'09 was a fine time to rhyme lines

So it's 2010, and Pat already has the honor of the first post, but I thought I'd throw in a couple pennies regarding the music of the past year. In the realm of Hip-Hop, there are albums and there are mixtapes. To sum up recent history, the latter has long been littered with second-tier material, but as the game changes, and as independent artists work to establish fan-bases without waiting for music labels to grow enough cohenes to press an LP for them, the mixtape is experiencing an evolution. We're now seeing tapes with extremely high production value and some truly stellar rapping being handed to the fans without charge. So I present to you the top 10 (officially-sanctioned-by-the-artist) mixtapes of 2009.

10. Back On My Buck Shit - Young Buck

Stayin alive. Buck comes through with a solid effort. He stays on-point with his beat selection and delivers what he does best--eloquent tough talk.

9. Cold War Series - Gucci Mane

So this is actually three mixtapes. Gucci's push to fame has been fueled on the Wayne philosophy of heavy saturation. It's largely worked. The main thing holding him back in my mind is the lack of charisma in his delivery. Sure he's got a cool-sounding voice, but his intonation becomes repetitive; and sometimes it sounds like he's downright mumbling. He is improving lyrically, however, and his album wasn't half bad. Gucci sets the standard for trunk bangers.

8. How Fly - Currency & Wiz Khalifa

I would normally classify these two lost souls as B-grade artists never destined to truly blow, but to their credit, they've put together something special here. Their voices compliment one another, and I find Khalifa interesting for the similarities his delivery shares with Wale's. I feel like their way of flowing is distinct and generationally unique. Listen to to The Planes.

7. Trappin Ain't Dead - Young Jeezy

The No DJ version of this banger didn't stay around the internet for long, though you should be able to find a torrent somewhere. What legal failed to care about is that the bleeding idiot DJ (u suck Folk) who mixed this thing with drops apparently thought it would be a good idea to run the songs through a tin can. What true audio shows is Jeezy at his best. So many homophones, you'll jump for joy. Here's to actually getting better with age.

6. Kool-aid, Kush, & Convertibles - Rich Boy

Rich Boy can still put together great tapes. This drawl fest has a cohesive sound to its stellar instrumentals, which, aside from being great summertime music, also shows the emergence of Supavillian as a nice cat behind those boards. It's great in a trunk, but I recommend tracking down the No DJ version first.

5. Back To The Feature - Wale

Alarming Folarin disarms with his charming vernacular. Bears up to repeated listenings well. There's a lot to unpack here. I only wish there were fewer features..

4. midwestganstaboxframecadiallacmusic - Freddie Gibbs

It's been a big year for Fred. Three mixtapes in '09. This baby here grabbed a lot of people's attention. gangsta gibbs should be able to count on a big payoff in the near future.

3. B.o.B. vs Bobby Ray - B.o.B

When I first downloaded this, I wasn't even sure I'd listen to the whole thing. After all, wasn't this guy just a Drake to T.I.'s Wayne? And wasn't it half singing? The playcount on this sucker wound up being through the roof. For one thing, the rap production--done almost exclusively by a chap named Fury--was revelatory. Excellent sampling of Three Dog Night, Curtis Mayfield, and The Soggy Bottom boys, along with others, make for some fuckin catchy tunes. The singing side was solid, as well. It's hard to place the genre, but there's a certain purity to it. Just Bob and his instruments.

-Download B.o.B vs Bobby Ray-

2. No Ceilings - Lil Wayne

Still the reigning heavyweight champion. The singing is over. The beats have been eaten.

1. So Far Gone - Drake

So Drake gets his name in the record books for this one. So Far Gone's incredible commercial success came from the humble beginnings of a free-released independent mixtape. A success story so timely that it doesn't even matter what's really on the tape anymore. It is good stuff though. Great production, great guest spots, great songs for the ladies. Drake's precocious introspects are fun to listen to