Emcees have been using mixtapes as showcases of all-new original music (and sometimes lyrics over recycled beats) for years now. However, in 2011, artists found new ways to win. The creators behind the Top Mixtapes of 2011 used original tunes, blends of classics, risky remakes, and even double disc offerings to make their mark outside of retail. For many, these mixtapes served as a launchpad for huge careers this year that will undoubtedly propel them to the very next level come 2012.
Compiled by the HipHopDX staff and 2011 DX writers. Captions written by William E. Ketchum, III.
1. Big K.R.I.T. – ReturnOf4Eva
After netting solid stats during a rookie season that saw the likes of Drake and B.o.B dominate the charts, Big K.R.I.T. used ReturnOf4Eva—his second free release since last year’s phenomenal K.R.I.T. Wuz Here—to stake his claim as the real future of the south. Avoiding the fly-by-night nature of many new southern emcees’ focus on formulaic club bangers, this emee/producer he opts for the balance displayed by legends like Outkast and UGK. Using a digestible approach to ably cover the topics of heading a household (“King’s Blues”), strippers (“Shake It”), discrimination (“Another Naïve Individual Glorifying Greed and Encouraging Racism”) and rattling sound systems (“My Sub”) with equal skill and conviction, K.R.I.T. is exactly what Hip Hop needs. His official Def Jam debut, Live From The Underground, can’t come soon enough.
2. Elzhi – Elmatic
Beating or even matching perfection can be a nearly impossible feat, so Elzhi used Elmatic to simply put his own spin on it. The former Slum Village member put a personalized Detroit twist on the Queensbridge chronicles from Nas’ classic debut, while the Will Sessions band’s brilliant reinterpretations from the album’s legendary production roster add a fresh musicality to the record.
3. ASAP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP
Songs like “Pesos” helped catapult ASAP Rocky to an alleged $3 million record deal and a spot on tour with Drake, but his LiveLoveA$AP mixtape showed many listeners that he was worth the hype. His multifaceted rap stew—a mix of Southern-styled production, a Bone Thugs N Harmony-inspired flow and Harlem bravado—sounds weird on paper, but it works. Till the rest of rap fully figures it out, Rocky will continue to ride his wave.
4. Pusha T – Fear of God
Pusha T had always been a standout member of Clipse, but on his G.O.O.D. Music solo mixtape debut Fear Of God he shows Ye that he can hold his own weight. Songs like “My God” 
and the 50 Cent-assisted “Raid” feature the relentless coke tales that his fans have loved since “Grindin,” while the tape closer “Alone In Vegas” pairs braggadocio with a more introspective tone. It worked out so well that he added a few extra songs and converted it to a retail release.
5. Freddie Gibbs – Cold Day In Hell
If you thought Freddie Gibbs would lighten his approach after signing to Young Jeezy’s CTE camp, the Halloween release of Cold Day In Hell should alleviate those worries. The Gary, Indiana emcee is still using his acrobatic delivery and to annihilate instrumentals from J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Big K.R.I.T. and in-house producer Cardo. Plus, titles like “187 Proof,” “Rob Me A Nigga,” and “Barely M.A.D.E.” show he is as deep in his roots as ever.
6. Curren$y & The Alchemist – Covert Coup
We’re used to getting consistent streams of music from Curren$y, but this Covert Coup mixtape with The Alchemist sounds like it spent extra time in the oven. Spitta’s elongated rhymes sound right at home atop Alc’s slow-cooked collection of soulful, cavernous backdrops. A great start to the New Orleans emcee’s new deal with Warner Bros.
7. Jazzy Jeff & Mick Boogie – Summertime 2
Jazzy Jeff and Mick Boogie have always had the chops to get a party moving, and with the sequel to their incredible “Summertime” mixtape (Summertime 2), they uphold their reps. The duo’s breezy, varied mix of tunes from the likes of Mos Def, The Alkaholiks, and The Gap Band is the perfect soundtrack for windowless driving and firehose-cranking.
8. Game – Purp & Patron
Game may be most notable these days for Twitter controversies and pseudo-beefs, but his Purp & Patron mixtape (a double-tape, hosted by both Funkmaster Flex and DJ Skee) proved that his music still the former G-Unit member still has the music that holds its own. It was a hell of a longshot to release two discs and (The Hangover) full of album-quality material with appearances by Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Fabolous and many others, but the final product showcased the song-crafting ability, charisma and historic references that earned so many fans’ hearts in years prior.
9. Danny Brown – XXX
Danny Brown paid his dues in Detroit’s scene of indie Rap all-stars, but his Fool’s Gold Records arrival tape XXX shows a full departure into his own lane. Armed with experimental soundbeds and his own seesawing delivery, he takes listeners on a drug-addled, copper-stripping, groupie-smashing spiral from his twenties into his new home of the 30 year-old club. Equally stylish and provocative, SPIN deemed it the top rap record of the year.
10. Immortal Technique – The Martyr
Immortal Technique’s controversial beliefs often make him seem like much of an outsider, but with this year’s free album The Martyr, he’s anything but—he brings Hip Hop elite like Brother Ali, Joell Ortiz, Killer Mike, and Styles P along for the ride. The guests add their own flavor, but Tech still steers his own ship and fights the system with his multilingual collection of hoarse politically and socially-charged rhymes.
Honorable Mentions:
Dom Kennedy – The Original Dom Kennedy Tape
Dom Kennedy only gave the blogosphere one day’s notice for this mixtape, but the carefree rhymes and relaxing, two step-ready production eliminate any complaints. Stream/download.
Killer Mike – Bangx3
Bangx3 wasn’t packed with the socially-charged rhymes of his full-length albums, but Killer Mike only needed nine songs (and some guest shots from past and present label bosses T.I. and Big Boi) to up the ante for his 2011 LP, PL3DGE.
Nitty Scott MC – Cassette Chronicles
In this Mick Boogie-hosted collection, Nitty Scott MC spews crisp, charismatic bars over original production and classics from Snoop Dogg and Gang Starr to prove her skills before a showstealing cypher appearance at the BET Hip-Hop Awards. Stream/download.
Jean Grae – Cookies Or Comas
Jean Grae hadn’t had a mixtape or album since 2008’s Jeanius, but the DJ Drama-hosted Cookies Or Comas shows that her agile flow, cutting punchlines and sarcastic humor are just as sharp as before.
Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire – Lost In Translation
It seems that New York emcees get less time on the court every year, but Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire turned some heads back to Brooklyn with filthy rhymes, East Coast aesthetic and production from indie demigods El-P and Necro. Stream/download.
you guys been licking 2chainz nuts for months and he don’t get included. niccce
yall shoulda mentioned Now or Neva by LEP Bogus Boys…..
This list is great. These are really the only 10/15 tapes you need from this year. Rest of shit is garbage.
Good list but feel wale and lupe deserve a mention
couple that shouldnt
couple that should
cold corner 2
I just heard asther roth new mixtape pabst n blues its sick it deffinately deserves to be on here
We put together this list way before Asher’s new mixtape came out; otherwise, it may have been a different story. I haven’t listened yet (just downloaded), but I’ve heard great things
fuck asap rocky, that tape aint really that good, guy is so over rated and probably gay
where is lloyd banks cold corner 2????
Word, I mean it was aiiight but not more than that. Agree bout CC2, it was much better than Live Love A$AP, for example.
What about that Hasan Salaam tape??
My list:
1. Schoolboy Q – Setbacks (if that counts? I mean it was an album but there were also free download links so…)
2. Spitta & Alc – Covert Coup (Dope as fuck, the beats were the best on a mixtape this year by far, Spitta was a beast on the mic, features was dope, it shouldve been released as an album)
3. Big KRIT – Returnof4eva (Honestly, if it had been shorter, itd been #1, hands down, but too many throwaway tracks)
4. Dom Kennedy – Original Dom Kennedy (Plain dopeness, a couple skippables but overall really dope)
5. Fly.Union – The Greater Than Club (Dope as fuck, I fucks with Jerreau, hes a beast, the beats was ill too)
Honorable mentions:
Meek Mill – Dreamchasers, Curren$y – Verde Terrace, LEP Bogus Boys – Now or Neva, Banks – CC2, Pusha T – Fear of God, Dee-1 – I hope they hear me 2
“Setbacks” was sold online, even made charts.
theres a download link for most albums released in the past couple years that doesn’t qualify it as a mixtape
@asterix
Some mixtapes are sold and chart as well
this just shows how fucked up the word “mixtape” has gotten.
Covert Coup, Live Love ASAP, and XXX should not be called “mixtapes”.
These are albums complete with original production, videos, singles, etc…
smh
I remember when I used to make real mixtapes, with two turntables and a crate of wax.
I was hyping up big krit BIGTIME when he dropped krit wuz here, but after a couple of weeks with returnof4eva in the speakers, i realized it was kinda weak… 1 good song for every 5.
Still got the potential, but better step the f up on his debut album.
Nr 1 mixtape of the year tho? never.
Ummmmmmm? No. It was straight fire start to finish. You must have been listening to the wrong tape.
Chamillionaire – major pain 1.5 stop ignoring cham
true!! that was fire!!
Summertime 2 is the only actual mixtape up there.
Back in the day a mixtape was something a rapper put out in between original music, a free tape spitting over popular beats with a few new songs
Most of these arent mixtapes, there fully produced albums that were given away for free for one reason or another.
This should be called “Best free internet albums of 2011”
This new form of album quality mixtapes is in my opinion whats keeping hip hop fresh. artist can make music they want without bullshit A&R douches saying how it needs to sound. Fuckin love it
I think Big K.R.I.T deserved mixtape of the year, it was little long and some of the songs lacked that luster, but that is the case with a lot of good mixtapes. I love ASAP Rocky, but his mixtape wasn’t better than Lloyd Banks or Wale. Still like the list though
Every track was fire
LUPE/BANKS
Great List.
where’s Cold Corner 2 and THE BIG 10? list needs an adjustment to it
No Chip? not even an Honorable Mention?
for sure where the chip HHDX?? he should of made top 5
Where is Logic at?? Young Sinatra is a classic!!
cabin fever and sorry for the wait should have been on their
you really are a fool
los – the crown aint safe
hands down one of the sickest tapes in a while
big…….krit???? are you serious??? kill yourself.
^^^^ You’re a retard. You don’t know good music.
Cold Corner 2 ???????????? Best mixtape of the year
I agree CC2 is a great mixtape of the year! thought it woulda made the list for sure
LLA and Covert Coupe have nice beats, but they get old really fast. I got them both late and I rarely listen to them, Elmatic and R4 stay on play.
damn getting scared the martyr wasn’t gonna be on there at all for a minute. a t least u recognize it but deserves no.1. after that list is good
I guess the loso’s soul tape is not cool for DX
What a Wack list, you missed some of the hardest tapes to come out!
What about the Great Debater Skyzoo?
WHAT ABOUT COLD CORNER 2
HOW THE FUCK IS THE MARTYR NUMBER 10? Returnof4Eva was fucking great but it was not better than The Martyr. Everything in between number 1 and number 10 was utter crap, except for Elzhi, Pusha T and Freddie Gibbs. Cold Day In Hell deserved to be higher up, Elmatic deserved number 5 and Pusha T deserved number 10. And where are Wax’s mixtapes? Even if Eviction Notice wasn’t as great as Scrublife (which definitely deserves top 5 in this list) it was still great. Where is DFD’s mixtape? Where are Ab-Soul’s Longterm mixtapes?
completely agreed. greater than almost every album this year too
although it just got released and therefore missed the voting period, Asher Roth’s Pabst and Jazz is a must on this list
This list was pretty spot on, i didn’t check out Elzhi or Jazzy Jeffs tape but Cold Day in Hell,Purp and Patron,Covert Coupe and of course Return of 4eva, which is the best mixtape i have heard probably ever.
Idk how that Pusha T tape made it though, that mixtape was really subpar, felt like something out of 2006 or something with the old ass beats he was rapping over.
Oh yeah and forgot about A$sap Rocky’s LLA mixtape was INCREDIBLE, i have never heard anything like it and IMO was def worthy of the second best mixtape of the year, it sounded like an Album, i really dig what the guy is doing, creating his own lane and being him self.
you must be gay if you thought live love asap was incredible
definitely forgot luda, meek mill, los, b.o.b, lloyd banks, tyga dropped two pretty dope tapes this year. Its alright HHDX no hard feelings
Maybe the Luda or Banks one, but you can’t mention those names with a straight face. Tyga? LOL
Meek Millz , Dreamchasers , absolutely a profound miss !
….is Action Bronson’s Dr Lecter not considered a mixtape? Ive seen it listed as a studio album and a mixtape. If it is a mixtape then i find it hard to beleive it isnt anywhere on this list. Enjoyed the list tho!
HHDX calls it an album, cause they listed it as “most underrated album”
they certainly forgot 1.21 gigawatts, The Big10, Friend of the people and Cold Corner 2. Luda, 50, lupe and banks should be on that list. young jeezy as well
Elmatic was number 1. Asher Roth should have been on there, but probably didn’t make the deadline besides that, Its an ok list.
Original tracks > covers
K.R.I.T. > Elmatic
Top 10 Mixtapes
10. Fabolous The Soul Tape
9. The Game Purp & Patron
8. ASAP Rocky LoveLiveA$AP
7. Nipsey Hussle The Marathon Continues
6. Logic Young Sinatra
5. Omen Afraid of Heights
4. Joe Budden Mood Muzik 4
3. Big K.R.I.T. Return of 4eva
2. Lupe Fiasco Friend of the People
1. Elzhi Elmatic
mood muzik 4 came out in 2010…. Like October 2010….
whatever. So throw Jon Connors mixtape in there instead.
Verde Terrace
Cold Corner 2
Dreamchasers
TOP 3
whack. Listen to Elmatic, easily better than all 3.
Listen to Return of 4Eva
Better than anything mentioned above
where the hell is season 2 by jon connor?
Where is Sorry 4 The wait? It should be on the list easy, if not #1.
i hope that was a joke
It wasn’t. It was my fav. and I heard all these.
Just because it was your fav doesn’t mean it was good
It doesn’t? So it was my favorite because it was shitty? That makes no sense.
But it was shitty tho…
I say it wasn’t. You say it was. You really want to argue opinion? Which is what this list is. I mention Weezy so i get flack, grow the fuck up.
weezy sucks dick sorry 4 the wait was a joke as was tha carter 4
^ it doesnt make you any cooler by saying Weezy sucks dick. Let the dude have his opinion, get off HIS dick
Haha Lil wayne sucks dick sorry 4 the wait was the shittiest mixtape of 2011 get off lil waynes dick he is the worst rapper he swagger jacks everyone n got no game
LIL WAYNE IS A JOKE
lil wayne n that mixtape is wack faggot shit…please develop a real understanding of music and stop being an idiot..
no mentions for:
Meek Miil-dreamchasers
Los-Crown aint safe
Jon Connor-Season 2
Lloyd Banks-Cold Corner 2
fabolous-soul tape
luda’s mixtpape was ok but not the best..Lupe’s mixtape was awful every beat sounds like some techno pop mainstream crap.
u obviously didn’t listen to it. Lupe’s lyrics are some of the best to come out this year. Much better mixtape then Dreamchasers or Cold Corner 2.
Freind of the People is lyrically perfect, just because he used a different beat doesn’t reduce it’s quality. And for the recored it was a mixture of dubstep and dnb, neither are pop or techno
^^^ Doesn’t matter, it was wack
where the hell is the cold corner 2 or epic from b.o.b. ??
I only did my Top 5 Mixtapes, but it’s similar:
http://cassetted.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-mixtapes-2011.html
Top 10 Albums of 2011
http://cassetted.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-10-albums-of-2011.html
xv – zero heroes mixtape of the year hands down
I can definitely agree with Returnof4eva, Cold Day in Hell, Elmatic, Covert Coup, and Fear of God, but there’s a few tapes should have made the list: Zero Heroes, The Eleven One Eleven Theory, and Dreamchasers.
I wouldn’t have included Summertime 2 is this. It’s just a bunch of old tracks mixed together. The rest of these are original creations.
in this*
No fuckin way, DANNY BROWN “Triple X” no.1 this year in mixtape category by faaaaaaaaaaaaar
WTF no tito lopez seriously DX??? he put out some of the best this year
What a bunch of BS ! No SLAINE ? Vinnie paz ? How bout the Groups jedi mind tricks or La Coka Nostra ? slaines world without skies should get ALBUM OF YEAR !
This is Mixtapes fool!!! Not albums.
dude elmatic shoulda been number one wtf hip hop dx?
Listen to R4 and you’ll see why dumb ass
XV – Vizzy Zone, that is the mixtape who sounds like album, like big album!!!
Hell yeah! R4 was the best imo too. Nice to see Elmatic, Cold Day In Hell & Covert Coup. Bur Purp & Patron? Fear Of A God? Good mixtapes, but they didn’t stand out to me. Stalley’s Lincoln Way Nights NEEDS to be on any top 10 mixtape list.
Pabst and Jazz from Asher Roth was super raw.
HipHopDX staff, y’all are retards for not putting Section.80 as #1.
Section 80 is an album!
Section 80 is album of the year and runner up readers choice album of the year, this is for mixtapes and KRIT deserves it for ReturnOf4eva
@TheKid
That is the most ignorant comment I’ve seen in my life.
You don’t even know that that was an official album.
whaaat..they could have at least mentioned phil the thrill’s “barely awake” project.shit goes
WTFFFFFFFFFFF !!!! NO PAC DIV MANIA …..FUCK HIP HOP DXXXXXXXXXXXX !!!!!
Kendrick Lamar has yet to debut his studio album, therefore Section 80 is a Mixtape. even though its album quality. sidenote: NO PAC DIV!!???
This list should be 15 mixtapes and the top 25 albums should be 40. There has been over 250 releases this year. A lot of great shit
Honorable mention should goto .. Actually fuck that Jon Connor should be on the list. Season 2 was so amazing. Im not biased I listen to everything, if you dog Connor and think that tape ain’t gold.. I feel bad for you
I agree with this list.
KRIT is my hip hop hero.
co-sign
As incredible as ReturnOf4Eva was, i think Elmatic was undeniably the best mixtape this year. Elzhi has legendary skills. Regardless, its people like Elzhi, Krit, and Kendrick that will preserve and pave the true art form of hip hop.
co-sign
Elzhi was straight, but all the songs were covers. Return of 4Eva was original tracks and was better than 95% of official albums that dropped this year. Nothing was touching Return of 4Eva.
Congrats Big K.R.I.T. The mixtape is dope.
Where is Ludacris Mixtape on that list, that was the best mixtape of this year and should be one of the best of all time
^^^ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
^^^ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. It was ok, but didn’t get more than three spins.
This is a mediocre list at best. Y’all got some dope shit on there, but alot of garbage. Danny Brown? WACK. Game? WACK. Currensy and A.$.A.P. both wack
HAHA Asap, Currency, Danny Brown whack?
what the fuck do u listen to then
Every Currency song sounds the same. My car my chick my weed. Slow Jazzy beat. In the same droned out tone.
ASAP. I guess if your under 18 or a syrup addict. I wouldn’t consider him a good rapper.
Danny Brown can rap.
Purp & patron wack?!?!? Gtfo you dumb bitch. Game is dope ,
dickface
yea that’s Currency’s style. Made his own lane and fits well in it. His notoriety took off after he left Young Money and did his own thing. Yea he’s not the best but you can’t say Currency’s straight up whack…and i agree ASAP is not a lyricist but he make innovative music and for a debut mixtape (excluding Deep Purple) dude did his thing. He’s a pretty good rapper with a nice flow, good ear for beats and a unique style. Plus he seems relatively humble which is always a plus. Give him time, he’ll grown. I’m 22, not addicted to syrup and not for a FACT i’m more hip hop knowledgeable than 90% of these other “hip hop heads.”
*know for a fact
I mean I personally hate Game but love hiphop and will give anything but the garbage radio rappers and young money, but purp and patron was hot and I hate Game
@swageezy Rocky doesn’t make innovative music, Clams Casino does. His career was built entirely on the producer backing him up along with Currensy, although I’d say Currensy is a little more talented. The only mixtapes on this list that really stand out are R4, Cold Day, and Elmatic, but Elmatic was a little to similar to Illmatic.
hiphopdx must have a G-Unit bias. they didnt even review Cold Corner 2 or The Big 10. and now they dont put either on this list.
Look – something must be wrong when the year’s most lyrical mixtape, Friend of the People, doesn’t even get brought up on this list. CRAZY. SMDH…
no, it should be on the list, but the martyr was the years most lyrical mixtape
Kind of hard to listen to it with those wack ass synth house European beats no matter how lyrical the album is.
Friend of the People? Cold Corner? Jon Connor Season 2? No problem with the list as a whole though.
Dope list, Immortal Tech made a classic. Also Elzhi came correct as well.
Where’s “Camp” by Childish Gambino & “Young Sinatra” by Logic
…
Camp isn’t a mixtape
Just goes to show how far rap has fallen. When you can bite the shit out of Nas shit and be considered making a great mix tape.
If I want to listen to Nas I’ll listen to Nas.
YOUR LOSS, if you are a head you should listen, ish was a classic remake of a classic. dont sleep homie
Cold Corner 2 should get an honorable mention.. at least..
Agreed. I think 1.21 gigawatts could have made the list as well
No fuckin VADO or any of the Boss of all Bosses?
11. Juicy J & Lex Luger-Rubba Band Business 2
it’s only the opinion of those people. Not an official top 10. I disagree with most this list, personally, but that doesn’t make me right.
What no waka flocka mixtapes made the list?! This list is unofficial then, HHDX gets no credit for this cuz they obviously don’t have the ability to be making a list of best mixtapes of 2011. Best mixtapes of 2011= Benjamin flocka, DuflocKa Rant, Lebron flocka James pt. 3, salute me or shoot me 3, twin towers pt.2 w/ slim dunkin (r.i.p.) and that’s all. The best mixtapes of 2011 in a nutshell
A couple reasons why your post failed to elicit any laughs that you were hoping for:
1. Your not funny.
2. See reason #1.
Bitch who are u?! I could give a fuck if my comment got any replies, I dont give a fuck about non of that, Fucka laugh, I was being serious ya dumbfuck. If I wasn’t really a waka flocka fan then I wouldn’t know the names of all the mixtapes he dropped in 2011. Like waka flocka said he’s the mixtapes prince, who else dropping that many tapes in a year?! NO ONE!! So fuck ur stupid ass It wasn’t supposed to be a joke, guess ur the joke and the jokes on u asshole. Waka flocka had the best mixtapes of 2011 and that’s the bottom line. Dead azz serious too. Fuck outta hea lil bitch boi. U ain’t the truth u can’t handle the truth with ya lil scary azz u weak pussy
^^^^ HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH you’re an idiot
Sorry, but you are an absolute dick. I’d hate to be you.
Big K.R.I.t of course but quick question no Major Pain 1.5 by Chamilli? Y’all sleep on him way too much I swear listen to that tape and you will be like damn, you never reviewed it which is a shame cause it’s way too dope showing cat’s how to do Mixtapes. That’s why he is the Messiah. Slow city Don? Fire. War to your door. Fire. Slow it Down. Fire. Ha just saying it’s pretty solid the whole way thru.
Most underrated in the game. Hands down
no big 10 or cold corner
THANK YOU! COLD CORNER 2 MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR!! FUCK THIS LIST
This SORRY ass list just proves where your KIDS heads are at as well as DX, lol hip hop ain’t hip hop. Banks’ shot bodies this WHOLE list, shame pen skills and raw cuts ain’t appreciated anymore, you faggots would rather shake your ass wit a broad and let her know she’s number one them listen to someone SNAPPIN in the booth. I give up on this music shit, it is played, ONE.
haha dude is losing sleep over this shit
what the fuck u on about?? listen 2 number 2 on that list ya rehab!
but banks doesn’t have pen skillz….so why you cryin?
LMAO at G-Unit stans……..these kids crack me up
HipHopDx i hope you know that Kendrick Lamar’s Section 80 is actually a retail mixtape lol
I hope you know that you’re wrong. lol
Where the fuck is Dreamchasers? Meek mothafuckin Millz. No Competition 3 didnt even come out yet wtf–you know that will be top 10 worthy. Where the fuck is 1.21 Gigawatts? Kiss my ass!
and what I meant was that NC3 is gonna come out before the new year. Also DREAMCHASERSSSSSSS
cold corner 2!!!!!
Sorry for the wait.
a good ass tape
^^^ Your ears need a check-up.
Big Krit easily had the best mixtape of the year but WHERE THE FUCK IS XV- ZERO HEROES at!!?!?!
Big Krit is def number 1, that Game is hott and that Currency and Alchemist is also hott all 3 good choices honorable mention Two Chainz-Tru Religion
where is the T3 3iller mixtape its smashing 7 out of ten of these mixtapes..
THE WHEELS ON THE SLAB GO ROUND AN ROUND……….
No one was fucking with K.R.I.T. this year, however that shit should have been called an album. I would have put it runner-up album of the year behind Kendrick.
Did nobody hear Season 2? Jon Connor is a forced to be reckoned with. While I do agree Krit had the best mixtape, which i believe is better than every album that came out Season 2 is a close second. The Martyr was great as well.
Where the fuck is Sorry 4 the wait?! Lil Wayne came with it once again on that tape, I’m very surprised it didn’t make this list. Y’all sleepin on dat boy weezy DX I’m disappointed in y’all
Sorry 4 the Wait ? Really Dude ? -__-
lmao dude said sorry 4 the wait tho…smh
how is sorry 4 the wait not here?! AND the NUMBER ONE MIXTAPE BY FAR: COLD CORNER 2 LLOYD BANKS..ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! HOW IS CC2 NOT ON THIS LIST?!
LMAO @ sorry for the wait….. these kids crack me up
with that based god name i wouldnt expect anything less than for you to think sorry 4 the wait was actually good…i thought everybody was in agreement that lil ‘i tongue kiss my pops’ wayne was hot garbage? *shrugs*
J.cole – Friday night lights?! Why is it not on this list. This list sucks ass. No jcole, no good. COLE WORLD!!
everyone loved that mixtape, but that was 2010. get ur shit together
Bruh…. Friday Night Lights came out last year nigga smfh
Wiz Khalifa’s Cabin Fever was the best mixtape of 2011 hands down and it didn’t even make the list?! It should be #1 on this list. Its better than returnof4eva by a looooooonnnnng shot. Y’all trippin HHDX. I don’t forgive u for this. Y’all fuckin up
cabin fever was probably wiz worst mixtape to date man. Nobody fucking with krit. he deserves the top spot
R4 >>>
Where the fuck is the real is back 1 or 2?
no fab – soul tape? wtf?
Pabst & Jazz
Purple patron wasn’t bad /watch?v=my_S_bYdJMg
you are the BAD as PUNK…HATER YOU AINT NOTHING BICH.
where is Ludacris “1.21 Gigawatts” and Slim the Mobster “War Music”
My faves:
1. Cold Day In Hell
2. LiveLoveA$AP
3. Covert Coup
4. Elmatic
5. Doobies & Popcicle Sticks
6. Premo Pimpin’
7. Lincoln Way Nights
8. Return of 4Eva
9. Best Day Ever
10. Jet Life to the Next Life
Dreamchasers would’ve been better if it had half the songs , Pusha T tape shouldn’t have made the list and Dom Kennedy shouldve, also Big 10 and luda mixtape was trash, big sean finally famous 3 should also be here it launched his career, XXX also should be higher you gotta rank then on how well together they was put together
naw dreamchasers is hot, i been fuckin wit meek since like 06 so im biased….philly all day
NO DREAMCHASERS???????????????????
thats what im sayin
yeah for real tho
meek is hard as fuck, then u got this candy corn bullshit asap at number 2 and dom on honorable mentions…GTFOH
K.R.I.T. deserves this recognition. I was wondering how long it would take for him to bubble to the top after his last mixtape. I just hope his subject matter keeps the gems that he drops inside.
Los – The Crown aint safe!!
Mixtape is better than all that crap they listed besides Pusha T.
AMEN! This site doesn’t even post Los’ music…thats how lost they are in the hip hop world
B….bu…but…….Pabst and Jazz…
PURP AND PATRON #1
No 1.21 Gigawatts? I cant stop listening to that mixtape, shit was awesome.
HOW THE FUCK IS COLD CORNER 2 NOT ON THIS?!?!?!?! FUCKIN RIDICOLOUS
I kno homie this is crazy. CC2 is banks best work to date. They duno what they r talking abt!
where is youngbuck back on my buck shit vol 2 that was amazing
pabst and jazz.. the big 10.. shoulda prolly been somewhere on this.
this site sleeps on Los so fuckin hard
Matter fact, everyone sleeps on Los…The Crown Aint Safe was definitely one of my favorite mixtapes of 2011
And what about Zero Heroes?? Cmon! that shit was album material from start to finish…this site is falling off
XV- ZERO HEROES
!?
im upset they didn’t mention that one either, i swear XV is the most underrated and most overlooked person in this game smh
Couldn’t agree more. I was angry when he wasn’t in the freshmen class in 2010 and 2011. Maybe in 2012 he’ll make it…Probably V-Nasty will be [/Sarcasm]
Overlooked big time on EVERY list.
XV has classic mixtapes. HipHopDX should show more love to XV. Either that or be shut down under the Trades Description Act.
This ole fuck boy ass website..Dont y’all know friday night lights came out in 2011?????
lol you’re an idiot
fail dawg.
lol my fault
Pabst & Jazz and Friday Night Lights?
Friday night Lights was 2010 homie
def missed these dope tapes…
LEP Bogus Boys- Now or Neva
Fred The Godson- City Of God
Skyzoo- The Great Debater
Meek Mill- Dreamchaser
not a bad list above but they missed a few
This list is aight, but how the hell could you just miss the clear number one, Cold Corner 2 by Lloyd Banks. That shit is better than the majority of all the albums I’ve heard this year!!! By far the best mixtape 4 sure. PLK
c’mon SON!!! you can’t EVER put Lloyd Banks in a top ANYTHING! “Return of 4eva” competes with Killer Mike’s “PL3DGE” for ALBUM of the year.
LMAO at any mixtape being on the level of “Return of 4eva”……
oh no, you made the list too soon, TINC3 MUST be on this list, best tape of the year imo, certainly one of the top 15
Fabolous – The Lost Tapes was a solid effort. Should have made the list…
cold corner 2 is #1 yall niggaz trippin
hiphopdx lost all it’s validity with this list. how the hell you got fear of god on this list. that sh*t was trash. he went from ‘top ten to not mentioned at all’. used to be in my top 5 (re-up era) to unlistenable.
Ummm where the hell is Royal Flush 2??
Cold Corner 2 and The BIG Ten are better than all this list!!!
TBH, KRIT’s tape coulda made the Best Albums list. I’d of thought Verde Terrace would make it over Covert Coupe, or at least put both of em up there.
COMPLAIN COMPLAIN COMPLAIN COMPLAIN
CABIN FEVER???? YALL TRIPPIN!!!
yoooooooooo no skyzoo great debater u guys really dropped the ball on that
CO-FUCKING-SIGN!!!!!!
The Roots Wake Up! mixtape was ill and so was that Asher Roth Pabst & Jazz, Return of 4eva deserves mention for overall album of the year as well.
cold corner 2 and big 10 dropped to late
Only 3 out of these were dope but big krit’s return of 4eva was definitely great.
Was True Realigion, Soul Tape, eleven one eleven and DreamChaser released in 2010??? At least a muthafucking honorable mention…yall trying to keep alternative rap alive, we trying to kill it!!
Uhh………….. Exmilitary?
Top 5 Mixtapes of 2011
http://cassetted.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-mixtapes-2011.html
Top 10 Albums of 2011
http://cassetted.blogspot.com/2011/12/top-10-albums-of-2011.html
@Cassetted
This shit is a epic fail!!!
The real top 10 right here:
1. Return of 4eva
2. The Martyr
3. Elmatic
4. City of God
5. Cold Day in Hell
6. Jack of All Trades
7. Painkillers & Energy Drinks
8. Friend of the People
9. Pabst & Jazz
10. (Tie) EPIC / Back for the First Time
BULLSHIT
IAMHIPHOP
CyHi Da Prynce aint get no love. Royal Flush II was a fantastic mixtape
Also Zero Heroes from XV was incredibly dope, it definitely should have been on this list
Wat about Mikey Rocks the Rocks Report? ill put dat at 2
Oh, no Cold Corner 2? Bitch.