Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. But to be honest, I thought it was a pretty good compilation. Thanks again to all the artists/managers that helped me put this together. Flyover Land, Vol. 2 will be coming in early 2010.
Andrew put together a nice compilation featuring new, rare, and unreleased cuts from some of Chicago’s finest.
Franz Diego had a big year in 2010, putting out a solo LP, EP, and another EP with Illuminous 3. This particular mixtape highlighted his everyman appeal and lyrical dexterity — more than enough to land him a spot on the best 15 of 2009.
12. Trama: Mr. T
Trama more or less came and went quickly with this project. This was one of the few times I heard from him all year — but it was worth it.
G.O.O.D. Music’s Big Sean had one of the most heavily hyped mixtapes of 2009, and in some ways (but not others), it met expectations. But seriously, 30 tracks long? Not necessary, in my opinion.
Michigan gets a second crack at the best mixtapes of 2009, with Ann Arbor's Tree City collective making the cut. Rhyming exclusively over Black Milk’s Purple Tape, these guys put together one of the most enjoyable and overlooked mixtapes of the year.
Rhymefest caught quite a bit of flack in a review from The Onion for including blatantly homophobic lyrics in a couple of songs on this mixtape. I agreed with that criticism. For Rhymefest to truly embody the “conscious” rap he tends to champion, he needs to be more mindful of the material he releases. Those immature missteps aside, The Manual was actually a fairly good mixtape.
Chicago’s Add-2 only further convinced me of his status as one of Chicago’s most promising lyricists with the third installment in his mixtape series. Now it’s time for him to move on to that debut album…
The title of this release could not have captured Jess’s motives better. Rapping over old Just Blaze, new Dr. Dre, Drake’s “Best You Ever Had”, and a flipped “Eye Of The Tiger” sample, Big Jess really did do whatever the fuck he felt like. And it was fun.
I hadn’t heard of I.B.E. until I caught a glimpse of the video for “Make The Road By Walking” with Toki Wright, but quickly recognized his talent and passion. This local emcee — once we learn a little but more about who he is — will be a Twin Cities rapper to keep your eye on in 2010.
This mixtape got me licking my chops in anticipation of the group’s 2010 release, Land Of Make Believe. Double O had only continued to improve as a producer.
Manifest’s The Birds and the Beats played more like an album, which is probably why it was so much better than most mixtapes of 2009. M.anifest’s release was full of polyrhythm and soulful African influences, showing his musical roots. But it was the honesty and passion in his delivery that makes the listening to the mixtape so delightful.
Elzhi’s The Preface was the most lyrically astounding release of 2008. His tongue-twisting, rapid fire lyrical cadence never ceases to amaze. More of a compilation of old, unreleased, and remixed tracks than an official mixtape, Elzhi’s The Leftovers Unmixedtape was just as enjoyable. Now where is that ever-elusive Ellmatic?
When Fish Ride Bicycles seems to be stuck in release-date purgatory right now, but word is it’s terrific. While we were waiting for that to materialize, The Cool Kids snuck away with Don Cannon and created the loudest, most fun mixtape of 2009. I make sure to stick “Champions,” “Popcorn,” and/or the remix to “Pennies” on the playlist whenever I’m hosting a party.
I hate to say it, but Lupe Fiasco is so much better at rapping than most artists today that it really doesn’t seem fair. I have had this mixtape on constant repeat ever since it was released on Thanksgiving, and I’m still doing mental gymnastics to catch up with Lupe’s intricate lyricism. The crazy thing is, something tells me that Lupe put this entire tape together in a short matter of time: “You might think this deep as fuck/ But this is like my weaker stuff/ They ask, “Is this his day-to-day? / ‘Cause this is like a week to us.” It will undoubtedly be thrilling to see what Lupe cooked up for us with Lasers.
2 comments:
Really, no recession music on this list? That's kinda upsetting. Best mixtape of 09 by my opinion. It was a good list, but that would've made it all the better.
Lupe is like I want back in....fresh list yo
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