THATSENUFF.COM presents the Best Artist Mixtapes of 2009
Before 2009 comes to a close, the ThatsEnuff.com team felt it was only right to discuss which mixtapes had the biggest impact this year. Without further adieu, here are ThatsEnuff.com’s Top mixtapes of 2009.
Asher Roth The Greenhouse Effect
Young Asher Roth is secretly kicking down the Hip Hop door. With production by Don Cannon and clever lyrics, not country grammar that would make even your English teacher pick up a dictionary, The Greenhouse Effect is clearly one of 2009′s best.
XV Everybody’s Nobody
Kansas must be proud. No, not because of the Kansas Jayhawks, but because a relatively unknown rapper named XV put his state on the map with Everybody’s Nobody, hosted by DJ Enuff & DJ Benzi. XV’s unique style of rapping got the attention of the internet world faster than Dorothy was able to click her red heels two times. But unlike Dorothy, dude’s not going anywhere soon. We never knew that Hip Hop lived in Kansas, but the kid brought a different flava to the table with songs like “Vizzy.”
J Cole The Warm Up
Roc Nation realized a star was born before The Blueprint 3 dropped. J. Cole caught Hip Hop’s attention with his first mixtape, The Come Up. But instead of taking a break, he followed up with his critically acclaimed mixtape, The Warm Up. The smart money says that J. Cole can be the first artist that Jay Z signed who can actually sell.
Harlem’s Cash Cashifornication
DJ Quiz and Harlem’s Cash joined forces to release Cashifornication which is a prequel to Cash’s album Harlem Wood Cashifornia. The album is clever with numerous remakes of songs from other artists, like Kayne’s “Flight School.” Using beats from other songs, Cash creatively spits fire and introduces his version of the songs.
Emilio Rojas The Natural
It’s fair to say that Emilio Rojas is not your abuela’s favorite Salsero. (And once she hears his uniquely shifty and untrust-worthy voice, she’s gonna throw Rojas out!) Pero los ninos are likely to get a sniff of this Rochester, NY native, who, it must be noted, teamed up with street cred-rich producer-DJ Green Lantern to drop The Natural- an un-naturally nasty problem of a mixtape, at the end of ’09. Hot 97 has begun bumping “Bold & Arrogant” so you can probably bet your bottom dollar that Rojas will be seeing green in ’10.
Hit the Jump to peep the rest who made the cut as well as DJ Drama’s Top 5 and more
50 Cent War Angel
Who the hell said the mixtapes were dead?! 50 Cent spent many a summer totally terrorizing the underground scene with a barrage of mixtapes. War Angel wasn’t meant to be played on the radio, nor was it meant to be played at your daughter’s Sweet 16. It was meant, however, to remind every one of you that 50′s at the top of the game, and he hasn’t lost touch with the streets.
Wale Back to the Feature
Easily one of the best mixtapes of the year, Wale and veteran producer 9th Wonder put together a mixtape that most Hip Hop albums in 2009 couldn’t even compete with. Back to the Feature featured appearances from non-mainstream acts like Joell Ortiz, Talib Kweli, J. Cole, Joe Budden, Bun B and more. Wale could’ve kept it mediocre, and let the guest features do the all the work, as he rides in on their coat-tails, but noooooooooooo. Instead, Wale went as hard on Back to the Feature as he did on his attention-grabbing debut album, Attention Deficit, which every mixtape-loving, Hip Hop-purist lover can appreciate.
Raekwon Purple Tape
The return of the Wu-Tang has definitely been captured in mixtape form. Purple Tape gave us a much-needed taste of what the Chef’s bringing to the table.
DJ Drama’s Top 5
Gucci Mane- Burrrprint 3-D- Gucci had the mainstream and the streets on fiiiiiire! When burrrprint dropped gucci had erybody talkin
50Cent- War Angel- if u liked 50 in 03 and didn’t get up in “love to hate him” then u had to fuck wit this tape! Straight G shit!
Willie The Kid- The Fly- Bangin Concept and bangin lyrics!
R.Kelly- The Demo Tape- Kells first mixtape and a problem from beginning to end… The first official R&B gangsta Grillz
Lil Wayne- No Ceilings- contender for mixtape of the year. Lil Wayne bodied everybody’s beat! He was back in form!
Honorary Mention- Drake- So Far Gone- and the rest is history!
Comments
Damn, Enuff. I got to check out your blog more often. I never knew you had some much good stuff and insights, even though I listen to you spin every rush hour. The Jay Electronica ‘controversy’ at least put me onto another good hip-hop website.
1)Warm Up. I think J.Cole is pound for pound the best rapper to debut this decade. In a close second I’ll put Lupe, but Cole has that level of intellect combined with more flash and a harder flow. He is this decade’s Cannibus (hopefully hov does him better than Wycelf did Bis)
2)So Far Gone. The R&B tracks on this mixtape are amazing. For a RAPPER to have such sensitive lyrics about relationships is a serious talent. Than he still brings a great punch with his good “Non Young Money” Lyrics.
3)Clipse: Play Cloths (Prequel). Its the Clipse. Need a saw more?
4)XV. Great tape. I only checked it out b/c I saw him freestyle with J.Cole. Very poignant.
2 yearss agoThanks I’m just trying to be honest with you guys. Big Things to come
2 yearss agoMuch love – much love for this. Makes me think about my man Mickey Factz who has got his raps is off da hook!
2 yearss agoHANDS DOWN J COLE HAS THE BEST MIXTAPE OF 2009! COLES IS A BEAST!!!! WATCH OUT FOR HIM IN 2010
2 yearss ago