After much thought, myself and Mek have finally compiled a list for our personal favorite albums, mixtapes, EPs and songs of 2010. Hit the jump to dissect and banter about how our opinions aren’t right (or something).





TOP 10 ALBUMS

Like last year, this list contains no specific order. Just a collection of my personal favorite albums of 2010. I can’t even call my #1.



Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy



Curren$y – Pilot Talk



The Roots – How I Got Over



Kno – Death is Silent



Drake – Thank Me Later



PackFM – I F*cking Hate Rappers



Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty



Eminem – Recovery



B.o.B – The Adventures of Bobby Ray



Big K.R.I.T. – K.R.I.T. Wuz Here

(2)Dope Extras

Nas & Damian Marley – Distant Relatives

Reflection Eternal – Revolutions Per Minute

Celph Titled & Buckwild – Nineteen Ninety Now

Freeway & Jake One – The Stimulus Package

Dessa – A Badly Broken Code

KiD CuDi – MOTM2

TOP 10 MIXTAPES

Another great year for the mixtape scene. 10 isn’t enough to show the amount of dope projects to drop this year, but I’ll give it a shot. My personal favorite? J. Cole or Kendrick Lamar with ease (even if they both could basically be considered albums in themselves)



J. Cole – Friday Night Lights



Kendrick Lamar – O.D.



A (2)Dope Mixtape: Empire State Edition



Emilio Rojas – Life Without Shame



Ab-Soul – LongTerm2



JD Era – Th1rt3en



Playboy Tre – The Last Call



Outasight – Never Say Never



Sha Stimuli – Overtime: My Soul to Keep



Joe Budden – Mood Muzik 4

(2)Dope Extras

Asher Roth – Seared Foi Gras w/ Quince & Cranberry

Chace Infinite – I Would Have Killed This

Fabolous – TiNC2: The Funeral Service

Pac Div – Don’t Mention It

Wiz Khalifa – Kush & Orange Juice

Royce Da 5’9″ – Bar Exam 3

TOP 5 EPs

Although the Kendrick Lamar EP dropped in 2009, it still takes the top spot on my list as we compiled last year’s list just before it dropped.



Kendrick Lamar – Kendrick Lamar EP



TiRon – MSTRD



Atmosphere – To All My Friends, Blood Makes the Blady Holy



Evidence – I Don’t Need Love



Asher Roth & Nottz – Rawth

(2)Dope Extras

Sene & J57 – eye don’t dream… but i do

Donwill & Von Pea – The Sandwich Shop EP

The Knux – F*ck You

Freddie Gibbs – Str8 Killa EP

(A FEW OF MY) FAVORITE SONGS

There’s no way in hell that I could possibly list off all my favorite songs. So I just made a list of what came to mind. Thanks for all the great music guys.

Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar

Asher Roth – G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready It’s a New Day)

Asher Roth & Nottz – Enforce the Law

Atmosphere – To All My Friends

Big Boi – For Yo Sorrows f. Too $hort & George Clinton

Big K.R.I.T. – My Interpretation

Big K.R.I.T. – Something

Big Sean – What U Doin? (Bullshittin’)

Black Milk – Deadly Medley f. Royce Da 5’9″ & eLZhi

B.o.B – Beast Mode

Brother Ali & Fashawn – Breakin’ Dawn Boys

Brother Ali, Toki Wright & Evidence – The Freshest Kids

Bruno Mars – The Other Side f. Cee-Lo & B.o.B

Bun B – Just Like That f. Young Jeezy

Celph Titled – Swashbuckling f. Apathy, Ryu & Esoteric

Celph Titled – Styles Ain’t Raw f. Apathy & Chino XL

Chris Brown – Deuces (rmx) f. Drake, Fabolous, T.I., Kanye West, Rick Ross & Andre 3000

Consequence – Whatever You Want (rmx) f. Kanye West, Big Sean & Common

Crooked I – Gangsta’s Cry f. K-Young

Curren$y & Wiz Khalifa – The Planes

Curren$y – Address f. Stalley

Diplomats – Salute f. Vado

Donwill – Laura’s Song

Drake – 9 AM in Dallas Freestyle

Drake – Unforgettable f. Young Jeezy

Eminem & Royce Da 5’9″ – Echo f. Liz Rodrigues (prod. DJ Khalil)

Eminem – I Need a Doctor f. Dr. Dre

Fat Joe – I’m Gone

Freddie Gibbs – Crushin’ Feelins

Freddie Gibbs – National Anthem (Fuck the World)

J. Cole – 2Face

J. Cole – Premeditated Murder

Kanye West – Monster f. Rick Ross, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj & Ben Iver

Kanye West – Power (rmx) f. Jay-Z

Kanye West – The Joy f. Jay-Z, Pete Rock, Charlie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield & KiD CuDi

Kanye West – Looking For Trouble f. Pusha T, CyHi Da Prynce, Big Sean & J. Cole

Kendrick Lamar – Celebration

Kendrick Lamar – I Do This f. U-N-I, Skeme & Brown (of Sore Losers)

Kendrick Lamar – Pussy & Patron f. Ab-Soul

Laws – Hold You Down (rmx) f. Emilio Rojas & Big K.R.I.T.

Lil Wayne – 6’7′ f. Cory Gunz

Miguel – All I Want Is You f. J. Cole

N.E.R.D – Hot N Fun f. Nelly Furtado

Playboy Tre – I Don’t Care

Reallionaire Jream – Take Me Home

Reflection Eternal – Just Begun f. Jay Electronica, J. Cole & Mos Def

Rick Ross – Free Mason f. Jay-Z

Shawn Chrystopher – Hangover

Ski Beatz – Prowler 2 f. Jean Grae, Jay Electronica, Joell Ortiz & Mos Def

Skyzoo & !llmind – Barrel Brothers f. Torae

The Roots – Dear God 2.0 f. Monsters of Folk

The Roots – The Day f. Blu, Phonte & Patty Crash

Tonedeff & PackFM – That’s What Happens (prod. Algorythm)

Tunji – Towards the Future f. Deacon the Villain

Vado – Large On the Streets

Von Pea – Boombox

Wiz Khalifa – Mezmorized

Yelawolf – Pop the Trunk

Young Jeezy – Lose My Mind (rmx) f. Drake

FAVORITE EVENT: Buns, Beer & Backpacks: A (2)DopeBBQ

2010 has to be one of my favorite years in the last decade. I was introduced to so many new people and things in my life that it was well worth the stress and hard work we put in. When we decided to throw an event for Haiti, I wasn’t fully aware of how the outcome would be. As the night progressed I was truly amazed at the amount of people who showed up and supported. We raised a great amount of money and a slew of backpacks/school supplies for the less fortunate. It’s amazing that we’re able to use our platform to help benefit others. I can’t wait for the next one.

TOP 10 8 ALBUMS

Similar to 09’s listing where I spotlighted more single tracks and mixtapes than actual albums, my direction for 2010 is more of the same. However, I enjoyed a lot more projects this year than I did last year, and I hope that 2011 brings more of the same.



Curren$y – Pilot Talk



David Banner & 9th Wonder – Death Of A Pop Star



Donwill (of Tanya Morgan) – Don Cusack In High Fidelity



Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two (Return Of The Ankh)



Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy



Kendrick Lamar – O.D.



Roc Marciano – Marcberg



Von Pea (of Tanya Morgan) – Pea’s Gotta Have It

TOP 10 MIXTAPES



Ayomari -The PB & J Solution



Dom Kennedy – From The Westside, With Love



J. Cole – Friday Night Lights



Pac Div – Don’t Mention It



Skeme – Pistols & Palm Trees



The Kid Daytona – The Interlude LP



TiRon – MSTRD



Various Artists – A (2)Dope Mixtape: Empire State Edition



Wiz Khalifa – Kush & Orange Juice



Picaso (of Language Artz) – The Artz Dealer

(2)Dope Extras

Chris Connery (Theo Martins & $port) – You Can’t Do That On Television

The Niceguys – The Show

PROJECTS THAT MADE ME MISS CALIFORNIA

Bi-coastal bastard that I am, certain projects made me long for the days when Channel 11 was Fox and not The CW, and I could go to the beach in the middle of winter.

Ayomari -The PB & J Solution

Dom Kennedy – From The Westside, With Love

Kendrick Lamar – (O)verly (D)edicated

Pac Div – Don’t Mention It

TiRon – MSTRD

PROJECTS THAT MADE ME LOVE NEW YORK

Now that I’m out East, these projects make me appreciate the harshness that is New York City. I can still do without the mad cold weather, though.

Donwill (of Tanya Morgan) – Don Cusack In High Fidelity

Roc Marciano – Marcberg

The Kid Daytona – The Interlude LP

Von Pea (of Tanya Morgan) – Pea’s Gotta Have It

(A FEW OF MY) FAVORITE SONGS

I essentially just scrolled through what ended up on my iPod at the start of 2010 until the end of the year, and here is a shortlist of some of the cuts that got the most plays in the last 365.

Ab-Liva & iCan – The Wire

Ayomari – Everything Is Going Fine feat. TiRon

Ayomari – I Wanna (Journey)

B.o.B – Fuck The Money f. Asher Roth

Chris Connery (Theo Martins & $port) – The Monocle

Consequence – I’ma Do Me Regardless

Curren$y – Address f. Stalley

Curren$y – Breakfast (In & Out)

[email protected]!n$ – God Bless Us

Damian Marley & Nas – Nah Mean

David Banner & 9th Wonder – Strange f. Big Remo

DJ Premier – 5% f. KRS-One & Grand Puba

Dom Kennedy – Locals Only

Dom Kennedy – Still Me

Donwill – Laura’s Song

Donwill – Love Junkie (Wallpaper Remix) feat. Ca$he & The Park

Drake – 9AM In Dallas

Drake – Light Up f. Jay-Z

Drake – Show Me A Good Time

Erykah Badu – Fall In Love (Your Funeral)

Fat Joe – I’m Gone

Get Busy Committee – Opening Ceremony

H.O.P.E. – Bliss f. Y-O (of U-N-I)

H.O.P.E. – Death’s Door

H.O.P.E. – Gotta Go f. K.Roosevelt

H.O.P.E. – Me&Her

H.O.P.E. & Skeme – Appalled

J. Cole – Bun B For President

J. Cole – Relaxation f. Fashawn & Omen

J. Cole – Too Deep For The Intro

Jay Electronica – Jazzmatazz (Guru Tribute) f. Tone Treasure

Jay Electronica – Shiny Suit Theory f. Jay-Z & Charlotte Gainsbourg

Jay Electronica – The Announcement

Jay Electronica – The Ghost of Christopher Wallace f. Diddy

Joell Ortiz – Project Boy

Kanye West – All Of The Lights f. John Legend, The-Dream, Ryan Leslie, Tony Williams, Charlie Wilson, Elly Jackson, Alicia Keys, Fergie, KiD CuDi, Rihanna & Elton John

Kanye West – Devil In A New Dress f. Rick Ross

Kanye West – Lord Lord Lord f. Mos Def, Swizz Beatz , Raekwon & Charlie Wilson

Kanye West – The Joy f. Pete Rock, Jay-Z, Charlie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield & KiD CuDi

Kendrick Lamar – Average Joe

Kendrick Lamar – Michael Jordan f. Schoolboy Q

Kendrick Lamar – P&P 1.5 f. Ab-Soul

Kendrick Lamar – P&P f. Ab-Soul

KiD CuDi – The End f. GLC, Chip Tha Ripper & Nicole Wray

Lil B – Like A Martian

Lil B – Look Like Jesus

Little Brother – Tigallo For Dolo

Lloyd Banks – Start It Up f. Kanye West, Fabolous, Swizz Beatz, Ryan Leslie & Pusha T

Maja 7th – On My Own f. Freddie Gibbs & Mikkey Halsted

Meth, Ghost & Rae – Our Dreams

N.E.R.D – God Bless Us All

Nickelus F – Kevin Bacon (I’ma Single)

Pac Div – Don’t Forget The Swishers f. Dom Kennedy, cARTer & Chip Tha Ripper

Pac Div – Here We Go

Rick Ross – Live Fast, Die Young f. Kanye West

Roc Marciano – Snow (rmx) f. Sean Price

Skeme – Don’t Lose Focus

Ski Beatz – Cream Of The Planet f. Mos Def

Ski Beatz – Taxi f. Mos Def & Whosane

The Kid Daytona – Contemplate f. Tiara Wiles

The Kid Daytona – Fly Lullaby

The Lessondary (Che Grand, Donwill, Spec Boogie, Von Pea) – She Can Gedditt

The Niceguys – Somebody f. Lee Lonn Walker

The Niceguys – The Good Shepherd

TiRon – Boys & Girls

TiRon – Take A Bow

TiRon – the Do

U-N-I – Desha Dayana

Von Pea – Boombox

Von Pea – The Yorker

Von Pea – There You Were f. Uzoy

Wiz Khalifa – Mezmorized

Wiz Khalifa – Visions

FAVORITE EVENT: SWSW, March 2010

In 2010 I traveled more than I ever did in the last ten years combined. Not only was it my first time attending SXSW, it was also my first trip to Texas. From the massive Long Island Ice Teas, to the smoked out, (2)Dope-sponsored Smokers Club, to watching Shake and eskay drunkenly patrol the streets of Austin, SXSW was easily my musical highlight of 2010. Wait til you see what the dopehouse has lined up this year for Texas…

FAVORITE RAoF: My Formal Introduction to Lil B

Yeah, I’ll admit, I was hating and shit-talking like everyone about the guy when Donwill and ILLIONAIRE first introduced me to his, um, “music.” But after a while that shit started to stick in my head, and pure abhorrence became fascination and, ultimately, I became a reluctant fan of his wanton nignorance. The best part? When, during a show with ArtOfficial and Tanya Morgan in Miami, I spun “Like A Martian” in between songs from fellow tomcoonery champions 2 Live Crew, and the crowd went apeshit. Thank you, Based God.

FAVORITE MOMENT OF 2010: Buns, Beer & Backpacks: A (2)DopeBBQ

I literally got the idea while laying in bed one lazy June afternoon. “How hard could it be to put together an event in two months?” I thought. Truth is, setting up an event is a lot harder than I ever imagined, an I had problems with everything from the liquor sponsors to finding an actual venue itself. But in the end it turned out to be a huge success, and I hope to do it again this year (maybe in California this time? We’ll see). Thanks to everyone who played a role in making the (2)DopeBBQ what it was.