Top 10 Albums of 2011

Well this is the final post in our "Top of 2011" series. We've put in a ton of work into these posts so I'm hoping you guys have been enjoying them. We're gonna end the year with our Top Album list. There's definitely been more then 10 dope albums (obviously), but these are our personal favorites and ones that you guys need to listen to. Hit the jump and check it out.

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10. Yelawolf - Radioactive

Emerging from the backwoods of Alabama, Yelawolf dove headfirst into the mainstream world by signing to Shady Records this year. Yelawolf has built his career off of various tours based around the success of his Trunk Muzik mixtape. 2011 saw his debut album in Radioactive under Shady Records and Eminem. This album was an ode to Yelawolf's Southern roots, featuring guest appearances by Lil' Jon, Killer Mike, and Mystikal. "Let's Roll" and "Growing Up In The Gutter" show two different perspectives on life in the South. Radioactive was a very deep and at times a dark look into the esoteric artist which is Yelawolf.


9. Tech N9ne - All 6's & 7's

What a year for Tech N9ne. He released two solid albums, continued to fine tune his Strange Music label, and made the biggest national impact of his very long independent career. His first release of 2011, All 6's & 7's, had a wide variety of guest features. Busta Rhymes, Twista, Snoop Dogg, Lil' Wayne, E-40 and T-Pain all made appearances on this 24-track collection. Tech N9ne is really one of the founders of the modern independent movement, so expect him to continue to tour and put out quality music for his cult-like following of loyal fans, the Technicians.


8. Evidence - Cats & Dogs

Dilated Peoples are one of the staple groups of West coast underground rap. At the lead throughout their career has been rapper/producer Evidence. Recently, Evidence has emerged into the spotlight with a new album and tours all around the country. The production on Cats & Dogs is flawless. It's easy when you have The Alchemist and DJ Premier producing multiple tracks. Evidence proves his belonging as a rapper, rhyming alongside legends such as Raekwon, Prodigy and Aesop Rock. Also, check out the music video for "To Be Continued..."; Evidence films himself rapping while riding a roller coaster at Six Flags.


7. Phonte - Charity Starts At Home

Though not a new artist by any means, Phonte released his debut solo album this year. Gaining underground success with both Little Brother and The Foreign Exchange, Phonte has made the crossover from rapping, to singing, and now back to rapping temporarily. Tigallo has always been under appreciated, and Charity Starts At Home really showcases a career's worth of skills. This album really encompasses the "blue-collar worker" and "family man" persona that we have seen throughout Phonte's rapping career. With production by 9th Wonder, long time Little Brother fans and newly introduced Phonte fans will enjoy the first, and probably last, solo album from 'Te.


6. Big Sean - Finally Famous

Simply being around Kanye West is an easy recipe for success. Just like Kid Cudi and Pusha T as a solo artist previously did, Big Sean grew from under West's wing into one of the "rookies" of the year. Finally Famous gained a lot of initial exposure through the single "My Last" featuring Chris Brown. However, continued success came through the party/club song of the year in "Dance (A$$)". Big Sean took a huge step in the right direction with this release, and it will be interesting to see how he tops this effort now with an even bigger fan base and more eyes watching in 2012.


5. J. Cole - Cole World: The Sideline Story

"Finally!" was the general consensus when word came out that J. Cole was releasing his debut album this year. Two years after being signed to Roc Nation, Cole did not disappoint with Cole World: The Sideline Story. "This is for all the fans that waited" are the first words Cole drops on "Nobody's Perfect". Though rare, there are still a few artists out there who produce a big majority of their own music. J. Cole is one of the newest dual-threat artists carrying that torch. "Mr. Nice Watch" and "Rise & Shine" are two examples of his advancing skills as a producer.


4. Common - The Dreamer/The Believer

2011 was a year for new artists to shine, and veteran artists to resurface and prove they still belong. Common definitely put out one of the strongest offerings of the year, even though it just dropped on December 20. The Dreamer/The Believer is arguably in the same category as his classic album Be. Produced entirely by No I.D., this album flowed with a jazzy and instrumental sound behind the strong output of Common's lyrics. Songs like "Sweet" and "Ghetto Dreams" may remind listeners of vintage Common Sense, while "The Dreamer" and "Gold" are contemporary tracks which are very relevant to today's culture.


3. Eminem & Royce Da 5'9" - Hell: The Sequel

Anything Eminem puts out is going to sell, that's a proven fact. However, it's been a long time since we heard him rap like this throughout an entire project. Bad Meets Evil sparked nostalgic feelings for Eminem fans and brought Royce Da 5'9" into national spotlight (which was very long overdue). The pair traded fiery verses throughout the entire EP. Notably in "The Reunion", the two rappers share the story of how they overcame their previous differences and linked up again. "Lighters" was a national hit, while "I'm On Everything" was a whimsical flashback to Eminem's days of blonde hair, white t-shirts, and sweatpants.


2. Kendrick Lamar - Section.80

It's not often that a digital album gets critical recognition, but a huge exception was made for Section.80. Kendrick Lamar is easily one of the most talented rappers in the game already before hitting age 25. Section.80 tells various stories revealing the trials in which an "80's Baby" would go through, such as the Reagan Era, California gang activity, and the trap of drug culture. Lamar paints a perfect picture of all these things in a very cohesive manner, implementing three different themes throughout the album: evils, vices, and pains.


1. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne

Easily the most talked about album of the year, Watch The Throne backed up all the hype with quality sound from two of the biggest artists in the genre. Jay-Z sounded as hungry as ever on tracks like "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Who Gonna Stop Me", while Kanye West dropped the most popular line of the year on "N*ggas in Paris" when he asked "What she order?" Watch The Throne featured guest production by the RZA, The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, and a host of others. Among all the new artists who put out albums this year, it was two veterans in Jay and Kanye to drop a true gem in the middle of this summer.


Well that's it for our "Top of 2011" posts. We at Straight Fresh hope you guys all have a great New Year and as for 2012, you know where to find the hottest music first.