alright, Im gonna have a go at this. As always, maybe some of these didnt come it in 2010, but it's when i discovered em.
Was a real solid year for hip hop imo. Lots of great new artists, and some return to forms from many. Here's my top 10
1- Celph Titled and Buckwild - Nineteen Ninety Now
(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR_IFMeVAu4iFSriWB8XzUEdHyzFpC8Q7ejolbGciKPfqIXf3pa)
Really, if this isn't number one on anyones list, I'm not sure they listened to 90's east coast hip hop. This shit is a modern classic. Sadly, perhaps also a damning indication on hip hop these days, in that it took beats from 20 years ago, to make it so good
2 - 2 Hungry Bros presents........8thw1
(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ3lF39ZKPyvAmBSrSy-58YsbYLWF1COM04CEbTU8MngUXvRuLT)
FUN FUN FUN! This album just makes me smile. Its a bit De la, a bit Tribe etc. The production is upbeat, and i really like 8 as an MC. AOK really are killing shit right now
3 - Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
(http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT5XTKwKYud0Ro5-hYymMOdB8CsfqccaSUkFf67izln4qyXncmI)
Hate away haters, this album is fantastic. The closest thing to "Stadium Hip Hop" rap has ever seen. The sound is just huge. Kanyes back
4 - Wille the Kid and Lee Bannon - Never a Dull Moment
(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR3R9c7FjBdnehC3d-Tlu-v8aynHmLebRBEB7tIREhypZVDTH4HlA)
Just a little EP from LA the Darkman's little brother, but a fkn great one. Lee Bannon is certainly one up and coming producer to watch. His off kilter style meshes perfectly with Willie
5 - Copywrite - Ultrasound
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSzF5og5LGal4t2GN4xjdxznVyaGytfLDxXSXXCZ1ycLIJSrqqT)
"Jesus - when did Copy get so good?" My first reaction when I heard this EP. Looking forward to listening to his newly released album more. Dude is a fkn sick MC these days
6 -F Stokes - Death of a Handsome Bride
(http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQEOvu0stc8hieXK0oNyIA7f5IFouGAcaK5z1ShV6cU0g9VFYR6tA)
"Who?" Yup, exactly. I had never heard of him either but this album is real nice. He's a clever and MC, and the songs are clearly very personal to him. If you havent yet, check this one
7 - Pack FM - I Fuckin' Hate Rappers
(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRn8DgkLBjFSqQOd27lhat9dIHV9LIbrIYwNBXsaLs8Gatp2yB-4A)
Pack was clearly pissed when he started this one, and that mood runs through the entire album. And hey it's QN5, so how can you go wrong (oh, unless its a new Cunninlynguists album - oh yer, I went there)
8 - Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot
(http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef013485399a45970c-300wi)
Really not my sort of Hip Hop, but the quality is just to high to ignore. Love the upbeat stuff on this album. Big Boi is often over shadowed by his more eccentric partner. Well, he shouldn't be
9 - Homeboy Sandman - The Good Sun
(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQgo4k776osMT56xbzdUaO438w4prv3ehuu5DSz85TJFYD8ToHXQg)
Looking for something different? I mean, REAL different, get onto Sandy. Once again a great example of why the AOK Collective is one of my fave crews right now
10 - Lex Starwing - The Outlaw Star
(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQn2eX8CCQXjgo1JM0fmPvpRe6cFhEyY7_QDDnbM2ROiIb8LrTl2w)
Sounds more like a comic book. I thought the same the same thing til I stumbled upon him and John Murdoch. Cannot wait til they drop the Foundation album. Hard, angry shit. Right up my alley
*EDIT*
Ok i'm adding an 11 cos where going into 2011 errrrrr (truth is i was at the gym, a track came on and "Shit, how could I forget this"
11- Purpose - Better than Your Album
(http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRzq9zGk0ZRApk4oI5bYBT-32T4vepaIZ7J7NIfsiq4OvS1rVeB)
Picture a young Nas, with a dash of AZ, and sprinkle of Prodigy (pre the J Zay molestation) and you have Purpose. Now, Im not saying this guy will have those kind of careers, but this is a fantastic "mix tape"