This is a Fact. 2009 was the year the mixtape era was revolutionized. Before, artists and MCs would deal the jacking-for-beats trade to see who can kill an industry beat the best. This year alter that quite a bit. Mixtapes are now what i seen them for a long time: Street albums. People now realizing how far a mixtape can take them. Now more than ever artists are putting their whole creative potential in their projects to move to the next level. And finally the mainstream are recognizing and respecting the craft.
Because of the internet everone and their mama got a mixtape. Seriously. Rev Run's Son gotta mixtape. So with the oversaturation of music its impossible to hear all the music let alone the quality. Therefore imma jus go with what I heard. So heres my opinion of THE TOP 10 MIXTAPES OF 2009.
10. TIE. Boys vs Girls Vol. 3 - DJ G. MAC! vs DJ Peachez / DJ Green Lantern & Joell Ortiz - Covering the Classics
At some point in time, we forgot bout DJs battling each other. DJ K Yung had to bring it back to life with this mixtape series. This is a great tape to take notes on how to scratch, blend, cut and everything in between. My Future Star DJ team was well represented wen DJ G. MAC! was cutting but when DJ Peachez did her set, it amazed me like no other. She had SKILLZ! Put all the fake DJs to shame. Made DJs wanna reevaluate themselves(hell, even me). Unfortunately this November she past away, leaving everyone saddened and reminiscing her great life. This tape can show the world she was a vicious spinstress outta VA.
Footnotes: DJ Peachez Intro and Outro, Survival Skills - KRS One n Buckshot, Rock the Bells, LL Cool J
If your an MC this tape is a mini library. Green Lantern is a legend himself, so its only right that he hooked up with a true MC, Joell Ortiz outta Slaughterhouse. They took it way back to the tracks that set up this foundation and replaced it with witty rhymes and vivid storytelling. take this tape, listen to it and get the beats. If you can kill it like Joell, you passed the test at becoming an MC.
Footnotes: U.N.I.T.Y, BK Get Money, 4,3,2,1
9. Trey Songz - Anticipation
Trey Songz definitely made a name for himself after Trey Day by jumping on everyone's remix and hooks. Basically he was the R&B Weezy. But can he become among the elite and be forever a household name? Before he did that with Ready, he had to do it with Anticipation. 13 tracks that might as well be its own album. Every track is a thongwetter. Play it through every time if you want to make a baby(strap up please) This mixtape was hypnotic, something he always did. This, along with his album, and his diss to R. Kelly made it official as the newly crown King of R&B. Yuuup!
Footnotes: Scratching me Up, Infidelity, Yo Side of the Bed
8. DJ Nobley Nobe - Chi-Space 4
I have a newly-found respect for Chi-town artists after DJ Shazam gave me this tape. And this tape is in one 42-minute mp3 file. But i rarely have to skip through it. Profound lyrics mixed with beautiful beats make this tape something valuable for your ears. No "grown men chicken noodle soupin in this tape" A valid piece of evidence that True hip-hop still exists. And the way Nobley Nobe put this tape together is impeccable. I will be in the Chi someday
Footnotes: DON VERBAL & NOVACAIN- CALM DOWN , TONE PRO- LAKE SHORE DRIVE, KENNY KEYS/NINA RAE- INOSPHERE
7. DJ Lissa Monet & Andreena Mill - Ready To Fly
First of all, this cover had a great concept. Second, DJ Lissa Monet is a master at what she does. and third, Andreena has a voice that makes a psychopath sit down and listen. This combines to be the best R&B tape of 2009. Lissa Monet blends every track where it supposed to be(thank you for waking Andreena up in the intro lol) And Andreena shows her talent whether on an industry beat or on an original. plus the skits made this an like an album. Drake is NOTthe only talent out of Toronto. T.Dot is FULL of Talent(i knew since i went there in 2005) So this is one tape to put on repeat.
Footnotes: Go, Let Go, I Love You, Lunatic, Picture Perfect, Where are We
6. DJ Drama & Cam'ron & Vado - Boss of All Bosses: Gangsta Grillz
MTV named DJ Drama DJ of the year. Killa Cam came back after two years. u put these two together, and you gonna have something that KNOCKS for the streets. Cam definitely got bars and he brings out his camp, Vado is like the Kobe while Cam is like Phil jackson lol. As usual every beat on this tape knocks. and their swagga on this tape is nothing to be fucked with. So this tape is self explanatory. Boss of all Bosses.
i jus hope Cam Juelz n Jones can come back together.
Footnotes: Drama, Ric Flair, Land of the Dealers, Blow my High, The Baddest, Lenox Ave.
5. DJ Holiday & Nicki Minaj - Beam Me Up Scotty
Ok. I may get a little harsh feedback on this one. But understand this. Theres hasnt been a female out in the mainstream as much as Nicki since Lil Kim when she went to jail. Ladies have been lookin for a voice in hip hop for years. (i know Jha Jha, Trina, Jean Grae, Jacki-O, etc...) But face it. None of them appealed to the masses Like Nicki doing now. And for a reason. She does have Bars. i mean BARS. After Itty Bitty Piggy i was done. She had swag, bars n not to mention Sex appeal(imma dude so i dont give a fuck bout her fake buns. shes telling females to go to college and believe in yourself) She put it all together and mixed with the great DJ Holiday, this tape made a dent in mixtape history. Whos knows how many ppl copped it? Nicki Minaj is headed towards stardom and you can thank this tape for doing this
Footnotes: I Get Crazy, Itty Bitty Piggy, Go Hard ft Lil Wayne, Best I Ever Had ft. Drake, Can anybody Hear Me, I Feel Free
4. Wale & 9th Wonder - Back to the Feature
This is basically Hip Hop's Party. Wale teamed with just about every respectable MC on this tape. Its jus one long cipher or 22 quality tracks produced by legendary 9th Wonder. Beats are just crazy, no question. and some of the lines that these people are spitting gonna have you rewind it back about 5 times. The only downside to this is Wale had so many people at times he seemed outshined and i thought he shoulda stepped up on some tracks. Nevertheless, these MCs on this tape are capable of smashing ANYBODY. You want to hear hip hop as a mega voltron, put this tape on.
Footnotes: 5 minutes ft Skyzoo, Sweating out Weaves ft. UCB, Hot Shyt ft Peedi, Black Thought, Tu Phace n Young Chris, Sharp ft Torae and Kingpin Slim, Goodbye ft. Jean Grae
3. Meek Mill - Flamers 2
Before the summer of 2008, Philly MCs were beefin with each other to get to the top. then one of them, Meek Mill from Bloodhounds dropped Flamers. Every nigga in Philly had to play it. This February, he was booked as Flamers 2 dropped. The last time I seen a mixtape took a WHOLE city was......well....hard to remember...50 Cent maybe? Either way, this tape put a new page to the game. Beats were ridiculous with Sap, Conway and Jahlil on the boards. the features were crazy, with Gillie, Peedi, Cyserro and B.O.B on there. And on top of that, Meek bars were something everyone was repeating. But the one thing that put this tape away from the rest: Orginality. Meek's flow was new. swagg was new. and if you bring something new to the table, recognition will skyrocket. Now Meek is signed with T.I., his tracks are on rotation and he has Flamers 3 in 2010, most anticipated CD in Philly in the last 5-10 years. All because of Flamers 2. 2010 you gonna see Meek Mill on 106, hot 97 and remixxin with Lil Wayne. ok if im lying ill pay each of yall.
Footnotes: So Fly, Hottest in the City, Living at the Speed of Light ft. B.O.B., Gettin it in ft. Peedi Crack, Way Back, Drama freestyle, I'm Back ft Oschino
2. Lupe Fiasco - Enemy Of The State
It's known Lupe style is something well respected. But people were wondering what was going on with him recently. When you put on this mixtape, you are just amazed throughout the tape. His flow was impeccable. NO WEAK points. and his lyrics are ferocious! he ws hungry. Look, who can compare Rosa Acosta to the War in the middle east and make sense??....
dont worry ill wait. Just him. Remixing every track to his full potential, Lupe's lyrics blast damn near everyone out the water. And he made a valid point. If you that nice, you dont need a whole album to prove it. This mixtape is only 22 minutes.
Footnotes: National Anthem, Turnt Up, Fireman(Yoga Flame), Say Something
1. Drake - So Far Gone
Drake always had the need to push the envelope in creativity. So thats why people were staying up till 5am to download the most anticipated tape of 2009, as well as the best. Creativity on steroids, you can play this front to back, or pick a song and will be satisfied. His lyrics makes you think, while his beats were soothing to the mind. Boi-1da is now gonna b a legend because of this. And look what this tape has done: Put Toronto on the map. Got him signed to Young Money. Turned into an EP. TWO billboard singles. and now something you never heard: a Grammy Nomination...from a mixtape. He created mixtape history and showed the game that mixtapes should be treated as albums if you let it. Hes a great MC and a talented Singer. A history mixtape etched in history.....
not bad for Aubrey Graham from Degrassi
Footnotes: Successful ft. Trey Songz & Lil Wayne, Ignant Shit ft. Lil Wayne, Best I Ever Had, Uptown ft. Bun B & Lil Wayne, Lust for Life.
Theres my list. Bitch if you want. Be Necole anout it(much props to her)
