*********GAF-HOP PRESENTS 2010's Best HIP-HOP ALBUMS********
(CLICK ARTWORK FOR LINKS)
![](http://www.hipstrumentals.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Kanye-West-My-Beautiful-Dark-Twisted-Fantasy.jpg)
1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Fantasy
![](http://i.imgur.com/2ZHVb.jpg)
2. Kno - Death is Silent
![](http://media-creativity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/the-roots-how-i-got-over.jpg)
3. The Roots - How I Got Over
![](http://i.imgur.com/aKa7P.jpg)
4. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty
![](http://i.imgur.com/FtNfd.jpg)
5. Nas & Damien Marley - Distant Relatives
![](http://i.imgur.com/5fOB5.jpg)
6. J. Cole - Friday Night Lights
![](http://i.imgur.com/v8Z6l.jpg)
7. Shad - TSOL
![](http://beyondrace.com/images/stories/Dessa.jpg)
8. Dessa - Badly Broken Code
![](http://i.imgur.com/1jJva.jpg)
9. Rick Ross - Teflon Don
![](http://i.imgur.com/lYJMF.jpg)
10. Curren$y - Pilot Talk II
![](http://i.imgur.com/nOjvt.jpg)
11. Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon II The Legend Of Mr. Rager
![](http://i.imgur.com/qaNED.jpg)
12. Strong Arm Steady - In Search of Stoney Jackson
![](http://i.imgur.com/ESs3V.jpg)
13. Drake - Thank Me Later
![](http://i.imgur.com/OPg7I.jpg)
14. Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik 0-60
![](http://www.hiphopsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Atmosphere-To+All+My+Friends+COVER.jpg)
15. Atmosphere - To All My Friends
![](http://i.imgur.com/Lm6oC.jpg)
16. Eminem - Recovery
![](http://i.imgur.com/T2n8A.jpg)
17. Joe Budden - Mood Muzik 4: A Turn 4 The Worst
![](http://www.plugonemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Live-From-The-Tape-Deck.jpg)
18. Skyzoo & Illmind - Live From The Tape Deck
![](http://i.imgur.com/88uE4.jpg)
19. Big K.R.I.T. - Wuz Here
![](http://i.imgur.com/HMTkK.jpg)
20. Curren$y - Pilot Talk
***********VOTING STATS**********
Total votes counted: 24
Invalid votes: 7 (Minor errors were accounted for)
Total albums nominated: 54
HiResDes' happiness with the results: 16/20 or %80 :lol
Number of people that bitched about the voting system: 6
LINK TO VOTING THREAD
*********WHAT THIS THREAD IS FOR**********
- Discuss results, snubs, places to find mixtapes, and miscellaneous recommendations
- Ideas to improve voting system, participation, and thread making for next year
- How HiResDes is one sexy ass motherfucker
(CLICK ARTWORK FOR LINKS)
![](http://www.hipstrumentals.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Kanye-West-My-Beautiful-Dark-Twisted-Fantasy.jpg)
1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Fantasy
Grzi said:Album of the year. This was definitely Kanye's year, taking everything into account. The amount of good music he put out this year (a lot of it for free) can't be topped by anyone. And then as a big final move, he put out arguably his best album so far and the album of the year. It's just so good. The beats are perfect, the raps are perfect in their imperfection, the guest spots are picked perfectly, this album really shows how far hip hop can go, and how it evolved. All the flaws of this album are perfect, it kinda reminds me of my all-time favorite (36 chambers) in that matter. There are songs that are too long (Runaway), skits that don't fit at first, but they really make sense (Chris Rock in Blame Game) and verses by guest spots that kinda shouldn't be there (Ross in Devil in a New Dress), but they make sense, in a way. And it sounds right. Perfect. Plus, posse cuts. Kanye brought back huge posse cuts and I'll love him forever for that.
![](http://i.imgur.com/2ZHVb.jpg)
2. Kno - Death is Silent
soultron said:Was super hyped the second I heard the first track leaked, and I don't think there's a single song I dislike on here. The variety of deliveries Kno displays prove that he's a decent rapper, in addition to being the most under appreciated producer I know of. Kno delivered an amazing album that is a great front-to-back, straight-through listen.
![](http://media-creativity.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/the-roots-how-i-got-over.jpg)
3. The Roots - How I Got Over
PhoenixDark said:I can't be the only one who doubted The Roots' move to late night television. I expected the album to cater to a more mainstream audience as well. Yet The Roots proved me wrong on both grounds: they've managed to make Fallon's show shockingly entertaining, improving every song they play backup for, and the album is pure dope. Their best since Game Theory imo
![](http://i.imgur.com/aKa7P.jpg)
4. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot The Son Of Chico Dusty
toasty_T said:Not breaking new ground anything but it's enjoyable to listen to. Big Boi managed to make Gucci Mane not sound like Gucci Mane, that's an achievement in itself. The beats on this album are fan-freaking-tastic. I like it a bit more than Speakerboxxx.
![](http://i.imgur.com/FtNfd.jpg)
5. Nas & Damien Marley - Distant Relatives
Net_Wrecker said:Really good music with a consistent theme, and a good performance from both artists.
![](http://i.imgur.com/5fOB5.jpg)
6. J. Cole - Friday Night Lights
Ferny73 said:From top to bottom this album is straight ill. Man ive been waiting for it for a bit but never really hyped about it. Listened to the album beginning to end and it is just so good. Production on it is just great and the lyrics and the flow are just beastly. Cole World
![](http://i.imgur.com/v8Z6l.jpg)
7. Shad - TSOL
Doytch said:Is it obvious that I like versatility and range yet? Shad's latest once again shows that no one writes and raps like him. The self-deprecating writing hasn't pissed me off yet, and he too bounces between battle-raps on "Yaa I Get It," to popish singles like "Rosegarden" to introspective slow-burns like "Listen."
![](http://beyondrace.com/images/stories/Dessa.jpg)
8. Dessa - Badly Broken Code
Tokubetsu said:I've got a crush on this lady. She can sing, she can rap, she can WRITE! I've been looking forward to this one for a couple years when I first heard her Mineshaft EP from a 2 or so years back. Had this entire album on repeat for something close to 3 weeks non stop. Just smooth and buttery. My favorite cut? Matches to Paper Dolls but Poor Atlas, Seamstress and Dixon's Girl are always serious contenders. This is what a well balanced independant album sounds like it. It's melodic, great lyrics and absolutely zero fluff/filler. Better yet, it's all coming from the heart, from crew joints to broken hearted slow jams. This was a great year but I'm constantly coming back to this one.
![](http://i.imgur.com/1jJva.jpg)
9. Rick Ross - Teflon Don
Grzi said:Rick Ross was a cop. Big fucking deal. Do we really know for sure that all of these gangster rappers really did the stuff they talk about? No, we don't. But, somehow, everyone was offended by Ross. 50 mocked him so bad, and shit was funny. 50 really mocked everyone, 50 remained real, and hard and a thug, and released 3 or 4 terrible albums in a row. Ross, a faker, released his third album Deeper Than Rap, and it was really dope. He did what a lot of these rappers can't do, he battled the mocking and rumours with quality music. He stepped his MC game up too. All of a sudden, Ross could spit. Deeper than rap was great, it was the soundtrack for Scarfae remade for 2008., but it was too soon. People were still angry (why?!) at Ross for being a cop, it was cool to mock him. Flash forward to 2010. People started to forget that stuff and Ross came out with Teflon Don. A real, pure gangsta rap album, filled with amazing production and great rapping. Yes, Ross is a great rapper, and he'll only improve, if he continues to do stuff the way he's been doing so far. Listen to tears of Joy. That's great rapping. It's not technical, but the lyrics, the heart, the charisma, it's all there. Listen to Free Mason. Jay-Z has the best line of the year in that song - "I said I was amazing, not that I'm a mason", and he still didn't outrap Ross. Some people are still sceptical, and some are even ashamed to admit they like Ross's new album, but I don't care. No one can front on this, this is quality music, it's an event of an album, reminiscent of the huge albums that used to come out in the late 90's.
![](http://i.imgur.com/lYJMF.jpg)
10. Curren$y - Pilot Talk II
Tokubetsu said:It's [Pilot Talk I's] sequel, Pilot Talk II, is like the joint you smoke after that same drink ...
![](http://i.imgur.com/nOjvt.jpg)
11. Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon II The Legend Of Mr. Rager
Messi said:I just wanted to drop in here to say, I heard my brother raving about kid cudi and he downloaded this album on my itunes so I gave it a spin and wow... cudi is pretty damn amazing. I don't even know how to explain it. He has this amazing way of feeling different on most songs. I just love 'All Along' also I know the song 'Erase Me' is not popular but I love it. Kanye is great in it.
![](http://i.imgur.com/qaNED.jpg)
12. Strong Arm Steady - In Search of Stoney Jackson
HiResDes said:Like a blunted out west coast Wu-Tang featuring forever dope madlib production...One parts weed rap, the other intellectual making this album maybe the most re-playable of the year
![](http://i.imgur.com/ESs3V.jpg)
13. Drake - Thank Me Later
Grzi said:Again, fuck the haters. Yes, Drake is soft. Yes he's for the ladies. So the fuck what. He's doing his thang. This album really surprised me, when I first listened to it. It really isn't as mainstream as I expected it to be. It has a sound that's fairly unique, and it runs with it till the end. The production sets a great mood, it fits the themes perfectly and complements Drake's voice and style really good. I wasn't feeling this album so much untill one night, I was driving around town with friends, it was a summer night, and it really clicked with me. It was perfect for that moment, this really is a summer album, for those relaxing summer nights out. Unforgettable with Jeezy is so good. That song probably has the best beat this year for me. And yes, Fancy isn't that good, but it has a great part that should have been used more often in the song (all my l.a. girls let me see them hands...). Lirically, Drake is doing his thing, some people hate it, some love it. I like it a lot, I could relate to some of his themes, robably because we're the same age. Anyway, it's a great album.
![](http://i.imgur.com/OPg7I.jpg)
14. Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik 0-60
kamspy said:Yelawolf album is great. Some of the best thematic southern shit I've ever heard. Damn near flawless.
![](http://www.hiphopsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Atmosphere-To+All+My+Friends+COVER.jpg)
15. Atmosphere - To All My Friends
GodfatherX said:Atmosphere has always been hit or miss with minus "When life gives you lemons" which is one of my favorite albums this decade. This double EP as they call it, picks up where their last album left off. From start to finish this feels like a proper follow up, and production, lyrics and album themes are all on point.
![](http://i.imgur.com/Lm6oC.jpg)
16. Eminem - Recovery
Net_Wrecker said:Solid album that could've been better if Eminem would stop screaming, and switch up his flow more.
![](http://i.imgur.com/T2n8A.jpg)
17. Joe Budden - Mood Muzik 4: A Turn 4 The Worst
Net_Wrecker said:Lyrically so good, and the vibe is great. Good "winter" album if that makes sense.
![](http://www.plugonemag.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Live-From-The-Tape-Deck.jpg)
18. Skyzoo & Illmind - Live From The Tape Deck
HiResDes said:Another album that deserves to be remembered as a classic, Skyzoo abandons his slow methodical approach for something more loud and aggressive. His rhymes are menacing, Illmind's production is near-flawless boom bap shit, and the album is pretty much devoid of flaws. However, it's relatively short length may detract it's value from some, but when a package is this concentrated that would be a rather unfair assessment.
![](http://i.imgur.com/88uE4.jpg)
19. Big K.R.I.T. - Wuz Here
Doytch said:A unified vision on a mixtape that is completely realised by the talented producer/emcee K.R.I.T.. All while spanning a range from the ego-stroking battle-rap on "See Me on Top" to the effortless and inventive sample mixing on "Something."
![](http://i.imgur.com/HMTkK.jpg)
20. Curren$y - Pilot Talk
Tokubetsu said:Think about the nicest alcoholic beverage you've ever had. It's probably refreshing and a little sweet. Now think about drinking it on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean or in the Mediterranean. That's what this album is like. It's sequel, Pilot Talk II, is like the joint you smoke after that same drink while the sun is setting on the same beach, just reflecting.
***********VOTING STATS**********
Total votes counted: 24
Invalid votes: 7 (Minor errors were accounted for)
Total albums nominated: 54
HiResDes' happiness with the results: 16/20 or %80 :lol
Number of people that bitched about the voting system: 6
LINK TO VOTING THREAD
*********WHAT THIS THREAD IS FOR**********
- Discuss results, snubs, places to find mixtapes, and miscellaneous recommendations
- Ideas to improve voting system, participation, and thread making for next year
- How HiResDes is one sexy ass motherfucker