You know the drill - this is where I drop my favorites and not so favorites of the past 365 calendar days. If hip hop died in 2006, it reached full fledged zombie status in 2009 (with a few notable exceptions - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2...peace to Rae). Let's see what nonsense and foolishness awaits music in this new decade. If you like the list, cool...if you don't like the list or lists of this kind then go stick your head in a meat grinder 'cause nobody asked you for your opinion. But I'm giving mine anyway, so here goes.

Top 5 Rap Albums of 2009
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Part II

2. Brother Ali - Us
3. Mos Def - The Ecstatic
4. DOOM - Born Like This
5. Jay-Z - Blueprint 3

Beneath The Surface - Underground LP of the Year
Mally - The Passion


Top Mixtape/Unofficial Album of the Year
Drake - So Far Gone

2. Elzhi - The Leftovers Unmixedtape
3. J. Cole - The Warm Up
4. J. Period Presents...The [Abstract] Best
5. 50 Cent - War Angel

R&B Album of the Year
Trey Songz - Ready


Dancehall/Reggae Album of the Year
Mavado - Mr. Brooks...A Better Tomorrow



Hip Hop Song of the Year
Drake f/Trey Songz - "Successful"


Biggest Dancehall/Reggae Tune of The Year
Mavado - "Sixteen"


Hip Hop/R&B Collaboration of the Year
Jamie Foxx f/T-Pain, Busta Rhymes & Lil Wayne - "Blame It (remix)"


Video of The Year


Hip Hop Artist of The Year
Raekwon

Rookie of The Year
Drake

Group of The Year
Slaughterhouse

Dancehall/Reggae Artist of The Year
Mavado

R&B Artist of The Year
Trey Songz

Featured Hip Hop Artist of The Year
Kanye West

Producer(s) of The Year
Statik Selektah
Just Blaze
J Dilla
DJ Khalil
Alchemist
Scram Jones

I couldn't just settle on one guy, so I had to give props to a few producers who I felt were a cut above the rest. Props to these beat makers.

Label of The Year
Interscope Records

Flop of The Year
50 Cent - Before I Self Destruct

Overated Artist of The Year
Nicki Minaj

Most Creative Use of Hip Hop
Kenzo Digital - City Of God's Son

If you didn't check this project out when it dropped earlier this year, I highly suggest you go to Kenzo's website right now and download this. I hope he drops another beat cinematic in 2010.

Guilty Pleasure(s) of The Year


Absolute Worst Song(s) of The Year
New Boyz - "You're A Jerk"

Freestyle Battle of The Year


Set The People Back
The Republican Party
Sarah Palin
Bill O'Reilly
Fox News
Rush Limbaugh
Glenn Beck
Reality TV
Tea Parties
The Economy
BET
skinny jeans
brohawks
Trending topics on Twitter

Artist(s) To Watch For in 2010
Drake
Captain Obvious, right? As a result of So Far Gone, Drake's buzz is undeniable. When March rolls around, we'll get to see if he lives up to the hype.

Jay Electronica
I know I said the same thing in '07...but have you heard "Exhibit C"?

Enigmatik's Most Anticipated Album(s) of 2010
Jay Electronica - Abracadabra: Let There Be Light
Raekwon, Ghostface & Method Man - Wu Massacre
Sean Price, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk - Random Axe
Drake - Thank Me Later
Sean Price - Mic Tyson

Pour Out A Little Liquor
Michael Jackson
Mr. Magic
DJ AM
Baatin
Steely
Roc Raida
Omega Supreme
Iz The Wiz
Oscar Grant
Chris Grimes
Dolla
Tega
...and anyone YOU lost this past year...Rest In Peace.

Previously:
Year In Review - 2008 | Year In Review - 2007 | Year In Review - 2006

And in case you missed my Albums of the 2000s, here's the list.

Follow us on Twitter:

@EnigmatikBGDB | @BooGooDooBoom | @khal | @RockTheDub

Labels: Year In Review - 2009