, that if you are a fan of hip hop and do not like this album, I can only assume you are too stupid to understand the words he is using. And I stand by that statement, it gets 5 stars, A+, or however you want to rate it, it was easy to make this my number one, I don't think I have gone more than 2 or 3 days without listening to this whole album.
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Ok so that concludes my list of favorite albums of the year. So let all of the inevitable debate and yelling at me begin.