Best Non-Bay Area Rap of 2K11

In the end of the year post I purposefully did not mention all the non-Bay Area rap that is regularly mentioned on this blog (i.e. Akron and KC rap), because such incredible music came from those regions this past year they really deserve their own post. When it came to complete albums these other regions had the Bay Area scene beat in 2011. But this isn't really about competing regions, all of the rappers listed below have been fully embraced by the Bay Area scene and are frequent collaborators with your favorite rappers in the Bay.

Akron Rubber Strike of 1936

 Best Non-Bay Area Rap Songs of 2011:

Ampichino & Young Bossi ft. Live, Bane Caso, V12 and Klazzik "I Ain't On It"



The beat and atmosphere of this song is unlike anything I have ever heard before in rap music. The beat is driven by a person humming the song's melody that is backed up and repeated by string instruments and the beat is pinned down by an industrial-sounding bassline that leaves you wanting more. On top of that, the approach this group of rappers take towards the song is entirely unique as well. There is no hook or chorus and instead of each rapper handling 16 bars or whatever, all six rappers spend the entire song trading lines and jumping in on each other's verses. It's pretty hard to keep track of who's rapping when, with guys popping in for a line or two and then disappearing, it keeps you on your toes for the song's entirety. Easily one of the most unique and exhilarating tracks of 2011.

C.W. Da YoungBlood ft. Fastlane Trai "Gaz"



When I downloaded one of Rich The Factor's numerous albums this year there was this album by a rapper named C.W. Da YoungBlood attached to it and I decided to listen to it. C.W. is young rapper from Kansas City who like to rap about being a blood, getting money, and shooting people. Nothing particularly special about that and C.W. is far from being a remarkable rapper, but this song right here made my ears stand up like a snowshoe hare that just sensed the presence of a bobcat. What's so special about this song? Basically it is a ultra mobbed out, hard-as-fuck song about shooting people over an absolutely huge beat that trudges along like 5,000 pound rhino. What more could you ask for?
The rest of Cooker Muzik 2 is rather forgettable apart from one other good song.
This is the hardest song of 2011 though, hands down.

Shoboat mean mugging his watch

Shoboat ft. Young Bossi, Ren Fetti, Gap, Freeze, Joe Blow, K-OZ and D Rek (respectively) "Don't Need Friends"



From hardest song of the year to posse cut of the year. Every significant rapper from Akron (besides Ampichino) shows up for this track along with Joe Blow and D Rek (from Sac) to deliver one of the best songs of 2011. Sort of ironic song title and subject matter for posse cut though, don't you think? Shoboat's verse at the beginning and Gap's verse (4th) are probably the highlights, but honestly every rapper comes hard on this one. This is the first time I've heard Shoboat semi-sing for the chorus and hopefully not the last time. The hook on this song has been playing in my head ever since first hearing it back in August.
Off Shoboat's incredible Rush Hour, which is chalk full of amazing features.

Dope album cover

Freeze ft. Young Bossi & Ren Fetti "Better Do Numbers"



When it comes to sampling more popular rappers, there is no better way to go than Young Jeezy. Of the Family First Records Akron trio (Amp, Freeze and Bossi) Freeze is the one whose music strives the most for mainstream appeal, which I think in turn creates less underground appeal for himself. His album released this past summer, The Street Pharaoh, was completely ignored, which is unfortunate considering it had bangers on it like this, this, this and this.
For proof of Freeze trying to achieve mainstream success look no further than his debut album, Freon, which has features that include Lil Wayne, Freeway and Young Buck. The point is Freeze is really talented and makes catchy music that should play on the radio, but probably never will because the radio stations need to play more Drake, apparently.
The cocky "fuck you" this song emanates is great and Ren Fetti has arguably the best voice in rap right now, the commanding presence he projects on the mic is undeniable.

Rich the Factor ft. Boy Big, Ampichino & Shoboat "Track 08 (Too Much)"



Sound samples in gangster rap usually involve little more than gunshots thrown in after a rapper threatens to kill the listener in his verse. This song, however, opens with the sound of a helicopter landing and it's the perfect sound effect to begin this song that is all about the excessive lifestyles of major drug dealers/gangsters. Boy Big's double tracked voice sounds lush and downright beautiful (no homo), especially as he croons over Rich's raps at the end of the hook. The helicopter sound comes back in again for Ampichino's dope verse, "we blow down at the nightclub in helicopters/ cops trying to watch us through binoculars/ gangster and a gentleman, move snow at the opera."
But to be honest, Shoboat completely steals the show on this one, his verse is so lively and animated, complete with entertaining ad libs and matching the feel-good atmosphere of the song perfectly.

Where Ampichino sells his coke

BONUS: Song That Came Out Really Late in 2010 That Deserves To Be On a List Somewhere:

Ampichino "Getting Over You"



If someone pressed me to name my favorite rapper active right now I'd probably say either E-40 or Ampichino. His two albums with The Jacka and Mysery are three of my favorite rap albums of all time and I can't help but be genuinely excited for everything he releases. The emotional depth of Amp's raps is something few gangster rappers are ever able to achieve, all while never allowing his music to lose it's edge. Basically Ampichino is following the Sad Raps path created by The Mob Figaz and has been making the most engaging, honest and intelligent mob music for the past five years or so to little or no fanfare.
At first the listener might think Ampichino is rapping about a woman in this song, but he reveals at the end of the first verse that his one true love, the one thing he needs in his life, is rap music itself. Pretty endearing to hear a rapper express such devotion to a music and culture that he has given so much to and gotten so little from in return.

Here are those six songs zipped up for your convenience:

DL: 100GoMW,YLS's Best Non-Bay Area Raps of 2K11

Download and listen. I guarantee you will not find six better rap songs released in 2011.

Best Non-Bay Area Rap Album of the Year:

Best album of the year?

There is no best album of the year, there are best albums of the year:

All three of these albums slap from front to back and actually feel like cohesive, complete albums, rather than a mish mash of different songs like most releases. I honestly listened to these releases either just as much or more than the blog's album of the year, Blackberry Ku$h.

2011 was a good year for all of the rappers mentioned above, while they all remain heavily underrated in my book, it seems rappers from Akron at least are slowly beginning to gain some more recognition outside of the Bay and their home region. Right now Shoboat is probably the most slept on rapper in America (you can quote me on that), I could see him fitting in nicely with just about any popular rap group/label in the South, but he's from Cleveland, which I think hinders his national exposure greatly.

If you are looking for more quality jams from Akron be sure and check out this blog's mix of Ampichino, Freeze, and Young Bossi's best tracks.

 Akron Goodyear Aircraft Factory circa 1927

If you are looking for more quality jams from Rich The Factor be sure and check out this blog's mix of Rich's best songs from 2011.

If you are looking for me to weigh in on "what's wrong with rap these days" you can go eat a dick, rap music is thriving here in the Bay and all over the country.

Wow fuck I was trying to keep this post brief and it turned into a novelette, thanks for reading all this. I hope you enjoy these songs.

Check back in later this week because the staff of 100GoMW,YLS has a HUGE announcement to make that I am really excited about. It's going to be a big deal...

What do you think of these songs and these albums?
What is the secret announcement going to be?
Tell us your thoughts in the comment section.