2011 Review: Top 10 Hip Hop Releases (Albums, Mixtapes & EPs)

2011 has been a hell of a year in music and to kick off A Brief Intermission's review of 2011, I've put together a list of the top 10 hip hop releases of the year. A lot of up and comers had a big year with multiple acclaimed releases, while others fell short of the overblown expectations. Likewise, some of the biggest names in hip hop released albums amidst a maelstrom of hype to mixed results.

Despite some of the big time disappointments, there was a lot of great music released and many of the new boys have people excited about the future of hip hop. Without further ado, here is the list (top 10 after the jump):

Honorable Mention (in no particular order):

Action Bronson & Statik Selektah - Well Done
Atmosphere - The Family Sign
The Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles
Stalley - Lincoln Way Nights: (Intelligent Trunk Music)
Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbows

Two Great New Mixtapes released

Big K.R.I.T. and The Weeknd both released excellent mixtapes earlier this year and they're back at it with Last King 2 (God's Machine) and Thursday, respectively. Download links are after the jump.

2011 Review (So Far): Big K.R.I.T.

Big K.R.I.T. started to make noise in the rap game as a part of the DD172 movement with the likes of Curren$y, Stalley, Wiz Khalifa and others. The Mississippi native brings his own lyrical style and swagger to Southern Rap and also produces all of his own tracks.

He's been a busy man in 2011 already releasing a collaborative EP with San Francisco based R&B band Grillade and an entirely self-produced mixtape entitled Return of 4Eva. He recently signed a deal with Def Jam records and is already being touted as the successor to Southern Rap legends like Outkast and UGK.

Check out the song "Hometown Hero" from The 'Wuz Here' Sessions EP with Grillade.



The Return of 4Eva mixtape is available as a free download here.

The 'Wuz Here Sessions EP can be purchased here.