The Top 3 Hip Hop Albums of 2010

2010 was a hip-hop year. It really was. Or else how can one explain the fact that hip-hop artists appear in every top-ten list, let alone rightfully? Eminem, Kanye West and Drake are the best hip hop artists of 2010 in the top-10 album list of Rolling Stone. In Billboard's top-10 list of top 2010 artists, there is Eminem, Usher, The Black Eyed Peas and Drake. NME features Kanye West in No.34 and Big Boi in No. 38 in the 75 best albums of 2010, but also Plan B in No. 6 and Eminem in No.8 of the 40 best-selling albums of 2010.

To my view, the top 3 hip-hop albums of 2010 are the following:

Drake, "Thank Me Later" Drake is a weird case of success. Coming from an affluent Canadian family and having a background in acting rather than in Mcing, he managed almost effortlessly to sweep the charts with "Thank Me Later." And for his overnight success he is pretty much hated polarizing the critics. Village Voice released "Why You Hate Drake, and Why You're Wrong About Hating Drake"; The Loop21 released "I hate Drake. There, I said it."; a Facebook group is entitled "Don't You Hate When Drake Keeps Telling You That He Made It?" Apparently, Drake is not the most appreciated rapper in the hip-hop community at the moment; however his album is admittedly one of the best hip-hop albums of 2010.

Drake features Alicia Keys in "Fireworks;" Jay Z in "Light Up;" Nicki Minaj in "Up All Night;"

Young Jeezy in "Unforgettable;" and Lil Wayne in "Miss Me" (one of the album's singles). Also, Timbaland and Kanye West are behind the production of "Thank Me Now" and "Find Your Love" (another single of the album) respectively. With all these aces, Drake could not fail, even if he is not, admittedly, the best MC in the world - not even close.

Other great tracks in "Thank Me Later" are "Karaoke", "Find Your Love", and "Interlude." Released on June 15, 2010 , "Thank Me Later" peaked #1 on the US Billboard 200, #1 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #1 on the US Billboard Rap Albums, and #1 on the UK R&B Chart.

Eminem, "Recovery"

"Recovery" is nothing like Eminem's previous albums. It's more like an apology expressed in a simple, straightforward way. With "Recovery," Eminem accepts the faults of "Encore" (2004) and "Relapse" (2009) and attempts to reposition himself in the hip-hop crème de la crème. Exorcizing the dark days of the recent past, Eminem is ready to take the stand, along with his fans, and walk the road of recovery. Besides, he states that clearly in "Not Afraid": "And to the fans, I'll never let you down again, I'm back, I promise to never go back on that promise."

The album features several diverse tracks. There are tracks like "On Fire" and "Won't Back Down (feat. Pink)," where Eminem uses his well-known offensive language and his exceptional emceeing skills; in "Talking to Myself (feat. Kobe )," "25 To Life," "Seduction," and "Spacebound" Eminem is more emotional; and of course there are "I'm Not Afraid" and "Love The Way You Lie (feat. Rihanna)," the two lead singles of "Recovery."

In an interview on NME Eminem said "Selling 80 million copies of "Recovery" would mean nothing." As of Dec, 18, 2010 , "Recovery" has sold over 3 million copies and is ranked #25 on the US Billboard 200 chart, and #4 in the Rap Albums. Moreover, it has stayed 26 weeks on the charts, having achieved the greatest gainer performance. Without a doubt, "Recovery" is Eminem's most substantial, comprehensive, self aware release.

Kanye West, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"

If you're looking for a beautifully twisted hip-hop album, Kanye West has the answer for you. Regardless if you are a Kanye West fan, especially after interrupting Taylor Swift during 2009 MTV VMAS, "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" has rightfully earned its place among the best hip hop albums of 2010.

Featuring melodic, rhythmic piano solos and progressive rock twisted tunes, the album is dark with gloomy strings anchored with classic drum samples and pulsating beats like in "Power", the lead single of "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." Returning to the roots of boom-bap hip hop, West mingles the arduous guitar riffing of "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson with the frenzied chant of Continental No. 6's "Afromerica."

"Runaway" introduces a lonely piano figure and then West sings through a vocoder straining and cracking his voice until he starts singing melodically. The lyrics are nothing but romantic and so opposite to the melody or "Runaway" that one could almost name this track an epic. The cathartic of a mistreated lover expressed in piano, cello and violin tunes. "Let's have a toast for the douche-bags, Let's have a toast for the assholes, Let's have a toast for the scumbags, Every one of them that I know, Let's have a toast to the jerkoffs, That'll never take work off, Baby, I got a plan, Run away fast as you can...."

Other great tracks of the album are "Monster (feat. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver," "Blame Game (feat. John Legend)," "Gorgeous (feat. Kid Cudi & Raekwon)," and "So Appalled (feat. Jay-Z, Pusha T, Prynce Cy Hi, Swizz Beatz & The RZA)."

Released on November 22, 2010 , "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" peaked #1 on the US Billboard 200, #1 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #1 on the US Billboard Rap Albums, and went Silver on the UK Charts.

Sources:

http://www.amazon.com/Thank-Me-Later-Drake/dp/B003K1ZF2O

http://www.amazon.com/Recovery-Eminem/dp/B003KUSUG8

http://www.amazon.com/My-Beautiful-Dark-Twisted-Fantasy/dp/B003X2O6KW