As the year comes to a close, HipHopDX spent the week rolling out its Year End Awards, naming everything from Slept-On Album of the Year and Emcee of the Year to Video of the Year and Album of the Year. Meanwhile, T.I. dropped off his latest album Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head, discussing gun control and confirming that the track “Addresses” is a diss. But Tip wasn’t the only one to unleash a new LP this week. Months after cracking into the mainstream, Chief Keef released his debut album Finally Rich, which one blogger controversially deemed “a minstrel show.”

HipHopDX Picks Kendrick Lamar, Nas & Joey Bada$$ For Year End Awards

Like clockwork, HipHopDX closed out 2012 with its annual Year End Awards. After having a breakout year with his major label debut good kid, m.A.A.d city (recently certified gold), Kendrick Lamar got top honors with a handful of awards including Emcee of the Year, Album of the Year and Reader’s Choice Album of the Year. Nas got a hat-tip for his excellent video for “Daughters,” with runner-ups including Danny Brown’s “Grown Up” and Killer Mike’s “Big Beast.” Apollo Brown & O.C. scored Slept-On Album of the Year for Trophies, while Joey Bada$$ nabbed Rising Star of the Year. Head over to the Year End Awards to scope out the other winners.

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T.I. Releases Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head, Addresses Cover Art Controversy

After a few delays, T.I. finally released his new album Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head earlier this week. The Grand Hustle honcho is slated to sell a healthy number of copies in his first week, with projections hovering between 150,000 and 175,000 copies. Confirming that the song “Addresses” is a diss track, Tip spoke on gun control policies and being declared a “snitch,” also giving an interview where he explained the meaning of the album title. The self-proclaimed King of the South doted on signing Meek Mill to Grand Hustle back in the day, said that Jay-Z was supposed to be on the LP and that others “can’t do what I do.”Stream Trouble Man here.

Chief Keef Drops Finally Rich, Blogger Calls It A “Minstrel Show”

Months after breaking out with his viral hit “I Don’t Like” and signing to Interscope Records, teen rapper Chief Keef dropped his debut album Finally Rich. HipHopDX rated the album as average, stating that he created “entertainment out of hopelessness.” But Keef is known equally for controversy, stirring up some issues throughout release week. An NBC blogger described the LP as “a minstrel show,” while police targeted suspects who were putting up posters advertising the album in Chicago, Illinois. And lucky for Keef, he bought some time as his probation hearing was pushed back to January.

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Other items of note:

– Kendrick Lamar Wants To Rap With Jay-Z & Nas, Says He’s “On Their Toes”

– Trey Songz Arrested For Injuring Woman With Money

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– Meek Mill Calls Cassidy’s “Condom Style” “The Worst Song In The History Of Rapping”

– Gunplay Believes Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting Was A Government Conspiracy

– Lil Wayne Sends Message To Sandy Hook Elementary, Says He Regrets Weapons Charge