Fashawn & Exile (Boy Meets World) [2009]

Exile is by far my favorite producer still in the game. I saw him live at Subterranean in Chicago and his MPC skills were legendary. Hopefully he reunites with Blu sometime soon and they release Below the Heavens II. In terms of rhymes on this track, Fashawn does a pretty satisfactory job as well. The whole album deserves a listen but here are my tops:

2. Freedom


3. Hey Young World ft. Aloe Blacc & Devoya Mayo


4. Stars


6. Ecology


9. Samsonite Man ft. Blu



11. Sunny CA ft. Co$$ & Mistah F.A.B


12. Bo Jackson ft. Exile


14. When She Calls


16. The Score ft. Planet Asia

Kidz in the Hall (Land of Make Believe) [2010]

Naledge and Double O have not produced more good music than bad, however this 2010 release has a few gems on it.

2. Traffic


3. Flickin


5. Bougie Girls ft. Russoul

Dark Time Sunshine (Vessel) [2010]

Dark Time Sunshine is a newer group consisting of Cape Cowen aka Onry Ozzborn (the MC) and Zavala (the producer). I have not had a chance to listen to their album all the way through, but I do like this track with Qwel on it (link below).

12. Instructions to Numb Feat. Solillaquists of Sound, Xperience & Qwel

Muamin Collective (World B. Free) [2009]

This is a group I just started listening to a few days ago. Definitely give this album a listen on its production value alone. I've highlighted a few of the tracks that caught my attention during my first listen.

2. Claptadis


4. Horizontal ft. Chimera


5. Ponzi Scheme


9. Grandiose


14. Bus Stop


16. Let It Out

Damu the Fudgemunk (Supply for Demand) [2010]

If you do not know who this DC native is, something is wrong with you. Damu has certainly mastered the MPC and in the past actually used it as a pillow at night in the parks of DC (not sure whether it was promotional or out of necessity).

5. Don't Do It ft. Insight


9. Bright Side [Remix]

Chiddy Bang (Chiddy Bang: The Preview (EP)) [2010]

Do not listen to this album in its entirety. But for those of you who like a dose of Xaphoon's production once in a while I've included links to the better tracks.

1. The Good Life


4. Here We Go (feat. Q-Tip)


5. All Things Go

Von Pea (Peas Gotta Have It (EP)) [2010]

Here is an up and coming producer's solo project. Von produced a good portion of Tanya Morgan's (Brooklynati). I've included links to the best tracks off the album.

3. The Yorker


4. I Know We're Right ft. Keisha Shontelle


5. We Should Be Rocking Ft. Donwill & Aeson Lee Sissing


9. Good Life


10. Open School


12. Ahead of the Class



13. New Pair ft. Josie Stingray


14. Get Violated (Sorry Can't Find A Link)

15. Boombox

B.o.B aka Bobby Ray (No Genre (Mixtape)) [2010]

Here are my favorite tracks off this recently released mixtape. It is clear that B.o.B is on another level and is working as hard as he can to stay that way.

1. Beast Mode (prod. by Infinity)


2. So So (prod. by Jim Jonsin)


3. How u do that (prod. by Kutta)


5. Higher ft. Playboy Tre, Prince Cy Hi & Bun B (Prod. by Polow da Don)


6. Shoot up the Station (prod. by Kutta)


9. The Watchers (prod. by B.O.B)


10. Batman Flow ft. Donnis

Top 29 Albums of 2009

It was hard to narrow it down and may be subject to change, but here are my top 29 albums released in 2009.

Big Sean (UKNOWBIGSEAN)
BlakRoc (BlakRoc)
Blame One (Days Chasing Days)
Blockhead (The Music Scene)
B.o.B aka Bobby Ray (B.o.B Vs Bobby Ray)
Camp Lo (Another Heist)
Chiddy Bang (The Swelly Express)
Danny! (Where is Danny?)
Diamond District (In The Ruff)
DJ Heat & Blu ((So)ul Amazing (Part 2))
Doom (Born Like This)
Elzhi (The Leftovers Unmixedtape)
Exile (Radio)
Fashawn & Exile (Boy Meets World)
Fresh Daily (The Gorgeous Killer: In Crimes of Passion)
Fresh Daily (Tomorrow is Today)
J. Rawls & John Robinson (The 1960's Jazz Revolution Again)
Kenn Starr (It's Still Real...)
Kam Moye (Splitting Image)
Kid Cudi (Man on the Moon: The End of Day)
Kid Cudi (The Moon Man)
Lil' Wayne (No Ceilings)
Muamin Collective (World B. Free)
Nat King Cole (Re: Generations)
Oddisee (Mental Liberation)
Pac Div (Church League Champions)
Tanya Morgan (Brooklynati)
Trek Life & Oddisee (New Money)
2 Hungry Bros (My Crew's All Thinner)

Blu & Exile Sample

Check out this old school joint that Exile sampled in "My World Is..." off of Blu & Exile's Below the Heavens

The Dells "Love is Blue (I Can Sing A Rainbow)"

Trek Life "So Supreme" [2010]

Here is a video from a dope artist who happens to have a new album out "Everything Changes Nothing", which I have not yet had a chance to preview. I'll post more about his new album when I get a copy of it.

Trek Life "So Supreme"

Top 21 Albums of 2010

B.O.B aka Bobby Ray (No Genre Mixtape)
B.O.B aka Bobby Ray (The Adventures Of Bobby Ray)
Chiddy Bang (Air Swell (A Mini-Mixtape))
Chiddy Bang (Chiddy Bang: The Preview EP)
Damu The Fudgemunk (Supply For Demand)
Damu The Fudgemunk (How It Should Sound, Vol 1 & 2)
Kanye West (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy)
Kid Cudi (Man On The Moon II: The Legend Of Mr. Rager)
Kidz In The Hall (Land of Make Believe)
Mos Dub (Mos Dub)
Nas & Damian Marley (Distant Relatives)
Oddisee (Traveling Man)
Panacea (12 Step Program)
Pete Philly (Open Loops)
The Roots (How I Got Over)
Slum Village (Villa Manifesto)
Reflection Eternal (Revolutions Per Minute)
Trek Life (Before Everything Changed)
2 Hungry Bros & 8thW1 (No Room For Dessert)
Von Pea (Peas Gotta Have It)
Wiz Khalifa (Kush & OJ)