Seriously, this stuff is batshit crazy. First came the awesome skate video for Spread Eagle Across The Block . Then came “Guillotine” featuring possibly the scariest man in America – he makes Zach de la Rocha look like a sleeping kitten. Everyone involved with the project was rocking the anonymous thing too – seems ducking the spotlight got you famous in 2011. Turns out this is the work of LAs MC Rage and Hella’s Zach Hill. 13 tracks of relentless, bass-blasting, hip-hop madness, dipping into everything from glitched-out dubstep and warped reggaeton, to uber-processed metal guitars and samples from every genre, culture and era that you can think of.
[Badge num="3" class="eleven"/]
The debut mixtape from Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky was a huge success, as was the video for breakout track “Peso.” The mix boasts five cuts with production from Clams Casino along with guest appearances from Main Attrakionz and Spaceghostpurrp. Rocky inked a deal for a cool $3 million with Sony/RCA’s Polo Grounds Music, so you’ll be hearing more from him for sure.
[Badge num="2" class="eleven"/]
It’s absolute genius. The name says it all. It’s Wu-Tang. It’s Fugazi. It’s Wugazi. It’s like an early 90’s dream is what it is. Download at once, listen repeatedly.
[Badge num="1" class="eleven"/]
Hands down, no question, House Of Balloons is the winner. Not only is it get the top slot for 2011’s mixtapes, this album far surpasses many of this year’s traditional releases you were supposed to pay for. The way the entire project unfolded: the slowly leaked videos, the mystery surrounding the individual(s) behind the project (we now know it’s Toronto-based Abel Tesfaye and sometimes Drake) only fanned the buzzy flames. Once the complete album dropped, the hipster band samples (Siouxsie and the Banshees, Beach House), the next level production, Tesfay’s incredible voice and some of the sexiest, darkest and most disturbing lyrical content of the year sealed the deal. You like? Check out the second installment, Thursday, and the final piece, Echoes of Silence, which released yesterday.
Comments
These Go To 11 Awards: Top Mixtapes