Top Songs of 2010

Warning: This is a long post. If you don't feel like reading all this nonsense, just skip and watch the videos and listen to the greatness of these songs.

I'm writing this when I should be finishing an article that I have for class, but I've been distracted by this list for a while. I loaded my iTunes and sorted all of the songs that were released in 2010, and added the tracks that I really liked to a playlist. This list could come from any genre of music and could come from an album released by a major record label or a mixtape from the artist down the street.

I don't have that many songs in my iTunes library as my computer is relatively new and I'm not too into the songs played on radio stations. I narrowed down my top choices by only allowing one song come from an artists or band, even though some bands had several contenders.

This is the list that I came up with, and I will provide links soon. Since there's still about two weeks left and an edit option, this list is not permanent. If there's something you think I need to check, let me know and I can judge if it deserves to uproot a song on this list, which is presented in no order. I might also try to fancy this page up when I edit it with links and videos.

Evidence Becomes the 5th Beatle

Evidence responded to an album leak by giving away a solid album for free.

Album leaks have been a recurring issue between musicians and the internet for about a decade. Coinciding with John Lennon's memorial and his own birthday, Evidence of Dilated Peoples planned to release one song off his Beatles-themed EP, "I Don't Need Love." The album was leaked, and Evidence embraced it.

The free, nine-track mixtape features bandmate Rakaa Iriscience, Oh No, Alchemist, Dirt Nasty and Fashawn. Every track samples a Beatles song with production from Twiz The Beat Pro. The Beatles concept has been done with Danger Mouse's "Grey Album" mashup of Jay-Z.

The new twist is how the samples are incorporated to turn the tracks into hip-hop beats. It also has greatly mixed interview clips from members of The Beatles. "Frame of Mind" references drugs, including John Lennon saying, "By then, we were smoking marijuana for breakfast at that period."

Evidence stays true to his roots, dropping his guard and speaking about everything from weed to writing habits. The end of "Think'n Bout Thinking" samples "Hey Jude," with Evidence rhyming about debt, stating, "I bought a crib in the shitty side of town, interest only, with no money down, it looked nice but really a facade, tried to grow some pot, burnt down the garage."



"The World" has Evidence talking about natural disasters, rapping, "Maybe what I hear is all a figure of speech, go figure, see the day Cali falls in the beach."

"I Don't Need Love" is a good mixtape and appetizer for Evidence's upcoming "Cats and Dogs."


Note: "To Be Continued" is not on this album, but it serves as a preview to "Cats and Dogs."

Copywrite raps about The Life and Times of Peter Nelson

Copywrite comes off as awkward and scatterred, but remains lyrically impressive.

On "The Life and Times of Peter Nelson," Columbus-based Copywrite's second full-length album and first since 2002, change is evident. Copywrite has seen both of his groups, MHz and Weathermen, dissolve and a marked transition to becoming more of a storyteller than a punchline rapper.

This album consists of 20 songs and lasts 80 minutes. The production is varied, as Twiz The Beat Pro appears most often, handling four tracks. Twiz produces the most gripping track, "Three Story Building," which features Dilated Peoples telling stories about their childhoods over a heavy drum and horn beat, with MF Grimm's catchy hook "We let the beat tell the story for us." The track also has great scratching of Beastie Boys' "Paul Revere."

While all three emcees have quality verses, Evidence of Dilated Peoples takes over on the closing verse and dazzles: "Watching hot kettles cook and boil Top Ramen, Gettin' locked up, told my people I ain't bombin', Started to rap, told my momma I'd be Common, she thought I meant normal, I said let's be honest."



The album has a few strange ventures, with the unimpressive "Rob the Club" and "Bored," and the weird Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love ballad "Shotgun." Copywrite sounds like he has a lot to tell about the past eight years, and he is effective on "Wish You Were Here," discussing his grandfather, Skip Nelson, who sang and played for the Glenn Miller Band, "Confessional," and "Forever and a Day," a dedication to Camu Tao.

Eligh of Living Legends Drops "GreyCrow"



Eligh's "GreyCrow" was released Nov. 9, 2010

Los Angeles native Eligh of Living Legends dropped "GreyCrow" in early November, his sixth solo album. The album consists of 17 songs, including an introduction.

The album becomes guest-oriented in the second half of the album. Luckyiam.PSC, The Grouch, and Scarub join their longtime groupmate, while other guests include Aesop Rock, Brother Ali, and Zumbi.

"Love Ov My Life" is a strong story about Eligh's love for hip-hop, using his classic quick pace, rhyming, "I once had a vision of love and now I'm entirely enthralled, girl don't try to be the one 'cause I'm involved, sound waves enslave my heart forever and a day, separate me from that is a suicidal serenade."

"Find Yourself" is an interesting track that summarizes his life over a sample of "Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads. "Shine" shows the collective of The Grouch and Eligh that has resulted in collaborative albums, and "Beneath the Sea" stands out with a fast rhythm accompanied by Zumbi and Scarub keeping up with Eligh with their own lightning-quick rhymes.



Eligh produced all but two songs on the album, as his storytelling and beats give him an opportunity to speak about his past addictions. He also has an interesting "About the Record" series on YouTube. "GreyCrow" could be improved by cutting down a few tracks and organizing into a more cohesive sound, but it's another solid effort from the talented and emotional emcee.

Zion I Synchs Up "Atomic Clock"

"Atomic Clock" by Zion I promises to be one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.

Oakland hip-hop duo Zion I released "Atomic Clock" on Tuesday, November 9, their fifth full-length studio album together (Break A Dawn was released in Japan, Hereos in the City of Dope was a collaboration with The Grouch). The group has been making music for over 15 years and doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

The first thing that sticks out on the album is the heavy drum patterns on every song. Amp Live, the group's producer, sought out live instruments for this album, which combines reggae and funk influences, using horns and guitars in place of synthesizers and drum machines. This is a major change from "Mind Over Matter," the group's first album released in 2000, which featured electronic and trip-hop vibes.



"Atomic Clock" features guest appearances on only three of the 13 songs. The most interesting feature has emcee Locksmith displaying his excitement on collaborating with Zion I on "Polarity."

The rest of the rhymes are kicked by Zumbi, the socially-conscious emcee who speaks of spiritual freedom, political activism, and personal struggles. On "Always," the second track, Zumbi concludes the first verse with an uplifting message that resonates throughout: "And that's a mighty long time they say, when any given moment it can be judgement day, we get down though it seems like a setup, love conquers always, gotta keep your head up."

"Atomic Clock" may show a changed sound for Zion I, but the duo has consistently evolved and adapted since its debut. The crisp beats and conscious lyrics remain true to the roots and keep the content from becoming stale.