Top 100 Hip-Hop Albums 2000-2010. 91-100

Awon & Kameleon Beats- Love Supersedes (2010)

I hadn't heard anything from these guys before this album, and I haven't heard anything since, I'm not sure if that's my ignorance or their lack of releases, either way, I want to hear more. Everything on here is so gloriously smooth and soulful, Kameloen Beats really knows how to flip those soul samples. Awon has a soothing voice with a nice flow and is lyrically pretty positive, rapping about life and love. Overall a superb collaboration from two guys we need to hear more from.

Black Milk- Tronic (2008)

Black Milk had a lot to live up to after releasing his astonishing “Popular Demand”, unfortunately “Tronic” isn't quite as good, but that doesn't mean it's not a great album, because it really is. There is a different feel to this album, he had said he wasn't going to use soul samples like he did on his previous release (although he does use some and admits to this on “Try”) and instead a lot of the backings on here are more electronic and live sounding. This album is Black Milk really coming into his own and proving what a versatile producer he is as well as continuing to show that he may not be the best MC around but he is far from the worst.

Mr Lif-Mo' Mega (2006)

Mr. Lif returned with more heavy hitting political rap in 2006 on Mo' Mega. I'll probably get a lot of hate for writing this but I prefer this album to any of his others, even "I Phantom" which is thought of by many as his best work. One of the main things I love about this LP is the variety, there's the usual brutally militant tracks on here but there's also some funkier lighthearted songs like “Murs Is My Manager” and “Washitup!” that make this into an excellently balanced listen.

Nottz- You Need This Music (2010)

Nottz has been around for quite a while doing production work for the likes of Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg and Scarface but in 2010 he picked up the mic and dropped his debut studio album. This is a really good album album with a nice mix of vibes, from bouncy boom bap to more soulful joints. The title is very apt, we definitely need more music like this.

Polyrhythm Addicts- Break Glass (2007)

Polyrhythm Addicts is formed of DJ Spinna, Mr Complex, Shabaam Sahdeeq and Tiye Phoenix (Apani B was originally in the group but was replaced by Phoenix on this album). All three MCs in this group are great on the mic, dropping tight flows over smooth boom bap beats. If you like mid 90s underground hip-hop then this is definitely for you, just turn it up loud and nod your head.

Q-Tip- The Renaissance (2008)

When I heard about this release I really wasn't expecting a great deal from it, obviously A Tribe Called Quest were one of the greatest rap groups ever, but I thought Q-Tip's first solo album was pretty terrible and when I found out he did most of the beats for this himself I really lost hope. But on actually hearing the album I was pleasantly surprised, there are some great beats on here and Q-Tip is really on point with his rhymes. My favourite track on the album is “Renaissance Rap” with its amazingly eery beat, which for some reason isn't a track as itself on the CD but is located at the end of the song “Move”. It's great to see that Q-Tips hasn't lost it, this LP is up there with the fantastic material he released with Quest.

Marco Polo- Stupendous Adventures Of Marco Polo (2010)

Marco Polo was creating some great beats in 2010 but it seems he was keeping a lot of the best ones for his own album. Featuring loads of MCs from the very strong Duck Down roster amongst others. With tracks like “So Basic feat. Surreal” and “The Bridge feat. Promise” on it this was one of the best albums of the year.

The Grouch-Three Eyes Off The Time (2009)

The Grouch has been releasing albums since 1995, staying underground as part of the mighty Living Legends crew and in 2009 he hit us with this fantastic piece of dopeness. DJ Fresh takes care of the production with some amazingly futuristic, bass heavy beats. The Grouch has a smooth, laid back flow and his lyrics on this album are very mature, covering topics such as family life and the story of his career. This is an older MC coming with a fresher sound than the majority of the new generation in rap.

The Perceptionists- Black Dialogue (2005)

Def Jux mainstays Mr. Lif, Akrobatik and DJ Fakts One joined forces on this project to form The Perceptionists. As with their solo works this album is full of gritty political tracks which all really pack a punch. It's good to hear different styles from them on this album though, with some more chilled out tracks like “Love Letter” and “Breathe In The Sun”. Altogether a really good album with a nice mixture of vibes.

Ty- Upwards (2003)

This is UK MC, Ty's second solo album and is a wonderfully bouncy and (as the title may suggest) uplifting piece of music that even gained him a Mercury Music Prize nomination (not that awards mean anything but it's kind of nice for good music to get noticed). The beats on this LP are gloriously funky and Ty comes with that positive UK vibe, no guns and violence here, just good times. This is the kind of music that makes you want to party in the sunshine, even if you are stuck in rainy old Britain.