Phil Ade (Starting on JV (Mixtape)) [2009]

Here is Phil Ade's debut mixtape. You can tell there is room for improvement, but he is steering in the right direction...

2. Disco Flow


4. Going Off

Xaphoon Jones (The Xaphoon Jones (Mixtape) Vol. 1) [2009]

Now I'm not a big mash-up fan but I know how many people out there love Chiddy Bang. So I'm posting some of the more noticeable tracks from Xaphoon's first mash-up mixtape for everyone to experience. By the way Xaphoon Jones is Chiddy Bang's producer...

2. You Need (Mashup: Clipse & Led Zepplin)


4. Testify (Mashup: Radiohead & Kanye West)


13. I Wanna Know Now (Mashup: Bob Marley & MGMT)

Exile & DJ Day "D Train Routine" [2009]

I wish I was in Amsterdam jamming to a live performance by Exile and DJ Day. Exile is always fresh and DJ Day ain't bad either.

k-os (Yes!) [2009]

Check it...

1. Zambony


6. 4 3 2 1 (Sorry Embedding is Disabled)

7. Eye Know Something (Yes!) ft. Becky Ninkovic

PNS & Zavala (Canciones Modernas Vinyl) [2009]

Check out the second half of this album, which features soothing and stimulating instrumentals from an up and coming, Chicago producer named Alex Zavala. If I were you I would skip the tracks by PNS as the beats are kind of flat (boring). I think Zavala has quite the potential, especially in Chicago, but he just needs to steer clear of some of the local MCs that distort his sound.

6. The City is Mine


7. Mal Momento


8. Devon Ave


9. Sin Esfuerzo


10. The Cincinatti Bears

Chiddy Bang (The Swelly Express (Mixtape)) [2009]

Members: Chiddy & Xaphoon Jones
By now you have to know who Chiddy Bang is...here is their first mixtape ever!

1. Get Up In The Morning


3. Danger Zone


4. Fresh Like Us


11. Dream Chasin'


14. Decline

B.o.B aka Bobby Ray (B.o.B vs Bobby Ray (Mixtape)) [2009]

B.o.B knows whats up. Check these tracks out (already classics in my mind).

13. Satellite (prod. B.O.B)


15. Mr. Bobby (prod. B.O.B)


20. Put Me On (prod. B.O.B)

Exile (Radio) [2009] & Exile (AM/FM) [2010]

Exile has such a unique style I just love listening to his solo projects once in a while. It just so happens that my favorite track off his 2009 album (Radio) features Blu on it in Exile's 2010 album (AM/FM).

Radio:
13. Love Line


AM/FM:
13. Love Line (Remix) ft. Blu

J. Rawls & John Robinson Presents Jay Are (The 1960's Jazz Revolution Again) [2009]

J. Rawls is a very smooth, jazz influenced producer.

2. It's Jay ARE (Sorry No Link Available)

3. Know U ft. Invizible Handz


10. 1 Of The Greatest

2 Hungry Bros (My Crew's All Thinner) [2009]

If you don't know who these guys are you better get on it.

4. Bed-Stuy Bullett Dodge ft. Fresh Daily & $trictly Busine$$


6. Glass House ft. 8thw1


12. Harlem Hendu ft. 8thw1


19. I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You ft. 8thw1 & Leon Haywood


21. Parallel Perpendicular ft. Homeboy Sandman


23. Te Conozco ft. Willie Colon

Oddisee (Mental Liberation) [2009]

Check out some hidden gems from one of my favorite producers:

1. Hip Hop's Cool Again


5. Q & A ft. Kenn Starr


6. Rhymes Get Written ft. Silent Knight & XO


8. Cold For That ft. Trek Life


11. Drugs Outside (Remix) Feat. Black Milk, Rapper Pooh & DJ Romes

Elzhi (The Leftovers Unmixedtape) [2009]

Elzhi is a newer member of Slum Village and after listening to this album he may be your favorite (current) member.

2. Deep


4. Like This


6. Glow


7. Living

Blame One (Days Chasing Days) [2009]

Now Blame One may not be a great MC, but lucky for him Exile does the production on this album.

5. Wonder Why ft. Blu & Exile (prod. by Blu)


6. Disturbed ft. Sean Price


7. Days Chasing Days ft. Aloe Blacc & Beleaf


8. Sat Night Special

Tanya Morgan (Brooklynati) [2009]

Tanya Morgan is one of those groups you have to see live! The amount of energy they bring is amazing. Von Pea and Brickbeats are a powerhouse production duo on this 2009 release.

1. (We) On Our Way


2. Alleye Need ft. Piakhan


3. So Damn Down


4. Bang & Boogie


6. Hardcore Gentlemen


12. Morgan Blu ft. Blu

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

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

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)