2010. What a year! It's about that time when we all sum our memories and experience from the year past. We decided to compile some of the best releases, tracks and trends from 2010 in our view. Not in any particular order or ranking. Just a few pieces of amazing music that never left our headphones during the last 12 months. Here we go!
Thestrom's 2010 picks:
Jay Electronica: Exhibit A, B & C.
These days it doesn't happen very often that we're blown away by a new MC, but Timothy Elpadaro Thedford a.k.a. Jay Electronica did just that. With amazing storytelling skills backed by Just Blaze's cinematic beats his exhibit A, B & C stopped me in my track everytime it popped up in my headphones. We're very much looking forward to an official album release in 2011.
Jay Electronica - Exhibit B
Jay Electronica - Exhibit C
Mala (Digital Mystikz) - Return to space
South London dubstep pioneer Mala dropped his highly anticipated album "Return II space". It was released on his own DMZ imprint and hasn't left my daily commute playlist since it dropped in July. He has such a unique sound that blends that deep dubby laidback vibe with menacing beats and dirty basslines. It was the mindblowing soundtrack to one of the hottest summers of the decade.
Robert Glasper - Dillaludes
Dilla passed almost five years ago but he's still very much present. Robert Glaspers unreleased live performance of his stunning dillaludes was one of my strongest musical memories of 2010.
Jazz pianist, Robert Glasper, worked with Dilla several times and the dillaludes are his ode to the late James Yancey. He recreates the vibe of some of James Yancey's finest moments together with his live band including drummer extraordinare Chris Dave. We challange you to unveil what classic dillatracks he's covering...
Robert Glasper - Unreleased dillaludes
Mark Pritchard/Harmonic 313/Africa HiTech
Mark is a longtime Beathearts favourite. Every since the days of his Jedi Knights and Global Communication projects I've followed his every release with great anticipation. 2010 was no exception with absolutely stunning tracks, remakes and collaborations with people like Wiley, Steve Spacek and others. We have very high hopes that a full lenght Africa HiTech album will see the light of day in 2011.
Mark Pritchard ft Wiley - Scar
2010 - Year of the Afrobeat
We never saw it coming but 2010 turned out to be the year when Afrobeat came back. Cratediggers turning to south central Africa instead of south central Los Angeles for crate digging. The spotlights were turned back on Afrobeat legends such as Ebo Taylor who after all these years got a new record deal and released his first album in years.
2010 - Year of the Afrobeat
We never saw it coming but 2010 turned out to be the year when Afrobeat came back. Cratediggers turning to south central Africa instead of south central Los Angeles for crate digging. The spotlights were turned back on Afrobeat legends such as Ebo Taylor who after all these years got a new record deal and released his first album in years.
Afrobeat parties seemed to pop up everywhere and the tribute/cover mixtapes never stopped coming. One of the better productions was J.Period and K'Naan's The messengers.
Finally, and I never thought I'd say this but, Jay-Z, Will Smith and Questlove put together a stunning broadway show (!) entitled Fela covering the life story of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. It raised the awareness of Fela's (and Africas) amazing muscial heritage to a whole new audience.
Fela Kuti - Water no get enemy (1975)
Antwan's 2010 picks:
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kanye did his "comeback" late 2010, and got nothing but good reviews. The album is a little rugged, but no doubt this makes my top 5. Quality music.
Kanye West - Devil In A New Dress feat. Rick Ross
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives
This collaboration was quite a match! Combined political criticism, humble awareness and hard-hitting attitude results with a beautiful album.
Nas & Damian Marley - Patience
Apollo Brown - The Reset
Detroit hiphop at it's best, dillauesque wonderful samples and fantastic guests. The mellow "Seasons" is one of the best tunes this year.
Apollo Brown - Seasons feat. Stik Figa
Benny Tones - Chrysalis
New Zeeland's Benny Tones has crafted a masterpiece, with rhythms and beats out of this world.
Benny Tones - Fire Fly feat. Mara TK
Black Milk's Album of the Year and Nottz's You Need This Music share the last spot on my list.
These two marvellous beatmakers each made heavy music in 2010. I've got a soft spot for Nottz smooth melodies, though equally for Black Milk's massive music!
Black Milk - Deadley Medley feat. Royce da 5'9'' & Elzhi
Nottz - You Need This Music feat. Dwele
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