Top 10 Smaller/Slept On Releases: 2009

Kevin: Every album in my Top 10 deserves the number one spot, as they all stayed in constant rotation all year long; most more than other major releases.

Justin: New Orleans emcee Lyrikill made the best album you didn’t hear. Al Great teamed with Heist for a prized release that went under the radar. Longtime Ghostface affiliate Trife Da God took awhile but finally released a solo album which showed he could hold his own. Illogic’s album may be overlooked but the Weightless artist showcased his lyricism with the help of Ill Poetic.

Thomas:  Suicide Music is only 33 minutes long, but L.E.G.A.C.Y.’s dark and twisted rhymes along with Khrysis’ dark backdrops leaves the listener wanting more.  Another banger from start to finish.

Kevin

01. Tanya Morgan – Brooklynati
02. Toki Wright – A Different Mirror
03. JR&PH7 – The Standard
04. Web and I.D.E.A. – God’s Favorites
05. Kero One – Early Believers
06. Nobody Famous – Order Up! Vol 3
07. Scene & Blu – A Day Late and A Dollar Short
08. BK-One – Radio Do Canibal
09. Finale – A Pipe Dream and a Promise
10. Oddisee – Mental Liberation

Honorable Mentions:

• Keelay & Zaire – Ridin High
• Soulstice & SBe – Beyond Borders
• Classified – Self Explanatory
• JC Poppe – Sleep Therapy
• Beanie Sigel – Broad Street Bully

Justin

01. Lyrikill- Heart & Sole
02. Al Great- The Heist
03. Illogic- Diabolical Fun
04. Trife Da God- Better Late Than Never
05. T-Rock- The Burning Book: War Wounds
06. Dynas- The Apartment
07. Toki Wright- A Different Mirror
08. Z-Ro- Cocaine
09. Amadeus The Stampede- House of Broken Mirrors
10. Dee-1- David & Goliath

Honorable Mentions:

• Killah Priest- Elizabeth
• William Cooper- Beware the Pale Horse
• Dashah- Rap Burglar 2.5
• Aarophat & Illustrate- The Black Noise LP
• Big Mike- Ridah Music Vol. 1
• Fresh Daily- The Gorgeous Killer In Crimes of Passion
• Willie Isz- Georgiavania

Thomas

01.  L.E.G.A.C.Y. – Suicide Music
02.  Oddisee – Mental Liberation
03.  O.C. & A.G. – Oasis
04.  Cormega – Born And Raised
05.  Wu Tang Clan – Chamber Music
06.  Trife Da God – Better Late Than Never
07.  DJ Spinna – Sonic Smash
08.  Kev Brown – Random Joints
09.  Jr and Ph 7 – The Standard
10. Beanie Sigel – Broad Street Bully

Honorable Mentions:

• J Dilla – Jay Stay Paid
• Maino – If Tomorrow Comes
• Nobody Famous – Order Up! Volume 3 – Chicken And Waffles
• Termanology – Time Machine – Hood Politics VI
• Obie Trice/MoSS – Special Reserve
• BlakRoc – BlakRoc