TOP 25 SONGS #CLEVELANDEDITION OF 2010

FOR THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF MY "CLEVELAND HIP HOP LISTS"
SERIES, I'VE COMPILED WHAT I BELIEVE ARE THE TOP 25 SONGS THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY HEARD THIS YEAR. NOTICE THE EMPHASIS THERE FOLKS!!!! EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN OPINION, SO SIMPLY RESPECT MINE. I HAVE OVER 200 SONGS FROM CLEVELAND ARTISTS THAT HAVE REACHED MY EARS OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS. MY CRITERIA WAS SIMPLE. 1. HAD TO BE AN ORIGINAL SONG OVER AN ORIGINAL BEAT (SAVED ME FROM REHEARING THE MILLION BMF FREESTYLES AND LEMONADE REMAKES MADE THIS YEAR LOL) 2. THE SONG HAD TO BE RELEASED BETWEEN NOV. '09 AND NOV. '10 AND 3. THE SONG REALLY HAD TO STICK WITH ME. WHETHER IT WAS GEARED FOR THE CLUBS, THE STREETS OR A SOLID ALBUM TRACK, I HAD TO FEEL IT WAS A SONG EVERYONE SHOULD HEAR.

SO LET GET INTO IT!

25. CNTO- I'M GONE (PROD. BY @CLEJONBE)

CLEVELAND CHRIS AND THE REST OF THE CNTO CAMP DROPPED THEIR "TWIST TAPE" AND THIS TRACK PROVIDED A SMOOTH SAMPLED BEAT WITH TRUE TO LIFE LYRICS TO COMPLIMENT IT; TWITTER: @CLEVELANCHRIS

24. CRAZY8THEGREAT AND MZ. CRAZY TEE-TEACH EM HOW TO RAP (PROD. BY YONNY)

THE TWO MCS DROP LESSONS TO MCS ON WHAT IT IS TO DROP ILL VERSES OVER THIS YONNY BEAT; TWITTER: @CRAZY8THEGREAT AND @MZCRAZYTEE

23. 100 PROOF FEAT. BAM BAM-LET ME GET YOU (PROD. BY DEZ)

BAM PROVIDES 100 PROOF WITH EASILY ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST HOOKS I HEARD ALL YEAR. 1OO PROOF LETS THE LADIES KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS ON THIS READY FOR RADIO TRACK

22. HUSTLAS AMBITION- I BEEN ON (PROD. BY VYBE)

OVER THIS HARD HITTIN STREET BANGER, HUSTLAS AMBITON (G AND L.S.) LET CLEVELAND AND THE REST OF THE WORLD KNOW THEY'RE HERE TO STAY

21. CHEVY BLUE-I GOTTA LOVE (PROD. BY JP)

THE BLUE BEAST SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON EVERYTHING SHE LOVES OVER THIS JP BANGER; TWITTER: @CHEVYBLUE

20. MICROWAVE RED-1.5 (PROD. BY JP)

JP HAS ANOTHER ONE WITH RED AS HE DOES IT FOR THE STREETS. NICE HOOK, REAL SHIT; TWITTER: @MICROWAVERED

19. BIG O-FEAR FOR NONE (PROD. BY BIG O)

BIG O SELF PRODUCES THIS GRIMEY TRACK AS HE LETS US KNOW HOW NOBODY OUT HERE CAN FAZE HIM; TWITTER: @BIG_O_216

18. ZUP-SAME THING (PROD. BY ZUP)

REFLECTIVE AND PERSONAL TRACK. ZUP GOES IN DEPTH ABOUT LIFE AND DECISIONS MADE THAT IMPACTED HIS PRESENT. STANDOUT TRACK; TWITTER: @ZUP_NRT

17. NINA NICOLE FT. CAINE AND MS. MOONE-U DON'T KNOW (PROD. BY BIG O)

NINA AND CAINE TALK BOUT WHERE THEY CAME FROM WHAT THEY CAME UP AROUND OVER THIS MENACING SAMPLE FROM BIG O; TWITTER: @MZNINA216

16. FLYY FEAT. BUSINESS AND STONY-GOING HOME (PROD. BY LOS)

FLYY TAKES THE LEAD ON TELLING THE LADIES WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING AT THE END OF THE NIGHT BACKED BY A TOP NOTCH HOOK BY STONY; TWITTER: @FLYY_IS_LLF , @STONYSTONESTONE

15. MZ.CRAZY TEE FEAT. TYRAN-NO PLACE LIKE HOME (PROD. BY KILLAH KALAM)

NOTHING LIKE A GOOD OL' HOMETOWN ANTHEM AND ON "THE PACKAGE" CRAZY TEE SHOWS HOW NO MATTER WHERE LIFE TAKES YOU THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME; TWITTER: @MZCRAZYTEE

14. YUNG MOOK FT. "THE SOUFSIDE"-WHAT U NIGGA U KNOW REMIX (PROD. BY MIC)

MOOK AND A HOST OF ARTISTS FROM HIS FELLOW "SOUFSIDE" MOVEMENT DROPPED A SURE FIRE SUMMER BANGER; TWITTER: @MOOKIEMOTONIO

13. DRASTIC-JUST A BABY (PROD. BY BIG O)

DRAS TELLS A STORY ALL TOO FAMILIAR TO ANYONE FROM THE HOOD, LADIES WITH A LOST SOUL TAKE A LISTEN; TWITTER: @DRASTIC216

12. DARREN ANTHONY-THE RESTAURANT (PROD. BY M. STACKS)

THE MULTI TALENTED MC SERVES UP A DISH EVERYONE SHOULD SIT AT THE TABLE FOR; TWITTER; @DARRENANTHONY

11. BRAVO FEAT COLIE RICH-LIFE IZ A PARTY (PROD. BY YOURS TRULY)

I CALL THIS A LIFE ANTHEM. BRAVO CELEBRATES AND SHOWS HOW "OHIO PLAYERS GET IT IN LIKE THE O-JAYS" OVER THIS ANTHEMATIC AND PULSATING BACKDROP; TWITTER: @MYNAMEISBRAVO

10. PROPH THE PROBLEM-100 BARS (PROD. BY LAY-Z P)

PROPH DROPS 6 16'S OF STRAIGHT HEAT AND ALL THE WHILE KEEPS YOUR EARS LOCKED IN AND NEVER LOSES YOUR ATTENTION; TWITTER: @PROPHTHEPROBLEM

9. B-LO FEAT MISS TIARRAH-SEX & AND AGGRESSION (PROD. BY VIKEISKING)

LO BOASTS IN A WAY ONLY LO CAN WITH A STRONG VOCAL PERFORMANCE FROM MISS TIARRAH, ONE OF THE STRONGEST TRACKS OF THE YEAR GUARANTEED TO BE A HIT; TWITTER: @B_LOFROMTHEFUP , @MISSTIARRAH

8. I.L.-RIGHT GIRL (PRODUCER UNKNOWN)

I.L. ISN'T SURE HE WILL EVER FIND THE RIGHT GIRL, ITS DREAMS OVER LOVE ON THIS ONE. SOMETHING ANYONE CAN RELATE TO; TWITTER: @THE9000BOYZ

7. IZZRAEL- THE HIP/THE HYPE (PROD. BY PHENOM)

LYRICISM AT IT ITS BEST ON THIS TRACK, STRONG CONTENT, SUPERB PRODUCTION, SOLID ALL AROUND FROM ONE OF CLEVELAND'S TOP MCS; TWITTER: @IZZRAEL_LIGHT

6. SOUL KRYZIZ-BLOOD ON MY HANDS (PROD. BY ZUP)

ONE OF THE BEST STORY TRACKS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. SK DROPS TALES OF A MAN WITH NOTHING TO LOSE, HIP HOP VERSUS THE STREETS, AND THE CONSEQUENCES WHEN BEEF GOES WRONG; TWITTER: @SOULKRYZIZ

5. BRAVO FEAT. DARREN ANTHONY-BREAKFAST CLUB (PROD. BY YOURS TRULY)

BRAVO AND D.A. HAVE INCREDIBLE CHEMISTRY ON A TRACK THAT JUST WORKS, DIRECTED AT THE LADIES BUT IN A REAL LAID BACK, GROWN AND SEXY TYPE OF WAY. SUPERB SONG.

4. I.L.- STAY POSITIVE (PRODUCER UNKNOWN)

REAL SONG EVERYONE CAN RELATE TO, "NOTHING IN THIS WORLD COMES EASY, IF YOU WANT YOU GOTTA FIGHT FOR IT." I.L. PROVIDES A TRACK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES. THE CONTENT, PRODUCTION, FLOW ALL COMES TOGETHER SEAMLESSLY

3. THE TITANS (IZZRAEL, KAYO ALCATRAZ, PROPH THE PROBLEM AND SOUL KRYZIZ)- CLASH OF THE TITANS (PROD. BY ZUP)

WHEN THIS TRACK FIRST DROPPED IT WAS A PROBLEM FROM THE JUMP. ZUP LAID THE LANDSCAPE FOR FOUR OF CLEVELAND'S FINEST TO LYRICALLY ATTACK AND DESTROY; TWITTER: @KAYO216 , @IZZRAEL_LIGHT , @PROPHTHEPROBLEM , @SOULKRYZIZ

2. CAINE-THE LIFE I LEAD (PROD. BY YP)

CAINE DEPICTS HIS LIFESTYLE IN A VIVID, DETAILED WAY ON THIS ONE. LYRICALLY ONE OF HIS FINEST EFFORTS. HAVEN'T GONE A DAY IN THE LAST YEAR WHEN I DID NOT PLAY THIS SONG WHICH SAYS A WHOLE HELL OF A LOT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THIS TRACK; TWITTER: @CAINE2

1. YOUNG MIZ FEAT. MIRANDA NICOLE-LIFE OF MISERY (PROD. BY DC)

THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE TRACK I HEARD THIS YEAR FOR A FEW REASONS. EVERY TIME I LISTEN I JUST FALL INTO ZONE. THE MJB "MY LIFE" SAMPLE IS INCREDIBLE. MIZ TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE SO IN DEPTH THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO COME AWAY NOT KNOWING HIM PERSONALLY. YOU CAN FEEL THE EMOTION AND THE PAIN IN THE DELIVERY OF THE SONG WHICH IS RARE AMONG MCS NOWADAYS. ; TWITTER: @MIZIZLIVIN

FIN!

HOTTEST ARTISTS OF THE MOMENT (CLEVELAND EDITION)

IN LIGHT OF ALL THESE "BEST MCS" LISTS BEING RELEASED (AND THE SUBSEQUENT BACKLASH PROCEEDING THEM), I GOT THE IDEA TO DO A FEW LISTS OF MY OWN. THE DIFFERENCE WITH MINE THOUGH ARE THAT I'M SOLELY FOCUSED ON CLEVELAND HIP HOP. OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, I HAVE HEARD A PLETHORA OF SONGS, MIXTAPES AND ALBUMS. SEVERAL ARTISTS HAVE STARTED TO ESTABLISH THEMSELVES AS VOICE TO BE HEARD. THEREFORE, OVER THE NEXT THREE SUNDAYS I WILL BE RELEASING THREE LISTS. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: TOP TEN MIXTAPES/ALBUMS; HOTTEST MCS OF THE MOMENT; AND TOP 25 SONGS OF 2010. THERE IS NO PANEL HERE, NO BRAINTRUST FOLKS. THIS IS SOLELY MY OWN OPINIONS, THOUGHTS AND VIEWS. I'M SURE SEVERAL PEOPLE WON'T AGREE, BUT THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT HIP HOP IS THAT HEALTHY DEBATE IS PLENTIFUL.

FIRST UP IS HOTTEST ARTISTS OF THE MOMENT....

10. DRASTIC

WHY: BY FAR ONE OF THE TOP ARTISTS CLEVELAND HAS TO OFFER; ALBUM "BACK TO THE ESSENCE" IS RIDICULOUSLY GREAT; LYRICALLY SHOULD BE IN ANYONE'S TOP 10 OUT OF THE LAND

SONG TO PEEP: "STILL HOOKED" FT. PROPH THE PROBLEM AND KAYO ALCATRAZ; TWITTER: @DRASTIC216

9. B-LO

WHY: DROPPED TWO SOLID PROJECTS THIS YEAR, HIS GROUP EFFORT WITH GAM AS F^UP-"UNORTHODOX" AND ALSO IS OWN SOLO PROJECT "3RD PERSON RAP"; VASTLY LYRICALLY UNDERRATED,THE SELF TITLED FIRST SINGLE TO HIS FORTHCOMING ALBUM "SEX AND AGGRESSION" IS ONE OF THE BEST SONGS OF THE YEAR

SONG TO PEEP: "SEX AND AGGRESSION" FEAT. MISS TIARRAH; TWITTER: @B_LOFROMTHEFUP

8. IZZRAEL

WHY: ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A TOP NOTCH LYRICIST; HAS A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM BEING RELEASED SHORTLY WITH "SOULARMUSIK"; CONSTANTLY BEING COMPARED TO THE LUPE'S OF THE WORLD MUST MEAN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT; PART OF THE SUPERGROUP COLLECTIVE "THE TITANS" WITH SOUL KRYZIZ, PROPH THE PROBLEM AND KAYO ALCATRAZ

SONG TO PEEP: "THE HIP/THE HYPE"; TWITTER: @IZZRAEL_LIGHT

7. PROPH THE PROBLEM

WHY: HAD ONE OF THE HOTTEST CLEVELAND SINGLES OF THE YEAR WITH THE AWARD WINNING "WHAT ARE YOOOU DOING"; HIS MIXTAPE "MIDWEST FRESSSHHH" AND TRACKS WITH THE TITANS JUST FURTHERED HIS STATUS AS ONE OF CLEVELAND'S TOP ARTISTS

SONG TO PEEP: "100 BARS"; TWITTER: @PROPHTHEPROBLEM

6. YUNG MOOK

WHY: AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE SOUFSIDE MOVEMENT; OHHA NOMINEE AND PERFORMER; HIS SINGLE "WHAT NIGGA YOU KNOW" ALONG WITH THE SUBSEQUENT REMIX, IS EASILY ONE OF THE TOP SONGS OF THE PAST YEAR, ADD ON A PLETHORA OF GUEST APPEARANCES RANGING FROM TRACKS WITH PROPH THE PROBLEM, YP, SOUL KRYZIZ AND FLEXINGTWON AND HIS PLACE IS JUSTIFIED; DISTINCT STYLE; KNOWS HOW TO CREATE A HIT RECORD

SONG TO PEEP: "DO IT BIG REMIX" W/ YP; TWITTER: @MOOKIEMOTONIO

5. Mz. Crazy Tee

WHY: Finally dropped her highly anticipated mixtape "The Package" to much critical success; easily has the most personality and charisma of any Cleveland artist; consistent Rebel Army Award winner, highly respected MC, magazine features; distinct style

SONG TO PEEP: "NO PLACE LIKE HOME"; TWITTER: @MZCRAZYTEE

4. Soul Kryziz

WHY: Is called the top lyricist out of Cleveland in many circles right now; also a multiple OHHA and Rebel Army nominee and winner, album "The Wake Up Show" one of the top albums of the year by far; part of The Titans; featured on Yung Mook's OHHA nominated track "What Nigga You Know Remix"

SONG TO PEEP: "BLOOD ON MY HANDS"; TWITTER: @SOULKRYZIZ

3. Bravo

WHY: Album "The Grey Area" easily one of the finest albums by any artist, let alone a Cleveland artist released this year; OHHA nominee for best album, consistently throws one of the best shows out; verse on Young Miz's "Lost" is one of the best features of the year

SONG TO PEEP: "BREAKFAST CLUB" FEAT. DARREN ANTHONY; TWITTER: @MYNAMEISBRAVO

2. Nina Nicole

WHY: Produced some of the best verses by an MC this year female or male, equally loved and hated but talent is talent, mixtape Hurricane Katrina Vol. 1 was one of the most anticipated projects of the year, received multiple OHHA nominations, Rebel Army Award winner, several standout features, key member of the all female collective LOL

SONG TO PEEP: "BULLETS"; TWITTER: @MZNINA216

1. Caine

WHY: Provided more consistent quality music than any other artist, mixtape "No Handz" was one of the top releases this year and garnered much critical praise, OHHA nominee, was more sought out for features than anyone, toured with BNTH, just has a knack for creating a hot song

SONG TO PEEP: "KING JAMES"; TWITTER: @CAINE2

"NEXT TO LISTEN OUT FOR"

FLYY

CRAZY8THEGREAT

RAY GRIZZEL

DARREN ANTHONY

YOUNG MIZ

CLEVELAND CHRIS

MICROWAVE RED

PHEENS

JCURSE

BIG O