TMO10 - #5- Big Sean - Finally Famous Vol. 3

Big Sean is...indescribably. You really just don't know when he's going to release something. Finally Famous Volume. 3 is a clear example of Big Sean's mysterious character. The tape was supposed to premier in 2009. But it never came out. Then it was supposed to come out in March...but it never came out. Finally, G.O.O.D. M.U.S.I.C. and Sean's camp got their toots tuned and released this duel packed mixtape in August.

The tape features Tyga, Chiddy (of Chiddy Bang), Drake, Mike Posner, and many more. There's a reason why it's number 5 on my list.

Download: Big Sean - Finally Famous Vol. 3 [DatPiff]

TMO10 - #6- Nique - X.XIII

At number six, we have the up comer Nique. Thanks for DJ Booth's freestyle series, I discovered Nique shouting over J.Cole's "Top of the World". Quite frankly, I thought he went harder than Cole world. Some might call me crazy but it had me sold. He released X.XIII in October, his latest mixtape. Every year or so, I discover a new artist and keep him to myself. Nique was that artist for 2010. Do yourself a favor, jump on the wagon asap.

Download: Nique - X.XIII [His Website]

TMO10 - #8- Tyga - Well Done

Tyga, Tyga comes in at number 8 on the Things That Make You Learn Top Mixtapes of 2010 list. While he does not have a debut album with Young Money yet, he has released a slew of mixtapes. In November Tyga released Well Done, which featured freestyles upon freestyles. Imagine Tyga going over J. Cole's "Who Dat"...check or even Wiz Khalifa's "Black and Yellow"... the rapper from the west coast has done it all.

What still remains my favorite aspect of Tyga's rapping style is his nagging voice flowing over and over with no breathes. While he might have some corny lines, he still delievers quality track after quality track. Be sure to check out Tyga mans freestyle over "Teach Me How To Dougie".

TMO10 - #9- B.o.B. - May 25th

B.o.B. has one hell of a year. Depending on what kind of fan you are, we saw the development of one of the most talked about performers in the business right now. While he lost most credibility with his single "Airplanes", he still pleases the old fans with his mix tapes. Bobby Ray just released his new mix tape, No Genre this week. But I'm not talking about that tape.

Earlier in 2010, B.o.B. released May 25th in an effort to beef up our ears until his debut album. Quite frankly, he did just that. May 25th contains the classic B.o.B. we know, with the help of heavy weights J. Cole and Asher Roth. Certainly, he's going in the right direction as he has been nominated for 5 Grammys.

Download: Wale - More About Nothing [Mixtape]

For once, Wale has released a mixtape when he said it'd be released. Grant it, a few server issues and a thirty minute delay, we are graced with one of the most annticipated releases of 2010. Wale gives us the second dose of the Seinfeld love with More About Nothing. If you were a fan of The Mixtape About Nothing, then you're going to appreciate this one just as much. The tape features Wiz Khalfia, Roscoe Dash, Tre from UCB and others.

All I'm going to say is it's great that Wale proved he doesn't need 40 guests on a mixtape. The go-goer throws us his best pitch right here. Download link below.

Download: Wale - More About Nothing [Mediafire]

Download: Freddie Gibbs - Str8 Killa No FIlla (Mixtape)

I cannot remember a time I anticipated a record/mixtape as much as I did with Freddie Gibbs Str8 Killa No Filla. The mixtape features Jay Rock, Pill, Bun B and others. I'm gonna stop talking from here because there's going to be a review soon. Download link below.

Download: XXL

Video: Freddie Gibbs - National Anthem (Fuck The World)

My most anticipated mixtape this year. Freddie Gibbs debuts his video for "National Anthem (Fuck The World)". He's dropping a new mixtape Thursday, entitled Str8 Killa No Filla and following that up with his EP, Str8 Killa.

Download: YC The Cynic - Summertime

Nothing I love more than seeing up and coming NYC MC's making it in the music world. YC The Cynic released a mixtape earlier this year entitled You're Welcome and is set to release his second of the year, The Spectacle. Here is the first leak from The Spectacle entitled 'Summertime High'. Easily one of my favorite songs of the summer so far.

YC The Cynic - Summertime High [Bandcamp]

Download: Ab-Soul - LongTerm2: Lifestyles Of The Broke And Almost Famous

When it comes to HipHop and Rap, I'm down to listen to anything really. I'll give it a try. If it's good, I'll write about it. If it's weak, I'll just throw it in the trash bin. This guy Ab-Soul just released his latest mixtape, LongTerm2: Lifestyles Of The Broke And Almost Famous. I mean, is it Album Of The Year material? No. Is it worth a listen? Sure.

Be sure to listen to the track 'Turn Me Up', which features Kendrick Lamar (Who I've never enjoyed prior to this song). Download link below.

Ab-Soul - LongTerm2: Lifestyles Of The Broke And Almost Famous [Usershare]

Download: Summer Solstice Volume #1

This is a mixtape I made about a week ago and posted it on my other blog, You Are Now In The Clouds With... It's a pretty chill mixtape, featuring HipHop and Indie together. Nothing really underground, but none the less it's worth the download.

Track list:

1. B.o.B - Past My Shades (Featuring Lupe Fiasco)

2. The Black Keys - Ten Cent Pistol

3. Blu - So Perfect

4. Childish Gambino - Bitch Look At Me Now (Two Weeks)

5. Here We Go Magic - Collector

6. Theophilus London - Julia (Remix)

7. Steel Train - Bullet

8. Greta Morgan - Children in the 90s (I’m Not The Same)

9. Wiz Khalifa - We’re Done

10. Lupe Fiasco - Daydreamin F. Jill Scott

11. The National - Afraid of Everyone

12. Beach House - Zebra

13. The Drums - I Felt Stupid.

Download: Megaupload

Download: Charles Hamilton- And Then They Played Dilla (Mixtape)

The month of February contains some important values to myself. My birthday lies within the month (February 18, 1992), it's Black History Month, the 2010 Olympics, and famed producer J. Dilla's birthday and death. J. Dilla is one of the more recognized producers in the game who died in 2006 after a cardiac arrest. His legacy and beats continue to be sampled throughout music today.

Back in 2008, up and coming rapper Charles Hamilton released a tribute mixtape called And Then They Play Dilla. The tribute mixtape contains beats that were released from Jay Dee with Charles going over them. It's been one of my hidden secrets for a while now. DJ Skee also works with Charles on this one, which gives the tape a very, vintage feel. For people who only know Charles Hamilton for the gimmicks, he has a heart.

Standout Tracks: Convincedindecision, Krispy Kreme Intentions, What's Going On

download: mediafire

Download: Currensy- Smokee Robinson (Mixtape)

Usually when the Super Bowl rolls around, I'm obsessed with watching the game and the commercials. But this year, why was I checking my friends MacBook more than the game? Oh I remember, New Orleans (WOO SAINTS!!!! WOO!!) Curren$y releases his much awaited mixtape Smokee Robinson. The mixtape was first supposed to come out at halftime..I'm waiting..no mixtape. Maybe if the Saints win? Wait they did..still no mixtape. Oh I remember! 11:50 PM on a Sunday night!!


Don Cannon teams up with Curren$y on this one. Artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Chip Tha Ripper, Big Sean, and others make appearances on the mixtape. There's not much I can say about the tape because I've only had it for about half a day and my headphones broke in school. However, the tape after a first listen was pretty impressive. Smokee Robinson showcases different moods demonstrated from WHO DAT??!?! (Curren$y). Make sure you listen to this one, I have a feeling it will be one of my favorites of 2010.

Standout Tracks: 17.5 Cannons, Lemon Kush, Audio Dope, Jordan 3's

download: mediafire

Download: B.o.B- May 25th (Mixtape)

As you saw on my top mixtapes of 2009 list, B.o.B aka Bobby Ray was featured for his effort B.o.B. vs. Bobby Ray. In order to build some hype up for his new album The Great Adventures Of Bobby Ray, he has released May 25th, the mixtape to signify when his album will be released. The mixtape includes artists such as J.Cole, Charles Hamilton, and Asher Roth. It also includes production from Kanye West and the Alchemist.


download: mediafire

TMO09- #2: Drake- So Far Gone (Mixtape)

Top Mixtapes of 2009- #2: Drake- So Far Gone

When I listen to radio hits, I usually hear Owl City's 'Fireflies' along with Jay Z's 'Empire State of Mind'. When I mean I hear these tracks, they are on rotation all day. I practically know all the words to Jay's The Blueprint 3 due to New York radio. Unfortunately (For myself) but fortunate for him, the same can be said about Degrassi star/Canadian artist Drake.

Drake released So Far Gone back in February of 2009. That's when the hype really started to erupt. You don't normally hear mixtapes that can be considered albums..or for this case a mixtape that's better than many of the albums released in 2009. Drizzy Drake's So Far Gone was a staple in American pop culture this year. Possibly one of the best mixtapes of all time. His shows are always sold out, his tracks now contain today's hottest artists. Not enough can be said. Drake is going to re-shape hiphop in 2010.

Standout Tracks: Houstatlantavegas, November 18th, Congratulations

download: megaupload

TMO09- #3: Wiz Khalifa- Burn After Rolling (Mixtape)

Top Mixtapes of 2009- #3: Wiz Khalifa- Burn After Rolling

One of my favorite rappers in the game today. Wiz Khalifa can brighten anyone's day. Whether it be by smoking a lot of pot for our amusement or by dropping tracks like we drop bombs. He released a slew of mixtapes in 2009; but while Burn After Rolling wasn't my favorite of his, I sure did enjoy it. B.A.R starts off with the titled track, which set the mood for the whole tape: laid back, bumpin jams. Songs such as Miles, The Thrill, and If I Were A Lame had me listening for a good month until his album Deal or No Deal released. I still bump this on car rides and in school. One of the classic tapes of 2009.

He is rumored to be releasing two new mixtapes in 2010.

Standout Tracks: B.A.R, Miles, The Thrill

download: limelinx

TMO09- #4: Tyga- Black Thoughts (Mixtape)

Top Mixtapes of 2009- #4: Tyga- Black Thoughts

I'm not a huge fan of Young Money. They get a bad rep because of their leader. But besides that, the music industry is eating up a lot of their current artists. However, it's refreshing to see Tyga do his best to bring light to the label. Tyga released one of my favorite songs of 2009 of his mixtape The Potiential called 'RIP Dolla', for the recently deceased rapper Dolla. But I'm not talking about that mixtape.

Tyga released Black Thoughts in November of 2009. When I say this mixtape had me hooked, I mean I was listening to it for a good month straight. He teamed up with DJ Ill Will and DJ Rockstar, who you'll see did a number on my top mixtapes list. I can't really explain the mixtape that well, I'm still speechless.

Standout Tracks: Shades On, Ice Cream Paint Job, Kill Tonight

download: mediafire

TMO09- #5: B.o.B- B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray

Top Mixtapes of 2009- #5: B.o.B- B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray

When one thinks of Atlanta, we tend to picture Akon and Lil Wayne. Two artists who generally don't really represent their area as well as they should. However, rapper B.o.B is doing his best to try to shine some light on the autotuned city. What makes Bobby Ray so unique is he plays instruments such as guitar, piano,and drums. Three instruments that Lil Wayne can't play (Unless you consider Rebirth a 'good' album). B.o.B released his mixtape B.o.B vs. Bobby Ray, which is a battle between Bob's moniker and his real name.

The tape is dope, containing beats that one wouldn't even think that someone would even try rapping on. Twenty two tracks of pure musicianship, something many many musicians do not contain nowadays.

download: mediafire

TMO09- #6: Wale- Back To The Feature (Mixtape)

Top Mixtape of 2009- #6: Wale- Back To The Feature

When Wale announced he was releasing his next installment of dope music, I was amped. However, I wasn't amped for the six month delay that the tape met. In June of 2009, DC rapper Wale finally released Back To The Feature. The name of the mixtape says it all, as the mixtape contains over seventeen different artists going along on Wale's beats and adding that special to the tracks. The mixtape was what I bumped at the parties I attended over the summer and I still play the tape sometimes, not as much cause Attention: Deficit is dope. The tape contains artists such as Joe Budden, Curren$y, Skyzoo, Talib Kweli, and throw in J. Cole for some more support.

This tape isn't worth passing up. Oh and 9th Wonder produced the whole thing. Enough said.

Standout Tracks: Say It Again (Featuring Royce da 5'9), Rather Be With You (Vagina Is For Lovers) [Featuring J Cole & Curren$y], Life's A Bitch (Featuring Talib Kweli & Joell Ortiz)

download: mediafire

Download: Freddie Gibbs- A (2)Dope FreEP (Mixtape)

Freddie Gibbs has been making some noise lately. I mean, he should be. I'll be short and sweet with this: 2DopeBoyz released an exclusive FreEP featuring five different tracks from Gibbs. Download it below.

1. Crushin’ Feelin’s
2. Fuck Rap pt. 2
3. Pearly Gates f. Hayes
4. Thug Psalms
5. No Regrets [Unreleased]

download: mediafire

TMO09- #7: Lil Wayne- No Ceilings (Mixtape)

Top Mixtape of 2009- #7: Lil Wayne- No Ceilings

Lil Wayne. As much as I want to hate him, he gave me seventeen reasons why I shouldn't. Those seventeen reasons represent the seventeen songs on his new mixtape No Ceilings. Wayne goes over a slew of hits throughout 2009 and destroys most of them. Take for instance 'Wasted', which could possibly be the next best pump up anthem at your sport venue. I'm done talking, let Wayne explain himself. Oh by the way, thank god he released this before he was sentenced because that Rebirth album is a disaster.

Standout Tracks: Ice Cream Paint Job, Wasted, No Ceilings (Featuring Birdman)

download: mediafire