The Best Rap and Hip Hop Music of 2011
Looking for the best rap and hip hop music of 2011? Look no further than our top 10 list. From Jay-Z and Kanye West to Lil Wayne and Drake, these are the hottest tracks of the year.
Best Rap Albums of 2011
It was a banner year for rap and hip hop, with fresh new voices and old favorites all dropping great albums. The South and the West Coast continued their dominance, with Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city” and Tyler, the Creator’s “Goblin” leading the charge. But the Midwest and the East Coast also had their moments, with Danny Brown’s “XXX” and A$AP Rocky’s “Live. Love. A$AP” making noise. Here are the ten best rap and hip hop albums of 2011.
J. Cole- Cole World: The Sideline Story
On Cole World: The Sideline Story, his Roc Nation debut, J. Cole takes his time. The North Carolina MC slows down his usual rapid-fire cadence and tackles a diverse set of beats with a newfound sense of ease and charisma. Along the way, there are moments where Cole returns to his street roots (“Work Out,” “In the Morning”), but he’s just as comfortable speaking about his newfound fame and fortune on pop-leaning tracks like “Can’t Get Enough” and “Mr. Nice Watch.” Regardless of the subject matter, Cole’s raps are confident and assured–a stark contrast to the insecurity that plagued many of his early recordings. With Cole World, he proves that he’s more than just a mixtape rap star–he’s a legitimate threat in the ever-changing world of mainstream hip-hop.
Kendrick Lamar- good kid, m.A.A.d city
good kid, m.A.A.d city is the second studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on October 22, 2012, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. The album features guest appearances from MC Eiht, Drake, Jay Rock, Anna Wise, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q’, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. The production was handled by several record producers, including 9th Wonder, Hit-Boy, Sounwave, DJ Dahi and Pharrell Williams among others. Lamar chose to focus on the album’s thematic drinking element during his recording sessions: “It represents how Kendrick was raised in Compton: it’s all about that 24 hours”.
Lamar recorded good kid with no intention of releasing it as a formal album; however Top Dawg CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith insisted that the project be released as an official album after he heard its first half during the recording process in early 2012. Initially planned to be a mixtape similar to his debut release Overly Dedicated (2010), the recording of good kid started in early 2011 and ended in June 2012.
Upon its release good kid received widespread acclaim from music critics; many who praised its competitive lyrical themes and Lamar’s narrative delivery were especially complimentary towards its themes about growing up in Compton as well as gangsta rap and poverty elements found throughout the record. good kid was also ranked as one of the year-end top albums by many publications including Billboard magazine who ranked it as the fifth best rap music album of 2012; Complex magazine placed it at number nine on their list; Rolling Stone named it 48th whereas XXL positioned it at 23rd place on their annual list for best hip hop albums of 2012; Slant Magazine gave the album a perfect five-star rating and positioned it at number 39 on their top 50 albums of 2012 while Spin placed it at 14th position on their end-of-year feature for best albums of 2012
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis- The Heist
Genre: Hip Hop, Rap
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Label: Macklemore LLC
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s The Heist is one of the most entertaining and musically significant hip-hop albums in years. Building on the success of their breakthrough hit “Thrift Shop,” the Seattle duo create a unique and cohesive musical experience that’s part streetwise rap, part pop celebration. Led by rapper Macklemore’s engaging personality and razor-sharp lyrical flow, The Heist touches on everything from consumerism and addiction to fatherhood and love, all while maintaining a lighthearted tone that’s infectious and compulsively listenable. It’s no wonder the album quickly rose to the top of the charts upon its release, cementing Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s place as one of Hip Hop’s most exciting new voices.
Best Hip Hop Songs of 2011
It was a great year for rap and hip hop music. There were a lot of great songs released in 2011. Here are some of the best hip hop songs of 2011.
“Niggas in Paris” – Jay-Z & Kanye West
“Niggas in Paris” is a song by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West from their collaboration album Watch the Throne (2011). The song features additional vocals from hype man Mr. Hudson, and samples voice loops from the film Paris Is Burning (1990). It is produced by Hit-Boy and West. The song peaked at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Jay-Z’s fourteenth top-ten single and Kanye West’s sixth.
“Niggas in Paris” won Best Rap Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards.
“Otis” – Jay-Z & Kanye West
“Otis” is a song by American hip hop artists Jay-Z and Kanye West from their first collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song posthumously features soul singer Otis Redding, whose version of “Try a Little Tenderness” is sampled throughout the track. The production was handled by Otis’ sons Steve and Darryl Ruffin, with additional production from West, Mike Dean, Mike Will Made It, and Anthony Kilhoffer. The track features little rapping by Jay-Z; instead, it features several rap-singing verses by Kanye West. Upon its release, “Otis” was widely praised by music critics, who compared it favorably to other songs on Watch the Throne and praised the soulful production. It peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a top 40 hit in several countries.
“HYFR (Hell Yeah Fucking Right)” – Drake
“HYFR (Hell Yeah Fucking Right)” is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his second studio album Take Care. The song features Lil Wayne and was released as the fourth single from the album on April 16, 2012. It peaked at number six on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Best Rap Collaborations of 2011
Rap music has become more popular than ever in recent years, and 2011 was no exception. Some of the best rap music of 2011 was created by artists working together. This list will countdown the best rap collaborations of 2011.
“Watch the Throne” – Jay-Z & Kanye West
This collaboration between Jay-Z and Kanye West, two of the biggest names in rap music, was one of the most highly anticipated albums of 2011. “Watch the Throne” did not disappoint, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 and spawning the hit single “Otis.” The album was praised for its inventive production and ambitious lyrics, with Jay-Z and Kanye West painting a vivid picture of their status as rap royalty.
“Nas & Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley” – Distant Relatives
Nas and Damian “Junior Gong” Marley’s collaboration album, Distant Relatives, was one of the best rap albums of 2011. The album featured a mix of reggae, hip hop, and R&B, and the two artists’ styles blended together perfectly. The album’s standout tracks included “As We Enter”, “Strong Will Continue”, and “Count Your Blessings”.
“The Adventures of Bobby Ray” – B.o.B
“The Adventures of Bobby Ray” is the debut studio album by American rapper and singer-songwriter B.o.B, released on April 27, 2010, by Rebel Rock Entertainment, Grand Hustle Records, and Atlantic Records. “The Adventures of Bobby Ray” debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 84,000 copies in its first week. As of June 2011, the album has sold over 742,000 copies in the United States. The album received generally positive reviews from most music critics upon release.
Track listing:
1. “Don’t Let Me Fall”
2. “Nothin’ on You” (featuring Bruno Mars)
3. “Past My Shades” (featuring Lupe Fiasco)
4. “Airplanes” (featuring Hayley Williams of Paramore)
5. “Bet I” (featuring T.I. & Playboy Tre)
6. “Ghost in the Machine”
7. “How Could You Be So Heartless”
8.”The Kids” (featuring Janelle Monáe)
9.”Turn My Swag On Remix” (Soulja Boy Tell’em featuring B.o.B) – 4:07
