2011 was quite a year for Hip Hop. We met some new jacks who thoroughly impressed us, became believers again in veterans on the verge of retirement, and received the same level of skill from consistent artists who churn out new sounds regularly. All in all, it was a great year musically. Getting to report this music to you is one of our greatest gifts, and while we’re doing that, some artists and tracks slide into our favorites list. As 2012 is just beginning, check out some of the HipHopDX staff’s favorite tracks from “last year.”
Jake Paine, Editor-In-Chief (@Citizen__Paine)
1. Phonte – “The Good Fight” 
2. Kendrick Lamar – “HiiiPower”
3. Kendrick Lamar f. GLC – “Poe Man’s Dreams”
4. Killer Mike – “Burn”
5. Pharoahe Monch – “Evolve”
6. David Banner – “Swag”
7. Big K.R.I.T. – “Rise & Shine”
8. G-Side – “Y U Mad?”
9. Raekwon – “Snake Pond”
10. Yelawolf f. Lil Jon – “Hard White (Up In the Club)”
Kathy Iandoli, Music Editor (@Kath3000)
1. Nas – “Nasty”
2. Jay-Z & Kanye West f. Frank Ocean – “No Church In the Wild”
3. Tyler, The Creator – “Yonkers”
4. Lil Wayne f. Tech N9ne, Andre 3000, etc. – “Carter IV Interlude”
5. Raekwon f. Ghostface – “Silver Rings”
6. ASAP Rocky – “Peso”
7. Common – “Sweet”
8. The Roots f. Big K.R.I.T. – “Make My”
9. Killer Mike f. Big Boi & T.I. – “Ready Set Go Rmx”
10. Action Bronson f. Nina Sky – “Cocoa Butter”
Omar Burgess, Editor-At-Large (@FourFingerRings)
1. Big K.R.I.T. – “Another Naive Individual Glorifying Greed and Encouraging Racism”
2. Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Gotta Have It”
3. Kendrick Lamar – “Hiii Power”
4. David Banner – “Swag”
5. Pusha T – “Open Your Eyes”
6. Pac Div f. TiRon – “She”
7. Wiz Khalifa, Curren$y & Big Sean – “O.T.T.R. (Off To The Races)”
8. Nas – “Nasty”
9. Wale f. Rick Ross & Jadakiss – “600 Benz”
10. Drake f. Rick Ross – “Lord Knows”
Steven Horowitz, News Editor (@SPeriod)
1. Kendrick Lamar – “A.D.H.D.”
2. Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Otis”
3. Phonte – “The Good Fight”
4. The Roots f. Big K.R.I.T. – “Make My”
5. Action Bronson f. Nina Sky – “Cocoa Butter”
6. Kendrick Lamar – “Fuck Your Ethnicity”
7. Common – “Celebrate”
8. Evidence f. Raekwon & Ras Kass – “The Red Carpet”
9. Nas – “Nasty”
10. Drake f. Rick Ross – “Lord Knows”
Michael Sheehan, Production Assistant
1. Tech N9ne f. B.o.B. & Hopsin – “Am I A Psycho”
2. Joker f. Freddie Gibbs & Jessie Ware – “The Vision Rmx”
3. Killer Mike f. T.I. & Big Boi – “Ready, Set, Go Rmx”
4. Raekwon f. Ghostface – “Silver Rings”
5. Jay-Z & Kanye West f. Frank Ocean – “No Church In The Wild”
6. David Banner – “Swag”
7. B.o.B. f. T.I. & Mos Def – “Boom Bap”
8. Slim The Mobster f. Prodigy – “Marta”
9. Mexicans With Guns f. Bun B & Freddie Gibbs – “Highway To Hell”
10. Kyo Itachi & Ruste Juxx f. R.A. The Rugged Man – “No Prints”
Ive been seeing a lot of stuff about tech n9ne, maybe I should finally check out his album?…….but everything I hear from n9ne, reminds me of that west coast rapper dub c or WC and that guy makes the back of my ankles itch cause of the level of wackness
check out the homie tech n9ne, u missin out if u don’t brother.. he ain’t nothin like dub c or any west coast artist
Word up, ima def give it an un-bias listen..good lookin out fam
nice to see the comment section being used for something positive, not just trashing someone because they dont share the same taste in music as you
yeah I’m all for positivity n shit too, but I gotta adress this shit: WC is not wack, he’s one of the illest niggas from the west, The Maad Circle, Westside Connection, all that.
I dig….I wasn’t expecting everyone to think WC was wack…I’m sure he has a fan base..but his music isn’t for my ears…y’all some cool mah fuckas…it’s all peace wit the comments
Tech N9ne is like WC??? WTF kinda comparison is that. If you haven’t been bumping tech by now don’t even bother, you aren’t a hip hop fan. you suck. go die…
But really, dude is an absolute animal. Check out K.O.D. and any album before that and you’ll see. 6’s and 7’s is a lil soft, but its more of a business move than a tech album. Listen to his catalog straight through, you’ll be hard pressed to find another as impressive…
@tazzz: u kno me slim???? Doubt it, so don’t say I don’t like hip hop because jus because I never listen to tech n9ne…chill fam, u doin to much feel me?
cnt believe u guys dnt have Jay/Kanye’s song murder to excellence cuz I thought dat was the best song on WTT
kanye/jigga- the joy shitting on 95% of songs this year
@Hod Guy
Who the fuck are u to shove ur opinions down our throats ? Murder To excellence is def the best jam on WTT
@Hod guy
Even if it does shit on 95% of the songs this year it’s still not even in the top 10,000 songs. So yeah congratulations on making a retarded point. fuckin dumbass
To the staff of HIPHOPDX:
– pay attention to real hiphop in 2012
– not making so much mistakes in articles
– check if the source is reliable
– give interesting news not some bullshit about 50 cent having headphones or drake a new beverage or lil wayne is farting or the new lipstick by kanye west
– give good reviews and tell us why an album is bad or good.
– hire people who are educated and have knowlegde about hiphop
And sorry for my bad english but im not an american or englishman.
Actually HiphopDX is pretty dope site, Rapradar, has all the bullshit stories like Drake’s lipstick and what not.
son that new kanye lip stick is the shizzle my nizzle
the internet this year help blur the lines of mainstrem & underground. They’re picks were okay, not bad at all my picks would be:
1. Lupe Fiasco- All Black Everything
2. Saigon- The Greatest Story Never Told
3. Kendrick Lamar- Hold up
4. The Roots- Kool On
5. Common- Lovin I lost
6. Stalley- Chevys & Spaceships
7. Pusha T w/ Tyler- The Creator- Trouble on My Mind
8. J. Cole- Breakdown
9. Median- The Sender
10. Phonte w/ Big KRIT & Evidence- The 3 Kings
this is whack. no song from BME…? ya these people like to suck dick.
because BME is not that good
@Hod Guy.
U again ? The hardcore shady hater. Fastlane>>>>>Every song on WTT
@Kathy Iandoli and @Omar Burgess ur list sucks…go write for Britney Spears and leave hiphop alone u bastards
it’s called “DX Staff Picks” for a reason. Not “DX Commenter’s Picks.” Last time dx did commenter’s picks, Game’s RED album was chosen as the best of 2011 :-/
CO FUCKING SIGN!
lol TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH
“silver rings” hot, from Rae’s unappreciated album
Funny how there are hardly any roots, common, beastie boys or j. cole trax despite all the accolades from this site as them brining out the best albums of 2011. Here a real list – no hater shit here, just best tracks period
1. ADHD – Kendrick Lamar
2. I’m On One – Drake ft. Khaled, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne
3. Otis – Jay-Z and Kanye
4. Yonkers – Tyler the Creator
5. Lord knows – Drake w/ Rick Ross
6. Niggas in Paris – Jay-Z and Kanye
7. Peso – ASAP Rocky
8. Nasty – Nas
9. The invitation – Papoose w/ Q-Tip
10. Fast Lane – Eminem w/ Royce 5,9
get the fuck outta here, peso is not really a great song and shouldnt be on anyones list, asap is pretty over rated
Peso is a dope track. ASAP is pretty good. Problem is the “Deep Purple” album is better than LoveLiveASAP. What I shouldve of added tho was “Shot Caller Remix” from French Montana. Forgot about it
Aside from 1, your list sucks
these picks are soooooo trendy Lupe Fiasco had a terrible album but hands down “All Black Everything” better than 95% of the songs on that list
I was waitin to see EV CATS & DOGS
that rass kass and raekwon song with ALC on the boards is a banger. that whole album classic, probobly one of my favorite albums of ’11. but 2011 was a great year for hip hop.
All lists are disgraceful. These people are destroying hip hop not saving it. i looked at the “mixtape of the year list”, full of rubbish. they put Lil’ Wayne as number 1, shouldnt of been in top 50. Los was rated at number 31, shoulda been no.1 or there abouts. listen to “outro” on his mixtape before any comments!
Not gonna question the lists ’cause it’s each to their own, but here’s my list:
1. 25th Hour – Reks
2. He’s a Mental Giant – Tech N9ne
3. You – Evidence
4. Stop What Ya Doin’ – Apathy feat. Celph Titled
5. Chewbacca – Random Axe feat. Roc Marciano
6. Enemies with Benefits – CunninLynguists feat. Tonedeff
7. Battle Cry – Joell Ortiz (came out in 2010 but I’m count it as 2011 ’cause of the album’s release)
8. Enough of You – Esoteric
9. Keeper of the Seven Keys – Heavy Metal Kings
10. Tron Cat – Tyler, the Creator
^super underground
I refuse to read hip hop dx’s rubbish any more… We had an Eazy E song leak this year.. Heaps of 2pac.. And your lists are shamefull .. FUCK HIP HOP DX!! YOUR STAFF , YOUR WEBSITE , AND YOUR SHIT AS REVIEWS , AND IF YOU WANNA BE DOWN WITH HIPHOP DX FUCK YOU 2!
U are down with DX that is why u are on here. So therefore, ur comment is irrelevant just as u are. Eat a fat dick
Eazy E? 2Pac? just cuz there dead doesn’t make em hot releases. Its been 15 years dude, move on…
I hate how many people there are on this site that bitch about the different lists that the editors put out. GET THE FUCK OVER IT. ITS THEIR OPINION AND THEY’RE ENTITLED TO IT. If you disagree with what they say all the time then get the fuck off this site and make a site of your own to go listen to your own wack shit. I hate hearing all of your bitching all day.
dude! *round of applause* WELL FUCKIN SAID. some fucks bitch about all the journalism and reviews on the site but still log on everyday and read every article.
I know right? It’s like if you haven’t liked the last ten articles they’ve put out then just stop fucking reading them!
1. The illest – Slaughthouse
2. White Hard Rmx – Yelewolf
3. Oh Yeah(Our Babies) – Saigon
4. Fastlane – Bad Meets Evil
5. HiiiPower – Kendrick Lamar
6. Legendary – Royce da 5’9
7. HAM – the Throne
8. Look At Me Now – Chris Brezzy
9. Loud Noises – Bad Meets Evil
10.Country Shit- Big KRIT
Honorable Mentions
11. So Lonely – Tech n9ne
12. Technicians – Tech n9ne
13. Otis – The Throne
14. Murder To Excellence – the Throne
15. Shattered Dreams – Cunn
I fuck with ur list, buddy!
your lame
Saigion is the most underrated Mc of all time. Can’t believe not even a single one of these so called Dx staffs mentioned any of his songs. DAMN!!!!
To be honest, I found that what I liked most about TGSNT was how all the songs worked together as a whole; no song really stood out to me on its own that I could put on a list.
No slaughterhouse, no 2.0 boys, no game…
True!. 2.0 boys was second on XXL end-year user polls.
i agree 2.0 is on everones list (o well)
Most of these dx staffs don’t know shit. No wonder they overrate albums like hell. Look at Omar burgess and Kathy Iandoli list……Very stupid !
Some commentors on this site just kip on trashing someone because they dont share the same taste in music as you or like the same artist as you. @Hod_Guy and @Chicago Rilla (Probably the same person).
people can have their opinions, if he thinks shady is getting worse let him think, im indifferent about it, always found eminem to be kind of wierd
No Love for shady and his team ? Lame!
His team being Yelawolf?? He was on the list…Hard White
1. Joell Ortiz – Battle Cry
2. Reks – 25th Hour
3. Kendrick Lamar – Rigamortis
4. Bad Meets Evil – Welcome To Hell
5. Saigon – It’s Cold
6. Action Bronson – Shiraz
7. Pharoahe Monch – Assassins
8. Nas – Nasty
9. Canibus – The Cypher Of Bread & Butter Feat. Royce Da 5’9
10. Elzhi – Detroit State Of Mind
+1
Damn, these are the wackest lists i’ve ever soon. No one’s every heard of most of those songs. If a failure of a rapper like Pac Div, ASAP Rocky or David Banner make a song and no one ever hears it, have they actually made a song? My god. These dudes is so dumb. You guys keep living in the 90’s and download music from some scrub without paying for it. YMBCM has real fans…we support our favorite artists. That’s right, all of you Hip Hop Nazi’s that only like old school and underground shit are fake fans. None of you are willing to step up and support your favorite artist. DAMN!
You’re a dumbass, Pac Div is a group. Check them out before calling music crap.
dude. sounds like YOU have no idea. not only do you need to do your research, you need to use a spell check! and you called yourself a true YMBCM fan…..?? its Y.M.C.M.B! smfh!
actually, i hate YMCMB and I will go out and pay for any artist i like’s cd the day it comes out. and maybe this isnt true about you but really it is YMCMB and similar mainstream groups that don’t have real fans–most are just casual radio listeners who just buy the singles. and if you were a real hip hop fan at all you would know who those artists were. and what do you mean “living in the 90s”? all of these artists are new to the scene and completely original! The only thing right about this article is that A$AP Rocky is a failure.
You guys have proven my point for me. Why the fuck do I need to do my research on Pac Div? Fuck them. No one has any clue about these guys. If they had any talent, I’d know about them. I listen to Hot97 and Power105 every day. I’ve never heard these stations rocking Pac Div. The fuck outta here with that shit. YMCMB is the path towards the future of hip hop.
YMCMB are making great strides in bringing hip hop to people who really didn’t have much exposure to it before. These guys really are pioneers and you pay no respect to people who are holding down the mantle for the entire genre. You guys are the fake hip hop fans. Digging up some shitty underground artists doesn’t make you a real hop hop fan. FAGSAP Rocky isn’t doing anything for hip hop…I bet he’s not even feeding his family. He’s probably late on child support. They should really lock his as up.
dentaldam, you are an idiot. if you said that shit in a room full of people you would get knocked out. think before you speak next time
Not really they are just ripping off hit rap songs and calling them new and original. Practice is just ripping off back that ass up dats why people love them.
The only reason why u dont hear this artis on the radio is because mainstrem listners could not handle the fire that this underground rappers are spiting. For Example BME-Lighters u never hear it on the radio..
Top 25 Records of 2011
http://wp.me/p1XLgJ-5t
i hate how people complain about hip hop dx’s choices. everyone has their own opinion just live with it. also, hip hop dx is about 100 times less mainstream biased then any other hip hop site there is so don’t talk. one complaint i have is on the bar at the top of my window it says HipHopDX Staff’s Top Rap Picks Of 2011 | Discussing Lil’ Wayne, Drake & Many More Hip Hop Artists | HipHop DX
it says this on the bar at the top of your window on every hip hopdx article
says the DX staff member…
even if it was a staff member, who gives a fuck? he’s speaking truth, and that’s all niggas like you can reply with
I’m glad Raekwon the chef is getting the props he deserves
my list…
1. dylan
2. dylan
3. dylan
4. dylan
5. dylan
6. dylan
7. dylan
8. dylan
9. dylan
10.dylan
coz he spit dat HOT FIYAH!
LMAO! Best comment!
favorite songs of the year:
1. “Fuck Your Ethnicity”
2. “Hol Up”
3. “A.D.H.D”
4. “No Make-Up (Her Vice)”
5. “Tammys Song (Her Evils)”
6. “Chapter Six”
7. “Ronald Reagan Era (His Evil)”
8. “Poe Man’s Dreams (His Vice)”
9. “The Spiteful Chant”
10. “Chapter Ten”
11. “Keisha’s Song (Her Pain”
12. “Rigamortis”
13. “Kush & Corinthians (His Pain)”
14. “Blow My High (Members Only)”
15. “Ab-Soul’s Outro”
16. “HiiiPoWeR”
Let’s hope for some more of this shit in 2012!!
i agree 100%
I agree… Album and tracks of the year….
YES!!!
Well this list explains why i have no respect for this site! #YMCMB my lifestyle
funny, that’s the reason i do respect this site
1.NASTY -NAS
(FUCK THE REST)
Is it just me or does YMCMB rip off hit hip-hop songs and calling them new and original. Example practice is just ripping off back that ass up.
I think DX has to many “college” newbys who just dickride what is hott at the moment ..supposedly cuz i dont think crap like aesp rocky who stole aesop rock name is hott next year itll be other herbs that DX will jump on
1) AZ ft Cormega – Murda On The Daily
2) Wu Tang – Diesel Fluid
3) Big K.R.I.T – Time Machine
4) Killah Priest ft Roc Marciano – Slugs Thru Ya Papaya
5) Curren$y ft Freddie Gibbs – Scottie Pippens
6) Big K.R.I.T – American Rapstar
7) Reks – 25th hour
8) Freddie Gibbs ft Dom Kennedy – Menace II Society
9) Big K.R.I.T – Money On The Floor
10) Fabolous – Drugs
Nice list dude, I am a huge AZ and Cormega fan and I somehow missed that song this year. Thanks. And I didn’t fully appreciate Diesel Fluid when I first heard it earlier this year.. and Slugs Through Your Papaya is hard, Bronze Nazareth is RZA 2.0
Krit Currency local legend Reks GOOD LIST MAN
if you all didnt notice the part where it was each persons personal pick. These particular people just didnt think a Wayne n company song was in their top 10. and thats fine… thats THEIR top 10. It’s not like were saying top 10 players in football and leaving off Darelle Revis. Anyway…
1. Joe Budden- Dreamerz
2. Kendrick Lamar- HiiiPower
3. Reks feat. Lil Fame- Cigarettes
4. Bad Meets Evil feat. Slaughterhouse- Loud Noises
5. Yelawolf feat. Lil John- Hard White
6. Torae- You Ready
7. Torae- Alive
8. Wale, Rick Ross, Meek Mill- Ambition
9. Yelawolf feat. Shawty Fatt and Mystikal- Get Away
10. J. Cole- Breakdown
Ah, damn this is tough. Here goes nothing:
1. The Believer – Common
2. The Illest – Slaughterhouse
3. Westside Rooftops – Skeme
4. The Boom Bap Symphony – Jon Connor
8. God’s Gift – J. Cole
5. Pictures on my Wall – XV
6. The City – Game ft Kendrick Lamar
7. Detroit State of Mind – Elzhi
8. God’s Gift – J. Cole
9. Ambition – Wale ft Rick Ross, Meek Mill
10. Worldwide Choppers – Tech N9ne
Honorable Mention
What’s on my Mind – Albion
SLR – Lupe Fiasco
Blue Sky – Common
Worldwide Chopper – Tech N9ne
Black & Brown – Black Milk and Danny Brown
This is my personal top 10. There are plenty of good songs that I probably haven’t heard. So if you have objections, don’t be a douche about it because I may not have heard the song.I don’t spend 24 hours a day looking up and analyzing every rap song ever so relax.
shit, i put god’s gift twice. hopefully yall are smart enough to figure out it was a typo and should be #8.
here is my list
1. J.Cole – Sideline Story
2. Kendrick Lamar – HiiiPower
3. The Throne – Murder To Excellence
4. Saigon – Enemies/Friends
5. Young Jeezy Feat. T.I. – F.A.M.E.
6. Common – The Dreamer
7. The Roots Ft. Phonte & Dice Row – One Time
8. Nas – Nasty
9. Kendrick Lamar – The Spiteful Chant (feat. ScHoolBoy Q)
10. J.Cole Feat. Omen & Voli – Pity
Saigon – Friends is one of my favourite songs.
I was listening this 24/7
Nice taste!
Good to see Kendrick Lamar in almost every list. I didn’t see scottie pippens by Curren$y f. Freddie Gibbs there though. I thought that song was dope. Same with black and brown by black milk and danny brown
Some joints still but some of you were inexcusably bumping fruity shit when you should’ve had greneberg on loop.
Damn Hiphopdx has horrible taste in music.
No wonder this site has gone to shit
did anyone notice Big K.R.I.T. is mention on all but one list.
1.Why I Love You- Jay-Z & Kanye West
2.Ghetto Dreams Feat. Nas- Common
3.American Rapstar- Big K.R.I.T.
4.Make My Feat. Big K.R.I.T.- The Roots
5.Who Gon Stop Me- Jay-Z & Kanye West
6.Sleep Feat. Aaron Livingston- The Roots
7.Dreamin’- Big K.R.I.T.
8.Raw (How You Like It)- Common
9.Born In The Trap- Game
10.Rise And Shine- J. Cole
1.) Lil Wayne-How to Love
2.) Kreyshawn-Gucci Gucci
3.) Nikki Minaj- Stupid Ho
4.) Birdman -Why you Mad
5.) Wakka Flocka -Round of Applause
6.) J. Cole-Work Out
7.) 50 Cent-Outlaw
8.) Nelly-Just a Dream
9.) Chris Brown-Look at Me Now
10.)Drake-Marvins Closet
I support that real hiphop.
^ but your list commercial
LMAO that aint real hiphop dumbass
its a joke people lmao he’s not serious
haha awesome
your a faggot with fake ass music. everything on your list is pop music. bitch ass music for a bitch ass.
man up. Real hip hop wouldve included the Elzhi
Qwel
Qwazzaar with Batsause
or something of that nature.
faggot
whatdahek speaking the truth
1) Jay-Z- niggas in paris
2) W.C.- you know me
3) Slim the Mobster- dreaming
4) Chris Brown- look at me now
5) Common- raw how u like it
Too much quality music out there.. heres a list off the top..
Kidz In The Hall – I Swear
Torae – For the Record
The Roots – Lighthouse
Common – Gold
Pac Div – The Greatness
Wale – Ambition
Evidence – The Red Carpet
Phonte – Everything is Falling Down
Game – Speakers On Blast
Statik Selektah – Play the Game
1. Nas/common ghetto dreams 2. Freddie gibbs/ madlib deep 3. Raekwon/black thought masters of our fate 5. Pharoe monch/styles p black hand side 6. Action bronson/meyhem lauren central booking 7. Mobb deep conquer 8. Evidence/raekwon/ras kass red carpet 9. 9th wonder the melody 10. Royce Fa 5’9 random bars
That Madgibbs “Deep” Track was ill as shit, almost popped that in my top 10.
if u put the shady 2.0 cypher from the BET awards onto a track…. top track of 2011 hands down
As much as I’ve had bad things to say about Eminem, I actually agree with that statement, everyone except for yelawolf killed
i think wale should have 2 tracks on here imo legendary and ambition was 2 of the best tracks of the year hands down
I forgot my honorable mentions. 1. Maffew ragazino decepts on the l train 2. Bumpy knuckles Ownit 3. Slaughterhouse the illest 4. Cormega/Az murder on the daily 5. Common sweet
Steven Horowitz easily had the best list!
no J. Cole in any of the lists? thats weak.
Ja rule killed it with them joints this year cop the album pil2 2.28.12