On the 12th day of Xmas...

I give to thee....12 Hot Albums for 2012.
I don't care if you don't like some of these. Make your own list. This my list. Suck it up. You might learn something. In no particular order....

12. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange. I don't care that the guy walked out the closet with a blouse on, he makes some good music. Thinkin Bout You was the good radio hit, but there was some great stuff on the album such as Pilot Jones, Super Rich Kids, and Pyramids. Frank Ocean will be around for a minute so get used to it.

11. Rick Ross - Rich Forever. Yep, you forgot this actually came out this year. Dropped Jan 6th so you probably had it last year before Xmas but thats not the point. This helped kick off the year with some sirloin beef with Common and Drake and Stay Schemin, not to mention the best line of the early year captioned in the pic. This was basically better than the album depending on what you were looking for. This had the street buzzing with mega production, an unusual amount of features. Just had you feeling like Ross was going to take over this year. Let's see if he makes the list again.

10. Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid M.A.A.D City. Look, this ain't in no order so don't go all crazy psycho lose your mind on this order. I loved the album. Definitely top 5 as far as albums go this year. Even with all the buildup, it held its own. If you didn't know the West Coast is back because of this youngin. Keep it going and TDE coming soon.

9. Big Boi - Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors. Ok, this just came out but good lord I love Outkast and love them individually as well. For all the haters that say Big Boi can't hold it down without Dre, stop popping Mollys with the kids and sit down somewhere. This is a complete album, a few skips but out of 17 tracks, I'm down with at least 13. And you know it's different, its smooth, its grown up and new funk. If you haven't sat down to listen, just let it ride out.

8. Miguel - Kaleidoscope Dream. This little guy can go. No homo. It is hard to turn off Adorn if it comes on. The beat grabs you, its a wide range of emotions and pitches hit in the song and its just a great collection of words. I just feel like I should say no homo again for that sentence. Dude is talented. I think he should stay in his lane of RnB crooner instead of trying to go for the dance crowd. I know that's where the money is at, but he is good at one, not the other in my eyes. Other favorite track on there is Do You. Not how it sounds.

7. Elle Varner - Perfectly Imperfect. Sticking with the RnB theme, I'm thinking that she is the only new female artist that I like. I don't know what she is talking about on Sound Proof Room but I like it. She is just something different so I like it.

6. 2 Chainz - Based on a TRU Story. Yes that 2Chainz guy. You know the one that was on EVERY remix from February through September. Nobody except maybe Ross worked harder than 2Chainz this year and he deserved it with his old azz. He grinded like the Mayans was right and he was gonna prove that he could make it and kick it hard this year. He worked himself into a good position with Good Music, is still getting features and even made Sportscenter. What else can you ask for? Well, except every banging strip club anthem song on his album, that's about it.

5. 8Ball - Premro. If you anything like me you grew up on Space Age Pimpin. This isn't that good but its damn close. 8Ball showed out and showed up with some bangers. Not a lot of features, just the usual from the South, Bun B, Killer Mike, 2Chainz, and of course MJG. This is what these young artists should strive to be, relevant in the game after 15-20 yrs. Showed Up, Washing Machine, No Pain, and Immaculate Perception just to name a few are all in good rotation.

4. Rick Ross - God Forgives I Don't. Yep Officer Ricky made it again. Ross is running things right now. He has the right ear for beats, he keeps his lyrics just above par to stay out of wack territory and he rides the beats like no other. And when in doubt, get on a song with Jay-Z and Dr. Dre. How in the hell could you go wrong with that? This was basically the RnB 2nd disc to the Rich Forever mixtape. Real mellow, real smooth, and not a lot of bouncing shoot you in the face songs.

3. Good Music - Cruel Summer. I was hating on this album at first because I had heard half of the songs already. I guess that shouldn't take away from the compilation though. Kanye stole that Chief Keef beat and unleashed this little monster into the mainstream. I'm personally blaming Kanye for 10% of the crime and shootings in Chicago since he basically green lit the Chief Keef era in rap and fashion. But I will give him this, he brought back MASE. Yes shiny suit don't get it twisted the boy got flows MASE. Throw in some singing songs that I didn't care for and Big Sean, yeah it was good enough.

2. Big KRIT - 4Eva N A Day. They said it couldn't, wouldn't be forever, the grain aint enough, you gotta mix it with the leather. I dedicate this for the haters, in my grill. I feel KRIT. He make you feel like the dude next door is on the track telling those old school country rap tunes. Throw in he does most of his own production, he actually doesn't talk about shooting and selling drugs, how could you not want this dude to keep going? He has had a nice run and I hope he keeps going.

1. Nas - Life is Good. Ok, this was on purpose. This was the best album of the year. I PURCHASED this CD. If anyone knows me, they know that is impossible. I had this going from about July - September. Some albums are made for certain people. I feel Nas made this album for me and him only. I know there are millions of people that went through the same thing that he did, but nobody had a bigger stage and microphone to vent their fustrations/anger/resentment/healing process/and ability to move on like Nasir Jones. Nas spazzed out from the Intro all the way to the bonus tracks with Roses. The anger, the story telling, the passion, the love lost, it bleeds through the beats and lyrics. He took it back to Illmatic with Loco-Motive, no hook on the song just flow, gutta beat, and BARS. By the end of the album you feel like you lived through the healing process and then the bonus tracks come through with The Black Bond and Roses. Roses....man. If you ever hate somebody and don't know what to say to them or just want to go there with somebody, listen to this ....right ....here.