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.