Feature / Music
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011

January 2, 2012

Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011

Aquatic Son (Midwest Konnect / Sway Heavy Records)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2011? (in order 1-5)

Top 5 albums of 2011 is a tough one.

#1-Kendrick Lamar-Section.80

That was an amazing album.  A lot of people slept on that joint. It’s not really super-duper-hip-hop-backpack-conscious but he does have a lot to say and he covers a lot of issues that people go through.  I have mad respect for Kendrick because his rap is so human. He raps about his flaws and man’s flaws while most other rappers just talk about how perfect their lives are.   

#2-Phonte-Charity Starts at Home

That was a really good album.  Production-wise it was especially dope.  Swiff D SNAPPED on that shit! Also, Khrysis and 9th Wonder murked on tracks as well. Phonte has always been one for great beat selection.  So if you are looking for clever wordplay as well as fresh bangers I would say Charity Starts at Home is a must have.

#3- Skyzoo-The Great Debater

 A lot of people sleep on Sky.   He is a super talented lyricist. In fact a little bit too talented at times. Meaning a lot of times his shit goes over people’s heads.  But when you do that research and figure out what he’s saying it’s like DAMN SON! He’s one of my favorites, and he got some real heat on the production on that joint as well.

 #4-Stalley-Lincoln Way Nights: Intelligent Trunk Music

Again it’s not super-duper-backpack but the beats are raw and he has a nice style.  It’s exactly as described; intelligent trunk music.  He’s got a few dope concept tracks on there, as well as some nice word play and inspirational lyrics.  Not sure what’s going to happen now that he’s fuckin’ with Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group, but I really hope he stays true to this sound.  Also, if you’re not familiar with Stalley, though it’s not a 2011 release, the Mad Stalley project is definitely worth a liste—Stalley rhymes and all Madlib production. BANNANA’S!

#5-Elzhi-Elmati                             

Though the production is really nothing new—considering its all remixes of Nas tracks—El held it down lyrically, as usual.  He never comes sub-par, and is in fact, one of, if not my favorite emcee of all times.  I just really wish he would work on his beat selection, as well as getting nicer—feature producers and other emcees.  He seems to fuck with the same people and that’s cool—Black Milk is one of my favorite producers—but I want to see him flex on another style every once in a while.  But the album is definitely worth listening to. 

What band did you discover in 2011 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

No answer.

How will you remember 2011 (in terms of music)?

In terms of hip-hop, 2011 was pretty average to me. I wasn’t surprised by much of anything—only mildly excited by the aforementioned Top 5.  I mean I’m not sure if it’s just a lack of creativity going around or what but I’m not hearing much new shit these days.  A lot is being recycled. Though there are a few artists that I like the direction they are going, for the most part the game is kind of like unflavored oatmeal; especially around the Twin Cities area. Everyone is on Rhymesayers dick trying to sound like them.  People just need to be themselves.

What can we look forward to from you in 2012?

I’m actually working on my first solo project.  I’m not totally sure what to call it yet because a lot of things are still in the air, but the project will probably be titled Son of Poseidon.   It will be between 8 and 10 tracks, and you can expect most of the production to be from me.  I have 2 joints that aren’t produced by me so far, and I’m not going to say any names as far as who those tracks are done by. You’ll just have to wait!  Besides that, Midwest Konnect is working on a mixtape as well as an album. So be on the lookout for some new heat from the Sway Heavy camp.

What records are you looking forward to most in 2012?

No answer.

What did you expect to be huge in 2011 which never made it?

I kind of thought the Jay-Z and Kanye’s Watch The Throne project was going to be a really big deal but as it turns out it wasn’t that deep.   I mean, sure they are doing the whole tour and they are getting a lot of radio play but I’m assuming that is all attributed to payola because myself and A LOT of people weren’t feeling it so much.  Sure there were like 2 or 3 joints on there that where dope that I play regularly but for the most part the album was kind of booboo; especially on Jay’s part.  His verses were SO sub-par compared to Kanye.  The album sounds like Jay was thinking, “Oh well I’m rapping with Kanye, so I don’t have to be to lyrically intensive.”  And Kanye was like, “Oh shit, I’m doing an album with Jay!  I’d better step my bars up.”  So you got this replacing of roles to where Kanye is kind of on top lyrically. It was off-putting to say the least. I feel like Jay Z is getting away with doing less and less these days.  Like, somewhere along the line he realized that he didn’t have to sell records anymore, and for the records he did put out he didn’t even have to say shit for cats to buy it. So not only did he stop putting out music as frequently he also just stopped giving a shit about the content of his bars.  I guess that’s what being a multi-millionaire does to your work ethic.

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— words by the SPB team • January 2, 2012

Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011

Pages in this feature

  1. Opening page
  2. Aidan Baker (Nadja)
  3. Alex Hughes (Hatred Surge)
  4. Amy Oden (formerly of Hot Mess, producer/director of From the Back of the Room)
  5. Andre (Locrian & Land of Decay)
  6. Andrew Nolan (Column of Heaven)
  7. Andy Nelson (Paint It Black / Ceremony / Puerto Rico Flowers / TV Casualty)
  8. Andy Wounds (Abraxis / Clorox Bong)
  9. Aquatic Son (Midwest Konnect / Sway Heavy Records)
  10. BJ (Ancient Shores)
  11. Bobby Hussy (The Hussy / Kind Turkey Records / Bad Omens)
  12. Brendan Kelly (Lawrence Arms / The Falcon / Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds)
  13. Brian Elza (Czar)
  14. Chris (Caulfield)
  15. Chris Brock (Early Graves / The Funeral Pyre)
  16. Chris Matulich (Nothington)
  17. Colin H van Eeckhout (AMENRA / KINGDOM / BLINDTOFAITH / SEMBLERDEAH / CAAN)
  18. Curtis Grimstead (Rorschach Records / Best Friends Day)
  19. Daniel (Vestiges)
  20. Dave Drobach (Grabass Charlestons / No Idea Records Production Manager)
  21. Domenic Romeo (A389 Recordings / Pulling Teeth / Hatewaves)
  22. Eric Solomon (O Pioneers!!! / Black Clouds)
  23. Ethan McCarthy (Clinging to the Trees of a Forest Fire (CTTTOAFF))
  24. Franz Nicolay
  25. G. Thérèse Lanz (Mares of Thrace)
  26. Give Up (Artist / Horders / Sisster Sounds Records)
  27. Jacob Parmentier (Abernathy Designs)
  28. Jamie (Fist In The Air Records)
  29. Jamie Grimes (Drainland / stressball in chief at Suburban Mayhem Records)
  30. Johannes, Ole and Jonas (Heksed)
  31. Jonathan and Kimmi Ashwell (Flannel Gurl Records)
  32. Josh (Expire)
  33. Justin Smith (Vitriol Records / Graf Orlock / Dangers Ghostlimb)
  34. Kevin Beacham (Social Media Manager / Music Buyer / Rhymesayers / Fifth Element / DJ)
  35. Lasse (Dead Section Records)
  36. Matt Fox (Shai Hulud)
  37. Michael Britten, Music Ruins Lives
  38. Mike (Gehenna / The Lesser Key / Devil / Sangraal / Mother Fucking Titty Suckers, etc)
  39. Mike Riley (Pulling Teeth / Firestarter Records / Toxic Pop Records)
  40. Mustafa Daka (The Brokedowns / Vicelords / Los Muchachos Dos Hombres)
  41. Nate Gangelhoff (Banner Pilot / Gateway District)
  42. Nick Johnson (Banner Pilot)
  43. P.O.I. (Rot In Hell)
  44. Patrick Eaton (Old Problems)
  45. Paul Sunderland (Give Praise Records)
  46. Rennie Resmini (Starkweather)
  47. Roo Pescod (Bangers)
  48. Taylor Young (Twitching Tongues / Nails / Young Bros Recordings)
  49. The Dwarves (Greedy Media)
  50. Thom Wasluck / Planning For Burial / Music Ruins Lives
  51. Tim Browne (Elway)
  52. Tobias Jeg (Red Scare Industries)
  53. Todd Congelliere (Recess Records / Toys That Kill / Underground Railroad to Candyland / Stoned At Heart)
  54. Topon Das (Fuck The Facts)
  55. Vince Conriquez & William Cutts (Low Places)
  56. Vinnie Fiorello (Less Than Jake / Paper + Plastick Records)

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