Top 10 Mixtapes: 2009

by Thomas on December 31, 2009

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Kevin: Though the term “mixtape” is still used, the actual product behind it has actually changed so much through the years. A lot of mixtapes these days consist of new music and are often unmixed. A lot of hard work goes into today’s mixtapes and some artists spend just as much money on them as they would a retail album. In 2009, Emilio Rojas gave us, not one, but two solid mixtapes that could easily be called albums. Drake’s mixtape was so good, his label released the original songs to retail as an EP! Lot’s of great music here…

Justin:  CunninLynguists dominated the year with 2 volumes of their Strange Journey that only makes the anticipation for a new album off the charts. Suga City wowed me with their Black Friday mixtape, reminding me of when I first heard G-Side. J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League provided Laws with some heat as he announced he was Your Future Favorite Rapper and Mick Boogie was hard working in 09 yet again.

Thomas:  Some of the best music that has come out within the last few years was found on Drake’s mixtape.  He was able to showcase his skills as a singer and emcee all in 18 tracks.  The mixtape was able to garner radio spins and earned him a nationwide tour without a label deal.  Hate or love him many are awaiting for his debut album, Thank Me Later to drop to either Hate or Love it!  J. Cole, Sean Price, Joell Ortiz, and eLzhi round out my top five as all emcee’s dropped doped mixtapes this year as well.

Kevin

01. Emilio Rojas – The Natural
02. Drake – So Far Gone
03. Emilio Rojas – Recession Proof
04. Freeway/Jake One – The Beat Made Me Do It
05. Donnis – Diary of an ATL Brave
06. The Blueprint Reconstructed
07. Fashawn – The Antidote
08. Lupe Fiasco – Enemy of the State
09. Low Budget Crew – The Budget is Low
10. DXA – The Movement

Honorable Mentions:
* DJ Jazzy Jeff – He’s the King, I’m the DJ
* Quite Nyce – Hello, My Name Is Quite Nyce
* Rashid Hadee – 808s & Hadee
* Reservoir Dogs Mixtape
* M.Will the Shogun – A Journey Through Space & Time

Justin

01. CunninLynguists- Strange Journey Volume 1
02. CunninLynguists- Strange Journey Volume 2
03. Suga City- Black Friday
04. Laws- Your Future Favorite Rapper
05. Elzhi- The Leftovers
06. Mick Boogie w/ Peter Bjorn & John- Re Living Things
07. Freddie Gibbs- Midwest gangsta box frame cadillac muzik
08. 4-Ize- Illuminated Animals
09. Willie the Kid- The Fly
10. Pill- 4075: The Refill

Honorable Mentions:
* D.Julien- The Experiment
* Max Minelli- Backpack Dreams & Hip Hop Wishes
* Fashawn- The Antidote
* Mick Boogie & Terry Urban – Le Da Soul (20 Years of De La Soul)
* Buff1- It’s a 1derful Life
* Raekwon- Blood on Chef’s Apron
* J. Cole – The Warm Up

Thomas

01. Drake – So Far Gone
02. J. Cole – The Warm Up
03. Elzhi- The Leftovers
04. Sean Price – Kimbo Price
05. Joell Ortiz – Covers The Classics
06. Fashawn – The Antidote
07. Freddie Gibbs- Midwest gangsta box frame cadillac muzik
08. Lupe Fiasco – Enemy of the State
09. Raekwon – Blood on Chefs Apron
10. Skyzoo – The Power Of Words

Honorable Mentions:
* Wale – Back 2 The Feature
* Pill – 4075 The Refill
* Rashid Hadee – 808s & Hadee Mixtape
* 50 Cent – War Angel
* Rasheed Chappell – The Chappell Show…The Lost Episodes Vol. 2

Related posts:

  1. Sha Stimuli & DJ Victorious’ 12 Mixtapes x 12 Months [Complete Collection]
  2. New Mixtapes From French Montana, H.O.P.E, Kid Kudi, etc.
  3. Top 10 Most Anticipated Albums For 2009
  4. New Mixtapes From Skyzoo, Lil Wayne, Twista, etc.
  5. K. Sparks: Coast2Coast Mixtapes Presents Area 51

Follow: Thomas on Twitter


Posted in Lists

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Thomas

    Elzhi’s joint came out of no where. Repeated plays for a week. Had to be on the list.

  • LEX

    Fashawn and ALC got this. It was short, but possibly my favorite all around release in 09.

  • http://www.djremike DJReMike

    WHY ISN’T JOELL ORTIZ – ROAD KILL MIXTAPE ON HERE? THAT SHIT WAS THE SICKEST I’VE EVER HEARD JOELL SPIT!!

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Jon Garcia

    lol Thomas you’re the only Drake fan here?

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Jon Garcia

    wheres Wale back to the feature!!!!!!
    aaawwww man. that was on constant rotation when it dropped
    anything 9th wonder really
    tight lists though

  • E.R.O.C.

    Alright!!! I see the DXA mixtape made the list…Happy New Year!!!

  • Thomas

    Wale is on my Honorable Mention list. I am a Drake fan. I think he makes great songs. I might be the only one to admit I like his music cause it isn’t “tough guy like” to dig his music. LOL.

    I never thought of putting Road Kill on the list…not sure why. Covering the Classic is dope stuff tho.

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Jon Garcia

    lol i feel ya i like drake
    i mean alot of people automatically write him off because he’s mainstream or whatever but good music is good music

  • http://dxarmy.com DFACE DXA

    Kev thanks for postin up our tape on the list. im a check the rest of these tapes that i havent already downloaded. hope you keep it just as fresh in teh 10!!!

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  • Ben

    Chaundon – Black Dynamite’s Revenge and Curren$y/Wiz Khalifa – How Fly were also great. Really feelin the lists tho!

  • http://twitter.com/fuhnahtik FUHNAHTIK

    Reservoir Dogs was awful, and disappointing, because of the DJ drops. I was so excited about that one too. I ended up deleting it after a listen or two, it’s annoying to have to drop the volume all the time to avoid getting screamed out of your car or headphones.

  • Blue Earth

    It Was Late But Chip Tha Rippers ‘s Cleveland Show Was 1 Of The Dopest Mixtape I Heard In A While!

  • http://myspace.com/cvillainthenomads C-Villain

    Jermisides Mixtape!! and the antidote were illin

  • Quite Nyce

    Thanks KN, can’t wait until I get you the new material and projects

  • DoAmHeDdA

    Werd Up! DXA all day, everyday!

  • http://www.bf3ars.blogspot.com bfears

    no charles hamilton? #fail

  • Dars One

    Sometimes I wonder how deep people’s mixtape collections go, cause you are missing a few of the best mixtapes out there. If you have never heard these mixtapes It’s understandable why they were not included. But if that’s the case then you definitely need to check out the Badder Than Bad – Michael Jackson Mixtape by DJ Emir that joint is the ultimate mixtape tribute to the late Michael Jackson, he also has a super tight Iron Man Mixtape that is worthy of being number One on almost any mixtape list. He’s got DJ drops on both mixtapes but they aren’t 10 times louder than the music like most dumbass DJ drops are, so they actually blend into the mixes and don’t force people to lower the music volume. He also mixes like no other DJ I’ve heard before, probably the most slept on Mixtape DJ out there right now. My suggestion get on that ASAP people. check his mixes out at http://www.djemir.com He’s my current favorite mixtape DJ by far, and he was a real cool and humble guy when I met him at an event at Karma. – Dars One

  • http://kevinnottingham.com Kevin

    Thanks for the recommendation!

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