So I am basing my judging off of relevancy, skills, and quantity and quality of the artist's music.
10. Kanye West-Solid year
-Watch the Throne with Jay-Z
-A great album, but Jay-Z carried him for the most part throughout the cd. Ye wasn't corny but I just think he could of did better. I compare his lyrics on there to Graduation and before and its definitely not at the same level. And, other than that Ye wasn't on much of anything else this year. So, because of his semi-disappointing album verses and lack of amount of music, for my taste, he is #10
-I see Ye having a big year in 2012 though, with the G.O.O.D Music album coming and most likely he will be releasing a solo project, so with that he will be higher on my list.
9. Jay-Z
-Again WTT was successful and Hov is higher than Kanye because he outdid him on the collabo. In addition, he was featured on a couple tracks this year where he made his presence felt. But, in a day-and-age where you have to keep coming with the songs, one album and a few features won't get you the #1 spot anymore. Jay-Z definitely had the lyrics and verses this year to be in the discussion for it, but him and the same for my #8 spot, just wasn't enough music for me.
8. Eminem
-Solid year
-Eminem suffered the same criticism as Jay-Z from me. Great verses and project but just not enough music. The thing that puts him above Jay-Z though is I just feel, as usual, Eminem verses and lyrics were better than Hov. I still think Eminem is the greatest rapper of all time, not my favorite but one of them, but definitely the greatest. Hov is a close 2. But just speaking for both of them, nobody ever has reached 40 years old and still can rip songs like they are still doing. I just feel Em does it slightly better.
7.J. Cole
-Good year
-J. Cole had very good year. He was kind of quiet in the beginning of the year but when it came down to about time for his album Cole World: Sideline Story to be released he released a slew of EPs 3 Sundays in a row called them Any Given Sunday.
-So, with his good cd, solid verse and features throughout the year, and consistent underground presence he gets a #7 slot.
6. Big Sean
-Good year
-Finally Famous
-Big Sean is Finally Famous. He had his break out year by finally releasing his album and it was a success. It had some of the most successful singles of that year with "A$$" "My Last" & "Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay". And, he was featured on a good amount of songs ranging from rap to pop respectively. In addition, it was reported he was suppose to release a collabo mixtape with Wiz Khalifa & Curren$y but that never materialized, but the 5 leaked songs still kept a buzz fort the 3 artists. Furthermore, I like Finally Famous better than Cole's album so that's why Sean gets the #6 spot.5. Wiz Khalifa
-Good year
-Cabin Fever, Rolling Papers , Mac + Dev Go To High School
4. Drake
-Great year
-Take Care
-Only Drake could rate this high without having any other projects besides his album. Take Care was very successful, in the top 3 of 2011 sales for rappers. Drake went all out on his album, putting the maximum amount of tracks on it, leaving only 4 minutes of possible available space on the cd. He said on a couple occasions he felt like he had something to prove, and he did. People are still singing multiple songs from Take Care. He also started a couple movements, how many people have you heard either say "The Motto" or "YOLO"? Courtesy of Drake. In addition, he was on plenty songs throughout the year, whether he contributed by rapping, singing, or a mix of both. I'm not the biggest Drake fan, but I just have to give respect and credit where its due. Drake will probably never be lower than top 5, simply because he's Drake and wil always be current.
3. Lil Wayne-Great year
-Tha Carter IV, Sorry 4 Tha Wait
-After keeping his fans waiting continuing to push back Tha Carter IV Wayne thought of his fans enough to release an apology motivated mixtape where in usual Wayne fashion he just "went in" over other people beats. It was a great strategy because it definitley created buzz and led perfectly into the album which didn't disappoint. C4 was his best album to date. Usually, I say Wayne is #1 but his features weren't on point as in previous years. He was on more than anybody still of course, so even though some were sub-par he still had some features where he killed it which compensated in a sense. What this year showed me is Wayne probably only has a few years left on top, which proves he isn't better than Jay-Z, because like I said he's 40 and isn't slowing down. But, in the meantime I'm still listening to Carter 4 regularly.
2. Wale
-Great year
-"Wale doe... " Wale, who has become my favorite rapper this past year, is without a doubt is top-3 at least to me. I like and appreciate everything about him as a rapper and artist. This year he released Eleven One Eleven Theory and then his album Ambition, but really they were both albums, in usual Wale fashion. Everybody who listens to him recognizes the work ethic he has always put into his mixtapes and that same passion and has all led up to this latest album. Ambition was classic, as he predicted for all those weeks and is one of my favorite albums of all time. Wale started the Ambition campaign for his fans and followers, which was like no other. People were getting the word tattooed, wearing the shirts and wristbands; most people never even used the word before Wale said it. Sad as that may be, it’s also a reflection of Wale in 2011 as a whole. In addition, to his solo projects he was apart of MMG's Self Made Vol. 1 album, which was crazy in its own right. 2011 was MMG's year, and Wale was a big reason for that, but the biggest reason has the #1 spot.
-Great Year
-Self Made Vol. 1, Rich Forever
-The Boss. Enough Said really. In 2011, Rick Ross was the man of the year. He built an empire over night with MMG, signing two of the hottest artists in 2011 in Wale and Meek Mill. Immediately after signing the two artists, and rapper Pill; they released their compilation album. The album was a huge success, and just the promotion itself was unique, releasing videos and vlogs every day it seemed. All the while, Ross was chanting God Forgives, I Don't, his anticipated upcoming album, however, Ross suffered 2 seizures so he felt that messed up his album's campaign so he pushed it back. But, in the meantime, he released one of the hottest mixtapes of all time with Rich Forever. Even though, Ross was everywhere, killing everything, nobody still saw that mixtape coming. It contained at least 7 anthems that are still ringing through people's speakers. So, for being the overseer of two of the hottest rappers, being on almost more songs than Lil Wayne and killing every one of them, and still coming with great music himself the boss is #1. And, in 2012 its looking like it might be the same, because his delayed album is due to be released, Self Made Vol.2 is coming, and his young protege Meek Mill debut album is set to be released.
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