DJ Rolemodel 2012 Hip Hop Awards Part 3 (Best Album)

The top 10 rap albums of the year!

10. Everything that E-40 did.

E-40 dropped 3 solo albums and 2 compilation albums in 2012. Lots of duds, but if we could compile the hits into one album it would be part of the year’s best!

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9. Dreams and Nightmares – Meek Mill

-Yes, this claimed the most overhyped award, and I still believe that. However, this is still a solid album, I was just expecting a little more. 

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8. Jesus Piece – Game

-Not as great as last year’s “Red Album”, but this is a strong follow up filled with solid guest artists.

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7. Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors – Big Boi

-A quiet drop for one half of the Outkast duo, this album only had one song in my year end top 50, but there isnt a bad track on the album. 

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6. Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head – T.I.

I thought about giving this album the comeback award for the year. A very strong release by T.I. with a multitude of guests (even though I question some of them – Pink???). Impressive overall with a top 20 song in “Ball”. 

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5. Based on A Tru Story – 2 Chainz

I admit, I didnt wanna put him this high. I dont think 2 Chainz is that talented of a rapper, but it doesn’t matter. His songs are fun, put you in a good mood, and are as catchy as hell. With  3 songs in my end of the year top 15, this joint is fun from start to finish. 

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4. Life is Good – Nas

The comeback album of the year was typical Nasty Nas. Strong from front to back, this album was more emotional for Nasir as he raps about his divorce from Kelis. 

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3. Quality Street Music – DJ Drama

Quite Simply the best DJ compilation album of the year. Boasting the strongest collection of up-and-comers with established veterans, the album produced 4 songs in the year end top 50. 

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2. Cruel Summer – G.O.O.D. Music

Let me preface this by saying I was disappointed in the album. With the roster that G.O.O.D. Music has, I was expecting a change my life album. Many critics dissed the album, but any album featuring 2 of the top rap songs of the year in “Mercy” & “Clique” needs to be considered for the year’s best. Cruel Summer also has some of the most genius guest features with drops from Mase, The Dream & Raekwon. 

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1. good kid, m.A.A.d city  – Kendrick Lamar

The only rap album in 2012 deserving an A grade. It’s one of those albums that you can put on and not have to touch skip. It is the epitome of good time, driving music, and features 5 songs in the top 50. Kendrick Lamar was featured on this list last year, and he has proven that he is one one of hip hop’s best. 

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2012 DJ Rolemodel & Don Julio Hip Hop Awards Part 2 (Song of the Year)

Part 2 of the 2012 awards features the rap song of the year. Remember I am a club dj, so I am slightly biased towards club based rap songs. This year, I have expanded to the top 50 songs. Many rappers show up more than once, with 2 Chainz leading the way with 10 songs, and Kendrick Lamar coming in second with 8 appearances.

50. Up Out The Way – Xzibit ft. E-40

49. Young and Gettin’ It – Meek Mill ft. Kirko Bangz

48. Accident Murderers – Nas ft. Rick Ross

47. White Dress – Kanye West

46. We In this Bitch – Young Jeezy, T.I., Ludacris & Future

45. The One – Kanye West, Big Sean & 2 Chainz ft. Marsha Ambrosius

44. Amen – Meek Mill ft. Drake

43. Piss Test – A-Trak ft. Juicy J & Danny Brown

42. My Moment – 2 Chainz, Jeremih & Meek Mill

41. New God Flow – Kanye West & Pusha T ft. Ghostface Killah

40. So Many Girls – Wale, Tyga & Roscoe Dash

39. I Go Hard – Wiz Khalifa, Ghostface Killah & Boy Jones

38. The Morning – Raekwon, Pusha T, Common, 2 Chainz, Cyhi The Prynce, Kid Cudi & D’Banj

37. Higher – The-Dream, Pusha T, Ma$e & Cocaine 80s

36. Money Trees – Kendrick Lamar ft. Jay Rock

35. Potty Mouth – Tyga ft. Busta Rhymes

34. Dump Truck – E-40 & Too $hort ft. Travis Porter

33. Burn – Meek Mill ft. Big Sean

32. 911 – Rick Ross

31. Catch A Fade – E-40 ft. Kendrick Lamar & Droop-E

30. Gossip – Big Boi ft. UGK & Big K.R.I.T.

29. Bandz A Make Her Dance – Juicy J ft. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz

28. They Point – E-40 ft. Juicy J & 2 Chainz

27. G Season – T.I. ft. Meek Mill

26. My Way – Common, Lloyd & Kendrick Lamar

25. Guap – Big Sean

24. Scared Now – Game ft. Meek Mill

23. Say I – E-40 & Too $hort ft. Wiz Khalifa

22. The Baddest Man Alive – Rza ft. The Black Keys

21. Ball – T.I. ft. Lil Wayne

20. Hands on the Wheel – Schoolboy Q ft. A$AP Rocky

19. The Recipe – Kendrick Lamar

18. Pop That – French Montana ft. Drake, Lil Wayne & Rick Ross

17. Faded – Tyga ft. Lil Wayne

16. Bag Of Money – Rick Ross, Wale, Meek Mill ft. T-Pain

15. Cherry Wine – Nas ft. Amy Winehouse

14. I’m Different – 2 Chainz

13. Poetic Justice – Kendrick Lamar ft. Drake

12. Here 2 China – Dizzee Rascal ft. Calvin Harris & Dillon Francis

11. Same Damn Time (Remix) –  Future ft. P. Diddy & Ludacris

10. Don’t Like (Remix) – Pusha T, Chief Keef, Kanye West, Big Sean & Jadakiss

9. My Homies Still – Lil Wayne ft. Big Sean

8. Swimming Pools (Drank) – Kendrick Lamar

7. No Lie – 2 Chainz ft. Drake

6. Clique – Big Sean, Jay-Z & Kanye West

5. Function – E-40 ft. YG, IAmSu & Problem

4. Birthday Song – 2 Chainz ft. Kanye West

3. Fuckin’ Problems – A$AP Rocky ft. 2 Chainz, Drake & Kendrick Lamar

2. Backseat Freestyle – Kendrick Lamar

1. Mercy – Big Sean, Pusha T, Kanye West & 2 Chainz

Three of hip hop’s current elite kicked off the summer with this joint, and the song was so hot it is still a club banger 6 months later. 

The 3rd Annual DJ Rolemodel & Don Julio Hip Hop Awards.

It’s the DJ Rolemodel & Don Julio annual hip hop (rap) awards! Broken down into 3 parts, this review is something I take pride in, and I consider hip hop to be a main part of my life. Kicking off the review is my annual awards as followed!

The Most Disappointing Album Award- Lupe Fiasco – Food & liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1

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There were several albums this year that did not live up to the hype, and none more flagrant than Fiasco’s Food & liquor II: The Great American Rap Album Pt. 1. Fiasco’s 2011 release Lasers was his best album to date, and he was expected to further cement his place in hip hop’s elite. However, Food & Liquor was uninspiring, and the lead single Around My Way was slammed over its ripping of Pete Rock’s classic T.R.O.Y.. Fiasco’s flop will prevent him from ever being a top mainstream artist.

2011 Winner: Lil Wayne for Tha Carter IV

Rookie of the Year Award. 2 Chainz – Based on A T.R.U. Story 

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Ok, so maybe not technically a rookie, but this album was the first one released under his newest monicker. This album featured two of the biggest songs of the year, No Lie & Birthday Song, and I’m Different might follow as a third certified club banger.

2011 Winner: Big Sean, Finally Famous

Missing in Action Award – Dr. Dre

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Well you know my thoughts on this one. As I am still waiting on Detox, Dre claims his 3rd straight M.I.A. award.

2011 Winner: Dr. Dre

Overhyped Award – Meek Mill – Dreams & Nightmares

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Let me preface this by saying I love me some Meek Mill. His performance on Tupac Back is a gym favorite and I eagerly anticipated this album. I was not alone in the anticipation, as MMG pushed this hype into unknown territory. This album was a C at best, and I considered him for the most disappointing award. Fortunately or unfortunately for Meek, he is with MMG, and the hype will always be there, it will just be up to him to back it up.

2011 Winner: Wiz Khalifa

Music Video Award – 2 Chainz ft. Kanye West – Birthday Song

The video is as ignorant as the song, and I wouldn’t have it any other way! The outfits, setting & supporting actors are all on point, and it provides the perfect visuals for this song. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t take the time to acknowledge the best overall video of the year. That belongs to M.I.A.’s Bad Girls video. Just a quick shout out to any video that has a see-through car!

2011 Winner: Jay-Z & Kanye West, Otis

Producer of the Year Award – Hit Boy

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Famed for producing the 2011 club banger of the year, Hit Boy was involved in two of the years top songs, Cique & Backstreet Freestyle. Linked to G.O.O.D. Music, Hit Boy looks to be a staple in the rap game for quite some time.

2011 Winner: Bangladesh

Best Comeback Award – Nas – Life is Good

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Its been 4 years since his last solo album, and Nas returned showing that his lyrical skills are still as great as they ever were. Nas covers the whole gamut of topics, including sentimental Daughters, and the street theme Accident Murderers. Nas’s skills are on peak form on Cherry Wine ft. the late great Amy Winehouse.

2011 Winner: Game, The R.E.D. Album

Wait, You’re Still Alive Award? – Mase

Come on, tell me you didn’t fall out your chair when hearing him on Higher on the Cruel Summer album?

2011 Winner: Beanie Sigel

Best Featured Guest Award – 2 Chainz

Rain, pourin’, all my cars is foreign! Mercy kick started the big year for 2 Chainz, and he kept it being a guest on 69 different originals or remixes. They Point & Fuckin Problems, by E-40 & A$AP Rocky, respectively, were his two biggest spots.

MVP Award – 2 Chainz

Who else could it be? A top 5 album & a guest on an endless amount of songs, including several top 25 hits. The year 2012 in rap music was owned by the artist formerly known as Tity Boi. And admit it, he also has one of the best name drops of anyone in the game… 2 Chainnnnnnnz. Rolemodel out.