Sorry....

Hey guys, Sorry for my lack of updates and the my top 10 not being put up yet. I will have my top 10 mixtapes and albums of the year up real soon. I've just been busy getting ready to move to NH. I'll leave you with the video for Moon and Stars by Big K.R.I.T. featuring Curren$y and Killa Kyleon.

Kanye West feat. Rick Ross, Jay-Z, and Nikki Minaj "Monster (Video)"

Not full quality, but it's better than nothing.

DJ Earworm "United States of Pop 2010"

DJ Earworm- "United States of Pop 2010"

Curren$y feat. Young Roddy and Trademark da Skydiver "Hold On (Video)"

Visuals for my favorite cut off PT2.

jj "Let Them (Video)"

From their Kills mixtape.

1. Kanye West "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"

What can I say? Massive, intense, emotional, triumphant, grandiose, and epic. Mr. West completely reinvented not only hip-hop, but pop music as well.

2. Vampire Weekend "Contra"

It's very hard for an album to have staying power. Contra came out last January, and remained one of my favorites for the entire year. (And the videos for "Giving Up the Gun" and "Holiday" are two of my all-time favorites.)

3. The Dream "Love King"

This album is everything that is right with pop music. And the transitions...

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everyone

Merry Christmas Everyone! Enjoy your holidays! And with that I will leave you with favorite Christmas song!

4. Beach House "Teen Dream"

Wonderfully warm, fuzzy, pop-goodness.

Rick Ross "Ashes to Ashes"

Rick Ross- Ashes to Ashes (Mixtape)

jj "Kills"

jj- Kills (Mixtape)

Rick Ross feat. Wiz Khalifa "RetroSuperFuture"

Ashes to Ashes dropping tomorrow.

Rick Ross feat. Wiz Khalifa- "RetroSuperFuture"

Mumford and Sons- "Winter Winds"

Beach House- "I Do Not Care For the Winter Sun"

Kanye West "Christmas in Harlem"

Official version just dropped from the big man himself. G.O.O.D. + Dipset= Merry Christmas.

Kanye West- "Christmas in Harlem"

5. Big Boi "Sir Lucious Left-foot: The Son of Chico Dusty"

Outkast is one of those rare groups that consistently puts out great stuff. However, when thinking of the group it's hard not to think of Andre 3000 first, and Big Boi second. It's not that Andre is better, it's just he's better known. Well, that might be changing, as Big Boi's SLL-F:TSoCD, is the year's best rap album. Period. It has everything you could want from an album: triumphant trunk rattlers like "General Patton," "Tangerine," and "Daddy Fat Sax," intimate slower jams ("Be Still" and "Hustle Blood") as well as pure, unadulterated hip-hop ("Shutterbugg," "Shine Blockas," and "Fo Your Sorrows"). An no matter what the environment, Big Boi destroys it with his signature rapid fire delivery. A more enjoyable and diverse hip-hop album I could not ask for.

Adele vs. Jay-Z and Notorious BIG "Rolling in the Deep (Voodoo Farm Remix)"

Adele's incredible "Rolling in the Deep" mashed with Jigga and BIG. What could be better?

Adele vs. Jay-Z and Notorious BIG- "Rolling the Deep (Voodoo Farm Remix)"

6. Sufjan Stevens "The Age of Adz"

Based on, and inspired by the paintings of schizophrenic artist Royal Robertson, The Age of Adz finds Stevens blending elements of both baroque pop and electronic music, to create a truly unique album. Many Sufjan fans are familiar with his acoustic, emotional folk songs. This album is decidedly different, with Sufjan using more electronic elements, as well as the usual guitar and string accompaniments. Songs such as "Too Much" and "Bad Communication" are examples of the "new Sufjan," while other songs such as "Futile Devices" and "Vesuvius" contain the vocal harmonies and orchestration similar to the Sufjan we all know and love. The twenty-five minute finale "Impossible Soul" acts the perfect fusion of old and new, containing elements of both Chicago- Sufjan, and the new Mr. Roboto- Sufjan. All in all, Adz represents new territory for Stevens, a territory which he will no doubt thrive in.

Best Mixtapes 2010

Just in case you missed any of these, here are my favorite mixtapes that dropped this past year:

10. Fabolous "There is No Competiton 2: The Funeral Service"

Mixtape Fab always brings his A-game. This is no exception.

9. Das Rascist "Sit Down, Man"

Das Racist takes a more serious approach, and it pays off. There is no denying these guys skills.

8. Hoodie Allen "Pep Rally"

Gotta loves Hoodie's use of samples. Everything from Marina and the Diamonds, to Beach House, to Two Door Cinema Club.

7. Young Jeezy "Trap or Die II"

Everyone could use a little more Jeezy in their lives. "Lose My Mind" just goes too hard.

6. XV "Vizzy Zone"

XV's going to blow up this coming year. Grab this quick.

5. Big Sean "Finally Famous Vol. 3"

The wait was over a year. As much as I hate to admit it, Sean delivered.

4. Major Lazer and La Roux present "Lazerproof"

Not a traditional rap/hip-hop mixtape, but Major Lazer and La Roux combined for one of the more unique and inventive tapes this year.

3. Wale "More About Nothing"

The follow-up to his amazing Mixtape About Nothing, and unlike most sequels, this one might be better than the original.

2. J Cole "Friday Night Lights"

Any mixtape that simultaneously shuts twitter down, as well as the artists own website has got to be good. Wrong. This is great.

1. Wiz Khalifa "Kush and Orange Juice"

This tape singlehandedly brought Wiz out from the underground to having Drake ask him to go on tour. Just incredible from start to finish.

7. Janelle Monae "The ArchAndroid"

The continuation of the android/human love story she started with her debut EP Metropolis: Suite I: The Chase, Janelle Monae's The ArchAndroid explores an amazing breadth of features and genres, creating a truly remarkable album. Monae's incredible voice, combined with the variety of musical accompaniment make this album a true album. The whole thing blends together so seamlessly and incorporates so many elements that it would be hard to simply listen to one song. While the album is classified as R&B, there are elements of soul, rock, rap, hip-hop, jazz, classical, funk, and punk just to name a few. Monae possesses the vocal range and talent to tackle faster tempo songs (Faster, Tightrope feat. Big Boi, Wondaland), as well as slower more poignant songs (Neon Valley Street, Cold War), and literally everything in between. The eclectic blend of songs is held together because of Monae, as the album avoids the pitfalls which often plague concept-albums.

Vampire Weekend "Fight for this Love" and "I'm Going Down" (Covers)

Two amazing covers by VW, the first of Cheryl Cole's "Fight for this Love" and the second of Bruce Springsteen's "Going Down." I saw VW in Boston this past September and they performed the Bruce cover, and I've been looking for the Mp3 ever since. Well now you have it.

Vampire Weekend- "Fight for this Love (Cheryl Cole Cover)"

Vampire Weekend- "I'm Going Down (Bruce Springsteen Cover)"

8. Curren$y "Pilot Talk 2"

Putting Pilot Talk 2 on my list, and leaving Pilot Talk off is by no means really saying that one is better than the other. Both are phenomenal, and both served to place Curren$y amongst the upper-echelon of rappers today. I just liked PT2 more. Once again using the production of the infallible Ski Beatz, Curren$ enlists his gang of cronies ( Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy) to help him weave effortlessly over Ski's impeccable production. The thing about Curren$y is it sounds almost like he's not trying, while at the same time possessing the ability to rap circles around most other rappers today. His Southern drawl is so fluid, that it might lull the listener to sleep, that is if his rhymes weren't delivered with such razor sharp precision that the listener has no choice but to listen. "Airbourne Aquarium" is arguably the years best opening track, and the jazzy sax of "Famous" is just too smooth. And who could forget Spitta's homage to everyone's favorite 80's tv show featuring a talking car, and David Hasselhoff. The piano laced "Silence" and the bass guitar influenced "Hold On" are two other highlights, though to be honest, there's not a single skippable song on the entire thing. We don't catch feelings, we catch flights.

Kanye West feat. Teyana Taylor, CyHi Da Prynce, Pusha-T, Big Sean, and Dipset "Christmas in Harlem"

OHHHHHHHH NOOOO. G.O.O.D. Friday track? Who knows. Final version will purportedly have Big Sean and Pusha-T on it as well.

UPDATE: Full version here, with Dipset.

Kanye West feat. Teyana Taylor, CyHi Da Prynce, Pusha-T, Big Sean, and Dipset- "Christmas in Harlem"

Jamie Woon x Deadboy "Night Air (Deadboy Remix)"

Another Deadboy remix, another masterpiece. This time he takes Jamie Woon and Burials "Night Air" and gives it a haunting yet tender feel. Really good stuff once again.

Jamie Woon x Deadboy- "Night Air (Deadboy Remix)"

Lil Wayne feat. Corey Gunz "6'7''"

New single off The Carter IV. Production by Bangladesh. I haven't been impressed with Wayne since the last Carter, but no lie, this goes.

Lil Wayne feat. Corey Gunz- "6'7'"

Adele "Rolling in the Deep (Video)"

Ellie Goulding "Only Girl in the World (Rihanna Cover)"

Ellie overload? I think not...

I Know - Diddy Featuring Wiz Khalifa and Chris Brown

This song has been on repeat for me in the last 24 hours. I'm not totally sure when it leaked but all I can say it is straight up fire. I was reluctant to download it at first because it is a Diddy track and I'm not a huge Diddy fan. However, this song is unreal. Chris Brown with his smooth vocals and Wiz with a pretty ill verse as well.

I Know - Diddy Featuring Wiz Khalifa and Chris Brown

Drake x Deadboy "Fireworks feat. Alicia Keys (Slo Mo Edit)"

South London producer Deadboy reworks the title track from Drake's debut, slowing it down and just using the piano and high pitched Alicia Keys vocals. Really really good stuff.

Drake x Deadboy- "Fireworks feat. Alicia Keys (Slo Mo Edit)"

9. Crystal Castles "Crystal Castles (II)"

This duo from Toronto is no stranger to accolades. Their debut album (also self-titled), was voted one of NME's top albums of the decade, amongst other honors. If possible, their sophomore effort is even better. Alice Krauss' voice is more haunting and beautiful than ever, and the album just seems more finished and complete. To start off, "Celestica" might be my favorite song of the year. Krauss' voice is effortless, which serves in contrast to the dense synth instrumentation of the song. This is were Crystal Castles shine. The contrast between the music and the vocals seems so wrong, yet sounds so right. In the end, Crystal Castles succeeds by creating the ultimate blend of hard and soft, heavy and light.

Potomac Boys Club "Lights (Ellie Goulding vs. Waka Flaka and Wale)"

Another ridiculous mash-up from Potomac Boys Club. Check out Ellie's original song here, and another mash-up from these guys here. Saw it at P&P.

Potomac Boys Club- "Lights (Ellie Goulding vs. Waka Flaka and Wale)"

B.o.B. "Beast Mode"

New Bobby Ray off his upcoming mixtape No Genre dropping December 7th.

B.o.B.- "Beast Mode"

jj "Right Side of Your Brain (The Dream Cover)(Video)"

Swedish pop artists jj take on The Dream's "Right Side of Your Brain," which is set to be on their mixtape Kills which is out Christmas Eve.

Heat vs. Cavs is must watch tv tonight. 8pm on TNT.

10. Rick Ross "Teflon Don"

It's that time of year again...So here begins my top ten albums of 2010. It's been a great year for music, so this was a pretty hard list to make, but I finally got it narrowed down. So without further ado, here's Number Ten: Rick Ross Teflon Don. While it's pretty well-known that "Officer Ricky" has more or less fabricated his neo-gangster/drug trafficker image, he certainly does a good job playing the part. The thing that sets Teflon Don apart from other rap albums is two fold: Rick Rozay has a GREAT ear for beats, and the guest spots are top notch. Take for example "Maybach Music III." Produced by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, the song's beat incorporates strings, chimes, and choruses, providing the listener with a truly immersing sound. To top it off, Ross comes correct on the song, with a little help from T.I. and Jadakiss, and a chorus from the always amazing Erykah Badu. Other standouts are "Free Mason" featuring John Legend and Jay-Z and the trunk-rattler of the year "Blowin Money Fast." Possibly my favorite song off the album is "Aston Martin Music" feat. Drake and Chrissette Michelle. The song, also produced by the J.U.S.T.C.E. League, finds the usually gruff Rozay combining with the more "sensitive" stylings of Drake and Michelle, creating an almost cinematic music experience. Finally, the Kanye produced "Live Fast, Die Young" could possibly be my "Song of the Year." Using classic Kanye sampling, "LFDY" presents a triumphant Ross and West proclaiming the greatness of their lavish lifestyles. Overall, Teflon Don represents an older, wiser Ross, who with a little help from his friends, has created an unforgettable musical experience.

Coldplay "Christmas Lights (Video)"

Ellie Goulding "Lights"

Here's a new song off Miss Goulding's re-release of her debut album, Lights, titled Bright Lights. I would marry this girl immediately, no questions asked. Also check out her cover of Elton John's "Your Song."

Ellie Goulding- "Lights"

Chris Brown "In My Zone 2" (Mixtape)

So sorry for the lack of posts. Thanksgiving combined with me being sick, combined with a ton of work for the end of the semester has been killer. Nonetheless, here's the new mixtape from Chris Breezy. Really good stuff. I promise to have more stuff up in the coming days.

Chris Brown- In My Zone 2 (Mixtape)