20 Tracks of the Year (10 from the U.S and 10 from the U.K);
U.S
10. Larry Csonka - Action Bronson
Action Bronson is all about fine cuisine, weed and the streets of Queens, NY. Larry Csonka features metaphors that summarise the rapper in one.."Cop a dutch and break it open, overfill it..I'm rollin' in the car, it may be shaky never spill it, though" Rolling up a dutch in a shaky car is no match for Bronson's steady chef hands.
9. She - Tyler The Creator Ft Frank Ocean
One of the best tracks from the 2nd Instalment in Tyler's trilogy of albums. The track is typically dark and sinister with all sorts of visuals coming from Tyler's lyrics.."I picture us in the hall/ Locking lips on the wall/ Her hand grabbing my dick/ My left hand on her tits"..an insight to the sensitive yet disturbed mind of the OF member. And with a Frank Ocean hook like that..did you expect it to not be included.
8. Rack City - Tyga
Still being played on radio some 7 months after the release of Well Done 2, Rack City is the type of song that makes you feel like a boss. 2011 was a big year for Tyga, he released four mix-tapes and moved from behind the Young Money shadow. His debut album on Cash Money; Careless World: Rise of the Last King is due for release on the 21st February.
7. Bass - A$AP Rocky
One of the biggest newcomers of 2011, A$AP Rocky with the production of Clams Casino released mixtape 'LIVELOVEA$AP', which received huge critical acclaim, earning him a place in BBC's sound of 2012 list. My personal pick from the album, and possibly favourite A$AP track is Bass, produced by Clams. The beat is almost a chopped up toned down techno vibe with the second half of the song employing a Zoned Out Houston inspired A$AP verse, and the first taking the rapper's normal persona. A $3 million record deal with Sony doesn't come for free..expect big things from the Harlem MC.
6. I'm A Boss - Meek Mill Ft Rick Ross
I'm not sure if it's the Jhalil Beats production, how aggressive Meek Mill goes over it, or the way that Rick Ross comes in, but this song was one of the Hip Hop anthems of 2011 for me. Still one of The Boss's best opening verses; "Got so many shades, they thought I had a lazy eye"...classic.
5. What You Need - The Weeknd
'What You Need' contains all the elements for a perfect left field R&B love ballad. The Burial - like vocal sampling, an almost poppy hook and the angel/devil on the shoulder scenario in the repeating of "He's what you want/ I'm what you need". Following his mixtape; 'House of Balloons', the Weeknd joined forces with Drake and Noah "40" Shebib to create OVOXO..here's to an OVOXO album in 2012!
4. Niggas In Paris - Jay Z & Kanye West
G.O.O.D music producer hit-boy created one of the beats of the year in 'Niggas in Paris'. The huge drum pattern rides over a powerful synth, which gives Jay and Kanye the perfect opportunity to flex their lyrical muscles and name drop some of the more expensive things in life. Jay saying lines like; "So I ball so hard mothafuckas wanna fine me, first niggas gotta find me/ What's 50 Grand to a Mothafucka like me can you please remind me?". And a personal favourite, even by Kanye's standards; "What's Gucci my nigga? What's Louis, my killa? What's drugs my dealer? What's that jacket, Margiela?" - Kanyeezy letting the world know he's a fashion icon.
3. I'm On One - DJ Khaled Ft Drake, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne
As far as Hip Hop collaborations on a track go, look no further. DJ Khaled pulled together the perfect ingredients on 'I'm On One', with Drake creating arguably the catchiest hook of the year, an arrogant syrup enthused verse from Weezy and the necessary token Rick Ross verse. The three Hip Hop heavyweights almost send a battle cry to the rest of the Hip Hop world, no less when Drake drops "I'm just feeling like the throne is for the taking watch me take it!" or Weezy's "I walk around the club, fuck everybody". THE Hip Hop anthem of the year.
2. Thinking About You - Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean had possibly the most impressive year of any artist mentioned so far. The Odd Future resident worked with artists like Beyonce, John Legend, Brandy and Nas, and his mixtape was so highly rated that Def Jam pulled a U-Turn on his record deal to re-release Nostalgia/Ultra. Ocean's emotional vocals over the mesmeric beat and slow drums create an almost space like RnB. The repetitiveness of the bridge; "I've been thinking bout you/ I've been thinking bout you/ Do you think about me still/ Do you, do you?" conveyed a lot about how he felt. One of my favourites from Frank Ocean, and maybe even one of my favourite RnB songs to date!
1. Crew Love - Drake Ft The Weeknd
A song that sums up the OVOXO movement. Drake and 40 collaborate with The Weeknd's Abel Tesfaye and Illangelo, one of the producers from The Weekend, on a track to justify their dedication as artists. Drake uses lyrics like; "There's times when I might blow like 50k on a vacation/ For all my soldiers just to see the looks on their faces" and "I got a lotta friends to come up off the strip for me/ The same ones that'll come up off the hip for me" to summarise the relationship he's grown with his crew. No homo. For me, the gradual beat, harmonious piano, and accompanying vocals made the track the best from a standout album in 2011. And I know I'm not the who had the hook 'They loving the crew' recurring in their head this year...
U.K
10. Pow 2011 - Lethal Bizzle Ft JME, Wiley, 2Face, Ghetto, P Money, Chipmunk and Kano
Grime fans were treated to an early present this year. With production from Teddy Music, Lethal B remade the 2004 grime classic Pow (Forward Riddim) calling on the assistance of some of the UK's top MC's. When you can pull in artists like Wiley, JME and Kano on a feature, you know it's not going to disappoint. I know there are many of us still wondering what "Booodooodoooodoooodadadadada"even means..
9. Slaughterhouse/ Here Come The Lights - Joker Ft Silas (Turboweekend)
Not the first time that Joker has been assisted by the vocalist from Danish group Turboweekend. The powerful synth and melodies give it the RnB edge, with some heavy drum patterns adding elements of Dubstep, but then you've got rocky the vocals from Silas leaving me all the more confused as to what genre this falls under.
8. Wildfire - SBTRKT Ft Yukimi
From one of the best British albums this year, 'Wildfire' was such a huge success that it led to both a Single release, and also a remix by one of Hip Hop's biggest artists; Drake. The squelchy bass lends itself to an infectious Timbaland influenced drum pattern, which makes you just want to nod your head along to the beat.
7. Cbat - Hudson Mohawke
When Cbat begins, it sounds like Hudmo has acquired the talents of a brass orchestra - the elaborate build up and drum shuffle don't really prepare you for the drop. Hudson Mohawke manages to take one of the strangest noises, and align it with a simple yet shoulder bopping melody. The track is screaming for an ignorant Lil B or Waka Flocka remix.
6. NY Is Killing Me - Gil Scott and Jamie XX
Jamie XX has worked on some big projects in his time, the Mercury winning self entitled debut album 'XX' , Drake's 'I'll Take Care Of You' and several Radiohead and Adele remixes, but on this collaboration with Soul veteran, Gil Scott Heron displays a dark swagger that can only be seen on his solo production. With four different drops, Jamie XX builds the track with a bass heavy melodic drum pattern, and the looping vocals of Gil Scott Heron play off of it so well. I still don't know if the 3rd or 4th drop is the most impressive though..
5. BTSTU - Jai Paul
From one track, Jai Paul has managed to create worldwide attention; shortlisted for the BBC sound of 2011, named as Zane Lowe's 'Hottest Record in the World' and sampled by Beyonce and Drake. BTSTU has woozy backing vocals, a wobbly synth bass line and a beat that sounds like Beastie Boys - what more could you you ask for in a track..
4. The Wilhelm Scream - James Blake
On Wilhelm Scream, James Blake creates the perfect combination of emotion and experimentation on a track. With deep soulful chords and random inserts of Bon Iver and Burial inspired noises, it would be pointless attempting to put it in one set genre. Blake's constant repetition of the lyrics; "I don't know about my Love" and "I don't know about my dreams" combine perfectly with a gradually building dark gospel inspired beat to create a huge sense of emotion. HBO's 'Entourage' always have their finger on the pulse when it comes to synch's, and they chose 'Wilhelm Scream' to end a scene that sees Vince and Turtle walk in on a friend who has committed suicide in season 8.
3. Ultra Thizz - Rustie
Taken from Rustie’s debut album, ‘Ultra Thizz’ is one of the most uplifting rave tracks I’ve heard. With erratic drum patterns, a squelching bass, and a synth riff that Prince would be proud of; the track constantly evolves itself. Random laser bolts and essences of mid 90’s trance and Hip Hop will leave you nodding your head with a smile for the rest of the day.
2. Far Nearer - Jamie XX
Jamie XX didn’t disappoint with his first solo release outside of the XX. The build up is laced with steel drums and uplifting bubbly effects, giving you the feeling you should be on a beach in the Caribbean – not in the suburbs of London in -2 degrees. A deep funky shuffle, smooth drum kicks and the recurring ‘I feel better when I have you near me’ maintain the euphoric feeling of the song.
1. Thank you - Hudson Mohawke
Hudson Mohawke's EP, Satin Panthers received huge critical acclaim. Veteran Hip Hop producer, Just Blaze has been singing his praises, and theres rumours of a collaboration with Young Money in the future..'Thank you' shows why. Armed with marching band drums patterns, an infectious G Funk Synth and elements of Super Mario 64 – Hudmo created a track that could reach out to anybody from Usher to Bustah Rymes. With waves of harmonised synths constantly overriding each other, and an array of hard hitting drum rolls, the Glaswegian builds the track to a powerful climax that I would defy any music lover to not nod their head to. Thank YOU Hudson Mohawke.
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