Guilty Pleasure: K.Flay

Probably gonna get a lot of hate for this but I'm really digging this chick.

She was featured in an interesting articles on white female rappers challenging hip hops masculine ideals. Check it out here

If Zion I mess with this chick she must be doing something right!

Mintys Year End List: Top 5 Non - Hip Hop Albums 2011

Amy Winehouse – Lioness: Hidden Treasure

Amy Winehouse is one of my favourite female artists of all time. For any fans of Amy this posthumous compilation album does not disappoint! This album will keep Amys voice alive in her fans ears.

RIP AMY!

Standout Tracks: Like Smoke, Our Day Will Come, Halftime

“Lioness: Hidden Treasures preserves the gift of a true diamond in the rough.” – HipHopDX

DJ Jazzy Jeff & Ayah – Back For More

I am not the hugest RnB fan in the world but this mixtape is one for the summer with smoothe beats from Jazzy Jeff (one of the most underrated producers in the game).

Standout Tracks: Hold On, Tables Turn

"The album is ideal for the Sunday afternoon lounge session with friends, providing easy listening from the beginning until the end" - BPM Mag

Adele – 21

Adele brings the heat on this one…. Enough said

Standout Tracks: Rolling In The Deep (and all remixes), He Wont Go

“21 is simply stunning. After only a handful of plays, it feels like you’ve always known it.” - BBC

Nneka – Soul Is Heavy

A mix of soul, reggae, hip hop, rock and Latin folk with a great message…. What more could you want?

Standout Tracks: God Knows Why, Soul Is Heavy

“But as it is Soul Is Heavy is another fine example that amongst the autotuned, club banging, tween bait there still is good, earnest, creative and honest pop music out there.” - ScreenInvasion

Katy B – On a Mission

Katy B brought UK Garage back to the masses with her massive single Lights On. The rest of her album is a mix of everything from pop to funky house to dubstep. Great new talent coming out from the UK cant wait to see what 2012 holds for Katy B! This album was voted No 2 best album of 2011 by the Guardian

Standout Tracks: Lights On, Easy Please Me

“Not only did Katy B showcase a new direction for dance music, she offered a fresh perspective on love, lust and London nightlife” - Guardian

Mintys Year End List: Top 10 Tracks 2011

Here are 10 of my favourite tracks from2011 that have kept my head nodding

Tayyib Ali – Do It

1982 ft. REKS – Play Your Role

Neon Hitch – On My Level

Evidence ft. Fashawn – Same Folks

Gangrene ft. Fashawn & Evidence – Wassup Wassup

Random Axe – Random Call

Pete Rock & Smif N Wessun ft. Freeway – Roses

Shaz Ill York – Air Unlimited

Granville Sessions – Pubsteppin

50 Cent ft. Paris – Queens

Mintys Year End List: Top 10 Hip Hop Albums 2011

Alright peeps here are some of my favourite albums from 2011. I’m going to start off with my top 10 Hip Hop albums of 2011 (from the UK and the US).

In no particular order:

Elzhi – Elmatic

Illmatic by Nas is a classic album! Elzhi decided to follow in my man Fashawn’s footsteps and remake Nas’ classic album. The main difference between Illmatic and Elmatic are the instrumentals. Elmatic was produced by Detroit’s Will Sessions band who decided to use live instrumentation to enhance the overall experience.

“The bottom line is that Elzhi took on an intimidating task and managed to prove that he can stand up to classic material.” – HipHopDX

Standout Tracks: Memory Lane, Halftime, Detroit State Of Mind

Action Bronson – Dr Lecter

An Albanian cat with a beard like Freeway, a voice like Ghostface, a belly like Biggie and a love for food like Jamie Oliver brought the house down for New York Rap. Action reminded me why I love East Coast Hip Hop. Action also ended the year by linking up with my favourite producer, Statik Selektah for the ever so delicious ‘Well Done’.

“Overall though, this is a solid first outing for Action Bronson and his high-octane delivery, street smarts and sense of humour will win over any listener willing to dismiss him as another Ghostface clone.” – Rapreviews

Standout Tracks: Madness, The Moonstruck, Jerk Chicken

Statik Selektah – Population Control

Statik selektah does it for a 4^th time! Another classic album from the man from Boston. This time round Statik decided to bring a whole host of rappers from the rookie Mac Miller (Statik recorded with Mac Miller before he got big) to the veteran Lil Fame from MOP.

“Overall the album delivers what is expected. Listeners are treated to some amazing production, great verses, and a roster of artists coming together to create a big moment, not just Hip-Hop, but in music.” – AllHipHop

Standout Tracks: The High Life, You’re Gone

Malcolm & Martin – Life Doesn’t Frighten Me

Malcolm and Martin ((Styliztik Jones & KB I Mean) with the help of DJ Revolution bring the masses a solid album with a message that doesn’t sound preachy. This album is full of dope lyrics and dope production with plenty of scratching for the DJs out there!

“Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” is a strong album with beats and rhymes that actually stand for something. It isn’t lofty in attempt but its groundedness is its charm.” – PlanetIll

“Life Doesn’t Frighten Me is what true Hip Hop heads have been craving.” – HipHopDX

Standout Tracks: Movement Music, Bare Witness

Common – The Dreamer, The Believer

On his 10^th album Common brings back his old running mate No ID to prove that this acting thing is just temporary but hip hop is his one true love. This album is one of his best albums since his 2005 effort “Be”.

“Common stands out from the best hip-hop albums of 2011 by doing what he has always done best since the ’90s and standing firm in his style.” – Paste Magazine

Standout Tracks: Sweet, Raw, Blue Sky

Phonte – Charity Starts At Home

Phonte is one of the most underrated rappers in the game. Phonte has recorded as part of the trio Little Brother (checkout The Minstrel Show) and the duo Foreign Exchange (checkout Connected). Phonte is a Grammy nominated rapper who has not lost a step since he entered the game back in 2003.

“Charity Starts At Home plays like the soundtrack of the working man’s life. Phonte finds a way to touch on the struggles that we all face on a daily basis, trying to balance love and life and does it in a way that will make you laugh, cry and nod your head all at the same time.” – CouchSessions

Standout Tracks: Not Here Anymore,

MOP & Snowgoons – Sparta

Its like a match made in heaven, the most grimey / rugged hip hop duo to come out of New York with the a German production duo who sound like a mix of Premo, Stoupe and Statik Selektah.

Standout Tracks: Sparta, Blasphemy (Blast 4 Me), Break’em

“this album is short, sweet, no filler just straight to the point knock you out music, and this album will get you hyped up. The Snowgoons are the strength and M.O.P. knocked this out the park lyrically and never straying from there wheel house.” - UStyles

Kendrick Lamar – section 80

Kendrick Lamar is a new cat in the game who has had a massive year. His first album (which is technically a mixtape) shows a young MC with plenty of hunger and plenty of talent.

Standout Tracks: ADHD, Rigamortus, HiiiPower

“Overall, Kendrick shows the world that he isn't the ordinary deep artist. He might end up being considered one of the greatest MC's of all time.” - RelevantMindSet

The Four Owls – Natures Greatest Mysterys

The Four Owls consists of 4 of the finest rappers from the UK underground scene; Leaf Dog and BVA (from 3 Amigos), Fliptrix and Verb T. This album bangs hard all the way through.

“Ultimately, it goes without saying that "Nature's Greatest Mystery" is a more than valuable addition to any true head's collection” - AKidCalledSkribe

Standout Track: Not Like Before, Life In The Balance

Dirty Dike – Constant Dikestar

Another product of the incredible UK hip hop label High Focus. Dirty Dike is one of the nastiest minds on the UK scene but I’m addicted. Dirty Dike is like the UK version of the Tyler the Creator and Bizarre (from D12).

Standout Tracks: Average Wank, The Agitated, Pork Pie

“In short, the album flows well and the production (provided entirely by Mr. Constant) is solid, and Dike's rhymes work well with the music and the project is a captivating listen. I would recommend this album without exception.” - KMag

Honorouable Mentions

Some other albums that nearly made the top 10.

Jedi Mind Tricks – Violence Begets Violence

The Roots – Undun

Pac Div – The Div

Currensy & Alchemist – Covert Coup

The Doppelgangaz- Lone Sharks

The Away Team – Scars and Stripes

Evidence – Cats & Dogs

50 Cent – The Big 10

Random Axe – Random Axe

Pete Rock and Smif n Wessun – Monumental

Durrty Goodz – Overall

Leaf Dog-From A Scarecrow's Perspective

Roots Manuva - 4everevolution

Jehst – The Dragon of the Ordinary Family