Hypetrak’s Top 50 Albums of 2011

106

Kendrick Lamar – Section.80

You had your say, but now it is our turn to let you know who kept our heads nodding in 2011. According to us, the top album of this year is Kendrick Lamar’s outstanding debut Section.80. The 24-year-old is a Compton native with a Dr. Dre affiliation who offers a fluid, approachable and melodic rap style, spiced up with a clever use of wordplay. All this and more is offered on the virtually un-skippable Section.80. One song into the LP, it becomes apparent that he has a lot to say without a big label backing up his music toward accessibility. However, this young emcee makes sure to get his message across. His songs carry messages about troubled youths facing problems involving drugs and alcohol. Sure, something we all heard before on a record. But it is his genuine approach to complex lyricism that has become a rarity in today’s hip-hop game. In addition, the stripped-down, jazzy production of his in-house team further compliments the duality of his honest raps. Hypetrak readers seem to agree, catapulting him to the second spot of their favorite album lists with only one vote less than Watch the Throne. Hence, we had to give Kendrick Lamar the top spot. As for the rest of the list, feel free to discuss and share your thoughts below, but please, keep it civil. See you in the 2012.

2.) Bon Iver – Bon Iver

3.) The Throne – Watch the Throne

4.) Shabazz Palaces – Black Up

5.) Frank Ocean – Nostalhia/Ultra

6.)J. Cole – Cole World: The Sideline Story

7.) Drake – Take Care

8.)Tyler, the Creator – Goblin

9.) The Weeknd – House of Balloons

10.) James Blake – James Blake

11.) Radiohead – The King of Limbs

12.) Blu – No York!

13.) A$AP Rocky – LiveLoveA$AP

14.) Adele – 21

15.)Toro Y Moi – Underneath the Pine

16.) The Roots – undun

17.) SBTRKT – SBTRKT

18.) Metronomy – The English Riviera

19.) Lykke Li – Wounded Rhymes

20.) Big K.R.I.T. – Return of 4Eva

21.) Thundercat – The Golden Age of Apocalypse
22.) M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
23.) Childish Gambino – Camp
24.) Danny Brown – XXX
25.) Lupe Fiasco – Lasers
26.) Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV
27.) Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto
28.) Foster the People – Torches
29.) Justice – Audio, Video, Disco
30.) Arctic Monkeys – Suck it and See
31.) Kasabian – Velociraptor!
32.) Florence And The Machine – Ceremonials
33.) The Black Keys – El Camino
34.) Das Racist – Relax
35.) Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Part 2
36.) tUnE-yArDs – w h o k i l l
37.) Bad Meets Evil – Hell: The Sequel
38.) Washed Out – Within And Without
39.) Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues
40.) Mac Miller – Blue Slide Park
41.) Little Dragon – Ritual Union
42.) Talib Kweli – Gutter Rainbows
43.) Azari & III – Azari & III
44.) Clams Casino – Instrumental Mixtape
45.) Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost
46.) Fucked Up – David Comes To Life
47.) Neon Indian – Era Extraña
48.) Cut Copy – Zonoscope
49.) Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
50.) Curren$y & Alchemist – Covert Coup