Top 10 Albums & Mixtapes of 2009 (with tons of live audio)
Posted on December 31st, 2009 by HighVoltage in Blitz The Ambassador, Charles Hamilton, Fat Freddy's Drop, K'Naan, K-Os, Mos Def, Panacea, Quantic, Soil & Pimp Sessions, Tanya Morgan
2009 was a fantastic year for music and as we head into a new decade, its time to reflect on the best releases of the previous year. Since the focus of this site is live music and we’re discussing studio albums here, we decided to add a new, exclusive live song from each artist who made our list. So without further ado, here is ATWL’s Top 10 Albums and Mixtapes of the year.
1. Blitz The Ambassador - Stereotype
Stereotype succeeds in its mission to destroy the preconceived notions of hip-hop music by reviving the genre with a fresh, creative approach. Blaring horns and live instrumentation coupled with stellar production and poignant lyricism propel Stereotype as our easy choice for the best release of 2009.
2. Mos Def - The Ecstatic
The Ecstatic is a return to form for Mos Def and is clearly his best release since his classic debut album. Its a strong display of his growth as an artist by taking a left-field approach while still maintaining the vintage qualities that define him. Mos proves once again his pen is still among the sharpest in the game and his efforts have earned him a Grammy nomination.
Mos Def - “Life In Marvelous Times” (Live @ The Blue Note, 1-24-09)
3. Quantic & His Combo Bárbaro - Tradition In Transition
Quantic has always been a staple of consistency with his various projects- if his name was attached to it, you knew you were getting a quality album. His latest project is no exception, in fact, its his best yet. Tradition In Transition is deeply rooted in Colombian music and culture, but expands beyond those boundaries, embracing the range of the musical landscape of the Americas.
Quantic & His Combo Barbaro - “Linda Morena (ft. Kabir Malik)” (Live in Paris, 9-12-09)
4. Soil & Pimp Sessions - 6
When Soil & Pimp Sessions released Fantastic Planet in 2008, I thought there was no way they would top it with their next album. I was wrong. 6 is a masterful mix of vibes that truly encompasses all the facets that the jazz genre offers. Soil & Pimp remain unique with the sound they crafted while still managing to push the envelope forward on their sixth studio release, which is a true testament to their talents.
5. Fat Freddy’s Drop - Dr. Boondigga & The Big BW
It was a painfully long wait for Fat Freddy’s Drop to release the follow up to 2005’s critically praised Based On A True Story, but at long last, Dr. Boondigga arrived- and it was worth the wait. FFD remains one of the most unique bands in the world as they blend reggae dub with electronica, free-form jazz, rock, funk and hip-hop. Hopefully we wont have to wait another 4 years for the New Zealand boys to put out their next record because we need originality like this in music.
6. Tanya Morgan – Brooklynati
With the release of Brooklynati, Tanya Morgan has emerged from the underground hip-hop scene with a focused and refined release. The production has been heavily stepped up and they validated many of their critics’ comparisons to A Tribe Called Quest. Brooklynati is raw hip-hop music at its essence.
7. Charles Hamilton - This Perfect Life
To say that 2009 was a controversial year for Charles Hamilton would be a massive understatement. His integrity and character were questioned, his relationship issues became all too public and his career was jeopardized when he was dropped from his label. Having said that, he also put out one of the best hip-hop albums of the year and had the best debut release of the XXL Freshmen class.
Charles Hamilton - “Loser / Flashing Lights” (Live @ The Viper Room)
8. K-Os - YES!
With every K-Os release, one thing is always guaranteed- it will be one of the most creative albums of the year. YES! is no exception as it blends many genre influences under a hip-hop umbrella. K-Heaven has solidified himself as one of the most consistent artists, which was no easy task when each of his releases shattered musical boundaries.
K-Os - “Superstarr Part Zero” (Live @ Webster Hall, 2-22-07)
9. Panacea - The 12 Step Program
While technically the album wont be out in the U.S. until Spring 2010, its out in Japan and its phenomenal, so I’m putting it on the list. K-Murdock’s vivid, fantasy-inspired beats are a perfect canvas for Raw Poetic, who’s flow is almost an instrument in itself. The soundscapes of The 12 Step Program are so immersive that it will require multiple listens to fully absorb, but the experience is just as rewarding with each spin.
10. K’Naan - Troubadour
2009 was a strong year for K’Naan and next year proves to be ever bigger as he will appear on many of the tracks on the upcoming Distant Relatives album (Nas + Damian Marley). Troubadour is a change of pace from The Dusty Foot Philospher, which had a much more stripped-down, African cultural feel. Troubadour expands the palette musically, ushering in various genres and styles while still centering the album’s sound in his Somali roots.
Honorable Mention:
- Royce Da 5′9″ - Street Hop
- BK One & Benezilla - Radio Do Canibal
- Brother Ali - Us
- Mr. J Medeiros - Friends Enemies Apples Apples
- Wale - Attention Defecit
- Diamond District - Diamond In The Ruff
Top 10 Mixtapes:
- P. So (formerly P. CASSO) - Earthtones
- Print (aka Chris Faust) - Comic Books Unlimited
- Lupe Fiasco - Enemy of the State
- B.o.B - B.o.B Vs Bobby Ray
- Fresh Daily - Tomorrow Is Today
- Lil Wayne - No Ceilings
- Charles Hamilton - Normalcy
- J.Period & K’Naan - The Messengers
- Wale - Back To The Feature
- Buff1 - It’s A 1derful Life
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Is there a place I can get an entire bootleg of that Panacea show? The recording is great quality.
Cool - nice list
Great list!
Any chance you’ll post the rest of the Fat Freddy’s Drop show at The Roxy on 11/20? I was at that and the San Diego show. Both were awesome, but I’d love to hear the one from The Roxy again (and again).
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