N3WSCHOOL™

Tweet

“Read More” to see the list.

1. Kendrick Lamar – Section 80

My favorite project of the year, which also made the cut for album of the year is one of the best projects to drop in years. Smart lyrics, deep messages and incredible production, Section 80 was an experience not just a mixtape/album.

2. OnCue – Can’t Wait

My second choice for mixtape of the year was OnCue’s incredible mixtape “Can’t Wait”. OnCue’s ability to mix alternative music w/ hip-hop is uncanny and it will be the reason he’s a name you’ll be hearing a lot more of. Like “Section 80″, “Can’t Wait” mixes incredible production (thanks to CJ Luzi mainly) with a deep meaning throughout the tape. It’s an original project that stood out in all the right ways. This is the kind of project that introduces new fans to hip-hop.

3. A$AP Rocky – Live Love Asap
Hard to knock anything this 3 million dollar man does. He’s put his whole team on this year, and dropped a couple great projects. 2012 is gonna be a huge year for A$AP and this project is a great example of what’s to come.

4. Big Sean – Finally Famous 3
Big Sean absolutely broke out to mainstream status this year thanks to 3 free mixtapes, and his debut album dropping this year. FF3 is a perfect collection of all Sean has to offer. Some like me even feel like this mixtape was better than the actual “Finally Famous” album.

5. Curren$y – Covert Coup

Curren$y has been un-fuckwit-able when it comes to mixtapes and his collaboration w/ Alchemist is more of the same. Hard hitting production w/ a throwback flow, Covert Coup had several songs that I still play in my iTunes today. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing these two work together more and more.

Ab-Soul - 'Illuminate' (ft. Kendrick Lamar) Big Sean & Meek Mill - 'Burn' Curren$y arrested in Dallas Curren$y - "Fast Cars, Faster Women" (ft. Daz Dillinger) Curren$y - "The Stoned Immaculate" (Artwork & Tracklist)