Mostly Junk Food’s Top 25 Hip-Hop Songs of 2011

December 24, 2011 12 comments

If you thought Hip-Hop was dead in 2011, you weren’t following Mostly Junk Food. MJF’s Top 25 Hip-Hop Songs of 2011– in concert with tomorrow’s Top 25 Albums (Not Just Hip-Hop, As Some Of Our Other Writers Have Diverse and Interesting Tastes) of 2011– will shed light on the most important and influential work of the year. Study and memorize this shit. Hit the jump for the best list of the year.

A word on the rankings: I didn’t listen to the Beastie Boys album this year. I acknowledge the real possibility that one or more of the songs on that album could be pretty snazzy. For that I am sorry. Secondly, I don’t really believe in rankings. Kill people burn shit fuck school and fuck grading systems, right??? (High Five!) If this list leads to some good conversation, the discovery of new music, or– gasp– purchases that support the artistic community, we’ll call it a success.

In a singles-driven market with singles-attention spans, the individual song has more power in 2011 than ever before. We saw Kreayshawn and ASAP Rocky sign multi-million dollar deals on the basis of just one song (stupidly, I’d argue). And, as is the case every year, digital sales records were shattered. (I just made that up. Is this true?)

While I’m being brutally and unprofessionally honest with you, I might as well admit that a lot of this list is based on personal preference. If you meet a music journalist “music journalist” who tells you otherwise about their list, they’re full of shit and don’t understand how people work. Beyond that, I tried to consider originality (pushing new sounds in hip-hop, helping the genre grow) as a major factor. I also considered popular appeal, but only to the extent that originality existed alongside (ie, I’m On One did not make this list; Party did). Songs were considered holistically, not on the elitist (classist/racist) rap-nerd basis of tight knit lyricism (Fastlane did not make this list, Round Of Applause did) or on the Billboard basis of production-driven marketability. Finally, I chose to limit my rankings to one song per artist/project, as a Top 10 full of Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd would be sort of useless (revisit: last sentence, paragraph one). Without further ado, here are the Top 25 Hip-Hop Songs of 2011 (and some honorable mentions that are definitely not to be missed).

 

#25 Jay-Z and Kanye West: Primetime

On the worst album of Kanye’s career, we get a few gems. It was a toss up between this and Murder To Excellence. Shouts to No I.D. on having a breakout year 20 years into the game.

 

#24 Shabazz Palaces: Recollections of the Wraith

Clear some space out, so we can space out.

 

#23 Pusha T: Alone In Vegas

Another year of commercial disappointment for the post-Runaway, less literary Thornton brother. With Big Sean taking on flagship artist responsibilities at Kamp Kanye, we can only hope that Pusha “I ain’t spend one rap dolla in 3 years holla” T is still on his non-rap dollar grizzly. At least for the sake of the listener. Still a legend to may of us. Still near the top of his game. Still the second best signature noise in rap. Shouts to The Organ on winning Tommy Abu’s Rap Instrument of the Year (landslide).

 

#22 Common ft. Nas: Ghetto Dreams

In a recent conversation with friends who enjoy weed, we wondered aloud if Common was ever cool, or if we were just young poets with underdeveloped aesthetic sensibilities. Just as I was dangerously close to believing that both my youth and high school iTunes library were a sham, Common popped back up with one of the best rap albums of the year. Choosing this song was another toss up. Solid record throughout.

 

#21 Danny Brown: DNA

Yea yea I picked the track with a bit of sociological resonance. Alcoholism is a disease, everyone. From the good people of Mostly Junk Food, congrats to the Adderall Admiral on a major breakout year in 2011.

 

#20 Slick Rick and DJ Premier: Need Some Bad

Remember when Karl Malone got the MVP in the waning years of his career, long after it was deserved and at a point when it probably wasn’t deserved anymore? That shit comes to mind. The Ruler sounds as goofily-relevant as ever, and we’ve got a beast of a beat from Premier on the duo’s first ever collaboration (I know right?). This cut is also a testament to our Pandora/ Blog Era: now that we can quickly research and devour music from any period, and now that tastemaking power is concentrated in hands of few hip-hop head bloggers (not a complaint– much preferable to the illuminati-affiliated record execs), our ability to be influenced by older material and latch onto this type of sound is at an all time high. It’s hard to think of two artists who are more deserving of capitalizing on 2011 in this way.

 

#19 Mexicans With Guns ft. Freddie Gibbs and Bun B: Highway To Hell

Tommy Abu’s Rap Instrument Of The Year, The Organ, reunites with its daddy Bun B. Gibbs was everywhere in 2011, which unfortunately means he didn’t have the time to dedicate himself to a project in the same way that produced Miseducation and Midwestboxframe. Look out for a Freddie Gibbs and Madlib EP early 2012.

 

#18 G-Side ft. S.L.A.S.H.: Came Up

Are you a crazy fool? Are you sleeping on G-Side? The Alabama duo put out not one but two of the best albums in 2011. They stay humble. They rap with girls. Alongside K.R.I.T., this is the New South that we’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting for.

 

#17 Elle Varner ft. J.Cole: I Only Want To Give It To You

Damn, Cole World. Love that loop. Always have.

 

#16 Andre 3000 and Tech N9ne: Interlude from Tha Carter 4

Two giants went and did it did it did it for the dark ones. Thank you, Andre, for rapping a little more this year. We still think about you sometimes, you know…

 

#15 Blu & Exile: Seasons

As the video indicates, this song has been laying around for a few years. In fact, the entire Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them LP seems to be a 2009 project that happened to get released about a week ago. The most elusive Unmastered of Ceremonies came up big with three albums this year, and Exile was equally prolific (solo LP, producing for Snoop & Wiz, etc.) on the boards.

 

#14 Curren$y: #JetsGo / She Don’t Want A Man


2011 was another big year for Weekend at Bernie’s-themed rap. (Who knew?) (Check this shit out.) I couldn’t decide between these two songs because honestly, they both sound the same to me they’re both that good.

 

#13

Rick Ross: I Love My Bitches

If you don’t count Gucci Gucci, which I don’t (I don’t even bold it), this is the beat of the year. Just Blaaaaze! Credit due to Rozay, as well. Beat selection is a real skill: you listen to Ross more than Nas, don’t you?

 

#12 ASAP Rocky: Bass

Clams Casino makes a strong case for artist of the year on the “influencing new sounds” criterion. I don’t have a particularly strong stance on Rocky, but I could listen to this for days.

 

#11 Lil B: Unchain Me

I’m going to say this shit and publish the post before I start second guessing what I’m about to say. This strange little man has challenged my core assumptions about music, the universe, and our public school system time and time again. I’m proud to share with you all that today, after dealing with suicidal thoughts while listening to the God for years, the positivity of his message has filled my heart with love and taught me how to respect the earth. On the real though, he gave us Clams Casino, which is why I put this song ahead of ASAP (lest we all start hailing ASAP the curator of a new sound). Thank You, Based– Thank… Youu…. Baaa–  …Nah, still can’t do it. Maybe if you keep reading…

 

#10 Waka Flocka Flame ft. Drake: Round Of Applause

The first Lex Luger beat to sound a little different, and hopefully not the last Waka Flocka song to commence with him burping and excusing himself. Mood music. God I love this song.

 

#9 SchoolBoy Q ft. Ab-Soul: Druggys Wit Hoes

If Odd Future isn’t for you, the Black Hippy crew has a radically different vision for a New West Coast in rap. Q crafts a slowly building, near-surgical verse before Soul lists some things that most of us like.

 

#8 Drake: Shot For Me

This was originally Marvin’s Room, but enough of our readers have listened to all  of Take Care (don’t let Big Ghost tell you what you like! he’s using blogspot!) for me to slide this one in here. Like Clams Casino, 40 has been a driving force of this spacey, minimalist production that a lot of artists (rap and blunt) are gravitating toward. Another strong influence here is The Weeknd, who is creditied as a writer and obviously wrote nearly all of this (“that’s mee-ee-ee”). The point here (in addition to it being a cool song) is that one of the biggest pop stars in the world is working with/ sounding like 40, The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar, etc. And, shoot! Two other mega-stars (Jay and Kanye) had Frank Ocean all over their project. Do you see what’s going on here? Do you see why hip-hop is not dead?! Do you guys see it!?!?!? If you don’t think all of this is awesome, seriously fuck you. Hallelu… THANKYOUBASEDGOD! (gasp)

 

#7 Big K.R.I.T. ft. 8Ball, MJG, and 2Chainz: Money On The Floor

The first single from Live From The Underground, Money On The Floor is a jam of monsterous proportions. The heaviliy layered soundscape and a perplexing word problem from Tity Boi 2 Chainz (If you have 25 lighters on the dresser, one hoe that’s ready, and one hoe that’s tired, how many lighters will you have at the end of your night with the one hoe that you didn’t drop off?) set this song apart from the work on Return of 4eva, which you should expect to see on tomorrow’s list (just a strange hunch).

 

#6 Frank Ocean: Novacane

In 2011, we met two gentlemen who upped the R&B ante, big time. I’ll introduce you to the other guy in a second.

 

#5 Beyonce ft. Andre 3000 and Kanye West: Party

All three of these artists are going down in history. They’re all at their best on this cut. We’ll be listening to this in 30 years.

#4 Tyler The Creator: Yonkers

In a certain sense, we all know this is the song of the year. But don’t worry, I won’t make you read anything else about Yonkers.

 

#3 The Weeknd: The Morning

The other R&B guy. Like Yonkers, I won’t make you read anything else about this. You’ve had your fill, I believe.

 

#2 Kendrick Lamar: ADHD

This was a complete and utter toss up, as just about every song on the album was phenomenal. Stop reading this right now and go buy Section.80. This is our Young King. I’ve been taking breaks from my daily life to bow toward Compton 6x daily and you should too.

Are you ready for #1?

 

 

#1 Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa: Young, Wild, and Free

Oops, how did that slide in there? How embarassing! Must’ve… whoops.

 

#1 Drake: Practice

There we go, this one is actually the song of the year. Drake covers Allen Iverson aka Jewels’ 40 Bars…. ahhhhhhhhhhAHAHAHAA got you YET AGAIN!! YET AGAIN!! Letsgo!

 

#1 Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire: Huzzah; and Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire ft. Despot, Das Racist, Danny Brown, and El-P: Huzzah Remix

Probably shouldn’t have led up to a semi to mostly-serious #1 with two jokes, but it is what it is. Let’s discuss the original, and then the remix. The original:

This is everything I’ve ever wanted. Even the ad libs and closing skit are incredible (eXquire does have the advantage of still living in the projects, as far as bizzare anecdotes go). This is classic New York hip-hop meets 2011: an incredibly catchy hook, delibarate rhymes, fake patios (remix foreshadowing), a big boy with his shirt off, smutty Necro production and 4loko, big wooden beads, and an air (and a reality) of DIY. ODB is smiling down on every live performance of this song.

The remix:

Not really sure what Despot The Ginger Beast is doing but I like it. Everyone sounds great. Heems gives us one of his most honest verses to date (love ya Heems). Most astonishingly, they emulate Flava In Ya Ear and don’t fall completely on their asses. That’s worthy of Top 5 on its own. “Fuck a Throne, Watch The Project Bench Covered In Pigeon Shit.” You are now ready for 2012. Peace.

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10 Honorable Mentions For You To YouTube:

Action Bronson- Barry Horrowitz (This dude’s pretty phat.)

MED ft. Blu (prod. Exile)- Your Life (Fucking outstanding.)

50 Cent ft. Paris- Queens NY (This Paris is considerably cuter than the Paris you might be thinking of.)

A.Dd+ (prod. Black Milk)- Insomniac Dreaming  (Brain Sex a close second)

Cunninlynguists ft. Freddie Gibbs- Harder They Come (One of the most slept on album of the year, like all Cunninlynguists albums)

Lil Wayne- Sorry 4 The Wait

Homeboy Sandman, Freddie Gibbs, Blu- In (Look out for Homeboy’s debut Stones Throw EP due January, 2012)

Jay Electronica- The Announcement

Nas- Nasty

The Roots- The Other Side