The bar is raised incredibly high in our penultimate entry for the Tracks of 2011.
20. “Specnology” by Jeff Spec
The title track from Jeff Spec’s latest effort is undeniably one of the feel good hip-hop anthems of the year as Jeff explains his thoughts on hip-hop over a crazy beat.
19. “Cloth” by Common
The Dreamer, The Believer serves as a resurgence for Common. On Cloth No I.D puts together a superb beat that helps Common shine.
18. “$100 Weekend” by Ugly Duckling
This track has it all, storytelling, a great beat, call backs to old Ugly Duckling tracks – the lot.
17. “Cinemetropolis” by Blue Scholars
The opening track from Blue Scholar’s album Cinemetropolis. The whole concept for how the album came about and what it stands for is given in this one track.
16. “Lock The Locks” by The Streets”
The final song that Mike Skinner released under The Streets guise, was a fitting send off to one the UK’s best hip-hop acts of the last decade.
15. “Selfish Destruction” by People Under The Stairs
Big fan of the production on this song which starts off kind of strange. Puts gives tribute to their home state and city on this track.
14. “Michael Jackson” by Das Racist
What is this, I don’t even.
13. “Six ft Over” by Cocaine 80s
A side project of producer No I.D, the Cocaine 80s combine different aspects of music. On this track, we have vintage Common.
12. “Survive It” by Ghostpoet
Ghostpoet’s debut this year really surprised me in so many ways. Not only did it sound like nothing unlike I’ve heard but Poet seemed incredibly comfortable on the mic and the writing was top notch. The best example of all of this, “Survive It”.
11. “Murder” by Cunninglynguists
Interesting track as Big K.R.I.T, Natti, and Deacon the Villain all assume the roles of different vices and rap as those vices.
